Cinemax greenlights 'Da Brick' pilot

Lee RidleyHBO is incorporated in the ring with "Da Brick."Pay cabler is stated to possess because of the greenlight for any pilot loosely inspired by Mike Tyson's early years. John Ridley composed the script for Doug Ellin's Cinemax-based production banner. Spike Lee is aboard to direct and professional produce with Tyson, Ridley and Ellin and Ellin's creating partner, Jim Lefkowitz.The project came into being after Tyson did a guest shot this past year on Ellin's "Entourage" (Daily Variety, June 22)."He stated in my experience, 'Why not do with my existence that which you did with Mark (Wahlberg's) existence" with "Entourage," Ellin told Variety in June.Tyson's wife, Lakiha Tyson, will co-professional produce together with Azim Spicer.Cinemax rejected comment late Tuesday. Contact Cynthia Littleton at cynthia.littleton@variety.com

The Very Busy Chris Pratt on Preparing for Moneyball, Goofing in What's Your Number? and Ten Year

Television watchers have been hip to Chris Pratt since he first appeared on The WB series Everwood in 2002. Other supporting roles in television (The O.C.) and film (Bride Wars) followed, but the Minnesota-born star really came into his own with his winning turn as Andy Dwyer, pratfaller extraordinaire-cum-romantic lead, on the beloved NBC series Parks & Recreation. Now, with three films coming out this fall, including two next month, Pratt is poised to tackle the big screen with a fervor his Parks & Rec alter ego would usually reserve for the Meat Tornado. First up for Pratt is a key supporting role in the much-anticipated adaptation of Moneyball (out Sept. 23) with Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill; he plays former major leaguer and sabermetrics poster boy Scott Hatteberg. Next comes a comedy turn in the R-rated romcom What’s Your Number? (Sept. 30) opposite Pratt’s real-life wife Anna Faris. Then there’s Ten Year (premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival before a theatrical release in December), a Big Chill-like ensemble drama about a ten-year high school reunion. He’ll also be seen on season four of Parks & Recreation (debuts Sept. 22) and then in Five-Year Engagement with Jason Segel and Emily Blunt in 2012. Just a few things! On the eve of his biggest career month yet, Pratt rang up Movieline to discuss why Moneyball isn’t your average baseball movie, how his weight was initially a problem, that time he got into a fight with director Bennett Miller, and why What’s Your Number? might be hitting theaters during a perfect climate for success. Not just because of the Aaron Sorkin connection with the script, but Moneyball feels a bit similar to The Social Network in that when you hear there’s a movie based on this famed book about statistics and sabermetrics, it doesn’t necessarily seem cinematic. What was it about the script that really sold you? Well, I’ll tell you: when I read the script for the first time, I hadn’t read the book, so going into it I didn’t have that initial question of ‘How are you going to make this book about statistics into a narrative?’ My first exposure to the story was the Sorkin screenplay and it was just great. It had some interesting stuff about statistics and about scouting, but it was really just a brilliant character piece about this general manager of the Oakland A’s [Billy Beane], that I knew Brad Pitt was going to play. So, reading the story — and then reading the role of Scott Hatteberg — it was one of those situations where the script was under lock and key, no one was allowed to read it, and I got to read it shortly before auditioning. I had to sit there in the office and read the script and they wouldn’t let anybody leave with it; it was very top secret. At the end of it, I just thought, ‘That is just a perfect story. It’s so interesting. It’s a true human story — it’s not a movie about baseball statistics, it’s more of a character piece.’ It was all right there in the screenplay. Much like the The Social Network, I remember thinking, ‘How are they going to make this movie about Facebook?’ And then I saw the movie and I thought, ‘Oh, wow. That’s a character piece.’ The fact that Sorkin even came on to write is a testament to how human the story is and how there is a real story in there about real humans. It’s not just a baseball movie. Was Moneyball something you really pushed for? It was definitely something that I wanted, but I was just one of just a giant number of people who wanted the role. I read it and thought that it was incredible. My first audition was with Bennett Miller and I thought it went well. I felt like we found some real moments. Then, when I left, my agent called me and said, ‘Chris, they really thought you were good, but they think you’re too fat.’ I was like, ‘Fuck, really? That sucks. OK, well, I can lose weight. Did you tell them I could lose weight?’ ‘Yeah, we told them. They haven’t offered it to anyone else. There’s no guarantee, but…’ I just hung up the phone and from that point on — it was about a seven month process from that moment until the end of filming. It was another three months before I found out I got the role, but in that three months I think I dropped 30 pounds. I was bound and determined to become Scott Hatteberg whether they cast me or not. I’d imagine the baseball training was extensive and difficult. For example, you’re right-handed, but Hatteberg was left-handed. Was that very hard to master? It was. He throws righty and bats lefty, so luckily I didn’t have to throw the ball. I don’t think any amount of training could teach me how to throw the ball left-handed. In terms of swinging the bat left-handed, that’s pretty hard to do as well, but I’m a goofy-foot snowboarder, and in wrestling, I always wrestled with my right leg forward. I think I’m right-handed, left-footed, maybe. I never batted left-handed as kid playing little league or pick-up games. I’m still probably more powerful and accurate right-handed, but left-handed — just because of the amount of work I did with Chad Kreuter, the former head coach of the USC baseball team, and all my teammates with whom I shot Moneyball were real baseball players — I think the mechanics of my left-handed swing are much better than my right-handed swing. One of the biggest issues with baseball movies is that you can’t really hide the fact that the actors aren’t playing baseball — it’s not like football where there are helmets. Did they make you guys go through spring training to get the baseball down cold? Yes. They did a very thorough tryout as part of my auditioning process. After I read with Bennett and came back and read with Brad and maybe read with Bennett again — I think I had three readings at this point — I still didn’t get the part. But, I was still bound and determined to do it, and I was still, at this point, a little heavy as well. I went to a baseball tryout, a physical audition, and there were several hundred players there. These guys were pros. Literally ex-professional baseball players, both from minor and major league, but also foreign teams, ex-college guys. These were guys with tattoos of baseball bats on their body — they were real baseball players. We did a tryout and that’s how they cast 95 percent of the baseball players, was just based on physical ability and the likeness to the real players in real life. So, you’re definitely seeing baseball players play real baseball. I think that was really important for Bennett and everyone making the movie to stay authentic to the sport. There are guys hitting 95 MPH fastballs in this movie. It’s not like Mr. 3000 or Mr. Baseball where you can tell — this is authentic. Moneyball is one of those projects that has been hanging around for a long time, most famously with Steven Soderbergh attached to direct. Had you been following its development process beforehand? You know, I had never heard of it. I didn’t know about the project when it was a Soderbergh project. In fact, when it was a Soderbergh project, I don’t think I’d even be able to audition for it, because I think — I might be wrong here — Soderbergh wanted to use the actual baseball players and do it docu-style. Scott Hatteberg would have been played by Scott Hatteberg. In order to tell the story, though, I think they needed actors to play these characters. It’s a narrative; it’s a real story, and you’re not asking people about what happened, you’re reenacting what happened. So, I hadn’t heard about the project and didn’t know about it at all, and I’m really kind of — it’s one of those things that was really lucky for me. I’m sure a lot of people were bummed who were attached to the Soderbergh project. I’m glad it was Bennett so I could be in it. (Laughs) It’s not often you can replace a director the caliber of Steven Soderbergh with someone like Bennett Miller. After Capote it feels like a great many are excited to see what he does next. How was he to work with? I love Capote. Huge fan of Philip Seymour Hoffman; if he’s not my all-time favorite actor he’s definitely in my top-five. I just love him so much. Working with Bennett — this was the first time I’d ever worked with a director who sorta manipulated a performance out of me. After a while, you realize — Bennet’s a great guy, he’s a really nice guy; I’ll consider him a friend and be friends with him — but you can’t really judge a director on their ability to direct until you see the movie. You know what the experience is like, but you have no idea what they’re capturing in that little 35-millimeter lens. So there was one point when he came up to me, when Scott Hatteberg is trying to play first base and he’s feeling. It’s like spring training, and he came up to me in the middle — and I was working my ass off; I was sweating — and he says, ‘Stop being such a fucking pussy’ to me. I was volatile. It made me so mad. I think I even spit at his shoes. I was like, ‘You’re calling me a pussy, motherfucker? After all this shit!’ When I saw the movie, there’s a little bit of me mumbling to myself, furiously, that he put in the movie. So, I realized that was about the performance, it wasn’t about the camaraderie. There’s a lot of machismo among baseball players, and people calling each other pussies — very much like you are when you’re a kid playing sports. A lot of friendly bullying and bantering and he kind of adopted that a little bit, and I was like, ‘Don’t fucking do that to me motherfucker.’ And he did! And then I saw the movie and realized he did that intentionally. You mention being a huge fan of Philip Seymour Hoffman — it had to be a trip to work with him. Was he all you hoped for? [Hoffman plays former Oakland manager Art Howe] I didn’t work with him a lot, but at least a few days. It’s really hard to make a judgement on how someone is — their personality — when you’re on the set acting with them. You don’t know if you’re really meeting them, or if you’re meeting a version of them that they’re putting on to play this character. Phil was really nice, really nice. Asked a lot of questions, really wanted to get to know me. The way that a really good person will, if you’re getting to know somebody. The guy is really fucking cool. I don’t know if that’s because Art Howe was a really hands-on manager, or if Philip was a really nice guy, but he couldn’t have been nicer. He was interested, he met my family, remembered things about me. The kind of stuff that doesn’t normally happen with huge actors. He was really great, it was kind of a dream come true. Did you pick up anything from him as an actor that you’ll use in future jobs? Yes, there definitely were a lot of things. Maybe five minutes before rolling, he adopts this behavior that lets everyone know you’re not supposed to talk to him in the best way. He puts his head down and starts pacing back and forth. You’re in a stadium with thousands of extras, hundreds of crew people and another 40-50 baseball players. There’s a lot of people and a lot of conversation to be had, but when it’s time to focus you have to focus. That’s what I noticed with him — his incredible focus. When it was time to go to work he would start pacing and that just commanded respect. People left him alone because it was his process. That’s something that really works, because if you’re sitting there in your head and you’re trying to get yourself ready for a scene and someone comes up to you and says, ‘Hey, how’s it going? You know a friend of mine!’ or ‘Hey, my name’s Tony?’ You don’t want to be like, ‘Leave me alone!’ Because you come off like a dick. So, I’ve sorta taken that from him. It really lets everybody know, in a polite way, please don’t bother me right now.

Ross Mathews Signs Talk Show Development Deal at E!

Ross Mathews Ross the Intern will require their own interns soon.Ross Mathews, the Tonight Show correspondent and Chelsea Recently regular, has signed a talk-show pilot development deal at E!, based on the Hollywood Reporter."It truly is time and that i seem like I am ready now," Mathews informs the trade. "I understand how to speak with the crowd. I understand how to speak with celebs. And That I know my perspective.InchWhen are you able to next catch Ross Mathews on television, online or when needed? Add him for your Watchlist and you will know for surePer the offer, Mathews, 31, will build up a talk show with Chelsea Handler's production company, Borderline Amazing Productions, and will still be among E!'s featured on-air talents. Besides Chelsea Recently, he's made an appearance on After Recently, E! News and also the network's red-colored carpet special offers through the years.InchWe have been doing stuff together a couple of years, but this really causes it to be official," Mathews states. "And what exactly this can do is kind of set our relationship and say I am likely to be among E!'s people now. When individuals see my face, I would like these phones say, 'Oh my gosh, that's Ross from E!' and 'I know where you can stay tuned to determine him.'"Mathews started being an intern about the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and, on his last day in December 2001, was sent to pay for the Ocean's Eleven premiere. The segment was this type of hit that Mathews - referred to as "Ross the Intern" - began covering more occasions, such as the Academy awards and also the Winter Olympic games, for that Tonight Show. He is constantly on the file pieces for that show.Watch videos of Ross MathewsHe's since made an appearance on Celebrity Fit Club, guest-located about the View and recurred on Times of Our Way Of Life.InchI have been generating my stripes within the last decade and extremely honing my craft so far as surrounding myself with individuals that inspire me, like Jay Leno and Chelsea Handler," Mathews states. "I have been so lucky they provided my chance to build up a obvious voice the audience has taken care of immediately.InchCan you watch his show?

Sidney Sapsowitz dies at 75

Sidney H. Sapsowitz, executive vice president at MGM/UA under Kirk Kerkorian and Jerry Weintraub, died Aug. 21 of natural causes in Newport Beach, Calif. He was 75.Sapsowitz began his showbiz career at Loew's, then the parent company of MGM, as an accountant (before he had actually obtained any degree in accounting).He joined MGM in 1957. As part of the roiling corporate developments at the studio in the mid-'80s, he was promoted from exec VP, finance, to exec VP in June 1985 and was elected to the company's board of directors.In November 1985 Kerkorian named Weintraub chairman, president, CEO and chief operating officer of United Artists ahead of the anticipated completion of Kerkorian's sale of MGM to Ted Turner. As part of this process, MGM/UA's Sapsowitz was named exec VP and head of business operations at United Artists as well as a member of the UA board of directors. Sapsowitz also served as COO of UA's distribution company.Turner did buy MGM from Kerkorian in 1986 and famously wound up selling all but the Lion's library back to him after only 74 days. Despite all the corporate restructurings that ensued, Sapsowitz retained his position and retired from MGM in 1991.He started at Queens College, but when his family needed monetary help, he dropped out of school and started working whatever jobs he could. Eventually, after moving to New Jersey with wife Phyllis, he went back to school and obtained his bachelor's degree from William Patterson College.In addition to his wife, Sapsowitz is survived by three daughters and six grandchildren. Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com

Hot Trailer: 'Hysteria'

Hysteria is Tanya Wexler's UK romantic comedy that revolves (among other things) around the invention of the vibrator during the Victorian age -- apparently the device was used as a science-based antidote to certain mental maladies before it was discovered to have, well, ancillary value. Hugh Dancy and Maggie Gyllenhaal star along with Rupert Everett, Jonathan Pryce and Felicity Jones in the film, which will be looking for distribution at the Toronto International Film Festival, where it just won a Gala Presentation invite.

Justin Timberlake talks In Time's Olivia Wilde

Justin Timberlake says he used experiences with his own mother to help actress Olivia Wilde play his 50-year-old mum trapped in the body of a younger woman in the film In Time.The sci-fi thriller is based in a world where no-one ages beyond 25."We laughed about it when we first saw each other," Timberlake told Entertainment Weekly. "First of all, Olivia is three years younger than me!""We'd read the script and I would say, 'Here's something my mom might do,' or 'Here's the way my mom might say it. I think she really looked to me to give her those little things because she had the trickier job in our scenes."We don't know if she'll take it as a compliment or not, but director Andrew Niccol (Gattaca) says he found it easy to see Wilde as a middle-aged maternal figure."She just inhabited the role," Niccol told Entertainment Weekly. "Olivia has something about her, a maturity that's way beyond her years."In Time opens in UK cinemas on 1 November 2011.

First Look at Charlize Theron in Diablo Cody-Jason Reitman Collabo Young Adult

After nabbing Oscar nods for their first collaboration, the 2007 indie darling Juno, screenwriter Diablo Cody (who won the Academy Award) and director Jason Reitman reprise their partnership in this December’s Young Adult, the story of a YA novel author (Charlize Theron) who returns to her hometown to win back her now-married high school sweetheart (Patrick Wilson). After the jump, get your first look at Theron traveling in a slightly less glamorous getup than we’re used to seeing. Observe: The baggy Hello Kitty t-shirt. The hair pulled back. The luxury toy dog half-slipping off the shoulder. The last-minute Victoria’s Secret purchase for use upon arrival. This woman does not give a crap right now. She’s probably wearing Uggs, too. Now, compare this to what real-life Charlize Theron looks like when traveling the world: Would real Charlize Theron ever wear sweat pants to the airport? HELL NO. Conclusion: This is what you call acting. And I kind of love the idea of slightly sloppy, slightly not-together, living in the past Charlize Theron trying inappropriately to break up a marriage. Sounds like My Best Friend’s Wedding for the YA author community. The official synopsis of Young Adult, courtesy of Paramount Pictures and Mandate Pictures: Academy Award winner Charlize Theron plays Mavis Gary, a writer of teen literature who returns to her small hometown to relive her glory days and attempt to reclaim her happily married high school sweetheart (Patrick Wilson). When returning home proves more difficult than she thought, Mavis forms an unusual bond with a former classmate (Patton Oswalt) who hasn’t quite gotten over high school, either. Young Adult will be released December 16, 2011. [via Slashfilm]

Study: Spoilers Might Not Ruin Viewer Enjoyment

Matthew Fox, Evangeline Lilly and Jorge Garcia It works out spoilers aren't the worst factor. Actually, new research indicates that understanding the finish of the story ahead of time may really enhance enjoyment. Based on Reuters, scientists in the College of California at North Park examined three various kinds of tales by authors like John Updike, Roald Dahl and Agatha Christie and located that visitors really preferred the versions having a spoiler paragraph written in to the plot. Both original version and edited version of every story was read by as much as 30 people. Take a look at much more of present day news "I had been quite surprised at the outcomes,Inch investigator Nicholas Christenfeld stated. "Like lots of people, I do not use the finish of the book to determine who dies or what goes on.Inch Christenfeld and the co-author Jonathan Leavitt also added their research would mean that the awareness individuals have about suspense might not be true. "Possibly birthday presents are better when covered with clear wrapping and wedding rings are better if not hidden in chocolate mousse," the report stated. (And possibly TV is much better?) The research is going to be released within the journal Mental Science.

'The Break Up' Director in Talks to Helm a Gregory Brothers Comedy Central Pilot (Exclusive)

The Gregory Brothers have inked a deal to create, write and star in a Comedy Central pilot with Peyton Reed in talksto direct. The project, which will be shot in New York City, will feature the musical and comedic stylings of the Emmy-nominated trio, Andrew, Evan and Michael, along with Evan's wife Sarah. To date, the group is best known for its viral videos, including standout Auto-Tune the News. The series' Bed Intruder Song,which features excerpts from an interview with alleged crime victims Kelly and Antoine Dodson, has been viewed nearly 100 million times. Earlier this year it picked up a Best Viral Original award, which was presented by Will Ferrell and Adam McKay at the network's Comedy Awards. "We wanted to show the story behind being musicians and video guys, and reveal that, yes, that story if often about amazing pet tricks or zany dating mixups," the brothers told The Hollywood Reporter by email. "It's like The Monkees for the year 2011 -- the Monkees meets YouTube meets The Bobby Darin Show." Tom Scharpling (Monk) will co-write and executive produce the project, with their managerDave Becky joining as an EP.Reed (Yes Man, The Break Up) is in negotiations to direct. The brothers are repped by WME, 3 Arts Entertainment andZiffren Brittenham;Reed is repped by WME and Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern. Email: Lacey.Rose@THR.com; Twitter: @LaceyVRose Related Topics Will Ferrell Comedy Central YouTube

'Beauty 3D' to single screen

Beauty and the Beast Disney finally is unveiling its theatrical 3D version of "Beauty and the Beast" from Sept. 2-15 -- but only in a single-run engagement at the Mouse's El Capitan theater in L.A. The studio had flirted with several possible launch dates for a wide release of "Beauty and the Beast" in 3D but ultimately pulled it from the calendar after announcing it would release a 3D "The Lion King" on Sept. 16. Disney then settled on the exclusive 3D run for "Beauty," timed to increase interest ahead of the pic's 3D DVD/Blu-ray launch on Oct. 4. Disney said it still hasn't ruled out a wide release of the 3D "Beauty," though not until after "Lion King" bows. As part of the El Capitan engagement, Disney plans to have someone dressed as the toon's Belle character appear live onstage prior to every show. The theater will host a breakfast with the character before the screening on select dates. 3D conversions of "Lion King" and "Beauty and the Beast" (though not as originally planned for the latter) allow the Mouse to mine its vault in new ways -- much as it did with "Toy Story." The "Toy Story" double bill allowed Disney to reactivate the franchise's merchandising line in anticipation of last year's "Toy Story 3." The "Toy" 3D combo, which bowed in October 2009, earned $30.7 million domestically and nearly $35 million from overseas box office. Contact Andrew Stewart at andrew.stewart@variety.com

Tom Hardy Potentially Under the Impression People Liked Batman & Robin

Tom Hardy has a message for all Batman fans — his Bane is different from the Bane that appeared in Batman & Robin. Hopefully that isn’t a problem. “I think Bane’s fucking cool so I’m really excited to play him,” he told TotalFilm. “It’s not the guy in Joel Schumacher’s film, but it shouldn’t disappoint fanboys.” He’s not the guy in the Joel Schumacher film that everyone hates with the fire of 1000 suns? Oh, Tom; that’s a good thing! You mustn’t be afraid to dream a little bigger, darling. [TotalFilm]

'Six Feet Under's Lauren Ambrose Tapped For Broadway Revival Of 'Funny Girl'

Lauren Ambrose has been set to play Fanny Brice in the first Broadway run of Funny Girl since the musical originally opened in 1964. The new production, with music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Bob Merrill and book by Isobel Lennart, will be directed by Tony-winner Bartlett Sher. It will bow at L.A.'s Ahmanson Theatre from January 15-February 26 before opening on Broadway next spring. Ambrose has done stage turns in Romeo & Juliet in Shakespeare in the Park, Broadway runs in Awake and Sing and Buried Child at London's National Theatre, and the producers said she started as a classically trained opera singer. "It's important that people not see this casting process as trying to find the next Barbra Streisand," Sher said. "Instead, I really needed someone with whom I could explore the original musical and come to terms with Fanny Brice for a new era. I understand how difficult this part is to fill as well as the characteristics required to explore this in a new way. The world of burlesque, vaudeville and the Follies is a unique American invention and how Fanny Brice came up in that world is a wonderful story, but this show is also about the sacrifices of being an artist and the high cost that women in particular suffer when they find great success and the difficult choices that come with accomplishment."