Screenhead

Everybody’s favorite redneck won’t be getting back on the screen, I’m sorry to report, despite rumors that the show would be getting a short reprieve on cable.

It was being reported that 20^th Century Fox TV was in talks with TBS about a possible 13-episode pickup, but those plans have been cancelled by Fox, who released the following statement:

"While we had hoped to find a way to produce additional episodes for TBS, in the final analysis we simply could not make the economics work without seriously undermining the artistic integrity of the series.

As none of us, [series creator] Greg [Garcia] included, want the show to go out on anything but a high note, we regret that we must put to rest any speculation that Earl will continue.

We are grateful to everyone at TBS for their enthusiasm for the series and wish to offer our heartfelt thanks to the cast and crew of My Name is Earl for their incredible work."

So, there you have it: My Name is Earl is dead.

Captain Kirk, leaving behind his Federation uniform, is in talks to join the cast of upcoming action-thriller Unstoppable for 20^th Century Fox.

Being directed by Tony Scott, the film centers on an experienced train engineer (Denzel Washington) about to be laid off as part of company cutbacks and the newbie – played by Chris Pine – conductor hired to replace him.

However, before the transition happens, they find themselves in a race against time to stop an unmanned, half-mile-long freight train carrying enough combustible liquids and poisonous gas to wipe out a nearby city.

Variety reports that 20^th Century Fox and Lakeshore Entertainment are planning to remake the ‘80s comedy Girls Just Want to Have Fun.

Released back in 1985, the film centered on two girls who shared a passion for dancing and the television show “Dance TV”. It starred Helen Hunt, Shannen Doherty and Sarah Jessica Parker.

The script is being adapted by Michelle Morgan.

From Variety comes word that Steve Brill, the guy behind Drillbit Taylor and Without a Paddle, has penned and will direct an untitled comedy for 20^th Century Fox.

The film will tell the story of a wealthy older couple who, after losing all their money in a Wall Street ponzi scheme, are forced to move in with their loser son.

Brill is also set to rewrite and direct the campus comedy The Last Semester for Endgame Entertainment. It will follow a Harvard couple who decide to temporarily break up and date other people in their final semester in order to have the “college experience”.

Variety reports that Will Ferrell is in talks to star in the comedy Neighborhood Watch at 20^th Century Fox.

The film will follow an urbanite’s journey as he moves to a suburban community, joins the neighborhood watch and uncovers a large conspiracy.

Written by Jared Stern, the film is in negotiations to be directed by David Dobkin (Wedding Crashers).

Penguins are quite the cinematic bunch, as 20th Century Fox has landed film rights to the 1938 children’s book Mr. Popper’s Penguins.

The book followed Mr. Popper, a house painter whose dreams of Arctic exploration prompt him to write letters to real explorers. One of them sends him a penguin, which he keeps in an icebox. Before you know it – he has a litter of 12 beaked birds, which prompts him to form Popper’s Performing Penguins, a stage act that goes on tour and creates mayhem at every stop.

It is being adapted to the screen by Sean Anders and John Morris (Sex Drive); John Davis will produce.

The Hollywood Reporter carries word that Tom Dey is set to direct a big-screen adaptation of classic comic strip Marmaduke for 20^th Century Fox.

The story of the mischievous Great Dane began in 1954; his exploits also appeared in several animated episodes of Heathcliff and Garfield and Friends.

The project is in early development, so there is no word if the titular canine will be live action or animated.

Those animal lovers at 20th Century Fox have picked up the rights to Benjamin Mee’s memoir We Bought a Zoo. It tells the true account of how the author and his family used their life savings to buy a broken zoo, replete with 200 exotic animals facing destruction, in the English countryside.

The memoir follows Mee, along with his children, balance caring for his wife – dying from brain cancer – and dealing with escaped tigers, raising endangered animals, and more.

No writer is yet attached to the project. Julie Yorn will produce.

20^th Century Fox and Keanu Reeves are taking on another sci-fi movie after the success of The Day the Earth Stood Still. Together they will work on the adaptaion of a top line,  live-action big screen feature film of the Japanese animation TV series “Cowboy Bebop.”

Reeves is set for the role of Spike Spiegel, an adventurous bounty hunter traveling through space in 2071.

The story centers on the adventures of a group of bounty hunters traveling on their spaceship, the Bebop. Peter Craig has been signed on to write the screenplay.

The popular television series first aired on Tokyo TV and Wowow in 1998. Then, came to the states and aired as part of Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim programming block.

Superherohype carries confirmation from 20th Century Fox that the very first trailer for Wolverine will hit theaters with the studio’s The Day the Earth Stood Still on December 12. The trailer won’t be released online or on television until sometime later, so you’ll need to pay to watch Keanu Reeve’s wooden acting to watch the trailer.

Wolverine is due out May 1, 2009 and stars Hugh Jackman as the titular character, as well as Liev Schreiber, Ryan Reynolds, Taylor Kitsch, Will.i.am and many more. The film will serve as a prequel, exploring the famous X-Men character’s life, the Weapon X program and events which lead up to the first X-Men movie.