Screenwriting News [3/25–3/30/12]

Michael Bacall (Project X, 21 Jump Street) signs with CAA.

This week, screenwriter-director James Cameron descended 35,756 feet under the ocean’s surface. Did you know Cameron is an explorer-in-residence with the National Geographic?

Lex Hrabe and Thomas Voorhies, who wrote the novel “Quarantine: The Loners”, have been hired by Black Forest Film Group to adapt their book.

Tony Jaswinski & Luke Goltz sells horror thriller spec script “Garden District” to Dimension Films.

Charlie Kaufman lands a deal for his first novel with Grand Central Publishing.

Carl Lund (Detachment) signs with APA.

Ernest Lupinacci sells action adventure pitch “The Royal Honours Society” to Sony.

Newcomer Chuck MacLean selected to write “Storming Las Vegas” for Summit.

Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber hired to adapt juve novel “The Fault in Our Stars” for Fox 2000.

Alexander Payne and Jim Thomas (Sideways) set up an untitled hour-long drama series at Showtime involving an Indian casino and its effect on a Midwestern community.

David and Janet Peoples (Blade Runner) hired to adapt Japanese manga “Lone Wolf and Cub” for Kamala Films.

Will Reiser receives an award for his script for the movie 50/50.

Elizabeth Sarnoff (“Alcatraz”) to rewrite “Garlic and Sapphires for Fox 2000.

Nicholas Schoenfeld sells pitch “Attila” to Warner Bros.

James Vanderbilt (Zodiac) sells action spec script “White House Down” to Sony for $3M.

Vanderbilt also hired to rewrite the script for Robocop also for MGM.

Matthew Weiner (“Mad Men”) to direct “You Are Here” from his own screenplay starring Owen Wilson and Zach Galifianakis.

Erin Cressida Wilson (Secretary) dubbed to write “Mission Boys” for Allied Productions East.

And we end with a nice remembrance of screenwriter Philip Dunne (How Green Was My Valley, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir) by the Malibu Surf of all things.