The Bulletin: Wahlberg in Shyamalan's Next

Mark Wahlberg will star in M. Night Shyamalan’s next apocalyptic thriller “The Happening” (June 13, 2008), about a cataclysmic environmental crisis that positions man at war with nature, at 20th Century Fox, reports Variety. “Mark has a unique blend of charisma, humanity, authenticity and skillfulness as an actor;” Shyamalan told Variety. “All of which coalesced at this moment in his career, making him the perfect person to take on the role of Elliot Moore, the science teacher at the center of this event.” Sam Mercer and Barry Mendel (“The Sixth Sense”) will produce with Shyamalan, and production will begin in Philadelphia in August with a budget of about $57 million.

Hudson's Next ...
Jennifer Hudson ("Dreamgirls") will star with Forest Whitaker, Kate Beckinsale, Dakota Fanning, Guy Pearce and Jackie Earle Haley in "Winged Creatures," about witnesses to a brutal restaurant homicide, reports Hollywood Wiretap. Rowan Woods ("Little Fish") directs.

Dugan to 'Mess With The Zohan'
Dennis Dugan ("I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry") will direct "You Don't Mess With The Zohan," with Adam Sandler to star, at Columbia Pictures, reports The Hollywood Reporter. In "You Don't Mess With The Zohan," a Mossad agent fakes his death in order to anonymously migrate to New York City to be a hair stylist. Judd Apatow ("The 40-Year-Old Virgin"), Robert Smigel ("TV Funhouse") and Sandler wrote the spec script. Smigel will do a rewrite, with production to begin in the summer in Los Angeles and New York. Sandler's production company Happy Madison will produce.

Russell Might Climb "Sammy's Hill"
David O. Russell ("I Heart Huckabees," "Spanking The Monkey") will possibly direct "Sammy's Hill," an adaptation of Kristen Gore's novel about a congressional aide's romantic pitfalls, at Columbia Pictures, reports The Hollywood Reporter. Douglas Wick and Lucy Fisher will produce. Dave Jeser, Matt Silverstein, Gore and Russell will adapt.

Gosnell Reads 'Book Club'
Raja Gosnell ("Scooby Doo," "Never Been Kissed") will direct "Book Club," a romantic comedy in which a desperate man blackmails a cliquey woman's book club in order to woo an old girlfriend back, at The Weinstein Company, reports Variety. Lauren Iungerich and Brad Follmer wrote the script. Julia Halperin and Gosnell will produce.

Swank in 'Strangers' Remake
Hilary Swank will likely star in and produce a remake of Patrice Leconte's "Intimate Strangers" (2004), in which a woman confesses personal secrets to an accountant mistaken for a psychiatrist and, in turn, initiates an unusual relationship, reports Variety. Kelly Fremon will write the script for Paramount Pictures.

Carrey Wants 'Me Time'
Jim Carrey will star in "Me Time," a quirky comedy in which a writer must aid his pregnant wife as a Mr. Mom, at 20th Century Fox, reports Variety. Ian Roberts and Jay Martel will write the script.

Lurie to Remake "Straw Dogs"
Rod Lurie ("The Contender") will direct an update of Sam Peckinpah's "Straw Dogs" (1971), at Screen Gems, reports The Hollywood Reporter. Reed Steiner ("The Shield") will write the script and Marc Frydman will produce. In "Straw Dogs," an American mathematician (Dustin Hoffman) and his English spouse immigrate to rural England and confront increasingly vicious harrassment.

Mark Your Calendar
Chris Rock's "I Think I Love My Wife" will be available for rental Aug. 7; "Blood and Chocolate," June 12 (From May 29); "The Hills Have Eyes 2," June 26; "Bridge to Terabithia," June 19; "The Abandoned," June 19; and "The Good German," May 22 (From May 1).