What's next for Viola Davis?

From Variety:

As The Help rides high at the box office, thesp Viola Davis is turning her attention to the small screen, shepherding a possible half-hour vehicle for herself at HBO.

Pay cable is close to finalizing deals for the untitled project Davis is developing with Pariah-helmer Dee Rees, scribe Margaret Nagle and John Lesher.

Series is said to be a look at the corruption of a city through the eyes of the headmaster of an exclusive prep school who has her eye on bigger things. Davis would play the headmaster, though sources cautioned that there is no deal yet in place for her to star.

Rees is penning the script and co-writing the story with Nagle, an HBO vet who mostly recently wrote for the network's period drama “Boardwalk Empire.” Rees may also direct the pilot once the final deals are hammered out.

Davis, Nagle, Lesher and his producing partner Adam Kassan would serve as exec producers, with Rees as a co-exec producer.

Rees made a mark at this year's Sundance fest with the LGBT-themed drama Pariah, which was scooped up by Focus Features (Daily Variety, Jan. 31).

Todd Haynes and Julianne Moore to reunite?

Deadline tells all:

“Mildred Pierce” executive producer and director Todd Haynes has re-teamed with the HBO miniseries' executive producers John Wells and Christine Vachon for another period HBO project -- drama series “Dope.”

Just like “Mildred Pierce,” which starred Oscar winner Kate Winslet, an A-list feature actress, Julianne Moore, is circling “Dope,” which is based on Sara Gran's novel.

Haynes would potentially direct the project, now in development, from a script by Gran who adapted her book.

Dope takes place in New York around 1950 and centers on a woman who re-enters her life after being away at the farm to treat her heroin addiction and becomes a private eye.

“Dope” would extend Moore's relationship with HBO. She stars in the pay-cable network's upcoming film about the 2008 presidential election, “Game Change,” portraying former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

Helen Mirren replaces Bette Midler in HBO's Phil Spector biopic...

From The Hollywood Reporter:

Helen Mirren has replaced Bette Midler in HBO Films’ Phil Spector telefilm.

Midler was forced to bow out of the project, written and directed by David Mament, as it was already in production after suffering a herniated disc that may require surgery.

Oscar-winner Mirren (The Queen) will play Linda Kenney Braden, a defense attorney who represented the producer during his first trial for murder, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. Al Pacino will play Spector.

Barry Levinson will executive produce alongside Mamet and Pacino. The cast includes “Arrested Development’s” Jeffrey Tambor, who will play Bruce Cutler, an attorney on Spector’s defense team.

Mirren won an Emmy in 2005 for HBO’s miniseries “Elizabeth I;” her television work also includes her Emmy-winning performance in the 2006 telefilm Prime Suspect 7: The Final Act, where she reprised her role as Detective Jane Tennison.

Aaron Sorkin is developing another project for HBO...

...and this time it's a miniseries, according to The Hollywood Reporter:

Aaron Sorkin and John Krasinski are developing a miniseries for HBO based on Life at the Marmont, a book by the hotel’s co-owner Raymond R. Sarlot and Fred Basten.

The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed that Sorkin (The Social Network) will write the mini and executive produce with Krasinski (The Office). The Chateau Marmont’s current owner, Andre Balazs, and his daughter, Alessandra, will also executive produce.

Krasinski, who has been the project’s champion, is expected to play a role in the mini, which will feature interwoven stories of the hotel’s guests over several generations. Since the 1930s, the apartment complex, which later became a hotel, has been at the center of Hollywood, drawing film and TV actors, literary greats and rock stars.

In addition to the untitled Marmont mini, Sorkin has his cable news project More as This Story Develops, starring Jeff Daniels, Olivia Munn and Sam Waterston, at HBO.

-Joey's Two Cents: If he writes it, I'll watch it...thoughts?

Darren Aronofsky is the next A-list director to go direct a pilot for HBO...

...continuing the trend of HBO slowly becoming the place for talent to flock to. Here's the story from The Hollywood Reporter:

Black Swan director Darren Aronofsky is making his first foray into television, boarding HBO’s high-profile Hobgoblin, a period drama written by Michael Chabon (The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay) and his wife, Ayelet Waldman.

The project, which is in development, revolves around a group of con men and magicians who, using their deception skills, help defeat Hitler and the Germans during World War II.

Le Grisbi Productions’ John Lesher and Adam Kassan will serve as executive producers, with authors Chabon (Wonder Boys, The Yiddish Policemen’s Union) and Waldman (Bad Mother, Love and Other Impossible Pursuits) set to co-write and executive produce.

Hobgoblin will be Aronofsky’s first filmed project since he left Fox’s Wolverine sequel. That project was to be his follow-up to Black Swan, which grossed $332 million worldwide, but he abruptly exited Wolverine in March.

Here's our first look at Ed Harris as John McCain...

...and Entertainment Weekly has a nice big look for you:

You’ve seen Julianne Moore as Sarah Palin. Now EW has your first look at Ed Harris as Sen. John McCain in Game Change, HBO’s adaptation of the best-selling book covering McCain’s 2008 presidential bid.

See what you think:

-Thoughts?

Emily Mortimer could star in Aaron Sorkin's HBO Pilot!

Deadline has the story:

Emily Mortimer is in negotiations for the female lead in Aaron Sorkin's HBO pilot. Tentatively titled More As This Story Develops, the project centers on cable news anchor Will McCallister (Jeff Daniels), who has his own show, as well as the show's female executive producer, MacKenzie (Mortimer), for whom producing the news is what she does best and everything else is tied for last place. Out of a pool of actresses considered for the role, it came down to Mortimer and Marisa Tomei. After flirting with the project and coming close to committing to it, Tomei ultimately decided not to do television at this time, and HBO quickly started negotiations with Mortimer. In addition to Daniels, Mortimer will also join Olivia Munn and Alison Pill, who are finalizing their deals for the project. Greg Mottola is directing the pilot, which is being executive produced by Sorkin, Scott Rudin and Alan Poul. Mortimer, repped by ICM and Brillstein, will next be seen in Martin Scorsese’s 3D film Hugo Cabret. She also co-starred in the hot Sundance entry Our Idiot Brother, which was picked up by The Weinstein Co.

-Joey's Two Cents: I'm digging the casting so far...thoughts?

Here's our first look at Julianne Moore as Sarah Palin...

It looks pretty spot on to me...thoughts?

Ed Harris joins the cast of Game Change as John McCain...

...according to this in Variety:

Ed Harris is set to play John McCain in HBO's original movie "Game Change," the story of the Arizona senator's run for president in the 2008 election.

Julianne Moore was previously cast in the role of vice presidential hopeful Sarah Palin (Daily Variety, March 10).

Telepic, from Playtone and Everyman Pictures, is based on the book of the same name by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin. Jay Roach is attached to direct a script from Danny Strong, who previously penned HBO's Roach-helmed "Recount," the story behind the 2000 controversial election of George W. Bush over Al Gore.

Roach and Strong exec produce with Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman.

Harris last worked with HBO in 2005 in the miniseries "Empire Falls," for which he was Emmy nommed. On the bigscreen, he recently appeared in Peter Weir's "The Way Back."

-Joey's Two Cents: This works for me...thoughts?

Julianne Moore will play Sarah Palin?

Via Variety:

Julianne Moore as Sarah Palin? You betcha.

The actress has been cast to play the former Alaska governor in HBO's telepic "Game Change," an examination of Arizona Sen. John McCain's failed 2008 presidential campaign. No other casting has been set.

Movie is based on the book of the same name by authors John Heilemann and Mark Halperin. Jay Roach is attached to direct a script from Danny Strong, who previously penned HBO's Roach-helmed "Recount," the story behind the 2000 controversial election of George W. Bush over Al Gore.

Roach will exec produce via his Everyman Pictures shingle. No timetable has been announced for when the film will go into production.

Pay cabler has delved into the political arena with its original films on a number of occasions, including "Recount," which explored the disputed George W. Bush-Al Gore presidential election of 2000, and "The Special Relationship," which centered on the friendship between President Bill Clinton and British Prime Minister Tony Blair.