Dimension Films announced today that it has acquired U.S. distribution rights to the heist comedy “The Black Marks” from Darius Films. “The Black Marks” will star Kurt Russell (“Deathproof”), Matt Dillon (“Crash,” “There’s Something About Mary”) and Jay Baruchel (“Knocked Up”). The film is written and directed by Jonathan Sobol (“A Beginner’s Guide to Endings”). The announcement was made today by Bob Weinstein, co-chairman of The Weinstein Company. Darius Films principal Nicholas Tabarrok is producing the film with Jeff Sackman as executive producer. The official synopsis of the film is: “Crunch Calhoun (Russell), a third rate motorcycle daredevil and semi-reformed art thief, agrees to get back into the con game…

Title: Something Startling Happens: The 120 Story Beats Every Writer Needs To Know Author: Todd Klick Aspiring film writers and fans alike have always wondered what elements the most accomplished screenwriters include in their scripts to make their movies a success. Todd Klick, a screenwriter, producer and Vice President and Directory of Story Development for White Oak Films, has released a new book, ‘Something Startling Happens: The 120 Story Beats Every Writer Needs To Know,’ chronicling the most important characteristics all movie should include to become effective. The author became inspired to pen the Michael Weiss Productions paperback after breaking down the most critically and financially successful films of all…

‘Bridesmaids’ rising star Melissa McCarthy has been cast in the upcoming ‘Knocked Up’ spin-off, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The untitled comedy, which was at one point called ‘This is Forty,’ will reunite the actress with Judd Apatow, who produced the highest grossing female R comedy of all time. Apatow is writing and directing the spin-off to his hit 2007 romantic comedy. The spin-off will follow forty-somethings Pete and Debbie, played by Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann, respectively, as they raise their children. Debbie is the sister of Alison, the main female character in ‘Knocked Up,’ who was played by Katherine Heigl. There’s no word yet if Heigl or Seth…

Welcome back to the Movie News Cheat Sheet, Shockya.com readers! We’ve got a nice assortment of stories this time around, ranging from box office success stories to casting news and trailers. The casts of both The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3D and G.I. Joe 2 grew by one while the bank accounts of both Bridesmaids and Transformers: Dark of the Moon grew by, well, millions. There’s also some talk about bringing the popular arcade game Space Invaders to the big screen and bringing the Korean film Oldboy back for more. While this Cheat Sheet is packed with some rousing updates, the pinnacle is the start of Shockya.com’s San Diego Comic Con…

Leslie Mann and Paul Rudd will be reprising their roles of Debbie and Pete from the hit 2007 comedy ‘Knocked Up,’ Slashfilm.com is reporting. While the original film’s studio, Universal, is declining to call the follow-up as a sequel, prequel or even a spin-off, the two will once again be playing husband and wife in the first film by Judd Apatow, Mann’s real-life spouse, since 2009′s ‘Funny People.’ Apatow told HitFix that the new movie will be a stand-alone film. It will chronicle Pete and Debbie’s current life, much like last year’s ‘Get Him To The Greek’ chronicled the current life of Russell Brand’s character, rocker Aldous Snow. While that…

According to “Variety”, renowned Hong Kong comedian, producer, and martial arts actor and director Stephen Chow has dropped out of directing the big-screen adaptation of “The Green Hornet”. No new director has been announced yet though producer Neil Moritz and Columbia Studios are setting up to find one and hope to maintain their timeline of starting shooting the action-comedy in the spring. Though he will still be starring alongside “Knocked Up” and “Zach and Miri Make a Porno” star Seth Rogen as the black-clad Kato to Rogen’s take on the masked green-clad avenger in a trench coat, based on the character, created in the 1930′s as a character in a…

Seth Rogen (“Knocked Up”, “The 40-Year Old Virgin”), according to Scifi.com, has told reporters that he has been working out and slimming down for the title role in “The Green Hornet”, a screenplay written by him and Evan Goldberg, based on the classic radio hero Green Hornet and his chauffer/sidekick Kato. While doing press for the upcoming Kevin Smith film “Zack and Miri Make a Porno”, starring Rogen and Elizabeth Banks, he said “You need to physically believe I can run around and jump over s–t and punch people […] It’s all just to serve the movie. Comic book or not, it’s just a commitment to the movie. I mean,…

MTV let us know that both Coldplay and The Pussycat Dolls will hit the stage at the upcoming MTV Movie Awards Ceremony. Here’s the details: MTV today revealed performers for Hollywood’s highly anticipated, irreverent awards ceremony, the “2008 MTV Movie Awards.” Known for introducing diverse line-up of performers to the masses, this year’s ceremony also promises to be an explosive musical showcase. Taking the stage to debut new music and deliver eagerly awaited live performances are Coldplay and The Pussycat Dolls. Hosted by Mike Myers, the “2008 MTV Movie Awards” airs LIVE on June 1st at 8:00pm/7c from the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, CA. MTV is once again setting…

Trailer for the film “Knocked Up” by director Judd Apatow (The 40 Year Old Virgin). [youtube e09DlZY5Czg]