Screenhead

Having failed at the international box office, British comedy The Boat That Rocked is being retooled for its American release this November.

The film followed ‘60s pirate radio broadcasters, starring the likes of Bill Night, Nick Frost, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Kenneth Branagh.

Made for about $50 million, the film took a mere $25 million – a major flop whereas Richard Curtis’s (the director) other projects have been successes.

The film has been handed over to Universal’s specialty division Focus Features for opening the film this November. Additinally, Focus chief James Schamus and Curtis are planning to trim around 20 minutes from the movie’s often criticized 129 minute runtime.

Popularity: 1% [?]

The official one sheet for Focus Features’ upcoming dramatic thriller Sin Nombre has just been released.  Sin Nombre won the Directing Award as well as the Excellence in Cinematography Award at Sundance this year.  You can view the movie trailer here.

Popularity: unranked [?]

Nigerian musician and political maverick Fela Kuti is a legend on his own terms. Best known for his fusion style of music known as Afrobeat, not many people know about him, but that may soon change as Focus Features is developing a biopic about him.

Full name Fela Anikulapo-Kuti garnered fame in the US for the Afrobeat style of music. He was imprisoned when he went back to his native country and spoke out against the government and its policies. Kuti died in 1997.

Michael Veal’s book Fela: The Life and Times of an African Musical Icon is being used as source material.

Popularity: unranked [?]