Quick Takes: ‘Ouija’ twitches again

Seven months after dropping a movie project based on the board game “Ouija” over concerns about its proposed budget of about $150 million, Universal Pictures is again planning to make the picture — but at a much reduced cost.

The studio on Monday announced it was going to target the film for release in 2013 but did not say when it planned to begin production. People familiar with the matter but not authorized to speak publicly said the new “Ouija,” which will be produced by Jason Blum (“Paranormal Activity”) and Michael Bay’s Platinum Dunes, is expected to be made for less than $10 million.

Last August, Universal executives passed on the previous version of “Ouija,” concerned that a supernatural horror movie with such a big budget would struggle to turn a profit.

At the time, Ouija maker Hasbro, which produces films based on its toys and games, planned to pitch the project to other studios. That effort was apparently unsuccessful, resulting in “Ouija” being reconceived by Universal with a much lower budget.

—Ben Fritz

2 charged with hacking Sony Music

Two men have been charged in Britain with hacking into Sony Music’s computers and stealing music, the company and British police said Monday. A person familiar with the situation said that hackers had obtained unreleased Michael Jackson tracks.

Sony Music Entertainment spokeswoman Liz Young said the company noticed a breach of its systems in May “and immediately took steps to secure the site and notify authorities. As a result, the two suspects were arrested.”

She said no customer data was compromised in the attack on the company’s internal music-sharing system.

Sony would not confirm how much music was stolen or what artists were involved. But a person familiar with the situation, who was not authorized to speak publicly, said Monday that the suspects were Jackson fans and had taken his music, including unreleased material.

—Associated Press

Current TV will air radio talkers

Current TV is launching a morning talk block with live simulcasts of the radio programs “The Bill Press Show” and “The Stephanie Miller Show.”

The TV version of Press’ nationally syndicated radio program will air weekdays from 3 a.m. to 6 a.m. Pacific time, followed by Miller’s show from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.

The program block will begin this spring, the left-leaning political TV network said Monday.

A liberal commentator, Press is a veteran of CNN’s “Crossfire” and “The Spin Room.” Miller is a liberal talk-show host and comedian. Both are heard in L.A. on KTLK-AM (1150).

—associated press

‘Animal House’ moves to stage

Toga, toga!

Universal Pictures Stage Productions said Monday that it’s developing a stage musical based on the studio’s classic 1978 college comedy “National Lampoon’s Animal House.”

“Animal House: The Musical” will feature an original score by the band Barenaked Ladies, with direction and choreography by Tony Award winner Casey Nicholaw, who directed “The Book of Mormon” and “The Drowsy Chaperone.”

Michael Mitnick will write the libretto for the stage production.

—Associated Press

Met expands high-def reach

The Metropolitan Opera’s high-definition live movie-theater broadcasts started out with the modest aim of breaking even — or not losing much money, at any rate.

Now, as Anna Netrebko, Renée Fleming and Joyce DiDonato boost the New York company’s repertoire for the new season, its general manager is proclaiming bigger successes.

Live HD transmissions began soon after Peter Gelb took over in 2006. At first, only three countries outside the United States were taking the broadcasts, he said.

Now the shows go to 1,700 movie theaters in 54 countries, with Russia and China among recent additions.

“Those are clearly large potential audiences for us, especially Russia,” Gelb said. “We’ve only just dipped our toes in the water. At first we hoped just to break even. The idea was simply to strengthen the bond between opera fans and the Met.”

The transmissions, and subsequent TV broadcasts and DVD sales, now bring in about $11 million net to Met coffers, he said. Another 12 broadcasts are planned.

—Bloomberg News

Weinstein given French honor

Harvey Weinstein, the executive responsible for bringing the French film “The Artist” to the United States and orchestrating its Oscar campaign, has been selected for France’s highest cultural award, the Legion of Honor.

Lest anyone think the two events are connected, however, the Weinstein Co. released a copy of the letter from French President Nicolas Sarkozy disclosing the news, dated July 22, 2011.

“Weinstein requested to keep the honor private until now to avoid any conflict of interest with Academy Award best picture winner ‘The Artist,’” the company’s release said.

Weinstein and his brother Bob have been responsible for the distribution of more than two dozen French films in the United States.

—Lee Margulies