French filmmaker Pascal Laugier was in London this week to launch the British theatrical and DVD release of his still-controversial MARTYRS. Fango caught up with him to ask about the current status of all the projects he's involved with, especially the much-touted remake of HELLRAISER.

"Yes, it's a good time to be me," Laugier (pictured) tells us with a laugh. "I'm circling numerous projects, and whichever gets greenlighted or fully financed first, I'll be doing."

Like DETAILS, which we previously reported on here? "That's a project with Paramount Vantage based on a novella by the famous, hip London-based writer China Mieville," he says. "The story, inspired by H.P. Lovecraft's writings, is about a boy looking after a weird old woman who discovers strange forces hidden in the creased fabric of our world. Mieville is a smart guy and a very dark horror writer. I've been adapting the story into a new script for six weeks now, and it's a very complicated assignment. It's more a piece of abstract literature you feel in your gut, and straightening it out into a more literal screenplay is hard."

http://fangoriaonline.com/home/news/9-film-news/1773-martyrs-director-talks-his-multiple-new-projects.html



Posted by: Helen M on 4/22/2009
Alice J on IMDb found this...a script called "The Details" making the rounds: http://scriptshadow.blogspot.com/2009/03/details.html. Sounds very interesting...they're calling it the next "American Beauty." Can anyone download the script?


Posted by: Stateside on 4/22/2009
I downloaded it but not sure how to post a link to it? If someone wants it - please pm me and we'll try it that way. It's in pdf and is 131 pages. Very interesting and am wondering if James will be playing the lead "Jeff". Maybe we should start it's own thread?


Posted by: Kaber on 4/23/2009
Now THIS sounds much more to me like a script that James might get involved with. That other script being directed by the "Hellraiser" gent was throwing me off a bit. I hope this is the style of project he chooses. Look forward to hearing confirmation of something.


Posted by: Helen M on 4/23/2009
Well, I emailed the blogger and sent him the link to the video clip. He didn't know anything about James being attached but said "Very cool script. Didn't know McAvoy was attached. I love him so I'm happy he'll be a part of it."

I agree we should probably wait until there's more official confirmation that this is the project JM was talking about.



Posted by: Very qwerty on 4/23/2009
Synopsis: A suburban husband finds his life spiraling out of control due to extramarital temptation, a crazy cat lady, a wannabe gangster, and a band of raccoons hellbent on destroying the only thing that matters in his life: the perfect backyard lawn.
About: This one has been making its way around town and wowing just about everyone who reads it. Some are even calling it the next American Beauty.

That synopsis was hilarious, I had to check out the script... I already read half of it, and it's really great. So funny... It did remind me of American Beauty, which is a very good thing, because I *love* AB. I hope this is the movie that James was talking about. (Good thing I asked him about it, huh? )

In the first half of the script, there are 2.5 sex scenes and potential for a full frontal.. haha

Spoiler [+]

*fingers crossed*


Posted by: Stateside on 4/23/2009
Read it all the way through and it is quite good. I do hope this is the project James was refering to. Hopefully he'll be playing the lead.


Posted by: PaulaJoW on 4/23/2009
Oh, man, do we EVER need a film like this!


Posted by: Helen M on 4/24/2009
I just read the first few pages, but this draft has Arizona as the setting and the protagonist and his wife are celebrating their 15th wedding anniv Seems a bit old for James to play? I guess I'm envisioning Jeff in his mid to late 30's. Of course, that could be changed.


Posted by: Stateside on 4/24/2009
Helen I thought the same thing but as you get further along you'll see they discuss about getting married so young. I also read from the site that had the script that there was another revision but he / she didn't have it - lost it or something.

Also, giving his profession, early 30's would be feasible. And if James sports facial hair he can look the part. Just some food for thought.


Posted by: Carbonyard on 4/24/2009
Interesting. It seems that script is full of your spoiler Qwerty


Posted by: Stateside on 4/24/2009
Again........




Posted by: paraffin on 4/24/2009
Thanks for the links!I've read it a bit and it sounds cool!I'm sooo happy that he'll be on the silverscreen again,with that Jeff character hopefully.


Posted by: mcavoyfan on 4/25/2009
Oh please please let this be something he's working on! Anything!



Posted by: rorysgirl riedel on 4/27/2009
Just reading all these posts makes me hope he does it!


Posted by: serpenta on 5/01/2009
I just found maybe one of the first articles about the details:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1175909/Baz-Bamigboye-Could-Anna-Friel-make-bed-breakfast-sexier-Tiffanys.html

James McAvoy (pictured) is getting into the nitty-gritty with Laura Linney.

The two actors will star in a movie called The Details, and they will get down to just that later in the month once the play Three Days Of Rain ends its limited run at the Apollo. (James is starring in the theatrical drama with Nigel Harman and Lyndsey Marshal.) Details on The Details are scarce, and all I know from friends in Los Angeles is that it's a powerful story - but then, isn't everything?

However, it's directed by Jacob Aaron Estes, who made the cult movie Mean Creek about a bunch of mean-spirited adolescents in the U.S. who come to unhappy ends.

So maybe the nitty-gritty details are mighty mean ones. Next year the cameras are likely to roll on a sequel to Wanted, the thriller about assassins with super-human gun-shooting abilities that James made with Angelina Jolie. When the actor signed on to make Wanted two years ago he agreed an option to make a sequel. That picture's being written now and it will probably go before the cameras later in the autumn, around which time the film The Last Station will be released.

In that film James plays a young man who gets mixed up in the domestic household of Leo Tolstoy. The film is set in Russia, of course, but was shot on location in Germany, with Christopher Plummer portraying the famous writer and Helen Mirren as his feisty wife.



Posted by: carbonyard on 5/01/2009
Ahh I was just coming here to post this. Nice one!


Posted by: gensing on 5/01/2009

I was ready to post that, too! Great to hear it's the Jacob Estes script mentioned here before. And I'm loving the Laura Linney match up - Lila the neighbor?


Posted by: Kaber on 5/01/2009
VERY exciting news!

Posted by: Hannah Kipje on 5/01/2009

So does that mean it IS the script everyone here has been reading? And is The Daily Mail a trustable enough source? Because in that case this warrants a thread of it's own, right? Anyone willinmg to make that with a summary of the things already mentioned in this thread? Like the script and all?
FINALLY some actual news on what he is up to

If we are sure this is trustable news (but combined with the fact that James already mentioned it himself I am thinking it probably is) please cross post this in the Latest News thread, because this is exciting!


Posted by: Stateside on 5/01/2009
Laura Linely as the neighbor - BRILLIANT!