Here’s a startling turn of events that potentially makes the Seth Rogen vehicle The Green Hornet a bit more interesting. “Columbia has set Michel Gondry to direct The Green Hornet, and the studio has set a June 25, 2010, release date for the film,” Variety reports. “Gondry, best known for far-out fare like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, The Science of Sleep and Human Nature, brings an unusual sensibility to what will be the most overtly commercial film of his career.” Can Charlie Kaufman’s Elongated Man be far behind?

It’s getting harder to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to making jokes about movies based on board games. I may be imagining things here, but I seem to recall a notorious bomb from the ‘80s adapted from Clue. And yet: “Universal is moving several spaces up the board with Clue, a big-screen take on the classic game, and is in final negotiations with Pirates of the Caribbean helmer Gore Verbinski to direct and produce,” per The Hollywood Reporter. Let the Johnny Depp as Colonel Mustard rumors start now.

If board game adaptations aren’t your thing, how about a movie based on a series of paintings? “Warner Bros. has acquired screen rights to The Lonely Dog, a limited-edition book of paintings done by Queenstown artist Ivan Clarke. The studio will turn the dog tale into a CG animated film,” Variety reports. “Clarke hatched the project when he left his dog alone, caught the look on the pooch's face and painted a fully clothed character with a lonely look on its mug.”

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