Elmore Leonard works always have the eye of filmmakers, and no less than Quentin Tarantino wanted to get his hands on this particular one, though he couldn’t quite work out the timeline in the book. Originally, the book took place in the late-80′s after they had been in the game for a while. Naturally, this meant that the work leant itself to an older ensemble cast, which audiences have viewed as gimmicky with works such as Space Cowboys and Red.

Well, a tweak here and a date change their gives us a younger, funny cast that gets to work with Leonard’s killer source material. Couple that with the fact that stodgy movie critics will be forced to utter “freaky deaky,” and everything seems to be coming up roses from this project.

William Tell: 3D will be helmed by Nick Hurran and has Anna Paquin attached to star. Hurran’s most recent project was a remake of the TV show “The Prisoner,” while Paquin is known for being a damn sexy fairy in HBO’s “True Blood.” Also, she won an Academy Award when she when she was 11. But these days she’s a topless fairy.

According the THR (my source for all world history), Tell was forced to shoot an apple off of his son’s head after not bowing to a statue of the king. When he informed the king that he would have killed him had he missed his son, this led to an uprising that led to the formation of the nation of Switzerland.

Thanks, The Hollywood Reporter!

The first film up for Fraser is Four Kings, in which he will star as a British colonel who finances the French and Indian War in order to create a utopian society in Canada. If there is a fair and just power in this world, then Fraser will be required to adopt a British accent for the part.

When he’s done turning Canada into the utopia that it is today, he will voice Scorch, an alien trying to escape from Area 51 in the Weinstein Company‘s Escape from Planet Earth. Everyone knows that when you think top-notch animated features, you think Harvey and Bob Weinstein. Pair that with the fact that this film was announced in 2006, and I think we’ve got a real game-changer on our hands.

Finally, Brendan Fraser will be starring in Gimme Shelter, a film about a girl (Vanessa Hudgens) who gets turned away by her father and must navigate the mean streets of Manhattan. Unless Brendan Fraser is the girl, I’m probably going to have other plans the weekend this comes out.

If nothing else, the upside to all this is that Fraser will have to do lots of press for these films and we will get to see his hair take totally new and strange shapes. Like the Pyramids at Giza. (Deadline)

Gimme Shelter is a film by writer/director Ron Krauss, which would star Hudgens as a homeless, pregnant teen fleeing her abusive mother. Seems like all teens are pregnant in movies, these days. I realize I read like an old man when I write that. Anyway, she goes to live with her biological dad (Fraser), who kicks her out of his house for not aborting the child. Hopefully, they have the money to license “Papa Don’t Preach.”

Jeff Rice, Dama Claire and Kraus are producing. They’re aiming to film end of May in Connecticut. (Hollywood Reporter)

The film, scripted by playwright (and Lakeview Terrace director!!) Neil Labute and directed by Mike Figgis, concerns the lives of several people who interconnect over a series of vignettes. Hendricks will play a woman who catches her husband, played by Brendan Fraser, in a compromising position. Julia Stiles, Matt Dillon, and Kristen Scott Thomas will also star. If you’re looking for a twist that will make this different than everyone other indie movie about separate lives connecting BESIDES the fact that it will star Encino Man, how’s about THIS doozy: The whole thing takes take place on an airplane!! Roger, Roger, what’s our vector, Victor INDEED. (Deadline)

Fraser has signed to headline Whole Lotta Sole for Hotel Rwanda director Terry George. The story centers around a young man who attempts to rob a fish store in order to pay off his gambling debts. The robbery then turns into a hostage situation. Fraser will play the shopkeeper who is on the run from his gangster father-in-law.

The pun in the title and Fraser’s resume lead me to believe that someone is going to get a swordfish stuck on their head at some point in this film. Is Terry George really directing? (Variety)

Brendan. He gets no respect.

We don’t have plot details for Seconds but assume it’s based off LaBute’s 2004 short story collection of the same name. Is this his attempt at Robert Altman styled filmmaking?  I can get behind Fraser’s casting in this if that is the case. He always works well in ensemble pieces. Especially as morally gray characters.

Rather than starring opposite a CGI dirt tornado or a Canadian stunt guy in a bear costume, Fraser will star opposite Kristin Scott Thomas. Colin Firth and Ed Harris are also considering joining up. There’s no word yet on a Pauly Shore cameo but that news can’t be too far off. It can’t be. (Deadline)

Brendan Fraser’s spelunking days may be behind him. Deadline reports that a Journey To The Center Of The Earth 3D sequel is moving forward without Fraser. Josh Hutcherson, his co-star from the original, will be taking over the lead.

Fraser reportedly dropped out of the project when his top choice to direct, Eric Brevig, was passed over after he couldn’t free up his Yogi Bear schedule. New Line and Walden Media got antsy, and brought in Brad Peyton, the director of Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore. And with that Brendan Fraser was out. For years we’ve wondered if the man who appeared in Furry Vengeance, GI Joe, Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, Bedazzled, Dudley Do-Right, Monkeybone, and various Pauly Shore movies had a line. Apparently that line is Cats & Dogs. Reading between the lines, Fraser obviously doesn’t believe a gay actor is capable of playing a talking cat. Cue the outrage!