Fritz Leiber’s 1943 Conjure Wife is headed back to the screen from writer/director Billy Ray (Breach). United Artists has acquired the rights to Leiber’s debut novel according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The film will adapt the story of “a New England college professor who discovers that his good fortune is the result of his wife’s secret, magical interference. When he pressures her to stop, dark forces descend on the couple without her protection.”

The trade notes, “Ray’s update will amp up the prurience factor as one woman’s desire to take over a more ideal female body factors into the plot.”

This will be the fourth film adaptation, following Weird Woman (1944), Night of the Eagle/Burn, Witch, Burn! (1962), and Witches’ Brew (1980).

Leiber (December 24, 1910 – September 5, 1992) was a prolific science fiction and fantasy author, best known for his sword & sorcery series featuring Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser.

Fafhrd appeared in Leiber’s first sale, sold in 1939. Leiber become the Science Fiction Writers of America’s 5th Grand Master.

Tokyopop Associate Publisher Marco Pavia told ICv2, “Publishers and booksellers are describing this as one of the worst retailing environments in memory and I don’t know what to add. I think that’s an accurate assessment.  We’re adjusting to this landscape that’s shifting every day.  We need to be as responsive as we can to these new realities just to endure.”

This year alone, the company has had to lay off nearly 50 staffers and reduce their scheduled output for 2009.  “Whenever we lay off someone they’re extremely talented, dedicated people, so it’s hard, especially this time of year,” he said of the eight reportedly laid off this month. 
 

From classic creatures to modern gore, special effects makeup has always been at the dark heart of movie magic. Now, film fans will go skin deep – and beyond – with Fantastic Flesh: The Art of Makeup EFX, coming from Anchor Bay Entertainment on January 27, 2009. In this Starz Original documentary, viewers will meet the masters of the craft and discover its incredible history.

Directed by filmmaker and visual effects artist Kevin VanHook (Death Row), Fantastic Flesh: The Art of Makeup EFX was lauded as “an enjoyable look at the industry as well as a great nostalgia piece” by IconsofFright.com, while Bloody-disgusting.com said the documentary “offers a unique glimpse behind the lens to a magical place where hardcore film fans who grew up on too many monster movies would love to play.”

From the silent era to today’s blockbuster, this fast-paced documentary examines the techniques, reveals the secrets, and emphasizes the impact that special effects makeup has had on filmmaking for more than a century. Before CGI effects became the norm, special effects makeup was often accomplished through invention, ingenuity and, in some cases, sheer luck!

This in-depth documentary features exclusive interviews with some of the biggest names in Hollywood filmmaking, including Wes Craven (A Nightmare on Elm Street), John Carpenter (the original Halloween, The Fog), Eli Roth (Cabin Fever), George A. Romero (the original Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead and Day of the Dead), John Landis (An American Werewolf in London), Frank Darabont (The Shawshank Redemption), Robert Rodriguez (From Dusk Till Dawn), Mick Garris (Masters of Horror), Tom Savini (Creepshow), Dick Smith (The Exorcist) and Academy Award winner Quentin Tarantino (Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill Vol. 1 and 2), as well as clips from such classic horror and fantasy films as Frankenstein, The Exorcist, Planet of the Apes, The Chronicles of Narnia, An American Werewolf in London, The Thing, Grindhouse, Sin City, Transformers, Day of the Dead, Kill Bill Vol. 1 and 2, Total Recall, Cabin Fever, The Howling and many more.

 “[Starz is] becoming – if they’re not already – the best in the genre business with comprehensive documentaries on the slasher and vampire genres, the history of black cinema and many more, but this one will hold a special place in the hearts of every fan-boy out there,” said RogueCinema.com.

The 58-minute documentary will retail for $19.97.

Mark Hamill reprises his vocal work as The Joker for Eidos and Warner Bros’ video game Batman: Arkham Asylum.  The actor, of course, had a memorable turn as the Clown Prince of Crime on Batman: The Animated Series back in the 1990s. He’ll once more be working opposite Kevin Conroy, who also returns.

HBO’s second season of True Blood will introduce Anna Camp (Equus) as the wife of Fellowship of the Sun president Steve Newlin, played by Michael McMillain. As outlined by Alan Ball, Jason Stackhouse will get caught up with the anti-vampire church for much of the season, which debuts next summer.

Casting notes describe Sarah as “an example of the new ‘hip’ evangelical movement, hates vampires with a passion, deeply believes in her mission, her marriage, her country and her church. very feminine, but down-to-earth, also with a healthy appetite for life’s many pleasures… as she sees it, it’s all part of God’s gift to us. No actual nudity, but implied…”

Merlotte will gain a new waitress to replacer dearly departed Amy. Daphne will be played by Ashley Jones (Bold and the Beautiful). She is described as “sexy and down to earth, a real country girl, not the greatest waitress, but Sam Merlotte (Sam Trammell) couldn’t care less, once he gets to know her better. Common sense, no-nonsense, funny, definitely not neurotic. Nudity is preferable in this role…6 episode arc beginning with this episode.”

Kristen Chenoweth did take long to find work.  The Pushing Daisies star has landed the lead in David E. Kelley’s new legal drama, Legally Mad, for NNBC.  The series is expected to make the 2009-2010 schedule, when the network announcements are made in May.

GoComics.com as added The Doozies, a new strip from Tom Gammill. Dean Doozie will be the focal point, a “lovable boob” married to Dana and father to Eve. The new strip will update three times a week and is now live.

"What I meant to say was I’m a lovable boob," the Emmy Award-winning TV writer/producer said in a release. "Dean Doozie is a dynamic new character and a welcome addition to any comics page. He’ll be tackling hard-hitting topics like the importance of flossing."

Additionally, Gammill and writing partner Max Pross will produce Learn to Draw videos. "When I was a kid I bought a lot of "How To Draw" books by famous cartoonists who nobody had ever heard of, and weren’t very good artists," Gammill says. "I’m proud to be following in that tradition."

Gammill has written episodes of Seinfeld, The Critic, and The Wonder Years, and has co-produced episodes of The Simpsons and Futurama.
 

Australia loves The Phantom, so when news broke over the weekend that the comic strip legend was returning to the silver screen, the local media began covering it in earnest.

Tim Boyle told the Courier Mail that he would love to direct The Phantom Legacy which he is writing. The writer/director most recently saw his The Plex released internationally. He has worked with far smaller budgets than the $87 million producer Bruce Sherlock estimated the film will require.

Boyle says he’s up to the challenge and envisions Sam Worthington as ideal for the Ghost Who Walks.  Worthington will next be seen in Terminator Salvation next May. Worthington also appeared in Boyle’s Fink so they are familiar with one another.

The writer has moved to Los Angeles for three months to work with Sherlock on locking down pre-production details from distribution to casting. A director choice is expected in January.