Ah, the last week of August. That last bit of quiet before the fall selling season sets in. Here’s to the last of a series of sparse spec roundups! Though, there was some activity in the market this week, and you can find a snapshot of that right here:

ESTHER JONAS by Mike Demski

SEVEN DAYS WAITING by Jeff Bacon, Joe Davidson, and Jordan Capell, sold to Benderspink and Davis

It’s finally here…the release of the hugely anticipated SHARK NIGHT 3D. If by hugely anticipated, you mean the 24% of moviegoers who have a definite interest in seeing the movie, and 6% of moviegoers under 25 who will see it as their first choice. If you’re paying attention to our weekly tracking, you’ll notice that last week, we had SHARK NIGHT at 27% definite interest. But let’s not focus on the negative. APOLLO 18 is tracking…just fine. 47% of men under 25 are definitely interested in seeing the movie and 13% of them rank it as their first choice. Overall, 9% of moviegoers list the found footage flick as their first choice, so it’s poised for a decent weekend. THE DEBT might do just fine too - 5% of men over 25 and 4% of women over 25 list the movie as their first choice, but only 27% of moviegoers are definitely interested in seeing the Nazi hunt drama.

Audiences seem to be holding out for CONTAGION. 52% of men over 25 are definitely interested in seeing the movie, and 13% of them list it as their first choice for the weekend. It’s connecting with other demos too - 11% of younger men, 5% of young women, and 9% of older women rank it as their first choice for the weekend. Overall definite interest is at 46%. Such is not the case for BUCKY LARSON: BORN TO BE A STAR. The comedy has no first choice tracking, save for 3% of men under 25. Tom Hardy‘s WARRIOR is neither here nor there - the movie is connecting with younger men - 7% of whom list it as their first choice, and 44% of whom have definite interest in seeing the movie. But no younger women list the movie as their first choice, and only 17% have a definite interest in seeing the movie.

September 16th still belongs to THE LION KING 3D. 51% of women under 25 are definitely interested in seeing the movie, and 14% list it as their first choice. 8% of women over 25 and 4% of men also list the movie as their first choice. Of the non-revivals hitting theaters that week, the Ryan Gosling-starrer DRIVE is in the lead. 29% of audiences definitely want to see the movie, a film festival favorite. It’s connecting best with younger men, 4% of whom list it as their first choice. Interest in STRAW DOGS is increasing pretty steadily. Last week, only 17% of younger women were definitely interested in seeing the movie, and now it’s up to 26%. Overall definite interest is at 27%, so it’s nothing too exciting, but there’s still time for some more interest increase. Meanwhile, over in chick-flick land, Sarah Jessica Parker‘s I DON’T KNOW HOW SHE DOES IT is tracking well with women - 35% over 25 have a definite interest in seeing the movie, and 4% of women of all ages list it as their first choice.

The weekend of the 23rd has an interesting variety of releases. There’s the Taylor Lautner pic ABDUCTION, which is connecting with younger women - 7% of that demo lists it as their first choice four weeks out. It has 34% definite interest too, and with rising awareness numbers (it’s only at 46% now), that may increase. There’s the heartwarming, tear-jerking DOLPHIN TALE, which speaks to older women, 8% of whom rank it as their first choice and 42% of whom have definite interest in the pic; the movie isn’t connecting with young men though, as there’s no first choice tracking, and only 17% of of that demo has definite interest in the movie. Guess they don’t identify with young boys saving tail-less dolphins. That weekend also sees the release of KILLER ELITE, starring Jason Statham. The tracking for that movie is excellent, with 49% of younger men, 48% of older men, and 37% of older women already expressing a definite interest in the movie. 8% of men over 25 already list it as their first choice. Also coming out that weekend is the Brad Pitt-starrer/Aaron Sorkin-penned MONEYBALL, which has fine tracking. It’s at 8% first choice with older men, and the definite interest is at 35% overall. 35% is cool…but you know what’s cooler? 1,000,000,000%.

Remember how in FULL HOUSE it seemed like Michelle was played by one girl with a super long name - Mary Kate Ashley Olsen? Seems the twins’ little sister Elizabeth wanted to experiment with a long name of her own - MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE. The film, which centers on an abused and damaged woman re-adjusting to life after fleeing a cult, was a favorite at Sundance and Cannes, and will screen again as a Special Presentation at Toronto. Check out the hauntingly beautiful trailer below, and look for the film in a theater near you on Oct. 21.

PERFECT CRIME, a remake of the Spanish comedy of the same name, is an ODA at Fox/Red Hour. Pam Brady is writing the script. Brady also did a rewrite for the studio and prodco on HEAT VISION AND JACK, for which COMMUNITY’s Dan Harmon cowrote the original draft with Rob Schrab.

Matt Plouffe left his post as Director of Production at Focus Features to join Tobey Maguire‘s Material Pictures as SVP of Production.

We told you earlier this month that Dwayne Johnson was offered the role of Goliath in Relativity‘s movie of the same name. He’s in talks to play the biblical giant who spars with the young David - in this case, Taylor Lautner, who’s just been offered that role. Scott Derrickson is directing the film, and Temple Hill (the company behind Lautner’s other project, TWILIGHT) is producing.

TheWrap reports that Richard Linklater is set to direct COLLEGE REPUBLICANS, the story of a young Karl Rove and Lee Atwater. Rove will be played by LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE‘s Paul Dano.