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Among other items this week, the show runner of the upcoming Star signs an overall deal with 20th TV, while several other TV creators also sign big overall deals with 20th and Sony TV, ESPN settles a contract lawsuit against Verizon, and Lionsgate has a new partnership. Click the link to read on. (SSN)
A light week in the rep moves department, as several others land new representation, including noted character actors like Jake Weber and Rizwan Manji. As always, there’s more, so click on the link for the full skinny. (SSN)
Developing for years, Scott Frank‘s western Godless has gone from a once-mooted movie into an expansive Netflix limited series. Rising star O’Connell has snagged a role in the six-hour show. Penned by Frank, with his longtime bud Soderbergh on board as executive producer, the show will follow Frank Griffin, an outlaw blazing a ruthless trail across the West, hunting down his frenemy Roy Goode, only to stumble into a town run entirely by women. (TP)
If you were among the few who believed Steven Soderbergh when he claimed to be retiring from filmmaking, prepare for betrayal: The Oscar winner will soon return to the silver screen. It’s been three years since Side Effect marked the supposed end of the director’s feature-film career, but now comes the news that he will next helm Logan Lucky with an ensemble cast that includes Channing Tatum, Adam Driver and now Keough. (IW)
Network is yet to make a renewal decision after being rumored for a while, but now talks are real as CBS’ renewal process nears the finish line. CBS has until the end of day today to make a decision, but that could conceivable get extended. Producing studio Warner Bros. TV already is making a pre-emptive effort to trim costs, will move the show to Vancouver in Season 2. (DH)
Oscar winner made his directorial debut with last year’s The Water Diviner, and now will direct and star alongside Kidman in Inside The O’Briens. Crowe will play a Massachusetts cop who is enjoying life in Charlestown with his wife and four grown children. But then he starts experiencing dramatic mood swings and unusual, involuntary movements. As his symptoms increase, his doctors discover that he has Huntington’s Disease. (EMP)
Following Kurt Sutter’s short-lived tenure heading up the FX series The Bastard Executioner, the Sons of Anarchy creator has started work on an SOA spinoff in earnest. Mayans MC is described as a “family drama,” as well as a drama that is also explaining how outlaws may live, this time “reflected through a Latino lens.” Elgin James will write the script. (CB)
Colin Farrell is set to reunite with Yorgos Lanthimos, the notorious Greek filmmaker behind A24’s upcoming film, for The Killing of a Sacred Deer. Little is known about what the new film will center on but the script is yet another collaborative effort between Lanthimos and Efthymis Filippou. (COL)
The Academy Award winners will star in the new film from Ron Shelton, in the vein of Midnight Run about an ex-FBI agent (Jones) and an ex-mob lawyer in the witness protection program (Freeman) having to put aside their petty rivalry on the golf course to fend off a mob hit. It will start shooting in New Mexico this summer. (CS)
Network’s ensemble comedy stands out with its unconventional structure, which sees each half-hour episodes split into four short-story style vignettes. The series, which shifted to from Mondays to Thursdays as part of CBS’ midseason comedy lineup, has been a solid performer for the network, averaging a 2.7 rating among adults 18-49 and 10.5 million total viewers. (LF)
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Amazon Prime Video will be the exclusive subscription streaming service for AMC and the BBC’s six-part miniseries The Night Manager in the U.S., the UK and Japan. Beginning later in 2016, it will stream as part of Amazon Prime and Prime Video subscriptions for customers in the U.S. and Britain, and exclusively on Prime Video in Japan. (DL)
“It would take a lot to offend me,” Woody Allen said in response to the controversial rape joke that was part of last night’s opening night ceremony at the Cannes Film Festival. “What bothered me most last night was the length of the show before the movie.” (VAR)
A24 has made its second big deal in Cannes, snatching up U.S. rights to Under the Silver Lake, a modern-day noir thriller starring Andrew Garfield. David Robert Mitchell’s new film, a modern-day noir thriller set in Los Angeles, is set to begin shooting this summer. (THR)
Helen Mirren and Donald Sutherland will embark on a twilight years road trip from Boston to Florida in Italian director Paolo Virzì’s The Leisure Seeker. The venerable thesps will play a couple who escape from a U.S. retirement home and take one last cross-country adventure in a vintage van in Virzì’s English-language debut. (VAR)
Former BBC Director of Television Danny Cohen has been set as President of Access Entertainment, a newly formed division of Len Blavatnik’s Access Industries. The company says it’s prepared to invest several hundred million dollars in an initial phase, will focus those investments across the entertainment sector with a concentration on high-quality TV, films, and theatrical productions. (DL)
Six days ahead of Adult Swim’s annual upfront party Wednesday, the network has announced a staggering lineup of new projects. The Turner-owned network has ordered one new series, six new specials and 12 new pilots. (THR)
‘Puerto Rico has been in an economic recession for over 10 years now, and film incentives have prevailed over every new administration because of their unquestionable impact on the overall economy, creating hundreds of jobs,’ says Nadia Barbarossa, film division director of Tax Credits Intl. Moreover, in May 2015, Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla signed a new amendment, providing up to a whopping 90% tax credit for projects that meet certain qualifications. (VAR)
AwesomenessTV’s family-oriented YouTube channel DreamWorksTV announced its first live event production, Kids’ Game Awards, and two additional seasons for its YouTube series Royal Crush, starring Meg DeAngelis, and its Go90 series Guidance among others. (VI)
Do video game fans finally have a film to get excited about? If the first trailer for Michael Fassbender’s Assassin’s Creed is anything to go by, the image of game-adaptations as lackluster money spinners could finally be getting a much-needed overhaul. (TG)
Adapted from the 2012 book by Ben Fountain, the war drama centers around the titular 19-year-old private (played by newcomer Joe Alwyn), who was invited to appear at the halftime show of the Thanksgiving Day football game. Lee uses this setting as a catalyst for flashbacks that reveal what exactly happened during Lynn’s tour in Iraq. The ensemble includes Vin Diesel, Kristen Stewart, Garrett Hedlund, Steve Martin and Chris Tucker. (IW)
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24 Hours to Live
Logline: An assassin is given a chance at redemption when his boss brings him back to life temporarily, right after he’s been killed on the job.
Production Company(s): Thunder Road Pictures, Fundamental Films
Producer(s): Mark Gao, Basil Iwanyk, Gregory Ouanhon
Writer(s): Zach Dean, Ron Mita, Jim McClain
Director(s): Brian Smrz
Cast: Ethan Hawke, Common, Qing Xu
SSN Insight: Xu appeared in the film Looper. Common last appeared in Selma.
Ad Astra
Logline: A group of astronauts embark on a journey through the solar system to bring a renegade back to Earth.
Production Company(s): Keep Your Head Productions, RT Features, MadRiver Pictures
Producer(s): James Gray, Rodrigo Teixeira, Anthony Katagas, Marc Butan
Writer(s): James Gray, Ethan Gross
Director(s): James Gray
SSN Insight: Casting is now underway and expected to be announced soon, with production eyeing an early 2017 shoot.
Ali & Nino
Logline: Ali is a Muslim, with his warrior ancestors’ passion for the desert; and Nino is a Christian Georgian girl with sophisticated European ways. The two have loved each other since childhood and Ali is determined that he will marry Nino, despite their cultural differences. But there is not only the obstacle of their different religions and parental consent to overcome. When the war breaks out, Baku’s oil becomes the focus of Russia’s vie for power.
Studio/Distributor(s): IFC Midnight
Production Company(s): PeaPie, Ltd., Archery Pictures
Producer(s): Diana Phillips, Kris Thykier
Writer(s): Christopher Hampton
Director(s): Asif Kapadia
Cast: Adam Bakri, María Valverde, Riccardo Scamarcio, Homayoun Ershadi, Halit Ergenc
Details: Based on the book “Ali & Nino” written by an author using the pseudonym Kurban Said and first published in German in 1937. The book was reissued in English by Overlook/Penguin in July 1996.
SSN Insight: Alicia Vikander was previously attached to star. IFC Films has bought the North American rights following the film’s premiere at Sundance. IM Global and CAA handled the sale.
Always Shine
Logline: Two friends, both actresses living in Los Angeles, go on a weekend trip to reconnect and begin to lose their grasp on reality when they come face-to-face with their suppressed jealousies and deep-seated resentments toward one another.
Studio/Distributor(s): Oscilloscope Pictures
Production Company(s): Little Teeth Pictures, Nice Dissolve, Balaboosta Pictures, Reality Pictures
Producer(s): Lawrence Levine, Sophia Takal, Pierce Varous
Writer(s): Lawrence Levine
Director(s): Sophia Takal
Cast: Mackenzie Davis, Caitlin Fitzgerald, Lawrence Levine, Khan Baykal, Alexander Koch
SSN Insight: Oscilloscope Laboratories has acquired U.S. rights during the Cannes film market. Visit Films is handling the thriller’s worldwide sales and Oscilloscope plans a release later in 2016.
American Assassin
Logline: A black ops recruit whose fiancée was killed in a terrorist attack teams up with a shadowy CIA agent to stop a mysterious operative from unleashing a war of global proportions.
Studio/Distributor(s): CBS Films, Lionsgate
Production Company(s): Di Bonaventura Pictures, Nick Wechsler Productions
Producer(s): Lorenzo Di Bonaventura, Nick Wechsler
Writer(s): Stephen Schiff, Jeffrey Nachmanoff, Michael Finch, Edward Zwick, Marshall Herskovitz
Director(s): Michael Cuesta
Cast: Dylan O’Brien (in talks), Michael Keaton
Details: Based on the novel “American Assassin” written by Vince Flynn and published by Atria on October 12, 2010. It is the 11th book in the Mitch Rapp series written by Vince Flynn.
SSN Insight: Ed Zwick was previously attached to direct. Chris Hemsworth was previously in talks to star.
Andorra
Logline: A mysterious American picks up and moves to the country of Andorra where he befriends two women, but when a dead body turns up, the American must prove his innocence.
Production Company(s): Jump Street Films Pty Ltd., Unicorn Films
Producer(s): Jamie Bialkower, Lizzette Atkins
Writer(s): Peter Cameron, Jamie Bialkower
Director(s): Fred Schepisi
Cast: Clive Owen
Details: Based on the novel “Andorra,” written by Peter Cameron and published by Farrar Straus & Giroux in January 1997.
SSN Insight: Owen and Schepisi previously collaborated on 2013’s Words And Pictures. Project was previously in development at Cargo Entertainment.
Anthropoid
Logline: The true story of two Czech soldiers who parachuted into their homeland to assassinate ruthless SS general Reinhard Heydrich is recounted.
Studio/Distributor(s): Bleecker Street
Production Company(s): Zephyr Films, LD Entertainment, 22h22
Producer(s): Mickey Liddell, Pete Shilaimon, Sean Ellis, Leonard Glowinski, Anita Overland
Writer(s): Sean Ellis, Anthony Frewin
Director(s): Sean Ellis
Cast: Jamie Dornan, Cillian Murphy, Charlotte Le Bon, Toby Jones, Harry Lloyd
SSN Insight: Bleecker Street has acquired U.S. distribution rights during Cannes.
Ballerina (Animated)
Logline: An orphaned girl in 1879 Paris pursues her dream of becoming a ballerina.
Studio/Distributor(s): The Weinstein Company
Production Company(s): Quad Productions, Caramel Films
Producer(s): Nicolas Duval-Adassovsky, Yann Zenou, Laurent Zeitoun, André Rouleau, Valerie D’Auteuil
Writer(s): Carol Noble, Laurent Zeitoun
Director(s): Eric Warin, Eric Summer
Cast: Elle Fanning, Maddie Ziegler, Carly Rae Jepsen
SSN Insight: Project will be shot using motion capture. The Weinstein Company bought U.S. rights to the animated film.
Baywatch
Logline: An elite group of lifeguards are forced to team up with a young, hotshot former Olympian to save their beloved bay.
Studio/Distributor(s): Paramount Pictures
Production Company(s): The Montecito Picture Company, Contrafilm, Vinson Films, Flynn Picture Co., 7 Bucks Entertainment
Producer(s): Beau Flynn, Ivan Reitman, Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, Michael Berk
Writer(s): Damian Shannon, Mark Swift, Barry Schwartz, Justin Malen, Robert Ben Garant
Director(s): Seth Gordon
Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Zac Efron, Alexandra Daddario, Kelly Rohrbach, Ilfenesh Hadera, Rob Huebel
Details: Based on the NBC television show “Baywatch” (1989-2000) starring David Hasselhoff, Pamela Anderson, Carmen Electra and Yasmine Bleeth.
SSN Insight: Jeremy Garelick was previously attached to direct. Project was originally in development at Dreamworks, which paid seven figures for the film rights to the TV show.
Black Panther
Logline: The prince of the fictional African country of Wekanda transforms into a superhero known as the Black Panther.
Studio/Distributor(s): Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures,
Production Company(s): Marvel Entertainment
Producer(s): Kevin Feige
Writer(s): Ryan Coogler, Joe Robert Cole, Mark Bailey, Keith Thompson
Director(s): Ryan Coogler
Cast: Chadwick A Boseman, Lupita Nyong’o (in talks)
Details: Based on the character “Black Panther” created by Stan Lee, illustrated Jack Kirby and first published by Marvel Comics.He first appeared in Fantastic Four #52 in July 1966.
SSN Insight: Wesley Snipes previously attached to star and produce. Previously in development at Artisan Pictures until they went out of business. Lupita Nyong’o is in talks to sign on as Black Panther’s love interest.
Early Man
Logline: Cavemen discover the game of soccer.
Production Company(s): Aardman Animations, StudioCanal
Writer(s): Mark Burton, John O’Farrell
Director(s): Nick Park
Cast: Eddie Redmayne
SSN Insight: Studio Canal is financing, selling and distributing the stop-frame feature film in its core markets.
Elle
Logline: A ruthless CEO of a gambling software company is attacked in her home by an intruder.
Studio/Distributor(s): Sony Pictures Classics
Production Company(s): France 2 Cinéma, Entre Chien et Loup, Twenty Twenty Vision Filmproduktion GmbH, SBS Productions
Producer(s): Saïd Ben Saïd, Michel Merkt
Writer(s): David Birke
Director(s): Paul Verhoeven
Cast: Isabelle Huppert, Anne Consigny, Christian Berkel, Virginie Efira, Vimala Pons
Details: Based on the novel “Oh…” written by Philippe Djian and published by Gallimard in 2013.
SSN Insight: Sony Pictures Classics acquired domestic rights prior to its premiere at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival.
Han Solo: A Star Wars Story
Logline: The film tells the story of how the young Han Solo became the scoundrel, smuggler thief who Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi first met at the Mos Eisley cantina.
Studio/Distributor(s): Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Production Company(s): Lucasfilm, Ltd., Lord Miller
Producer(s): Chris Miller, Phil Lord, Kathleen Kennedy
Writer(s): Lawrence Kasdan, Jonathan Kasdan
Director(s): Chris Miller, Phil Lord
Cast: Alden Ehrenreich
SSN Insight: Alden Ehrenreich was last seen in Hail, Caesar! and before that Blue Jasmine.
How to be a Latin Lover
Logline: Follows an aging Latin lover forced to return to live with his estranged sister and her young son after being dumped by his sugar mama.
Production Company(s): Pantelion Films, 3pas Studios
Producer(s): Eugenio Derbez, Ben Odell
Writer(s): Ken Marino, Erica Oyama, Chris Spain, Jon Zack
Director(s): Ken Marino
Cast: Eugenio Derbez, Rob Lowe, Kristen Bell, Raquel Welch, Rob Riggle, McKenna Grace
SSN Insight: Eugenio Derbez was previously attached to direct. Grace will play Arden, the granddaughter of a very wealthy woman who bonds with her classmate Hugo.
I Am Not a Serial Killer
Logline: In a small Midwestern town, a troubled teen with homicidal tendencies must hunt down and destroy a supernatural killer whilst keeping his own inner demons at bay.
Studio/Distributor(s): IFC Midnight
Production Company(s): Fantastic Films, Liquid Noise Films, Floodland Pictures, Level 5 Films
Producer(s): Mark Lane, James Harris, Nick Ryan
Writer(s): Billy O’Brien, Chris Hyde
Director(s): Billy O’Brien
Cast: Max Records, Christopher Lloyd, Laura Fraser, Karl Geary, Bruce Bohne
SSN Insight: IFC Midnight has acquired North American and Latin American rights to the film that bowed this year at SXSW.
In Order of Disappearance
Logline: Following a snowplow driver who doesn’t get worked up about much, until his son is murdered and it is made to look like an overdose, by criminals involved in drug deals. It turns the mild-mannered man’s attention from snow to body removal and becomes a tense action thriller with Dirty Harry-esque intensity, where bad guys pile up like snow drifts when the killers suspect a rival gang.
Production Company(s): Film i Väst, Paradox Productions, Studiocanal
Producer(s): Stein Kvae, Finn Gjerdrum, Michael Shamberg
Writer(s): Frank Baldwin
Director(s): Hans Petter Moland
Cast: Liam Neeson, Stellan Skarsgård, Bruno Ganz, Pål Hagen, Birgitte Hjort Sørensen, Anders Baasmo Christensen
Details: Remake of the hit Norwegian film In Order Of Disappearance starring Stellan Skarsgard.
SSN Insight: Hans Petter Molland, Finn Gjerdum and Stein Kvae all worked on the original version. Paul Schwartzman is exec producer.
Inversion
Logline: When Earth suddenly loses its gravity, the planet’s inhabitants must find a way to reverse the catastrophic phenomenon in an epic cross-continent venture.
Production Company(s): Hwy61 Films, Facing East
Producer(s): Philip Lee, Michael Nozik, Markus Barmettler
Writer(s): Paul Haggis, Bragi Schut Jr., David Arata, Michael Finch
Director(s): Peter Segal
Cast: Travis Fimmel
SSN Insight: Scott Waugh was previously attached to direct.
Invisible
Logline: The parallel stories of an immigrant window cleaner who most people ignore and a man with a six figure salary who can go anywhere and do anything but is gravely unhappy is explored.
Production Company(s): Good Films
Producer(s): Miriam Segal
Writer(s): Tena Stivicic
Director(s): Danis Tanovic
Cast: Clive Owen, Jessica Biel
Details: Based on the play “Invisible,” written by Tena Stivicic and performed in London in 2011.
SSN Insight: Everardo Valerio Gout was previously attached to direct.
Juliet, Naked
Logline: When a once-famous singer releases his new album a woman who writes a review catches his attention, while the woman’s fan-obsessed, loser, boyfriend is clueless to what’s going on.
Production Company(s): Barry Mendel Productions, Apatow Productions, Bona Fide Productions
Producer(s): Albert Berger, Ron Yerxa, Judd Apatow, Barry Mendel, Jeffrey Soros
Writer(s): Evgenia Peretz, Phil Alden Robinson, Jim Taylor, Tamara Jenkins
Director(s): Jesse Peretz
Details: Based on the book “Juliet, Naked,” written by Nick Hornby and published by Riverhead on September 29, 2009.
SSN Insight: Los Angeles Media Fund (LAMF) is financing the picture.
Justice League Part 1
Logline: Storyline under wraps.
Studio/Distributor(s): Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Company(s): DC Entertainment, Atlas Entertainment, Cruel & Unusual Films, Lin Pictures
Producer(s): George Miller, Barrie M. Osborne, Doug Mitchell, Dan Lin, Deborah Snyder
Writer(s): Chris Terrio, Will Beall, Kieran Mulroney, Michele Mulroney
Director(s): Zack Snyder
Cast: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Ezra Miller, Gal Gadot
Details: Based on the comic book series “Justice League of America” published by DC Comics.
SSN Insight: Common was previously attached to the role of Green Lantern. George Miller was previously attached to direct. Ben Affleck will also be the executive producer.
Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina
Logline: The story of Misty Copeland who studied ballet at age 13 while living in a welfare motel and became the second African-American female soloist with the American Ballet Theatre.
Studio/Distributor(s): New Line Cinema
Production Company(s): Offspring Entertainment
Producer(s): Adam Shankman, Jennifer Gibgot, Philip Sandhaus
Writer(s): Gregory Allen Howard, Stephanie Allain, Lenore Kletter
Details: Based on the memoir “Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina” written by Misty Copeland with Charisse Jones and published by Touchstone Books in March, 2014.
SSN Insight: Howard is also executive producing and prepping his Harlem-based pilot, The Zone.
Logan Lucky
Logline: Centers around brothers who plan a crime during a NASCAR race.
Production Company(s): Gran Via Productions, Free Association
Producer(s): Gregory Jacobs, Mark Johnson, Reid Carolin
Director(s): Steven Soderbergh
Cast: Channing Tatum, Riley Keough, Adam Driver, Seth MacFarlane, Adam Driver, Seth MacFarlane (in talks)
SSN Insight: Michael Shannon was previously attached to co-star.
Molly’s Game
Logline: Molly Bloom was a world-class skier while in college, but after failing to make the Olympic team, a chain of events lea to her into running the most exclusive high-stakes poker game in the world.
Production Company(s): Mark Gordon Company, Pascal Pictures
Producer(s): Mark R. Gordon, Amy Pascal
Writer(s): Aaron Sorkin
Director(s): Aaron Sorkin
Cast: Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba
Details: Based on the memoir “Molly’s Game: From Hollywood’s Elite to Wall Street’s Billionaire Boy’s Club, My High-Stakes Adventure in the World of Underground Poker” written by Molly Bloom and published by itbooks, an imprint of HarperCollins in 2014.
SSN Insight: Project was previously set up at Columbia Pictures.
Mother/Daughter
Logline: A mother and daughter are trapped with one another on a vacation gone awry.
Studio/Distributor(s): 20th Century Fox
Production Company(s): Chernin Entertainment, Feigco Entertainment
Producer(s): Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping, Paul Feig, Jessie Henderson
Writer(s): Katie Dippold, Amy Schumer, Kim Caramele
Director(s): Jonathan Levine
Cast: Amy Schumer, Goldie Hawn, Tom Bateman, Óscar Jaenada, Christopher Meloni
SSN Insight: Chernin Entertainment bought the script by Katie Dippold for a reported low seven-figures.
Patriots Day
Logline: Centers around the Boston bombing.
Studio/Distributor(s): CBS Films, Lionsgate
Production Company(s): Leverage Management, Closest To The Hole Productions, Bluegrass Films, Hutch Parker Entertainment
Producer(s): Scott Stuber, Dylan Clark, Mark Wahlberg, Stephen Levinson, Michael Radutzky
Writer(s): Peter Berg, Josh Zetumer, Eric Johnson, Paul Tamasy, Matt Charman
Director(s): Peter Berg
Cast: Mark Wahlberg, J.K. Simmons, John Goodman, Vincent Curatola, Kevin Bacon, Melissa Benoist, Khandi Alexander, Jake Picking
Details: Based on the book “Boston Strong” written by Casey Sherman and Dave Wedge and to be published by University Press of New England in 2014.
SSN Insight: Originally “Boston Strong,” based on the book written by Casey Sherman and Dave Wedge, was a competing project set up at 20th Century Fox. Fox let the “Boston Strong” project go to CBS Films where it was then merged with “Patriot’s Day”.
Plus One
Logline: When her long-term relationship ends, the only single friend she has left is Summer—the loud, sexually-oversharing wild card who becomes her only choice for wing woman.
Production Company(s): Gloria Sanchez Productions
Producer(s): Jessica Elbaum, Will Ferrell, Adam McKay
Writer(s): April Prosser
Director(s): Patrick Brice
Cast: Cecily Strong, Jessica Chastain
SSN Insight: Screenplay was included in the 2014 Hit List. Screenplay was included in the 2015 Bitch List. Project was included on the 2014 Black List.
Pottersville
Logline: The plot centers on Maynard, a beloved local businessman who is mistaken for the legendary Bigfoot during an inebriated romp through town in a makeshift gorilla costume. The sightings set off an international Bigfoot media spectacle and a windfall of tourism dollars for a simple American town hit by hard times.
Production Company(s): Storyland Pictures, Wing and a Prayer Pictures
Producer(s): Scott Lochmus, Ron Perlman, Josh Crook, Jonathan Gray
Writer(s): Daniel Meyer
Director(s): Seth Hendrickson
Cast: Michael Shannon, Christina Hendricks, Judy Greer, Ian McShane, Thomas Lennon
Details: The film was shot in the Upstate village of Hamilton and the Central New York Film Hub, a state economic development model designed to build a film and TV industry in the Syracuse area while providing next-generation innovations, workforce training and student involvement.
SSN Insight: The pic is the first produced in conjunction with SUNY Polytechnic Institute, enabled by New York state’s film tax credit.
Revenge Wedding
Logline: After discovering her fiancé has been cheating, a woman and her best friend exact revenge by turning the couple’s perfectly planned, high-society wedding into the biggest disaster in his storied family’s history.
Studio/Distributor(s): CBS Films
Production Company(s): What If It Barks Films, Suretone Pictures
Producer(s): Jordan Schur, Ray Marshall, Andrew O’Connor
Writer(s): Tamara Chestna, Andrew O’Connor
SSN Insight: CBS Films has hired Tamara Chestna to rewrite the romantic comedy.
Salty
Logline: Centers on Turk Henry, an aging rock star and reformed sex addict married to a supermodel who is abducted by pirates while on vacation.
Production Company(s): Simon West Productions, Carnaby Films
Producer(s): Simon West, Jib Polhemus, Harry Stourton
Writer(s): Toby Davies, Mark Haskell Smith
Director(s): Simon West
Cast: Antonio Banderas
Details: Based on the novel “Salty” written by Mark Haskell Smith published by Grove/Atlantic; June, 2007.
SSN Insight: Project is being financed by crowdfunding.
Spirit of the Game
Logline: Inspired by the so-called Mormon Yankees, groups of Mormon missionaries who used Basketball to evangelize in Australia from the 1930s through the early 60s, the film follows a squad who played exhibition games against Australia’s fledgling National Basketball Team as they prepared for the 1956 Olympics.
Studio/Distributor(s): Samuel Goldwyn Films, Purdie Distribution
Production Company(s): No Production Company Available.
Producer(s): Kate Whitbread, Spencer McLaren, Steve Jaggi
Writer(s): Darran Scott
Director(s): Darran Scott
Cast: Kevin Sorbo
SSN Insight: Samuel Goldwyn Films has acquired worldwide rights to the faith-based drama and plots a theatrical release in partnership with Purdie Distribution.
Steven
Logline: This unauthorized biopic of former Smiths leader Morrissey focuses on his his troubled childhood in Manchester and how he overcame it to become a star.
Studio/Distributor(s): Cleopatra Records
Production Company(s): Honlodge Productions
Producer(s): Orian Williams, Baldwin Li
Writer(s): Mark Gill, William Thacker
Director(s): Mark Gill
Cast: Jack Lowden, Jessica Brown Findlay, Jodie Comer, Finney Cassidy, Simone Kirby
SSN Insight: Brian Perera’s LA-based label Cleopatra Records is expanding into film distribution and production and has bought all U.S. rights to this film.
Tau
Logline: A street-smart vagabond is snatched and held captive in a deathly experiment.
Production Company(s): Phantom Four, Addictive Pictures
Producer(s): Russell Ackerman, John Schoenfelder, David S. Goyer, Kevin Turen
Writer(s): Noga Landau
Director(s): Federico D’Alessandro
Cast: Maika Monroe, Ed Skrein
SSN Insight: Screenplay was included in the 2014 Hit List. Project was included on the 2014 Blood List. Project was included on the 2014 Black List.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows
Logline: The Turtles face off against their arch-nemesis and his mutant thugs, while working with their human friends to protect New York City from alien invaders from another dimension.
Studio/Distributor(s): Paramount Pictures
Production Company(s): Nickelodeon Movies, Platinum Dunes, Alibaba Picture Group, Movie Media Group
Producer(s): Michael Bay, Andrew Form, Brad Fuller, Galen Walker, Scott Mednick
Writer(s): Josh Appelbaum, André Nemec
Director(s): David Green
Cast: Megan Fox, Stephen Amell, Laura Linney, Brian Tee, Will Arnett
Details: Movie Media Group, a subsidiary of Wanda Cinema Line, has come aboard the film as a co-financer.
The Autopsy of Jane Doe
Logline: When father and son coroners investigate the death of beautiful “Jane Doe” they find increasingly bizarre clues.
Studio/Distributor(s): IFC Midnight
Production Company(s): 42, Impostor Pictures
Producer(s): Rory Aitken, Benjamin Pugh, Fred Berger, Eric Garcia
Writer(s): Ian Goldberg, Richard Naing
Director(s): André Øvredal
Cast: Emile Hirsch, Brian Cox, Ophelia Lovibond, Parker Sawyers
SSN Insight: IFC Midnight has acquired U.S. rights to the film. Project was included on the 2013 Black List. Project was included on the 2013 Blood List. Martin Sheen was previously attached to the role played by Brian Cox.
The Death of Stalin
Logline: Follows the Soviet dictator’s last days and depicts the chaos of the regime after his death in 1953 after 30 years of iron-fisted rule over the Soviet Union.
Production Company(s): Gaumont, Free Range Films, Quad Productions
Producer(s): Nicolas Duval-Adassovsky, Laurent Zeitoun, Yann Zenou, Kevin Loader
Writer(s): Ian Martin, Armando Iannucci, David Schneider
Director(s): Armando Iannucci
Cast: Jeffrey Tambor, Steve Buscemi, Olga Kurylenko, Timothy Dalton, Toby Kebbel, Michael Palin, Simon Russell Beale, Paddy Considine, Andrea Riseborough
Details: Based on the graphic novel “The Death of Stalin”/”La mort de Staline” by Fabien Nury; published by Dargaud October 1, 2010.
SSN Insight: France’s Gaumont is financing and selling the film.
The Guardian Brothers (Animated)
Logline: Pic follows a Chinese family in danger of losing its family owned business – a wonton soup shop that’s been passed down generation after generation for hundreds of years. Millions of miles away in the Spirit World, we meet The Guardians – who have watched over and protected the humans on Earth for centuries. Raindrop and her mom are fending off a rival soup shop owner’s attempt to sabotage the family restaurant. When the retired Guardian brothers find out, they spring into action.
Studio/Distributor(s): Alibaba Pictures
Production Company(s): Light Chaser Animation Studios
Producer(s): Zhou Yu
Writer(s): Gary Wang
Director(s): Gary Wang
Voice Cast: Mel Brooks, Nicole Kidman, Zendaya
SSN Insight: The film, which was released in China by Alibaba Pictures on January 1 under the title The Little Door Gods. TWC will sell the film at Cannes.
The Hollow Point
Logline: The story of a botched Mexican cartel deal in the back roads of a border town.
Studio/Distributor(s): Vertical Entertainment
Production Company(s): Atlas Independent
Producer(s): William Green, Aaron Ginsburg, Andy Horwitz
Writer(s): Nils Lyew
Director(s): Gonzalo López-Gallego
Cast: Patrick Wilson, Ian McShane, John Leguizamo, Lynn Collins, James Belushi
SSN Insight: Timothy Olyphant was previously scheduled to star but dropped out due to scheduling conflict.
The Killing of a Sacred Deer
Logline: A young man is bent on revenge, a doctor needs to make a decision and his family is trying survive.
Studio/Distributor(s): A24
Production Company(s): Element Pictures
Producer(s): Ed Guiney, Andrew Lowe
Writer(s): Yorgos Lanthimos, Efthymis Filippou
Director(s): Yorgos Lanthimos
Cast: Colin Farrell
SSN Insight: The film is a reteam of Colin Farrell with The Lobster director Lanthimos.
The King Of Oil: The Secret Lives Of Marc Rich
Logline: The story of billionaire Marc Rich, who made deals with Iran during the Iran hostage crisis and received a controversial presidential pardon.
Production Company(s): BB Films Productions
Producer(s): Uri Singer, Daniel Turcan
Writer(s): Matt Rager, Russell Gewirtz
Details: Based on the book “The King of Oil: The Secret Lives of Marc Rich” published by St. Martin’s Press in 2009.
SSN Insight: Matt Rager wrote three films directed by Franco: As I Lay Dying, The Sound and the Fury, and In Dubious Battle.
The Last Full Measure
Logline: The film is based on the true story of a present-day cover-up investigation and follows young Pentagon investigator Scott Huffman as he battles the political machine in Washington. He reluctantly teams with veterans of Operation Abilene to convince Congress to award the Medal of Honor to a courageous Air Force medic, William Pitsenbarger, who sacrificed his life saving more than 60 soldiers ambushed by Viet Cong during the Vietnam War.
Production Company(s): Trilogy Entertainment Group, Foresight Unlimited, Solar Filmworks
Producer(s): Lauren Selig, John Watson, Pen Densham, Julian Adams
Writer(s): Todd Robinson
Director(s): Todd Robinson
Cast: Scott Eastwood, Ed Harris, Morgan Freeman, Laurence Fishburne
Details: Project is based on a true story.
SSN Insight: Brett Ratner was previously attached to direct. Shekhar Kapur was previously attached to direct.
The Leisure Seeker
Logline: An elderly couple take a road trip along Route 66 to spend their remaining time on their own terms.
Production Company(s): RAI Cinema, Indiana Production Company
Producer(s): Fabrizio Donvito, Benedetto Habib, Marco Cohen
Writer(s): Paolo Virzì, Francesco Piccolo, Francesca Archibugi, Stephen Amidon, Jens Jonsson
Director(s): Paolo Virzì
Cast: Helen Mirren, Donald Sutherland
Details: Based on the novel “The Leisure Seeker” written by Michael Zadoorian and published by HarperCollins on January 27, 2009.
SSN Insight: Project was previously in development at Sharp Independent at HarperCollins with Jeffrey Sharp attached to produce. Jens Jonsson was previously attached to direct.
The Neon Demon
Logline: An aspiring model finds herself in a terrifying predicament with her survival hanging in the balance.
Studio/Distributor(s): Amazon, Broad Green Pictures
Production Company(s): Space Rocket Nation
Producer(s): Lene Børglum
Writer(s): Nicolas Winding Refn, Mary Laws
Director(s): Nicolas Winding Refn
Cast: Elle Fanning, Christina Hendricks, Keanu Reeves, Jena Malone, Abbey Lee
SSN Insight: Under terms of the pact, Amazon and Broad Green will co-distribute the film in theaters, with Broad Green handling the home entertainment windows before the film premieres on Amazon Prime.
The Possibility of Fireflies
Logline: Set in 1989 in suburban Maryland, the story follows Ellie Roma, a precocious teenager who dreams of becoming a writer but must cope with her chaotic, self-destructive mother Susanna and a volatile metal-head sister, Gwen. When Ellie falls in love with her older neighbor, aspiring singer Leo, she gets caught up in the allure of the freedom his lifestyle represents and must make a decision that will change her life forever.
Production Company(s): Junction Films
Producer(s): Brad Wyman, Donald Kushner, Tatiana Kelly, Laura Rister
Writer(s): Dominique Paul
Director(s): Dominique Paul
Cast: Courtney Love, Joey King
Details: Based on the novel “The Possibility of Fireflies” written by Dominique Paul published by Simon & Schuster; October 3, 2006.
SSN Insight: Epic Pictures Group will handle international sales rights to the film and is repping it at the Cannes market.
Three Christs
Logline: The true story of three men in a mental asylum who each believe that they are Jesus Christ, while their doctor tries to convince them that there can only be one Christ.
Production Company(s): Brooklyn Films, Highland Film Group, Hassell Free Productions
Producer(s): Jon Avnet, Dr. Aaron Stern, Arianne Fraser, Delphine Perrier, Molly Hassell
Writer(s): Jon Avnet, Eric Nazarian, Shane Connaughton
Director(s): Jon Avnet
Cast: Richard Gere
Details: Based on the novel “The Three Christs of Ypsilanti: A Psychological Study” by Milton Rokeach; published by Columbia University Press January 1, 1964.
SSN Insight: Project was previously set up at MGM and Haft Entertainment with Jordan Kerner and Steven Haft attached to produce.
Under the Silver Lake
Logline: Storyline of the contemporary noir crime thriller is under wraps.
Studio/Distributor(s): A24
Production Company(s): Benderspink, Michael De Luca Productions
Producer(s): Michael De Luca, Chris Bender, Jake Weiner, Adele Romanski
Writer(s): David Robert Mitchell
Director(s): David Robert Mitchell
Cast: Andrew Garfield
SSN Insight: A24 has snagged domestic rights in a deal believed to be upwards of $3 million.
Untitled Nash Edgerton Action Comedy
Logline: On the verge of losing his job, a man discovers his wife has been cheating on him, so he kidnaps himself in hopes of collecting ransom.
Studio/Distributor(s): Amazon Studios, Amazon, STX Entertainment
Production Company(s): Denver & Delilah Films, Ahimsa Films, Amazon Studios
Producer(s): Charlize Theron, Rebecca Yeldham, A.J. Dix, Beth Kono, Anthony Tambakis
Writer(s): Matthew Stone, Anthony Tambakis
Director(s): Nash Edgerton
Cast: Charlize Theron, David Oyelowo, Amanda Seyfried, Joel Edgerton, Thandie Newton
SSN Insight: Project was previously in development at Annapurna. STX will co-release the title domestically with Amazon and oversee international sales here in Cannes.
Unwind
Logline: In the future, a group of teens cross paths when their parents decide to do away with them through an organ transplant program called unwinding.
Production Company(s): Constantin Film Development, Inc., Don Carmody Productions, Tasty Films, Stay Whole Productions, Voltage Pictures
Producer(s): Robert Kulzer, Marc Benardout, Julian Stone, Don Carmody, Roger Avary
Writer(s): Roger Avary, Gala Avary, Todd Stein
Director(s): Roger Avary
Cast: Ian Nelson, Kiernan Shipka, Percy Hynes White, Bill Paxton, Jay Baruchel
Details: Based on the novel “Unwind,” written by Neal Shusterman and published by Simon & Schuster Books on November 6, 2007.
SSN Insight: Voltage Pictures has come on board to co-finance and handle foreign sales for the film.
When We First Met
Logline: After spending the night with the girl of his dreams only to become “just friends,” a man gets to time travel back to the evening, and the outcome, over and over.
Studio/Distributor(s): ,
Production Company(s): Wonderland Sound and Vision, MXN Entertainment, Footprint Features
Producer(s): Adam Saunders, Mason Novick, Mary Viola
Writer(s): John Whittington, Adam DeVine, Scotty Landes
Director(s): Ari Sandel
Cast: Adam DeVine, Alexandra Daddario
SSN Insight: Jamie Travis was previously attached to produce.
Wild Man
Logline: Two unlikely friends meet when Bo serves house arrest across the street from Elliott.
Production Company(s): Londonderry Entertainment
Producer(s): Jacquie Phillips, Sarena Khan, Brian Adler
Writer(s): Stefanie Black
Cast: Ted Welch, George Dalton, Kate Upton, Mike Vogel, Christine Woods
SSN Insight: Londonderry Entertainment, the finance and management company co-founded by Patrick Millsaps has come on board to finish financing for the film.
Winchester
Logline: The true story of heiress Sarah Winchester who believed she was cursed by her family’s legacy.
Production Company(s): Diamond Pictures, Imagination Design Works, Blacklab Entertainment
Producer(s): Brett Tomberlin, Tim McGahan, Benedict Carver, Daniel L Diamond
Writer(s): Peter Spierig, Michael Spierig, Tom Vaughan
Director(s): Peter Spierig, Michael Spierig
Details: Based on the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, California.
SSN Insight: Project was previously in development at Ubiquity Pictures and Exclusive Media with Guy East and Nigel Sinclair attached to produce.
Z
Logline: Reboot of the classic tale of Zorro.
Production Company(s): Sobini Films, Lantica Media
Producer(s): Mark Amin
Writer(s): Jonas Cuarón, Justin Marks, Lee Shipman, Brian McGreevy, Glenn Gers
Director(s): Jonas Cuarón
Cast: Gael García Bernal
Details: Based on the character Zorro created by Johnston McCulley and first appearing in All-Story Weekly in 1919.
SSN Insight: Rpin Suwannath previously attached to direct. Bryan Singer was previously attached to produce for Bad Hat Harry Productions.
All Creatures Here Below
Logline: Tells the story of a desperate young couple on the run who seek refuge in Kansas City.
Production Company(s): Live Free or Die Films
Producer(s): Amy Greene Vines, Chris Stinson, Nacho Arenas
Writer(s): David Dastmalchian
Director(s): Collin Schiffli
Cast: David Dastmalchian
SSN Insight: David Dastmalchian credits include Ant-Man and The Dark Knight.
Captain Dad
Logline: When a man takes his wife, their six kids and their partners on a sailing trip through the Caribbean, his nominal sailing skills and overbearing attitude take their toll on the group.
Production Company(s): Killer Films, Archer Gray Productions
Producer(s): Anne Carey
Writer(s): Sebastián Silva
Director(s): Sebastián Silva
Cast: Will Ferrell, Catherine Keener, Michael Cera
SSN Insight: UTA Independent Film Group packaged the film and will handle the domestic sale.
Come Away
Logline: In this origin story, Alice (of Wonderland) and Peter (before Pan) are brother and sister, trying to help their grieving parents after their brother dies, and finally choosing between home and imagination.
Production Company(s): MM Productions
Producer(s): Michelle Manning, Leesa Kahn, Andrea Keir
Writer(s): Marissa Kate Goodhill
Director(s): Brenda Chapman
SSN Insight: Brenda Chapman is an animation veteran who won the Oscar for Disney/Pixar’s Brave.
Euphoria
Logline: Two estranged sisters travel across Europe together heading toward a mysterious destination.
Production Company(s): B-Reel Films, Vikarious Productions
Producer(s): Alicia Vikander, Patrik Anderson, Frida Bargo, Charles Collier
Cast: Alicia Vikander, Eva Green
SSN Insight: First film for Vikander’s own production banner Vikarious Productions which she will head along with her London-based agent Charles Collier of Tavistock Wood.
God Bless the Broken Road
Logline: After a young woman loses her husband in Afghanistan, she struggles to raise their young daughter without him.
Studio/Distributor(s): 10 West Studios
Production Company(s): A Really Good Home Pictures, 10 West Studios, Great Basin Entertainment
Producer(s): Harold Cronk, Andy Fraser, Stephen Afendoulis, Dustin Solomon, Edgar Struble
Writer(s): Harold Cronk, Jennifer Dornbush
Director(s): Harold Cronk
Details: The project is inspired by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band song title of the same name.
SSN Insight: Harold Cronk directed God’s Not Dead which grossed $62.6M on a budget of only $2 million.
Jake
Logline: When a suburban dad’s oddball friends and family intervene on the supposed drug habit of his fifteen-year-old son, it’s a night of finger-pointing, thievery, backstabbing and emotional revelations.
Studio/Distributor(s): Global Genesis Group
Production Company(s): Darius Films, Inc., K.Jam Media, Global Genesis Group
Producer(s): Nicholas D. Tabarrok, Kia Jam
Writer(s): Joshua Turek
Director(s): Bob Saget
Cast: Bob Saget
SSN Insight: Global Genesis Group has come aboard to finance and co-produce the pic.
Live Like Line
Logline: Based on a true story, this is how an Iowa high school volleyball team overcame their grief at the loss of their captain, setter and beloved team member, Caroline “Line” Found.
Production Company(s): LD Entertainment, Apex Entertainment
Producer(s): Mickey Liddell, Mark Ciardi, Pete Shilaimon, Scott Holroyd, Campbell G. McInnes
Writer(s): Elissa Matsueda
Director(s): Sean McNamara
Cast: Helen Hunt
SSN Insight: Helen Hunt previously teamed with Sean McNamara on 2011’s Soul Surfer.
Mortal
Logline: A young man discovers he has god-like powers based on ancient Norwegian mythology.
Production Company(s): Nordisk Film, 42, Automatik
Producer(s): Brian Kavanaugh-Jones, Benjamin Pugh, Rory Aitken, John Hagen
Writer(s): André Øvredal
Director(s): André Øvredal
Cast: Robert Sheehan
SSN Insight: IM Global is launching sales in Cannes.
The Aspern Papers
Logline: In 1885 Venice, as a young writer becomes obsessed with obtaining the letters the Romantic poet Jeffrey Aspern wrote to his mistress who still has them, so he rents a room at her villa.
Studio/Distributor(s): The Cohen Media Group
Production Company(s): Film House Germany, Princeps Films
Producer(s): Gabriela Bacher, Julien Landais
Writer(s): Jean Pavas, Julien Landais, Hannah Bhuiya
Director(s): Julien Landais
Cast: Vanessa Redgrave, Joely Richardson
Details: Based on the novella “The Aspern Papers” written by Henry James and published on September 29th 1888.
SSN Insight: Carnaby International will oversee international rights with Cohen Media releasing in the U.S.
The Final Six
Logline: A coalition between the UN and the international space agencies plan to send a team of six brave teenagers to create the first human settlement on Jupiter’s moon Europa.
Studio/Distributor(s): Columbia Pictures
Production Company(s): Immersive Pictures
Producer(s): Josh Bratman
Details: Based on the novel “The Final Six” written by Alexandra Monir.
SSN Insight: Sony acquired the unfinished novel in a pre-emptive deal.
The Hidden Girl
Logline: A team of assassins navigate between dimensions
Production Company(s): Studio 8
Details: Based on the short story “The Hidden Girl” written by Ken Liu.
SSN Insight: Studio 8 has pre-emptively acquired the rights to develop a feature from the short story. Studio 8 is funded by the Chinese investment management firm Fosun Group and Sony Pictures.
The King of Counterfeit
Logline: A crooked superstar lawyer tutors a couple in becoming counterfeiters and they get rich, but when a ruthless con man feels threatened by them, they find themselves in danger.
Production Company(s): Phoenix Pictures, Robert Greenhut Productions
Producer(s): Mike Medavoy, Robert Greenhut, Bill Murray
Writer(s): Jimmy Sclafani
Director(s): John McNaughton
Cast: Bill Murray, Josh Hutcherson, Linda Cardellini
SSN Insight: Lotus Entertainment will head up international sales on the project at Cannes.
The Last Days of Night
Logline: New York, 1888. Technological geniuses Thomas Edison and his rival George Westinghouse engage in a no-holds-barred legal battle over who will electrify America.
Production Company(s): Black Bear Pictures, Bristol Automotive
Producer(s): Nora Grossman, Ido Ostrowsky, Teddy Schwarzman
Writer(s): Graham Moore
Director(s): Morten Tyldum
Details: Based on the novel “The Last Days of Night” written by Graham Moore and published by Random House on September 20, 2016.
SSN Insight: Teddy Schwarzman’s Black Bear Pictures has won an auction to acquire the film.
The Wraiths of the Broken Land
Logline: This Western centers around the desperate attempt to rescue two kidnapped sisters who were forced into prostitution.
Studio/Distributor(s): 20th Century Fox
Production Company(s): Ridley Scott Films , Genre Films, Goddard Textiles
Producer(s): Michael Schaefer, Simon Kinberg, Aditya Sood, Drew Goddard
Writer(s): Drew Goddard
Director(s): Ridley Scott
Details: Based on the novel “Wraiths Of The Broken Land” written by S. Craig Zahler and published by Raw Dog Screaming Press in 2013.
SSN Insight: Scott is also directing Alien: Covenant for release in 2017.
Tully
Logline: Marlo, a mother of three including a newborn, is gifted a night nanny by her brother. Hesitant to the extravagance at first, Marlo comes to form a unique bond with the thoughtful, surprising, and sometimes challenging young nanny named Tully.
Studio/Distributor(s): Bron Studios
Production Company(s): Denver & Delilah Films, Bron Media Corp., Right of Way Films
Producer(s): Charlize Theron, Jason Reitman, Diablo Cody, Aaron Gilbert, Helen Estabrook
Writer(s): Diablo Cody
Director(s): Jason Reitman
Cast: Charlize Theron
SSN Insight: Bron Studios will co-produce and finance the film.
Undying
Logline: After a tragic accident, 18-year-old Chris watches his girlfriend Olivia from a ghostly afterlife, and seeing her blame herself for his death, he reaches out to her in her dreams.
Production Company(s): The Cutting Edge Group, Thunder Road Pictures, Summerstorm Entertainment, Film House Germany
Producer(s): Gabriela Bacher, Basil Iwanyk, Sean Finegan
Writer(s): O’Neil Sharma, Max Work
Director(s): Marco Kreuzpaintner
Cast: Patrick Schwarzenegger, Liana Liberato
SSN Insight: Lotus Entertainment will begin selling rights at the Cannes Film Festival.
Wheelman
Logline: A getaway driver ends up in a scramble to survive after a bank robbery goes horribly wrong. Driving a car full of money and with the fate of his family on the line, the wheelman must find out who betrayed him, and connect with the only person he can trust
Production Company(s): The Solution Entertainment Group, Chambara Pictures
Producer(s): Frank Grillo, Joe Carnahan, Myles Nestel
Writer(s): Jeremy Rush
Director(s): Jeremy Rush
Cast: Frank Grillo
SSN Insight: Principal photography begins in September.
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Just an enormous amount of news out of Cannes this week, plus some co-stars for Ethan Hawke in his new thriller, a potential new franchise for the still on the mend Dylan O’Brien, a new role for Clive Owen and a new voice roll for Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne. As always, there’s more, so click on the link for the full skinny. (SSN)
It’s the end of a major franchise at CBS. The network has opted to cancel CSI: Cyber after two seasons. It brings an end to the storied franchise whose flagship series was once the most-watched show in the world. The decision to end the series comes as little surprise. The third spinoff in the CSI: Crime Scene Investigation franchise was left off of CBS’ midseason schedule as well as its massive 11-show renewal earlier this season. (LF)
Oscar winner’s exact role has yet to be announced, and there has been no official statement from Marvel about it, but speculation centers on her playing star Chadwick Boseman’s love interest. Ryan Cooler is directing from a script he’s writing with Joe Robert Cole. The film will explore more of T’Challa’s story as the warrior prince who becomes King of the African nation of Wakanda. The cameras will roll early next year ready for a February 2018 release. (EMP)
Undeterred by Pan and likely spurred on by the lucrative public domain dollars wrought by Alice in Wonderland, a prequel to Peter Pan and Alice in Wonderland is in the works with Brave co-director Brenda Chapman making her live-action debut on the feature Come Away. Marissa Kate Goodhill has written the script, based on the premise that the Alice and Peter characters were a brother and sister who dealt with tragedy by going to Wonderland and Neverland. (COL)
Steven DeKnight is on board to direct the sequel to Guillermo del Toro’s 2013 gigantic monsters vs. huge mechs film, and now Universal Pictures and Legendary have finally found a screenwriter to write it. Jurassic World co-writer Derek Connolly has been hired to pen the script, which is currently going under the working title Pacific Rim: Maelstrom. Del Toro remains involved with the project as one of the producers. (SF)
Last year, a rumor popped up that Warner Bros. was quietly developing another addition to their roster of DC Films, a buddy cop film starring Booster Gold and Blue Beetle which Arrow, The Flash, and Supergirl executive producer Berlanti would direct. No confirmation ever came on the project however, until now. In an interview, he confirmed he is involved in the project, and that scribe Zack Stentz is working on the script. (CS)
The Killing alum is set as the lead in the streaming giant’s Altered Carbon, a futuristic drama series conceived, written and executive produced by Laeta Kalogridis. Miguel Sapochnik has come on board to direct the first episode of the series, from Skydance Television. Based on Richard Morgan’s 2002 cyberpunk sci-fi novel, series is set in the 25th century when the human mind has been digitized and the soul is transferable from one body to the next. (DH)
Casting is currently underway for that long gestating sci-fi project (Latin for “to the stars”), production is slated to start in early 2017, and we’re excited to see what the director does with the genre. While story details are being kept secret for now, the director has previously talked about a conceptually amazing concept, rather than a visually amazing one. (TP)
It’s tough to care much about the Cannes Film Festival anymore, because the movies that appear in competition there tend to not have an enormous effect on the domestic box office, nor do they tend to show up with any regularity in awards discussions. But what happens behind the scenes on the French Riviera is a different matter. That is downright fascinating. (TB)
CBS Films has released the new look at its upcoming crime thriller, starring Chris Pine, Ben Foster and Jeff Bridges. Directed by David Mackenzie and written by Sicario scribe Taylor Sheridan, it hits theaters in August. (VUL)
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Castle leading lady Stana Katic pens a handwritten note to fans, cast and crew, in the wake of the news that the ABC drama had been cancelled. (TVL)
STX Entertainment is on the verge of making the first big money deal of the Cannes Film Festival market. They are in exclusive negotiations to pay around $9 million for U.S. and China rights to Molly’s Game, with Aaron Sorkin directing and Jessica Chastain and Idris Elba starring. (DH)
The country music drama had been on the air for four seasons while the Joan Allen-led mystery series was in its freshman year. Galavant was in its second season. (THR)
Supergirl has been renewed for a second season and is moving from CBS to The CW. The show will join fellow DC superhero series The Flash, Arrow, and Legends of Tomorrow. (VER)
The drama, starring Joaquin Phoenix and directed by Lynne Ramsay, is one of the buzzier projects to be sold on the Cannes market. (VAR)
A sequel to the hit 2005 non-fiction feature March of the Penguins, is officially underway entitled March of the Penguins 2: The Call. Jacquet is returning to direct and has already shot most of the project in 4K. (IW)
Dakota Johnson is joining Andrew Garfield in David Robert Mitchell‘s crime thriller Under the Silver Lake. A24 has acquired the domestic rights, and production will begin in Los Angeles this summer. (WRAP)
Gavin O’Connor’s new film, The Accountant, opens in theaters later this year. The thriller stars Ben Affleck, Anna Kendrick, J.K. Simmons, Jon Bernthal, Jean Smart, Jeffrey Tambor, and John Lithgow. (SF)
The March 2003 draft by Cameron Crowe. (DS)
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An Ideal Home
05/11/2016
Logline: The extravagant life of a squabbling couple is changed when one of them learns he has a grandson and they take him in.
Production Company(s): Baby Cow Productions, Lucky Monkey Pictures
Director(s): Andrew Fleming
Executive Producer(s): Clark Peterson, Lisa Wolofsky
Producer(s): Gabriella Tana, Maria Teresa Arida, Maxime Remillard, Aaron Ryder
Cast: Paul Rudd, Steve Coogan
Writer(s): Andrew Fleming
SSN Insight: Andrew Fleming is currently the director of Red Oaks, a digital series on Amazon.
Dog Years
05/09/2016
Logline: The story revolves around an aging, former movie star who is forced to face the reality that his glory days are far behind him when he’s invited to receive a lifetime achievement award from a tiny East coast film festival. Embarrassed by the low rent event, he bails on the award and forces the emotionally unstable girl assigned to be his driver to take him on a soul searching tour of the landmarks of his youth.
Production Company(s): Mandt Bros. Productions
Director(s): Adam Rifkin
Producer(s): Neil Mandt, Gore Verbinski, Adam Rifkin, Orian Williams, Michael Mandt
Cast: Burt Reynolds, Kiernan Shipka
Writer(s): Adam Rifkin
SSN Insight: Reynolds, who earned an Oscar nomination for his performance in P.T. Anderson’s drama Boogie Nights, will also be seen in the boxing drama Shadow Fighter.
Full-Dress
05/08/2016
Logline: A man wakes incarcerated for a crime he does not remember. As he struggles to learn what sin he has committed, he becomes aware that the situation is much more grave than once thought. And as his fate is decided, the audience realizes it has its own waking to do.
Production Company(s): Standard Arts, Inc.
Director(s): Carlos Puga
Producer(s): Melanie Bartley, Tyler Peters
Cast: Christopher Abbott
Writer(s): Carlos Puga
Details: Based on the short film “Full-Dress” (2007) written and directed by Carlos Puga.
SSN Insight: Full-Dress marks the feature directorial debut for Puga.
The Big Sick
05/11/2016
Logline: Storyline is under wraps, but is based on true events in the lives of Kumail Nanjiani and his wife Emily V. Gordon.
Production Company(s): Barry Mendel Productions, Apatow Productions
Director(s): Michael Showalter
Producer(s): Judd Apatow, Barry Mendel
Cast: Kumail Nanjiani, Zoe Kazan, Ray Romano, Holly Hunter
Writer(s): Kumail Nanjiani, Emily V. Gordon
SSN Insight: Judd Apatow is also a producer on the upcoming Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping and Ghostbusters.
Thoroughbred
05/09/2016
Logline: The story follows Christine Wyckland, a guidance counselor at a top-tier prep school who has decided to spend some time at home in order to recover from a panic attack. Her daughter is an amateur equestrian that has become jaded to the sport and has been blacklisted from her peers after injuring her horse. One of Christine’s students starts showing up to school with strange marks on his skin and in the woods around their house it seems as though menacing eyes are watching their suburban haven.
Production Company(s): B Story, June Pictures
Director(s): Cory Finley
Producer(s): Alex Saks, Kevin J Walsh, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash
Cast: Olivia Cooke, Anya Taylor-Joy, Anton Yelchin
Writer(s): Cory Finley
SSN Insight: This film marks Finley’s feature film debut. Rash and Faxon also served as producer of The Way, Way Back, which the duo wrote and directed.
WRAPS
After Louise
05/13/2016
Logline: When a teenage girl runs out on her wedding at a seaside hotel, she accidentally takes an agoraphobic hotel worker with her on a road trip.
Production Company(s): Scoop Films
Director(s): Danny Scheinmann, David Scheinmann
Producer(s): Michael Mueller, Fiona Gillies, Rajan Sharma
Cast: Greg Wise, Alice Sykes, Sophie Scott, Eunice Olumide, Martin Marquez
Writer(s): Michael Mueller
SSN Insight: Michael Mueller also wrote the film The Beat Beneath my Feet (2015).
Baby Driver
05/08/2016
Logline: A young, music-loving expert getaway driver is coerced into a heist for a mob boss which threatens his life, love and freedom.
Studio/Distributor(s): TriStar Productions, TriStar Pictures
Production Company(s): Working Title Films, Big Talk Productions, Media Rights Capital
Director(s): Edgar Wright
Executive Producer(s): Adam Merims, Liza Chasin, Michelle Wright, James Biddle
Producer(s): Eric Fellner, Tim Bevan, Nira Park
Cast: Ansel Elgort, Kevin Spacey, Jon Bernthal, Jamie Foxx, Jon Hamm
Writer(s): Edgar Wright
SSN Insight: Kevin Spacey also wrapped the film Billionaire Boys Club and will be seen in the upcoming Rebel in the Rye.
Clinical
05/13/2016
Logline: After she’s attacked by a patient, Dr. Jane Mathis decides to change her career path as a psychiatrist. Traumatized by the experience, Jane self-medicates and begins to suspect that the patient that attacked her is after her once again. Working with a new post-trauma patient against her better judgment, Jane’s own sanity comes into question as her paranoia takes hold.
Production Company(s): Campfire
Director(s): Alistair Legrand
Producer(s): Ross M. Dinerstein
Cast: Vinessa Shaw, Henry Thomas, Wilmer Calderon
Writer(s): Alistair Legrand, Luke Harvis
SSN Insight: Alistair Legrand also wrote and directed the feature The Diabolical (2015).
Hidden Figures
05/13/2016
Logline: The film chronicles the true story of a group of unacknowledged African American women whose brilliance in math helped NASA win the space race.
Studio/Distributor(s): Fox 2000, 20th Century Fox Distribution
Production Company(s): Levantine Films, Chernin Entertainment, Goldenlight Films
Director(s): Ted Melfi
Executive Producer(s): Ivana Lombardi, Kevin Halloran
Producer(s): Donna Gigliotti, Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping, Pharrell Williams, Ted Melfi
Cast: Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Kevin Costner, Janelle Monae, Kirsten Dunst
Writer(s): Allison Schroeder
Details: Based on the book “Hidden Figures” written by Margot Lee Shetterly and to be published by HarperCollins in 2016.
SSN Insight: This marks Janelle Monae’s first studio film.
Humor Me
05/10/2016
Logline: Suffering from writer’s block and lacking any ability to take care of himself, playwright Teddy Kroll finds himself crashing at his father Bob’s active adult community after his wife leaves him to travel with a French billionaire. The quirky folks at Cranberry Bog Active Adult Community, along with the rebellious Allison, help Teddy learn some discipline and get over the issues with his father that have prevented him from reaching his potential.
Production Company(s): Fugitive Films
Director(s): Sam Hoffman
Executive Producer(s): Emily Blavatnik, Ruth Pomerance, Danielle Renfrew Behrens
Producer(s): Sam Hoffman, Courtney Potts, Jamie Gordon
Cast: Elliott Gould, Jemaine Clement, Ingrid Michaelson, Bebe Neuwirth, Annie Potts
Writer(s): Sam Hoffman
SSN Insight: Sam Hoffman previously executive produced 5 Flights Up, Begin Again and The Oranges.
Interlude in Prague
05/13/2016
Logline: This tragic love story is based on real events during a turbulent part Mozart’s life that influenced his creation of Don Giovanni.
Production Company(s): Productive International
Director(s): John Stephenson
Producer(s): Huw Penalt Jones, Hannah Leader
Cast: James Purefoy, Aneurin Barnard, Samantha Barks, Morfydd Clark, Ade Edmondson
Writer(s): Brian Ashby, Helen Clare Cromarty
SSN Insight: James Purefoy will next be seen in the TV miniseries Roots.
Slumber
05/13/2016
Logline: When a car accident puts a woman into a coma, she is enlisted in an experimental procedure where doctors pump her mind with nightmares in an attempt to scare her awake.
Production Company(s): Diablo Entertainment
Director(s): Darrell Wheat
Executive Producer(s): Jaremy Aiello, Keith Fowler, Hank Hoffman, Cyrus Zahabian, Ilana Zahabian
Producer(s): Eric B. Fleischman, Sean Tabibian
Cast: Darby Stanchfield, Emily Bett Rickards, Meaghan Rath, Chris Mulkey, Richard Harmon
Writer(s): Darrell Wheat
SSN Insight: Darrell Wheat also wrote and directed the upcoming film Recovery for Diablo Ent.
The Meyerowitz Stories
05/09/2016
Logline: Tells the story of an estranged New York family coming together in preparation of artist & patriarch Harold’s career retrospective
Production Company(s): Scott Rudin Productions
Director(s): Noah Baumbach
Producer(s): Scott Rudin, Eli Bush
Cast: Adam Sandler, Ben Stiller, Emma Thompson, Dustin Hoffman, Grace Van Patten
Writer(s): Noah Baumbach
SSN Insight: Noah Baumbach was also the director/writer/producer on Mistress America, While We’re Young and Frances Ha.
Wonder Woman
05/09/2016
Logline: A woman from the closely guarded amazon homeland of Paradise Island travels to the outside world and becomes Wonder Woman.
Studio/Distributor(s): Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Company(s): DC Entertainment, Atlas Entertainment, Cruel & Unusual Films
Director(s): Patty Jenkins
Executive Producer(s): Richard Suckle, Stephen Jones, Wesley Coller, Geoff Johns, Rebecca Steel Roven
Producer(s): Charles Roven, Zack Snyder, Deborah Snyder
Cast: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Robin Wright, Danny Huston, David Thewlis
Writer(s): Patty Jenkins, Jason Fuchs, Michael Goldenberg, Matthew Jennison, Brent Strickland
Details: Based on the comic book “Wonder Woman” written by William Moulton Marston published by DC Comics.
SSN Insight: Warner Bros and Silver Pictures bought a “Wonder Woman” spec script by Matthew Jennison and Brent Strickland in February 2007. Their take was Wonder Woman set against the backdrop of World War II.
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In this trending report, SSN Insider takes a deep dive into the film ticket sales of the week leveraging data from the powerhouse ticketing website, MovieTickets.com. The infographic below pinpoints which movies are claiming the largest piece of the pie from day to day in terms of sales. The chart also notes which film, out of the top five best-sellers, had the largest share and which had the smallest share of tickets sold over the week. The report gives you an excellent predictor of which film will be the box office titan after the weekend is through and grosses are tabulated.
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In our ongoing weekly series, SSN Insider will take a deep dive into the film ticket sales of the week leveraging data from the powerhouse ticketing website, MovieTickets.com. Not only will the infographic pinpoint which movies are claiming the largest piece of the pie from day to day in terms of sales but also which film had the biggest uptick in terms of a percentage variance surge and which had the biggest downtick or steepest dive between any two points. (SSN)
Among other projects getting rolling this week are Adam Rifkin’s new movie starring Burt Reynolds, the latest comedy from Michael Showalter and producer Judd Apatow. Meanwhile, Edgar Wright finally finishes shooting Baby Driver and Ted Melfi wraps on the NASA period piece Hidden Figures. As usual, there’s plenty more, so click the link to read on. (SSN)
Rights to the big-budget period drama could be available in the next 24 hours, turbocharging a market that has been slow going over the first three days. Mexican sales company Fabrica de Cine has offered to finance the $100 million production, but the film, which would star Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci, has to be taken out of turnaround from Paramount, which would retain domestic rights and is driving a hard bargain on exact deal points. (VAR)
Director of the hit 2014 monster flick has exited the sequel, agreeing to an amicable split with Legendary and Warner Bros. Edwards, who is helming Star Wars: Rogue One, has his own gestating projects he wanted to pursue, and are smaller in scale than the back-to-back tentpole-size pictures, Godzilla and the Star Wars spinoff. Max Borenstein wrote the current version of Godzilla 2, which was dated this week for release March 22nd, 2019. (DH)
Haley Atwell was recently announced as the star of the network’s legal drama Conviction and that precipitated whispers that Agent Carter — based on the government heroine introduced in Captain America: The First Avenger — was getting canceled. News has now arrived that Conviction has been picked up and, you guessed it, the domino effect is that Agent Carter has been given the axe. (TP)
Show joins other previous renewals including Scandal, which will return for a sixth season, and How to Get Away With Murder and blackish, both of which get a third season. Ridley’s critically-acclaimed anthology series was nominated for 10 Emmy awards last year, and won one, with Regina King taking home the trophy for Best Supporting Actress. No word yet on what story the new season will tell, and which of the actors from previous seasons will return. (SAA)
The Grinder starred Rob Lowe and Fred Savage, while Grandfathered starred John Stamos. Both series pulled modest ratings through their critically acclaimed runs, but ultimately the small but dedicated fanbases for each weren’t enough to score renewals for either show. (EO)
Network further solidified its 2016-17 broadcast schedule today, handing out five series orders for comedies and dramas with proven stars, formats and genres. Ordered to series are Bull, starring Michael Weatherly; Jason Katims’ medical drama Pure Genius; MacGyver; Training Day; Matt LeBlanc’s Man With a Plan; and Joel McHale’s The Great Indoors. (LF)
The 64-year-old will star in In Order of Disappearance, which will be helmed by Hans Petter Moland, the director behind the 2014 original, will be remaking an English-language version of his own film, with Neeson playing the role first played by Stellan Skarsgard: a mild-mannered snowplow driver whose son is murdered by a criminal gang. The snowplower thus seeks bloody revenge, painting the snow red with victims to seek justice. (EMP)
DreamWorks and Walt Disney Pictures have released the new look at the upcoming drama starring Michael Fassbender and newly minted Oscar winner Alicia Vikander. Directed by Derek Cianfrance, the movie is set to hit theaters on September 2nd. (CS)
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Walt Disney’s Captain America: Civil War topped the box office for the second weekend in a row. The Marvel Cinematic Universe offering earned $72.563 million in its second frame. (FOR)
Finnish developer and publisher Rovio has chalked up the number 1 spot in 37 markets with the film, making $43 million on its opening weekend. (CNET)
Ol Parker, who wrote both instalments of the hit The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel films, has been tapped by Studio Canal and Blueprint Pictures to adapt Matt Haig’s acclaimed novel A Boy Called Christmas. (DH)
After a wave of cancellations, NBC is is launching two new dramas in the fall, Timeless and This Is Us, both right after The Voice. It’s also looking to bring back its Thursday night comedy block, with The Good Place and Superstore airing in prime spots. (TVG)
The third-place net makes few changes in the fall, lining up an aggressive midseason — including Prison Break, Pitch and APB. (THR)
NBC has ordered to series the time travel drama, which is now titled Timeless, from Eric Kripke (Revolution), Shawn Ryan (The Shield) and the producers of The Blacklist. (TVL)
Sundance Selects has acquired U.S. rights to in-competition Cannes drama I, Daniel Blake, directed by Ken Loach. (VAR)
With the deals flying fast and furious at Cannes, Indiewire will be updating this post throughout the run of the festival with every pick up you need to know about. (IW)
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Months ahead of the opening of Suicide Squad, Warner Bros. is already contemplating a spinoff for the DC Entertainment anti-heroine, Harley Quinn. Margot Robbie, who stars as the villainess in Suicide Squad, is attached to reprise the character and would also produce the untitled spinoff. (THR)
Carter and Lee’s crime-fighting days are over; CBS is not moving forward with a second season of Rush Hour. (TVL)
Michael Bay’s production company Bay Films is developing the action-packed biopic of former U.S. Army Delta Force fighter and drone warfare expert Brett Velicovich for Paramount Pictures. (VAR)
John Cusack is in advanced negotiations to star in the chase thriller Misfortune for producers Lee Nelson and David Buelow of Envision Media Arts. Radiant Films International has introduced the project to buyers in Cannes. (SD)
Blumhouse has scared up a plan for Insidious: Chapter 4, a pic that will extend the supernatural thriller franchise at Universal. Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions is financing and will handle international distribution. (DH)
CBS has renewed Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders, Code Black, The Odd Couple and Undercover Boss for new seasons. (WRAP)
RT Features, and Martin Scorsese and Emma Tillinger Koskoff’s Sikelia Productions will finance Josh and Benny Safdie’s Uncut Gems. RT Features and Elara Pictures will produce with Sikelia’s Scorsese and Tillinger Koskoff serving as executive producers. (VAR)
The spec book gives an insider’s look into one of the most elusive parts of our industry, the spec market. (TB)
Rent Boy, Sick Boy, Spud and the entire Trainspotting gang are back together again. (IW)
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Chinese media mogul Bruno Wu and producer Larry Kasanoff have announced plans for an $80 million film adaptation of the iconic video game Tetris. (THR)
Nicolas Winding Refn and UK-based producer-distributor Rupert Preston are pulling together a passion project, acquiring the remake rights to Michael Reeves’ 1968 Witchfinder General. (DH)
Gravitas Ventures bought all U.S. rights to crime thriller Dirty, starring Roger Guenveur Smith and Paul Elia, from B.A.D. Film Productions. Daniel Ringey directed the film. (VAR)
The food and beverage giant opens a state-of-the-art content studio in Manhattan. (AD)
Teletubbies owner DHX Media is to co-produce 39 new half-hours of animated fare based on the 30-year-old doll and TV cartoon star. (THR)
The top 10 fiction titles out of an otherwise quiet BookExpo America in New York. (VUL)
The writer/director behind The Meddler, now in theaters, talks about growing as an artist, before anyone could actually see her movies. (FCC)
The Studio Ghibli co-production, The Red Turtle, is the first feature directed by Michaël Dudok de Wit. The film premieres at Annecy next month. (IW)
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The drama, which has a pregnant lead in Kerry Washington, is held for midseason as five new series (and another hour of comedy) join the lineup. (THR)
Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel has has renewed his deal with ABC for an additional three years. (VAR)
The duo were involved in the making of comedies such as The Hangover and We’re the Millers, as well as A History of Violence and more recently, Criminal. (THR)
Josh Duhamel will be reprising his role in the next Transformers movie. The actor will return as Lieutenant Colonel Lennox in the newly titled Transformers: The Last Knight. (IGN)
The Fight Club writer launched a Kickstarter campaign to help bring the film to the big screen. (IW)
Fox 2000 has acquired rights to the upcoming novel from writer-director Walt Becker, the YA fantasy Charlie Paris And The Young Ambassadors. Scribe Joe Ballarini set to adapt and Becker will direct. (DH)
Showtime has cancelled the Don Cheadle-fronted satire, announcing that the show’s current fifth season will be its last. The Cuba-set series finale will air on Sunday, June 12. (TVL)
StudioCanal and Autochenille Production have teamed up for an animated feature based on the comic Little Vampire by Joann Sfar. Sfar will direct the film. (AM)
Last week, after much speculation about its fate, The Grinder was canceled by the network and a little less than two million people were left lamenting why more didn’t appreciate such a strong show when they had the chance. (TB)
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A reorganization is imminent at DC Films with Chief Content Officer Geoff Johns and WB EVP Jon Berg co-running DC Films. While DC Films has long been a production banner within Warner Bros, it will now exist as a formal division. (DH)
Michael Weatherly’s new drama Bull will be paired with his former series NCIS on Tuesdays; NCIS: LA will succeed The Good Wife on Sundays-at-9; and Joel McHale’s new sitcom The Great Indoors has landed the coveted post-Big Bang Theory slot on Thursdays. (TVL)
Jenna Fischer was set to star opposite Matt LeBlanc in CBS’ Man With a Plan, but the Office alum will be recast for the comedy’s debut season due to a chemistry issue. (WRAP)
‘Will’ marks the cabler’s latest pickup as the Turner-owned network continues to expand its slate of originals. (THR)
The 15-minute pilot from the Childrens Hospital creator, co-written by Josh Perilo and Jonathan Stern, follows the Hindenburg’s 1937 maiden voyage from Germany to New Jersey. (VUL)
Amazon Studios and Cohen Media Group have landed domestic rights to Oscar-winner Asghar Farhadi’s The Salesman. (VAR)
After taking the torch from George Lucas, the veteran producer immediately got to work building a new future for Star Wars. (FCC)
The film’s latest trailer also offers an additional glimpse at the new big screen version of the iconic Ghostbusters ghoul Slimer, as well as what appears to be the reboot’s version of the infamous Stay Puft Marshmallow Man from the original Ghostbusters movie. (SR)
An undated first draft by Jules Feiffer (based on the characters by E. C. Segar) (DS)
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20th Century Fox just acquired an untitled pitch from Andy Weir, the author of The Martian. Weir will write the screenplay for Simon Kinberg and director Ridley Scott, who will produce this project. (DH)
CBS announced plans for a spinoff of drama The Good Wife, which wrapped up a seven-season run earlier this month. The new, as-yet-untitled series, will star Christine Baranski and Cush Jumbo, and is to be offered exclusively online via CBS’s All-Access streaming app. (USA)
George Clooney is gearing up his next directorial project, Suburbicon and has just attached Woody Harrelson as the latest A-lister to sign up. (EMP)
CNN is expanding its originals slate with three new unscripted series that count Dwayne Johnson, Sean Hayes and Tom Hanks among their executive producers. Each eight-part series, Soundtracks: Songs That Made History, The History of Comedy and The Nineties will launch in 2017. (THR)
Devil in a Blue Dress helmer Carl Franklin has come on board to direct a movie adaptation of William Faulkner’s Intruder in the Dust. (VAR)
Milla Jovovich is joining the cast of James Franco’s new indie film Future World. Franco and Bruce Thierry Cheung are directing and Franco is also acting in the film, the story of which he created.
(DH)
The first trailer for Personal Shopper has landed following the film’s world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. Kristen Stewart leads the thriller in a reunion with her Clouds of Sils Maria director Olivier Assayas. (COLL)
Here’s a teaser for Napping Princess: The Story Of the Unknown Me, the new anime film by director Kenji Kamiyama (Ghost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex), opening in Japan later this year via Warner Bros. (IW)
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Supergirl is staying put at Mondays at 8 p.m. and moving Supernatural back to Thursdays at 9 p.m. The CW’s new fall shows are romantic comedy No Tomorrow and thriller Frequency. (EW)
Featuring more comedy, Dick Wolf and less Shondaland, plus an overdose of medical hours on Thursdays as the broadcast networks shake up their status quo. (THR)
Wanda Sykes has joined the 20th Century Fox Amy Schumer and Goldie Hawn pic Mother/Daughter. Sykes was added to the cast of Jonathan Levine-directed film scripted by Ghostbusters writer Kate Dippold. (DH)
Sony Pictures Classics has bought all rights in North America and Latin America to Michael Dudok de Wit’s animated The Red Turtle, following its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. (VAR)
Indie writer and director Emily Carmichael will be teaming up with Steve Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment, Simon Kinberg and Colin Trevorrow for the upcoming film titled, Powerhouse. (IW)
The 25-year-old Australian actress is in negotiations to appear in Simon Curtis’ Goodbye Christopher Robin. That project, set up at Fox Searchlight, charts the relationship between A.A. Milne and his son, which led to the creation of Winnie the Pooh. (DH)
Amazon Studios has bought domestic rights to The Dressmaker with Kate Winslet. The adaptation of the Rosalie Ham novel screened at last year’s Toronto Film Festival. (VAR)
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James L. Brooks, Laura Dern, indie producers Stephanie Allain and Cassian Elwes, Disney-Pixar president Ed Catmull, Imagine Entertainment co-chair Michael Rosenberg and hundreds of others have also thrown their hats in the ring. (THR)
Macro, the multi-platform media company founded by former WME partner Charles D. King, has set up its first digital series: the dramatic comedy Gente-Fied, which will feature an all-Latino cast and counts America Ferrera among its executive producers. (DH)
The Directors Guild of America has reported “slight” improvements in the hiring of women and minorities during the 2015-16 TV season. More than 4,100 episodes were analyzed, a 5% increase from last year. (VAR)
This Is Us is already fall’s most popular new show – at least according to online video views. On Facebook alone, the trailer for NBC’s dramedy series has garnered over 17 million views in less than three days — a record for a new fall show. (EW)
The show featured new fall books from acclaimed graphic novel authors Raina Telgemeier, whose Ghosts will be published by Scholastic, and Jessica Abel, creator of Trish Trash: Rollergirl of Mars, which will be published by Papercutz in November. (PW)
GKIDS has announced today that it has entered into a distribution agreement for all North American rights to the upcoming animated feature, The Girl Without Hands, following the film’s premiere screening at the Cannes Film Festival. (IW)
2015 saw the second highest amount of specs sold over the last six years. 375 specs that went out last year, 129 were set up, an significant increase over the year before, in which just 101 of 369 found a home. (TB)
Sony has released a new Sausage Party trailer and poster. The animated comedy is a parody of Pixar films, specifically Toy Story, and focuses on a group of supermarket food that learns the terrible truth about the fate they’ve dreamed of: being taken home and eaten. (COLL)
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Grey’s Anatomy star Sara Ramirez — whose character mended fences with her ex-wife with an eye toward leaving for New York during Thursday’s season 12 finale – is leaving the show. (EW)
TWC announced Friday that it has acquired the worldwide rights, excluding French-speaking territories, to the upcoming documentary 21 Years: Quentin Tarantino. The project is being produced and directed by Tara Wood. (WRAP)
Rebecca Miller and Damon Cardasis are launching Round Films, a new production outfit that builds on the duo’s work together on Maggie’s Plan. The new shingle will be repped by Cinetic Media and CAA. (DH)
Landline will reunite Slate with the creative duo behind her critically acclaimed indie comedy Obvious Child, Gillian Robespierre and Elisabeth Holm. Robespierre and Holm will co-write the family comedy, with Robespierre taking on directing duties. (THR)
U.K. distributor Curzon Artificial Eye has picked up tennis drama Borg/McEnroe at Cannes, starring Shia LaBeouf, and Lars Von Trier’s serial killer pic The House That Jack Built. (VAR)
From Sarah Polley to Jennifer Kent, Marcia Lucas to Amma Asante, Indiewire picks over a dozen female filmmakers who are ready for action. (IW)
As his latest two-hander, The Nice Guys, explodes into theaters, Joel Silver talks about going beyond the buddy action movie template. (FCC)
An undated, unspecified draft by Stephen J. Rivele & Christopher Wilkinson and Eric Roth & Michael Mann (Story by Gregory Allen Howard). (DS)
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Sony’s The Angry Birds Movie is the top film of the weekend, flying past Captain America: Civil War for a $39 million debut weekend. (FOR)
Michael Lombardo, the HBO programming president revealed Friday that he will exit one of the most coveted jobs in television for a production deal with the network. (THR)
I, Daniel Blake, directed by Ken Loach, takes home the Palme d’Or plus all the rest of the winners. (VUL)
Fox’s X-Men: Apocalypse has launched impressively in the international marketplace with $103.3 million in box office havoc from 20,596 screens in 75 markets — a week ahead of its U.S. opening. (VAR)
Jeff Bridges and Taylor Kitsch have joined the cast of the untitled firefighter pic financed by Black Label Media that already has Josh Brolin, Miles Teller and James Badge Dale attached. (DH)
Refn has signed on to produce a remake of Massimo Dallamano’s What Have You Done To Solange?, based on the Edgar Wallace novel The Clue of the New Pin. Refn’s Danish film production company Space Rocket Nation will produce. (IW)
The first ever trailer for Disney’s new live action version of the classic movie Beauty and the Beast debuted exclusively on Good Morning America on Monday. (ABC)
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HBO has shuffled its exec ranks in the wake of programming president Michael Lombardo’s exit. Lombardo is segueing to a producing deal with the cabler. Bloys, who will report directly to chairman and CEO Richard Plepler, will take on oversight of all programming. (VAR)
Producer-manager Jake Weiner will join Good Fear as partner. The company also launches with managers Jake Wagner, Daniel Vang, Scott Stoops, and talent manager Ryan Revel on the staff list. (THR)
Saban Films has acquired North American distribution rights to Tomboy, A Revenger’s Tale, Walter Hill’s crime thriller starring Michelle Rodriguez, Sigourney Weaver, Tony Shalhoub, Anthony LaPaglia and Caitlin Gerard. (DH)
Shondaland creator Shonda Rhimes is in talks to produce a movie based on online personalities known as the Dare Divas. Fox 2000 is in negotiations to acquire the life rights with Rhimes and Betsy Beers to produce. (WRAP)
Sony Pictures has closed a deal to acquire an untitled micro-budget adult thriller based on a pitch from scribe Lori Evans Taylor. Akiva Goldsman is aboard to produce. (DH)
Condé Nast Entertainment, Indigenous Media and Josh and Michelle Hutcherson’s Turkeyfoot Productions today announced the five screenplays they’ve for a joint venture known as “The Big Script” Film Incubator, a project powered by the Black List. (IW)
Being Mary Jane has scored former The Good Wife executive producer Erica Shelton Kodish to take over for the show’s creator and departing showrunner Mara Brock Akil, as well as director Salim Akil. (VUL)
The new trailer for the Matthew McConaughey-starred Civil War movie turns its attention to the battle and rebellion against the Confederates. (EW)
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Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley have been hired to rewrite Game Night, the pic being produced by Jason Bateman’s Aggregate Films. Goldstein and Daley are also attached to direct. (DH)
Carpenter will executive produce the new addition to the franchise, which will be produced by Blum under his Blumhouse banner. (THR)
CAA is looking to bite off a bigger piece of the ever-expanding business of food and celebrity chefs with the launch of CAA Culinary. Andrew Chason, manager and founder of the foodie talent firm Vector Eats, has joined CAA to run the new division. (VAR)
The British Board of Film Classification has revealed that the movie runs 145 minutes and provided a cast list, which includes Ryan Gosling, Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, Haley Bennett, Natalie Portman, Michael Fassbender, Val Kilmer, Benicio Del Toro, Clifton Collins Jr., Angela Bettis, Bérénice Marlohe, Florence Welch, and Holly Hunter. (COLL)
Director John Sayles is set to write and direct Django Lives, the second sequel to the 1966 film Sergio Corbucci’s spaghetti western Django. Star Franco Nero will reprise his iconic role once again. (IW)
TVLine compiles a gallery of all the potential series — 44 of ’em, to be exact — that didn’t score a place on ABC, CBS, The CW, Fox or NBC’s lineups. (TVL)
The learning curve of Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg and producer Sam Catlin on adapting of the cult-hit, but very risque, comic-book series Preacher. (VUL)
The movie’s third trailer — premiered on YouTube by The Ellen Show, — reveals just how long the titular forgetful fish has been separated from her parents. (VER)
