Ascot rides to 'Viking' tale

Swiss group Ascot Elite is moving into production with an ambitious actioner "Northmen: A Viking Saga," set to roll this summer. Claudio Faeh is directing the tale of Vikings stranded behind enemy lines on the coast of Alba (Scotland) after their longboat goes down in a violent storm. Traversing hostile territory in an effort to reach a Viking settlement, the band is pursued by angry Scots until the Norsemen turn the table on the enemy and the hunters become the hunted. Budgeted at 8 million ($10.5 million), the film is set to shoot this summer in the Scottish Highlands and Bulgaria. Producers are looking for a high-profile European cast. Ascot Elite CEO Ralph Dietrich has been eager to move into production, saying it made sense for the company to also own worldwide rights to titles. Ascot Elite has yet to sign a sales company for "Northmen," which is the company's first foray into international production in nearly two decades. Switzerland's biggest indie distrib has primarily focused on theatrical and home entertainment distribution. The Swiss-born Faeh has directed and/or produced pics including Joe Dante's "The Hole," Billy Zane starrer "Sniper: Reloaded," "Starship Troopers 3: Marauder" and "Hollow Man II." Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Natalie Portman On For 2 Malick Movies

She'll make Dark night Of Cups & LawlessThere was talk recently from the Wachowskis attempting to tempt Natalie Portman into starring within their new, developing sci-fi project Jupiter Climbing. But that can be a collaboration can always happen, the actress has kept in her next handful of films, signing onto the cast of not just one, not three, but two new Terrence Malick movies.The Malick duo (you need to admire the guy, who's clearly creating for that lengthy stretch he spent from filmmaking) is placed as Dark night Of Cups and Lawless.Dark night stars Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett and Isabel Lucas. As always using the secretive Malick, hardly any continues to be revealed plot-smart, therefore we have no idea whom Portman is going to be playing.That film will shoot within the summer time, then Bale, Blanchett and Portman then following track of Lawless, that will also boast Ryan Gosling, Rooney Mara and Haley Bennett. The secrecy shield is greatly still in position on that certain too, though Bale continues to be investing time exercising and hung using the director in the Austin City Limits music festival, where he told fans his character was "type of an asshole." Oh, good. Great for him. Although the films share some cast people, they have been referred to separate stories, so cast your guesses whether they are linked in almost any plot way. And individuals two aren't the sole Malick films heading our way as he's also got his still-untitled, Film ClipOrRachel McAdams-starring romance pic chuntering through publish-production together with documentary Voyage Of Your Time.For Portman, we assume she'll should also find a while to suit in filming on Thor 2...

Up All Night Sneak Peek: Will Arnett and Dean Winters Face Off

Up All Night The Brinkley's are about to welcome another new addition to their household on this week's episode of Up All Night. Dean Winters (30 Rock, Rescue Me) guest stars as Chris' (Will Arnett) older brother, and it doesn't take long for their competitive edge to come out, much to the dismay of Reagan (Christina Applegate), who is determined to get baby Amy accepted to a prestigious preschool. Check out this exclusive clip and catch this week's new episode on Thursday at 9:30/8:30c on NBC. Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine now!

David Arquette to Guest-Star on Cougar Town Finale

David Arquette, Courteney Cox Courteney Cox and David Arquette are going to share the screen again: The separated couple is placed to look together around the Season 3 finale of Cougar Town, TVLine reviews.Cougar Town coming back February. 14Arquette, who's also a professional producer on the program, will have expensive hotels concierge prepared to exceed for Jules & Co. With growing buzz that the wedding may occur throughout the episode, we question what kind of complications Arquette's character may face around the large day. Cox and Arquette have formerly behaved together within the Scream films as well as on a chapter of Buddies.Cougar Town returns on Tuesday, February. 14 at 8:30/7:30c on ABC.

U.K.'s Funnel 5 buys 'Once Upon a Time'

LONDON -- U.K. terrestrial web Funnel 5 has bought ABC Studios' fantasy skein "Not so long ago." Show, which Disney stated had now been licensed to a lot more than 190 areas, will bow in Blighty this spring. "Not so long ago" is scripted by "Lost" and "Tron: Legacy" authors Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz. The series bowed on ABC within the U.S. last October and combines classic magical stories with contemporary configurations. Cast includes Ginnifer Goodwin as Snow Whitened/Mary Margaret and Robert Carlyle as Rumpelstiltskin/Mr Gold. Funnel 5 has continued to be a large buyer of U.S. fare because the takeover by Richard Desmond's Northern and Spend company within the summer time of 2010. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

ABC orders 'White Van Man' pilot

ABC has ordered comedy pilot "White Van Man" from Mark Gordon Co. ABC Studios. ITV Studios America developed this adaptation of BBC3 series, which centers on a man who is forced to put his dreams on hold in order to take over the family handyman business from his father. Former "My Name Is Earl" exec producer Bobby Bowman wrote the single-camera comedy. He exec produces with ITV's Paul Buccieri and Gordon. Contact Andrew Wallenstein at andrew.wallenstein@variety.com

Steven Spielberg Talks Labor Of Love Project Smash

First Launched: The month of the month of january 16, 2012 7:12 PM EST Credit: NBC Caption The cast of NBCs SmashLOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Steven Spielberg gets the ambitious behind-the-moments-of-Broadway drama Smash to NBC as well as the television series is actually a labor of love for your filmmaking legend. I emerged while using idea for your series, Steven told Access Hollywoods Billy Rose rose bush at Sunday nights Golden Globes, where his movie, The Adventures of Tintin, won Best Animated Feature. Id been flogging it for approximately five years, Steven ongoing of Smash. It needed [NBCs entertainment leader] Bob Greenblatt to succeed, because hes done musical theater with job. He really taken proper care of immediately the material. The legendary director and producer mentioned that although he was behind the series, which stars Anjelica Huston, Debra Playing and former The The American Idol Show Show runner-up Katharine McPhee, the NBC boss was the only real individual who recognized the show had value. I couldnt get anybody else to buy it. Bob walked forward and needed the show for NBC, Steven added. So, I hired myself and my two TV partners at DreamWorks Television Only then do we hired Theresa Rebeck to really make the show. She written a great play referred to as, The Understudy. She'd done plenty of writing for theater which i needed theater. I desired authors from theater to produce about theater. Because the title Steven Spielberg can drum up fan fascination with an activity, he mentioned he sometimes keeps his title from used in ads for programs. Would you say, is it possible to please take my title lower? Billy asked for. I really do. I really do. I limit while using title on all of the ads available when Im doing television which i limit it absolutely was up to I can because it just I buy frustrated with seeing my own, personal title, he jeered. While not with Smash. The project happily bares its top boss title round the posters. Smash premieres on NBC Monday, February 6, at 10 PM ET/PT, and, beginning Monday, the pilot episode could be acquired on NBCs Video if needed partners, including its parent company, Comcast. Beginning The month of the month of january 23-February 6, the initial episode of Smash will probably be available to stream on NBC.com and Hulu. Copyright 2012 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All rights reserved. These elements is probably not launched, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.