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Fede Alvarez on ‘Dragon Tattoo’ Sequel, ‘Dark Tower’ Postponed, ‘Big Hero 6′ Series Cast, Charlie Corwin to Imagine

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Fede Alvarez Eyed To Direct ‘The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo’ Sequel

Evil Dead and Don’t Breathe director Fede Alvarez is reportedly being eyed for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo sequel. (CS)

‘The Dark Tower’ Film Is Being Postponed

A film version of Stephen King’s apocalyptic saga was originally set for release on Feb. 17, but now will shift to the summer of 2017. (EW)

‘Big Hero 6’: Maya Rudolph & More Reprise Roles For Disney XD Animated Series

Disney XD’s upcoming animated series Big Hero 6 will reunite much of the original cast from the Oscar-winning feature film. (DH)

Charlie Corwin In Advanced Talks To Become CEO Of Imagine Entertainment

Charlie Corwin, the soon-to-be former co-chairman and co-CEO of Endemol Shine, is in advanced discussions to join Imagine Entertainment as CEO. (WRAP)

‘The Raid’ Director Gareth Evans To Return With ‘Apostle’

Gareth Evans will write and direct Apostle with XYZ Films handling foreign sales and introducing the project to buyers at the American Film Market. (COLL)

Hot 2016 AFM Titles: What Buyers Are Buzzing About

There is a shortage of star-driven, big-budget titles and less of the mid-budget action thrillers that were once so typical of the AFM, but there’s still a variety of smart, indie fare. (DH)

Samuel L. Jackson To Star In Sci-Fi Film ‘Inversion’

Samuel L. Jackson is in final negotiations to star in Facing East’s $130 million science-fiction movie directed by Peter Segal. (VAR)

Netflix Has Become Enormous, But Is It Too Big To Fail?

Netflix has established itself as a monster in its particular field, and one without any real competition. (TB)

Trailer Buzz: ‘Trainspotting 2′

Director Danny Boyle reunites the original cast: Ewan McGregor, Ewen Bremner, Jonny Lee Miller and Robert Carlyle. (YT)

 


Marriott Into Branded Content, McCormick’s New Short Film, BBC Has to Re-Edit ‘Desert Island’

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Branded Entertainment News

Original scripted videos are drawing large audiences and even turning into a revenue-generating opportunity for the hospitality chain and other brands. (MD)

Can You Find The 60 Brands Hidden In This Visual Puzzle?

Created by U.K.-based small business-focused marketplace, Funding Circle, the puzzle features nods to movies, books, and music, and leans heavily on visual puns. Take a crack at the puzzle here. (FCC)

Top Deals

Can Spice Maker McCormick Recreate A Lost Family Recipe? R/GA Finds Out This Holiday

Spice maker McCormick and ad agency R/GA made a nearly four minute movie about a special recipe that has gotten lost in the mists of time. (AW)

BBC Is Forced To Re-Edit ‘Desert Island’ Discs

Michael Buble picked a Rolex as his luxury item on Desert Island Discs, but BBC edited out the moment he mentioned he was paid to promote brand. (DM)

Why Is A Lamborghini In ‘Doctor Strange’?

What does Steven Vincent Strange drive during his harrowing and life-altering wreck? The $237,250 Lamborghini Huracán LP610-4. (ST)

L’Oréal Is Using Virtual Reality To Expand The “Matrix Academy”

Stylists will have the option to learn new styling techniques with a VR headset through L’Oréal’s “Matrix Academy,” an educational program affiliated with its Matrix beauty brand. (FC)

Hot Projects

Embeds

Verizon gave a series order to this political comedy created by newcomers Scott Conroy and Peter Hamby who will executive produce alongside Michael De Luca of Michael De Luca Productions, Megyn Kelly, Bryan Hass, and Kevin Mann, Jordana Mollick, and Brendan Bragg of Haven Entertainment. The series will air on Verizon’s Go90 platform. (SE)

Storyville

TBS gave a series order to this animated comedy web series produced by Mass Appeal and OkayPlayer. The show will be available on TBS digital and social platforms. (SE)

Wanda Buys Dick Clark Prod., Two More Tyler Perry Movies, Fox’s Midseason Sched., Oscar Producers, ‘Wonder Woman’ Trailer

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Dick Clark Productions To Be Sold To Chinese Company For $1 Billion

Dalian Wanda Group will buy Dick Clark Productions for about $1 billion, giving it the broadcasting rights to the Golden Globe Awards, the Academy of Country Music Awards and the New Year countdown celebrations in New York. (NYT)

After Success Of ‘Madea Halloween,’ Lionsgate Says Two More Tyler Perry Films On Horizon

After the box office success of Tyler Perry’s Boo! A Madea Halloween which has garnered about $56.4M after only two weeks in release, Lionsgate will be producing two more Perry Films. (DH)

Fox Solidifies Midseason Schedule

Michael De Luca, Jennifer Todd In Talks To Produce Oscars Ceremony

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences may have found its producers for the upcoming Oscars. Michael De Luca and Jennifer Todd are in talks to oversee the 89th annual awards ceremony. (EW)

Tom Clancy’s ‘Jack Ryan’ Casts ‘Limitless’ Actress Opposite John Krasinski

Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan has found its leading lady: Abbie Cornish will play John Krasinski’s love interest in the upcoming Amazon series. (TVL)

Deadpool Creator’s ‘Avengelyne’ Getting A Movie Adaptation At Paramount

Oscar-winning screenwriter Akiva Goldsman will produce and potentially direct the Avengelyne solo movie. The studio, which paid upwards of six figures for the rights, will soon begin their search for a screenwriter and lead actress. (SR)

‘Workaholics’ To End With Season Seven

After seven seasons on Comedy Central, Workaholics is getting ready to say goodbye. The hit comedy series will be coming to an end following the show’s upcoming seventh season. (CS)

Courtney Love Joins Lifetime’s Shakespeare Anthology ‘A Midsummer’s Nightmare’

Courtney Love has been cast in Lifetime’s Shakespeare psychological thriller A Midsummer’s Nightmare. The hourlong pilot hails from A+E Studios. (VAR)

Trailer Buzz: ‘Wonder Woman’

After leaving her all-female island, Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) discovers her full powers and true destiny while fighting alongside soldiers during World War I. (YT)

Weekend Box Office, Queen Movie Moves Forward, CBS Buys LeBron James Comedy, Amy Poehler Sets Up ABC Comedy

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Weekend Box Office Wrap-up: November 6, 2016

In first is Marvel’s Doctor Strange, which made a very strong $84.9 million in its first three days.  Coming in second is Trolls, the latest film from DreamWorks Animation, making $45.6 million in its first three days. (SR)

Queen Movie Moves Forward With Rami Malek As Freddie Mercury And Bryan Singer To Direct

The film is titled Bohemian Rhapsody and is expected to begin shooting early next year. (IW)

CBS Buys Sports Agency Comedy Produced By LeBron James

CBS has put in development Thankless, a hybrid comedy from LeBron James & Maverick Carter’s SpringHill Entertainment, former How I Met Your Mother writers Craig Gerard and Matt Zinman, and Warner Bros. TV. (DH)

Gay Rom-Com ‘Family Style’ From EP Amy Poehler In The Works At ABC

ABC has given a script commitment with penalty to the single-camera comedy Family Style, from executive producer Amy Poehler. (WRAP)

Sharon Horgan’s ‘Pulling’ Is Getting An American Remake

Horgan’s popular BBC comedy series Pulling which was her career breakthrough in the U.K. will be getting an American remake at NBC. (VUL)

‘American Housewife’ Gets Full-Season Order — ‘Real O’Neals’ Extended, Too

The network has ordered nine additional episodes of the sitcom for a full 22-episode first season. Also, ABC has added three episodes to The Real O’Neals‘ second season. (TVL)

South Korean Film ‘Miss Granny’ To Get English, Spanish Language Remakes

Tyler Perry Studios’ 34th Street Films will co-produce the U.S. version of the comedy drama, which has already been remade in six Asian languages. (THR)

TWC’s David Glasser Praises Robust TV Division, Film Team

David Glasser shocked industry watchers when he resigned as COO/president of The Weinstein Co.  He re-emerged at The 360 View, AFM’s global film financing panel, where he talked about his new feature slate, and the future of Weinstein Television and his day-and-date label, Radius-TWC. (VAR)

The Complicated Case Of Leadership And Vision At Warner Bros. And DC Entertainment

News of Rick Famuyiwa walking away from The Flash, making him the second director to do so, after Seth Grahame-Smith did the same earlier this year, begs the question on if this concerns the higher ups at Warner Bros. and what they plan on doing about it.  (TB)

Marc Weinstock Prez of Annapurna, ‘Big Bang Theory’ Prequel, ‘Young Justice’ Season 3 Announced, Margot Robbie Thriller to Warner Bros.

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Annapurna Names Fox Marketing Exec Marc Weinstock President

Twentieth Century Fox President of Domestic Theatrical Marketing Marc Weinstock will leave the studio at the end of the year to become president of Megan Ellison’s Annapurna Films. (WRAP)

‘Big Bang Theory’ Sheldon Prequel Series In The Works At CBS

Co-creators Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady as well as showrunner Steve Molaro will oversee the project. (THR)

‘Young Justice’ Season 3 Officially Announced

When Young Justice went off the air, it left many plot threads unresolved, but Warner Bros. Animation announced that Young Justice Season 3 has begun production. (CB)

Margot Robbie Developing Thriller ‘Beautiful Things’ For Warner Bros.

Warner Bros., Margot Robbie, and producer Denise Di Novi have picked up movie rights to Gin Phillips’ thriller novel Beautiful Things. (VAR)

J.R.R. Tolkien Biopic ‘Middle Earth’ Lands Director James Strong

British director James Strong has signed on to direct the J.R.R. Tolkien biopic Middle Earth, to be produced by former New Line Cinema heads Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne’s Unique Features. (IW)

Shannen Doherty, Tom Green Horror Film ‘Bethany’ Finds Distribution

Uncork’d Entertainment has nabbed rights for the film from director and co-writer James Cullen Bressack. (THR)

‘Stranger Things’ Season 2 Adds Sean Astin, Paul Reiser, And Newcomer Linnea Berthelsen

Danish actress Linnea Berthelsen will play Roman, Sean Astin will play Bob Newby, and Paul Reiser will play Dr. Owens. (COLL)

Alicia Silverstone-Led ’70s Dramedy ‘American Woman’ Snags TV Land Order

The cabler confirms that it has greenlit 12 episodes of the half-hour dramedy, which stars the Clueless actress an unconventional mother struggling to raise her two daughters after leaving her husband. (TVL)

BAFTA Film Awards Changes Venue For 2017; Stephen Fry Returns As Host

British Academy of Film and Television Awards has confirmed it is moving its EE BAFTA Film Awards to London’s iconic Royal Albert Hall for 2017. (DH)

How to Watch the Election, Election Night Battle in NYC, Fox Election Coverage, Nate Silver’s Predictions

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ELECTION DAY SPECIAL – GET OUT AND VOTE!!

How To Watch The Presidential Election – On TV And Online

All of the major networks will be offering prime time coverage both on TV and online — that means regular Tuesday night programming, including NCIS, Bull, This Is Us and Chicago Fire, are all off this week. (TVG)

Donald Trump And Hillary Clinton Set For Election Night Battle In NYC

The contentious opponents are ringing in the results two miles away from one another, with a reported Clinton afterparty bringing her one block from his Trump Tower. (THR)

Fox Election Coverage: Dour Early Focus On A Divided America

After a campaign that made media coverage an election issue, Variety examines the spin throughout Election Day across major TV news outlets. (VAR)

Nate Silver Stakes His Reputation On FiveThirtyEight’s Final Election Forecast

The site, run by Nate Silver, was the gold standard in the 2012 election, correctly forecasting the winner of all 50 states. (FC)

Sarah Paulson Gives Hillary Clinton Emails A Dramatic Twist 

The American Horror Story star read out some of the leaked electronic exchanges between the Democratic presidential nominee and her aides on Full Frontal with Samantha Bee. (HUFF)

Broadway’s Talk Back Video: Get Out & Vote!

Over the last several days, Jujamcyn Theatres president assembled this video with more than 200 images from every Broadway show and many tours. (DH)

Watch: Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert Sing and Spit to Get You to Vote

On The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Colbert was joined by Jon Stewart, where they conceived a long musical number about the importance of voting. (COLL)

Remembering Some Of The Most Memorable Quotes From The 2016 Election

The 2016 election was one of the most dramatic in recent memory. From Donald Trump’s “Access Hollywood” tape to Hillary Clinton’s “deplorables” comment, we look back at just a few of the most memorable quotes from the election. (VAR)

Indie Filmmakers And Hollywood React To Election Day 2016, From Darren Aronofsky To Julianne Moore

Actors and filmmakers share their Election Day thoughts on social media. (IW)

Branded Entertainment Connects With Consumers, Nylon Launches Content Arm, CNN and Hyundai, Cap’n Crunch’s Morning Show

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Branded Entertainment News

How To Make Sure Your Branded Content Isn’t Really Just An Ad

True branded entertainment may not only be the saving grace the ad industry has been searching for, but it could also be the way advertisers connect with consumers on a more substantive level than ever before. (AW)

New Platform Aims To Connect Brands With Consumers Via Internet Of Things

Australian developed marketing platform’s first client is Chemmart, which is using the technology to fuel behaviourally-based connections with loyalty club members. (CMO)

Nylon Launches Branded Content Arm

Nylon is expanding its advertising offerings with the launch of Nylon Studios, a full service creative division dedicated to producing sponsored content. (FB)

Top Deals

CNN’s Great Big Story To Launch ‘Origins’ Channel With Hyundai’s Genesis

Social video venture plans nearly 50 videos as part of yearlong pact with luxury car brand. (WSJ)

Cap’n Crunch Just Created A Fake Morning Show That Airs In The Middle Of The Night

The Quaker brand worked with Funny Or Die over the past year to develop a branded entertainment series, whose theme embodies this breakfast staple’s time-shifted target—it’s about a morning show that takes place in the middle of the night. (AW)

Marquese Scott, Chachi Gonzales Share Their Passions In Boost Mobile Branded Campaign

The campaign, titled “We Are Where You At,” is run by phone company Boost Mobile and social media agency Epic Signal, and its participants include top YouTube stars like Marquese Scott, Grayson “The Professor” Boucher, and Chachi Gonzales. (TF)

Hot Projects

Impulse

YouTube gave a pilot order to this coming-of-age superhero drama from writer Jeffrey Lieber who will executive produce alongside David Bartis, Gene Klein, and Doug Liman who will also direct the pilot. Universal Cable Productions will produce. (SE)

Squad Wars

YouTube Red gave a series order to this reality competition show produced by BuzzFeed Motion Pictures and starring online comedy group The Try Guys. (SE)

Relativity Sets ‘Kidnap,’ Sony Biz Affairs Chief Leaving, Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg Comedies, Next Gen Talent List

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 Relativity Sets 2017 Release Date For Halle Berry’s ‘Kidnap’ As Title Is Shopped Around

Relativity Media’s Halle Berry thriller Kidnap is now scheduled to be released on March 10, 2017. The movie is also being shopped around town to potential distributors. (DH)

Sony Business Affairs Chief Andrew Gumpert Exits Studio

Sony Pictures Business Affairs head Andrew Gumpert is leaving the studio. Columbia Pictures EVP Mike Marshall will replace him. (WRAP)

Seth Rogen And Evan Goldberg Are Developing Comedies At Fox And ABC

Rogen and Goldberg have two single-cam comedies in the works at Fox and ABC. The Fox project is written by Mike Rosolio and t he ABC comedy is written by Brad Copeland. (SS)

Conviction: ABC Opts Against Ordering More Season 1 Episodes

The freshman drama won’t get an order for more episodes this season. However, the eight remaining episodes of the initial 13-episode order will air. (TVL)

Keisha Castle-Hughes And Will Brittain RSVP For ‘The Divorce Party’

Keisha Castle-Hughes and Will Brittain have been cast in the Hughes William Thompson-directed dramady The Divorce Party from Sprockerfeller Films and 2020 Production. (DH)

Fox’s X-Men Issues: Jennifer Lawrence Unsigned, ‘Deadpool’ Defections, ‘Gambit’ On Hold

A reboot of the diminishing mutant movie series is in the works as Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine heads for retirement and a studio’s $4 billion franchise sits in flux. (THR)

Freeform Cancels ‘Dead of Summer’

Freeform has canceled teen horror series Dead of Summer.  Executive produced by Edward Kitsis, Adam Horowitz, Ian Goldberg, Steve Pearlman, the show was set in the late 1980s at Camp Stillwater. (VAR)

‘Now You See Me 3′ Finds Script Writers

Lionsgate has brought in Neil Widener and Gavin James to write the script for Now You See Me 3, which will be directed by Jon M. Chu. (CB)

Next Gen Talent 2016: Hollywood’s Rising Stars 35 And Under

For the 23rd annual Next Gen issue, THR swiped right on 20 actors who not only got that break but are breaking out. (THR)

 


Warner Bros. Dates Movies, Gary Daniels in ‘Astro,’ Gillian Jacobs Joins ‘Magic Camp,’ Rosie O’Donnell in ‘SMILF’

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Warner Bros. Dates ‘A Star Is Born’, New Line’s ‘Rampage’ & More

Warner Bros. has announced that A Star Is Born will debut in cinemas on Sept. 28, 2018. (DH)

AFM: ‘Expendables’ Actor Gary Daniels To Star In Sci-Fi Film ‘Astro’

The project centers on an abducted extraterrestrial being being brought back to Earth. (THR)

‘Community’ Star Gillian Jacobs Joins Jeffrey Tambor, Adam DeVine In ‘Magic Camp’

Gillian Jacobs is set to star opposite Adam DeVine and Jeffrey Tambor in Disney’s family comedy Magic Camp. Mark Waters is attached to direct. (VAR)

Rosie O’Donnell Joins Showtime Comedy Pilot ‘SMILF’

Rosie O’Donnell has been cast in the Showtime pilot SMILF.  ​If the project were to be picked up to series, O’Donnell would have a series regular role. (WRAP)

‘Law & Order: SVU’ Episode Based On Donald Trump Pushed Again, To 2017

The planned episode, entitled “Unstoppable,” was set to air next Wednesday, Nov. 16, but it’s once again been postponed.  (TVL)

‘Spider-Man’ Star Tom Holland Is Signed For Six Marvel Movies

After debuting as the web-slinger in this year’s Captain America: Civil War, actor Tom Holland revealed that he’s signed on to appear as the superhero in six Marvel movies. (COLL)

The Oscar Campaign So Crazy It Just Might Work

Can an R-rated animated film backed by Seth Rogen win an Oscar? Hey, why not. (VF)

Some Unsolicited Advice For Our New Oscar Show Producers

Über-producers Michael De Luca and Jennifer Todd were handed the reins to the broadcast, taking over for last year’s pairing of Reginald Hudlin and David Hill. (TB)

Screenwriters: Indie Film Academy

Jason Buff suggests if you want to sell your low-budget indie film, don’t do it by writing the script first. He’s got 5 great steps to take to help you find funding and distribution early in the game. (SM)

 

 

Heather Graham in ‘Bliss’ Movie, ‘MI6′ Gets Release Date, ‘Legends of Tomorrow’ Order, Edgar Ramirez Cast in ‘Bright’

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Heather Graham, Stephen Mangan Are In ‘Bliss’; Sky Comedy Created By David Cross

Heather Graham, Stephen Mangan and Jo Hartley have been set to star in Bliss. The double-life comedy series for Sky Atlantic hails from Arrested Development alum David Cross who will write and direct. (DH)

‘Mission: Impossible 6’ Gets Summer 2018 Release Date

With the picture poised to start filming in spring 2017, Paramount has set a July 27, 2018 release date. (COLL)

‘Legends of Tomorrow’ Gets 4 Additional Episodes From The CW

The CW has ordered four more episodes of DC’s Legends of Tomorrow. The order brings the second season to 17 total episodes. (WRAP)

Edgar Ramirez Joins Will Smith In David Ayer’s Fantasy Thriller ‘Bright’

Smith and Joel Edgerton are starring in the project, which is currently shooting in Los Angeles. (THR)

Jon Turteltaub, Jonathan Prince Board Cruise Ship Comedy For CBS Films

CBS Films is developing an untitled cruise ship comedy based on pitch from Jacob Meszaros and Zach Taylor with Jon Turteltaub and Jonathan Prince producing. (VAR)

‘The Big Bang Theory': Christopher Lloyd Set To Guest-Star In Mystery Role

CBS’ The Big Bang Theory has tapped Back to the Future funnyman Christopher Lloyd to guest-star in the Thursday, Dec. 1, episode. (TVL)

Kate Walsh Cast In Universal’s ‘Girls’ Trip’ & ‘#REALITYHIGH’ For Netflix

Grey’s Anatomy alum Kate Walsh has come aboard Girls Trip, from Universal/Will Packer Productions. (DH)

Martin Scorsese Is Calling On A Higher Power For His Oscar Campaign

Martin Scorsese is gathering 400 Jesuit priests in Rome for an upcoming screening of the religion-themed new film Silence (VF)

Trailer Buzz: ‘Valerian And The City Of A Thousand Planets’

Director Luc Besson is prepping Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, a science fiction spectacle starring Dane DeHaan and Cara Delevingne as the title characters. (CS)

 

Brands Hiring Creators, Mobile Branded Content, Asian Branded Content, Lexus Short Film Series

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Branded Entertainment News

How Branded Content Got Weird

BB Dakota, Ann Taylor Loft, Opening Ceremony, Old Navy and more are pursuing shoppers by hiring creators, not spokespeople. (RACK)

More People Consuming Branded Content Via Mobile

Increasing numbers of people are consuming branded content on their mobile devices, according to new data from Polar. (MP)

Asian Branded Content Performs Poorly

Content marketing campaigns in Asia are among the poorest performing globally, with only campaigns from Australia performing worse, new research has revealed. (WC)

Top Deals

Harvey Weinstein Says Lexus Short Film Series Builds Brand Loyalty By Being Cool

The carmaker’s third annual short film series, in partnership with the Weinstein Company, is premiering at the Napa Valley Film Festival. (FCC)

CNN’s Great Big Story Chases Luxury Content Spend With Genesis Partnership

CNN-owned Great Big Story is bolstering its content and advertising offerings by launching a new channel, Origins, as part of a year-long partnership with Hyundai’s luxury car brand Genesis. (DR)

GoPro Launches Its First Scripted TV Ad, Part Of Its Biggest Global Campaign To Date

The campaign is meant to reflect the diversity of the brand’s users as its core user base grows from being adventure-seeking people documenting the great outdoors to a camera that can be used by anyone. (AW)

Hot Projects

Amazon/ Untitled David O. Russell Robert De Niro Julianne Moore Drama Series Project

Annapurna Pictures is developing this crime drama created by David O. Russell that will star Robert De Niro and Julianne Moore. The project will be executive produced by Megan Ellison, Alexandra Milchan, and Scott Lambert. (SE)

Me and My Grandma

YouTube gave a series order to this comedy starring YouTube star Eva Gutowski whose personal YouTube channel has over seven million subscribers. Gutowski created the series with Annie Stamell and both will executive produce alongside Jill Condon, Adam Wescott and Scott Fisher. (SE)

SSN ‘Mother’ Screening, Fox Animation’s Japanese Folklore Buy, Jessica Chastain in ‘Painkiller Jane,’ Redford Retiring

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SSN Screening Series: The Director And Writer/ Producer Of Estonia’s Foreign Language Oscar Entry ‘Mother’ Talk About The Film’s Themes And Inspiration

SSN held a screening for the film Mother, the Official Foreign Language Oscar® entry from Estonia. Following the Pacific Theaters at the Grove screening, SSN moderator Zorianna Kit sat down with the director Kadri Kõusaar and producer and screenwriter Aet Laigu for an insightful Q&A. (SSN)

Fox Animation Nabs Rights To Children’s Fantasy ‘Momotaro: Xander And The Island Of Lost Monsters’

Fox Animation has picked up the rights to children’s book Momotaro: Xander and the Island of Lost Monsters. Margaret Dilloway tapped into her Japanese heritage to pen the book, which is partially based on a Japanese folktale. (THR)

‘Painkiller Jane': Jessica Chastain To Star In Comic Book Movie Adaptation

The Zero Dark Thirty actress will star in the film as the indestructible heroine Jane Vasko, and is also on board to produce. (IGN)

Seth Gordon Producing Ben Wexler Multi-Generational Comedy At ABC From Sony

ABC has given a script commitment plus penalty to a single-camera comedy from The Comedians co-creator/executive producer Ben Wexler and Seth Gordon & Mary Rohlich’s Exhibit A. Sony TV is the studio. (DH)

Paul Feig Directing Female Engineer Comedy ‘Turned On’ For Fox

Paul Feig has come on board to helm female engineer movie comedy Turned On for Fox. The studio has picked up a script by Charlie Kesslering, an assistant to James Corden. (VAR)

Notorious B.I.G. And Tupac Murder Mystery Series ‘Unsolved’ Greenlit By USA Network

The People v. O.J. Simpson helmer Anthony Hemingway is set to direct and co-executive produce. (IW)

A ‘Blue Crush’ TV Series May Be Coming To Shore At NBC

A TV adaptation of 2002’s Blue Crush is in the works at NBC. That surf-happy relic of a blonder age followed three best friends as they chased monster waves in Hawaii. (VUL)

Robert Redford Is Literally Saying “Goodbye To All That” To Acting

In a recent interview, the 80-year-old artist said he’s ready to bid adieu to the acting world, following a pair of upcoming films. (VF)

Amazon Isn’t Yet A Competitor to Netflix, But Stand By

Amazon is making a concerted effort to expand its programming, and with as much rapidity as it can handle. (TB)

 

Weekend Box Office, Critics Choice TV Noms, Leo DiCaprio’s DocuSeries, Imperative’s Book Buy

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Weekend Box Office: ‘Doctor Strange’ Goes Two-for-Two Over ‘Arrival’ & ‘Trolls’

Doctor Strange is first place again with a domestic gross of $153 million. Arrival took in some $24 million and Trolls took the second-place spot with $35 million. (COLL)

Critics’ Choice TV Nominations Unveiled

Television nominees for the 22nd annual Critics’ Choice Awards were announced today, with HBO leading all other networks with 22 nominations total. (DH)

Leonardo DiCaprio Documentary Series ‘Frontiersmen’ Ordered By History

The eight-hour series will show how the frontier helped shape us from colonists into today’s Americans. (THR)

Imperative Nabs Rights To’ Tangerine’ With Scarlett Johansson To Star

Imperative Entertainment has made another big buy with the novel Tangerine. George Clooney’s Smokehouse Pictures is attached to produce and Scarlett Johansson has come aboard to star. (TB)

‘One Mississippi’ Renewed At Amazon

Amazon announced that One Mississippi, its critically acclaimed comedy starring and co-created (with Diablo Cody) by Tig Notaro, has been picked up for a second season. (TVL)

The CW Buys Show About Magic Gangsters From The ‘iZombie’ Team

The creative team behind iZombie—a TV show about an undead morgue worker who solves crimes by eating pieces of people’s brains—has successfully sold a show about magic-wielding gangsters to The CW. (AV)

Hayao Miyazaki Hints At Return To Feature Film Making

Legendary Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki has hinted about a return to feature film making with turning Boro The Caterpillar, a CG short he has been making for the Studio Ghibli museum in Tokyo, into a feature film. (VAR)

Trailer Buzz: ‘Ghost In The Shell’

The first full trailer for Ghost in the Shell, the live-action adaptation of the classic manga and anime series, is here. (VER)

Trailer Buzz: New ‘Beauty And The Beast’

Walt Disney Pictures has debuted the new Beauty and the Beast movie trailer, which you can watch here. (CS)

Marvel’s ‘Inhumans’ Gets Series, Morena Baccarin New Legal Drama, ‘Corduroy’ Movie to CBS Films, ‘Westworld’ Renewed

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Marvel’s ‘Inhumans’ TV Series Will Arrive Via Imax Theaters

Imax Corporation, Marvel and the ABC announced a new television series that will focus on the Inhuman royal family. A version that combines the initial two episodes of Marvel’s The Inhumans, will play exclusively for two weeks next September on Imax. (NYT)

‘Gotham’s’ Morena Baccarin To Star In NBC Legal Drama From Tony Krantz, Ken Sanzel

NBC has nabbed a legal drama starring and executive produced by Gotham‘s Morena Baccarin. The project hails from Tony Krantz and his Flame Ventures, ITV Studios America and former Numbers showrunner Ken Sanzel. (DH)

‘Corduroy’ Movie In The Works With ‘Ride Along’ Director Tim Story

Tim Story, the director of the Fantastic Four and Ride Along movies, is in negotiations to direct the adaptation of the Don Freeman book, which quietly got set up at CBS Films. (THR)

‘The Good Wife’ Creators Developing Comedy Series At CBS

CBS is developing yet another show with The Good Wife creators Robert and Michelle King. The untitled project that hails from writer Marc Lawrence has been put into development with a script deal. (VAR)

‘Westworld’ Renewed For Second Season, Likely Returning 2018

HBO has ordered a second season of the sci-fi robopocalypse thriller – along with renewing fellow fall freshman series Divorce and Insecure. All three will have another 10 episodes. (EW)

Disney’s ‘A Wrinkle In Time’ Gets A 2018 Release Date

Ava DuVernay’s A Wrinkle in Time finally has an official release date set on the part of  distributor Walt Disney Studios in 2018. (SR)

Jim Parsons Will Play A BuzzFeed Editor In ‘Brother Orange’ Movie

BuzzFeed and Warner Bros.’s Brother Orange, which will chronicle the real-life story of an editor who tracked down his stolen iPhone in China, has cast Big Bang Theory‘s Jim Parsons in the starring role. (VUL)

Chris Meloni To Star In Syfy’s Happy! Graphic Novel Adaptation

The Law & Order: SVU vet will headline the Syfy drama pilot Happy!, based on Grant Morrison and Darick Robertson’s graphic novel of the same name. (TVL)

After A Tumultuous Election, What Is Hollywood’s Next Move?

It’s been almost a week, and there have been a lot of reactions out of Hollywood, just about all of them with a decidedly political bent. People concerned about economics and what will happen with the unions and how the very idea of celebrity endorsements have no real effect on the electorate, etc. (TB)

Relativity Partners with Storyscopic, AMC Picksup ‘McMafia,’ Sam Jackson in Brie Larson Film, BBC America Greenlights ‘Killing Eve’

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Relativity Studios Lands $200 Million In Slate Financing, Plans Four Film Sequels

A new partnership with Storyscopic Films has secured funding for projects like Immortals 2. (WRAP)

AMC Picks Up BBC Organized Crime Drama Series ‘McMafia’ Starring James Norton

AMC has closed a co-production deal with BBC Worldwide North America for BBC One’s drama series McMafia, set in the international world of organized crime, which stars James Norton. (DH)

Samuel L Jackson Joins Brie Larson’s Directorial Debut ‘Unicorn Store’

Jackson is joining Joan Cusack and Bradley Whitford in the movie, which was written by Samantha McIntyre. (EMP)

BBC America Greenlights ‘Killing Eve’ Series From ‘Fleabag’ Writer

BBC America has ordered eight episodes of drama Killing Eve from Phoebe Waller-Bridge for a 2018 debut. The thriller will revolve around a psychopathic assassin and the woman tasked with hunting her down. (VAR)

‘Y: The Last Man’ Series At FX Lands ‘American Gods’ Showrunner

Y: The Last Man ended up at FX in the form a TV series and is now moving ahead with Michael Green as the series’ showrunner. (COLL)

‘Fuller House’ Star Developing Family Comedy For Fox

Scott Weinger will pen the script for the single-camera comedy. (THR)

An Elvis Presley Documentary Is Coming To HBO

Just over a month after the Weinstein Company announced a ten-part biographical series about Elvis, there is also a three-hour, two-part documentary in the works for HBO. (VUL)

Short Film ‘Tracks’ Follows A Mother’s Fateful Evening At A Train Station

Here’s an in progress short film that is currently fundraising and about to go into production.  Learn more about it and donate now. (IW)

Screenwriters: Creating Antagonists – Finding Sympathy For The Devil

How do you create a bad guy that’s sympathetic? Or even more importantly, why even create a villain to care about? Doug Richardson explains. (SM)

 


Importance of Branded Video, London Branded Content Panel, Product Placement with Ads, Nutella’s Branded Content

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 Branded Entertainment News

Why Branded Video Should Be Marketers’ Top Priority In 2017

Marketers are pouring big budgets into branded video these days, but it’s not always easy to create content that actually moves the needle. (AW)

Playing Through Lines – The Secret Of Success Now That We Have Reached Peak Content

A branded entertainment panel in London helped to explain the rapidly changing media landscape and how it’s now being consumed. (DR)

How Product Placement Works With Ads

Combining product placement with a commercial run during the same TV show may have “beneficial synergies” for brands. (WC)

Top Deals

The hazelnut spread has released its first branded content effort, a documentary series from creative shop Brand Programming Studios, that’s meant to make consumers happy. (AW)

BuzzFeed’s ‘Tasty’ Partner With Fossil For Branded Content

Buzzfeed’s food vertical Tastyhas partnered with accessory and watch maker Fossil to create branded cooking videos featuring Fossil’s new smartwatch. (MP)

Twitter Snags Amex And JBL Harman As First Advertisers For Live Original Sports Shows

The San Francisco company, in conjunction with the National Basketball Association, has sold its first ads for live original sports video content, reeling in American Express and JBL Harman as sponsors.  (AW)

Hot Projects

Beerfest

CW Seed ordered a script for this digital comedy based on the 2006 feature film directed by Jay Chandrasekhar. Bill Gerber will executive produce and Blue Ribbon Content will produce the project. (SE)

CW Seed/ Untitled Tough Mudder Reality Series

CW Seed gave a series order to this reality competition show from executive producers Judd Ehrlich and Jesse Bull of Flatbush Pictures. (SE)

New ‘Green Hornet’ Movie, Steve Carell to Star in ‘Minecraft,’‘Sesame Street’ Movie in Works, ‘O.J.’ Director Making Richard Jewell Movie

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New ‘Green Hornet’ Movie In Development From Gavin O’Connor

Paramount Pictures is eager to get in on the comic book franchise game and have tasked The Accountant and Warrior director Gavin O’Connor with bringing The Green Hornet to the big screen. (CS)

Steve Carell Set To Star In ‘Minecraft’ Film

The actor, seen recently in Café Society, is in talks to play the lead in Warner’s adaptation of the popular video game. (GUAR)

‘Sesame Street’ Movie Gets Moving Again With ‘Night At The Museum 3’ Writers

Warner Bros. is developing a feature-length, live-action film based on the children’s educational series with Shawn Levy and his 21 Laps banner and screenwriters David Guion and Michael Handelman. (SC)

‘O.J.: Made In America’ Director In Talks For Richard Jewell Movie

The director and producer of O.J.: Made in America is in negotiations to direct Fox’s feature film about Richard Jewell, the man whose life was upended when he was wrongly accused of being the 1996 Atlanta Olympics bomber. Jonah Hill is attached to play Jewell. (EW)

Rumer Willis Joins ‘Empire’ Season 3

The Dancing With the Stars Season 20 winner has joined Season 3 of Empire. (TVL)

Studiocanal, Parkes+MacDonald ImageNation Team On Four Euro-Centric Films

Studiocanal and Parkes+MacDonald Productions partners Walter Parkes and Laurie MacDonald have teamed on four feature films that are all European-set stories that have the potential to play to global audiences. (DH)

‘Stranger In A Strange Land’ Being Developed At Syfy

Universal Cable Productions and Paramount Television are teaming to develop a series adaptation of Robert Heinlein’s 1961 science-fiction novel Stranger in a Strange Land for Syfy. (VAR)

‘The Dam Keeper’ Feature Film In the Works From Fox Animation, Tonko House

Twentieth Century Fox Animation is partnering with upstart animation firm Tonko House for a feature version of The Dam Keeper, an animated short nominated for an Oscar in 2015. (THR)

Amazon Studios Picks Up Hit List Script “Holland, Michigan” From Andrew Sodroski

The spec script Holland, Michigan written by Andrew Sodroski, was recently acquired by Amazon Studios with Peter Dealbert set to produce. (TB)

Fox 2000 Buys ‘Inertia’ Book, Forest Whitaker Joins ‘Labyrinth,’‘Frequency’ and ‘No Tomorrow’ No Back Orders

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Fox 2000 Buys ‘Divergent’ Author Veronica Roth’s ‘Inertia’

In a pre-emptive deal, Fox 2000 has optioned the rights to Divergent author Veronica Roth’s latest short story, Inertia. Temple Hill partners Wyck Godfrey and Marty Bowen will produce with Pouya Shahbazian. (DH)

Forest Whitaker In Talks To Join Johnny Depp In Tupac/Biggie Murder Movie

Forest Whitaker is in talks to join Johnny Depp in Labyrinth, the real-life drama that will follow the criminal investigation behind the murders of rap legends Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G. (THR)

‘Frequency’, ‘No Tomorrow’ Not Receiving Back Orders At The CW

The CW is officially capping Frequency and No Tomorrow‘s freshman seasons at 13 episodes a piece. (TVL)

‘Full Frontal With Samantha Bee’ Was Just Renewed Through 2017

Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, The Daily Show alum’s acclaimed news comedy series on TBS, has been renewed through 2017. (VER)

Robert Downey Jr, Anthony Michael Hall Team for ‘Singularity’ TV Series

Robert Downey Jr. will produce and direct Singularity starring Anthony Michael Hall. The star and his producer wife, Susan Downey, announced the show as part of a new first look deal with Sonar Entertainment. (WRAP)

Fox Developing Dance Drama ‘The Cut’ Produced By McG

Fox is developing dance-themed drama series The Cut, from McG’s Wonderland Sound & Vision. The project hails from 20th TV, where Wonderland is under an overall deal. (DH)

‘Kung Fu Panda’ Director Mark Osborne To Helm Adaptation Of Cult Comic ‘Bone’

At the same time, Adam Kline has been tapped to co-write the script with Osborne. (THR)

Lionsgate’s ‘Robin Hood’ To Hit Theaters In Spring 2018

Lionsgate has set Taron Egerton’s Robin Hood for a March 23, 2018, release. Otto Bathurst is directing from Joby Harold’s script.  (VAR)

Neil Gaiman Developing Fantasy Series ‘The Building’ At Fox Based On ‘Parallels’ Film

British author Neil Gaiman is teaming with Angry Films to develop a new fantasy series called The Building for Fox, with 20th Century Fox TV as the studio. The series is based on the digital film Parallels, written and directed by Chris Leone. (TB)

Wong Kar-Wai’s New Film, Steve Coogan to Produce New Zadie Smith Novel, Dean Devlin’s Next Movie, CW Mid-Season Premieres

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Wong Kar-wai Sets Feature Film Return With Gucci Murder Drama For Annapurna Pictures

The film will be the auteur’s first drama feature since The Grandmaster opened three years ago. (IW)

Steve Coogan’s Baby Cow To Film Zadie Smith’s ‘Swing Time’

Baby Cow, the production company created by Steve Coogan and Henry Normal, is to produce an adaptation of Zadie Smith’s latest novel, Swing Time. Smith will write the screenplay with her husband, Nick Laird. (GUAR)

Dean Devlin To Direct And Produce Sci-Fi Family Drama ‘Countdown’

Independence Day producer Dean Devlin is on board to produce and direct science-fiction family drama Countdown in what will be Devlin’s third directorial gig. (VAR)

CW Announces Mid-Season Premiere Dates For ‘Riverdale,’ ‘The 100,’ And More

The CW has announced its premiere dates for 2017, and there are going to be a few shakeups. (COLL)

Duck Dynasty Cancelled At A&E

Duck Dynasty will end after the finale of its current season, the Robertson family and A&E announced following the season premiere. (TVL)

Guy Pearce, Vanessa Redgrave Join Clive Owen In ‘Andorra’

Owen has opted to switch roles in Fred Schepisi’s adaptation of the romantic thriller, also starring Toni Collette and Gillian Anderson. (THR)

The CW Plans ‘Dr. Mirage’ TV Series

The CW is adding a seventh on-air series based on a comic book title with a drama series adaptation of the Valiant graphic novel Dr. Mirage which DMG Entertainment and CBS TV Studios will produce. (DAR)

Trailer Buzz: ‘Kong: Skull Island’

A new trailer premiered last night on Jimmy Kimmel Live, and it looks as though the movie will be introducing a whole host of new monsters. (VER)

Hulu Is The Third Biggest Streaming Service, And That Probably Won’t Change Soon

What began as an entity for its owners to screen its programming has evolved beyond that to a purveyor of original content of its own, and while there have been some successes, there have also been some shrug-inducing decisions. (TB)

James Franco’s Cast, ‘Night Shift’ Renewed, Courtney B. Vance in ABC Political Comedy, Holly Hunter in Alan Ball Series

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James Franco To Direct ‘The Pretenders’ With Trio Of Rising Stars

Jack Kilmer, Shameik Moore and Jane Levy will star in the project with a script by Josh Boone. (THR)

‘The Night Shift’ Renewed For Season 4 At NBC

The medical drama most recently aired its third season this summer, and will return with its fourth season sometime in 2017.  (VAR)

Courtney B. Vance Joins Felicity Huffman In ABC’s Political Family Comedy From Kenya Barris & Vijal Patel

Courtney B. Vance is set to star opposite Felicity Huffman in ABC’s political family comedy series project Libby & Malcolm from Black-ish creator/executive producer Kenya Barris and co-executive producer Vijal Patel. (DH)

Holly Hunter To Star In Alan Ball’s New HBO Family Drama Series

Alan Ball has tapped Oscar winner Holly Hunter to play the matriarch in his new tragicomic family drama for HBO. (TVL)

David Ayer Adds ‘Suicide Squad’s’ Ike Barinholtz To ‘Bright’

The director has now added him to the cast for his latest, fantasy cop thriller Bright, which stars Will Smith and Joel Edgerton and was spawned from the brain of Max Landis. (EMP)

Paramount’s Latest Is A 4-Year-Old’s Fever Dream

The studio’s already taken a $115 million write-down on Monster Trucks, which is about trucks, but also monsters. (VF)

‘Wedding Crashers 2′ Is In The Works, According To Isla Fisher

Isla Fisher announced today on Today that a sequel to Wedding Crashers is in the works. (COLL)

Trailer Buzz: ‘The Zookeepers Wife’

Diane Ackerman’s bestselling novel looks to be in good hands thanks to star Jessica Chastain and Whale Rider director Niki Caro. (IW)

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