CT Movies: "It was only a matter of time. The Hollywood Reporter brings the official word that most of the principles from The Da Vinci Code will be returning for the film's prequel, Angels and Demons. Specifically, star Tom Hanks and director Ron Howard are in final talks to join forces once again for the much-buzzed follow-up to one of the most controversial films in recent memory. (Some sources are already calling Hanks' involvement 'official.') Columbia Pictures plans to being filming as early as January 2008, with hopes to release the film on December 19."
Publishers Weekly: New Osteen Book at Three Million by Lynn Garrett. "The next book from megaselling pastor Joel Osteen—Become a Better You: 7 Keys to Improving Your Life—will have a first printing of three million and a one-day laydown on October 15. According to Free Press publisher Martha Levin, the house upped the ante from two million just this week, in response to "the enthusiasm of the accounts," she said. "We've been going at full tilt with this book since January, and in talking to people it became clear that two million wasn't going to be enough." The Osteen first printing is believed to be the highest for a hardcover book in S&S history, said spokesperson Adam Rothberg. Osteen made big news last year (PW Daily, Mar. 15, 2006) when he jumped the Warner ship for Simon & Schuster for a deal worth some $13 million, according to informed sources, though S&S denied that figure. Osteen's first book, Your Best Life Now, was published by Warner Faith (now Hachette's FaithWords division) in 2004 and has sold more than four million copies to date, with a constant presence on the bestsellers lists. S&S will publish Become a Better You simultaneously in Spanish-language and audio editions.
