Screen Talk: Fantasy comes true for Laini Taylor

Tinseltown Insider

The adaptation of young-adult fantasy novel Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor, backed by Universal, is to be produced for the studio by Joe Roth.

Roth is a former 20th Century Fox. Taylor's first book in a trilogy is about a 17-year-old girl who is part of an ancient struggle between devils and angels.

New recruits for a work of genius

A series of books by Dan Gutman, The Genius Files, is to travel to the big screen. Robert Rugan, a rising advertising directing star, will write a script for a Warner Bros' adaptation. The first book details the story of twins recruited to be part of a secret government experiment that uses young geniuses to solve national problems.

Toy story's hitting the town

Suresh John and Stephanie Pitsiladis have joined the cast of writer/director Craig Goodwill's Patch Town. Written by Trevor Martin and Christopher Bond, it portrays an abandoned toy whose dream is to be reunited with his long-lost adoptive mother. Lisa Ray, Julian Richings and Alan C Peterson also star.

Disney animated over Digital sale

The bankruptcy sale of Digital Domain Media's assets is jangling nerves. Assets yet to be sold off to satisfy creditors include patents relating to the 2D-to-3D conversion processes. Walt Disney Studios is in court arguing the sale of such patents could impair its rights to films as G-Force, Alice in Wonderland and Tron Legacy.

Debate hots up in Hollywood

As the gun-toting Django Unchained is released and the Evil Dead remake trailer airs, Hollywood is keen to remind people that, according to a poll, 60 per cent asked agree that mental illness is the single biggest cause of mass killings. But 70 per cent over the age of 30 feel there is too much violence in movie ads.

Abrams shows he's a real star

No one should doubt the reach of social media in Hollywood. After New York-based film buff Daniel Craft found out he had terminal cancer his friend posted on web message board Reddit Craft's wish to see J J Abrams' Star Trek: Into Darkness before he died. Abrams organised a rough-cut screening and Craft died a few days later.