Steven Spielberg’s company DreamWorks have acquired the rights to the science fiction novel Chocky, according to THR.

“Chocky” tells the story of a boy who has a mysterious imaginary friend with whom he frequently argues. As the boy’s father gets increasingly suspicious, it becomes clear that an alien entity has taken up residence in the boy’s consciousness.

Steven Spielberg is said to be keen to make the adaptation his next directing gig, whether that means after Tintin is unknown. The film hit a financial snag when Universal pulled out of funding it, however Paramount have apparently offered to pay the $130 million. I think Spielberg is more likely to direct Tintin first as a few scenes have already been filmed and the rest of filming is expected to begin in October.

It’s good to see Spielberg getting his hands on another alien movie. You could tell he was thirsty for it after aliens turned up in the recent Indiana Jones movie. There’s a time and a place Steven, a time and a place.

Simon Pegg revealed to the The Sunday Times that Steven Spielberg asked that he and Nick Frost play the Thompson Twins in Tintin.

“Steven’s smoking a stogy, cap on head, like he’s always been since I was a baby,” Pegg says, shaking his head in wonder. “I shook his hand and chatted about films. He gave me the mo-cap [motion-capture] camera, and I had a play around with it. Then he said, ‘Hey, maybe you and Nick Frost could play the Thompson Twins.’ In Tintin. A Spielberg movie. To work with him is beyond…” He trails off, lost for words.

I’m not sure how convincing they would be as twins, seeing as though they look and sound different. However, as the film will be in motion capture they could capture the essence of Frost and Pegg and turn them into twins for the big screen. It could work.

What were you doing a few weeks ago? Can’t remember? Well I’ll tell you what Universal were doing…pulling out of Tintin that’s what! For some reason Universal have declined to exercise an option to co-finance Tintin, which will be directed by Steven Spielberg and produced by Peter Jackson.

From Nikki Finke’s blog:

The decision was quietly made a few weeks ago. So now DreamWorks will look only to owner Paramount for the rest of the moolah in the same way the two shared financing on Dreamgirls and Transformers. Unfortunately, Paramount is presently without an overall financing deal to mitigate risk, but is arranging it on a film-by-film basis. I say Tintin — to be played by Love Actually’s Thomas Sangster — sounds like an expensive but safe bet, considering that the beloved Belgian boy is a worldwide phenomenon, and that the two great filmmakers are directing and producing even though also participating as huge first-dollar-gross players.

Filming is expected to begin in October so hopefully Spielberg and Jackson can get the money by then. If not I’m sure they could probably pay for it themselves as they are both stinkin’ rich.

Update: Herge Studios got it wrong and Steven Spielberg IS still directing the first movie, with Jackson directing the second.

According to dhnet.be the first Tintin movie will now be directed by Peter Jackson, not Steven Spielberg who has been attached to direct for a number of months. Peter Jackson was originally set to direct the first movie, however Spielberg took the reigns as Jackson had to go and work on The Hobbit. Now it seems Peter Jackson is back in the director chair.

The first of the planned Tintin movies will be directed by Peter Jackson, not Steven Spielberg, according to Herge Studios, which holds the rights to the iconic comic strip character.

Spielberg, initially tabbed to direct the first installment of the would-be franchise, will now be only indirectly involved in the filming, the Brussels-based studio said.

The first episode will be based on two of the books, “The Secret of the Unicorn” and “Red Rackham’s Treasure,” written by Tintin creator Herge between 1942 and 1944.

The film, scripted by “Doctor Who” writer Stephen Moffat, will be animated with motion-capture technology and star 18-year-old Thomas Sangster as Tintin and Andy Serkis as his friend Captain Haddock.

Filming is expected to begin in September.

The reason Peter Jackson isn’t directing The Hobbit is due to this little Tintin trilogy that’s going on. Steven Spielberg will be directing the first movie, Peter Jackson the second and there is a good chance both will direct the third. I suppose this trilogy could be rather good don’t you?

Andy Serkis who brought Gollum and King Kong to life will be playing Captain Haddock, and spoke to the BBC about the status of the first film.

“I’m really excited about it. We’ve done a few (screen) tests and we’re just about to start shooting principal photography in September. There isn’t a finished script as yet so I don’t really know exactly which way it’s going to go.

“We’ve had a look at some sequences and done some test sequences which may or may not be in the movie.”

On working with both Jackson and Spielberg:

“Working with the two of them together is a real joy. It’s a great relationship, really superb, two people at the top of their game kind, just having a lot of fun really,” he said. “Peter’s always in control of his material, he’s got so many brilliant ideas, he’s such a visionary so they’re just bouncing off each other in a really exciting way. It’s fantastic to be around.”

To read the full article click here!

The new trailer for upcoming Shia LaBeouf lead, Steven Spielberg produced, super thriller Eagle Eye sheds some new light on the plotline and gives a LOT more than the teaser (which is why it was a teaser, I guess!).

I’m actually REALLY excited about this movie! Shia may not have the best reputation as a person, but I really like him as an actor. Plus, with Spielberg running the show, what have we got to lose?

The BBC is reporting that Members of the Russian Communist party have called for the new Indiana Jones film to be banned in the county because they say it distorts history.

Moscow Communist official Andrei Andreyev said:

“It is very disturbing if talented directors want to provoke a new Cold War.”

Steven Spielberg starting a new Cold War!? I think someone is over-reacting just a tad!

He said many Russian cinemagoers were teenagers who would be “completely unaware of what happened in 1957″, when the film is set.

“They will go to the cinema and will be sure that in 1957 we made trouble for the United States and almost started a nuclear war.

“It’s rubbish… In 1957 the communists did not run with crystal skulls throughout the US.”

I can remember when Iran got their panties in a bunch when 300 was released last year. Some people just need to remember that they are watching a movie. They are not making factual documentaries, they are making entertainment.

It is well known that Steven Spielberg will be directing the first movie in the Tintin trilogy, and Peter Jackson will take over for the second outing. However, people have been wondering for quite a while now who will be sat in the directors chair for the third film. As the films will involve 3D motion capture technology, names such as Robert Zemeckis and James Cameron have been thrown around, but it seems that Spielberg already knows how it will play out.

While on his Indy rounds, he talked to Stuff.co.uk,

“We are going to make three ‘Tintin’ movies back-to-back,” Spielberg said. “I’ll direct the first one, Peter will direct the second one. We’ll probably co-direct the third one.”

Two of the greatest directors of our time working on a trilogy together was something, but for them BOTH to be working on the same movie will be amazing!

Filming on the first film is expected to begin later this year, with a release date set for sometime in 2009. As they are filming back to back we could be seeing the third movie something in 2011/12.

In a new interview, George Lucas said that “it’s more than a strong possibility there will be a fifth Indiana Jones,” [and] says that “he and director Steven Spielberg have left the door open for a sequel to Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.”

Interesting! What would Indy & Co. be up to this fifth time around?

“I haven’t even told Steven or Harrison this,” Lucas said. “But I have an idea to make Shia [LaBeouf] the lead character next time and have Harrison [Ford] come back like Sean Connery did in the last movie. I can see it working out.

“And it’s not like Harrison is even old,” he said, backpedaling fast. “I mean, he’s 65 and he did everything in this movie. The old chemistry is there, and it’s not like he’s an old man. He’s incredibly agile; he looks even better than he did 20 years ago, if you ask me.”

So it looks like young LaBeouf could be taking over for a generation of younger fans!

Is it just me, or does anyone else wish that they were Shia right now? Not only does he have Steven Spielberg in his back pocket, but now George Lucas, too! And, with Transformers 2 set to begin filming in June, he couldn’t be riding a higher wave!

Props, LaBeouf! Just make sure to start away from those convenient stores and everything will BE OKAY.

According to one analyst, upcoming Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull could pull in as much as $162-$172 MILLION over next week’s 5-day Memorial Day weekend opening! WOW.

Considering that there have been some not-so-nice reviews going around lately, this is some good news for Paramount!

But, then again, Speed Racer didn’t have the built in audience that Indiana Jones does. Anyone who suggests that Indy is going to bomb needs to have their head checked (or wipe the white powder off their nose). I mean, you all saw Revenge of the Sith, right? THAT still managed to make $380 mil domestic, so I’ve got faith in Steve & Co.

I’ll definitely be there.  That’s $11 right there!