Pair join Cruise in U sci-fi pic

KurylenkoRiseboroughUniversal has attracted on Olga Kurylenko and Andrea Riseborough since the female leads opposite Tom Cruise in Ernest Kosinski's untitled sci-fi pic. William Monahan and Karl Gajdusek written earlier drafts in the script, that's presently being rewritten by Michael Arndt. Advanced story follows a soldier situated in the world, the top that's been destroyed by aliens. Because he discovers a mysterious lady in the crash-showed up pod, it sparks a number of occasions that induce him to question everything they are fully aware. Peter Chernin and Dylan Clark are coming up with through Chernin Entertainment, along with Craig Levine of Radical Posting and Kosinski. Jesse Berger and Dork Morrison will professional produce. Production is predicted to start inside the first quarter of 2012. It seems that almost every high-profile youthful actress around remains connected to the project eventually. As Variety first reported, Jessica Chastain showed up another female lead in September, but was instructed to get after she signed onto Kathryn Bigelow's untitled Osama bin Laden pic and could not arrange her schedule to accomodate both films. Kurylenko examined for just about any role in August along with Chastain, Olivia Wilde and Noomi Rapace. But after Chastain showed up one part, Kurylenko wasn't among many other ladies who examined with Cruise in November. Affiliates say Cruise loved her within the original test, and ongoing to become inside the mix despite not testing again in November. For Riseborough, it's the first time her title remains in the project, as she didn't test for either part in August or November. Thesp could make her American debut while using film, as until lately, she's only toplined Brit photos including Madonna's "W.E." Thesp's next film, James Marsh's "Shadow Dancer," preems at Sundance inside a couple of days. Kurylenko, who carried out a Bond girl in "Quantum of Solace" and may soon be seen on Starz's approaching series "Miracle City," recently wrapped Terrence Malick's untitled pic starring Film Clip. Kurylenko is repped by CAA and Tavistock Wood Management. Riseborough is repped by CAA, Untitled Entertainment and Independent Talent Group. Arndt is repped by Verve and McKuin Frankel Whitehead LLP. Contact Rob Sneider at rob.sneider@variety.com

Target game game titles

'Simon Killer''Keep the Lights On''Arbitrage''Red Lights''Predisposed''Liberal Arts'"a few days in NY"Chris Rock joins Julie Delpy in this particular Gotham-based follow-around her $20 million-grossing Paris-based indie romance. (Rezo/CAA)"About Face"Cinemax has TV rights, but theatrical could be acquired, with this particular revealing have a look at history's most legendary models within the director of "The Black List." (Films Transit)"Arbitrage"Richard Gere and Susan Sarandon topline Nicholas Jarecki's directorial debut, a thriller set in the backdrop of financial scandal. (WME)"Bachelorette"Customers are wanting this Kirsten Dunst starrer shapes up to become commercial, "Bridesmaids"-style comedy. (CAA)"Celeste and Jesse Forever"A couple of (Rashida Manley and Andy Samberg) debate love after divorce in this particular Black List-based script from Sundance vet Lee Toland Krieger. (UTA)"Chasing after after IceDoc comprises a scenario for climatic change through Nat Geo photog James Balog's stunning glacier portraits. (Submarine)"Compliance"High concept and poor mix in this particular Next thriller, about mind games inside a fast-food restaurant, from director Craig Zobel. (Cinetic)"Excision"This teen-movie/horror mashup purports to transform the means by which auds see "90210" star Annalynne McCord. (Preferred Content/Cassian Elwes)"The House Home IsInchInchWhy We Fight" helmer Eugene Jarecki changes his concentrate on America's combat drugs in this particular high-profile doc premiere. (Cinetic)"The Imposter"Military services weapons Texan teen resurfaces years later in the united states -- or does he? Ideas are actually flying relevant for this thriller-like doc. (CAA/Submarine)"Keep the Lights On"Ira Sachs won Sundance's jury prize in 2005 for "Forty Shades of Blue." Now he returns getting an account of contempo gay coupling. (WME/Preferred Content)"L""Willfully bizarre," claims the Sundance blurb relating to this Greek pic co-put together by one amongst the "Dogtooth" scribes. Gets the critics' curiosity spurred. (Peter Carlton, Warp Films)"Liberal Arts"Sundance alum Josh Radnor revisits his old college, where he falls for college students carried out by Elizabeth Olsen. (Gersh)"The Pact"Extended in the 2011 Sundance short, this ghost story could attract customers searching for an additional "The Demon Inside." (Preferred Content)"Predisposed"This late-add Premieres title stars Jesse Eisenberg just like a piano prodigy at odds along with his mother (Melissa Leo). (ICM)"The Entire of Versailles"Construction from the extravagant mansion reflects the housing bubble in this particular opening-evening competish doc. (Submarine) "Red-colored-colored Lights""Hidden" director Rodrigo Cortes returns to Sundance getting a paranormal thriller that apparently dollars the genre. (UTA)"Safety Not Guaranteed"A newspaper ad seeking a companion for time travel sparks romance between Aubrey Plaza and Mark Duplass. (Cinetic)"Simon Killer"The newest from "Afterschool" director (and "Martha Marcy May Marlene" producer) Antonio Campos. (CAA/UTA)"Sleepwalk Beside MeInchHidden away in Next, affable standup Mike Birbiglia changes his popular one-guy show. (UTA)"West of Memphis""Coping with Damien Echols, doc director Amy Berg gives an interior account in the "Paradise Lost" situation. (Key Creatives)Sundance Film Festival 2012How to brand a fest Tyro focus makes fest no country for old males Target game game titles Thrills turn more extreme as indie genre photos evolve Newcomer 'dance Filmmakers absolve to experiment in labs Contact Peter Debruge at peter.debruge@variety.com

Early B.O.: 'Contraband' jumps into lead

Universal's Mark Wahlberg-starrer 'Contraband' could wind up with $25 million over the long Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend.Universal's Mark Wahlberg thriller "Contraband" has an early jump on a trio of weekend newcomers, taking between $6 million and $7 million at the domestic box office, according to early Friday estimates. Disney's 3D re-release of 1991's "Beauty and the Beast" and Warner Bros.' musical-comedy "Joyful Noise" both opened in the $4 million to $6 million range. Box office analysts indicated that "Contraband" could wind up with $21 million at 2,862 locations for the three days, and $25 million for the four days over the long Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend. "Beauty and the Beast" looks likely to finish in second with $17 million through Sunday and $22 million through Monday, followed by "Joyful Noise" with $14.5 million for the three days and $17 million for the four. The Weinstein Co.'s aggressive expansion of "The Iron Lady" to 802 engagements appeared to be headed for a three-day total of $5.5 million and a four-day take of $6.5 million. Paramount's second frame of "The Devil Inside," coming off last weekend's stunning $33.7 million debut, was off sharply on Friday and headed for an $11 million take for the three day-day frame. Studio's fifth frame of "Mission: Impossible -- Ghost Protocol," is looking likely to surpass "Devil" with a 35% decline to $13 million for the Friday-Sunday period and wind up the weekend with its domestic cume topping $190 million. Contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@variety.com

'Friday Evening Lights' lands at BSkyB

LONDON -- U.S. TV drama "Friday Evening Lights," a double champion within the Emmys, has finally found a home inside the U.K. Skein is always to bow on satcaster BSkyB's trendy Sky Atlantic funnel late February. The paybox guaranteed all U.K. TV rights for your initial few quantity of "Friday Evening Lights" from NBCUniversal Worldwide Television Distribution. Famous by experts inside the U.S., the sports drama, first examined in 2006, was not ever a sizable ratings champion. Show follows the exploits from the imaginary high-school football team, the Dillon Panthers, and was recognized due to its deft handling of difficult written content, for instance bereavement. "Friday Evening Lights" only agreed to be held in the ax undertaking a production deal between NBCU and DirecTV. Within the Emmys, Kyle Chandler won best lead actor for his role as coach Eric Taylor, while professional producer Jason Katims triumphed for his script composed for your series' finale. On Sky Atlantic, "Friday Evening Lights" joins an idea including such high-finish U.S. fare since the postponed fifth season of "Mad Males," season a few "Wager on Thrones" as well as the fourth season of "Nurse Jackie." Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

LA Coroner States Heavy D Died Of Natural Causes

First Released: December 27, 2011 6:53 PM EST Credit: Getty Premium La, Calif. -- Caption Heavy D attends T.I.s AKOO Clothing First Annual A King Of Yourself Brunch in the Mansion, Atlanta, Georgia, on October 2, 2011The La coroners office states Jamaican-born rapper Heavy D died of natural causes. The self-announced overweight lover of stylish hop, who grew to become among raps top hit makers with a mix of humor and positivity, flattened outdoors his Beverly Hillsides home on November. 8. The 44 year-old rapper, whose real title was Dwight Errington, died later in a hospital. Coroners office spokesperson Craig Harvey stated Tuesday that weight along with a transcontinental jet flight were adding factors. The reason for dying was lung embolism and deep leg vein thrombosis. Younger crowd had arteriosclerotic coronary disease. Heavy D grew to become among the genres most integral stars within the late eighties and early the nineteen nineties. His hit The Overweight Enthusiasts in the home performed up his hefty frame. Copyright 2011 through the Connected Press. All privileges reserved. These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Journalist: Hacking rife at Morgan's Mirror

LONDON -- Phone hacking was rife at U.K. tabloid the Daily Mirror under the editorship of Piers Morgan, a former employee testified Wednesday.James Hipwell, a former business journalist at the paper, told the Leveson Inquiry, which is investigating press ethics and practices in the U.K., that Morgan was an extremely hands-on editor, and it was "very unlikely he did not know what was going on."Hipwell conceded that he had no evidence that Morgan, who now hosts CNN talkshow "Piers Morgan Tonight," was involved in phone hacking, but said it was unlikely that Morgan had been kept in the dark."Nothing happened at the newspaper without him knowing," Hipwell said, speaking under oath a day after Morgan gave evidence to the inquiry via video-link from Los Angeles. Hipwell claimed that phone hacking was a "standard journalistic tool for gathering information" at the paper.Hipwell was convicted in 2005 of illegal share dealing, after it emerged that he had made money by buying shares that were promoted in the next day's paper. Morgan had also been investigated in same inquiry, but was cleared of wrong-doing.In a further development Wednesday, Heather Mills, the former wife of Paul McCartney, stated on her official website that she had never disclosed to Morgan voicemail messages left for her by her husband. Morgan told the inquiry Tuesday that he had listened to a message left on Mills' voice mail by McCartney, but refused to say how it had been obtained. Contact Leo Barraclough at leo.barraclough@variety.com

Cooper to star in 'Summer in February'

LONDON -- Dominic Cooper will topline for each other-triangular drama "Summer time in Feb," that is skedded to begin lensing the following month.Thesp plays artist Alfred Munnings, who had been area of the bohemian Lamorna Group, located in Cornwall, England, at the outset of the twentieth century. Cooper formerly starred in "The Devil's Double," in addition to showing up in "My Week with Marilyn" and "Captain America: The Very First Avenger." He'll next topline in "Abraham Lincoln subsequently: Vampire Hunter." Pic also features thesps Serta Stevens ("Downton Abbey"), Ophelia Lovibond ("Mr Popper's Penguins") and Hattie Morahan ("The Financial Institution Job"). Christopher Menaul ("Prime Suspect") helms from the script by Jonathan Cruz, who modified their own novel.Pic is created by Pippa Mix and Janette Day for CrossDay Prods., and Jeremy Cowdrey for Apart Films.CrossDay's credits include "My Left Feet," "The Area," "Home of Mirth," "Bloody Sunday," "Vanity Fair" and "Chalet Girl." Bob Benton and Serta Stevens professional produce. Contact Leo Barraclough at leo.barraclough@variety.com