I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I will be working on a behind the scenes revamp and will work to be better than ever in 2009. I am really sorry for the lack of updates around here lately and will see you next year with lots of goodies. Until then, Happy Holidays!

IESB talked exclusively with actress Evan Rachel Wood today at the junket for The Wrestler in Beverly Hills.

We will post our entire video interview with Ms. Wood shortly and The Wrestler is easily one of the best films of the year.

But first, she gave us some casting information in regards to Marvel Entertainment’s Spider-Man the musical that’s been in development for some time.

Wood told the IESB that she has been cast as Mary Jane in the musical and that rehearsals start in June of 2009.

This should bring the show to the Broadway stage by early to mid 2010 they would assume.

So who will be her Peter Park? Will it be Jim Sturgess, her Across the Universe co-star who has been long rumored (and the perfect fit)?

Wood said they are, “still trying to convince him.”

As previously announced, the Broadway show will be helmed by Julie Taymor with Bono and The Edge of U2 providing the music and lyrics.

U.K. indie distrib Metrodome has snapped up all U.K. rights to Canuck helmer Kari Skogland’s thriller 50 Dead Men Walking from co-producer and sales agent Handmade Films Intl.

Pic is loosely based on Martin McGartland’s autobiography of the same name about his time as an informant inside the Irish Republican Army from 1987 to 1991, who was exposed, tortured and then escaped. He remains in hiding today.

Pic, which toplines Jim Sturgess as McGartland and also stars Ben Kingsley and Nathalie Press, world premiered at the Toronto Film Fest.

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The trailer for Fifty Dead Men Walking is available here. I have added captures to the gallery as well as two posters. I really think Jim looks great in the movie and I personally can’t wait to see it for his performance alone.

Based on Martin McGartland’s shocking real life story, Martin is a young lad from west Belfast in the late 1980s who is recruited by the British Police to spy on the IRA. He works his way up the ranks as a volunteer for the IRA whilst feeding information to his British handler and saving lives in the process; until one day he is exposed, captured and tortured to within an inch of his life. He escaped dramatically by throwing himself from a tower block window and is still in hiding today.

GALLERY LINKS:
Fifty Dead Men Walking:

Indie distributor Metrodome Distribution has snared U.K. and Irish distribution rights to Kari Skogland’s Fifty Dead Men Walking in a deal with co-producer and sales banner HandMade Films International.

The deal, announced Thursday, was signed by HandMade’s Guy Collins and Metrodome’s Peter Urie after negotiations that started following its screening at the Toronto International Film Festival.

HandMade also said it has sold the film to a host of countries including Australia (Village Roadshow), Scandinavia (Svenske), Germany and Austria (ARD Degeto), Spain (Festival Films), Russia (Paradise) and Benelux (EFP).

… Read the full story »