'Kane' opens ActionFest

Pulp swashbuckler "Solomon Kane" will open ActionFest 2012, the three-day event getting a slate full of actioners. Chinese fighting styles pic "Wu Xia" shuts the fest, searching for later in Asheville, N.C. Michael J. Bassett's "Kane," which starts the fest April 12, stars James Purefoy just like a 17th century adventurer who travels the planet vanquishing evil. Screening April 15, the Weinstein Company's "Wu Xia" (referred to as "Dragon" in British) concentrates on a fighting styles expert (Donnie Yen) who's hunted having a detective and also the former master. Fest's fight choreographer kudo visits J.J. Perry, whose recent work includes "Warrior," "Haywire" and "Underworld: Awakening." Formerly introduced award visitors includes stuntman Mickey Gilbert and thesp Gina Carano. Contact Gordon Cox at gordon.cox@variety.com

Sundance Selects nabs 'Hills'

Sundance Selects has acquired U . s . States rights to Romanian filmmaker Cristian Mungiu's religious drama "Beyond the Slopes." Mungi written the script and produced along with Pascal Cauchteaux and Jean-Pierre Dardenne. The film stars Cosmina Stratan, Cristina Flutur, Dana Tapalaga, and Catalina Harabagiu. Mungiu's "4 Several days, three days and two Days" won the Palme d'Or and Fipresci Worldwide Experts Prize within the Cannes Film Festival in 2007.Story in "Beyond the Slopes" concentrates on two youthful girls that have supported and loved each other since meeting as children inside an orphanage. You've found refuge within an isolated convent in Romania and won't leave along with her friend, which has resided in Germany.The sale for your film was talked about by Arianna Bocco, Senior V . p . of Purchases & Productions for Sundance Selects/IFC Films with Carole Baraton at Wild Bunch regarding the filmmakers. Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com

Gondry goes Gotham

Gregoire Melin's Kinology has acquired international sales rights outside France to French helmer Michel Gondry's "The We And The I." Set in the Bronx, the English-language drama follows a group on teens on the last day of school before summer vacation. Pic features newcomers including Michael Brodie, Teresa L. Rivera and Brandon Diaz. Gondry said "The We And The I" was one of his most personal films and will have a social undertone. The $6 million pic was penned by Gondry and Jeff Grimshaw; Georges Bermann at Paris-based shingle Partizan is producing. "The film brings out what we love most in Gondry's films: the energy and the emotion," pointed out Melin, who is introducing the film to buyers at the EFM. Added Melin, "The actors collaborated on the writing of the script but what you see in the film is what's in the script. There's no improvisation." Pic shot over the summer and is now in post-production. Melin is handling worldwide sales rights, co-selling domestic with CAA. Kinology will unveil the pic's first footage a few weeks before the Cannes Festival. Stephane Celerier's Mars Distribution will release the film in Gaul in December. Kinology's Berlin slate also boasts Robert Pattinson starrer "Cosmopolis," helmed by David Cronenberg. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Billy Connolly Is Incorporated In The Hobbit

He's Dain IronfootWe believed that the complex number of strings, ropes, pulleys, alarms and container cans we'd put up round the office to warn us whenever Healing For Peter Jackson cast somebody new within the Hobbit films would finally have fallen quiet since they have lengthy gone into production. But not a chance: i was rudely jangled from the enjoyable lull today through the clattering noise that Billy Connolly continues to be put into the sprawling Hobbit ensemble.Jackson launched an argument towards the Warmth Vision Blog today announcing that Connolly was aboard. "We're able to not think about a far more fitting actor to experience Dain Ironfoot, the staunchest and most difficult of Dwarves, than Billy Connelly (sic), the Large Yin themself," the director enthuses. "With Billy walking into this role, the cast from the Hobbit has become complete. We can not wait to determine him around the battleground!"Complete, the guy states. We will not accept is as true until both films are in their final version on shiny disc, or direct brain download.For individuals keeping count, the primary cast for that Hobbit: An Unpredicted Journey and also the Hobbit: There And Again now runs to roughly 17 million stars. Or, to place it inside a less silly way, Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Cate Blanchett, Andy Serkis, Orlando Blossom, Congressman Christopher Lee, Lee Pace, Hugo Weaving, Stephen Fry, Craig Humphries, Evangeline Lilly, Luke Evans, Sylvester McCoy, Jed Brophy, Dean O'Gorman, Mark Hadlow, James Nesbitt, Peter Hambleton, Graham McTavish, Richard Armitage, Ken Stott, john Callen, Stephen Hunter, William Kircher, Adam Brown, Aidan Turner, Benedict Cumberbatch and much more.Anticipate the very first film on December 14 this season and also the second on December 13, 2013.Connolly may also be heard like a voice in Pixar's Brave, which arrives here on August 13.

'Game Of Thrones' Star Joins Rob Bridges In 'The Seventh Son'

"Wager on Thrones" leading guy Package Harington seems to finally be landing his silver screen breakout role. Meanwhile, Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson reunite inside an approaching comedy, Could Be is positioned to star inside the silver screen adaptation of just one of Steve Martin's books and Philip Seymour Hoffman is at discussions for "A Well Known Guy." It's February 8, and you're simply attentiveness for current day casting news. Package Harington Joins Cast Of "The Seventh Boy" Package Harington has the capacity to make his silver screen debut. After Warner Bros needed his break-out, "Arthur & Lancelot," business release schedule, it seems like he was quick to snap on the completely new role. Variety reviews that Harrington will join the cast in the fantasy flick "The Seventh Boy," which stars Rob Bridges just like a witch hunter and Ben Barnes as his new apprentice. Harington may have a classic apprentice. Owen Wilson And Vince Vaughn To Reunite In New Comedy Consider "Wedding Crashers" being one of the better comedies in the '00s? Well, you're fortunate, because Vulture is verifying that Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson are reteaming to star inside the Vaughn-written comedy, "Interns." "Real Steel" helmer Shawn Levy will direct. The flick follows Wilson and Vaughn as two fortysomethings who lose their jobs and select being interns inside a Google-like dotcom and "start anew." Is Usually To Star In Adaptation Of Steve Martin Novel The Hollywood Reporter finds that may be will star in and create the arrival adaptation of Steve Martin's novel "Object of Beauty." The novel follows an entrepreneur in their travels and love matters over 15 many years of her existence. Philip Seymour Hoffman In Talks For "A Well Known Guy" The situation is searching ideal for Anton Corbjin's current day thriller, "A Well Known Guy." Variety is verifying that Philip Seymour Hoffman is at final discussions for your lead role inside the movie, that's an adaptation of John Le Carre's best-selling novel of the title. He'd play in the character Bachmann. Two More Join Viola Davis In "Beautiful Creatures" Alcon Entertainment has some large news to discuss regarding approaching supernatural love story "Beautiful Creatures." Hot in the news that Viola Davis is joining the cast, the business introduced that Jack O'Connell and Alice Englert will be in final discussions to star since the movie's two leads. Filming will begin in April around New Orleans. Reveal your opinions on current day Casting Make contact with should be genuine section below or on Twitter!

Lionsgate, Starz ink multi-year pact

Lionsgate and Starz Entertainment Thursday introduced a brand new multiyear, multiplatform, film certification deal which will bring a lot more than 500 Lionsgate movies towards the premium funnel.The comprehensive new agreement is Lionsgate's first lengthy-term library cope with Starz. The studio, which just acquired Summit Entertainment, is really a founding father of rival pay TV network Epix, together with Vital and MGM.Photos include recent releases ''Conan The Barbarian,'' ''Abduction,'' ''Margin Call'' and ''Red State'' in addition to photos in the ''Saw'' and ''Tyler Perry'' franchises, ''Precious,'' ''Rambo,'' ''3:10 To Yuma,'' ''Monster's Ball,'' and ''The Blair Witch Project.''Jim Packer, Lionsgate Leader of Worldwide Television and Digital Distribution, stated, ''This is yet another significant part of the continuing money making in our 13,000-title shot entertainment library, and we are delighted to increase and expand our productive lengthy-term relationship with Starz, with whom we most lately joined around the television series ''Boss.'' Lionsgate remains devoted to tapping traditional and digital purchasers alike once we explore methods to unlock the need for our huge shot entertainment library resource.''''Starz Entertainment offers its customers an excellent mixture of both original programming and theatrical films. We're always striving to have a lengthy-term pipeline of quality library content to enhance our first-run output film programming from Disney and The new sony. This agreement - having a terrific partner in Lionsgate -- allows us to meet individuals lengthy-term programming goals,'' stated Stephan Shelanski, EVP, Programming, for Starz Entertainment. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Ty Warren to Legendary professional V . p .

WarrenLegendary Entertainment has upped Ty Warren to professional V . p . of physical production since the banner pumps more photos through its pipeline. Warren happen to be senior V . p . of production inside the this past year. He reviews to Jon Jashni, Legendary's leader and chief creative officer. Warren is presently supervisory physical production on Legendary's "Off-shoreline Rim," which Guillermo del Toro is lensing in Vancouver "Seventh Boy," to star Rob Bridges and Julianne Moore "42," with Harrison Ford "300: Fight of Artemisia" the arrival "Wrath in the Leaders" and Legendary East's first pic, "The Fantastic Wall," with Erection dysfunction Zwick set to helm. "Ty features to Legendary a breadth of expert knowledge within an integral time for that organization," Jashni mentioned. "Given the increase in our autonomous production activity, we'll benefit greatly from his focus and leadership." Before joining Legendary, Warren was DreamWorks Pictures' senior V . p . of production, concentrating on the initial two "Transformers" photos, "Revolutionary Road," "Dreamgirls" and "Sweeney Todd." Contact Marc Graser at marc.graser@variety.com