Professional Motion Picture Production and Distribution NEWS

Newly installed Paramount Film Group president Adam Goodman is wasting no time.

In his first acquisition since moving into his new position a week ago -- and in the midst of the blockbuster worldwide opening of "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" -- Goodman has picked up an untitled action-comedy pitch from screenwriter Shane Salerno ("Armageddon").

"Transformers" co-writers Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci are producing along with David Ellison's Skydance Prods.

The project is inspired by Marc Weingarten's recent Salon.com article, "License to Steal," about super repo men who reclaim high-end jets and boats from rich but delinquent (and often hostile) clientele. Paramount exec VP of production David Beaubaire brought in the pitch, which had garnered attention from several directors.

"We're thrilled to be working with Shane, who's a wildly inventive and talented creator," said Kurtzman and Orci. "His passion was clear the minute he started telling his story. He has crafted a smart, lighthearted action movie that's fun and topical, with a ton of unexpected plot twists. It's a Butch-and-Sundance two-hander set in a world that'll feel warmly familiar to people, yet it's one they've never really seen before."

Salerno will executive produce along with Ellison and Bobby Cohen. Cohen and Steven Puri will oversee for Kurtzman/Orci. Beaubaire and Ashley Brucks will oversee the project for Paramount.

The WME-repped Salerno is writing an untitled project for James Cameron at Fox. He is the writer of "AVPR: Aliens vs. Predator -- Requiem" and the co-writer of "Shaft."

The CAA-repped Kurtzman and Orci recently wrote and executive produced "Star Trek" for Paramount and executive produced "The Proposal" for Disney. They are working on screenplays for a "Star Trek" sequel for Paramount and "Cowboys and Aliens" for DreamWorks.

Skydance produced "Flyboys" and Ellison is producing "Northern Lights" with producer Dean Devlin.