Todd Berger to Pen 'Where's Waldo' for MGM (Exclusive)

It's a task as tough as spotting a bespectacled adventurer in a sea of humanity. PHOTOS: 10 Biggest Book-to-Big Screen Adaptations of the Last 25 Years Screenwriter Todd Berger is taking on the job of adapting the popular children's book series Where's Waldo? into a film for MGM. Created by illustrator Martin Handford, the books feature Waldo, dressed in a red-and-white shirt and carrying a walking stick, hidden in plain sight amid crowded scenes. STORY: 'Where's Waldo?' Headed to the Big Screen Via MGM MGM picked up film rights in early November following unsuccessful efforts by Paramount/Nickelodeon and Chris Meledandri's Illumination Entertainment. The Paramount/Nickelodeon project would have featured Waldo, a grown man, traveling through various eras after accidentally activating a time machine, but MGM is keeping the story of its project under wraps. Berger (Kohner, Kaplan/Peronne, Eclipse Law Group) is known in Hollywood for writing the puppet crime mystery The Happytime Murders, a Black List script that is in development at Lionsgate with Cameron Diaz attached. He's now finishing It's a Disaster, a comedy he wrote, directed and stars in with Julia Stiles, David Cross and Rachel Boston. PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery 10 Biggest Book-to-Big Screen Adaptations of the Last 25 Years Related Topics MGM

'The Iceman' Cast: Chris Evans Replaces James Franco

Are James Franco and Chris Evans the identical person? One studio thinks so! According to Deadline, Evans remains cast in 'The Iceman,' employment that Franco had initially recognized, simply to stop (probably because of his 5,241 other projects in development). The film, good Anthony Bruno book, follows a contract killer for your mob (Michael Shannon is installed on play in the killer) the Franco/Evans role was for your killer's mentor. Evans is much better recognized for his role as Captain America, in this past summer's 'Captain America: The Initial Avenger' after which year's 'The Avengers.' So, if he and Franco have anything to keep, it's they have both came out in blockbuster superhero movies. [via Deadline] [Photo: Getty Images] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Netflix will get capital infusion

Netflix introduced a set of deals late Monday which will offer an infusion of $400 million in capital, punctuating each day that introduced its stock to new lows. Netflix investor Technology Crossover Endeavors bought $200 million in convertible debt. The offer grants or loans TCV zero-coupon notes due in 2018. Additionally, Netflix is selling 2.86 million in keeping stock towards the mutual funds and accounts operated by T. Rowe Cost Affiliates. The selloff may be worth $200 million in the public offering cost of $70 per share. Netflix filled dropped as little as $73.26 on Monday, its cheapest level since March 2010. It dropped one more 6% in after-hrs buying and selling. The money infusion should help Netflix afford its rising content costs, that are forecasted to achieve $3.3 billion the coming year through the company's own estimation. The most recent addition to individuals costs would be a deal Netflix introduced last Friday with twentieth century Fox TV and Imagine Television to create new instances of the defunct Fox series "Arrested Development." "With this particular additional capital from two lengthy-term oriented traders, we now have increased our balance sheet and remain centered on growing our streaming monthly subscriptions and coming back to global profitability after our launch from the U.K. in 2012," stated Netflix CFO David Wells. Contact Andrew Wallenstein at andrew.wallenstein@variety.com

Strength of comedians in dramatic roles shouldn't surprise

'Drive' shows a side of Albert Brooks that film auds have rarely seen. 'Everything Must Go''Moneyball'Albert Brooks recalls meeting with "Drive" director Nicolas Winding Refn about taking the role of the film's heavy, gangster Bernie Rose. Though Refn had expressed interest in casting Brooks, he peppered the actor -- known primarily for a celebrated string of neurotic comedies -- with questions about why he'd be good for so serious and menacing a part."My answer was, 'Go ahead and cast the six people who always get this role, then as soon as they come onscreen, people know what's going to happen,' " Brooks recounts. "It's nice when you don't know where a character is going. I haven't done 11 of these in a row."The result was a sharp portrait of calculated viciousness from Brooks, and the kind of acclaim -- thousands of "who knew?" tweets, he proudly cites -- that could land him a second Oscar nomination.But this year has also seen buzzworthy praise for other funnymen making dramatic strides, including typically bluster-filed onscreen motormouth Jonah Hill as quietly brilliant baseball thinker Peter Brand in "Moneyball" and frequent wacko Will Ferrell as a shut-down, alcoholic salesman in "Everything Must Go."Any of these actors could follow in the footsteps of laugh legends like Jackie Gleason ("The Hustler"), Peter Sellers ("Being There") and Eddie Murphy ("Dreamgirls"), who scored Oscar noms for more sobering roles. The irony is that the Acad's acting branch is typically more likely to recognize their funnier peers when they show "range" -- think Bill Murray ("Lost in Translation") and Robin Williams ("Dead Poets Society," winning for "Good Will Hunting") -- than when they succeed at what made them famous: setting of spasms of laughter.But for Brooks, who entered showbiz wanting to be an actor before turning to standup and subsequently making his own films, the ability to do "Drive" was in him already, he says. The reason Refn got excited about him in the first place was that the director remembered the actor's portrayal of a cornered yuppie in the comedy "Lost in America.""He got afraid when I yelled at (Julie Haggerty)," reports Brooks, laughing. "So great!"The perception problem lies in the bum rap comedy gets, he says. There's so much variety under that umbrella that to say a pure joketeller like Henny Youngman and Richard Pryor -- who augmented his humor chops with serious work ("Blue Collar") -- do the same thing is silly."The big scenes in 'Broadcast News' had to get tears," he points out, referring to his Oscar-nominated performance in James L. Brooks' bittersweet hit. "I've grounded my own comedy in so much reality, that I don't see a big difference between the two."The actors you really like have to do both. Because people are both. Your buddies are both. You laugh with them, and you have terrible moments with them. It's being able to walk the line.""Moneyball" director Bennett Miller says it was considered an eccentric, even risky move to cast "Superbad" star Hill opposite Brad Pitt. But Miller sensed a shared outsiderdom in Hill and the character of Peter Brand."He's a character that, though, awkward, if given a little opportunity, some sunshine and water, could grow into something formidable," Miller says. "And Jonah really owned this thing. People have not seen the full measure of what Jonah can do."Miller cites Jerry Lewis' no-frills turn as an egocentric Johnny Carson type in Martin Scorsese's "The King of Comedy" as a benchmark for how comedy stars can achieve a new level of authenticity with the right kind of dramatic role."He was just so complete and truthful, that in a flash everything you know about Jerry Lewis is dismissed," Miller says. "Frankly, it was easier to accept him, that this was the real Jerry Lewis. And I think Jonah in this role is revealing more of who he actually is than in his more comedic roles."Film critic Leonard Maltin, meanwhile, looks at Ferrell in "Everything Must Go" and his earlier straight-faced turn in "Stranger Than Fiction" and sees the A-list star's best work."He never strained for credibility," says Maltin of Ferrell's "Everything" performance. "I believed him completely as this clueless, self-destructive guy who hits bottom and doesn't quite know where to turn. It's not a somber performance, but it's a serious one."The situation Ferrell's character finds himself in could just as easily have been turned into a manic comedy showcasing the performer's gift for out-of-control lunacy. Therein, perhaps, lies the key to why comedians can switch gears so well."The same instincts that fuel a great comedian help make a solid dramatic actor," says Maltin. "Good comedians need good natural instincts about human nature, and that intuitive quality serves them well if they get hold of a good part."Eye on the Oscars: Talent RaceStrength of comedians in dramatic roles shouldn't surprise | Changing studio system reduces minorities' Oscar hopes | Chastain, Fassbender everywhere on bigscreen | Top thesps take kudo sabbatical | Grand globetrotters Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Open Road Films Takes U.S. Privileges to Dax Shepard's 'Outrun'

Open Road Films has acquired all U.S. privileges towards the romantic action comedyOutrun, starring,written and co-directed by Dax Shepard, who plays an old getaway driver residing in the Witness Protection Program.our editor recommendsExclusive Media Assumes Dax Shepard Action Comedy 'Outrun'Bradley Cooper Is Individuals Most sexy Guy Alive and States He's 'Single' The plot kicks into gear when Shepard's character concurs they are driving his girlfriend, performed by Kristen Bell, to La only to discover themselves went after both through the feds, brought by Tom Arnold, and the former gang, headed by Bradley Cooper. The cast includes Love Bridges, Kristin Chenoweth, David Koechner, Michael Rosenbaum, Pleasure Bryantand Ryan Hansen. David Palmer co-directed with Shepard. Outrunwas created byAndrew PanaywithNate Tuck,Kim WaltripandJim Casey.Exclusive Media Group has acquired the worldwide privileges. The offer wasnegotiated with respect to Open Road Films by Boss Tom Ortenberg, general counsel andexecutive vice president of procedures and business matters Elliott Kleinberg, andsenior vice president of purchases Ben Cotner. Jamie Feldman and Linda Lichter of Lichter, Grossman, Nichols, Adler and Feldman discussed on account ofthe filmmakers. Related Subjects Dax Shepard Kristen Bell Bradley Cooper

Attacking Young Boys Paternity Suit Dropped (Report)

Pop's most adorable couple can relaxation easy. Single mom Mariah Yeater has dropped her paternity suit against Attacking Young Boys, TMZ stated Wednesday.our editor recommendsJustin Bieber Declines Ever Meeting Lady Suing Him For Paternity (Video)Justin Bieber's Paternity Suit Spoofed By Jimmy Fallon (Video)Attacking Young Boys Accuser Makes Appearance on 'The Insider' PHOTOS: MTV EMAs 2011 Entertainers TMZ reported that Yeater had separated company together with her legal team Lance Rogers and Matt Pare which the costs have been withdrawn. Yeater had stated her four-month old boy Trystyn was the effect of a backstage concert tryst with Bieber last October. She'd told The Insider that they had met Bieber after his show in the Staples Center in La. VIDEO: Attacking Young Boys Declines Ever Meeting Lady Suing Him For Paternity "He immediately required a liking in my experience. We simply reached speaking," Yeater recounted around the Insider. "Eventually he requested me, he stated, 'Would you mind as we may go somewhere and become alone?" Yeater stated that they has "provided evidence" to her lawyers that will prove her accusations true in the court. PHOTOS: Attacking Young Boys's Moustaches Bieber, who's presently dating Selena Gomez, had refused the claims and apparently decided to take dna test disproving the claims. "I'd much like to express essentially that none of individuals accusations are true," he stated around the Today Show. "I understand which i'm likely to be a target however i'm not going to be considered a victim." "It's crazy because every evening following the show I'm gone, from happens to my vehicle therefore it's crazy that many people need to make up such false accusations but to create the record straight, none of it is a fact. I've never met the lady," Bieber added. Related Subjects Attacking Young Boys

Actorfest NY and LA Connect Actors With Career Resources (Video)

Actorfest NY and LA Connect Actors With Career Resources (Video) November 11, 2011 With workshops, focus sessions, auditions, vendors, and more, both Actorfest NY and Actorfest LA provided actors with invaluable career resources and information.Actorfest NY, which took place on Oct. 23 at the Metropolitan Pavilion hosted casting calls with Nickelodeon, NBC, Telemundo, Mun2, and Grant Wilfrey, and one attendee has already landed a featured background roles ABC's "Pan Am."Actorfest LA took place on November 5th at the California Market Center.Watch video about both events below: Actorfest NY and LA Connect Actors With Career Resources (Video) November 11, 2011 With workshops, focus sessions, auditions, vendors, and more, both Actorfest NY and Actorfest LA provided actors with invaluable career resources and information.Actorfest NY, which took place on Oct. 23 at the Metropolitan Pavilion hosted casting calls with Nickelodeon, NBC, Telemundo, Mun2, and Grant Wilfrey, and one attendee has already landed a featured background roles ABC's "Pan Am."Actorfest LA took place on November 5th at the California Market Center.Watch video about both events below: