The Black List Update: Picks 5 to 1 of 2008

Somewhat of a rarity that all three top vote-getters were put into production fairly quickly – and that 2011 will also be the year of release on the top trio of 2008. If there are any correlations to make it’s that they’re all comedies, relatively easier to mount and produce and grab an ensemble cast for short spurts. Will a comedy be the best ranked Black List item for 2010? We’ll find out next week.

5. The Low Dweller (Votes: 40)
Writer: Brad Ingelsby
Status: Unknown

When adding high-grade, A-lister talent to topline a given project, the nature of this business is that “priorities” easily shift — it can take years to sort through what is next in line as is the case for Leo DiCaprio. He has his name on this one combined with his production house Appian Way, Relativity, Scott Free Productions, Energy Entertainment. This is about “a man trying to assimilate into society after being released from jail discovers that someone from his past is out to settle a score.” Since the BL mention, Ingelsby has been working on Die Bad for director Marc Forster, Sleeper a DC Comics project and Sacred Prey.

4. Big Hole (Votes: 42)
Writer: Michael Gilio
Status: Unknown

Beginning of 2009, Gore Verbinski put his name on the project about an “old cowboy goes on a mission to recover his money after a million dollar sweepstakes scam cleans out his entire bank account”, but so far the money-trace film which is being produced by Aversano Films hasn’t moved. Michael Gilio who entered the business as an actor, now has Keep Coming Back and Carter Beats the Devil on his lap.

3. Butter (Votes: 44)
Writer: Jason Micallef
Status: Completed. The Weinstein Co. are releasing the pic in 2011.

Directed by Jim Field Smith, the comedy about an annual butter carving contest includes a cast comprised of: Olivia Wilde, Ashley Greene, Hugh Jackman, Jennifer Garner, Alicia Silverstone, Ty Burrell, Rob Corddry and will be introducing Yara Shahidi. Since the Black List mention, Micallef also penned an animated project being called the Untitled Cryptozoology Project with Jack Black on board as a producer. This should be a popular item on Weinstein’s future slate.

2. The Oranges (Votes: 61)
Writer: Jay Reiss & Ian Helfer
Status: Completed

Starring Leighton Meester, Hugh Laurie, Alia Shawkat, Catherine Keener, Adam Brody, Oliver Platt and Allison Janney, this tale about a “man has a romantic relationship with the daughter of a family friend, which turns their lives upside down,” was directed by Julian Farino and is seeking distribution. With no Sundance mention, this will sell via private screening or wait until some fest premiere. Jay Reiss has been busy with other comedies in: The Year of Living Biblically, Man-Witch and The Complete History of My Sexual Failures, while Ian Helfer has been working on Pyrates.

1. The Beaver (Votes: 67)
Writer: Kyle Killen
Status: Completed 

I think this project has the distinction of having been put together quicker than the time it’s spent waiting for a release. We don’t need to address why there was a delay in the first place on the Jodie Foster directed film. Finally, Summit will release the film which stars Mel Gibson, Jennifer Lawrence, Foster and Anton Yelchin this Spring. Killen would take on television’s Lone Star which lasted longer than it’s pilot episode, which means once the hype starts building on The Beaver, the scribe will be likely attached to further hot projects. Killen was among our batch of folks in our American New Wave 25.