Issuing a dare to “Live Your Worst Nightmare,” Universal Studios Hollywood has ratcheted up the intensity level to present a new “Halloween Horror Nights” for 2008. This year’s event will pair Hollywood’s top entertainment scenic and special effects artists with a cast of thousands to create terrifying new experiences including a “Terror Tram” excursion that will feature a stopover inside the infamous Bates Motel, a new scare zone based on the hit movie, “The Strangers” and a bloodcurdling new “Nightmare on Elm Street” maze, all contributing to Southern California’s most intense Halloween experience.“Halloween Horror Nights” begins on Friday, October 3 and will extend over an expanded 13-night run concluding Saturday, November 1. Tickets to “Halloween Horror Nights” are on sale now at http://www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com.In line with the “Live Your Worst Nightmare” theme, “Halloween Horror Nights” will boast a new “Nightmare on Elm Street: Home Sweet Hell” maze, a painstakingly surreal recreation of the notorious house at 1428 Elm Street. The looming, sinister structure will incorporate live reenactments of never-before-presented nightmare sequences from the classic film series and will follow a storyline that will be recognizable to fans of “The Nightmare on Elm Street” films but equally terrifying to anyone who enters. “Halloween Horror Nights” will also feature the return of two other notorious horror icons: “Friday the 13th’s” Jason Voorhees and “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre’s” Leatherface, each featured in his own meticulously crafted maze of shock corridors.The newly re-envisioned backlot horror experience will take guests aboard the “Terror Tram: The Nightmare Tour” — which expands to double the length of previous Halloween tram experiences — and for the first time, incor...

Greedy Bastards aka 20th Century Fox vs. Warner BrothersA nice little court battle is ensuing between Warner Brothers and 20th Century Fox. The entire case revolves around who ‘owns’ the rights to the upcoming film version of the 1980’s graphic novel about damaged superheros called “Watchmen”. Heard of that one? I’m sure you have. Funny how it has been announced and updated on IMDB since May of 2004, yet it wasn’t until the fan frenzy from the trailers and the excitement of the fans at this years ‘Comic Con’ that this issue even came about.The court has decided not to dismiss the case YET, but it seems that it’s only because 20th Century Fox still has evidence to present to the court. Here’s the chain of events…Fox signed a ‘quit claim’ to its rights to the movie in 1991, with the understanding that if the production company (meaning Larry Gordon’s Largo Entertainment) proceeded with a big screen version of the comic, the movie would then be distributed by Fox. Ok, Largo didn’t make the film, Fox didn’t make the film…So, what is there to argue about? Well, enter Larry Gordon! He negotiated with Fox in 1994 for a ‘turnaround notice’ for the film, which established a buyout formula if he elected to acquire the rights from Fox. But, Gordon failed to follow the terms of the 1994 agreement (so they say). In 2006 Warner Brothers negotiated a quit claim contract with Larry Gordon, which Warner claims to have acquired the rights to “Watchmen”. Makes sense, right? Not according to Fox. They are claiming they still owned the rights and that Gordon failed to buy out the Fox studios rights.Now, the courts must decide if Larry Gordon even had the right to negotiate with Warner Brothers, and Fox just wants to stick their greedy hands in something they wanted nothing to do with until someone else made the actual film! If 20th Century Fox was putting out money-making films, this probab...

Javier Bardem is out of “Killing Pablo,” but writer/director Joe Carnahan has already found someone to replace him. Edgar Ramirez is in to play Colombian crime lord Pablo Escobar.  Christian Bale will co-star, playing Major Steve Jacoby. Filming to begin in October.Project, based on Mark Bowden’s book “Killing Pablo: The Hunt for the World’s Greatest Outlaw,” details the rise and fall of the ruthless narcotics trafficker. Escobar amassed a $4 billion fortune before being targeted in a massive campaign by U.S. and Colombian governments that culminated in his death in 1993.The “Pablo” project will be the first for Stratus Films, which launched last year with the goal of developing mid-budget pics and signed Mark Gill as president following his departure as Miramax Los Angeles prexy. Company is bankrolled by real estate developer Bob Yari, who is partnered with producer Mark Gordon.Ramirez previously starred in Paul Greengrass’ “The Bourne Ultimatum,” and he recently appeared in Pete Travis’ “Vantage Point.” He will next be seen in Steven Soderbergh’s “Che” flicks “Guerrilla” and “The Argentine.”Carnahan’s credits also include “Narc” and “Smokin’ Aces.” He also collaborated on the screenplay for Gavin O’Connor’s upcoming crime drama “Pride and Glory.” Tags: Christian Bale, Javier Bardem, Killing Pablo, Mark Gordon, Pablo Escobar