Screen Talk: And the Beat goes on

Ben Whishaw of 'Brideshead Revisited' has signed to star as Lucien Carr, the Columbia University undergraduate who brought together a circle of writers who went on to be dubbed the Beat generation. (Getty)

Plans for 'Kill Your Darlings', an indie ensemble movie about the birth of the Beat Generation of writers which included Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac and William S Burroughs are taking shape. Ben Whishaw of 'Brideshead Revisited' has signed to star as Lucien Carr, the Columbia University undergraduate who brought together a circle of writers who went on to be dubbed the Beat generation.

Take a peep

A comedy about a dysfunctional family who fall out after one of them describes thinly-veiled versions of the family in his novel is attracting interest from a swathe of comedic acting talent. The project, named 'Peep World' will be directed by comedy veteran Barry Blaustein, and will star Michael C Hall and Sarah Silverman.

Black escorts

After Spike Lee's attempt to illuminate the role played by black servicemen during World War II in last year's 'Miracle Of St Ana', a new film is in the works about an elite all-black unit of wartime escort pilots. The project, entitled 'Red Tails', will be directed by Anthony Hemingway and details the true story of the 332nd Fighter Group. George Lucas will be the executive producer.

Lightning strikes twice?

The hunt for a movie franchise to match "Harry Potter" is hotting up. 20th Century Fox thinks it has found one in Rick Riordan's series of fantasy adventure novels for children which begin with "The Lightning Thief". The first book to film to be made is "Percy Jackson". The Greek mythology-inflected book involves Poseidon's half-human son, Percy, who is on a quest across modern-day America to prevent a war among the gods.