"Big Eyes" Release Date Announced

The release date for Tim Burton's next feature film, Big Eyes, has been announced: Christmas Day 2014.

Here is ComingSoon.net's synopsis of the film:

"Big Eyes, starring Amy Adams, Christoph Waltz, Danny Huston, Krysten Ritter, Jason Schwartzman and Terence Stamp, is a biopic of artist Margaret Keane, the painter whose distinctive creations featuring big-eyed children became one of art's first mass-market success stories in the 1950s. The drama covers Keane's personal awakening at the onset of the feminist movement, leading to a lawsuit she filed against her husband, Walter, who claimed credit for her works. He lived the high life while she toiled in relative anonymity in the Bay Area."

The screenplay is written by Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski (who wrote the script for Ed Wood), and will be released by the Weinstein Company.

Margaret Keane's "Big Eyes" Lisa Marie Portrait for Burton

A little throwback from the past: a photo of the painting Tim Burton had commissioned for artist Margaret Keane to do a portrait of his then-girlfriend, model and actress Lisa Marie (Ed Wood, Mars Attacks!, Sleepy Hollow) with their chihuahua.

Margaret Keane is the subject of Burton's forthcoming feature film, Big Eyes.

Photo courtesy of Swide.com.

Burton, Keaton, Ryder in Talks for "Beetlejuice 2"

Is it "showtime" again for Beetlejuice?

Sources have told Variety that Tim Burton is in talks to direct a sequel to his 1988 comedy, Beetlejuice. Seth Grahame Smith (Dark Shadows, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter) penned the script and will produce with his partner David Katzenberg through their KatzSmith Productions.

Burton rarely does sequels (his only sequel has been Batman Returns), but perhaps he's interested in revisiting one of his favorite film characters. Vital to this is that Michael Keaton is interested in reprising his leading ghoulish role, having told NME.com that the sequel is "a go."

Additionally, Winona Ryder might be reprising her character. The actress recently told The Daily Beast that the long-gestating sequel "might be happening."

Burton, of course, is quite busy. The filmmaker is also eyeing his Fox project, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, with one source saying it could possibly go before Beetlejuice 2. Also, he is in production on his latest feature, Big Eyes.

More information will be announced in the near future, so stay tuned!

Photos: Burton, Waltz, Schwartzman Filming "Big Eyes" in Vancouver

The Vancouver Sun has a gallery of photos featuring director Tim Burton and actors Christoph Waltz and Jason Schwartzman filming Big Eyes on Powell Street in the Gastown neighborhood of Vancouver, British Columbia on July 31st. Actors in 1950's attire and vintage cars adorned the street. Here are just a few of the image, but you can see the full photo gallery here.

Jason Schwartzman on set.

An actor on set as a 1950's journalist.

Christoph Waltz (in green shirt) being mobbed by crowd and press for a scene in Big Eyes.

Tim Burton and Christoph Waltz on set.

New Poll: Which Future Tim Burton Film Do You Most Want to See?

We have a new poll: "Which Future Tim Burton Film Do You Most Want to See?"

• Big Eyes
• Peregrine's Home for Peculiars

It should be noted that Tim Burton is merely attached to direct Peregrine's Home for Peculiars, and not confirmed to be helming that project just set. There are also other films that he might be associated with, but those are simply in development (and might be included in future polls once more details arise!).

Feel free to discuss in the comments section below!


Here are the results from our previous poll, "Which 2012 Tim Burton Film Was Your Favorite?":

35 votes (7%) for Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

142 votes (31%) for Dark Shadows

272 votes (60%) for Frankenweenie

Total number of votes: 449

First "Big Eyes" Production Photos

Gossip website Just Jared has posted the first batch of (unofficial) images of Tim Burton, Amy Adams, Krysten Ritter, and Christoph Waltz filming Big Eyes in Vancouver, Canada on Thursday, July 11th. You can see the full gallery of photos here.

Terence Stamp Added to "Big Eyes"

Deadline reports that actor Terence Stamp (Wanted, Get Smart, Unfinished Song) is the latest addition to Tim Burton's forthcoming Big Eyes. Stamp will play the role of John Canaday, "the elitist and exasperated senior art critic for the New York Times."

"Peregrine's Home for Peculiars" Gets July 2015 Release Date

We haven't heard a lot about the feature film adaption of Ransom Riggs' debut young adult novel, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, in quite a while. But finally, we have some news. The Hollywood Reporter states that Fox has already given the movie a release date: July 31st, 2015.

Fox has also given the film a slightly more digestible title: Peregrine's Home for Peculiars. Tim Burton is still attached to direct the film, and is supposed to do so after having completed Big Eyes (which will begin shooting in Vancouver this July). Jane Goldman (Kick-Ass, Stardust, X-Men: First Class) has written the most recent version of the screenplay.

The Hollywood Reporter writes that, "the story follows a teenage boy who is transported to an island where he must help protect a group of orphans with special powers from creatures out to destroy them."

Jason Schwartzman Joins "Big Eyes"

The Wrap reports that Jason Schwartzman (Rushmore, I Heart Huckabees, Moonrise Kingdom) has joined the cast of Tim Burton's new film, Big Eyes.

Schwartzman will play the role of Ruben, a San Francisco art gallery owner. He will appear in Burton's new film alongside Amy Adams, Christoph Waltz, and Krysten Ritter.

"Jason has been part of such a diverse list of intelligent, often whimsical films during his career and makes an exciting addition to this already fantastic cast," said TWC Co-Chairman Harvey Weinstein.

Krysten Ritter Joins "Big Eyes"

Deadline reports that actress Krysten Ritter (TV's Breaking Bad and Don't Trust the B___ in Apt. 23) will be joining Amy Adams and Christoph Waltz in Tim Burton's forthcoming film, Big Eyes.

Deadline writes that Ritter "will play DeeAnn, the free-spirited confidante to Margaret [played by Amy Adams] who tries to coax her friend to come out of her shy shell."

Danny Huston in Talks for "Big Eyes"

The Hollywood Reporter states that actor Danny Huston is in talks to be in Tim Burton's latest film, Big Eyes. The Golden Globe-nominated actor would play "a burnt-out, heavy-drinking gossip reporter."

Huston has recently appeared in two independent live-action films -- Boxing Day and Two Jacks -- and also provides a voice for Ari Folman's latest animated film, The Congress, which premiered at this year's Cannes Film Festival.

Big Eyes is the true story of the relationship between artist Margaret Keane (who will be played by Amy Adams) and her husband, Walter (played by Christoph Waltz). The drama, with a script by Larry Karaszewski and Scott Alexander (who previously worked with Burton on Ed Wood), centers on a decades-long dispute between the two after their 1965 divorce over who actually painted the picture. Principal photography on the low-budget film is expected to begin in Vancouver this July.

"Big Eyes" Begins Filming in Vancouver in July

The Province reports that Tim Burton is heading to Vancouver to shoot his next film, Big Eyes, with Christoph Waltz and Amy Adams. The low-budget film (at $20 million) is about the true story of artist Margaret Keane and her husband, Walter, who claimed credit for her popular sad-eyed paintings of little children in the 1960s.

Burton is a collector of Mrs. Keane's paintings, and even once had a specially commissioned painting done by Keane in her style of his former girlfriend, Lisa Marie.

Big Eyes will be filming in Canada for seven weeks starting in July.

Burton Leaves Robert Downey Jr. "Pinocchio" Project

According to Deadline, Tim Burton is no longer attached to direct a live-action adaptation of Pinocchio starring Robert Downey, Jr. as Geppetto. This is likely because Burton's next directorial project will be Big Eyes, starring Amy Adams and Christoph Waltz.

Downey has said that he might be interested in having Ben Stiller direct the film. Dan Jinks is still attached to produce, and Jane Goldman has written the most recent draft of the script.

Tim Burton's Next Movie!: BIG EYES

Deadline has the exclusive new information on Tim Burton's next film: Big Eyes.

EXCLUSIVE: Tim Burton will direct Christoph Waltz and Amy Adams in Big Eyes, the film that Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski scripted. At the same time, The Weinstein Company is closing a deal to fund and distribute. This is a major development on a project that has followed a long development track. Of all the development projects I’ve written about over the years, this is my favorite that has not yet gotten made. And the casting seems so promising. The film will be produced by Alexander and Karaszewski and Burton, with Electric City Entertainment’s Lynette Howell. This will be Burton’s next film, and production will begin this summer.

Waltz, who’s coming off another Oscar turn in Django Unchained, and Adams, nominated for The Master, will play Margaret and Walter Keane, whose paintings of large eyed children became one of the first mass marketed art sensations in the 50s and 60s. Those prints sold in gas stations and every five and dime store across the country. While Walter was the marketing genius, he also took the bows for doing the brush work. He was a full fledged celebrity, a regular on the TV talk show circuit. His shy wife was the actual artist in the family. When they split and she tried to get her due, he painted her as being eccentric, and they ended up in court. There, a judge finally provided them with two easels and ordered them to prove it. Walter’s art reputation went down on the canvas when he begged off because of what he said was pain in his arm. She whipped up one of her trademark big-eyed works.

The screenwriters, Alexander and Karaszewski, worked with Burton previously on Ed Wood, and they wrote many other films including The People Vs. Larry Flynt. They’ve been pushing this one up the hill for years, with various filmmakers and casts. Most recently, they had intended to direct the film, and had Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Reynolds lined up as the leads. At that time, Burton was lined up as a producer, but now he has taken the directing reins.

TWC’s Harvey Weinstein and his team led by David Glasser are closing up on the deal as we speak. Burton’s repped by WME, Waltz by ICM Partners, Adams by WME and Brillstein, Alexander and Karaszewski by CAA.

Burton on "Big Eyes," "Pinocchio," "Beetlejuice" Sequel

Shock Till You Drop recently spoke with Tim Burton. The ever-busy filmmaker was asked about three projects that are either in development or pre-production. Nothing particularly groundbreaking was learned, but it does show that these projects are on Burton's radar:

On the possible Beetlejuice sequel: “Seth [Grahame-Smith] is writing something. I just told him because I liked the character, I just thought I’d have a better response if he has ideas about it to just let him [work on it]." He continued: "I don’t know if I’d ever know a good script if it bit me in the face, but I know what I like."

On an adaptation of Pinocchio that Burton is attached to direct at Warner Bros., from a script by Bryan Fuller, and which might have Robert Downey, Jr. in the lead: "I’m very busy aren’t I? It’s kind of embarrassing. I’ve got three movies [coming out this year]. I’m sick of me already. So, we’ll let these come out, then I’ll go away and you guys can deal with other people."

On Big Eyes, a biographical film about artists Margaret and Walter Keane starring Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Reynolds that Burton is producing, and is currently in pre-production: "Oh, I don’t know. There are a lot of projects in the works, but as you can see when something is 10 years in the making, you’re never quite sure when it’s happening."

Witherspoon, Reynolds to Star in Burton-Produced "Big Eyes"

For the first time in many months, we finally have some updates on the Tim Burton-produced live-action feature, Big Eyes. The Hollywood Reporter informs us that the film will star Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Reynolds, playing Margaret and Walter Keane.

Margaret Keane is well-known for her kitschy paintings of bug-eyed children which she created and became a sensation in America during the 1960s. The Keanes' lives were filled with controversy: Though Margaret was the true talent behind the paintings, her husband, Walter, claimed credit for her work, which was sold under his name.



Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski (who wrote the script for Tim Burton's Ed Wood) will write and direct Big Eyes, with Burton set to produce via his Tim Burton Productions. Lynette Howell and Jamie Patricof will also produce through Electric City Entertainment. Principal photography is scheduled to begin with Witherspoon and Reynolds this spring.

"We are ecstatic to have this dream cast for our dream project," Alexander and Karaszewski said in a joint statement. "Walter is a larger-than-life antihero -- charming, funny, dangerous, and a little crazy. Ryan will knock it out of the park. As for Reese, she will be perfect as Margaret -- soulful, decent, transforming from vulnerability to learning to fight for herself."

Burton Reunites with "Ed Wood" Writers for Two Films

Deadline.com states that Tim Burton has reunited with Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski -- who wrote the screenplay for Burton's acclaimed 1994 biographical film, Ed Wood -- for two new projects: a stop-motion animated The Addams Family (which has been in the news for the last few months), and a new project, a biography on cult artist Margaret Keane, called Big Eyes.

"Both of these projects are based on artwork that Tim absolutely loves," Karasewski said. "The retrospective in New York of Tim's own artwork showed how much of an influence Charles Addams was to him. We want the tone to be as darkly funny and subversive as the Addams drawings, and we've come up with an approach that nobody has ever done before."



It should be noted that Burton is just attached by the companies, Illumination Entertainment and Universal Pictures, to direct The Addams Family, but that this new article states that he will be producing the film with Chris Meledandri. It is not confirmed whether Burton will direct this movie yet.

Alexander said that while they are discussing the Addams Family project with Burton, an early draft of the Big Eyes script has already been presented to Burton. The film will focus on the life of Margaret Keane, who is best known for her haunting, kitsch paintings of drippy-eyed children.



"It turns out he's a big fan of Margaret and has commissioned artwork from her," Alexander said. "We thought the movie would have been made by now, but just when we were ready to go 18 months ago, the indie market fell apart. We'd pulled it together in that equity/presale/rebate game, but the smartest thing we did was to hang on to the script and not sell it. That has allowed us to set the reset button with Tim, and having him helps a tremendous amount with the way the independent film world is right now."

Deadline.com provides a summary of the life of Margaret Keane:

"Walter Keane became a national celebrity and talk show fixture in the 1950s after he pioneered the mass production of prints of big-eyed kids, and used his marketing savvy to sell them cheaply in hardware stores and gas stations across the country. Unfortunately, he claimed to be the artist. That role was played by Margaret, his shy wife. She generated the paintings from their basement and Walter's contribution was adding his signature to the bottom. The ruse broke up their marriage, and when she tried to make it known that she authored the paintings, they ended up in a court battle after Walter called her crazy. The case culminated in a dramatic courtroom showdown. The judge put up two easels, side by side, and challenged each of them to start painting. He begged off, blaming a shoulder injury, while she dashed off her familiar big-eyed creation."

"I am excited to be working with Scott and Larry again," Burton said in a statement. "I've always been a great admirer of Margaret Keane's work and find her story intriguing."

Burton will produce Big Eyes with Lynette Howell's Silverwood Films banner. Alexander and Karaszewski intend to direct the low-budget, independent film.