Disney Jump-Begins Reese Witherspoon Comedy With 'Kung Fu Panda 2' Authors (Exclusive)

Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger, the authors behind the worldwide animation smash Kung Fu Panda 2, happen to be drawn on to create Wish List, a Disney comedy fantasy which has Reese Witherspoon mounted on star. Mark Ciardi and Gordon Grey of Mayhem Pictures are creating.our editor recommends'Kung Fu Panda 2' Crosses $300 Million Offshore'Kung Fu Panda' Scribes to Pen 'Candyland' for Universal The brand new authors will kick-start the project, that was first setup in the studio in 2001 like a vehicle for any male comedy star. Witherspoon came aboard throughout the summer time, leading to searching for scribes to re-engineer the script. The storyline focuses on work-oriented adult whose perfectly customized existence is tossed for any loop when all of the wishes she made growing up are all of a sudden granted. PHOTOS: 10 Wrongly Sexy Cartoon Figures Aibel and Berger, repped by WME and attorney Ken Richman, have secured out athriving career in animation and also the family comedy arena. On the top of writing the $663 million-grossing Panda 2, the duo done the very first Kung Fu Panda and Monsters versus Aliens,in addition to TV's King from the Hill. Additionally they done Alvin & the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel and also the latest Chipmunks installment, Nick-Wrecked, which opens December 16. The scribes will tackle Wish List once they finish writing a large-screen take from the Hasbro game Candyland. Email: Borys.Package@thr.com Twitter: @Borys_Package Related Subjects Reese Witherspoon Kung Fu Panda 2

REVIEW: Arthur Christmas Overrides Ugly Digital Animation with Charm, Wit and Verve

To dispatch with the pleasantries and get straight to the but: Arthur Christmas favors the late-century style of computer animation that turns characters into smooth, plasticky dirigibles, adding a Made-in-China cello-skin to faces and scenery alike and vacuum-sealing the works for maximum digital freshness. I’ve never cared for the look — if cartoons could be embalmed, that’s how I imagine they’d be — and in sharing a release weekend with a Muppets revival, the limits of Arthur’s CGI puppeteering seem even more stark. That is of course, until you consider almost everything outside of my but — which may well not be yours — which is to say the near-total mitigation of aesthetic bummers with an avalanche of charm, wit, and enlivening, highly oxygenated performances. A collaboration between Sony animation and Britain’s Aardman productions (of Wallace and Gromit, Chicken Run, and Flushed Away fame), Arthur Christmas is a Grinch-style story of rekindled Christmas spirit told from inside Santa’s compound at the North Pole. At one end of the investment spectrum are Santa’s ebullient but highly errant progeny Arthur (James McAvoy) and a million or so obsessive elves, and at the other are Santa himself (Jim Broadbent), a glory hound who’s been phoning it in for years, and Santa’s number one son, Steve (Hugh Laurie), a technocrat who has “festivized” the entire world and broken toy delivery down into a joyless martial art. In the middle is Mrs. Claus (Imelda Staunton), the stealthy home executive who just wants everybody to get along, and out back in the polar pasture rocks 136-year-old patriarch Grandsanta (Bill Nighy), perpetually cheesed about his own irrelevance and sure it all meant more back when Santas traveled by sleigh and not a candy-apple Millennium Falcon. That’s right, it’s a family business, and there is little question about which brother will inherit the ermine-trimmed suit once the current Santa is finally coaxed out of it. But when a mishap causes the wished-for present of a Cornwall girl to go astray, Arthur and the elves are scandalized while Santa and Steve shrug it off, and the question of whether one child matters expands to pit tech innovation against personal consistency, and ego against selflessness. Arthur and Grandsanta commandeer a retired sleigh and some old-fashioned magic to get the little girl her pink bicycle before the night is over, with an eager elf named Bryony (Ashley Jensen of Extras and Ugly Betty) along to literally wrap up problems with festive paper and industrial-strength glitter tape. First-time director Sarah Smith co-wrote the screenplay with frequent Sasha Baron Cohen and Steve Coogan collaborator Peter Baynham, and the writing is brisk and snappy, warm and engaging, and unabashedly littered with Britishisms. It’s a balanced efficiency of tone established in service of the core characters and reinforced by their precision casting and committed performances (McAvoy and Jensen especially blast verve and personality into their roles), so that halfway through a Christmas Eve picaresque we are fully involved in not just a witty lark but a resonant family drama. Which is not to say there isn’t plenty of mischief to grease the way, including cheap shots at Canada (everybody’s favorite), the unlikely triumph of Arthur’s neuroses, and darker riffs involving elves so tightly programmed they go kamikaze at the first (false) sign of abandonment and the sacrifice of “charming relics” to the future. The velocity of the visuals matches the almost vaudevillian pace of the script — no detail is unturned or punchline passed by — and the 3D offers mild, if somewhat superfluous, enhancement to an already engrossing trip. There’s a tepid lesson embedded into the haggling over the true meaning of Christmas and the real Santa Claus: Arthur’s insistence that the means of gift delivery don’t matter (only the spirit of giving and gratitude does) is gentle preparation for that ultimate, beard-yanking disillusionment. I’d be satisfied if Arthur Christmas primed kids for nothing more than expecting nothing less from holiday entertainment than this fleet, sweet-natured film. Follow Michelle Orange on Twitter. Follow Movieline on Twitter.

Sacha Baron Cohen Freddie Mercury Film on Track for 2012

That biopic with 'Borat' star Sacha Baron Cohen as Queen frontman Freddie Mercury? Still on, according to producer Graham King. While promoting Martin Scorsese's 'Hugo,' (which King co-produced and which features Cohen in a supporting role), King told CinemaBlend that he expects the project will get underway next year. "Who better to play Freddie Mercury than Sacha Baron Cohen? He's so talented, and you see a side to him in 'Hugo' that no one had ever seen before. Very emotional, and very heartfelt." Peter Morgan ('Frost/Nixon,' 'The Queen') was writing the script, but King didn't comment whether his script will be used. As Morgan told CinemaBlend last year, Baron is also the one to thank for the project's existence: "Sacha was the one who asked me to write it. He was the guy who rang me up." [via CinemaBlend] [Photo: Getty] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Natalie Wood Death: Owner of Boat Knew for Weeks Police Would Reopen Case

It will be 30 years next weekend since Natalie Wood died while boating off Catalina Island on Thanksgiving weekend off the Southern California coast, but one person wasn't surprised by police reopening the investigation into the actress' death.our editor recommendsRobert Wagner Blamed Self For Natalie Wood's Death in MemoirNatalie Wood Mystery: File Sent to Sheriff Revealed Telling Clues (PDF Document)Natalie Wood's Sister Makes First TV Appearance on 'Piers Morgan Tonight' (Video)Natalie Wood, Christopher Walken's 'Brainstorm': How the Actress' Death Derailed Her Final Film (Video)Christopher Walken Offered Natalie Wood Death Theory in Past InterviewChristopher Walken Hires Lawyer to Handle Natalie Wood Investigation (Exclusive) The owner of the Splendour, the boat Wood was on with husband Robert Wagner and Brainstorm co-star Christopher Walken, revealed that he was aware for weeks that police were looking into the case, the Los Angeles Times reports. PHOTOS: Best Pictures of Natalie Wood "I have known for a few weeks that there was going to be a police investigation," says Ron Nelson in an interview with Honolulu's KHON-TV. "But I didn't know it was going to explode like it did overnight." Nelson purchased the Splendour -- a 60-foot yacht now used for charter cruises -- back in 1986, five years after Wood died at the age of 43. He said that police had contacted him several weeks ago, but did not reveal any details of their conversation. PHOTOS: 12 of Hollywood's Most Mysterious Deaths Police announced on Friday morning at a press conference that investigators would be traveling to Hawaii in order to examine the boat as part of their investigation, reaffirming news from the night before that the case would be reopened. On Thursday evening, Wagner said through his rep that he supported the police's decision. "Although no one in the Wagner family has heard from the LA County Sheriff's department about this matter, they fully support the efforts of the L.A. County Sheriff's Department and trust they will evaluate whether any new information relating to the death of Natalie Wood Wagner is valid and that it comes from a credible source or sources other than those simply trying to profit from the 30-year anniversary of her tragic death," his rep said. VIDEO: 5 of Natalie Wood's Most Memorable Roles The Hollywood Reporter broke the news Friday that Walken, who is not considered a suspect, has hired a lawyer to handle the Wood investigation. Officials also noted that Wagner is not a person of interest. At the time, Wood's death was ruled an accident, though there has been speculation that there were more details to the story. Author Marti Rulli teamed up with Dennis Davern, who at the time was the captain of the Splendour, more than two decades ago to investigate and research that fateful November evening, publishing the book Goodbye Natalie, Goodbye Splendour two years ago. Davern made the media rounds on Friday, making the bold claim that Wagner had something to do with Wood's death. In his 2008 memoir Pieces of My Heart, Wagner blamed himself for Wood's passing. "Yes, I blamed myself. Natalie would have felt the same way had it happened to me. Why wasn't I there? Why wasn't I watching? I would have done anything in the world to make her life better or protect her. Anything," he wrote. "I would have given my life for hers, because that's the way we were." CBS News' Wood special, originally set to air next weekend for the 30th anniversary of her death, moved up the investigative report to this weekend. Wood's sister Lana also made an appearance on CNN's Piers Morgan Tonight. Related Topics Natalie Wood

Mattel, Disney team on 'Cars' display

Mattel exec Jean Gomez shows the companys rare die-cast Cars collection to kids at the Petersen Automotive Museum in L.A.After parking its Hot Wheels cars at Los Angeles' Petersen Automotive Museum for years, toymaker Mattel has teamed with Disney and Pixar to create a new long-term display at the venue, this time revolving around the "Cars" franchise. With more than 250 million "Cars"-themed diecast cars sold since the first film rolled into theaters in 2006, Mattel will now display many of the newest and rarest of the toys through its "From Silver Screen to Die-cast: Disney-Pixar Cars Imagined by Mattel" exhibit until April. Over the years, Mattel has produced more than 500 unique designs of the "Cars" character toys. Exhibit features dioramas of "Cars" scenes featuring hundreds of diecast "Cars" vehicles, rare, never-released and collectible vehicles and the history of the film franchise's diecast packaging designs. Also on display is the new Lightning McQueen Alive toy, which features a lifelike mouth, moving eyes and shrugging shoulders. Mattel spent a year and a half developing the vehicle, project designer Scott Derman said. One of the rare cars on display is the "Apple Car," a white car with a silver Mac apple on its hood, which was sold exclusively in one online-only package. It has since become one of the most sought after "Cars" toys, with an asking price of almost $700 on eBay. The exhibit also displays cars that were available only on special occasions or at events, including the "John Lasseter" truck, named for Pixar's topper, which was only given to Pixar employees who worked on the "Cars" movies. The "Cars" toys are 1/55 scale, larger than most diecast cars, which are 1/46 in scale, to more accurately capture the facial expressions, personality and character details, said Chris Down, Mattel's VP of design. "That was to capture the essence of what makes them unique, which is their character -- their smile, their eyes and all of that," Down added. A set of plastic prototypes of never-released cars including Albert "Buffet Master" Hinkey, also known as McQueen's biggest fan, was auctioned off by Bonhams to benefit the Robert E. Petersen Free School Bus Program, which provides free transportation to the museum for schools in underserved communities. Bonhams is also auctioning off the 1994 Toyota Supra Custom featured in "The Fast and the Furious" and the 2004 Lexus Concept Car from "Minority Report." In 2003, Mattel opened its Hot Wheels Hall of Fame at the Petersen to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the toy line. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

'Final Destination' Star Charged with Drunk driving

Based on E! News, actor Ryan Merriman was arrested last evening in Newport Beach on Drunk driving charges. Shop dead that Merriman was initially stopped for groing through the road in a red-colored light. However, when cops reached his vehicle, the actor started showing signs and symptoms of consuming. After failing a area sobriety test, he was reserved on charges of driving while impaired. Most widely known for his role in 'Final Destination 3,' Merriman has additionally starred in 'The Ring Two' and 'Halloween: Resurrection.' [via E! News] [Photo: Getty] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Kim Kardashian Keeping The Ring?

First Released: November 2, 2011 7:04 PM EDT Credit: WireImage La, Calif. -- Caption Kim Kardashian in Hollywood (inset a detailed-from her gemstone), August, 17, 2011Kim Kardashians marriage to National basketball association star Kris Humphries might be over but shes apparently keeping her 20-carat gemstone. She'll keep your ring, Peoples Assistant Editor Jen Garcia, a guest at Kims August wedding, told Access Hollywood on Wednesday, estimating sources that spoke towards the mag. Since Kardashian was the one that broke them back, etiquette dictates that they should take it back, but based on Garcia, the truth star is connected to the rock. Its something thats debatable, clearly, with etiquette, however it would be a gift to her, it had been something special and it is something very sentimental to her, Garcia told Access Hollywood. Based on estimations, the ring is really worth about $two million, that is nearly $a million shy of Humphries reported 2011 $3.two million salary using the Nj Nets. Humphries yearly salary, however, is dwarfed by his estranged wifes substantial salary. Forbes has reported she made about $12 million this past year. With an National basketball association lockout still essentially, Humphries is not generating anything from playing basketball. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All privileges reserved. These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.