ILLEGAL TENDER
John Singleton is making his first producing incursion into urban Latino territory. The story tracks a young Latino man on the run with his mother from thugs who killed his father. Casting talks are under way with top reggaeton artist Tego Calderon, Rick Gonzalez, Wanda De Jesus and Zoe Saldana. Reggaeton music, while not the centerpiece of the story, will dominate the soundtrack. Screenwriter Franc Reyes will direct. Budgeted at some $3 million, shooting begins May 9 in Puerto Rico and New York.

R.I.P.D.
David Dobkin (Wedding Crashers) is onboard to direct the comic book adaptation. The story centers on a murdered cop recruited to work in the Rest in Peace Department, a ghost-busting police force (comprised of ghosts) that battles spirits unready to depart this world. The writing team of Phil Hay and Matt Manfredi (Aeon Flux) are on board to write the script.

BURT DICKENSON: THE MOST POWERFUL MAGICIAN ON PLANET EARTH
New Line is conjuring first-time screenwriter Chad Kultgen's comedy spec script. Set in the world of Las Vegas magicians, one member of a highly successful two-man team dies in a risky stunt. The surviving team member must then find a way to rediscover his love for magic.

MAFIA COP
Mandalay Pictures is creating a film ripped from last week's national news headlines. Louis Eppolito, a highly decorated NYPD detective was found guilty Thursday of participating in eight murders, two attempted murders, one murder conspiracy, money laundering, obstruction of justice and drug distribution. The case is called one of the worst police corruption scandals in Gotham history. Dan Gordon will write the screenplay. Mandalay's David Zelon is producing.

AMBULANCE CHASERS
Broken Lizard's Jay Chandrasekhar (Dukes of Hazzard) will direct the comedy for Warner Bros. Jon Zack has been hired to write the script. The story revolves around what happens when two fiercely competitive personal-injury lawyers fight over a new client.

ELVIS AND ANNABELLE
Will Geiger will direct Max Minghella, Blake Lively, Mary Steenburgen, and Keith Carradine in a story of unlikely posthumous love that blooms between a local beauty queen and a mortician's son. Carolyn Pfeiffer is producing. The film begins shooting this month in Austin, TX.

THE BEAUTIFUL ORDINARY
Persistent Entertainment is set to begin shooting the indie teen dramedy in North Carolina later this month. Casting is currently underway. First-time writer/director Jess Manafort is helming the film, which revolves around a group of suburban teens on the last day of school in 1999. Judd Payne and Matthew Rhodes are producing.

COMA
Amy Kaufman will produce an untitled thriller for Rogue Pictures that marks the feature directorial debut of Victor Garcia. The tale is about a girl who wakes up from a 15-year coma and finds herself in a haunted hospital ward. Craig Gerber is writing the script.

Source: Variety