Spy and Espionage

Soderbergh says Knockout to contain “ultra-realistic” action

Empire Magazine caught up with Oscar-winning director Steven Soderbergh, and chatted him up regarding the upcoming action-spy-thriller Knockout, which is being developed around its star, female MMA fighter Gina Carano. Knockout certainly isn’t what movie-goers have come to expect from Soderbergh, although he is known for mixing up his palette, having directed films as varied ….

Invincible director set to helm XXX: The Return of Xander Cage

Ericson Core (Invincible) is set to direct XXX: The Return of Xander Cage, Columbia Picture’s third installment in the action franchise, with Neal Moritz and Joe Roth attached to produce, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Vin Diesel will return to the titular role of the rogue extreme sports athlete-turned-government agent, which he originated in the ….

Jason Bourne 4 gets a screenwriter and start date

Josh Zetumer, who wrote the script for the upcoming Dune remake, has signed on to pen the fourth installment of Universal’s “Bourne” movie series, writing what is being called a parallel script, according to THR. George Nolfi, who co-wrote The Bourne Ultimatum, was tentatively on board to co-write the screenplay for the next chapter in ….

Mission Impossible 4 now has writers to go along with producers

Paramount and producers Tom Cruise and J.J. Abrams have chosen Josh Applebaum and Andre Nemec to write the script for the newly revived Mission Impossible 4 project, according to Variety. Applebaum and Nemec spent four seasons with Abrams as co-exec producers of the spy show Alias, and will pen M:I 4 based on a story ….

Alibi comic headed to big screen via Surrogate producers

Mandeville Films and Top Cow Productions are developing a film adaptation version of Top Cow’s comic Alibi, according to Variety. The 2008 comic centers on a well-known socialite whose public appearances establish a perfect alibi for the espionage activity of his twin brother, who is a government assassin. Alibi was created by Top Cow president ….

Charlize Theron and Sam Worthington to top-line French spy thriller remake

Charlize Theron (Monster) and Sam Worthington (Terminator Salvation, upcoming Avatar) have signed to star in Spyglass Entertainment’s thriller remake The Tourist, according to THR. Worthington is taking over the role previously meant for Tom Cruise. The pair will play the leads in the remake of the 2005 French spy thriller Anthony Zimmer, which was written ….

Morgan Freeman may join espionage comic adaptation Red

Morgan Freeman is currently in negotiations to star opposite Bruce Willis in Summit Entertainment’s espionage thriller Red, to be based on the three-book WildStorm/DC comic series, according to Variety. Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Mark Vahradian are producing the film, with DC’s Gregory Noveck on board as executive producer. Erich and Jon Hoeber are writing the ….

Echelon Conspiracy Blu-ray review

Echelon Conspiracy’s premise is a rather interesting one, surrounding a cell phone that bestows upon its owner, sets of instructions for getting the most money possible in virtually any situation. Unfortunately, that’s about where the interest ends. After computer expert Max Peterson (Shane West) mysteriously receives a parcel containing the mystical phone, the plot takes ….

Let The Right One In director signs on for John Le Carre espionage book adaptation

Award-winning Swedish director Tomas Alfredson, who helmed the brilliant vampire film Let The Right One In, is attached to direct the upcoming adaptation of John Le Carre’s seminal cold war bestseller Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The feature is being produced by Working Title co-chairmen Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner, and ….