Disney has tapped production designer Robert Stromberg (Avatar,Alice in Wonderland) to direct the live-action movie about Snow Whites evil queen Maleficent. The fantasy movie is told from the viewpoint of Beautys apple-bearing fairy godmother,played by Angelina Jolie. It is being touted as a post-modern take on the classic fairy tale. It will mark Strombergs directing debut. Maleficent is written by Linda Woolverton,who also wrote the script for Disneys Beauty And The Beast and co-wrote the script for The Lion King. Don Hahn,Joe Roth and Richard D. Zanuck produce. The Maleficent news comes following the announcement that Disney had tapped another first-time director,Brian Beletic,for a Matterhorn-ride-inspired movie referred to as the Untitled Explorers Project. James Franco in talks for starring role in The Game James Franco is in early talks for a starring role in The Game,the MGM movie based on Neil Strauss New York Times bestseller about picking up women. Strauss documented his experiences in The Game: Penetrating the Secret Society of Pickup Artists,which was released by Regan Books in 2005. Francos role would be as Mystery,who taught Strauss how to become a pick-up artist. The Game is directed by Brian Koppelman and David Levien,both of whom worked on the screenplay. Writers D.B. Weiss (HBOs Game of Thrones),and Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky the Emmy-nominated writer-producers of NBCs The Office also worked on the project. Gary Barber,Roger Birnbaum,Andrew Miano,Chris Weitz and Paul Weitz are producing The Game.
