the industry

Charlize Theron Headed to the Thunderdome

Mad Woman: Charlize Theron will go Down Under for Mad Max: Fury Road, better known as Mad Max 4, if it’s known at all. The George Miller–directed pic has been on hold for over two years but filming is expected to start next August in Australia. It’s unclear who Theron’s character will be, but odds are she’ll be wearing lots of leather, which should go over well with the target demographic. [Variety]

Men in Black Track Suits: Columbia Pictures is sticking with what it knows and bringing back Men in Black. Etan Cohen, who wrote Tropic Thunder, will write the script. There are no deals yet to bring Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones back but Variety doesn’t think Columbia would hire a writer if they weren’t involved. Of course, Will Smith is now 41 years old, so they might need a younger agent to run down a cephalopod on foot. [Variety]

He’s Watching You: Jason Starr’s crime novel The Follower will get the TV treatment by Bret Easton Ellis. HBO has signed up the novelist and screenwriter to pen the script for the drama about the dating lives of a group of twentysomething New Yorkers, as seen through the eyes of a stalker. Finally, someone figured out how to make the 21st century version of Friends. [Variety]

Golden Rule: Fox Searchlight has snatched up the screenplay for Rule #1, a movie about a New Yorker who makes friends with a young Puerto Rican girl with ADD. Reese Witherspoon is attached to star, produce and, for once, look tall. [THR]

No. 1 Dad: Fox has ordered a sixth season of the animated sitcom American Dad. This pickup ensures that Seth MacFarlane will continue to own Sunday night on Fox. Which also means Fox will continue to sell ad space to Axe body spray on Sunday nights. [Variety]

Charlize Theron Headed to the Thunderdome