'The Town' scribe drawn on for 'Top Gun 2'

Vital has drawn on Peter Craig ("The CityInch) to create "Top Gun 2," which is created by Jerry Bruckheimer Films and David Ellison's Skydance Prods. "X-Males: Top ClassInch scribes Ashley Burns and Zack Stentz were hired to create the aerial follow up in October, however the duo never put pen to paper, showing that Craig is going to be beginning on your own. Plot particulars are nil, though Tony Scott and Tom Cruise are anticipated to engage in the follow up, which Vital is seriously interested in continuing to move forward with. Since writing WB's "The City,Inch which made $154 million worldwide, Craig has modified in france they Canadian hit "Fathers and Guns" for Columbia Pictures. Scribe also rewrote Ted Tally's adaptation of Doug Stanton's novel "Equine Soldiers," which Bruckheimer is creating. Craig is repped by CAA and Management 360. Contact Shaun Sneider at shaun.sneider@variety.com

Cinemax Builds up Documentary Series Witness From Michael Mann And David Frankham

Filmmaker Michael Mann, already operating a business with Cinemax round the drama series Luck, may also be behind a completely new limited documentary series bought with the premium cable network. Witness, which will have a new generation of youthful combat photography fanatics into conflict zones in Mexico, South usa, Uganda and Libya, can be a collaboration between Mann and documentary director David Frankham. David Frankham which i share an recognition of combat photography that captures the universal — and frequently the indescribable — in a single frame during the time of chaos and danger, Mann mentioned. The initial episode of Witness was shot in Juarez, Mexico. The next three are presently being created.

Bounce TV lands N.Y. clearance

KingYoungStartup digital multicast channel Bounce TV is getting a big distribution boost through a carriage agreement with Fox-owned WWOR-TV NY.The African American-targeted channel bowed Monday as a multicast channel on WWOR. Bounce TV said it is due to launch soon on Fox's KCOP Los Angeles and possibly other stations, but a Fox TV Stations rep would not confirm any deals beyond Gotham.Carriage in the nation's largest TV market will help Bounce TV pull in higher advertising rates and help it lure nationally oriented blurbs. Channel, which bowed in September, is now cleared on stations covering more than 50% of U.S. TV households and 72% of African-American households.Bounce TV aims to draw the 25-54 demographic with a mix of acquired movies and series as well as sports and inspirational specials. It was designed as a syndication-style offering for broadcast TV stations to carry on the digital subchannels that broadcasters have available after making the transition to digital telecasting.Atlanta-based Bounce TV is independently owned by African-American investors, a group that includes Martin Luther King III and former United Nations ambassador Andrew Young. Contact Cynthia Littleton at cynthia.littleton@variety.com

Chris Brown Charged with Snatching Woman's Mobile Phone

Mira Sorvino is within final discussions to star CBS' drama pilot, Trooper, Deadline reviews. The entire pilot report: CBS has Greg Berlanti, Louis C.K. and Bridesmaids stars Created by Jerry Bruckheimer, the project follows a smart mother who turns into a NY condition trooper. Heroes scribe Aron Eli Coleite will write and executive-produce. If Trooper is acquired, it might be Sorvino's first... Find Out More > Other Links From TVGuide.com HouseMighty AphroditeRomy And Michele's Senior High School ReunionMira SorvinoJerry BruckheimerHeroes

Sony nabs rights to Silva thriller

Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions has pre-bought all media rights to the Sebastian Silva's untitled thriller starring Michael Cera, Juno Temple, Emily Browning and Catalina Sandino Moreno, which was formerly known as "Magic Magic."Pic is written and directed by Silva, whose film "The Maid" won the Grand Jury prize at Sundance and was nominated for Best Foreign Film at the Golden Globes.Psychological thriller follows a young American woman (Temple) vacationing with her friends in a remote part of Chile, who begins to mentally unravel and enters into a world of disturbing landscapes and crushing terror.The film is produced by Frida Torresblanco ("Pan's Labyrinth") of Braven Films, which is also fully financing the film. Killer Films' Christine Vachon is also producing with Mike White and David Bernad of Rip Cord Prods. Pic is skedded to start production in early 2012.Deal was made by SPWA's exec VP of business affairs Michael Helfand and acquisitions director Lejo Pet, along with Brian O'Shea and Laura Ivey of The Exchange, as well as UTA's Rich Klubeck, Bec Smith and Jacqui Schock. The Exchange is selling all international territories of the film along with Marina Fuentes of 6 Sales.SPWA now has rights to the pic in the U.S. and Canada, as well as international territories including Latin America, Scandinavia, South Africa and Eastern Europe. Contact Jeff Sneider at jeff.sneider@variety.com

three dimensional redos spinning B.O. history

'Star Wars: Episode I -- The Phantom Menace'Hollywood's three dimensional redos are re-writing box office history.Through the finish of Friday, Fox's "The Exorcist: Episode I -- The Phantom Menace," having a lifetime gross of $456 million by Wednesday, will end up the greatest-grossing PG-ranked film ever, surpassing the initial "The Exorcist" at $460 million (not comprising inflation)."Episode I" bowed last week the very first time in three dimensional, collecting a much better-than-expected $22.5 million. Pic's three dimensional version makes its way into the weekend with $25.two million.InchThe Lion King," meanwhile, nabbed the G-ranked crown from "Toy Story 3" this past year. Here's how that three dimensional shake-up shakes out:Disney released its three dimensional "Lion King" to some boffo Stateside tally of $94 million. Put into the film's large-format (including Imax) re-release in 2002, which totaled $15.7 million, "The Lion King" has cumed a great U.S. total of $423 million. "Toy Story 3" ended with $415 million.Records aside, these three dimensional redos have grown to be a tidy method for galleries to enhance their main point here. Disney bowed recently "Beauty and also the Animal" in three dimensional, using the pic approaching $50 million for any theatrical lifetime domestic cume of $217 million. A Button presently has within the pipeline three more conversions slated with this year and then, including "Finding Nemo," "Monsters, Corporation." and "The Small Mermaid."Up next is James Cameron's three dimensional management of "Titanic," which Vital is delivering on April 4. It will have to make $160 milllion Stateside to reclaim its all-time box office crown from "Avatar" -- which appears possible, because of the craze it produced if this was initially launched in 1997. Contact Andrew Stewart at andrew.stewart@variety.com

Oscar 2012 Snubs & Surprises!

First Launched: The month of the month of january 24, 2012 11:37 AM EST Credit: Fox Searchlight Caption Ryan Gosling in Crazy Stupid Love / Michael Fassbender in ShameLOS ANGELES, Calif. -- The 84th Annual Academy Award nominations were introduced Tuesday morning having a couple of surprising nominees but not every the 2011 favorite silver screen performances and movies were honored getting a nomination. Martin Scorseses Hugo surprising introduced the nominations with 11, edging out quiet film The Artist for a lot of nods, which acquired a likewise impressive 10 nominations. Demian Bichir, who'd be superior recognized for his role on Showtimes Weeds where he carried out the dad Mary-Louise Parkers baby, is facing Hollywood heavyweights like Kaira Pitt and George Clooney inside the Best Actor race for his be employed in A Far Greater Existence. Another surprise was the romance the Academy gave Very Noisy & Incredibly Close Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullocks publish 9/11 drama, which has polarized audiences and experts. The film acquired a Best Picture nomination together with a Best Supporting Actor jerk for max von Sydow. Bridesmaids star Melissa McCarthy will be a nice surprise nomination inside the Best Supporting Actress category on her behalf amusing performance inside the breakout comedy. Co-star Kristen Wiig and author Annie Mumolo also acquired a nomination for top Original Script for raucous box office hit. Then there is a heavens whose phones did not ring with very good news today. Despite his effective performance and jerk of approval from George Clooney within the Golden Globes Michael Fassbender was ignore for his role in Shame. Ryan Gosling who went into award season with major buzz for 3 films Drive, The Ides of March, and Crazy Stupid Love appeared to become snubbed. Other acting snubs incorporated Leonardo DiCaprio for J. Edgar, Albert Brooks for Drive, Tilda Swinton in We Must Discuss Kevin, Charlize Theron for Youthful Adult, and youthful star Shailene Woodley, who many thought would earn a nomination on her behalf behave as George Clooneys daughter inside the Descendants. The snubs ongoing with Steven Spielberg who not successful to earn a Best Director nomination, even though War Equine was honored getting a jerk for top Picture. The Hollywood veteran did earn a jerk for creating War Equine. An unpredicted snub showed up the most effective Animated Feature category for your Adventures of Tintin, which needed home the Golden Globe inside the same category, but not successful to acquire any Oscar love. There won't be any musical catfights on Oscar evening between Elton John and Madonna (or Eltons partner David Furnish), who've been shut in the Best Song category. To have an entire report on the 2011 nominees, Follow The Link! Uncover who'll collect Oscar gold on February 26, with host Billy Very, survive ABC at 7 PM ET/4 PM PT. -By Jesse Spero Copyright 2012 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All rights reserved. These elements is probably not launched, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.