Company Launches

STX Entertainment, co-founded by Robert Simonds and TPG Capital is slated to distribute as many as 15 movies a year beginning in 2016 and signed a new deal with Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. Universal will market, sell, and distribute discs, electronic sell-through, and VOD as part of a new multi-year deal.

Ryan Seacrest Production’s unscripted division will partner with international reality powerhouse Endemol Shine, with the deal expected to close in winter 2015. Endemol Shine’s subsidiary companies that include Authentic Entertainment, Original Media, True Entertainment and 51 Minds, although the deal with Seacrest will not be an acquisition.

Canadian financier and distributor Remstar has partnered with LA-based film and television producer Clark Peterson to launch Remstar Studios, a content production and financing venture with offices in Los Angeles and Montreal that will co-finance, develop and produce independent features and television. On the film side, the company will focus on star-driven projects in the sub-$10 million budget category, while the TV side will look for series with international financing.

WWE Studios is teaming with British financing and production outfit Richwater Films for a deal in which the companies will share funding and production on two action films including the feature Eliminators.

Kristina Hicks and Dallas Carroll launched Illuminated Media International (IMI), a full service artist representation and production company that handles every aspect of production from strategy, sales, bidding and treatments all the way through to production and finish using the most cutting edge methods and techniques custom tailored to fit each job. Their client, Reuben Wu was featured in SSN’s latest Development Pick List.

Digital Domain Holdings, the Hong Kong-based parent company of long-time visual-effects house Digital Domain, and Immersive Media are partnering in a joint venture called IM360 to create hardware, software and actual shows for the new world of virtual-reality entertainment, 3-D video.

The Weinstein Company is in discussions sell its growing television unit to Britain’s ITV Studios for as much as $950 million, per NY Times, following a month’s long search for a buyer.

Film

David Kaminow will be the new president of marketing for Annapurna Pictures. He recently worked at Sony Pictures, will oversee all global marketing and publicity for Annapurna and its projects. He’ll report directly to Megan Ellison. Veteran executive and producer Glendon Palmer has joined prolific entertainment company IM Global, a subsidiary of Indian conglomerate Reliance ADA, as Senior Vice President of Development & Production, it was announced today by company Founder and CEO Stuart Ford.  Palmer will report to Ford and President of Production Matt Jackson.

Red Wagon Entertainment’s Co Heads Doug Wick and Lucy Fisher today announced the promotion of Charlie Morrison to Vice President.  Morrison will work alongside Vice President of Motion Picture and Television Nicki Cortese and Creative Executive Lucas Wiesendanger. Morrison served as a co-producer on Insurgent, the follow-up to Divergent. Red Wagon Entertainment is expanding to television and has several projects in development, which Morrison will  also oversee.

Paramount Pictures has upped Bob Buchi from EVP of Worldwide Marketing to president of Worldwide Home Media Distribution.

John Short is now SVP at Radiant Films International; he was formerly the VP of Sales at Voltage Picturees.

Michelle Nunes is now the SVP of Operations at Cinedigm, upped from her post as VP.

Andrew Lauren has partnered with D.J. Gugenheim, who has joined as the President of Production at Andrew Lauren Productions. Together they will develop a large film slate focusing on director-driven and commercial films. The company will also invest in up to three films a year with a seven figure fund for production and early stage pre-production as well as equity to back films ranging from $5 to 15 million. Gugenheim most recently was Executive Vice President of Production and Operations at Lotus Entertainment.

TV

Liz Glotzer, previously of Castle Rock Entertainment, will oversee King Size Productions. The banner is headed by The Good Wife creators Robert and Michelle King who have a new overall deal with CBS Television Studios.

Jonathan Murray is stepping down as chairman of Bunim/Murray Productions after 23 years. The move comes exactly five years after Banijay Group bought the unscripted production company. Murray will remain on board as executive consultant, focusing on development.

Liz Gateley has been named EVP and Head of Programming for Lifetime and will oversee movies, scripted and unscripted series development for the network and affiliated brands, reporting to EVP and GM Robert Sharenow.

Mark Jocson has been upped from VP to SVP Digital Media and Games, Networks, at Sony Pictures Television. He will oversee SPT’s Games division, a mobile game publishing studio and continue to head digital product and platform initiatives for SPT’s networks globally.

Andrew Weil has moved to Netflix’s original series comedy team from previous post as Universal TV VP of Comedy where he guided Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Mindy Project and About a Boy. Previously he was head of scripted television for BermanBraun. He will report to Netflix’s Jane Wiseman.

Ingrid Escajeda has signed a new two-year overall deal at 20th Century Fox Television Studios. The former Justified producer will develop and supervise projects with her first assignment executive producing Fox’s hit series Empire.

Scripps has expanded corporate roles for several executives following its merger with Journal Broadcast Group. Debbie Turner, previously executive VP at Journal Broadcast Group and WTVF Nashville general manager, is now VP of TV operations and will oversee the operations of all 33 Scripps TV stations. Ed Fernandez has been promoted to VP and divisional general manager, Steve Wasserman was upped to VP and divisional general manager, Lyn Plantinga was upped to the new VP and general manager in Nashville, Mike Murri will be the new VP and general manager at WXYZ-WMYD and Lloyd Bucher will be the new VP and general manager for WPTV.

Cable startup Layer3 TV has named Lindsay Gardner their chief content officer. Gardner joined Layer3 as an advisor last August and has been heading the company's content advisory board, but has formalized his relationship by joining the company full-time. Gardner will report to CEO Jeff Binder and focus on establishing partnerships.

Barbra Held has been named to a newly created position as VP of event production at the Television Academy. In the new role, she will be responsible for the planning and execution of all live events including the Television Academy Hall of Fame and Television Academy Honors.

Management, PR, Music, Agencies, Digital, Misc.

In the continued UTA/CAA shake-up, UTA has gained (now former) CAA agents Mackenzie Condon, a talent and literary agent working in film and television and Chelsea McKinnies, a motion pictures talent agent. Andrew Skikne, formerly of CAA’s comedy department has also made the leap and joined UTA’s touring department. Comedy Coordinators Sean Eisenberg and Samantha Murphy have also shifted to UTA from CAA. They will join other CAA defectors, Jason Heyman, Martin Lesak, Greg Cavic, Nick Nuciforo, Gregory McKnight, Susie Fox, John Sacks and Joanna Scott.

Tom Ham is now the director of business development in gaming at the Create Advertising Group, shifted from being the previous head of publisher relations at Machinima.

Former head of music/personal appearances at UTA, Rob Prinz has shifted to ICM Partners. He will join the agency’s Los Angeles office as a partner. Several clients are leaving with him including Jerry Seinfeld and Celine Dion, see the latest Rep Moves for more info. Nikki Wheler has shifted from her agent post in the concerts division at UTA to the same at ICM Partners. Ally Frohman also moves over to become manager of corporate communications at ICM, she was previously the director of talent relations at SLASH-PR. Acne LA has hired Line Postmyr as managing director and broadcast executive producer. She’s worked with brands such as Nike, Levi's, Mercedes and on music videos for Madonna, Nirvana, Iggy Pop and Björk.

Cablevision promoted Matthew Grover to Senior Vice President, Sales Operations and Commercial Sales. Most recently, Grover serves as Vice President of Sales Operations.

Hungry Man has signed Cannes Gold Lion winner Lenny Dorfman for global representation. He’s previously worked on brands like Nike and Coca Cola and directed the pilot Iconoclast for Sundance Channel. Dorfman was previously represented by O Positive and before that, Radical Media.

Reset, a commercial production house has signed Reynald Gresset, formerly of Caviar USA, for representation in the North American market. Gresset’s work for brands includes Samsung, SyFy Channel, and Johnson & Johnson.

Collective Digital Studio, a multiplatform digital-entertainment company, has appointed Phil Ranta to chief operating officer. He was previously with YouTube multichannel network Fullscreen. In his new role he will oversee the network, engineering and distribution teams and will develop strategies to strengthen and enhance CDS’ MCN. He reports to CDS CEO Reza Izad.

Mark Noble was upped to Senior Producer at The Insider. Noble joined the show last October after serving as Senior Field Director at Access Hollywood.

Sharre Jacoby was named Executive Producer of animation and design studio Stun Creative. Previously, Jacoby was Executive Producer/Head of Operations at Pembrook Productions.

YayBig productions has hired director Phillip Lopez, whose recent projects include Little Dicky's "White Crimes" music video and Free People clothing brand's website homepage video. This is his first signing with a commercial production company.

SSN ORIGINALS

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TODAY’S HEADLINES

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It’s Official, Michael De Luca and Universal Are In Business Together For the Next Three Years

For Those Who Were Wondering, the Rebooted, Marvel-Produced Spider-Man Will Be a High School-Aged Peter Parker

George Clooney and His Smokehouse Pictures Will See What It’s Like ‘Three Minutes To Doomsday’

There Is Going To Be a ‘Pitch Perfect 3’, and Rebel Wilson Is Going To Be In It

A Theory Of Everything Warner Bros. Wants Includes Eddie Redmayne as the Lead In ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them’

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Screenwriters: Script Angel — Finding Your Writing Voice

STARTS

Nerve 4/13/2015 Logline: A teenage girl gets caught up in an online game of dares called Nerve, but what starts out as fun and leads to fame turns deadly as the mysterious company behind it all plays on contestants' fears. Studio: Lionsgate Production Company(s): Allison Shearmur Productions Director(s): Henry Joost, Ariel Schulman Producer(s): Allison Shearmur, Anthony Katagas Cast: Dave Franco, Emma Roberts Writer(s): Jessica Sharzer Details: Based on the novel "Nerve," written by Jeanne Ryan and published by Dial September 13, 2012. SSN Insight: Follows Lionsgate’s Hunger Games strategy of adapting YA book series and casting stars on the verge of break-out. Franco’s previous credits include 22 Jump Street and Neighbors and Roberts was recently seen in American Horror Story. Suicide Squad 4/13/2015 Logline: Film based on the DC comic, the Suicide Squad, a team of incarcerated supervillains who are used assets in high-risk black ops missions by the U.S. government in exchange for commuted prison sentences. Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures Production Company(s): DC Entertainment, Atlas Entertainment Director(s): David Ayer Executive Producer(s): Colin Wilson, Zack Snyder, Deborah Snyder, Geoff Johns Producer(s): Charles Roven, Richard Suckle Cast: Will Smith, Margot Robbie, Cara Delevingne, Jared Leto, Jai Courtney Writer(s): David Ayer Details: Based on the comic book series "Suicide Squad" created by John Ostrander and published by DC Comics from May 1987 to June 1992. An early incarnation of "Suicide Squad," created by Robert Kanigher, appeared in DC Comics' The Brave and the Bold #25 in 1959. SSN Insight: Jesse Eisenberg was rumored to be attached in the role of Lex Luthor. Lin Pictures previously attached to produce.

The Greasy Strangler 4/13/2015 Logline: In Los Angeles, a man and his son compete for the attention of a seductive woman just as an inhuman, murderous maniac appears to strangle the innocent. Production Company(s): Alamo Drafthouse Films, Rook Films, Timpson Films, SpectreVision Director(s): Jim Hosking Executive Producer(s): Ben Wheatley, Tim League Producer(s): Daniel Noah, Josh C. Waller, Elijah Wood, Andy Starke, Anthony Timpson Cast: Elijah Wood Writer(s): Jim Hosking, Toby Harvard SSN Insight: Marks the feature directorial debut of Jim Hosking who hails from England. Set in Los Angeles and is scheduled to start shooting in LA as well. Film is part of the creative collaboration within the Drafthouse-backed Fantastic Fest.

WRAPS

Fun House 4/10/2015 Logline: A humorous look at a reporter's struggles while in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Studio: Paramount Pictures Production Company(s): Broadway Video, Inc., Little Stranger, Inc. Director(s): Glenn Ficarra, John Requa Producer(s): Tina Fey, Lorne Michaels, Ian Bryce Cast: Tina Fey, Margot Robbie, Martin Freeman, Christopher Abbott, Nicholas Braun Writer(s): Robert Carlock Details: Based on the memoir "The Taliban Shuffle: Strange Days in Afghanistan and Pakistan" by Kim Barker; published by Doubleday in 2011. SSN Insight: In addition to Fun House, Tina Fey has films Sisters and Live from New York! awaiting release, Mail-Order Groom and an Untitled Walt Disney/Tina Fey/Witch Project in active development and Mommy & Me in development.

In Dubious Battle 4/12/2015 Logline: Based on the John Steinbeck novel, the story takes place in 1930s California, and focuses on an activist who organizes a group of fruit workers in a labor strike. Production Company(s): Rabbit Bandini Productions, That's Hollywood, AMBI Distribution Director(s): James Franco Producer(s): Andrea Iervolino, Monika Bacardi, Scott Reed, Vince Jolivette, Ron Singer Cast: Nat Wolff, James Franco, Selena Gomez, Vincent D'Onofrio, Robert Duvall Writer(s): Matt Rager, Tom Steinbeck Details: Based on the novel "In Dubious Battle" written by John Steinbeck and published by in New York by Covici-Friede in 1936. SSN Insight: Previously in development with Zupnik Enterprises Inc. Alec Baldwin and Brad Pitt were previously mentioned to star.

Oppenheimer Strategies 4/10/2015 Logline: Three years after small-time operator Norman Oppenheimer befriends a young politician during a low point in his life, the young man becomes an influential world leader and Norman’s life drastically. Director: Joseph Cedar Executive Producer(s): Matthew Malek, Amanda Marshall, Michal Graidy, Caroline Kaplan, Jim Kaufman Producer(s): Oren Moverman, Lawrence Inglee, Eyal Rimmon, Gideon Tadmor, Gaston Pavlovich Cast: Richard Gere, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Michael Sheen, Steve Buscemi, Josh Charles Writer(s): Joseph Cedar SSN Insight: Shooting took place in NY. Gere recently starred in Time Out Of Mind directed by Moverman as well as the sequel, The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. ICM Partners will be handling domestic rights, while The Solution Entertainment Group is representing international rights.

Shifting Gears 4/13/2015 Logline: A group of hard-working underdogs must drive in, and win, a big dirt car race to defeat their dastardly nemesis and save their beloved auto shop. Production Company(s): Tonic Films Director: Jason Winn Producer(s): R Keith Harris, Matt Zboyovski, Lauren Moews Vilchik Cast: M.C. Gainey, R Keith Harris Writer(s): R Keith Harris SSN Insight: Vilchik was nominated for the 2004 Independent Spirit Awards Producer’s Award for “Outstanding Achievement for a Body of Work” and credits include Cabin Fever.

The Boy 4/13/2015 Logline: To escape her troubled life in the United States, a young woman moves to England and takes a job as a nanny for the eight-year old son of a wealthy English couple, but the boy turns out to be a life-sized doll. Studio: STX Entertainment Production Company(s): Lakeshore Entertainment, Vertigo Entertainment Director(s): William Brent Bell Executive Producer(s): John Middleton Producer(s): Tom Rosenberg, Gary Lucchesi, Roy Lee, Matt Berenson, Jim Wedaa Cast: Lauren Cohan Writer(s): Stacey Menear SSN Insight: Bell previously directed another horror film, The Devil Inside. The production shot in Victoria, British Columbia, and the surrounding community. STX Entertainment recently made the deal to distribute the film and set the nationwide release for January 22, 2016.

Waiting for the Miracle to Come 4/8/2015 Logline: A young woman on a quest for gold finds much different and far greater riches than she’d ever expected. Production Companies: Horse Pictures, Wim Wenders Productions, Fabrica de Cine, Cave Pictures Director: Lian Lunson Executive Producer(s): Dale Brown, Mark Rodgers, Matthew Malek, Bono, Wim Wenders Producer(s): Lian Lunson, Molly M. Mayeux, Terence Berry, Gaston Pavlovich Cast: Sophie Lowe, Willie Nelson, Charlotte Rampling, Adam Beach, Sile Bermingham Writer(s): Lian Lunson SSN Insight: This project marks the first feature film for writer-director Lian Lunson. He previously directed other music-centric documentaries including the Leonard Cohen pic Leonard Cohen: I’m Your Man. Production is set to start shooting in Willie Nelson’s hometown of Spicewood, Texas. Executive producer and U2 front man Bono will also pen an original song that Nelson will sing in the movie.

SSN ORIGINALS

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TODAY’S HEADLINES

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Miles Teller Will Be Branching Out, Will Produce ‘Home Is Burning’, as Well as Star

Steven Spielberg’s ‘The BFG’ Adds More Cast, and Disney Jumps On Board, as Well

Katee Sackhoff Has a New TV Show In Her Immediate Future

Gugu Mbatha-Raw Becomes the Latest Name To Join Bill Condon’s ‘Beauty and the Beast’ Remake

Sarah Paulson Enjoys Working With Ryan Murphy So Much, She’s Returning To Another Season Of ‘AHS’

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HBO Doesn’t Waste Any Time, Renews ‘Veep’ and ‘Silicon Valley’ After Sunday’s Premieres

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Online Film School: ‘An Absurdly In-Depth Study Of the Beach Scene In ‘Jaws’

Untitled Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Spinoff Project Network: ABC Entertainment Group Studio: ABC Studios Production Company(s): Marvel Entertainment Logline: Storyline under wraps. Notes: The project is planned as a spinoff of "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.," which premiered on ABC in 2013. SSN Insight: The spinoff has not been officially greenlit. Per EW, the show would use cast from the current series, with the talent deals currently being worked out. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. co-EP, Paul Zbyszewski, is predicted to tackle showrunner duties should series get an order.

Untitled Boy George Reality Project Production Company(s): Bunim/Murray Productions Executive Producer(s): Boy George, Paul Kemsley, Cindy Cowan, Gil Goldschein Logline: The series will chronicle Culture Club singer Boy George's relocation from London to Los Angeles. SSN Insight: Shooting is scheduled to begin this summer when the singer arrives in L.A. A network has not been set yet for the docuseries.

Death of a King Studio: Warner Brothers Television Production Company(s): Bad Robot Executive Prodcuer(s): J.J. Abrams, Tavis Smiley Logline: About the dramatic and untold story of King’s tumultuous last year leading to his 1968 assassination.  Notes: Based on the book “Death of a King” published by Little, Brown & Co. SSN Insight: It's not set whether the series will be a drama or event/limited series. It will be shopped to networks in fall. Folllows the model of Stephen King‘s 11/22/63, which Bad Robot acquired and developed before landing a straight-to-series order at Hulu and cast James Franco as lead.

Gorgeous Morons Network: ABC Family Studio: ABC Studios Production Company(s): Quantity Entertainment Executive Producer(s): Lee Eisenberg, Gene Stupnitsky, Danny Chun Writer(s): Lee Eisenberg, Gene Stupnitsky, Danny Chun Logline: Two stunningly handsome but ridiculously simple brothers, one is a model, the other a personal trainer, find their lives rocked by their brainy new roommate, a female literature PhD whose looks are, by their standards, in desperate need of help. SSN Insight: This project was previously in development at CBS for the 2013-2014 season with a put pilot. ABC Family ordered the pilot on April 10. Eisenberg and Stupintsky have teamed up before, most recently on Trophy Wife at ABC, Bad Teacher at CBS and Hello Ladies at HBO.

Significant Mother Network: CW Television Network Studio: CBS Television Studios, Warner Bros. Television Production Company(s): Alloy Entertainment Executive Producer(s): Erin Cardillo, Richard Keith, Tripp Reed, Leslie Morgenstein Writer(s): Erin Cardillo, Richard Keith Logline: Nate is a budding Portland restaurateur whose world is turned upside down when he comes back from a business trip to find his lothario best friend and roommate, Jimmy, is dating his recently separated mother, Lydia. To make matters worse, Nate’s previously disinterested dad, Harrison, is determined to win Lydia back and isn’t afraid to use Nate to get what he wants. Stuck between his family feud and his best friend’s first serious relationship, Nate’s "new normal" forever changes his relationships with his parents and severely handicaps his own dating life. Notes: Based on the digital series, "Significant Mother," which premiered on CW Seed in 2014. SSN Insight: CW has given a series order of 9 episodes as of April 10 and the series will shoot in June in Portland, Oregon. CW Seed (originally CWD or CW Digital Studio) is a production arm for original content created exclusively for digital platforms in the areas of animation, game shows, comedy and digital personalities.

Beyond Network: ABC Family Production Company(s): Imperative Entertainment Executive Producer(s): Adam Nussdorf, Zak Kadison, Justin Levy, Tim Krig, Brian Kavanaugh-Jones Writer(s): Adam Nussdorf Logline: A one-hour drama about a young man who wakes up from a coma after 12 years and discovers new supernatural abilities that propel him into the middle of a dangerous conspiracy. SSN Insight: ABC Family has given a pilot order which marks the first order for Imperative Entertainment, the production company started by Kring, Blacklight founder Kadison and Bradley Thomas last year with financing from Friedkin Group.

Britannia Studio: Backup Films Executive Producer(s): Elizabeth Stanley, Thomas Bliss, Martha Little, Neil Marshall Logline: Follows the Roman invasion of what would become Great Britain in 43 A.D. and the rise of iconic female warrior Boudicca. SSN Insight: This eight-part series marks the first even English language series for Paris-based financier and producer Backup Films. The series will be shopped at Mip and does not have a network deal yet. Backup partners Jean-Baptiste Babin, Joel Thibout and David Atlan-Jackson have expanded recently by co-financing Julianne Moore-starrer Still Alice and developing the Robert Pattinson-starrer Brimstone and is also a partner on French pay TV Canal + show The Returned. Rain Production Company(s): Reunion Pictures, Fly Free Productions Executive Producer(s): Katee Sackoff, Leland LaBarre, Tom Rowe Logline: An evolutionary parable that looks into our possible future as a species viewed through the eyes of a soldier named Rain. It explores how the long-term effects of global warming, the burning of fossil fuels and other factors contribute to its decline. SSN Insight: Sackhoff will star as Rain in the series which presently isn’t attached to a network. She currently co-stars in drama Longmire, which is moving to Netflix. She recently appeared in the viral hit short, Power/Rangers that has since been viewed upwards of 14 million times. Ice & Coco Network: Fox Studio: Warner Bros. Unscripted and Alternative Television Production Company(s): Telepictures Prods. Executive Producer(s): Candi Carter Logline: The talk show will feature actor and rapper Ice-T and his wife, Coco, as they take on the topics of the day — all things newsworthy, celeb-worthy and puppy-worthy. SSN Insight: Ice-T and Coco previously were behind the E! reality series Ice Loves Coco. The show ended last year and since Ice-T has produced a podcast. Per Deadline, “the daytime talk show for Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution is getting a three-week daily preview as a strip on Fox TV stations in select markets, including New York and Los Angeles, beginning Monday, August 3.”

USA Network

Amped Network: USA Network Studio: Warner Horizon Television Production Company(s): Kripke Enterprises Executive Producer(s): Eric Kripke Writer(s): Eric Kripke Logline: When a neurotic family man buys an online "smart pill" to increase his focus and jolt him out of his slump, he gets much more than he bargained for. To his surprise, the pill gives him incredible strength and power. The show examines both the mighty highs and humiliating lows of being a real-life super hero. Notes: Based on characters from the upcoming comic book, "Amped," written by Eric Kripke and to be published by Vertigo. SSN Insight: Kripke is also the creator of CW’s Supernatural and NBC’s Revolution.

AWOL Network: USA Network Studio: Fox 21 Television Studios Executive Producer(s): Len Wiseman, Michael Connolly, Andrew Plotkin Logline: The show deals with the gritty world of an ex-military operative who, after returning home, experiences trouble re-entering the real world and providing for his family. Desperate, he gets involved with the criminal underbelly of Los Angeles where he utilizes his military expertise in an unexpected way. SSN Insight: EP Wiseman currently has an Untitled Sci-Fi Drama Project with Scott Rosenbaum and a St. Patrick miniseries in development at Fox and wrapped the pilot for Lucifer at Fox as well.

Cooley & the Tank Network: USA Network Studio: Universal Cable Productions Production Company(s): No Production Company Available. Executive Producer(s): Daniel Arkin, Anton Cropper, Jonathan Baruch, Robert Wolken Writer(s): Daniel Arkin, Anton Cropper Logline: The show goes behind-the-scenes of the fictional 1981 detective drama of the same name to explore the complicated lives of its two feuding stars. SSN Insight: Arkin and Cropper currently both serve as executive producers on USA’s current series Suits.

Mile High Network: USA Network Studio: Universal Cable Productions Production Company(s): Legendary Entertainment Executive Producer(s): Josh Parkinson, Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Daniel McDermott Writer(s): Josh Parkinson Logline: Two best friends, a Wall Street broker and a struggling entrepreneur, team up to capitalize on the newly legalized cannabis enterprise in Colorado. The series follows the young duo as they enter into this highly lucrative growth industry, but their new venture is not without its obstacles such as dangerous criminals and stringent law enforcement. SSN Insight: Parkinson was previously a staff writer on Eastbound and Down and currently has another series, By the Horns, in development at AMC.

Mythos Network: USA Network Studio: Universal Cable Productions Production Company(s): Denver & Delilah Films Executive Producer(s): Charlize Theron, Laverne McKinnon Writer(s): Spenser Cohen Logline: All we believed to be myth, from the Fountain of Youth to Atlantis, is closely guarded truth, protected by two opposing orders, each with differing agendas for humanity. SSN Insight: Under Denver & Delilah’s first look TV deal with Universal Cable Productions established in January, Theron currently has six series in development: A Life in Men, Diblings, Get Well Soon, The One, an Untitled Greg Rucka Project, and Mythos.

Paradise Pictures Network: USA Network Studio: Universal Cable Productions Executive Producer(s): Rick Muirragui, Aaron Korsh Writer(s): Rick Muirragui Logline: Ambitious people strive to get to the top in 1940s Hollywood, when the dream factory was at its peak. Little do they know the challenges they’re about to face: the end of studio monopolies, the blacklist and the new disruptive technology of television. SSN Insight: Muirragui also served as co-EP of USA’s Suits. Starchitects Network: USA Network Studio: Universal Cable Productions Production Company(s): Endemol Shine North America Executive Producer(s): Mark Steilen, Christina Wayne, Catherine Hardwicke Writer(s): Mark Steilen Logline: The story follows the embattled rise of a talented young architect taking on the cutthroat competition at a top tier firm based in Los Angeles. SSN Insight: Steilen currently serves as co-EP for the Amazon series, Mozart in the Jungle.

Swamplandia! Network: USA Network Studio: Warner Horizon Television Production Company(s): Best Day Ever Productions Executive Producer(s): Liz Tigelaar, Barry Sonnenfeld Writer(s): Liz Tigelaar Logline: The show centers on the Bigtrees, owners of Florida’s top alligator-wrestling theme park. The family is reeling from a recent tragedy and is struggling to maintain its livelihood when a competitor moves in across the swamp. Notes: Based on the novel, "Swamplandia!," written by Karen Russell and published by Knopf in 2010. SSN Insight: Tigelaar’s having a busy season as she’s also the writer and co-EP behind the ordered to series The Astronaut’s Wives Club for ABC and the EP, writer on Casual for Hulu.

The Recessionistas Network: USA Network Studio: Universal Cable Productions Executive Producer(s): Alan Gasmer, Peter Jaysen Writer(s): Melissa London Hilfers Logline: A group of elite Manhattan women and their ruthless Wall Street husbands adjust to the new world order in the wake of the 2008 financial collapse. Notes: Based on the novel, "The Recessionistas," written Alexandra Lebenthal and published by Grand Central Publishing on August 9, 2010. SSN Insight: Planned as a limited series by USA.

The Tap Network: USA Network Studio: Universal Cable Productions Executive Producer(s): Rob Reiner, Andrew Lenchewski, Alan Greisman, Charles Ebersol Writer(s): Aaron Tracy Logline: Centers on a Yale student with aspirations to be among the best and the brightest, who is recruited by the CIA to become a mole in the secret Skull and Bones society. He becomes caught between the two very powerful organizations. SSN Insight: Reiner’s also the director and EP behind the Basket Case pilot for Spike TV.

Untitled Chrisley Knows Best Spinoff Network: USA Network Production Company(s): Maverick Television Executive Producer(s): Adam Greener, Jim Sayer Logline: This show is a spinoff of the series, "Chrisley Knows Best," which premiered on USA in 2014. SSN Insight: USA has given an initial pilot commitment as of April 7.

Untitled Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson Reality Project Network: USA Network Production Company(s): 7 Bucks Entertainment Executive Producer(s): Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia Logline: Storyline under wraps. SSN Insight: Johnson is currently the EP behind TNT’s Wake Up Call and HBO’s Ballers awaiting air.

SSN ORIGINALS

Strategies For a Career In Screenwriting: Pushing Past Doubts To Be Daring

TV Development For 4/14/15: ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ Spinoff, Charlize Theron Adds ‘Mythos’ To Her Slate, Dwayne Johnson’s New Project, and More

TODAY’S HEADLINES

Cary Fukunaga Returns To TV, Is Bringing Back To Life Long Dormant ‘The Alienist’

Good News For ‘Star Wars’ Fans Unable To Make It To Celebration Anaheim: It Will Be Live Streamed

Jennifer Lopez Is Getting Her Comedic Chops Sharpened For a New Project With Universal

It’s Hiring Day Over At Bad Robot, and Now Tommy Harper Is the Company’s New COO

The Cast Of ‘How To Be Single’ Keeps Expanding as Another Actor Joins the Project

The ‘Grand Theft Auto’ Movie May Have Just Added Bill Paxton To the Cast

MTV Is Bringing ‘Celebrity Death Match’ Back To Television … Again

Trailer Buzz: ‘The Connection’

California Film & TV Tax Incentive Rules Get State Approval

Netflix Is Doing Something Special For the Blind With Its New ‘Daredevil’ Series

What With Their ‘Maze Runner’ Success, Fox and Temple Hill Are Teaming Up For Another YA Series

Damien Chazelle’s Next Film Has a Couple Oscar Nominees Circling the Leads

Michael Mann Is Almost Done Developing His Ferrari Biopic

Jamie Dornan Gets Some More Company In HIs Netflix Thriller, ‘Jadotville’

TV One Shores Up Its 2015-16 Slate With New Shows, Movies and Partnerships

Get Ready For Another Adaptation Of Truman Capote’s ‘In Cold Blood’, This One For TV

Trailer Buzz: ‘Love & Mercy’

Screenwriters: Breaking and Entering — Drive and Success

WME: Peter Sarsgaard has shifted from CAA to WME. He has two upcoming films this September, Pawn Sacrifice and Experimenter for Magnolia Films. Sarsgaard will continue to be repped by management company Authentic and attorney Peikoff Mahan.

CAA: CNN anchor Chris Cuomo has signed with CAA. Prior he did not have agency representation. The Emmy award winning Cuomo covers international events and breaking news and co-anchors CNN’s morning show New Day.

WME: Filmmaker Eli Roth has just signed with Mike Simpson at WME. HE will continued to be repped by attorney Carlos K. Goodman and Simon Halls at Slate PR. His horror film Knock Knock recently screened at Sundance and will be distributed by Lionsgate. In addition his film Drowned and a remake of Cabin Fever are awaiting release. He made the original Cabin Fever for $1.5 million, which ended up grossing $30 million worldwide and was the most profitable horror film in 2002. He was previously at CAA.

ICM Partners: Game of Thrones’ ‘Red Woman’ actress Carice van Houten has dropped CAA and signed with ICM. She will next be seen in teh feature Race for Focus Features and has been cast as Greta Garbo in the Untitled Hepp Film/ Greta Garbo Biopic. She also was cast in The Book of Vision and Brimstone, both in active development.

SSN ORIGINALS

The Accidental Turitz: How To Fix the Bloated System and the Companies That Are Killing It

Rep Moves For 4/15/15: CAA Loses Eli Roth and Peter Sarsgaard, but Gains CNN Anchor Chris Cuomo

TODAY’S HEADLINES

An Author Is Suing Joss Whedon Over the Origins Of ‘The Cabin in the Woods’

Toronto Film Festival Starts New Program For TV, Will Call It “Primetime”

Netflix Does the Obvious, Confirms That There Will Be a Fourth Season Of ‘Orange Is the New Black’

Universal Lands a Big Project Starring Everyone’s Favorite New Movie Star: Chris Pratt

The Jason Sudeikis-Led ‘Fletch’ Reboot Is Now In the Hands Of a New Studio

Tom Hanks Is Returning To HBO With His Latest Mini-Series Event

NBC Has Second Thoughts, Decides To Revive ‘Emerald City’ Project Straight To Series

Will Matthew Vaughn Save Every One Of Us? ‘Kingsman’ Director In Talks For ‘Flash Gordon’ 

Cannes Unveils Its Lineup For the 68th Annual Festival, Did Your Film Make the Cut?

So, If You’re Keeping Score, It’s Michelle MacLaren Out, Patty Jenkins In To Direct ‘Wonder Woman’

Alex Winter’s New Movie Just Got a Plum Premiere In July, Next to Vidcom

Netflix Stock Price Soars After Enormous Gains In Subscribers

‘Dope’ Director Comes Off His Big Sundance Triumph To Land Sweet HBO Gig

Nat Geo Thinks So Highly Of Neil Degrasse Tyson’s Talk Show, It’s Already Been Renewed Without Airing a Single Episode

This Magic Moment: After Eight Years, David Chase Breaks Down That Legendary Final ‘Sopranos’ Scene

A Special, Curated List Of the Series You’ll Be Streaming This Year

Live TV Plus Social Media Equals Engaged Viewers

Screenwriters: ‘Get Rich Or Die Tryin’

NEW ATTACHMENTS

Fletch (Reboot) Logline: Investigative reporter I.M. Fletcher juggles writing exposes and solving crimes while avoiding headaches caused by his two ex-wives. Studio/ Distributor: Relativity Production Company: RoadDog Industries, Anonymous Content, Boies/Schiller Film Group, Rickard Pictures Producers: David List, Ryan Kavanaugh, Zachary Schiller, John Rickard Cast: Jason Sudeikis Notes: Based on the novels, featuring the character Irwin Maurice Fletcher, written by Gregory McDonald. There are nine books in the series, beginning with "Fletch" published in 1974. SSN Insight: Project was previously set up at Warner Bros. with an adaptation written by Dave Mandel. Film is a reboot of the 1980;s Chevy Chase movie based on the books.

Wonder Woman Logline: A woman from the closely guarded amazon homeland of Paradise Island travels to the outside world and becomes Wonder Woman. Studio/ Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures Production Company: DC Entertainment, Atlas Entertainment, Cruel & Unusual Films Producers: Charles Roven, Zack Snyder, Deborah Snyder Writer: Jason Fuchs Director: Patty Jenkins Cast: Gal Gadot SSN Insight: Jenkins replaces previous director Michelle MacLaren only two days after MacLaren departed the project over creative differences. Kidrobot Logline: Logline not yet established. Studio/ Distributor: MGM Studios Production Company: Aversano Films Producers: Scott Aversano Writer: Matt Ember & Tom Astle Notes: Based on the limited edition art toys and apparel created by Paul Budnitz and produced by Kidrobot. SSN Insight: The toy brand of collectible characters is backed by Wildbrain and sold in high- end stores around the country. The film is said to be a mix of animation and live-action. The property was previously set up at Paramount and Warner Bros.

Flash Gordon Logline: The adventures of Flash Gordon, a handsome athlete, and his companions Dale Arden and Dr. Hans Zarkov on the planet Mongo. Studio: 20^th Century Fox Production Companies: Hearst Entertainment, Davis Entertainment, King Features Entertainment Producers: John Davis, George J. Nolfi Writer: JD Payne & Patrick McKay Director: Matthew Vaughn SSN Insight: Vaughn is hot off the recent success of his film Kingsmen: The Secret Service and is a great choice for the comic property given his early experience with Kick-Ass and X-Men: First Class.

La La Land Logline: Lonely aspiring actress Mia and cocky jazz pianist Sebastian balance their art and love in Los Angeles, the land of the dreamers. Studio: Lionsgate Production Companies: Gilbert Films, Impostor Pictures Producers: Jordan Horowitz, Fred Berger Writer: Damien Chazelle Director: Damien Chazelle Cast: Emma Stone, Ryan Gosling SSN Insight: Emma Watson was previous attached to co-star and Miles Teller, Chazelle’s Whiplash star, was attached in the lead, but both have moved on to other projects.

Captain Marvel Logline: Marvel is the hero name of Carol Danvers, an air force pilot whose DNA is fused with that of an alien during an accident. The resulting alteration imbues her with the super powers of strength, energy project and flight. Studio: Walt Disney Studios Production Companies: Marvel Entertainment Producers: Kevin Feige Writer: Nicole Perlman and Meg LeFauve SSN Insight: Perlman co-wrote Guardians of the Galaxy and LeFauve co-wrote Pixar’s Inside Out and are teaming up for the first time. The film is Marvel’s first female-driven superhero movie. The studio plans to hire a female director as well to spearhead the franchise.

X-Men: Apocalypse Logline: In 1983, ten years after Wolverine traveled to the past to prevent a bleak future, the X-Men team up with Cyclops, Storm, and Jean in a battle to stop an unprecedented apocalypse by an ancient enemy. Studio/ Distributor: 20^th Century Fox Production Company: Bad Hat Harry Productions Donners’ Company, Marvel Entertainment, Genre Films, Hutch Parker Entertainment Producers: Lauren Shuler Donner, Hutch Parker, Bryan Singer, Simon Kinberg Writer: Simon Kinberg Director: Bryan Singer Cast: Olivia Munn, Ben Hardy, Kodit Smit-McPhee, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Hugh Jackman, Nicholas Hoult, Oscar Isaac, Alexandra Shipp, Sophie Turner Tye Sheridan, Rose Byrne SSN Insight: Another mutant signs on to the film about to start production – Olivia Munn signs on to play Psylocke, a mutant with telepathic abilities and ninja skills.

The BFG Logline: After orphaned Sofy is kidnapped by a BFG (Big Friendly Giant), the two find in each other the families they never had as they work together to stop some bad giants from eating the world’s children. Studio/ Distributor: Dreamworks Studios, Walt Disney Pictures Production Company: Kennedy/ Marshall Company, Amblin Entertainment, Walden Media Producers: Melissa Mathison, Steven Spielberg, Frank Marshall, Samuel L. Mercer Writer: Melissa Mathison Director: Steven Spielberg Cast: Mark Rylance, Ruby Barnhill, Bill Hader, Jermaine Clement, Michael Adamthwaite, Daniel Bacon, Chris Gibbs, Adam Godley, Jonathan Holmes SSN Insight: Disney has come on board to help finance and produce Dreamworks and Spielberg’s adaptation of the classic Roald Dahl book. This is the first film Spielberg will direct for Disney. The Dark Tower Logline: The tale of gunslinger Roland Deschain's quest for the Dark Tower. Studio/ Distributor: Columbia Pictures/ Media Rights Capital Production Company: Imagine Entertainment, Weed Road Pictures Producers: Brian Grazer, Akiva Goldsman, Ron Howard, Erica Huggins Writer: Akiva Goldsman, Jeff PInkner Notes: Based on the seven-book series "Dark Tower" that begins with "The Dark Tower I: The Gunslinger" written by Stephen King and published by Donald M. Grant in 1982. SSN Insight: The development saga of The Dark Tower is long and sorted; the movie was getting made at Universal in 2011 but then put into turnaround due to budget concerns. Warners was negotiating to acquire the project in 2012 but ultimately passed. The project now goes to Sony where newly installed head, Tom Rothman, is anxious to start a franchise. The Flash Logline: Barry Allen is a scientist who awakes from a coma and becomes The Flash, a superhero with the ability to move faster than the speed of light. Studio/ Distributor: Warner Bros. Studios Production Company: DC Entertainment Producers: Geoff Johns Writer: Phil Lord, Chris Miller Notes: Based on the seven-book series "Dark Tower" that begins with "The Dark Tower I: The Gunslinger" written by Stephen King and published by Donald M. Grant in 1982. SSN Insight: The superhero project has gone through some various incarnations, with directors such as Greg Berlanti, David Dobkin, David Goyer and Shawn Levy attached. Now hot directing/ writing duo of Lord and Miller give it their spin. Haunted Mansion Logline: A story based on the Disney ride "The Haunted Mansion." Studio/ Distributor: Walt Disney Studios Production Company: Del Toro Productions Producers: Guillermo Del Toro Writer: D.V. DeVincentis Director: Guillermo Del Toro Cast: Ryan Gosling SSN Insight: Guillermo Del Toro was previously attached to direct. Based on the Disneyland ride "The Haunted Mansion."

NEW PROJECTS

Untitled (Josh Gad/Jeremy Garelick Musical Comedy Project) Logline: Storyline is under wraps. Studio/ Distributor: Universal Pictures Production Companies: Michael De Luca Productions Producers: Michael De Luca Writer: Josh Gad, Jeremy Garelick Director: Jeremy Garelick Cast: Josh Gad SSN Insight: Gad and Garelick's pitch received seven-figure offers from Disney, Paramount, Warner Bros’ New Line, Sony Pictures, Fox and Universal. Universal won out in this year’s biggest material deal so far that included talent fees estimated to reach eight figures if the film is made. Legendary composer-lyricists Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz will compose original music.

The Very Persistent Gappers of Frip Logline: A little girl in a small seaside town must fight off the Gappers, creatures who attach themselves to goats because they love them, but it keeps the animals from giving milk. Studio/ Distributor: MGM Studios Notes: Based on the children’s book "The Very Persistent Gappers of Frip" written by George Saunders, illustrated by Lane Smith and published by Villard in 2000.

The Real McCoy Logline: The true story adventures of bootlegger, Bill McCoy, who's name hatched the phrase, "The Real McCoy". Studio/ Distributor: Universal Pictures Production Companies: Michael De Luca Productions Producers: Tom McNulty, Michael De Luca Writer: Bill Dubuque Cast: Chris Pratt SSN Insight: The pitch, which originated as an original idea by McNulty, became a hotly sought after property, sparking a bidding war between Universal and Warners. Universal won out in a deal that went for a reported $1.5 million against $3 million.

The Young Elites Logline: The survivors of a deadly plague include The Young Elites, gifted teens with special powers, and the Inquisition Axis who wants to destroy them. Studio/ Distributor: 20^th Century Fox Production Companies: Temple Hill Entertainment Producers: Marty Bowen, Wyck Godfrey Notes: Based on the YA novel "The Young Elites" written by Marie Lu and published by Putnam Juvenile in October, 2014. SSN Insight: Temple Hill is back in it’s YA wheelhouse after Mazerunner and Fault in Our Stars and the upcoming Paper Towns. Home is Burning Logline: A young man who has moved back home to take care of his ailing parents is reunited with his four colorful siblings. Studio/ Distributor: New Line Cinema Producers: Miles Teller, Jonathan Levine Writer: Daniel Marshall Director: Jonathan Levine Cast: Miles Teller Notes: Based on the memoir "Home Is Burning" written by Dan Marshall and to be published on October 20, 2015 by Flatiron Books. SSN Insight: Teller’s reputation as not only an actor, but as a producer, is on the rise, as this marks the second project he set up as a producer. Universal optioned The Life and Times of the Stopwatch Gang for him last month. 37^th Parallel Logline: Chuch Zukowski is an extraterrestrial investigator with stories of the paranormal and secret government activity that involves the conspiracy of a multibillion dollar corporation. Studio/ Distributor: New Line Cinema Production Companies: Flynn Picture Co, RatPac Entertainment Producers: Beau Flynn, Brett Ratner Notes: Based on the proposed book "The 37th Parallel" to be written by Ben Mezrich. SSN Insight: Producer Beau Flynn pitched the idea based on Zukowski to author Mezrich, who sparked to the idea. They then set it up at New Line where Flynn’s deal is. Nick Logline: Logline under wraps Studio/ Distributor: Dreamworks Studios Producers: Jason Filardi, Walt Becker Writer: Jason Filardi and Walt Becker Director: Walt Becker SSN Insight: Logline is under wraps but project is said to be a Home Alone Christmas style comedy. Mothers I’d Like To… Logline: Logline under wraps Studio/ Distributor: Universal Pictures Production Companies: Nuyorican Productions Producers: Jennifer Lopez, Benny Medina, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas Writer: Mark Perez Cast: Jennifer Lopez SSN Insight: The pitch, which is Bridesmaids meets First Wives Club, is an original idea of Goldsmith-Thomas.

SSN ORIGINALS

USC First Frame Hit List: The Seven Animated Shorts To Check Out

Film Development For 4/16/15: Universal Wins a Pair Of Bidding Wars and Relativity Gets ‘Fletch’

TODAY’S HEADLINES

The 74th Annual Peabody Awards For Television Have Been Handed Out, and the List Is Impressive

Looking For a Great Co-Star For Harrison Ford In That ‘Blade Runner’ Sequel? How About Ryan Gosling?

WikiLeaks Brings Back the Sony Hacking Scandal, Bundles Thousands Of Leaked Pages and Emails

‘Castle’ Fans Got Some Good News Today, as Nathan Fillion Signed On For a Potential Eighth Season

The Star-Studded TV Adaptation Of John Le Carré’s ‘The Night Manager’ Just Got Impossibly More So

Russian Filmgoers Who Were Looking Forward To Seeing ‘Child 44’ Are Going To Be Very Sad Today

First Clip: ‘Inside Out’

Trailer Buzz: ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’

Company Launches & Partnerships

Gulfstream Pictures is launching Gulfstream TV as part of a two-year overall deal with Warner Bros. TV to develop and produce TV projects for network, cable and digital. The division will be overseen by Gulfstream Pictures principals Mike Karz and Bill Bindley, who will also look for a senior-level TV executive. The new pact expands their deal as Gulfstream Pictures renewed their two-year first-look deal with Warner Bros. last year.

Sidney Kimmel Entertainment has partnered Ivanhoe Pictures to form SKE Global. The new venture will co-finance and co-produce local language films in China, South Korea, India and other international territories. Additionally, SKE Global will mine the SKE and Ivanhoe Pictures’ libraries for potential local language remake opportunities. Sidney Kimmel Entertainment also named John Penotti as president to replace Jim Tauber, who recently retired.

Former Marvel Comics executive editor Mike Marts and Marvel writer Joe Pruett are leaving to form AfterShock comics. Marts previously edited X-Men and Guardians of the Galaxy. Facebook senior exec Michael Richter will come on in coming months and join Jon Kramer as co-CEO. Kramer comes from a production and reality TV background. They join Lee Kramer, previously at Endeavor, who will be President and Jawad Qureshi who will be the SVP of Investor Relations.

NBCUniversal International Television Production, Germany’s RTL and France’s TF1 are joining together in a first-of-its-kind co-production pact to produce U.S.-style, English-language procedural dramas for the domestic market with a goal of making three series over two years. Through it, the European broadcasters will be able to secure a pipeline of high-quality procedural content.

Icon Film Distribution and FrightFest, UK’s leading horror film fest, have inked an exclusive partnership that will see Icon release FrightFest-curated films across multiple platforms via Icon’s existing digital partners, including Sky, iTunes and Amazon.

FremantleMedia is partnering with Shanghai Media Group and China Media Capital, to create and develop content for China to be distributed through SMG’s Dragon TV and BesTV platforms. FremantleMedia International will handle worldwide distribution of the content that emerges from the joint venture.

Universal Pictures has entered into a three-year, first-look production agreement with Michael De Luca. Previously he was the president of production at Columbia Pictures.

Chicago Fire executive producer-director Joe Chappelle has signed an overall deal with the companies behind that NBC drama series, Dick Wolf’s Wolf Films and Universal TV.

Emmett/Furla Films has extended it’s partnership with Lionsgate and its Grindstone Entertainment Group for another 10 movies, several of which will be released through the newly launched Lionsgate Premiere label.

Hoodlum has inked a first-look producer pod deal at ITV Studios America for scripted series in the U.S. As part of the pact, it the Australia-based company will also operate out of ITV Studios America’s Los Angeles offices. The production company currently produces the hit ABC series, Secrets & Lies.

Andy Serkis’ The Imaginarium Studios and Red Arrow Entertainment Group are partnering in a joint initiative to develop high-end scripted drama for the international market and are currently recruiting a senior level executive to manage the new venture’s development slate with product being handled for distribution by Red Arrow International.

WME | IMG will acquire Professional Bull Riders Inc. in a deal upwards of $100 million as reported by Bloomberg Business.

Universal has inked a two-year first-look film deal with Robert Kirkman's Skybound Entertainment. Kirkman created The Walking Dead, founded SkyBound in 2010 under the umbrella of Image Comics, where Kirkman is a partner.

Film

Rachel O’Connor is leaving her post as SVP of Production at Sony Pictures to head up the new Pascal Pictures in film and TV in a move that furthers her 17 year working relationship with Amy Pascal that includes films District 9, The Amazing Spider-man, 2012 and more.

Paramount has promoted Elizabeth Raposo from senior vice president to executive vice president. Raposo has run point on both Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation and the Star Trek sequels.

Sony Pictures has hired Sanford Panitch to be the President of International Film & Television. He was previously a Fox executive. In the newly created post, Panitch will generate global film and television co-productions and local-language fare for theaters and TV.

Tommy Harper will be the COO at J.J. Abram’s Bad Robot Productions and will handle the company’s daily operations and report to Abrams, collaborating with Abrams on identifying and creating strategic initiatives for the company.

Daniel Noah, Josh Waller and Elijah Wood’s SpectreVision hired Lisa Wolk Whalen as the new Chief Operating Officer who was previously from NBCUniversal’s Chiller, where she served as Senior Director, Program Strategy.

Jumping the Broom producer Glendon Palmer has joined IM Global as senior vice president of development & production to report to IM Global founder and CEO Stuart Ford and president of production Matt Jackson.

Participant Media’s CEO Jim Berk has resigned and been temporarily replaced by founder and chairman Jeff Skoll.

Jim Amos will be the Senior Vice President, Theatrical Distribution, STX Entertainment Motion Picture Group previously of Fathom Events. He joins Terry Curtin who will head Strategic Marketing & Global Communications and Amy Elkins now head of Media & Marketing Innovation as well as Mark Mulcahy who will be Vice President, In-Theater Marketing. Keri Moore is also coming on to head Creative Advertising & Brand Development from her post at Open Road. Andrew Runyon will head Worldwide Digital Marketing & Technology, snapped up from Paramount Pictures. Robert Springer will be the Vice President, Theatrical Distribution & Operations.

Universal Pictures has tapped Santiago Capdepont as Senior Vice President, Finance, Strategy & Operations, Brand Development. He joins Stephanie Kraus who has been tapped as Senior Vice President, Creative & Brand Assurance, Brand Development and Marc Low who will sign on as Senior Vice President, Consumer Products International, Brand Development.

Candice McDonough will be the new Executive Vice President, Theatrical Publicity, Relativity EuropaCorp Distribution. She was previously at New Line.

Charlie Morrison has been promoted from Creative Executive to VP at Red Wagon Entertainment.

TV

Disney/ABC Television Group digital chief Albert Cheng is leaving after 10 years and will remain through May to ease the transition.

Wayne Goldstein has been upped to senior VP international research for Sony Pictures Television and will handle research supporting the division’s international TV distribution business, as well as sales planning, digital ad sales and marketing.

Athena Wickham, has left J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot, to join Jonah Nolan and Lisa Joy’s Kilter Films to run the company’s television development.

Eric Beck has been upped from VP to Senior VP of Corporation Communications at Starz. Shannon Buck has been likewise promoted within Programming Publicity and the same goes for Colleen Curtis within Consumer & Digital Publicity.

Brad Gardner has been promoted to Senior VP of Development & Original Programming, TV Land, previously he was a VP..

Leslie Jacobowitz has been named VP of Post Production at AMC, up from Director.

Jessica Pavao is now the director of development at 3Pas Studios, previously she was a CE at Full Fathom Five.

Management, PR, Music, Agencies, Digital Misc.

CAA has hired Adam Biren as a TV lit agent, he was previously a TV lit servicing agent at UTA.

CBS Radio chief Dan Mason is retiring and Andre Fernandez has been tapped as his replacement. He was previously the COO of Journal Communications.

Branon Coluccio will head original content at Crunchyroll, previously at development at VIZ Productions. Dallas Middaugh will join him to head up Brand & Community, leaving his post as Senior Director at Penguin Random House.

Michael Cagnazzi has been named Senior Vice President of Digital Product Development at AMC, upped from VP.

Mark Deetjen, previously VP at Sony Pictures Television will be the new VP of programming and operations at BUZZR. He’s joined by Jaime Klein, who left GSN to be the VP of Creative Services and Kiesha McCorry who left Lionsgate Television to serve as VP of marketing along with Marissa Mongiello from E! and Style who will be the VP of Traffic.

Kat Hebden has switched from being managing director of FremantleMedia UK Interactive to the same post at Shotglass Media in London.

Brett Murrihy will oversee Asia Pacific for Music at WME Sydney. He previously served as CEO of Artist Voice.

Sarah Jessica Parker and HBO Are Back In Business Together!

Big Theatre Chains Face Federal Scrutiny Over Exclusive Booking Demands

Jason Kilar’s Vessel Raises $57.5 Million Led by IVP to Build Out Subscription-Video Service

Robert Zemeckis Gets His Next Film Set Up, and Steve Carell Will Play the Lead

Alert the Academy: Mike Leigh Has His Next Film, and It’s Another Period Piece

Nicolas Cage’s ‘Army Of One’ Just Landed a Lot More Cast Members

Baz Luhrman Has Found the Female Lead For His Netflix Series, ‘The Get Down’

Alan Rickman Joins a Little British Film Written By Big Time British Writer Jane Goldman

Trailer Buzz: ‘Suffragette’

Screenwriters: ’42’

SSN ORIGINALS

‘The Road Within’ Director Gren Wells Illuminates the Path To Indie Distribution

Exec Shuffle For 4/17/15: Aftershock Comics Launched, Rachel O’Connor To head Pascal Pictures, Tommy Harper Named Bad Robot COO

TODAY’S HEADLINES

It’s Official: Dominic Cooper Is Going To Be Your ‘Preacher’

Spike TV Is Taking Another Shot At Scripted Entertainment, and Is Turning To Jerry Bruckheimer For Help

STX Entertainment Finds a Home For Its Enormous Media Budget Moving Forward

Kelly Reichardt’s Next Movie Lands a Distribution Deal At Sony

John Ridley Keeps Riding High, Will Develop a New Series For Marvel

Louis C.K. Has an Animated Talking Dog Movie, and It’s Called ‘The Secret Life Of Pets’

If You Were Wondering Why Warner’s DCCU Is So Serious, There Is a Very Good Reason For It

Trailer Buzz: ‘Dope’

The Third Time Is Indeed the Charm For ‘Furious 7’, Which Once Again Wins the Weekend

‘Furious 7’ Also Just Set a Record For the Fastest Ever To a Billion Dollars

TriStar Gets Into the 2017 Oscar Race, Announces November 11th, 2016 Release For ‘Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk’

Dick Cook Launches a New Company, Replete With $150 Million In Chinese Money

Star Wars Celebration Gave Fans Some ‘Rogue One’ News This Weekend

After Just a Single Season, MTV Decides It Has Had Enough Of ‘Eye Candy’

Ben Stiller Confirms That His ‘Zoolander 2’ Female Lead Is Penelope Cruz

Trailer Buzz, Part 1: ‘Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice’

Trailer Buzz, Part 2: ‘Fantastic Four’

Screenwriters: Improvising Screenplays — The Five Key Elements Of Act One

STARTS

A Year by the Sea 4/15/2015 Logline: After years of being a loving wife and mother, a woman decides not to follow her husband to a new job out-of-state but, instead, to spend a year alone on Cape Cod. Production Company(s): Montabela Productions Director(s): Alexander Janko Producer(s): Alexander Janko Cast: Karen Allen, S Epatha Merkerson, Michael Cristofer, Celia Imrie, Yannick Bisson Writer(s): Alexander Janko Notes: Based on the memoir "A Year by the Sea" written by Joan Anderson and published by Doubleday in 1999. SSN Insight: Janko used a Kickstarter last May to help fund the film, asking $50,000 and receiving $53,012 in pledges with 277 backers.

Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk 4/13/2015 Logline: A young soldier hailed as a hero experiences a cavalcade of emotions and events on his last day home before returning back to the war in Iraq in 2005. Studio: TriStar Productions, Studio 8 Production Company(s): Film4 Productions, Ink Factory Director(s): Ang Lee Executive Producer(s): No Executive Producer Available. Producer(s): Marc Platt, Simon Cornwell, Stephen Mark Cornwell, Rhodri Thomas, Ang Lee Cast: Joe Alwyn, Steve Martin, Garrett Hedlund, Beau Knapp, Kristen Stewart Writer(s): Jean-Christophe Castelli, Simon Beaufoy Notes: Based on the novel "Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk," written by Ben Fountain and published by Ecco on May 1, 2012. SSN Insight: Ang Lee plans to shoot using the Sony F65 camera in native 3D, with high resolution and an ultra-high frame rate. Actors Billy Howle, Taron Egerton, Joe Cole, and Jack Reynor were all reportedly considered to star.

How to Be Single 4/20/2015 Logline: Spanning a multi-year period, the film will give an honest portrayal of both the female and male views of singlehood. Studio: New Line Cinema Production Company(s): Flower Films, Rickard Pictures Director(s): Christian Ditter Executive Producer(s): Nancy Juvonen, Drew Barrymore, Marcus Viscidi Producer(s): Dana Fox, John Rickard Cast: Dakota Johnson, Rebel Wilson, Alison Brie, Leslie Mann, Damon Wayans, Jr. Writer(s): Dana Fox, Marc Silverstein, Abby Kohn Notes: Based on the novel "How to Be Single" written by Liz Tuccillo and published by Atria on June 10, 2008. SSN Insight: Anne Hathaway was previously mentioned to star. Owen Wilson previously attached to star. Cameron Diaz previously mentioned to star.

Keeping Up With the Joneses 4/20/2015 Logline: An unfulfilled suburban married couple discovers that their sexy and charming new neighbors are spies. Studio: 20th Century Fox Production Company(s): Fox 2000, Parkes+MacDonald Image Nation Director(s): Greg Mottola Executive Producer(s): Marc Resteghini, Evan Hayes, Timothy M Bourne Producer(s): Walter F Parkes, Laurie MacDonald Cast: Zach Galifianakis, Jon Hamm, Isla Fisher, Gal Gadot, Maribeth Monroe Writer(s): Michael LeSieur SSN Insight: Parkes+MacDonald Image Nation is also currently in production on Rings. Gadot’s upcoming films include Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Wonder Woman, Triple Nine and Criminal.

Untitled (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Sequel) 4/20/2015 Logline: The action-filled adventures of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles continue. Studio: Paramount Pictures Production Company(s): Nickelodeon Movies, Platinum Dunes Director(s): David Green Executive Producer(s): Josh Appelbaum, Andre Nemec Producer(s): Michael Bay, Andrew Form, Brad Fuller, Galen Walker, Scott Mednick Cast: Megan Fox, Will Arnett, Stephen Amell, Tohoru Masamune, Alessandra Ambrosio Writer(s): Josh Appelbaum, Andre Nemec Notes: Sequel to "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" (USA/2014) directed by Jonathan Liebesman.

WRAPS

London Has Fallen 4/18/2015 Logline: Mike Banning and President Benjamin Asher team up with a M16 agent to save London from a terrorist attack. Studio: Nu Image/Millennium Films Production Company(s): G-BASE Director(s): Babak Najafi Executive Producer(s): Avi Lerner, Trevor Short, Boaz Davidson, John Thompson, Heidi Jo Markel Producer(s): Gerard Butler, Alan Siegel, Mark Gill, Matt O'Toole, Danny Lerner Cast: Gerard Butler, Aaron Eckhart, Morgan Freeman, Angela Bassett, Radha Mitchell Writer(s): Chad St. John, Christian Gudegast, Katrin Benedikt, Creighton Rothenberger SSN Insight: FilmDistrict, distributor of the original film, has an option on the sequel, but with CEO Peter Schlessel moving to Focus Features, the latter company is likely to distribute in the sequel to "Olympus Has Fallen" (2013) directed by Antoine Fuqua. Fredrik Bond was previously attached to direct.

Patient Zero 4/18/2015 Logline: A supervirus has turned humankind into highly intelligent, streamlined killers, and an asymptomatic victim who can communicate with the infected must lead the last survivors on a hunt for Patient Zero and a cure. Studio: Screen Gems Production Company(s): Vincent Newman Entertainment Director(s): Stefan Ruzowitzky Executive Producer(s): Steve Norris Producer(s): Vincent Newman Cast: Natalie Dormer, Matt Smith, Stanley Tucci Writer(s): Mike Le SSN Insight: Screen Gems acquired the script for the film in a competitive bidding situation. Screenplay was included in the 2013 Blood List

The Danish Girl 4/14/2015 Logline: A man finds an alter ego when he puts on a dress to pose for his artist wife. Before long, however, they both realize their marriage is in trouble. Studio: Working Title Films Production Company(s): Pretty Pictures, Harrison Productions Director(s): Tom Hooper Executive Producer(s): Linda Reisman, Ulf Israel Producer(s): Gail Mutrux, Anne Harrison, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Tom Hooper Cast: Eddie Redmayne, Alicia Vikander, Amber Heard, Matthias Schoenaerts, Ben Whishaw Writer(s): Lucinda Coxon Notes: Based on the book "The Danish Girl" written by David Ebershoff published by Viking February 7, 2000. SSN Insight: Lasse Hallstrom, Tomas Alfredson, Neil LaBute and Anand Tucker were all previously attached to direct. Rachel Weisz, Charlize Theron, and Gwyneth Paltrow were all previously attached to the role of Greta Wegener.