'Act of Valor,' Tyler Perry's 'Good Deeds' Top Weekend Box Office

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New John Carter featurette online

Disney has released a new introductory featurette for upcoming sci-fi blockbuster John Carter, in which cast and crew discuss the film alongside various snippets of shiny new footage.The new clips show the grand scale upon which the story is played out, with Taylor Kitsch's Mars-marooned hero leaping his way from one conflict to the next. However, despite the grand action scenes, Kitsch is also keen to point out that, "as big as this is, it's truly a character-driven story."Take a look at the new featurette below... Everyone seems at pains to point out how influential the original John Carter story was, as if to say, "don't think just because you've seen Star Wars, you don't need to bother with this."That said, it probably doesn't help that the film looks staggeringly like Episode I in terms of its general aesthetic. Let's just hope the dialogue, action, casting... well, pretty much everything is better than the re-released prequel.John Carter opens in the UK on 9 March 2012.

'Writers' bound for top territories

Lisa Wilson's startup sales outfit the Solution Entertainment Group has locked a stack of deals for Greg Kinnear and Jennifer Connelly starrer "Writers" at the European Film Market. So far pic has sold rights in all media to Australia (Becker Film Group), Canada (eOne), Germany and German-speaking Switzerland (Wild Bunch) and Spain (DeaPlaneta). Additionally, pic has sold to the Middle East (Eagle Films), Turkey (Pinema), Latin America (California Filmes), Eastern Europe (SPI), Singapore (Shaw), India (PVR) and international airlines (Cinesky). Pic, which is produced by Informant Media's Judy Cairo ("Crazy Heart"), follows the story of the complicated relationships between a successful novelist and his ex-wife, college-age daughter and teenage son. Josh Boone makes his directorial debut with the pic, which he also wrote. Wilson and her Solution partner Myles Nestel exec produce alongside Informant's Michael A. Simpson and Eric Brenner. Lensing is expected to begin in North Carolina in March. "I've been overwhelmed by the response to the material," said Wilson on closing the deals. Additional titles on the Solution's slate include "Hector and the Search for Happiness," "Cities" and "A Little Something for Your Birthday." Contact Diana Lodderhose at diana.lodderhose@variety.com

Washington Really Wants To Fire 2 Guns

Alongside Mark WahlbergMark Wahlberg continues to be mounted on graphic novel adaptation 2 Guns for a few several weeks now. Also it appears like he'll go foot-to-foot with Denzel Washington, because the Safe House star has joined foretells snatch another lead role.Steven Grant produced the Boom! Galleries title that's fuelling the film, which finds a DEA agent as well as an undercover naval intelligence officer unknowingly looking into one another because they both steal mob money. Seems like you will see a lot more than two guns involved with that one...As the movie was formerly specific like a pointing project for David O Russell, the apparent current feud between director and actor now implies that Wahlberg has switched to his new helming buddy, Icelandic megaphone-wielder Baltasar Kormákur, who just labored with him on Contraband.Universal is footing the balance for that one, getting created both Contraband and Safe House. It's presently searching for another company to talk about the expense with, as movie bullets aren't cheap nowadays.Safe House will open its motion picture doorways here on Feb 24. Washington has additionally just finished dealing with Robert Zemeckis on pilot drama Flight. Wahlberg will next be observed in Seth McFarlane's comedy Ted.

CBS orders 'Widow Detective' pilot

CBS has greenlit the drama pilot "Widow Detective," from CBS TV Art galleries and "CSI" maven Carol Mendelsohn's production banner. Project involves a decorated police detective who becomes a surrogate husband, lover and father for the categories of three partners he's lost within the kind of duty. David Hubbard composed the pilot and may professional produce with Mendelsohn and Julie Weitz. "Widow Detective" marks CBS' fifth drama order this pilot season. Contact Cynthia Littleton at cynthia.littleton@variety.com

Annapurna ankles 'Side Effects'

Despite a release the other day from distributor Open Road, it appears that Annapurna Pictures will not be financing Steven Soderbergh's "Undesirable Effects." Open Road, that have signed onto distribute the film in your area, introduced Jan. 18 the 2 companies would partner round the film, produced by Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Gregory Jacobs and Scott Z. Burns, who also written the script. Annapurna's Megan Ellison, Marc Butan and Ted Schipper might have offered as professional producers. Annapurna's decision to lower in the film came late on Friday, sources told Variety. Sooner or later, project had three high-profile thesps attached -- Channing Tatum, Blake Lively and Jude Law -- however current participation is unclear. Meanwhile, Open Road mentioned it's still onboard: "The Street deal to create the look is at place," an agent for Open Road told Variety. Plot particulars continue being under systems. Because the film presently does not have financier, sources tell Variety the film has multiple offers and may likely lock lower a deal before Sundance is finished. Annapurna is behind numerous notable projects slated for release this year, including John Hillcoat's "Wettest County," the Kaira Pitt-toplined "Cogan's Trade" and Kathryn Bigelow's untitled project in regards to the capture of Osama Bin Laden. Annapurna did not return demands for comment. Contact Rachel Abrams at Rachel.Abrams@variety.com

VIDEO: Amusing! CoverGirls Ellen DeGeneres and Sofia Vergara Enjoy Makeup

Sofia Vergara and Ellen DeGeneres CoverGirl spokeswomen Sofia Vergara and Ellen DeGeneres did an energetic version from the sassy new ads for your makeup brand on Ellen Monday. Inside the segment, DeGeneres functions as Vergara's hands, using makeup with different script that DeGeneres written for your Modern Family actress to determine aloud. It is much more amusing laptop or computer sounds - watch it!