The Slate: Tobey Starts His Engine, Dazeder & Confuseder

• With the deaths of Steve McQueen and Paul Newman, racing movies took a hit. Tom Cruise‘s insanity didn’t help much, either. (Nor Speed Racer). Undaunted, Tobey Maguire wants to get around the wheel. He’s producing The Limit, where the somnolent Spidey star will play Phil Hill, one half of a pair of real-life rivals racing for the Ferrari team during the 1960s. Maguire is especially excited about the project as he will not have to act from the shoulders down. (Hollywood Reporter)
• As this post wisely points out, Ricky Gervais is a little too prickly for Hollywood. (And oh man, those teeth.) But the Brits will keep tossing money at him. He and his Extras/Office writing/directing cohort Stephen Merchant will make The Men at the Pru, which finds them on familiar ground–a building society (that’s Brit for “bank”)–with familiar faces–er, men–at an unfamiliar time–the 1970s. Cue play of “Come Up and See Me (Make Me Smile).” (Digital Spy)
• Roll another number! Richard Linklater‘s follow-up to Orson Welles & Me will be a “spiritual sequel” to his most-watched movie, Dazed & Confused. Meaning? It’s about the first weekend of college in Austin, but don’t expect David Wooderson to be diving into any student rushes. It’s an all-new cast of characters. Should make for an peachy soundtrack, though. Cue play of “Oh Sherry.” (CHUD)
• We’re getting H.P. Lovecraft battling monsters and maybe “primal grovellers.” Why not Harry Houdini? Basis for the Summit Entertainment film is a fanciful bio which claims the turn-of-the-century escapologist worked among spies and Romanovs when not swimming Niagara Falls. Harry will be “part Indiana Jones and Sherlock Holmes.” (And probably just a little Ben Gates.) Cue play of “Pomp and Circumstance,” Houdini’s theme tune. (Hollywood Reporter)
• Anybody interested in a movie where Brandon Routhplays a vegetarian paranormal detective? C’mon kids, it’s a weekend. Anyway, the movie adaptation of Umberto Eco’s favorite Italian horror comic Dylan Doghas been given the yawnsome title of Dead of Night(snore!). Routh plays the Nawlins supernatural P.I. bedevilled by Taye Diggs, who has been in Grey’s Anatomy for so long he has turned into a vampire. Anita Briemwill try to stir Routh’s DNA … and ours. (Cinematical)