PRODUCTION UPDATES TORONTO: "CARRIE", "THE F-WORD", "REMEMORY", "ROBOCOP", "LIZ & DICK" & "CYBERGEDDON"

Julianne Moore at TIFF 2009

Just a few updates on Production Timelines for some notable Projects set to film in Toronto this Summer to share as per the Ontario Media Development Corporation:

RoboCop from Director Jose Padilha is penciled-in to film between August 7-December 14, 2012. In addition to Joel Kinnaman being cast for the Remake, Gael García Bernal also has been added to the Film from Sony Pictures. Some rumours are circulating that Sean Penn and Edward Norton also are being eyed for the Project.

Director Michael Dowse (whom we chatted with back in February) recently achieved great success domestically with his Goon being the number one Film in its debut at the Canadian Box Office.  He  now has his sights set on a Rom-Com which he says will be completely different from anything he's done. The F-Word is set to film in Toronto between May 28-July 16, 2012.

Director Mark Palansky who brought Penelope starring Reese Witherspoon and Christina Ricci to TIFF 2006 will be filming Rememory in Toronto for a quick Shoot between May 10-June 8, 2012 and attached so far are Emmy and Golden Globe Winner Peter Dinklage and also our own Catherine O'Hara, who like him also is a fellow Emmy Winner.

Mad Men Producer Matthew Weiner is lending his name to Cybergeddon, which although is listed as a TV Movie, is set to premiere on Yahoo this Fall.  CSI:Crime Scene Investigation Creator Anthony Zuiker will be helming the Project, which will be formatted for to be viewed on Mobile Devices and Computer Screens. Cybergeddon films between May 7-31, 2012, also a quick Shoot.

The much-awaited Carrie Remake from Sony Screen Gems starring Chloë Grace Moretz and Jamie King is  closer to having Oscar-nominated Actress Julianne Moore sign-on, and also now is listed officially as a Toronto Production.  It would appear dates are still being finalized for the Kimberly Peirce Horror Film.

And lastly, for those of us excited to see Lindsay Lohan in Toronto filming Lifetime Television Movie Liz and Dick this Summer, The Wrap has just announced that filming will begin in June with Los Angeles mentioned as the locale for the Shoot.  Not sure what this means for Toronto which originally was eyed for Production, but this isn't boding well for Fans and Paparazzi hoping to get a glimpse of Lohan...

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

AMC & MATT WEINER REACH "MAD MEN" DEAL

Still from Mad Men

And order was restored. It was announced earlier today that AMC and Mad Men Producer Matt Weiner have struck a deal which will renew the series for a fifth and sixth season. Adweek reports the possibility of a seventh season is strong.

On the Docket during negotiations were issues such as Weiner’s Salary, Cast reductions and the length of Episodes. It is said that despite being the most expensive show on Television in costing $3 million per Episode to make, its third season brought in less than $2 million in Advertising Revenue. Maybe AMC weren’t the Bad Guys after all.

It was finally agreed upon that no Cast members will be cut in the upcoming fifth season of Mad Men, set to air March 2012 and that Weiner will allow a total two additional minutes of Advertising per Episode, which hopefully won’t be too noticeable. Yay.

(Photo credit: AMC)

WILL AMC'S "MAD MEN" BE CANCELLED?

Matt Weiner, Producer of Mad Men

In a devastating bit of news, there are rumours of AMC's Mad Men possibly being cancelled. Before we overreact, negotiations are said to be heated right now the network looking to boost profitability by cutting three Cast members and reducing Episodes further by three minutes to allow more Advertisers spots on the program.  Producer Matt Weiner who has been an integral part of the Show's success, vehemently is against this move.

The irony is killing me as this struggle sounds like a Modern Day episode of the Advertising Agency-centered Period Drama.  The Huffington Post has more on the ordeal which has halted Mad Men's fifth Season for now.

Hopefully sooner, before later.  The thought of Mad Men: The Movie - Sterling Cooper in Abu Dhabi does excite me though.  LOL

(Photo credit: AMC)