'Summer' plans for WB

Robinson to direct, Thompson to write film

By MICHAEL FLEMING

Robinson

Warner Bros. has attached Julie Anne Robinson to direct and Mike Thompson to rewrite "The Last Summer of You and Me," an adaptation of the Ann Brashares novel.

Pic is being produced by Denise Di Novi and Alison Greenspan. Di Novi produced the screen adaptation of Brashares' "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" for WB, and the studio acquired Brashares' latest novel in a seven-figure deal that included an exec producer credit for the author (Daily Variety, Feb. 22, 2007). Jessica Goldberg wrote the first draft, about a love triangle between two sisters and a young man on Fire Island.

Robinson, known mostly for helming TV shows such as "Weeds" and "Grey's Anatomy," is currently directing Miley Cyrus in "The Last Song," a feature adaptation of the Nicholas Sparks novel, for Disney. She’s repped by UTA.

On the scribe end, the pic marks the first time in a decade Thompson is working without an ampersand, as he has broken up with longtime writing partner Brandon Camp, who wanted to focus on building a helming career.

The duo's last picture together is "Love Happens," the Aaron Eckhart-Jennifer Aniston starrer that Camp helmed and Universal will open on Sept. 18.

Thompson signed with Benderspink, which is working with ICM to generate solo assignments for the scribe.

Camp and Thompson's most memorable deal was for a film that hasn't yet gotten made: "Steinbeck's Point of View." The writers scored a $700,000 against $1.5 million payday from WB and Bel-Air that called for Camp to direct and Thompson to produce. When Tom Cruise circled the pic, they stepped aside and into a $2 million against $4 million deal, plus bonuses and other blind commitments that had them potentially poised to earn more than $8 million.

Cruise stepped out and George Clooney was nearly locked, until the script -- which deals with a plane crash -- got shelved after 9/11. The writers settled with Warners, and producer Mark Johnson continues to shepherd the drama, most recently getting close with Denzel Washington and Nick Cassavetes.

Camp and Thompson also scripted the Tom Shadyac-directed "Dragonfly" and were exec producers on the Fox drama "John Doe."

“We had a good run, but I’m glad to have an opportunity to prove myself as a solo writer,” Thompson said. “It’s a lot tougher to sell original ideas unless they come with a built-in marketing campaign, so I’d be happy establishing myself as a reliable assignment writer.”