Screenwriting News (5/7–5/13/12)

Writer-director Luc Besson opens a movie studio in France.

LAT feature on Dustin Lance Black about his directing debut What’s Wrong With Virginia.

NYT feature on James Cameron.

Chris Cantwell and Chris Rogers (“The Knoll / 2011 Black List) to write “Shadow Runners” for Sony.

Lindsay Devlin (“The Sleeping Beauty”) sells untitled horror thriller pitch to Davis Entertainment.

Bill Dubuque (“The Accountant” / 2011 Black List) to adapt crime action novel “The Brotherhoods” for Warner Bros.

Dan Ewen sells comedy spec script “Dear Satan” to 20th Century Fox.

Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer to write spoof “The Starving Games” for the Safran Company.

Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman (Catfish) to write and direct “The Monkey Wrench Gang” for Edward R. Pressman Film Company.

WGA held a memorial tribute for the late Hal Kanter.

Karey Kirpatrick and Chris Poche (Over the Hedge) named to write Smurfs 3 for Sony.

Matt Lopez (Bedtime Stories) to adapt “Clifford the Big Red Dog” for Universal.

Michael Mitnick sells untitled musical comedy pitch to Universal.

Keir Pearson (Hotel Rwanda) to direct his adaptation of “The Tracks” for Silver Reel Partners.

Richard Regen to adapt “A Matter of Honor” for Kennedy/Marshall.

John Ridley (Three Kings) writing and directing “All Is By My Side,” a Jimi Hendrix biopic starring Andre 3000.

David Simon with an essay on David Ettlin who taught Simon to be a news reporter.

Calvin Starnes sells thriller spec script “Until Death” to Screen Gems.

David Wain to direct “They Came Together” from a script he co-wrote with Michael Showalter for Lionsgate.

Kimberly Wells, screenwriter and PR executive, dies at the age of 56.

Joss Whedon interviews himself about The Avengers and more on Whedonesque.