Screen Junkies » Charlie Kaufman

Charlie Kaufman Recruits Steve Carell, Nic Cage, And Jack Black For ‘Frank Or Francis’

Penn Collins — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 19:24:28 +0000

We might not know what Kaufman’s Frank or Francis is about, but we know who’s going to be in it. Steve Carell has never worked with Kaufman in any capacity, Nicolas Cage had starred in the Kaufman-penned Adaptation, and Jack Black worked with Kaufman in that Kaufman did some script work on Kung-Fu Panda 2 (really?).

Needless to say, this is quite the coup for the oft-enigmatic director, whose last effort, Synecdoche, NY, was divisive to say the least. More specifically, tons of people hated it. In keeping with Kaufman’s weirdness, no details about the project have been given, save for the fact that production will start in 2012, per Deadline.

This project represents the latest efforts of Carell and Black to distance themselves from their slapsticky origins and branch out into more serious, and in this case, weirder fare. Lucky for them, it’s hard to get much weirded than Charlie Kaufman.

Casting Round-Up: Joaquin Phoenix And Natasha Lyonne Get Back To Work

Wookie Johnson — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 21:42:23 +0000

The final piece is in place. Natasha Lyonne is officially returning for American Reunion. She’ll join other original castmates Jason Biggs, Alyson Hannigan, Chris Klein, Thomas Ian Nicholas, Tara Reid, Seann William Scott, Mena Suvari, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Jennifer Coolidge and Eugene Levy for the 2012 release. After a rough couple of years in Hollywood, Lyonne has agreed to do the role in return for any leftover pie. (Deadline)

5 photosTania Raymonde

Leatherface has more beautiful victims. Tania Raymonde and Clint Eastwood’s youngest son Scott have signed on to bake under the Texas sun while fleeing a chainsaw-wielding maniac in Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3D. Eastwood’s deal has him returning for two additional sequels. Raymonde’s deal has her looking hot until she gets cut in half. (Deadline and Deadline)

I guess Joaquin Phoenix is all better now. He’s booked to star in Spike Jonze and Charlie Kaufman‘s untitled project. Plot details haven’t been revealed yet but it’s suspected the film is “a satire about how world leaders gather to figure out all the seismic events that will take place in the world, from oil prices to wars that will be waged.” Just like in real life. THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE!!! (Twitch)

Spike Jonze And Charlie Kaufman Are Getting The Band Back Together

Wookie Johnson — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 13:29:27 +0000

Good news for Arcade Fire. Spike Jonze is re-teaming with Charlie Kaufman for a film project. After bringing us all Being John Malkovich and Adaptation, which made us all pretty happy, they are reportedly pimping a brand new film, the details of which are being kept tightly under wraps.

We do know that the secret project is not Kaufman’s Frank Or Francis. That’s currently shuffling slowly forward at Sony. But given that it’s a musical satire of Hollywood and the commercial machine, it might be awhile before we see it. Only time will tell what Jonze and Kaufman have in store. Lord, knows the world needs them to get the band back together. With the failure of Synecdoche, New York and Where The Wild Things Are, the hipsters are running out of Halloween costumes. (LA Times)

Charlie Kaufman Punched Up ‘Kung Fu Panda’ Sequel

Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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Residents of the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn should be prepared to see Kung Fu Panda: The Kaboom of Doom popping up on their Netflix Local Favorites. It’s been revealed that Charlie Kaufman was brought in to fix up the animated flick’s script. That’s right. The man who wrote Adaptation also took a gig on a movie about a kung fu kicking panda. If you listen closely, you can hear Robert McKee laughing his nuts off.

It’s not uncommon for several writers to pitch in on a studio film and remain uncredited. Especially an animated one. Kaufman is reported to have only polished the material, so it’s doubtful we’ll notice his handiwork. But keep an eye out for uncharacteristically cerebal fart jokes when the movie opens in June of 2011. (THR)