Variety.com is reporting that Nickelodeon, a Viacom division, has purchased the global rights to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise from the Mirage Group and 4Kids Entertainment for $60 million.
This deal allows Paramount, Nick’s sister company, to start on a new “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” film to start production, which is planned for a 2012 release. Scott Mednick (”300″) has already been attached to produce that project.
Nick, which also acquired all merchandising rights to the Turtles, will begin developing a CG-animated TV series based on the Turtles, also slated to premiere in 2012. The “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” animated TV series — jointly produced by 4Kids Entertainment [...]

Paramount let us know that the first official trailer for the upcoming web series “Circle of Eight” is now available. The supernatural series where nothing is as it seems, premieres October 27 exclusively on MySpace here.
Series Synopsis: Be a part of the Circle of Eight, the supernatural series where nothing is as it seems. Jessica, a newcomer to the City of Angels, has just moved into a loft on the eighth floor of The Dante, a historic and eerie downtown building filled with friendly twenty-something neighbors who eagerly welcome her into their bohemian world. Or do they? As Jessica races to unravel the mystery behind a chain [...]

According to Variety.com, Bruce Greenwood and David Walliams have been announced as joining Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, and Zach Galifianakis in the Jay Roach-directed comedy “Dinner for Schmucks,” from Paramount, DreamWorks and Spyglass.
Walliams, best known as part of the comedy team from the British comedy series “Little Britain”, plays a Swiss banker that Tim Conrad, played by Rudd, and his Fender Financial coworkers hope to impress to get him to invest with them. Greenwood plays the role of the company billionaire, Fender himself.
No release date has been set yet for the comedy.
Stay tuned for more news from “Dinner For Schmucks” right here at Shockya.com.
By Costa Koutsoutis (Source: Variety.com)

Alex Tse (”Watchmen”) will be writing the adaptation of the comic book title “Battling Boy” for Paramount and Plan B, Brad Pitt’s production company.
The film will be based on the upcoming graphic novel written and illustrated by Paul Pope (”Batman: Year 100″, “Dark Horse Presents” series), and follows the son of a god who comes down from the top of a mountain at his father’s behest, to battle a plague of beasts that have overrun the giant floating city of Monstropolis.
First Second Books is publishing the graphic novel this spring.
Tse is also attached to the upcoming live-action “Ninja Scroll” adaptation. Plan B also has the rights to “World War [...]

According to director Michael Bay on his Shoot for the Edit forms. He may take a one year break from Transformers, and not shoot Transformers 3 until 2012. Here’s what he posted on his forum.
“I said I was taking off a year from Transformers. Paramount made a mistake in dating Transformers 3 - they asked me on the phone - I said yes to July 4 - but for 2012 - whoops! Not 2011!!! That would mean I would have to start prep in September. No way. My brain needs a break from fighting robots.” - Michael Bay
Michael Bay recently finished “Transformers 2″ aka Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen [...]

Moviechronicles.com sent us this scan from the official Revenge of the Fallen coloring book based on the upcoming film “Transformers 2″ aka Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen by director Michael Bay ( A Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday the 13th ) and starring Megan Fox, Shia LaBeouf ( Eagle Eye ), Isabel Lucas and Rainn Wilson ( The Office ).
Synopsis: The battle for Earth has ended but the battle for the universe has just begun. After returning to Cybertron, Starscream assumes command of the Decepticons, and has decided to return to Earth with force. The Autobots believing that peace was possible finds out that Megatron’s dead body has been stolen [...]

Paramount Pictures recently posted this teaser trailer for the upcoming film “Transformers 2″ aka Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen by director Michael Bay ( A Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday the 13th ) and starring Megan Fox, Shia LaBeouf ( Eagle Eye ), Isabel Lucas and Rainn Wilson ( The Office ).
Synopsis: The battle for Earth has ended but the battle for the universe has just begun. After returning to Cybertron, Starscream assumes command of the Decepticons, and has decided to return to Earth with force. The Autobots believing that peace was possible finds out that Megatron’s dead body has been stolen from the US Military by Scorponok and revives [...]

MTV has reported that Jay Roach-helmed project Dinner with Schmucks has officially got the greenlight and a new cast: Paul Rudd and Steve Carell.
Dinner with Schmucks was previously put on hold after Paramount and DreamWorks announced their separation and the film’s lead actor Sacha Baron Cohen dropped out of the project.
Originally a 1998 French film called Le Diner de cons, Dinner with Schmucks centers on a group of men who have a weekly habit of having a dinner party and inviting the most pathetic and idiotic guests they can find. After finding the most pathetic and stupid man of all, one of the party’s organizers suffers a back injury, leaving [...]

On February 3, 2009 Paramount Home Entertainment will release “Friday the 13th Part III” in glorious 3-D. Here’s the complete DVD details.
Actors: Dana Kimmell, Richard Brooker, Catherine Parks, Paul Kratka, Jeffrey Rogers, Larry Zerner, Tracie Savage, Rachel Howard, David Katims, Nick Savage, Gloria Charles
Director: Steve Miner
Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Synopsis: An idyllic summer turns into a nightmare of unspeakable terror for yet another group of naive counselors. Ignoring Camp Crystal Lake’s bloody legacy, one by one they fall victim to the maniacal Jason who stalks them at every turn… “Friday the 13th, Part 3″ will have you frozen with fear, as Jason finds his way into your living room!
PRODUCT INFO:
Runtime: 1 [...]

Check out the latest DVD box art and specs for the upcoming “Cloverfield” dvd release from director Matt Reeves and starring Starring T.J. Miller, Michael Stahl-David, Mike Vogel, Lizzy Caplan and Odette Yustman. Cloverfield is due to be release on DVD April 22nd, 2008.
Here’s some specs:
- Commentary by Director Matt Reeves
- A Making of Cloverfield featurette
- Cloverfield Visual Effects featurette
- I Saw It! It’s Alive! It’s Huge
- Clover Fun
- 6 additional scenes including “Congrats Rob, When You’re in Japan, I Call That A Date, It’s Going To Hurt and two alternate endings!
- Cloverfield Easter Eggs
Stay tuned to Toxic Shock TV for more Cloverfield DVD details.