93-Year-Old Producer Back in Saddle for Western

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A remake of classic Western “The Magnificent Seven,” now filming, is being overseen by the 93-year-old producer of the original film.

L.A. movie legend Walter Mirisch is executive producer of the new version, which stars Chris Pratt and Denzel Washington in roles played by Steve McQueen and Yul Brynner, respectively, in the 1960 original.

“The cast and crew is great and we’re very excited about it,” Mirisch said at Santa Monica’s Aero Theatre after being honored with the KCET Cinema Series Lumiere award for career achievement.

The Hollywood veteran remains vibrant and active as head of production at Hollywood film company Mirisch Corp., where he is also working on another remake of one of his other 1960s hits: “The Pink Panther,” which featured Peter Sellers. The new version will be a combination of live action and animation, he said.

“I didn’t know I was making history with all those films,” said Mirisch, who also produced “West Side Story” and “The Great Escape,” when presented with his award earlier this month by KCET-Link President Michael Riley. “I was just trying to make a living.”

Power Director

A novice director is the surprise choice to helm “Power Rangers,” an upcoming movie from Santa Monica’s Lions Gate Entertainment, rebooting characters from Century City’s Saban Brands.

Dean Israelite has made only one previous film, $12 million time-travel thriller “Project Almanac,” but his work on that minor hit from earlier this year was enough to get him the gig.

“It was a small movie, but he is a big talent and has such passion for this material,” said Jim Miller, Lions Gate’s executive vice president of production.

There is some Hollywood precedent for handing a potential blockbuster to a director who has only made one well-received, low-budget movie: NBCUniversal picked Colin Trevorrow to direct “Jurassic World” based on his acclaimed debut feature, “Safety Not Guaranteed,” and ended up with one of the biggest hits of all time.

The “Power Rangers” film, produced by Beverly Hills billionaire Haim Saban, will follow a group of high schoolers infused with superpowers who battle to save the world.

Picture This

William Shatner is certainly a celebrity who knows his value.

The “Star Trek” icon is set for a lucrative day Aug. 2. He’ll be appearing at popular celebrity meet-and-greet event, the Hollywood Show, where fans have a chance to meet veteran film and TV stars.

While other celebs at the Westin Los Angeles Airport Hotel fan fest – such as Richard Chamberlain, Shirley Jones and Martin Landau – will each be charging $40 to pose for a picture with them, Shatner is planning to charge $75 a shot.

Times Tales

Sasha Frere-Jones, a former staff writer at the New Yorker, is joining the Los Angeles Times as cultural critic at large. In a memo to staff, Editor Davan Maharaj described him as “one of the leading voices of our time.”

Meanwhile, the paper is stepping up its fashion coverage, with digital content from Penske Media Corp.-owned style and beauty publication Women’s Wear Daily appearing on LATimes.com.

L.A. Invaded

Los Angeles will be under martial law imposed by a mysterious invading force in new TV series “Colony,” coming to USA channel in October.

In the series, a giant wall is erected around the 405 freeway to keep outsiders away.

“That should make it only slightly harder to get across than it already is now,” joked executive producer Ryan Condal.

The series stars former “Lost” favorite Josh Holloway as a secret agent trying to solve the mystery of who is behind the sudden invasion.

Short Takes

Thanks to huge hits including “Furious 7” and “The Avengers: Age of Ultron,” and with blockbusters such as James Bond flick “Spectre” and “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” still to come, 2015 is on track to become the biggest year at the box office in movie history. The film business is on pace for $11 billion total takings in North America and $40 billion at the global box office, which would surpass the previous high, set in 2013. … Multiplatform studio STX Entertainment has appointed John Friedberg president of international sales. He was previously with West L.A. studio QED International.

Staff reporter Sandro Monetti can be reached at [email protected] or (323) 549-5225, ext 226.

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