TFC Journal at TheFilmChair.com

Top Story: The Robert Rodriguez-produced, Nimrod Antal-directed Predators has found its prey. Academy Award winner Adrien Brody will star in the franchise reboot. I wonder if the film ends with the Predator choking on an Oscar. (Variety)

In Other News: New Line is prepping a sequel to the comedy classic Vacation. The film will focus on the son of Clark Griswold, who is now a father, taking his family on a road trip. Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo could both make appearances as the grandparents. (THR)

Don’t expect a second Simpsons movie any time soon. (Variety)

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Top Story: Usually undecided contests are reserved for our presidential elections, but Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen and Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs tied for first place at the weekend box office.  Both films brought in an estimated $42.5 million over the 4th of July holiday, meaning we won’t know who really took first place until later today. (erc Box Office)

In Other News: T.J. Hooker is headed for the big screen with Chuck Russell in talks to direct. (Variety)

IFC Films will premiere the British political comedy The Loop on IFC on Demand this month when the film opens in theaters. (Variety)

Robert Rodriguez has his Predators director. Nimrod Antal will take the helm of the Rodriguez produced reboot of the Predator franchise. (Variety)

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Top Story: Director Robert Rodriguez says he’s hoping to get a live-action adaptation of The Jetsons off the ground next year. The classic Hanna-Barbera cartoon was previously turned into a feature-length animated film in 1990. (MTV)

In Other News: Tim Burton is getting an exhibit at MoMA. And no, I don’t understand why either. (Variety)

Rob Cohen will direct the film Medieval, which he calls The Magnificent Seven in the Middle Ages. Sigh. (Variety)

And in slow news day news, Frank Marshall is set to direct a documentary for ESPN films about Norwegian speed-skating great Johann Olav Koss and titled Right to Play. (THR)

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Top Story: Robert Rodriguez’s schedule just got a little crowded. Fox has tapped Planet Terror director to relaunch its Predator franchise. This master of the B-movie is perfect for the job. But Rodriguez isn’t done yet.  He’ll also co-direct Machete, which was first featured in Grindhouse as a faux trailer. (Variety)

In Other News: Christopher Nolan’s Inception is already shaping up to be a massive sci-fi blockbuster with Leo DiCaprio as the star. Now Joseph Gordon-Levitt, one of the most talented film actors of his generation, has joined the all-star cast, which also includes Marion Cotillard, Ellen Page, and Cillian Murphy. (THR)

Denzel Washington is in negotiations to star in hack director Tony Scott’s Unstoppable. (Variety)

Disney has nailed down August 14 as the release date for Hayao Miyazaki’s Pongo. (erc BoxOffice)

Disneynature’s Earth debuted with $4 million at the domestic box office on Wednesday. See below for the film’s it will go up against this weekend. (Variety)

Opening Today:
Obsessed
Fighting
The Soloist
The Informers

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