Friday Movie Dweebing

'Deja Vu' all over again with Scott
Tony Scott is returning to direct Walt Disney Studios' "Deja Vu," now that it appears the project will be able to film in New Orleans as originally planned.

The action thriller is being produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and stars Denzel Washington.

But its future had been in doubt since Scott left the project this month after its key location, New Orleans, was devastated by Hurricane Katrina. At the time, Scott cited logistical and scheduling reasons in withdrawing from the project. Sources familiar with the director's position said Scott was adamant about shooting in the city for creative reasons -- in part because the script called for a dock and ferry in key scenes

Eisner helms 'Lagoon' redo for Uni, Ross
Breck Eisner has been tapped to direct Universal Pictures' remake of "Creature From the Black Lagoon."

Gary Ross, whose father, Arthur Ross, was a writer on the 1954 original, is producing via his Larger Than Life banner.

Part of Universal's rich legacy of black-and-white monster movies, the original "Lagoon" followed a scientific expedition searching for fossils in the Amazon that discovers a prehistoric creature able to breathe underwater. The creature, named Gill-Man, terrorizes the group and falls in love with the fiancee of a member of the expedition. EDITOR'S NOTE: SO...IT'S A ROMANTIC COMEDY?

The studio began developing updates of its creature features after the success of 1999's "The Mummy." Ross wrote the current draft of the screenplay. Tedi Safarian also wrote a draft

Fanning set as lead voice in 'Coraline'
Dakota Fanning has signed on to voice the title character in Laika Entertainment's animated feature "Coraline."

Henry Selick ("Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas," "James and the Giant Peach") is writing and directing the film, based on the best-selling novel by Neil Gaiman. Bill Mechanic will produce through his Pandemonium Films along with Laika's Mary Sandell.

The story centers on a young girl (Fanning) who discovers an alternate version of her life after walking through a secret door in her new home. On the surface, this parallel reality is similar to her real life, only much better. The adventure turns dangerous, however, when the girl's counterfeit parents try to keep her forever. EDITOR'S NOTE IF THE PARALLEL REALITY IS SO MUCH BETTER, WHY IS THIS A PROBLEM? (I WONDER IF I'M TALLER AND THINNER IN THAT OTHER UNIVERSE......)

WB redoing King's 'Creepshow'
"Creepshow," the 1982 horror anthology movie written by Stephen King and directed by George A. Romero, is getting the remake treatment.

Warner Bros. Pictures is developing the remake, which will be produced by Roy Lee and Doug Davison of Vertigo Entertainment along with Taka Ichise of OZ LA and Tony Ludwig. James Dudelson, the original rights holder, also is attached to produce.

Although in the original anthology the stories -- which were written in the old 1950s EC Comics style -- were unconnected, the plan is to structure the new movie a la "Go," where individual stories will have interconnected characters and situations

Cox is getting bigger
Looks like former “Friends” star Courteney Cox won’t have to take that second mortgage out on her hefty mansion after all.

The actress has been signed by Paramount to star in an untitled comedy that Cox and husband David Arquette will produce.

To be penned by Susan Walter, the film centers on a Southern socialite (Cox) whose daughter's transformation from little princess to street hip-hop dancer at first shatters her world, then gives the two common ground.

2006 might be Cox’s comeback year. She’s also in talks with the Weinstein’s to reprise her role as bitchy Gale Weathers in “Scream 4”, and is rumoured to be in negotiations to do a guest-spot on TV’s “Desperate Housewives”. EDITOR'S NOTE: OOO....FUN STUNT CASTING!