NEWS FLASH: Lasse Hallstrom Chosen to Direct Channing Tatum's Dear John

We are WAY past due on a 'Dear John' update. It's really been a while since we've heard any news from Channing Tatum's upcoming romantic drama, so I was extremely excited to read in today's Variety that they have now chosen a director for the film.


An Award-Winning Director

Lasse Hallstrom, the Oscar-nominated director of dramas like Tobey Maguire and Charlize Theron's 'The Cider House Rules', Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio's 'What's Eating Gilbert Grape', and Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp's Chocolat, has been chosen to direct Channing Tatum's romantic drama 'Dear John'.

Historically, the Swedish Film and TV director has created movies that have garnered countless Oscars and Golden Globe awards and nominations. He has also directed the four following actors to an Oscar win and/or nomination: Michael Caine, Juliette Binoche, Leonardo Decaprio, and the incomparable Dame Judy Dench. Needless to say, 'Dear John' and Channing are definitely in good hands.

'Dear John' is one of the first high-profile films to be made since Time Warner downsized New Line Cinema and decided to fold it into the Warner Brothers studio. Marty Bowen and Wyck Godfrey are set to produce the film, and it's currently being sold at Cannes.

The Cannes Film Festival or le Festival de Cannes is a private film festival that was founded in 1946 and is one of the world's oldest, most influential and prestigious festivals. The 61st annual film festival is currently being held at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès in the resort town of Cannes in the south of France.

The film is based on an adaptation of Nicholas Sparks' book Dear John and the screenplay is written by Jamie Linden. Fans may be familiar with other films that were adapted from Sparks' other best sellers. If you were fans of 'Message in a Bottle' , 'The Notebook', or 'A Walk to Remember', then you may understand why I'm so excited about Channing playing the main character of John Tyler in this film.


An Epic Love Story

Even though it may seem like Channing is gunning to be Hollywood's next action hero with his roles in 'Stop-Loss', 'Fighting', and 'G.I. Joe', many may be surprised that he's much more interested in creating what he calls an "epic love story". Here's what Chan had to say about his action hero status and 'Dear John' in a recent interview for AL.com:

"I don't want that...I've always been good at physical things for the most part, but the next thing that I do, I want to do a love story. I want to do a beautiful, huge, epic love story...We have a beautiful script on it...Oddly enough, it's a soldier movie, but it's really just a love story with a soldier backdrop."

Just when we thought we could not love him more, he goes and shows us his sensitive side again. In case you don't know, here is a summary of what Dear John (the book) is about:

An angry rebel, John dropped out of school and enlisted in the Army, not knowing what else to do with his life--until he meets the girl of his dreams, Savannah. Their mutual attraction quickly grows into the kind of love that leaves Savannah waiting for John to finish his tour of duty, and John wanting to settle down with the woman who has captured his heart.

But 9/11 changes everything. John feels it is his duty to re-enlist. And sadly, the long separation finds Savannah falling in love with someone else. "Dear John," the letter read...and with those two words, a heart was broken and two lives were changed forever. Returning home, John must come to grips with the fact that Savannah, now married, is still his true love—and face the hardest decision of his life.

'Dear John' (the movie) will start filming this coming September and is set to hit a theater near you in 2009. More than any other movie Channing has coming out in the next two years, I am the most excited about this film.

What about you guys? Feel free to leave a comment on this post to let everyone know which upcoming film has you excited. You can CLICK HERE to get a complete list.

Source: Variety.com

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