P a p e r / C u t s

Adaptations in development...
Screenwriter John August has picked up the rights to Steve Hely's debut satire, How I Became a Famous Novelist.

From the screenwriter himself:

"Add this book to your late-summer reading:...It’s fast, funny, and will likely become the next movie I write and direct.

[....]The book tells the story of Pete Tarslaw, an ambitiously underachieving college grad who writes a shamelessly maudlin and derivative Great American Novel for the sole purpose of upstaging his ex-girlfriend’s wedding. When the book becomes a bestseller, he finds himself sucked into a strange coterie of mega-authors and their attendants."

You may recall that August also adapted Big Fish a few years back, as well as Charlie and the Chocolate Fatory. His directorial debut, The Nines, was an amazing head-scratcher -- so it will be interesting to see what he does with this.

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Acclaimed author Jeffrey Archer will see his latest thriller adapted for the big screen.

From The Hollywood Reporter:

"Sony is in final discussions to pick up a pitch from screenwriter Sheldon Turner that would see him adapting Jeffrey Archer's historical novel, Paths of Glory, about the mystery surrounding Mallory's 1924 ascent, into a feature.

[....]Mallory's legacy involves the possibility that he -- and not Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in 1953 -- was the first man to reach the summit of the Nepalese peak. Mallory made several attempts, and competed with Australian climber George Finch, who first used oxygen, but he and his partner Andrew Irvine never returned from their June 1924 climb.

In 1999, Mallory's frozen body was found near the summit on the North Face, and debate has raged ever since about whether he was actually on his way down or up."

"This is one of Archer's best efforts, and its highly recommended to fans of classic adventure fiction." Booklist

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The trailer for the adaptation of Tucker Max's boys'-night-out tale I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell has hit the interwebs.

My name is Tucker Max, and I am an asshole. I get excessively drunk at inappropriate times, disregard social norms, indulge every whim, ignore the consequences of my actions, mock idiots and posers, sleep with more women than is safe or reasonable, and just generally act like a raging dickhead. But, I do contribute to humanity in one very important way: I share my adventures with the world. -- from the Introduction


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Happy readings -- see you in the theater!