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Film Development for 5/28/15: Reese Witherspoon to Play Tinkerbell, Amy Schumer Signs On for Fox Comedy & More

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NEW ATTACHMENTS

The Magnificent Seven (Remake) Logline: A group of seven tough gunslingers are hired by a village to put a stop to the vicious bandit and his gang who have been pillaging it for years. Studio/ Distributor: MGM Pictures Production Company: Roger Birnbaum Productions Producers: Roger Birnbaum Writer: John Lee Hancock, Nic Pizzolatto Director: Antoine Fuqua Cast: Peter Sarsgaard, Jason Momoa, Wagner Moura, Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt, Haley Bennett, Ethan Hawke, Vincent D’Onofrio SSN Insight: Sarsgaard signs on to play an outlaw, but rumor has it that the previously announced Jason Momoa has dropped out.

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 Companies: DC Entertainment, Atlas Entertainment, Cruel & Unusual Films Producers: Charles Roven, Richard Suckle, Zack Snyder, Deborah Snyder Writers: Patty Jenkins, Jason Fuchs, Michael Goldenberg, Matthew Jennison, Brent Strickland Director: Patty Jenkins Cast: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine Notes: Based on the comic book “Wonder Woman” written by William Moulton Marston published by DC Comics. SSN Insight: Chris Pine is in talks to play Gal Gadot‘s love interest. Ivan Reitman, George Miller, Joss Whedon and Michelle MacLaren were previously attached to direct. Never Go Back Logline: Former military cop Jack Reacher finds himself embroiled in a quandary when he visits his old unit. Studio/ Distributor: Paramount. Pictures Production Company: Skydance Productions, Don Granger Productions Producers: Tom Cruise, Don Granger Writer: Edward Zwick, Marshall Herskovitz Director: Edward Zwick Cast: Tom Cruise Notes: Based on the novel "Never Go Back" written by Lee Child and published by Delacorte Press on September 3, 2013. Sequel to "Jack Reacher" (USA/2012) directed by Christopher McQuarrie and starring Tom Cruise. SSN Insight: New additions of Zwick and Herskovitz reunite Cruise with his Last Samurai team and put the project in gear, instead of waiting for the director on the first film, Christopher McQuarrie, to be freed up.

Tom’s Dad Logline: A performer living in Las Vegas in 1962 must deal with the changing face of comedy and the arrival of his estranged son. Studio/ Distributor: Production Company: Point Blank Productions, Infinitum Nihil, Arsenal Producers: Joni Levin, Keith Clarke, Johnny Depp, Christi Dembrowski, John Ptak Writer: Keith Clarke Director: Lasse Hallstrom Cast: Will Ferrell SSN Insight: Patrick Dempsey was previously attached to star.

Transformers Sequels and Spin-offs Logline: Storyline under wraps. Studio/ Distributor: Paramount Pictures Production Company: Hasbro Inc, Platinum Dunes, Amblin Entertainment, Di Bonaventura Pictures, Weed Road Pictures Producers: Michael Bay, Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Steven Spielberg, Akiva Goldsman Writer: Robert Kirkman, Art Marcum, Matt Holloway, Zak Penn and Jeff Pinker. SSN Insight: The producers are organizing a "writer's room" to develop story ideas for this two-part sequel as well as potential spinoff projects. Writer's Room to include producer Akiva Goldsman and Kirkman, Marcum, Holloway, Penn and Pinker.

CHiPs Logline: California motorcycle cops take down a criminal organization. Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures Production Companies: Panay Films, Primate PIctures Producers: Andrew Panay Writer: Dax Shepard Director: Dax Shepard Cast: Vincent D’Onofrio, Dax Shepard, Michael Pena SSN Insight: D’Onofrio has signed on to play the villain in the film version of the 1970’s cop show. His role is said to be of an auto-stealing ringleader and a former cop.

Jonny Quest Logline: Young Jonny Quest travels the world with his scientist father, adopted brother from India, Bandit the bulldog, and a government agent assigned to protect them investigating scientific mysteries. Studio: Warner Bros. Studios Production Companies: Lin Pictures, Prime Universe Films Producers: Dan Lin, Daniel Alter, Adrian Askarieh Writer: Robert Rodriguez, Terry Rossio Director: Robert Rodriguez SSN Insight: Warner Bros. has tried several times to get this film off the ground, once with Richard Donner and once with Peter Segal. Zac Efron and Dwayne Johnson were previously attached to star. Untitled Mother Daughter Comedy Logline: A mother and daughter are trapped with one another on a vacation gone awry. Studio/Distributor: 20th Century Fox Production Company: Chernin Entertainment, Feigco Entertainment Producers: Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping, Paul Feig, Jessie Henderson Writer: Amy Schumer, Kim Caramele Cast: Amy Schumer SSN Insight: Chernin Entertainment bought the original script by Katie Dippold for a reported low seven-figures and now attaches the hot comedienne in the new Judd Apatow comedy, Trainwreck. The Girl on the Train Logline: A young woman gets mixed up in a murder investigation because of what she witnessed on her daily commute. Distributor: Dreamworks Studios Production Companies: Marc Platt Productions Producers: Marc Platt Writer: Erin Cressida Wilson Director: Tate Taylor Notes: Based on the novel "Girl on the Train" written by Paula Hawkins and published by Riverhead Books in 2015. SSN Insight: The Help director returns to the studio that made his first studio film in 2011 for another lit adaptation. Keanu Logline: A group of friends pretend to be drug dealers in order to get back a stolen cat. Distributor: New Line Cinema Producers: Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele, Peter Principato, Paul Young, Joel Zadak Writer: Jordan Peele Director: Peter Atencio Cast: Gabrielle Union, Jordan Peele, Keegan-Michael Key, Method Man The Crow (Remake) Logline: A year after being murdered while attempting to rescue his fiancee from thugs, a rock musician comes back from the grave to get revenge. Financier/ Distributor: Relativity Studios Production Companies: Pressman Film, Apaches Entertainment, Farah Films & Management, uMedia Producers: Ed Pressman, Ryan Kavanaugh, Jeff Waxman, Kevin Misher Writer: Claire Wilson Director: Corin Hardy Cast: Andrea Riseborough, Jack Houston SSN Insight: Riseborough has signed on to play the villain character named “Top Dollar.”

NEW PROJECTS

Phenomenon Logline: Betty Robinson, the first woman to receive a gold medal, was seriously disabled in a plane crash, but fought her way back to participate in the 1936 Olympics and win again. Distributor/ Financier: Dreamworks Studios Producers: Frank Marshall, Rob Weisbach Notes: Based on the biography "Phenomenon" written by Roseanne Montillo and to be published by Crown Books in 2017. SSN Insight: Dreamworks optioned the book to be in line with their new studio mandate, which is more akin to Steven Spielberg’s original Amblin Entertainment shingle.

The Adventures of Beekle Logline: An imaginary friend is so odd that no child can imagine him, so he goes on a journey to the land of people to find a best friend. Studio/ Distributor: DreamWorks Animation Writer: Jason Reitman Director: Jason Reitman Notes: Based on the book The Adventures Of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend, written and illustrated by Dan Santat. It was awarded the 2015 Caldecott Medal. SSN Insight: DWA development exec Damon Ross brought the project to the studio, which will be animated. Ross will spearhead alongside Head of Development Gregg Taylor. Everything I Never Told You Logline: In the 1970s, a mixed-race, Asian-American family is shocked by the drowning of their seemingly perfect daughter, but after her death they discover that they did not know her at all. Distributor: Relativity Media Notes: Based on the novel "Everything I Never Told You" written by Celeste Ng and published by Penguin Books in 2015 SSN Insight: Book is a New York Times Bestseller and a New York Times Book Review Notable Book of 2014, as well as Amazon’s #1 Best Book of 2014.

The Longings of Jende Jonga Logline: West African immigrant Jonga is pursuing the American Dream working as a chauffeur for a high level executive at Lehman Brothers, and is profoundly challenged by the 2008 financial crisis. Studio/ Distributor: TriStar Productions Notes: Based on the novel "The Longings of Jende Jonga" written by Imbolo Mbue and to be published by Random House in April, 2016 SSN Insight: TriStar pre-emptively secured the rights to the manuscript, which was a big deal at last fall’s Frankfurt Book Fair where Random House made a seven-figure deal to pick up the U.S. rights.

Shanghai Dawn Logline: Mismatched buddies Chon Wang and Roy O’Bannon are reunited for more adventures. Studio/ Distributor: MGM Studios Cast: Jackie Chan, Owen Wilson SSN Insight: The sequel to 2003’s Shanghai Knights seems to be more of a reality now, with stars Chan and Wilson rumored to be attached. Studio is said to be looking for a screenwriter. Tink Logline: A new perspective on the iconic, miniature fairy Tinkerbell is explored. Studio/ Distributor: Walt Disney Studios Production Companies: Pacific Standard Producers: Reese Witherspoon, Bruna Papandrea Writer: Victoria Strouse Cast: Reese Witherspoon SSN Insight: The studio greenlights another live-action take on an animated classic with a new twist; story is said to offer a new perspective on the iconic character.

League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (Reboot) Logline: Story centers on Victorian-era literary characters such as Captain Nemo, the Invisible Man, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde teaming to fight a common enemy. Studio/ Distributor: 20th Century Fox Production Companies: Davis Entertainment Producers: John Davis SSN Insight: The original feature film was Sean Connery’s final live-action movie before he retired. The studio had planned for League to become a franchise but the worldwide gross reached only $180 million.

The Wedding Sting Logline: In 1990, the police in Flint, Michigan lacked funds to round up the city’s drug dealers, so they a created a fake wedding to get them in one place and arrest them. Studio/ Distributor: Paramount Pictures Production Companies: Disruption Entertainment Producers: Mary Parent Notes: Based on the article "The Wedding Sting" written by Jeff Maysh and published in the May, 2015 issue of The Atlantic. SSN Insight: The article by studio favorite, Jeff Maysh, who has several other articles set up around town, was a competitive situation with Universal also bidding. Beyblade Logline: Film based on Beyblade, a line of customizable toys modeled after traditional Japanese fighting tops. Studio/ Distributor: Paramount Pictures Production Companies: Disruption Entertainment Producers: Mary Parent Notes: Based on toys manufactured by Takaratomy and licensed to Hasbro. SSN Insight: In line with film franchises Transformers and G.I. Joe, Paramount is developing this toy line into a film. Beyblade has been very successful line for Hasbro, which gained the license in 2001, generating $2.5 billion in revenue. A new line will be launched in 2017.


Market Watch: Movietickets.com, Graham Moore’s New NBC Drama, ‘So B. It’ Lands Leads, Trevor Noah’s Starting Date, Film Development For 5/28/15

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SSN ORIGINALS

Market Watch: Movietickets.com Surpasses Fandango In Exhibitors and Screen Count

Launched in 2000, the site has grown from two exhibitors to 240, making it the market leader in advance movie ticketing. Not only that, but the company represents 28,000 screens, 2,000 ahead of its nearest competitor, Fandango. The site’s continued growth in the industry offers some key lessons to executives. SSN sat down with the CEO, Joel Cohen to hear why the company’s products have been successful and what the future holds. (SSN)

Film Development For 5/28/15: Reese Witherspoon To Play Tinkerbell, Amy Schumer Signs On For Fox Comedy, and More

It’s been a very busy week in Hollywoodland with all the attachments and new projects announced. Among them, villains for the Magnificent Seven and Crow remakes, a male lead for Wonder Woman, directors for Tom Cruise’s next Jack Reacher film and The Girl on the Train adaptation, and a star for Tom’s Dad, while a host of new projects come up, and you should click the link to get all the info. (SSN)

TODAY’S HEADLINES

Graham Moore Goes Right From Oscar Winner To TV Show Creator With New NBC Series

The Imitation Game writer teams with director Marc Forster for an untitled outbreak drama, which the network has picked up straight to a 10-episode series. The untitled drama is said to offer a candid look at an outbreak that pushes its characters to extremes, revealing the best and worst humanity has to offer. Moore created the show and will write the first episode, with Forster directing and Nora Grossman, Ido Ostrowsky and Jillian Kugler executive producing. (TLF)

The Next Big YA Adaptation Just Landed Its Leads, and One Is a Former Oscar Nominee

Alfre Woodard and Talitha Bateman have joined the cast of Sarah Weeks’ young adult novel, So B. It, with Stephen Gyllenhaal directing. Story chronicles the journey of a 12-year-old girl who decides to take a solo cross-country trip with her mentally challenged mother and agoraphobic neighbor. Outside The Box Productions’ Adam Tenenbaum and Orien Richman and Branded Pictures Entertainment’s J. Todd Harris are producing. (VAR)

In Case You Were Waiting To Find Out When Trevor Noah Was Taking Over ‘The Daily Show’, Today Is Your Lucky Day

Word has come down from Comedy Central that the South African comedian will take over for Jon Stewart on September 28th. Stewart announced his departure from the show in February. The exiting host also stood up for his successor after Noah received backlash for his past controversial tweets and encouraged viewers to give Noah a chance. (HP)

It’s Taken Nine Years, but Another Daniel Klowes Graphic Novel Is Heading To the Big Screen

Woody Harrelson and Laura Dern are in talks to star in Wilson, with Clowes writing the screenplay and Craig Johnson directing. The 2010 graphic novel revolves around the titular misanthrope: an opinionated loner who loves his dog but finds people harder to get along with. But when his father dies, he sets out to find his junkie ex-wife, learns he has a teenage daughter he never knew about, and tries for a last haphazard stab at family life. (EMP)

Three and a Half Decades Later, Fox Wants To Remake ‘Urban Cowboy’ as a TV Show

The network has commissioned a script from Craig Brewer, who would also direct the pilot if it advances to that stage. It would basically mirror the movie that starred John Travolta and Debra Winger as a cowboy and his love interest looking for love in a Houston bar. If the project manages to go the distance, the reboot would serve as a companion series to the net’s breakout hit Empire. (EW)

That Big Screen Adaptation Of ‘It’ Is Not Dead, It’s Just Moving Back To Warner Bros. Without Cary Fukunaga

The Emmy-winning True Detective director dropped out of the project last weekend because of differences with New Line, who was producing the film at the time. Most notably, major cuts to the budget. Now, with Warner back running the show, the studio is expected to hire a new director and continue developing the project. (COL)

Months Before the Release Of ‘Pan’, Joe Wright Has Lined Up His Next Directing Gig

Anne Hathaway will star in the adaptation of Charlotte Rogan’s 2012 book, The Lifeboat, with Wright on board to direct. Story takes place in the summer of 1914 when newlywed Grace Winters (Hathaway) survives the sinking of transatlantic ocean liner Empress. Now aboard an over-capacity lifeboat, the remaining passengers must choose factions to decide who stays and who goes. Focus Features and Working Title are producing. Wright's next film, Pan, hits theaters October 9th. (CS)

Sixty Years After He First Appeared, Tom Ripley Is Coming To TV

Television 360’s Guymon Casady, and Good People’s producer Benjamin Forkner are behind the project, which would adapt all five of Patricia Highsmith’s novels about the character, including The Talented Mr. Ripley. Deal was made in conjunction with Philipp Keel who works with Highsmith’s publishing company Diogenes. No word yet on a writer or a network. (CB)

‘San Andreas’ Destroys the Box Office, Critics’ Choice TV Winners, ‘Spider-Man’ Casting News, Channing Tatum’s New Project, Disney Kills ‘Tron 3′

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‘San Andreas’ Rocks the Box Office, Clears $53 Million In Its Opening Weekend

Dwayne Johnson’s disaster film blows away the competition, beating runner-up Pitch Perfect 2 by almost $40 million. That film came in at $14.8 million, while Tomorrowland continued its lackluster performance, coming in third with $13.8 million in its second week. Mad Max: Fury Road and Avengers: Age Of Ultron rounded out the top five, while Aloha came in sixth with just $10 million in its opening weekend. (BO)

The Critics’ Choice Awards Handed Out Their TV Prizes Last Night, and We Have a Complete List Of the Winners

It was a big night for HBO’s Silicon Valley and Olive Kitteridge and FX’s The Americans, as well as Taraji P. Henson, Jeffrey Tambor, David Oyelowo, Jonathan Banks, Amy Schumer and Allison Janney, all of whom were among the acting winners. The star-studded affair, hosted by So You Think You Can Dance host Cat Deeley, was the fifth annual event for the organization. (VAR)

Looks Like We’ll Be Getting a New Spider-Man Any Day Now, as Six Actors Spend the Weekend Screen Testing For It

Asa Butterfield is still thought to be the frontrunner for the role, which is expected to debut in next summer’s Captain America: Civil War, currently shooting. Aside from the Ender’s Game star, it is said that Tom Holland, Judah Lewis, Charlie Plummer, Charlie Rose and Matthew Lintz were all in Atlanta this weekend testing for the part. The next Spider-Man movie, from Sony and Marvel Studios, will come out in 2017. (SF)

Channing Tatum Is Putting His Producer’s Hat On For a New Movie

Tatum aiming to produce and possibly star in an adaptation of the Matthew Logelin memoir Two Kisses for Maddy. The film is a father-daughter drama that revolves around Logelin’s marriage, the death of his wife 27 hours after she gives birth, and his experience of raising his daughter as a single parent. Tatum has snapped up the property to produce through his Free Association banner for Sony’s TriStar and Temple Hill Entertainment. (COL)

Well, So Much For That ‘Tron 3’ Movie Actually Happening

Disney is reportedly not moving forward with the project. Earlier this year, it had seemed likely there would be a follow-up to 2010's Tron: Legacy. Stars Olivia Wilde and Garrett Hedlund were set to return with director Joseph Kosinski. Disney was also reportedly looking to add Jared Leto to the cast. In March, the third "Tron" film even received an unofficial title, Tron: Ascension, and production was expected to begin as early as this fall. (HP)

HBO Is Staying In Business With the Duplass Brothers, Orders Their New Animated Show To Series

Pay cable network has given a two-season order to the new animated series Animals. The series is produced Duplass Brothers Television and marks the second collaboration between the duo and HBO following Togetherness, which debuted in January. Created by Phil Matarese and Mike Luciano, Animals centers on the downtrodden creatures that call the Earth's least habitable environment — New York City — home.  (TLF)

‘The Wicked + The Divine’ Will Become the Latest Comic Book To Be Turned Into a TV Show

The Image Comic book by Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie has been optioned by Universal Television. Series centers around a group of people with superhuman powers known as “The Pantheon.” Every member of The Pantheon was once a normal person who eventually was chosen to merge with the spirit of a specific deity. It is believed that each cycle of The Pantheon can not live past two years from the start of the series. (CB)

‘Jurassic World’ Might Be Kickstarting the Franchise Again, but Don’t Expect To See Colin Trevorrow Return To Direct Any More

With the press tour for the new film underway, the director said in an interview that he would not be returning for the next film, saying, “Jurassic Park is like Star Wars. Different directors can give a different taste to each movie. I would be involved in some way, but not as director.” The film opens in regular theaters, 3D and IMAX on June 12th. (CS)

After a Five Year Experiment, Hulu Is Killing Off Its Hulu Plus Program

As of last month, Hulu had 9m paid subscribers to their Hulu Plus program. As of last week, Hulu CEO Mike Hopkins announced that Hulu Plus would be no more. To be more specific, he said that there was no need for two brands, and that Hulu was going to drop the “Plus,” which could really mean just about anything. (FSR)

Screenwriters: Reel Story — Cashing In On the Second Golden Age Of Television

As a recent UCLA class, the head of HBO, Michael Lombardo, shared that HBO is planning to buy approximately 200 new pilots this year — roughly 120 dramas and 80 comedies. To put this in perspective, if recent trends continue, we’ll probably see somewhere in the neighborhood of 150 feature spec scripts sell this year, meaning HBO will purchase more scripts than all of the movie studios combined. (SM)

Filmmaker’s “Positive” Thoughts On Stress, Amazon’s Two Big Hires, ‘Green Inferno’s New Release Date, On the Set For 6/1/15

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SSN ORIGINALS

A Filmmaker’s “Positive” Thoughts On Stress, Part One: Finding Purpose In Adversity

Pen Densham draws from his own extremely simple breakthrough techniques, shares his philosophy of finding a personal well of creativity from your inner voice, to overcoming the many challenges in a unique business, managing stress, the real secrets to selling your work, finding the right agent and being true to one’s nature to create a lasting and passion filled career. (SSN)

On the Set For 6/1/15: James Gunn Starts Shooting ‘The Belko Experiment’, Michael Keaton Begins McDonald’s Biopic, ‘The Founder’

While Gunn is just the writer-prodcuer of his project, Greg McLean is directing. Other projects to start up this week include the Zac Efron vehicle Mike and Dave Need Wedding Date, the Key and Peele movie Keanu and Comancheria, starring Chris Pine, Ben Foster and Jeff Bridges. Meanwhile, Todd Phillips wraps up Arms and the Dudes, while William H. Macy finishes up his road comedy, The Layover. (SSN)

TODAY’S HEADLINES

Thanks To Blumhouse, Horror Fans Will Finally Get To See Eli Roth’s ‘The Green inferno’

The cult filmmaker made a video announcement via his Facebook page that his long held-up cannibal opus will finally see release thanks to Jason Blum’s successful production shingle, which will open the film in theaters on September 25th. That’s over a year after it’s original intended release date of September 5th, 2014. At the time, Open Road Films was dealing with financial difficulties incurred by its production company, Worldview Entertainment. (CS)

Amazon Studios Makes a Pair Of Big Hires as It Continues To Build Its Film Division

Bob Berney, the former CEO of indie film distributor Picturehouse, will head movie marketing and distribution, while former Disney/ABC TV digital chief Albert Cheng has signed on as chief operating officer. In January, Amazon announced plans to produce up to 12 movies per year, which would be indie-oriented pictures with budgets ranging from $5 million to $25 million. (VAR)

Fox Is Definitely Developing a New Season Of ’24’, and Definitely Planning To Not Feature Jack Bauer

Series co-creator Howard Gordon confirmed that the spotlight will be on someone new, but who keeps up the tradition of hunting terrorists and other criminals while reporting to an older, seasoned female operative. Show veterans Manny Coto and Evan Katz, who oversaw last year’s mini-series 24: Live Another Day, are overseeing the new show. The plan, apparently, is for Kiefer Sutherland’s Bauer to pop up in the new series, but not star. (EMP)

Judd Apatow and Leslie Mann Will Not Be Making ‘Bad Moms’ With ‘The Hangover’ Writers After All

Mann was set to star and Apatow to produce, the project, written and to be directed by Jon Lucas & Scott Moore. They are married and planned to do this together and sources close to them said that the picture wasn’t going to make the window they had carved into their schedule. It was a tight squeeze that necessitated the picture starting by July 12th. (DH)

Might This Mean a Fourth Movie? E.L. James Is Going Back To the ‘Fifty Shades’ Well For a New Book

The writer announced today that later this month, she'll be publishing a new version of "Fifty Shades Of Grey," but here's the twist: it's told from Christian's point-of-view. Apparently, fans have been asking for this, and James has indulged their request. No word yet on whether or not this will fit into the ongoing movie franchise that stars Jamie Dornan and Dakota Fanning. (TP)

Richard Linklater’s ‘Boyhood’ Followup Has a New Title, Still No Release Date

Formerly titled That’s What I’m Talking About, the “spiritual sequel” to his 1993 hit Dazed and Confused is now getting its title from a Van Halen song and will be called Everybody Wants Some. The movie Tyler Hoechlin, Wyatt Russell, Ryan Guzman, Will Brittain, Glen Powell, and Zoey Deutch. (SF)

Have You Ever Wondered What Stephen King Thinks Of All These Adaptations Of His Books? Now’s Your Big Chance To Find Out

The prolific author has had no less than 50 of his novels, novellas and short stories adapted into films, miniseries and TV shows over the last four decades. Among those are The Shining (celebrating its 35th anniversary this year) and It, the remake of which just lost director Cary Fukunaga over budget concerns. (HF)

The Incredible Shrinking GRP: Broadcasters Return a Record Number of Low-Rated Series

TV's ongoing ratings erosion has given a new lease on life to lightweight broadcast shows that in any other era would've ended up on the scrapheap. The Big Four broadcast networks this past season renewed more low-rated scripted series than ever before, as the average rating for a show picked up for 2015-16 was a 1.9 in the adults 18-to-49 demo. That marked a 5% drop from the year-ago 2.0 average and a 17% decline from the 2012-13 campaign's 2.3 rating. (AA)

Eddie Redmayne Officially On ‘Fantastic Beasts’, Dwayne Johnson Wants To Remake ‘Big Trouble’, Sofia Coppola Ditches ‘Mermaid’, Vimeo’s New Service

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at arrivals for THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING Premiere, Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York, NY October 20, 2014. Photo By: Jason Smith/Everett Collection

After Much Speculation, Eddie Redmayne Has Officially Signed On To ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them’

Redmayne will play Newt Scamander in the Harry Potter spinoff film from author J.K. Rowling, who is making her screenwriting debut. David Yates, who directed the last four Potter films, is on board to direct. Scamander is the Wizarding World’s preeminent magizoologist, who in his travels has encountered and documented a myriad of magical creatures, ultimately leading to his penning the Hogwarts School textbook Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. (COL)

Today In Remake News: Dwayne Johnson Circles New Version Of ‘Big Trouble In Little China’

The actor would star in and also produce the project, from writers Ashley Miller and Zack Stentz. Johnson would play Jack Burton, an all-American trucker who gets dragged into a centuries-old mystical battle in San Francisco’s Chinatown, a role originated by Kurt Russell. The original film, released in 1986, was directed by John Carpenter and also starred Kim Cattrall. (TW)

It Appears Universal Will Be Looking For a New Director For Its Live-Action ‘Little Mermaid’ Remake

Sofia Coppola had been attached to the project for the studio, but has now left it because of the ever familiar “creative differences.” Working Title’s Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner are pushing on with the idea, with Caroline Thompson re-writing the script based on the classic Hans Christian Andersen tale, in which a young mermaid falls in love with a human prince and makes a tragic deal to live on land.  (EMP)

Vimeo Launches Subscription Video Service, Beats YouTube To the Punch

Vimeo has unveiled new tools that allow creators to charge for recurring content. IAC-owned company announced today the subscription features for its Video On Demand platform. Creators who use the ad-free service will now be able to charge a monthly fee for unlimited viewing. (THR)

Adam Sandler’s Second Netflix Movie, ‘The Do Over’, Brings a Very Pretty Face Into the Fold

Paula Patton is making a deal to join Sandler and David Spade in the Steve Brill-directed comedy that will be the second film in the multipicture pact Sandler and his Happy Madison shingle made with the streaming service. Scripted by Chris Pappas and Kevin Barnett, film is about two down-on-their-luck guys who decide to fake their own deaths and start over with new identities, only to find the people they’re pretending to be are in even deeper trouble. (DH)

‘Homeland’ Casts a Foursome Of New Faces For Season Five

The Showtime drama welcomes Miranda Otto, Sebastian Koch, Sarah Sokolovic and Alexander Fehling as series regulars in the upcoming Berlin-set fifth season. Picking up two years after her ill-fated tenure as Islamabad station chief, the new season finds Claire Danes’ Carrie working for a private security firm in Germany. Otto plays the current Berlin Chief of Station, who is working directly under Carrie’s CIA mentor, Saul Berenson (Mandy Patinkin). (VAR)

On the Verge Of an Internet Freak Out, Netflix Refutes Rumors That It Will Start Showing Ads

Rumors began to fly yesterday that Netflix was testing ads on the streaming service in order to increase revenue after Vice suggested it could be a possibility down the road. That suggestion was based on the fact that Netflix had begun testing ads for their own content with some users, which had been met with frustration. However, a Netflix spokesman was quick to refute any suggestion that Netflix would begin airing third-party ads. (UR)

How Did George Miller Do What He Did In ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’? Plenty Of CGI

One of the big questions after seeing it is, "How did they even make this movie? Everything I just saw looks impossible." Of course, in reality, it was a masterfully coordinated effort from a talented team, and now we have new insight into how they actually made it happen. Here are a series of before and after shots that might just blow your mind. (FCC)

Trailer Buzz: ’99 Homes’

Broad Green Pictures has released the first look at the acclaimed new drama from Ramin Bahrani, starring Michael Shannon, Andrew Garfield and Laura Dern. The movie hits theaters September 25th. (IW)

Online Film School: ‘Six Filmmaking Tips From Brad Bird’

The director of Tomorrowland, as well as Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol, The Incredibles and Ratatouille sets and specifies narrative stakes, is dedicated to meticulous world-building and is amongst a steadily diminishing class of blockbuster directors: people who see themselves, first and foremost, as storytellers, not custodians of fleeting spectacle. (FSR)

TV Development for 6/2/15: A+E Networks Picks Up Idris Elba Doc, NBC Orders Graham Moore Drama & Urban Cowboy at Fox

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Doc Martin Production Company(s): Electus, Okay Goodnight Executive Producer(s): Ben Silverman, Sean Canino, Marta Kauffman, Robbie Tollin Writer(s): Marta Kauffman Logline: A successful but abrasive surgeon leaves his big city practice to work in the small town of his youth. But his awkward, brash style is off-putting to the locals. Details: The project is based on the British series, "Doc Martin," which premiered on ITV in 2004. SSN Insight: The project was previously in development at NBC for the 2014-2015 season. Electus and Silverman previously adapted another international series into a hit in the U.S., CW’s Jane The Virgin based on a Venezuelan telenovela.  In addition Electus is also behind Amazon’s pilot Casanova, the Netflix series Marco Polo and the upcoming Flaked series.

The Wicked + The Divine Studio: Universal Television Production Company(s): Milkfed Criminal Masterminds Executive Producer(s): Matt Fraction, Kelly Sue DeConnick Logline: The story centers on a group of people with superhuman powers known as "The Pantheon". Details: Based on the comic book, "The Wicked + The Divine," by Kieron Gillen, Jamie McKelvie and Matt Wilson and published by Image Comics in 2014. SSN Insight: Project is produced through married power-couple Matt Fraction and Kelly Sue DeConnick’s Milkfed Criminal Masterminds two-year overall deal with Universal Television. Cassius & Clay Network: FX Studio: FX Productions Production Company(s): Floyd County Productions Executive Producer(s): Megan Ganz, Adam Reed Writer(s): Megan Ganz, Adam Reed Logline: Two women live as bandits in a futuristic, post-apocalyptic America. Ordwood Cassius is a hard-drinking, quick-thinking, fast-talking blowhard who has more debts than sense, and Shopcarter Clay is the fastest gun in the post-apocalyptic South who doesn’t go looking for trouble, she shares a station wagon with it. SSN Insight: FX ordered the pilot of the animated series on May 27. Floyd County Productions partner Adam Reed has also executive produced FX cartoon series Archer, Chozen and Unsupervised.

Containment Network: CW Television Network Studio: Warner Bros. Television Production Company(s): No Production Company Available. Executive Producer(s): Julie Plec, David Nutter, Matt Corman, Chris Ord Writer(s): Julie Plec, David Nutter Logline: When a deadly epidemic breaks out in Atlanta, a large city quarantine is quickly enforced, leaving those stuck on the inside to fight for their lives. Loved ones are tragically torn apart, and the society that grows inside the cordon reveals both the devolution of humanity and the birth of unlikely heroes. Details: Based on the original Belgian series "Cordon" which was created by Carl Joos and aired in 2014. SSN Insight: The CW ordered the pilot on February 2 and then gave a series order on May 7. This week news hit that Matt Corman and Chris Ord, the duo who helmed USA’s Covert Affairs for five seasons, will be joining Plec as co-showrunners and executive producers.

Idris Elba: Mandela, My Dad & Me Network: A+E Networks Production Company(s): Shine Group, Green Door Pictures, Woodcut Media, Bob & Co Executive Producer(s): Idris Elba Logline: The film chronicles the story behind the creation of "Mi Mandela," an album of South African music recorded by Idris Elba in tribute to Mandela and to his own late father. The actor-singer was inspired after having spent months working on the Mandela biopic "Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom." Details: The documentary was inspired by the months that Idris Elba spent working on the Mandela biopic, "Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom." SSN Insight: Elba’s shingle, Greed Door Pictures has a co-production deal with Shine North. The two companies previously joined forces on the extreme racing docu series The Idris Elba Project for the Discovery Channel and King Of Speed. This documentary will air on History Channel in Africa and Discovery in the UK as well as A+E in the U.S.

Knock Knock Live Network: Fox Broadcasting Company Production Company(s): Dick Clark Productions, XIX Entertainment Limited Executive Producer(s): Ryan Seacrest, Simon Fuller, Allen Shapiro, Michael Mahan, Mark Bracco Logline: Each week, Ryan Seacrest’s team shows up on the front door of an unsuspecting person offering a chance to win a big cash prize, meet their favorite celebrities and turn their dreams into reality. SSN Insight: Fox ordered the series on May 26 and slated its premiere for July 21. In addition Seacrest also executive produced the pilot Shades of Blue for NBC and Dash Dolls for E!, both of which were given series orders.

Untitled Outbreak Drama Project Network: NBC Entertainment, Sky Atlantic Production Company(s): Tiger Aspect Productions, 2Dux, Bristol Automotive, Endemol Shine North America Executive Producer(s): Graham Moore, Marc Forster, Patrick Spence, Katie Swinden, Frith Tiplady Writer(s): Graham Moore Logline: When a woman exhibits mysterious symptoms, she and her loved ones find themselves in the center of an epidemic with global consequences. Meanwhile, across the world, an FBI agent investigates a seemingly unrelated terrorist attack that leads him to the brink of madness. SSN Insight: NBC has given a straight to series order of 10 episodes as of May 28.

Untitled Tom Ripley Series Production Company(s): Management 360, Endemol Shine North America Executive Producer(s): Guymon Casady, Ben Forkner, Philipp Keel Logline: The series follows the adventures of charming, murderous sociopath Tom Ripley. Details: Based on the five novel series, unofficially knows as the "Ripliad," which includes "The Talented Mr. Ripley" (1955). The book was adapted for the film “The Talent Mr. Ripley” in 1999. SSN Insight: The project is currently being packaged ahead of being shopped to premium cable networks or streaming services. Patricia Highsmith’s book The Price of Salt has also been adapted and entitled Carol. The film made waves at Cannes recently.

The Gorburger Show Network: HBO Production Company(s): 3 Arts Entertainment, FunnyOrDie, Party Over Here Executive Producer(s): Ryan McNeely, Josh Martin, TJ Miller, Dave Becky, Michael Farah Writer(s): Ryan McNeely, Josh Martin, TJ Miller Logline: A giant, blue, space monster crashes into earth and immediately invades a Japanese morning show, despite only speaking English. He then uses the remaining, uneaten crew to host and interview the most interesting humans from pop-culture, music, art, technology, and more. Details: Based on the web series, "The Gorburger Show," which premiered on YouTube in 2012 and ran for two seasons. SSN Insight: HBO ordered a pilot on May 27. Ed Helms, Johnny Knoxville, Moby and others have already been booked for the pilot.

Unarmed Network: HBO Network Studio: Warner Horizon Television Production Company(s): Timberman/Beverly Productions Executive Producer(s): Eric Roth, Denis Johnson, Sarah Timberman, Carl Beverly Writer(s): Denis Johnson Logline: Amos Searl is a civilian psychiatrist new to his practice at an Armed Forces medical center that specializes in treating amputees, burn victims and critically wounded veterans just returned from America’s recent wars. A double amputee from life’s wars himself, Searl, a man who has always questioned authority, tries to make sense and give meaning to our soldiers, the young men and women who are trying, like him, to find their way home. Details: Based on an idea by Eric Roth. SSN Insight: Planned as a limited series by HBO. Roth is on a roll and also executive produced The Alienist pilot and Berlin Station pilot, both ordered to series by TNT and EPIX respectively.

Urban Cowboy Network: Fox Broadcasting Company Studio: 20th Century Fox Television, Paramount Television Executive Producer(s): Craig Brewer, Robert Evans, Sue Naegle Writer(s): Craig Brewer Logline: The story will follow the star-crossed relationship of Sissy and Bud as it unfolds against the gritty backdrop of rodeos, oil refineries, line dancing clubs and other aspects of modern-day Texas. Based on the film. Details: Based on the film, "Urban Cowboy," (1980), directed by James Bridges and starring John Travolta and Debra Winger. SSN Insight: Brewer inked a TV development pact with Paramount TV early last year. He recently directed Paramount’s 2011 feature remake of Footloose and produced the concert documentary Katy Perry: Part of Me. Ink Masters: Redemption Network: Spike TV Production Company(s): Original Media Executive Producer(s): Charlie Corwin, Jay Peterson, Andrea Richter, Steven Weinstock, Glenda Hersh Logline: The reality series offers disgruntled former human canvases of Ink Master a chance to receive a new tattoo that leaves them happier than their last. Details: A spinoff of Spike TV’s Ink Masters series that will premiere its sixth season on June 23. SSN Insight: The spinoff series has been greenlit by Spike TV for six half-hour episodes. The series goes into production this summer for a fall premiere.

Filmmaker’s “Positive” Thoughts On Stress Pt. 2, Clint’s Next Biopic, James Bond Rights Up For Grabs, TV Development For 6/2/15

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SSN ORIGINALS

A Filmmaker’s “Positive” Thoughts On Stress, Part Two: The Struggle That Led To an Oscar Nod

Pen Densham draws from his own extremely simple breakthrough techniques, shares his philosophy of finding a personal well of creativity from your inner voice, to overcoming the many challenges in a unique business, managing stress, the real secrets to selling your work, finding the right agent and being true to one’s nature to create a lasting and passion filled career. (SSN)

TV Development For 6/2/15: A&E Networks Picks Up Idris Elba Doc, NBC Orders Graham Moore Drama, and More

Among the other projects announced are at least one more comic book adaptation, a remake and reimagining of Urban Cowboy, an American adaptation of the British series Doc Martin, a new show from Julie Plec, and a brand new series based on the Tom Ripley books of Patricia Highsmith. Click on the link to get the full skinny. (SSN)

TODAY’S HEADLINES

Clint Eastwood Finds His Next Biopic, and It’s High Flying Tale For Everyone

The multiple Oscar winner will helm Warner Bros. Pictures’ as-yet-untitled drama about the life of Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, who became an American hero when, in 2009, he landed his disabled jet on the Hudson River, saving the lives of everyone aboard — passengers and crew, which numbered 155 people. Todd Komarnicki wrote the script, based on the book Highest Duty: My Search For What Really Matters, by Sullenberger and Jeffrey Zaslow. (DH)

After ‘Spectre’ Hits Theaters in November, the James Bond Distribution Rights Will Be Up For Grabs

With the film’s November 6th release, Sony’s deal with MGM to distribute the franchise expires. Now, insiders speculate that the close relationship between MGM chief Gary Barber and Warner Bros. CEO Kevin Tsujihara could result in the super-spy shifting addresses to the Burbank studio. MGM and Warner Bros. have partnered on several films including the Hobbit trilogy, the May box office dud Hot Pursuit and the upcoming Rocky Balboa spin-off, Creed. (VAR)

Paramount Goes For a Little Diversity, Adds a Pair Of Women To Its ‘Transformers’ Writers Room

A week after the controversy over a lack of diversity hit the internet, the studio has hired Christina Hodson and Lindsey Beer, the first two female writers in a group that includes Robert Kirkman, Art Marcum and Matt Holloway, Andrew Barrer and Gabriel Ferrari, Zak Penn and Jeff Pinkner. It’s lead by Akiva Goldsman and their aim is to have a fifth film ready to go when Michael Bay finishes his current movie, then multiple films lined up to be made after. (SF)

It Appears That Sony Has, At Long Last, Finally Settled On a Director For Its ‘Dark Tower’ Series Director

Sony Pictures Entertainment, which signed on earlier this year to finance the franchise, is circling Nikolaj Arcel — the writer-director of 2013 Foreign Film Oscar Nominee A Royal Affair and the writer of the Swedish version of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo — to direct and rewrite this massive genre project that will involve condensing, or expounding upon, the eight novels in King's celebrated, quasi-Western, sci-fi fantasy opus. (TOH)

Sony Also Narrows Down Its List Of Potential ‘Spider-Man’ Directors

Previously listed Ted Melfi and Jonathan Levine are still on the list, as are the team of John Francis Daley & Jonathan M. Goldstein, while Jason Moore and Jared Hess appear out of the running. Meanwhile, Jon Watts, the director of the upcoming Kevin Bacon film Cop Car, has also apparently been added. The project still needs a screenwriter, but has a release date of July 28th, 2017. (TP)

Adult Swim Loves Rob Corddry’s ‘Childrens Hospital’ So Much, It’s Renewed the Show For a Seventh Season

Corddry’s show, which he created and executive produces, has won two Emmys during its run, and features a star-studded cast of comedic talent. The show explores the emotional struggles and sexual politics of a group of doctors charged with healthy libidos. Their dedication to their personal lives is relentless, interrupted only by the occasional need to treat sick children. (CS)

The Legendary ‘Star Wars’ Short Film, ‘Black Angel’, Will Finally Be Getting the Feature Treatment

Thirty-five years after it screened with Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back in 1980, it is now moving forward with Rutger Hauer and John Rhys-Davies attached. Roger Christian is returning to write and direct Black Angel: The Feature Film. While the short film, about a warrior charged with saving a young maiden from an evil force called the Black Angel, was commissioned by George Lucas and cost $38,000, the budget for the new film is $15 million. (COL)

Trailer Buzz: ‘The Good Dinosaur’

Disney and Pixar have released the first look at the previously delayed animated film, which asks the question, what if the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs had missed the planet entirely? Directed by Peter Sohn, it hits theaters November 25th. (YT)

Will Ferrell-Kristen Wiig Lifetime Movie Back On, Open Road’s New Financing Deal, Spike TV’s New Scripted Drama, New ‘Arrested Development’ Ahead

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at arrivals for THE SPOILS OF BABYLON Premiere, Directors Guild of America (DGA) Theatre, Los Angeles, CA January 7, 2014. Photo By: Dee Cercone/Everett Collection

So, It Looks Like That Secret Will Ferrell-Kristen Wiig Lifetime Movie Wasn’t Scrapped, After All

Despite the fact that Ferrell said that the project had been cancelled because of how some outlets reported it, billboards started appearing yesterday to advertise on a billboard on Hollywood Boulevard. The female-skewing cable network confirmed the upcoming broadcast for Saturday night, June 20th. (TLF)

Open Road Films Nails Down a New Financing Deal With Riverstone Pictures

The two companies have struck a multiyear financing pact that will pay for a slate of films produced by Open Road, beginning with Jamie Foxx and Michelle Monaghan's Sleepless Night. The idea is to finance two to four films a year that will get a wide release in the U.S. Riverstone is a Reliance Entertainment company founded by Deepak Nayar and Nik Bower and backed by Ingenious Media. (THR)

Now Freshly Back In the Scripted Business, Spike Is Developing a New Race-Based Drama Series

Cable network is teaming up with screenwriter Kurt Wimmer to develop When The Levee Breaks, which follows events that take place when an illegal strike by the LAPD threatens chaos in Los Angeles. An African American cop, said to be the series' central character, investigates the murders of two racist cops whose deaths provoked the illegal LAPD strike - and to whose murders he himself may be linked. (SAA)

According To Brian Grazer, There Will Be 17 New Episodes Of ‘Arrested Development’ In 2016

During an interview with Adam Carolla on the comedian’s podcast, the show’s executive producer confirmed that the band is being put back together for a fifth season of the show. The plan, apparently, is to start shooting in January and then have the shows premiere at some point during next summer on Netflix. (TVL)

Tim Roth Becomes the Latest To Join the Growing Cast Of ‘Life At These Speeds’

Fresh off shooting Quentin Tarantino’s Hateful Eight, Roth joins Melanie Lynsky, Graham Rodgers, Billy Crudup, Liana Liberato, Peter Coyote, Stephanie Scott, Yul Vazquez, Elizabeth Canavan and Tom Cocquerel in the adaptation of Marc Novak’s novel. Story follows what happens when a teenager loses his best friends in an accident. He starts running, and discovers that the exercise allows him to remember them perfectly, all while bringing him notoriety. (EMP)

Fox Wants To Bring Alice LaPlante’s Bestselling Novel To the Big Screen

The studio is in negotiations to produce a film version of Turn Of Mind with Gail Berman and her Jackal Group producing. Gideon Raff is attached to direct and produce the story, which centers on a retired surgeon whose best friend has been murdered, with four fingers surgically removed. Because the surgeon suffers from Alzheimers, she’s uncertain whether she has committed the murder — and finds herself considered the prime suspect. (VAR)

If You Want To Get More Information About the Sony Hack, ‘The Square’ Directors Are Making a Doc About It

Jehane Noujaim and Karim Amer’s Egyptian Revolution documentary was seen on Netflix and won three Emmys and scored an Oscar nomination. The new film won’t exclusively be the story of Sony’s travails, but early information suggests that the story of Sony’s breach will be used as a prime example of the dangers of sophisticated and well-targeted cyber-crime. (SF)

More Than Half of New Shows Don't See a Second Season, Up From 10 Percent in 2000, So Can We Watch Enough for TV's 'Golden Age' to Last?

The entertainment industry will air more than 400 original TV shows this year, lavishing hundreds of millions of dollars on top talent and exotic locations in the hopes of creating the next Mad Men or Game of Thrones. The gusher of quality programs has prompted TV critics to proclaim a Golden Age of TV. But as any viewer knows, keeping up with all the shows is impossible. (AA)

Trailer Buzz: ‘Ted 2’

Universal Pictures has released the latest red band trailer for the upcoming comedy sequel from Seth McFarlane and starring Mark Wahlberg, Amanda Seyfried, Morgan Freeman, Giovanni Ribisi, and John Slattery. It hits theaters June 26th. (COL)

Screenwriters: ‘Moonrise Kingdom’

The unspecified, 105-page, Oscar-nominated screenplay by Wes Anderson and Roman Coppola, dated May 1st, 2011. (GITS)

How To Write a Disaster Movie, WB Lands James Wan For ‘Aquaman’, Showtime’s New Streaming Service, Disney’s Remake Plans, ‘Grizzly Adams’ Rights Up For Grabs

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SSN ORIGINALS

Screenwriting 101: How To Write a Disaster Movie Screenplay

Hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes happen all the time all over the world, so disasters movies can be considered as “in season,” year round. Movies like Twister, 2012, The Day After Tomorrow, and Noah all have stunning visuals of the Earth seemingly trying to destroy itself, or mankind, and audiences love filling theaters to see them. When writing your own disaster movie, you’ll want to keep these tips in mind. (SSN)

TODAY’S HEADLINES

Warner Bros. Conjures James Wan as Its ‘Aquaman’ Director

Director of Saw, The Conjuring and Furious 7 will helm the DC Comics adaptation, to star Jason Momoa. Wan will also be supervising the script, to be written by Kurt Johnstad, and which follows Aquaman, the King of the Seven Seas and the reluctant ruler of Atlantis, who is caught between a surface world constantly ravaging the sea and Atlanteans looking to lash out in revolt, but is committed to protecting the entire globe. The film will hit theaters in 2018. (VAR)

Showtime Confirms the Inevitable: Announces the Launch Of Its Own Standalone Streaming Service

On July 12, the cable channel will be available to users without a cable subscription for the first time. The service will be called Showtime, and the network is partnering with Apple on the deal which will bring the service to Apple TV, iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch anywhere in the U.S. as long as a subscription to the app is purchased. Subscribers will have access to the network’s series, along with movies, documentaries and sports programming. (UR)

Disney Keeps Mining Its Animated Fare For Live Action Remakes, Turns Next To ‘Fantasia’ …

Studio is targeting the sequence Night on Bald Mountain for a feature project, with Dracula Untold writers Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless are tackling the challenge of turning the roughly 11-minute sequence into a dark fantasy adventure. They’ll be using the Maleficent model of filling in some backstory for the dark, winged creature who raises spirits from the dead for a night of mayhem before they start to fade in the light of the rising sun. (EMP)

And Also Targets ‘Sister Act’ For the Remake Treatment, as Well

The Mouse House is dusting off one of its most successful comedies of the early 1990s and has hired Kirsten "Kiwi" Smith and Karen McCullah to write the latest chapter in the franchise, which spawned the 1992 original starring Whoopi Goldberg, a 1993 sequel and a Tony-winning Broadway musical. It is unclear at this point if Goldberg would return for a third outing in some capacity. (THR)

Feeling Lucky? Rights Owners Are Putting ‘Grizzly Adams’ Rights Up For Sale

Julie (Sellier) Swindell and co-owner/managing partner Tod Swindell are putting the film, TV, merchandising, licensing and novelization rights for the iconic California mountain man who launched a 1970s film and subsequent NBC television series on the block. Part Jeremiah Johnson, part Wild Animal Whisperer, Adams was a Boston-educated man with an impressive lineage who moved west to search for gold and became a hunter/tracker. He ended up becoming a conservationist who lived with grizzly bears and befriended the Miwok Indians. (DH)

Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury Might Not Be in ‘Captain America: Civil War’, but He Won’t Be Leaving the Marvel Cinematic Universe Any Time Soon

In an interview for his upcoming action flick Big Game, the actor confirmed that he won't be in next year’s Marvel film — and that he isn’t sure why not — but also that he still has two more movies on his contract with the studio and plans to extend his contract well beyond.  (COL)

The Director Of the Upcoming ‘MacBeth’ Adaptation Keeps Filling Up His Very Busy Schedule

Director Justin Kurzel has got a new project brewing with writing partner Michael Lesslie, as the duo have set up Haven with Film4 and Element Pictures, with Kurzel directing and Lesslie writing. Plot details are still being kept scarce, though it will be a psychological thriller that takes place in a mental hospital. It will go after the duo work on Assassin's Creed, starring Michael Fassbender for 20th Century Fox, which is due in cinemas next year. (TP)

‘Tangled’ Fans Rejoice: Disney Channel Is Turning the Movie Into a TV Show

Mandy Moore will return from the 2010 film to voice Rapunzel on the small screen, alongside Zachary Levi, who voiced Flynn Rider (aka Eugene). Tangled the show will be set between the events of the movie and the 2012 short sequel, Tangled Ever After, which followed Rapunzel and Flynn Rider's wedding. The series will follow Rapunzel as she acquaints herself with her parents, her kingdom and the people of Corona. (HP)

TV Season In Review: What Shows Did We Tweet About the Most?

Throughout this TV season, fans have taken to Twitter to discuss edge-of-your-seat moments and minute-by-minute action. Whether to celebrate a game winning shot, mourn a fallen character or gasp at a scandalous plot twist, thumbs across the U.S. tapped furiously, sending millions of Tweets and generating over a billion impressions on average each week. (NC)

James Wan’s Two Big Gigs, Promotion Day At Universal TV, Roberto Clemente Gets Biopic Treatment, Alibaba’s Fund Raise

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It’s Been a Big Two Days For James Wan, Who Signs To Direct Two Enormous Movies

Yesterday came the news that Wan will helm Warner Bros.’ adaptation of the DC Comics hero Aquaman, and right after that Sony announced that the Conjuring and Furious 7 helmer will also be handling directing duties on its Robotech adaptation. Gianni Nunnari and Mark Canton are producing, with a script by Michael Gordon. (SF)

It’s Promotion Day At Universal TV, and the Big Winner Is Bela Bajaria

Amid a shakeup of NBC’s comedy programming department, Bajaria has been promoted to president of Universal Television while the studio’s comedy chief, Tracey Pakosta, shifts to NBC as exec VP of comedy programming. Bajaria had been exec VP of Universal TV since joining the Peacock in 2011. The promotion is a recognition of her success in revitalizing NBC’s revamped production operation. (VAR)

Legendary Is Right! Thomas Tull’s Production Company To Make a Roberto Clemente Biopic

After tackling the life of baseball great Jackie Robinson with 42, Legendary is returning to the ballpark with a biopic of Roberto Clemente, the Pittsburgh Pirates legend who was the first Latino inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. The company has picked up the rights to David Maraniss’ book Clemente: The Passion and Grace of Baseball’s Last Hero and has entered into an agreement with Clemente’s family for his life rights. (THR)

Alibaba Pictures Intends To Raise $1.6 Billion Through a Sale Of Its Shares

The film division of Jack Ma’s online empire made the announcement, and the Hong Kong-listed film unit said it will use the extra funds on acquisitions to boost its presence in the growing Chinese film market. Alibaba Pictures has seen its share price rocket by 160% this year amid consumer confidence both in the perception it is being positioned to become a major player in China. (DH)

The Truth Is Out There For Joel McHale, Who Joins the New ‘X-Files’ Limited Series

The Community star will play Tad O’Malley, the loudmouth anchor of a popular Internet news network that forms an unlikely alliance with Mulder as the FBI agents return for a six-episode revival, presumably with more conspiracies to investigate or strange events to encounter. He joins stars Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny, as well as Mitch Pileggi. The six-episode event series will premiere in 2016. (EMP)

After Three Seasons Of Being Discussed In Absentia, Sherlock’s Dad Is Finally Coming To ‘Elemantary’

Fringe and Sleepy Hollow star John Noble will be joining the cast of the hit CBS drama for a season-long arc to play the detective’s estranged (and much-discussed) father. Season 3 ended with Sherlock suffering a relapse and once again hooked on heroin and word that his father had found out and was on his way. He will arrive with the start of the new season in the fall. (EW)

Have You Ever Wondered Why Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld Killed Off George’s Fiancée on ‘Seinfeld’? Finally, Some Answers

During a hilarious interview with Howard Stern, Jason Alexander — George Constanza himself— revealed that it was all about the cast’s difficulty working with actress Heidi Swedberg. Alexander goes out of his way to praise the actress as a person, but goes into detail about what led to the fateful, and much reviled, decision that ended Season 7 of the show. A three-minute audio snippet of the interview is included and worth your time if you’re a Seinfeld fan. (CB)

First Look: ‘Everest’

Universal has released the first images from the upcoming thriller, based on real events, that details the horrific 1996 tragedy on the world’s highest mountain in which eight climbers were killed. Jason Clarke, Josh Brolin, John Hawkes, Robin Wright, Michael Kelly, Sam Worthington, Keira Knightley, Emily Watson and Jake Gyllenhaal star in the film, which hits theaters September 18th. (TP)

Trailer Buzz: ‘Mistress America’

Fox Searchlight Pictures has just revealed the trailer for the new comedy drama starring Greta Gerwig and newcomer Lola Kirke. The film re-teams Gerwig with Academy Award-nominated director Noah Baumbach, who previously worked with the star on both Greenberg and Frances Ha. Baumbach and Gerwig also collborated on the Mistress America screenplay. It hits theaters August 14th. (CS)

Screenwriters: Dream Big, Work Small-ish — On Writing Low Budget Screenplays

There are six people who could actually make those big budget, tentpole pictures happen, and you don’t know any of them. On the other hand, there are about three thousand people who can work with a small, low-budget script, and you know a lot of them. (SS)

Film Development for 6/4/15: Open Road Picks Up Liam Neeson Film, James Wan Swims to ‘Aquaman’, Zoe Kravtiz in for ‘Black Belle’

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at arrivals for THE GREY Premiere, Regal Cinemas L.A. Live, Los Angeles, CA January 11, 2012. Photo By: Michael Germana/Everett Collection

NEW ATTACHMENTS

The Alchemist Logline: A young Andalusian shepherd who, one night, dreams of distant treasure in the Egyptian pyramids literally follows his dream and heads off on a journey to understand the meaning of life. Studio/Distributor: The Weinstein Company Production Company(s): Cinema Gypsy Productions, Inc. Producer(s): Laurence Fishburne, Helen Sugland, Harvey Weinstein Writers: John Fusco, David Siegel, Scott McGehee, Patrick Cirillo, Jeremy Leven Director: Laurence Fishburne Cast: Laurence Fishburne, Idris Elba Notes: ased on the novel "The Alchemist" written by Paulo Coelho and published in English by HarperTorch in 1993. SSN Insight: Alfonso Cuaron was previously attached to direct. Project was previously in development at Warner Bros. Deals haven’t been confirmed, but The Weinstein Company is in discussions with Laurence Fishburne and Idris Elba and to shoot in 2016.

A Willing Patriot Logline: A man stares evil in the face and must sacrifice himself to destroy it. Studio/Distributor: Open Road Films Production Company(s): Management 360, Hollywood Gang Productions, MadRiver Pictures Producer(s): Gianni Nunnari, Guymon Casady, Darin Friedman, Jason Keller, Marc Butan Writer: Jason Keller Director: Martin Zandvliet Cast: Liam Neeson SSN Insight: Project was previously set up at Warner Bros. Josh Brolin was previously attached to star. Jose Padilha was previously attached to direct.

Black Belle Logline: Follows a loner/bounty hunter who specializes in revenge killing when a client shows up with information about her mother’s murderer. It takes a turn when she realizes just who the alleged killer really is. Production Company(s): Brain Scratch, Mad Riot Ent. Producer(s): Chad Simpson, Mark Canton, Lawrence Smith, David Hopwood, Dorothy Canton Cast: Zoe Kravitz SSN Insight: Kravitz most recently can be seen in Mad Max: Fury Road and next in Dope on June 19. She just finished filming Gerardo Naranjo’s Viena And The Fantomes opposite Dakota Fanning and Vincent-N-Roxxy with Emilie Hirsch.

Transformers Sequels and Spin-offs Logline: Storyline under wraps. Studio/ Distributor: Paramount Pictures Production Company: Hasbro Inc, Platinum Dunes, Amblin Entertainment, Di Bonaventura Pictures, Weed Road Pictures Producers: Michael Bay, Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Steven Spielberg, Akiva Goldsman Writer: Robert Kirkman, Art Marcum, Matt Holloway, Zak Penn, Jeff Pinker, Christina Hodson, Lindsey Beer SSN Insight: The producers are organizing a “writer’s room” to develop story ideas for this two-part sequel as well as potential spinoff projects. Hodson is also penning the upcoming reboot of The Fugitive, and the sci-fi film Eden Project. Beer penned a screenplay for the Short Circuit remake and has also sold the live-action family comedy Dig to Disney.

Frindle Logline: Follows a fifth grader named Nick Allen that comes up with an argument about how objects are named and where words come from, spurring Nick to rename a pen, calling it a “frindle.” Much to Mrs. Granger’s dismay, Nick inadvertently starts a world-wide phenomenon with the new word. Production Company(s): Gulfstream Pictures and Screaming Mama Productions Producer(s): Mike Karz, Bill Bindley Writer(s): Sam Harper Cast: Susan Sarandon Notes: Based on the novel of the same name by Andrew Clements published by Aladdin Paperbacks in 1996 which has won 35 awards. SSN Insight: Sarandon will next be seen in the dramatic comedy Three Generations, with Naomi Watts and Elle Fanning.

The Oxford Logline: The story follows a junior year college student, Allison Gallagher, who studies abroad in England, where she falls in love with her young British professor Jamie Davenport. Their budding relationship becomes complicated, however, when she finds out that he has leukemia. Studio/Distributor: Screen Gems, Temple Hill Entertainment Producers: Marty Bowen and Wyck Godfrey Writers: Medeni Griffiths and Julia Wehlan Cast: Melissa Benoist SSN Insight: Theo James has been offered a role. Supergirl star Melissa Benoist has been mentioned but not confirmed. The screenplay was originally written by Friends With Benefits writers David A. Newman and Keith Merryman and rewritten by Allison Burnett prior to Griffiths and Wehlan.

Aquaman Logline: Aquaman is caught between a rock and a hard place when the creatures of the sea want to revolt against the surface world. Studio/Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures Production Company(s): DC Entertainment, Atlas Entertainment, Cruel & Unusual Films Producer(s): Charles Roven, Deborah Snyder, Zack Snyder Writer(s): Kurt Johnstad, Jeff Nichols, Will Beall Director(s): James Wan Cast: Jason Momoa Notes: Based on the character Aquaman appearing in DC Comics. The character was created by Paul Norris and Mort Weisinger and debuted in More Fun Comics #73 in November 1941. SSN Insight: Project was previously in development with Riche Productions producing a screenplay by Ben Grant. Project is being developed on two tracks where the studio and producers are hiring two separate writers in anticipation of getting the best version of the film. Will Beall and Kurt Johnstad are each writing a separate script.

Big Trouble in Little China Logline: Trucker Jack Burton gets dragged into a centuries-old mystical battle in San Francisco’s Chinatown. Studio/Distributor: 20th Century Fox Production Company(s): 7 Bucks Entertainment Producer(s): Dany Garcia, Hiram Garcia, Dwayne Johnson Writer(s): Ashley Edward Miller, Zack Stentz Cast: Dwayne Johnson Notes: Remake of "Big Trouble in Little China" (1986) directed by John Carpenter and starring Kurt Russell. SSN Insight: Miller and Stentz previously teamed up on Thor and X-Men: First Class. Johnson is in talks to star, but has not been confirmed.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (Part One) Logline: 70 years before Harry Potter’s birth, Newton Artemis Fido Scamander is commissioned to write a reference guide to magical beasts, which would become a Hogwart’s textbook. Studio/Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures Production Company(s): Heyday Films, Wigram Productions, Bronte Film and Television Producer(s): David Heyman, Steve Kloves, Lionel Wigram, J.K. Rowling Writer(s): J.K. Rowling Director(s): David Yates Cast: Eddie Redmayne Notes: Based on the novel "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" by J.K. Rowling; published by Arthur A. Levine June 2001 . SSN Insight: Project is the first in a trilogy. Alfonso Cuaron had previously been mentioned to direct.

Fifty Shades of Black Logline: Storyline of the "50 Shades of Gray" spoof is under wraps. Studio/Distributor: Open Road Films, IM Global Producer(s): Stuart Ford, Marlon Wayans, Matt Alvarez Writer(s): Marlon Wayans, Rick Alvarez Director(s): Mike Tiddes Cast: Marlon Wayans Notes: A spoof on the film “Fifty Shades of Black” (2015). SSN Insight: Open Road will distribute the film in the U.S. on Jan 29 with IM Global to produce and finance.

Ginny Logline: A naive heiress falls for a con-man who is trying to embezzle her family's money. Studio/Distributor: Paramount Pictures Production Company(s): Michaels/Goldwyn, Broadway Video Inc. Producer(s): Andrew Singer, Lorne Michaels Writer(s): Andrew Weinberg Director(s): Peyton Reed Cast: Jason Sudeikis SSN Insight: Jason Sudeikis is in negotiations to star in the offbeat comedy while Comedy Central star Amy Schumer has been offered the lead role.

Henchmen (Animated) Logline: A group of blue-collar workers at the Union of Evil must band together to save the world. Studio/Distributor: WME Entertainment Production Company(s): Bron Studios Producer(s): Aaron Gilbert, Luke Carroll Writer(s): Dennis McNicholas Director(s): Adam Wood Voice Cast: James Marsden, Rosario Dawson, Thomas Middleditch, Alfred Molina, Nathan Fillion, Jane Krakowski, Rob Riggle, Craig Robinson and Will Sasso Notes: Based on the short "Henchmen: Ill Suited" (USA/2014) written and directed by Adam Wood. SSN Insight: Gary Sanchez Productions was formerly to produce the film, but dropped the project due to scheduling problems.

Independence Day 2 Logline: Enemy aliens return to Earth. Studio/Distributor: 20th Century Fox Production Company(s): Centropolis Entertainment, Electric Entertainment Producer(s): Dean Devlin, Roland Emmerich, Harald Kloser Writer(s): James A Woods, Nicolas Wright, Carter Blanchard, James Vanderbilt, Dean Devlin Director(s): Roland Emmerich Cast: Bill Pullman, Jeff Goldblum, Vivica A. Fox, Liam Hemsworth, Jessie Usher, William Fitchtner Notes: Sequel to "Independence Day" (1996) directed by Roland Emmerich and starring Will Smith and Bill Pullman. SSN Insight: Will Smith was previously mentioned to star. Michael B. Jordan was previously in discussions to join the cast.

Leatherface Logline: The origin story of Leatherface’s early years in the 1970s. Studio/Distributor: Nu Image/Millennium Films, Lionsgate Production Company(s): Main Line Pictures Producer(s): Carl Mazzocone, Christa Campbell, Lati Dana Grobman, Les Weldon Writer(s): Seth Sherwood Director(s): Julien Maury, Alexandre Bustillo Cast: Sam Strike, Stephen Dorff, James Bloor, Sam Coleman, Jessica Madsen, Finn Jones Notes: Reboot of "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" (1974) directed by Toby Hooper and starring Marilyn Burns and Gunnar Hansen. SSN Insight: Jones can most recently be seen in “Game of Thrones” as Loras Tyrell.

Life Logline: The friendship between iconic actor James Dean and photographer Dennis Stock is chronicled. Studio/Distributor: Cinedigm Production Company(s): Harold Greenberg Fund, FilmNation, Digital Pictures Iloura, Drive/Media, Barry Films, See-Saw Films, Entertainment One Features Producer(s): Iain Canning, Emile Sherman, Christina Piovesan, Benito Mueller, Wolfgang Mueller Writer(s): Luke Davies Director(s): Anton Corbijn Cast: Robert Pattinson, Dane DeHaan, Joel Edgerton, Ben Kingsley, Alessandra Mastronardi SSN Insight: Cinedigm bought the U.S. distribution rights and is planning a day-and-date fall release for theatrical, digital and VOD.

Life at These Speeds Logline: A teenage track star in rural Missouri faces a devastating loss and hides his overwhelming grief in his running. Production Company(s): Cinema Revival, Inc., Culmination Productions Producer(s): Scott William Alvarez, Peter Holden, Frank Vitolo, Tom Butterfield Writer(s): Marc Novak Director(s): Leif Tilden Cast: Tim Roth, Graham Rogers, Billy Crudup, Yul Vasquez, Melanie Lynskey, Liana Liberato Notes: Based on the novel "Life at These Speeds" written by Jeremy Jackson and published by Thomas Dunne Books on July 5, 2002. SSN Insight: Justin Long previously attached to star. Sam Rockwell previously attached to star. Roth just wrapped shooting on “The Hateful Eight”.

Love Letters to the Dead Logline: When her English teacher gives a grieving high school student the assignment of writing to a dead person, she expands the exercise and begins writing to several departed confidants. Studio/Distributor: Fox 2000 Production Company(s): Temple Hill Entertainment Producer(s): Wyck Godfrey, Marty Bowen Writer(s): Ava Dellaira Director(s): Catherine Hardwicke Notes: Based on the novel "Love Letters to the Dead" written by Ava Dellaira and published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux Books for Young Readers in April, 2014. SSN Insight: Fox 2000 and Temple Hill most recently teamed up on the hit film “The Fault in Our Stars.”

Meg Logline: Centers on two men from opposite points of view that are forced to band together in order to neutralize the terror that’s threatening the California coast. Studio/Distributor: Warner Bros. Producer(s): Colin Wilson, Belle Avery Writer(s): Dean Georgaris (current draft) Director(s): Eric Brevig Notes: Based on the novel "Meg" written by Steve Alten published by Doubleday June 2, 1997. SSN Insight: Long gestating project which is now in active development at WB. Andrew Fischel and Cate Adams will now oversee development for Warner. Jan de Bont previously attached to direct. Thomas Wheeler and Jeffrey Boam previously wrote drafts when the project was set up at Disney. Bantam-Doubleday-Dell has reportedly paid $2.1 million for the publishing rights to this book and its sequel "Phobos."

Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates Logline: Two hard-partying brothers try to get dates for a wedding by placing an ad on Craigslist. Studio/Distributor: 20th Century Fox 20th Century Fox Distribution Production Company(s): Chernin Entertainment Producer(s): Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping, David Ready, Jonathan Levine Writer(s): Andrew Jay Cohen, Brendan O'Brien Director(s): Jake Szymanski Cast: Zac Efron, Adam DeVine, Anna Kendrick, Aubrey Plaza, Stephen Root, Alice Wetterlund Notes: Based on the true story of brothers Mike and Dave Stangle of Albany, New York, who tried to find a wedding date through a Craigslist ad and it went viral, bringing them national attention. A book, "Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates and a Thousand Cocktails" written by Mike and Dave Stangle will be published by Gallery Books on May 19, 2015. SSN Insight: Jonathan Levine was previously attached to direct.

My Dark Places Logline: Focuses on the 1958 murder of James Ellroy’s mother and his attempt to re-investigate some 36 years later, in 1994. Production Company(s): Myriad Pictures Producer(s): James Ellroy, Michael McDonnell Writer(s): Peter Himmelstein, RJ Cutler Director(s): RJ Cutler Notes: Based on the book "My Dark Places" written by James Ellroy and published by Alfred A. Knopf in November 1996. SSN Insight: Project was previously a co-production with Turner Pictures. Project was previously in development with Robert Greenwald Productions. Project was previously in development at Killer Films with Christine Vachon producing. RJ Cutler was behind documentaries “The September Issue” and “The World According to Dick Cheney” and shifted to narrative with “If I Stay”.

Parents Weekend Logline: A college freshman, secretly attending art school, must convince his parents that he's still enrolled in the college of their dreams. Studio/Distributor: Lotus Entertainment Production Company(s): Film 360, Industry Ent. Producer(s): Daniel Rappaport, Ben Forkner, Andrew Deane and Michael Botti Writer(s): Peter Scott SSN Insight: Lotus Entertainment’s slate includes Last Kiss, A Hologram For A King, Fallen, November Criminals, Replicas, Kidnap, and Tiger’s Curse.

Robotech Logline: When an alien spacecraft crashes in the South Pacific, the people of Earth develop giant robots from the alien technology in order to fend off a wave of alien invasions. Studio/Distributor: Sony Pictures Production Company(s): Atmosphere Entertainment MM LLC, Hollywood Gang Productions Producer(s): Gianni Nunnari, Mark Canton Writer(s): Michael Gordon Director(s): James Wan Notes: Based on the 85-episode television series "Robotech" produced by Harmony Gold USA, in association with Tatsunoko, and aired from March to July of 1985. The episodes were edited from the original Japanese anime series. SSN Insight: Nic Mathieu was previously attached to direct. Project was previously set up at Warner Bros. with Tobey Maguire attached to star and Akiva Goldsman attached to produce with drafts by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar.

Rupture Logline: A single mother must escape from the clutches of a mysterious organization that has abducted her, and during her struggles she uncovers a powerful secret about herself. Production Company(s): Tango Pictures, AIC Movie Producer(s): Andrew Lazar, Christina Weiss Lurie, Steven Shainberg, Wynn Wygal, Andrea Iervolino Writer(s): Brian Nelson Director(s): Steven Shainberg Cast: Noomi Rapace, Michael Chiklis, Peter Stormare and Kerry Bishé SSN Insight: In addition to producing Rupture and most recently Mortdecai and American Sniper, Lazar is currently actively developing The Handyman at Warner Bros.

The Belko Experiment Logline: The American Belko Company in South America is mysteriously sealed off at the start of work each day, leaving 79 people trapped in an office building forced to kill each other or be killed. Studio/Distributor: MGM Producer(s): James Gunn, Peter Safran Writer(s): James Gunn Director(s): Greg McLean Cast: Melonie Diaz, John Gallagher Jr., Tony Goldwyn, Michael Rooker, John C. McGinley, Sean Gunn, Steve Agee SSN Insight: Gunn is also slated to direct and produce Marvel-Disney’s Guardians of the Galaxy 2, which will be released on May 5, 2017.

The Dark Tower Logline: The tale of gunslinger Roland Deschain's quest for the Dark Tower. Studio/Distributor: Sony Pictures Production Company(s): Imagine Entertainment, Weed Road Pictures Producer(s): Brian Grazer, Akiva Goldsman, Ron Howard, Erica Huggins, Stephen King Writer(s): Nikolaj Arcel, Akiva Goldsman, Jeff Pinkner Director(s): Nikolaj Arcel 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 Dark Tower" is planned to be the first in a series of movies. A complementary television series is also being developed by co-financier Media Rights Capital. Screenwriters Akiva Goldsman and Jeff Pinkner reportedly started from scratch and disregarded all previous incarnations of the project, primarily basing their new script on the first book in the series to focus on the relationship between gunslinger Roland Deschains and his underling Jake Chambers.

The Do Over Logline: About two down-on-their-luck guys who decide to fake their own deaths and start over with new identities, only to find the people they’re pretending to be are in even deeper trouble. Studio/Distributor: Netflix Production Company(s): Happy Madison Productions Writer(s): Chris Pappas and Kevin Barnett Director(s): Steven Brill Cast: Paula Patton, Adam Sandler, David Spade SSN Insight: The film due out in 2016 will be the second in the four-picture deal that was announced last October by Sandler and Netflix.

Two Kisses for Maddy Logline: After losing his young wife during childbirth, a young man raises his newborn daughter and finds love again. Studio/Distributor: TriStar Productions Production Company(s): Temple Hill Entertainment, Free Association Producer(s): Wyck Godfrey, Marty Bowen, Channing Tatum, Peter Kiernan, Reid Carolin Writer(s): Dana Stevens Cast: Channing Tatum Notes: Based on the book "Two Kisses for Maddy: A Memoir of Loss & Love" written by Matthew Logelin and published by Grand Central April 14, 2011. SSN Insight: Previously in development as a television movie for Lifetime Entertainment Television. Project was previously in development at Di Novi Pictures with Denise Di Novi and Alison Greenspan attached to produce.

Untitled (Disney/Lin Pictures Lottery Project) Logline: In a small town, everyone wins the lottery but one woman. Studio/Distributor: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Production Company(s): Lin Pictures Producer(s): Dan Lin Writer(s): Martin Hynes Director(s): Will Gluck Notes: Based on the article "In Spanish Village, Everyone’s a Winner, Almost," written by Suzanne Daley and published by The New York Times on January 31, 2012. SSN Insight: Steve Carell was previously attached to star.

Untitled (Warner Bros/Sully Sullenberger Project) Logline: The story of Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, the airline pilot who safely landed U.S. Airways flight 1549 on the frozen Hudson River in 2009. Studio/Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures Production Company(s): Kennedy/Marshall Company, Malpaso Productions, Flashlight Films Producer(s): Frank Marshall, Allyn Stewart, Clint Eastwood, Tim Moore Writer(s): Todd Komarnicki Director(s): Clint Eastwood Notes: Based on the book "Highest Duty: My Search for What Really Matters" written by Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger with Jeffrey Zaslow and published by William Morrow on October 13, 2009. SSN Insight: Kathleen Kennedy was previously attached to produce.

NEW FILMS

Guantanamo Diary Logline: The story of a suspected terrorist who has been incarcerated at Guantanamo since 2002, without ever being charged with a crime or having the opportunity to defend himself in court. Producers: Lloyd Levin, Michael Bronner Writer: Michael Bronner Notes: Based on the memoir of Slahi who remains imprisoned. SSN Insight: Levin and Bronner were also behind United 93 and Green Zone. Bronner has covered terrorism and Guantanamo Bay extensively after 9/11 as a 60 Minutes producer before he got into film.

A Rented Life Logline: The story follows an African-American studio executive that is sued for misrepresenting a woman in a film about the Civil Rights Movement. She then must travel to Birmingham Alabama to stand trial, where she falls in love with her lawyer and takes time to re-evaluate her life, causing her to rethink her workaholic Hollywood lifestyle. Production Company: Harpo Films Producer(s): Oprah Winfrey Writer: Leah Keith Notes: Based on the novel of the same name written by Harpo Films producer and writer Leah Keith. SSN Insight: Winfrey’s upcoming slate a musical remake of The Color Purple and the mystery drama The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. Haven Logline: A psychological chiller set in a mental facility, plot details are being kept under wraps. Production Company(s): Element Pictures, Film4 Producers: Ed Guiney, Lee Magiday Writers: Michael Lesslie, Justin Kurzel SSN Insight: The writing duo recently penned the critically acclaimed adaptation of Macbeth starring Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard and will reunite on Assassin’s Creed to also star Fassbender.

Clemente Logline: The true story of baseball's Roberto Clemente, a devoted family man, world class athlete and a compassionate humanitarian. Production Company(s): Legendary Entertainment, Pantelion Films, Fuego Films Producer(s): Thomas Tull, Jon Jashni, Ben Silverman, Jay Weisleder, Sandra Condito Notes: Based on the book "Clemente: The Passion and Grace of Baseball's Last Hero" by David Maraniss; published by Simon & Schuster April 25, 2006. SSN Insight: Legendary has bought the rights to the book and entered into an agreement with Clemente’s family for his life rights.

Inconceivable Logline: Storyline is under wraps, but is a thriller set in the Hamptons. Studio/Distributor: Lionsgate, Grindstone Entertainment Group Production Company(s): Emmett/Furla/Oasis Films, Hilary Shor Productions, Baker Entertainment Group Producer(s): Randall Emmett, George Furla, Jonathan Baker, Mike Burns, Hilary Shor Writer(s): Chloe King Director(s): Jonathan Baker SSN Insight: Lindsay Lohan was previously attached to star and produce. First film in deal in production pact between Emmett/Furla/Oasis Films and Baker Ent. Group. Budget is set at $15 million with a September start date. Lumberjanes Logline: A group of girls who are spending their summer at scout camp encounter strange creatures and supernatural phenomena an have to battle with them. Studio/Distributor: 20th Century Fox Production Company(s): Boom! Studios Producer(s): Ross Richie, Stephen Christy Writer(s): Will Widger Notes: Based on the comic book series "Lumberjanes" written by Shannon Watters, Grace Ellis and Noelle Stevenson, and illustrated by Brooke A. Allen, which was first published by Boom Box! in 2014. SSN Insight: Fox is rumored to be looking for a female director to helm the adaptation of the Eisner-winning hit comic.

Night on Bald Mountain Logline: This live-action film is based on the sequence in "Fantasia" in which a dark, winged creature raises spirits from the dead to dance through a night of mayhem to Mussorgsky’s music. Studio/Distributor: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Writer(s): Matt Sazama, Burk Sharpless Notes: Based on the "Night on Bald Mountain" sequence from the animated film "Fantasia" (1940) directed by Wilfred Jackson. SSN Insight: The screenwriting duo also penned Dracula Untold, The Last Witch Hunter, and Gods of Egypt that will open in April 2016.

Sister Act Logline: Storyline of the remake is under wraps, but is based on the story of a singer in protective custody from the mob hides out as a nun in a convent. Studio/Distributor: Disney Production Company(s): Allison Shearmur Productions Producer(s): Allison Shearmur Writer(s): Kirsten "Kiwi" Smith, Karen McCullah Lutz Notes: Remake of "Sister Act" (1992) directed by Emile Ardolino and starring Whoopi Goldberg and Maggie Smith. SSN Insight: Shearmur recently produced Disney’s live action hit film Cinderella.

Turn of Mind Logline: The best friend of a retired surgeon with Alzheimer’s is murdered, and four fingers are surgically removed, so the surgeon becomes the prime suspect. Studio/Distributor: Fox 2000 Production Company(s): The Jackal Group Producer(s): Gail Berman, Gideon Raff Notes: Based on the novel "Turn of Mind" written by Alice LaPlante and published by Atlantic Monthly Press in 2011. SSN Insight: Raff is credited with creating the Israeli drama series “Prisoners of War,” and has won multiple Emmys for writing its adaptation “Homeland.”

Untitled (Fox 2000/James Frey Sci-Fi Project) Logline: Storyline is under wraps. Studio/Distributor: Fox 2000 Production Company: Getaway Productions Producer(s): James Frey, Joe Russo, Anthony Russo. Notes: Based on the proposed, untitled science fiction space franchise to be written by James Frey. SSN Insight: Fox 2000 is in talks to set up the feature, but has not been confirmed. The working title is Space Runners.

West of Sunset Logline: F. Scott Fitzgerald struggles to start a new career as a screenwriter in 1930s Hollywood. Production Company(s): Sidney Kimmel Entertainment Producer(s): Sidney Kimmel Director(s): James Ponsoldt Notes: Based on the novel "West of Sunset" written by Stewart O'Nan and published by Viking on January 13, 2015. SSN Insight: Ponsoldt directed the David Foster Wallace biopic The End of the Tour, a hit at Sundance which will release on July 31. He has also lined up the futuristic The Circle to star Tom Hanks.

The Most Important Thing To Have On Page One, Michael Bay Slates ‘Time Salvager’, Bruce Willis Goes To China, Film Development For 6/4/15

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SSN ORIGINALS

The Most Important Thing To Have On Page One of Your Script … Tension

Todd Klick’s stories have earned accolades with the prestigious Nicholl Fellowship and the PAGE International screenwriting competitions. In his screenwriting book, Something Startling Happens: The 120 Story Beats Every Writer Needs To Know, he reveals the 120 minute-by-minute story genome that unites all successful films. It shows you what makes great movies tick. SSN has an exclusive excerpt. (SSN)

Film Development For 6/4/15: Open Road Picks Up Liam Neeson Film, Zoe Kravitz In For ‘Black Belle’, and More

It’s been a busy week in the film world, with big news like James Wan signing up for two enormous studio flicks, a pair of big attachments for the Weinsteins’ The Alchemist, a pair of new writers for the Transformers writers room and the star of the upcoming Supergirl landing a big film part. Some remake news, as well, but you’ll want to click the link for that. (SSN)

TODAY’S HEADLINES

Michael Bay May or May Not Make Another ‘Transformers’ Film Next, but Now He’s Also Got ‘Time Salvager’ On His Slate

Bombastic filmmaker and producer is planning to adapt interstellar yarn Time Salvager, an as-yet unpublished novel by Wesley Chu. Story follows a convict called James Griffin-Mars, a man whose suitability for time travel sees him sent on a mission to recover the resources Earth needs to survive. Along the way he meets a scientist from the past who’s destined to die on an ocean rig. He brings her back to the future, turning them both into fugitives. (EMP)

Bruce Willis Is Heading East For His Next Flick, a World War II Chinese-Language Epic

The Die Hard star will headline a $56 million 3D Chinese-language war epic, The Bombing, about Japan's aerial bombardment of the southwestern city of Chongqing in World War II. The film is due to be released early next year. Directed by Xiao Feng, the film will feature a host of big-name Asia stars, including South Korea's Song Seung-heon, Hong Kong actors Nicholas Tse and William Chen, and Chinese actor Liu Ye. (THR)

From Bone-Chilling Horror To Lesbian Romance, Jennifer Kent Lands Her Next Directing Gig

Sidney Kimmel Entertainment has acquired rights to the Alexis Coe non-fiction book Alice + Freda Forever. Kent, who directed The Babadook, will helm and will write the script. Berlanti Productions is producing, and SKE will develop it, finance the film and produce. The book tells the story of a budding romantic relationship between two young girls in 1892 Memphis, Tennessee that incited a sensational murder and shocked the nation. (DH)

All Good Things Must Come To an End, Even the Beloved Teen Drama, ’Degrassi’

Degrassi: The Next Generation will officially wrap after 14 seasons with its series finale this summer on TeenNick, the cabler announced today. The Canadian teen drama, which debuted in 2001, will close with a two-week finale event, kicking off with an hourlong special July 20th, followed by new episodes each day of the week, ending on July 31st with the final episode. (VAR)

Big News From the Tech World, Online Video Revenue to Pass DVDs This Year, Theaters in 2017

Spending on movie downloads and video streaming subscriptions in the U.S. will surpass purchases and rentals of DVDs for the first time this year, according to a report from PricewaterhouseCooopers. Electronic home-video revenue will climb 13% to $9.5 billion this year, while physical sales drop to $7.8 billion. By 2017, the electronic revenue will reach $12 billion, at which point it will exceed the U.S. film box office, according to the report. (AA)

Trailer Buzz, Part 1: ‘Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation’

Paramount and Skydance have released the latest look at the hotly anticipated fifth movie in Tom Cruise’s franchise. The new outing also stars Jeremy Renner, Ving Rhames, Rebecca Ferguson, Simon Pegg and Alec Baldwin, and hits theaters July 30th. (CS)

Trailer Buzz, Part 2: ‘Everest’

Universal has released the first trailer for its mountaineering thriller, based on the real-life events of the catastrophe at Mount Everest in 1996. The ensemble cast includes Jason Clarke, Josh Brolin, John Hawkes, Robin Wright, Michael Kelly, Sam Worthington, Keira Knightley, Emily Watson, Elizabeth Delbecki and Jake Gyllenhaal, and hits theaters September 18th. (TP)

Trailer Buzz, Part 3: ‘Suffragette’

Fox Searchlight has released the latest look at the new drama detailing the fight for women’s rights to vote in early 20th century Britain. Mulligan, Helena Bonham Carter, Brendan Gleeson, Anne-Marie Duff, Ben Whishaw, Romola Garai, Natalie Press and Meryl Streep star in the film, which hits theaters October 23rd. (YT)

‘Transformers’ Writers Room Answers, AwesomenessTV Explores Theatrical, DiCaprio and Bay Teaming For Cycling Flick

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Akiva Goldsman Adds Two More To ‘Transformers’ Writers Room, Explains What They’re Doing

Ken Nolan and Geneva Robertson-Dworet have been set to join the group of writers who, starting Monday, will gather in an office on the Paramount lot to hatch the next iterations of the franchise. Those scribes join Christina Hodson and Lindsey Beer, Andrew Barrer & Gabriel billion-dollar Ferrari, and original members Robert Kirkman, Art Marcum & Matt Holloway, Zak Penn and Jeff Pinkner. So what exactly is this brain trust going to do? Goldsman explains. (DH)

AwesomenessTV Explores Theatrical Distribution, Takes Another Step On the Road To Total World Domination

The online network and content creator is exploring theatrical distribution avenues as it builds an ambitious film business following the stunning social success last year of Expelled. Kelly Day, chief digital officer at the company owned 75 percent by DreamWorks and 25 percent by Hearst, broke the news yesterday to attendees at the two-day Stream Market conference in Santa Monica. (SD)

The New Dream Team? Leonardo DiCaprio and Michael Bay Pairing For Rwanandan Cycling Movie

Bay and DiCaprio are in talks to set up the untitled project at Paramount, with the duo on board to produce via their respective shingles, Appian Way and Bay Films. The new Rwandan project, which is still in early development and does not have a script, centers on Jacques “Jock” Boyer, the first American cyclist to race in the Tour de France. He later took a disparate group of Rwandans, and forged them into Team Rwanda, taking them to races around the globe. (THR)

It Looks Like Emily Blunt Might Just Be ‘The Girl On the Train’ For Tate Taylor and DreamWorks

The Edge Of Tomorrow and Into the Woods star is circling the lead role in Taylor’s adaptation of Paula Hawkins’ runaway bestseller. The novel follows Rachel, a woman who recently became divorced and who spends her daily train commute fantasizing about the perfect couple in a house she passes only to one day see something shocking that gets her caught up in a mystery. (CS)

MTV Launches New YouTube Channel, Series About Race

Cable network’s new channel, MTV News, will include celebrity interviews as well as fashion, music, movie, and current events-related content alongside YouTube comedian Franchesca Ramsey’s new show, Decoded, which “decodes” racial stereotypes in a frank but humorous manner. Future episodes of the show will include interactive content, letting viewers join the discussions Ramsey sparks each week. (TVI)

Two Sides To Every Story: Josh Trank Offers His Version Of Why He Left the ‘Star Wars Anthology’ Film

When Josh Trank announced May 1st that he was dropping out of the project less than a year after being brought on to direct, it didn’t take a Jedi master to intuit that the news would cause a major disturbance in the Force. But speaking publicly about his departure from the project for the first time, Trank — the director of 2012's sci-fi sleeper hit Chronicle and the upcoming Fantastic Four reboot — says he wasn’t prepared for just how nasty things would get. (LAT)

Trailer Buzz, Part 1: ‘Vacation’

Warner Bros. has released the new red band trailer for its reboot of the Chevy Chase franchise. Now, with Ed Helms in the lead role, and joined in the cast by Christina Applegate, Leslie Mann, Chris Hemsworth, Keegan-Michael Key, Nick Kroll and Charlie Day, it hits theaters on July 31st. (COL)

Trailer Buzz, Part 2: ‘Z For Zachariah’

Roadside Attractions has released the first trailer for the apocalyptic drama, which premiered to favorable reviews at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year and stars Margot Robbie, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Chris Pine. It is set for release on August 21st. (IW)

Trailer Buzz, Part 3: ‘Suffragette’

Focus Features has released the latest look at the new drama detailing the fight for women’s rights to vote in early 20th century Britain. Mulligan, Helena Bonham Carter, Brendan Gleeson, Anne-Marie Duff, Ben Whishaw, Romola Garai, Natalie Press and Meryl Streep star in the film, which hits theaters October 23rd. (YT)

Screenwriters: ‘Short Term 12’

The 79-page screenplay for the independent film, by Destin Daniel Cretton and dated August 31st, 2012. (GITS)

Exec Shuffle 6/5/15: TriStar TV Relaunch, Endemol Shine Fills Up Roster Plus New Hires at Lionsgate and STX

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Company Launches, Partnerships & Deals

Bela Bajaria has been upped to president of Universal Television and the studio’s comedy chief, Tracey Pakosta will now be EVP of comedy programming at NBC. Bajaria had been exec VP of Universal TV since joining the network back in 2011. The shakeup also includes, Vernon Sanders, who will move from overseeing comedy development at NBC to his previous role as head of the network’s current programming.

Creative company Logan has opened a virtual reality division to be headed by co-founder/director Ben Conrad. Its first project is for Oculus Rift entitled Virtual Drift, was through agency The Brooklyn Brothers featuring Formula Drifter Matt Powers.

Image Nation Abu Dhabi is partnering with Discovery Communications to launch Quest Arabiya, a new free-to-air Arabic-language channel for the Middle East and North Africa to launch in 2015 with offices in the UAE. Quest Arabiya will target Arab men aged 16-44 with factual and reality programs with locally-produced original material as well as localized content from Discovery’s library. Genres will be similar to the Discovery Channel’s current offerings. Image Nation’s Carl von Doussa will lead the new channel.

Disney has partnered with giant Youku Tudou for the local marketing of its Marvel films and TV shows. Youku Tudou will exclusively market the studio’s properties via trailers, ticketing, live events and original programming dedicated to theatrical features to its 500M unique monthly users.

Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman has signed an overall deal with AMC. The overall deal excludes Kirkman’s latest comic-to-TV show at Cinemax titled Outcast.

TriStar Television is being relaunched as a boutique production unit within Sony Pictures Television. Suzanne Patmore Gibbs will be running the unit, following her three year stint as EVP drama development for Sony Pictures Television. The new division will focus on a small number of projects, including The Good Girls Revolt, which is being picked up to pilot by Amazon.

Heads at Emmett/Furla/Oasis Films have signed a production pact with Baker Entertainment Group to co-finance and co-produce three films starting with the $15 million budgeted thriller Inconceivable.

Korea’s CJ Entertainment has entered a film production and investment joint venture with Thailand’s Major Cineplex Group for a slate of 10 Korean-Thai co-productions and local films during the next three years to multiply their business across Southeast Asia. CJ will work with Thai talent, both established and emerging, in a bid to cultivate the local business. Since 2000, CJ has sold and distributed 290 Korean films in Thailand.

FILM

Robin Chandler, the former publicity head at Pixar Animation Studios, has been tapped by DreamWorks Animation as head of theatrical publicity. She will report to Jim Gallagher, head of the company’s theatrical marketing. Previously Robin was at Pixar for six years and before that was head of product publicity for Electronic Arts.

Ross Fanger has been tapped as the EVP and Head of Physical Production for the STX Entertainment Motion Picture Group and will handle physical and postproduction on all new projects produced by the film studio. After a decade at FOX he was most recently head of physical production at Marvel Studios.

Lionsgate has brought Joanna Massey on to be their VP Corporate Communications & Investor Relations, a new position. Massey will work closely as a corporate spokesperson and help develop corporate media strategies and messaging worldwide, assist with investor relations and collaborate on theatrical publicity initiatives. She will report to Peter Wilkes and Julie Fontaine. Previously she was SVP Media Relations at UPN and SVP Corporate Communications & Publicity for Hub Network.

Federico San Martin has been named the VP of Global Consumer Products, The Jim Henson Company, he was formerly the head of Global Toys, DreamWorks Studios.

TV

Endemol Shine USA unscripted television President Eden Gaha and EVP Rob Smith have added a slew of people to their team. Linda Giambrone, formerly EVP and Head of Production for Shine America, has been named EVP and Head of Unscripted Production and will handle production for the company’s entire reality portfolio. Showrunner Georgie Hurford-Jones has joined the company as SVP, Unscripted Programming. Rachel Dax has been upped from VP to SVP, Unscripted Production, reporting to Giambrone. Dax will oversee all day-to-day production for Endemol Shine USA’s unscripted programming. Robin Feinberg has been upped from VP to SVP in programming and will continue to oversee day-to-day programming efforts on multiple series. In unscripted development, Michael Weinberg has been promoted from VP to SVP while Laura Gibson and Christopher Potts have both signed on as VPs of unscripted development.

Carlos Deschapelles has been named the EVP of Network & Digital Sales at Univision Communications, he was previously the SVP of Sports Sales at the company.

Sarah Etherden has been named director of Corporate Communications at Blue Ant Media in Toronto. She was formerly the Communications Manager at Teletoon.

Michael Page has been named VP of digital local sales at Tribune Broadcasting. He comes from Gannett Digital Ventures and reports to Angela Betasso, senior VP of sales.

Michael Gara has been named SVP of Programming at Karga 7 Pictures. He was previously VP of Development at Endemol Shine Group.

Comcast has hired Chris Satchell as their Chief Product Officer. Satchell has specialized in consumer gadgets with experience at Nike, IGT, and Microsoft’s Interactive Entertainment Business. He’ll report to Comcast Cable CTO Tony Werner and handle teams in Philadelphia, Denver and Silicon Valley.

PactUS has tapped veteran reality TV executive producer Matt Gould as EVP of East Coast operations. The TV and content producers’ company was launched recently by former Nat Geo Channel CEO David Lyle. Gould was previously the EVP of Zig Zag Productions, where he led business and programming efforts for networks including Syfy, National Geographic, A&E, Nickelodeon and others.

LZ Granderson is joining ABC News as a contributor. LZ will continue as a senior writer at ESPN where he has worked since 2005 in such roles as NBA and tennis editor; host and co-producer of a variety of digital shows; and a member of their on-air tennis coverage team.  Previously, LZ was a CNN contributor and worked at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and The Grand Rapids Press among others.

Dave Kaylor is now the director of Veteran Recruiting at Hearst Television in Boston. Before he was the Director of Engineering at WCVB-TV.

Scott Kirkpatrick has been named the SVP of North American Sales at the Digital Rights Group. He was previously the Executive Director, Distribution at MarVista Entertainment.

Kate Llewellyn-Jones has been named the Managing Director at TCB Media Rights in London. She was previously the SVP of Sales Management for France and Germany at Cineflix Rights.

Alex Baskin has been named partner of Programming & Development at Evolution Media in addition to his EVP status. Robert Carroll has been named VP of Current Programming at Evolution, up from his executive producer title.

Jeff Bumgarner has been named VP of programming at Original Productions, up from EP. He joins John Gray who has been promoted to SVP from VP of Programming & Development. Sarah Whalen has been promoted to EVP from SVP of Programming & Development at the company.

Scott Miller has been promoted from VP to SVP and Associate General Counsel, Legal & Business Affairs, Turner Content Distribution, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. in Atlanta.

Mark Neal has been named the Director of Current Programming at Lighthearted Entertainment, up from Development Producer there.

Scott Paskoff has been named the VP of Development & Programming at Keshet DCP, he was previously VP of Development at Bodega Pictures.

Ed Simpson has been promoted from VP to SVP of Business Development & International at Leftfield Entertainment. Shawn Witt has been promoted from VP to SVP of Programming there. Will Nothacker has likewise been upped from VP to SVP of Development.

Kurt Patat has been hired on as SVP of Corporate Communications at CMT. He was previously VP of Communications at MTV.

Daysun Perkins has been named SVP of Programming & Development, West Coast at Spectrum. He was previously a Development Executive at 44 Blue Productions.

CNN has tapped Dan Pfeiffer as a contributor. Until March he was the White House’s senior adviser for strategy and communications. He joined Obama’s presidential campaign in 2007 in communications and then served as communications director for much of Obama’s first term, before being promoted to senior adviser for the first two years of Obama’s second term.

Management, PR, Agencies

CAA has hired Maren Olson as an agent in the Film Finance & Sales Group. Maren was previously president of Traction Media.

Carolyn Hunt is now a partner at Barnes & Thornburg. She was previously a partner at Loeb & Loeb.

Jessica Marlow has been promoted to Partner at Weintraub Tobin, up from associate.

Paul Reader has been named VP and Chief Strategy Officer at Andrew E. Freedman Public Relations.

Music, Digital, Publishing, Misc.

Time Warner CFO Arthur Minson will be departing the company but stay on to advise TWC as it seeks to complete its sale to Charter Communications. WeWork, a privately held company that rents office space and services to independent and start-up firms has named him on as president and COO.

Kate Shepherd is the new EVP of Content at Contend, she was previously the VP of Development at Shine America. Jon Sneider joins her as the new CMO and EVP of Client Partnerships at Contend. He hails from RedFin where he was VP of Advertising and Brands.

Digital media company Mashable has tapped Eric Korsh as their new director of Mashable Studios, its video programming and branded entertainment division. There he will oversee a team to develop, produce and distribute original video programming and branded video content for advertisers.

Michael Minkler has been named the Chief Creative Officer at Moving Pictures Media Group along with his title as Managing Director.

Snapchat has named Sean Mills their head of original content. He was previously the president of The Onion and helped it grow to a readership of 10 million. In his new role he will grow the social media company’s ever-expanding slate of original programming. Mills will report to Nick Bell.

Vulture has hired Neil Janowitz as the editorial director of the New York magazine's online culture and entertainment section. He most recently was the assistant managing editor of EW.com

Ronnie Ycong has been upped from VP to SVP of Exhibitor Relations & Operations, Spotlight Cinema Networks.

Albert Cheng has been named the new COO at Amazon Studios. He hails from Disney where he spent a decade building its online and on-demand platforms in the digital division. Bob Berney is the new Head of Movies Distribution and Marketing. He was previously the CEO of Picturehouse.

Janice Brock is now the Joint Head of A&R, UK and Head, UK Management Division, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, up from Director.

Mark Lafontant has joined LA-based ad and marketing agency Buddha Jones as a creative producer. He previously spent 12 years as VP Creative Advertising at Walt Disney Studios.

Tanya Greig Perara has been named the SVP of Business Affairs, Film Music, Universal Pictures. She was previously the VP of Business & Legal Affairs, Telemundo Media. David Ventura has also been named a Joint Head. He was promoted from his VP position in International at the company.

Prettybird, a creative think tank and branded content company, has hired Suzanne Hargrove as executive producer. Hargrove hails from Bandito Brothers where she was EP and handled the commercial division and also produced longer format material including TV doc Shaun White: Russia Calling and web series work on Mortal Kombat.

Screenwriting 101: 10 Tips For a Spec Sale, Universal & Working Title Extend Deal, Lionsgate’s Robin Hood Flick Nabs Director, Exec Shuffle For 6/5/15

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SSN ORIGINALS

Screenwriting 101: Ten Steps To Selling Your Spec Script

You’ve heard it all before. “Selling a script is impossible. It just doesn’t happen. I don’t know anyone in the film business so I have no chance at all. It just isn’t fair. I’m just not a lucky person.” Well, selling a screenplay does happen. But – (here it comes) – truth be told, selling a script is like winning the lottery. Some people do win the lottery and some writers do sell their scripts. Here are some tips that might help you become one of the latter. (SSN)

Exec Shuffle For 6/5/15: TriStar TV Relaunch, Endemol Shine Fills Up Roster, Plus New Hires At Lionsgate and STX

It’s another busy week in Hollywoodland, with the business of entertainment rolling along with plenty of comings and goings, hirings and firings, launches and partnerships. Not to mention the promotions that occurred, and there were a few of those, as well. Click on the link to get the full list and see all of the action. (SSN)

TODAY’S HEADLINES

Universal Will Continue To Be In the Working Title Business At Least Through 2020

The studio and the production company announced an extension of their long-standing production agreement through 2020. The new agreement replaces the first-look deal set to expire this year. Working Title has produced more than 100 films grossing over $6 billion worldwide—$5 billion of which have resulted from the more than 50 films the company has made with Universal Pictures. (CS)

In the Game Of Dueling Robin Hood Flicks, Lionsgate Finds a Director, Takes an Early Lead

Award-winning TV director Otto Bathurst, a veteran of shows such as Luthor and Peaky Blinders, will helm Robin Hood: Origins for the mid-major studio, which comes from writer Joby Harold. The story shows how the title character returns from the Crusades to discover Sherwood Forest and the surrounding area teeming with corruption and crime. So he forms a group of outlaws and becomes a force for good. Lionsgate hopes to shoot early next year. (EMP)

Today In Remake News: Sony Is Redoing Yet Another John Carpenter Movie

Studio is developing a remake of the 1984 sci-fi/romance Starman, starring Jeff Bridges and Karen Allen, with the plan to bring it more in line tonally with the hit teen drama The Fault In Our Stars. Adam North will oversee development for the studio, while Michael Douglas, who produced the original, will produce under his Further Films banner. This is on the heels of word that Dwayne Johnson will star in a remake of Big Trouble In Little China(TB)

HBO and Plan B Are Turning ‘Whiskey Tango Foxtrot’ Into an Ongoing Comedy Series

Based on David Shafer’s darkly comedic debut novel, Chuck alum Zev Borow will write and executive produce the adaptation, a half-hour comedy about three young adults grappling with the usual thirty-something problems — boredom, authenticity, and omnipotent online oligarchy. (DH)

NBC Makes a Big Change In Its Fall Schedule To Accommodate a Star’s Pregnancy

The Peacock Network is shifting Heartbreaker out of the fall because the show’s star, Melissa George, is pregnant with her second child. The show was originally set to air on Tuesdays at 8 pm, but that spot will now be taken by the Dick Wolf show, Chicago Med. NBC's moves allow George some extra time before and after giving birth. Both shows are still set to start production in mid-summer. (TLF)

Spike Lee Adds a Trio To the Cast Of ‘Chiraq’, One Of Whom He Worked With a Long Time Ago

Dave Chappelle, Nick Cannon and Wesley Snipes have joined the cast of Lee’s new film, which is getting ready to shoot in Chicago. The film, which is a retelling of the ancient Greek comedy Lysistrata, will center on a woman’s quest to end gang warfare in Chicago, likely via similar methods as used by Lysistrata: no sex for the men in the middle of the gang war, until the violence ends. And, it all unfolds as a musical comedy. (SAA)

The Gang At the Black List Have Put Together a Star-Studded Reading Of One Of Their Scripts

Gillian Jacobs, Kristen Schaal and Chelsea Peretti will star in the live, staged reading of the 2014 Black List script The Shower next Saturday, June 13th. Adam Pally and Ginger Gonzaga will also take part in reading the script by Jac Schaeffer, who will also direct the reading. Story follows a group of college friends reunited at a baby shower who have to save the world after a meteor shower turns men into women-eating monsters. (TBL)

Trailer Buzz: ‘Bridge Of Spies’

DreamWorks Pictures and Fox 2000 have released the first trailer for the upcoming spy thriller, based on real events about a pivotal event in the Cold War. Tom Hanks stars, Steven Spielberg directs a script from Joel and Ethan Coen, and the film hits theaters October 16th. (YT)

‘Spy’ Rules Box Office, Tony Award Winners, ‘The Stand’ Adds Miniseries, Dwayne Johnson’s Benefit For the Troops, Damien Szifron’s New Project

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Melissa McCarthy and ‘Spy’ Rule a Weak Box Office, While ‘Entourage’ Bombs Out

Paul Feig’s comedy did the expected and took the top spot, but came in with a soft $30 million, lower than expected. San Andreas held steady and came in second, with $26.4 million, while Insidious: Chapter 3 was third in its opening weekend, with $23 million. Entourage finished fourth with a disappointing $10.4 million, giving it a total of $17.8 million since it opened on Wednesday. Mad Max: Fury Road rounded out the top five. (BO)

Another Year, Another Batch Of Tony Award Winners, and the Entire List Is Right Here

Fun Home won Best Musical and earned five awards total, as did best play winner The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, which had been a Tony favorite since it opened in the fall. “American in Paris” danced away with four trophies. Skylight won the award for best revival of a play, while Helen Mirren surprised pretty much no one by winning for her role as Queen Elizabeth II in The Audience. (VAR)

Yet Another Cinematic Incarnation Of ‘The Stand’ Has Been Proposed, and Now It Involves a Showtime Miniseries

Warner Bros. and CBS Films are nearing a deal with Showtime to produce an eight-part The Stand miniseries that will conclude with a big-budget feature film. The plan is to shoot this thing as one cohesive production, with an aim to start filming by early next year. Josh Boone previously planned on making one R-rated, three-hour movie version of the book, then changed course to four films, before the studios settled on this. (COL)

Dwayne Johnson Really Is a Rock For Our Troops, Plans a Benefit Variety Special To Support Them

The San Andreas star announced his latest project at Saturday night’s Spike TV Guy’s Choice Awards – a grand scale, celebrity-studded variety show called Rock the Troops that will entertain and support U.S. troops stationed overseas. While no participants have been formally announced – and the overseas location hasn’t been determined – the show will feature headliners from “the world of music, movies, comedy, sports and more. (EW)

The Meteoric Hollywood Rise Of Damien Szifron Continues Apace, as MRC Greenlights His 10-Episode Miniseries

Oscar-nominated writer-director of Wild Tales is already writing the script for Mark Wahlberg’s The Six Billion Dollar Man, and now he is writing and directing the limited series, a sci-fi tale called The Stranger. Plot details are under wraps. Szifron is currently writing the project, and the plan is to find the talent and build an attractive package before shopping it around. (TP)

Ricky Gervais Has Announced the Cast For His New Movie, and It’s Darned Impressive

His latest effort as writer-director-star, currently shooting in Toronto, is Special Correspondents, which also features Eric Bana, Vera Farmiga, Kelly Macdonald, Kevin Pollak, America Ferrera, Raúl Castillo and Benjamin Bratt in the cast. Story follows a struggling radio journalist, whose arrogance and decadent lifestyle has hindered his career. With his job on the line, he fakes front line war reports from the comfort of his hideout above a Spanish restaurant in Manhattan. (CS)

Your Creative Calendar: 91 Things To Do, See, and Hear This Month

It used to be that summer TV was a fallow garden of reruns and unwatchable eye-garbage, leaving movies to reign supreme over the season. Not anymore. Netflix, Hulu and Amazon have lots of new stuff for viewing, and then there is the Summer Movie Season. Prepare to get overwhelmed with this guide to all the daylight-stealing movies, books, and albums, etc., sure to leave so many kites un-flown this month. (FCC)

Trailer Buzz: ‘Jurassic World’

Universal and Legendary have released the last — and possibly best — trailer for the highly anticipated thriller, it just happens to be an international one. Starring Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard, and directed by Colin Trevorrow, the movie opens on Friday. (YT)

Teaser Buzz: ‘The Martian’

Twentieth Century Fox has released the first teaser for the upcoming sci-fi adventure movie, based on the bestselling book by Andy Weir. Matt Damon, essica Chastain, Michael Peña, Kate Mara, Kristin Wiig, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Jeff Daniels, Donald Glover, Sean Bean, Sebastian Stan and Mackenzie Davis star and Ridley Scott directs. It hits theaters November 25th. (DH)

Screenwriters: Why Writing High-Concept Comedy Is All About Truth, Love and Understanding

Recently, comedian Jerry Seinfeld was asked what he thought the most important ingredient to comedy was, and he responded with one word: structure. This seems especially true of the high-concept comedy. While comedic structure can be taught, to be successful, comedy must have a very distinctive voice to deliver even the funniest concept. And that voice resides in your characters. (SM)

On the Set for 6/8/15: Paul Feig & Melissa McCarthy Start Shooting Ghostbusters, Ryan Reynolds Finishes Off Deadpool & More

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All I See is You 6/3/2015 Logline: After a blind woman regains her sight, she and her husband begin discovering uncomfortable details about their marriage and their lives. Production Company(s): LINK Entertainment, 2Dux, SC Films International, Wing and a Prayer Pictures Director(s): Marc Forster Executive Producer(s): Brian Wilkins, Ron Perlman, Renee Wolfe Producer(s): Marc Forster, Craig Baumgarten, Michael Selby, Jillian Kugler Cast: Blake Lively, Jason Clarke, Wes Chatham, Ahna O'Reilly, June Diane Raphael Writer(s): Marc Forster, Sean Conway SSN Insight: Clarke can next be seen as John Connor in this summer’s “Terminator: Genisys” and will also star in Universal’s disaster thriller “Everest​.” Nick Meyer at Sierra-Affinity is handling international sales while Roeg Sutherland at CAA handling domestic sales.

Dara Ju 6/8/2015 Logline: A young Nigerian-American financier struggles with love, family, and a prescription drug dependency as his ambitions steer him down a criminal path. Production Company(s): Divisadero Pictures, Global Film Group Director(s): Anthony Onah Producer(s): Justin Begnaud, Daniel Davila, Catherine Davila, Kishori Rajan Cast: Aml Ameen, Souleymane Sy Savane Notes: Based on the short film also titled "Dara Ju" (2012) and also written and directed by Anthony Onah. SSN Insight: Director Onah and the short the film was based on were picked as one of six in this year’s 15th annual Directing Lab by Film Independent. The director was a part of an eight-week program under creative advisors Daniel Barnz, Catherine Hardwicke and James Ponsoldt with a focus on working with actors in the rehearsal process.

Ghostbusters (Reboot) 6/8/2015 Logline: When paranormal activity rises, an academic at Columbia, her former colleague who chases ghosts for a living along with a ghost-hunting partner, and an MTA employee who stumbles upon the city's foremost phantom, join forces to save New York and bust some ghosts. Studio: Columbia Pictures Production Company(s): The Montecito Picture Company, Apatow Productions, Ocean Pictures, Quantity Entertainment, Feigco Entertainment, Pascal Pictures Director(s): Paul Feig Executive Producer(s): Paul Feig, Jessie Henderson Producer(s): Ivan Reitman, Dan Aykroyd, Gene Stupnitsky, Ali Bell, Lee Eisenberg Cast: Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Leslie Jones, Kate McKinnon, Dan Aykroyd Writer(s): Katie Dippold, Paul Feig, Etan Cohen, Dan Aykroyd, Ivan Reitman Notes: Reboot of "Ghostbusters" (1984) and "Ghostbusters II" (1989) both directed by Ivan Reitman and starring Bill Murray, Dan Akroyd, Harold Ramis, Ernie Hudson and Sigourney Weaver. SSN Insight: Project will bring back the original team of Ghostbusters and introduce new, younger Ghostbusters as well. Harold Ramis was previously attached to star.

Half Magic 6/4/2015 Logline: A woman is looking for a nice guy and great sex and hopes to find both in one person. Production Company(s): Bubble Factory, The Director(s): Heather Graham Producer(s): Sid Sheinberg, Jon Sheinberg, Bill Sheinberg Cast: Heather Graham, Angela Kinsey, Chris D'Elia, Jason Lewis, Molly Shannon Writer(s): Heather Graham SSN Insight: Film marks the directorial feature debut for Graham.

Story of Your Life 6/7/2015 Logline: When alien crafts land across the world, a linguist expert is recruited by the military to determine whether they come in peace or are a threat. As she learns to communicate with the aliens, she begins experiencing vivid flashbacks that become the key to unlocking the greater mystery about the true purpose of their visit. Production Company(s): FilmNation, 21 Laps Entertainment, Lava Bear Films Director(s): Denis Villeneuve Executive Producer(s): David Linde, Tory Metzger, Glen Basner, Eric Heisserer Producer(s): Shawn Levy, Dan Levine, Aaron Ryder, Karen Lunder Cast: Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker Writer(s): Eric Heisserer Notes: Based on the short story "Story of Your Life" by Ted Chiang; published November 1998. SSN Insight: Nic Mathieu was previously attached to direct Screenplay was included on the 2012 Blood List.

The Shack 6/8/2015 Logline: After a personal tragedy, a man finds an invitation from God in his mailbox and goes on a life-changing journey. Studio: Summit Entertainment, LLC Production Company(s): Summit Entertainment, LLC, Gil Netter Productions Director(s): Stuart Hazeldine Producer(s): Gil Netter, Brad Cummings Cast: Sam Worthington, Octavia Spencer, Forest Whitaker, Graham Greene Writer(s): John Fusco Notes: Based on the novel "The Shack" written by William Paul Young and originally self-published by Brad Cummings and Wayne Jacobsen and their company Windblown Media in 2007. SSN Insight: Forest Whitaker was previously attached to direct.

WRAPS

City of Tiny Lights 6/8/2015 Logline: The Pakistani/Indian subculture of London is seen through the eyes of ex-Mujahedeen private eye Tommy Akhtar. Production Company(s): Cowboy Films, NDF International Ltd, Sixteen Films, BBC Films Director(s): Pete Travis Producer(s): Ado Yoshizaki Cassuto, Charles Steel, Rebecca O'Brien Cast: Riz Ahmed, Roshan Seth, Cush Jumbo, Billie Piper Writer(s): Patrick Neate Notes: Based on the novel "City of Tiny Lights" written by Patrick Neate and published by Viking in 2005. SSN Insight: Director Pete Travis’ credits include Vantage Point, Endgame and Dredd. The movie will be released in the UK and Ireland next year by Icon Film Distribution. Protagonist Pictures is handling international sales.

Deadpool 6/2/2015 Logline: Follows the adventures of Deadpool, a Marvel anti-hero and mercenary who is disfigured, mentally unstable, and is known for his love of chimichangas and cracking wise. Studio: 20th Century Fox Production Company(s): Donners’ Company, Marvel Entertainment, Genre Films Director: Tim Miller Producer(s): Kevin Feige, Lauren Shuler Donner, Simon Kinberg Cast: Ryan Reynolds, TJ Miller, Ed Skrein, Gina Carano, Morena Baccarin Writer(s): Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick Details: Based on the comic book character who first appeared in New Mutants #98 in February 1991. Deadpool is considered one of the most popular characters in the “X-Men” comic book series and was created by Rob Liefeld and Fabian Nicieza. SSN Insight: Project is a spinoff of the film “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” (2009), in which Ryan Reynolds appeared as Deadpool. Project was previously in development at Artisan.

Devil's Gate 6/5/2015 Logline: An FBI agent aims to solve a missing persons case in a deeply rural area, but when she discovers that mysterious creatures may be responsible for the crime, she must tap into every reserve of her courage and smarts to survive and deal with unprecedented, and highly deadly, threats. Production Company(s): Inferno Pictures, Caramel Films, MTS Films Director(s): Clay Staub Executive Producer(s): Skyler Mednick Producer(s): Scott Mednick, Andre Rouleau, Valerie d'Auteuil, Ian Dimerman, Brendon Sawatzky Cast: Amanda Schull, Milo Ventimiglia, Shawn Ashmore, Bridget Regan, Jonathan Frakes Writer(s): Peter Aperlo, Clay Staub SSN Insight: Chris Samwells was previously attached to produce via his Extraordinary Features. Jennifer Connelly and Adam Beach were previously mentioned to star.

The Layover 6/6/2015 Logline: A pair of lifelong best friends on vacation find themselves competing for the affection of a man after their plane is rerouted to St. Louis during a hurricane warning. Production Company(s): Unified Pictures, Bron Studios Director(s): William H. Macy Executive Producer(s): Patricia Cox Producer(s): Keith Kjarval, Aaron Gilbert Cast: Kate Upton, Alexandra Daddario, William H. Macy, Rob Corddry, Kal Penn Writer(s): David Hornsby, Lance Krall SSN Insight: Lea Michele was previously attached to co-star. Hornsby and Krall have worked together on FXX’s It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia.

Management Apps to Clean Your Workflow, Brad Pitt’s Netflix Project, Warner and New Line Win Pair Of Bidding Wars, On the Set For 6/8/15

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SSN ORIGINALS

ScriptNoted and the Seven Management Apps To Clean Up Your Workflow, Collaborate With the Team and Secure Your Files

If you work in the tech industry you probably have already been using a cloud-based project management system to get your work done. Beyond email or to-do lists, project management applications allow all of the parts of your work like correspondence and data storage to be in one place, in ways that are actionable and collaborative. The applications are powerful to say the least, but haven’t put to good use in the entertainment industry. (SSN)

On the Set For 6/8/15: Paul Feig & Melissa McCarthy Start Shooting ‘Ghostbusters’, Ryan Reynolds Finishes ‘Deadpool’, and More

Among the other projects that are now up and running are Marc Forster’s new film, starring Blake Lively and Jason Clarke, and Heather Graham’s directorial debut, not to mention Denis Villeneuve’s Story Of Your Life, with Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner and Forest Whitaker. Meanwhile, indies City Of Tiny Lights and Devil’s Gate finish principal photography. (SSN)

TODAY’S HEADLINES

Brad Pitt Becomes the Latest Star To Team Up With Netflix For a New Project

The online streaming service announced plans to produce Pitt's new satirical comedy, War Machine, loosely based on Michael Hasting's bestseller The Operators: The Wild and Terrifying Inside Story of America’s War in Afghanistan. Written and directed by David Michôd, the film will follow Pitt's "four-star 'rock star' general" as he commands American troops in Afghanistan. Netflix plans to release the film in theaters and exclusively to its streaming members in 2016. (HP)

Warner Wins a Bidding War For a Brand New Fantasy Novel, With Ellen DeGeneres On Board To Produce

Studio won a heated bidding war for the rights to Uprooted, the new fantasy novel from Hugo Award-nominated Naomi Novik, the author behind the dragon-laced Temeraire book series. Making a rare foray into features with the tome is DeGeneres, who will produce the adaptation with Jeff Kleeman, her partner at A Very Good Production banner. Warners beat out Lionsgate and Fox 2000 for the book, with dealmaking happening over the weekend. (HV)

Meanwhile, New Line Also Wins a Bidding War For a Book Of Its Own

A bidding battle that had four studios contending ended with the studio and San Andreas producer Beau Flynn acquiring screen rights to The Thrifty Time Traveler’s Guide, a book series being written by screenwriter Jonathan Stokes. Deal was mid-six figures against seven. Stokes pitched studios last week, with an idea that is in the vein of Goonies and Night At The Museum, with a time-travel twist. Stokes will write the script and the hope is to hatch a franchise. (DH)

Scott Rudin Inks Mega Multi-Year First Look Deal with Fox Networks Group

Three-year deal has Rudin developing and producing television projects for Fox Broadcasting, FX Networks and National Geographic Channel. All projects developed for Fox will be produced by Twentieth Century Fox TV, and those developed for FX Networks and National Geographic Channel will be produced by FX Productions. (VAR)

‘Punk’d’ Goes To the Movies! MTV Show’s Co-Creator Moves Forward With Celebrity Prank Movie Series

Jason Goldberg, who with Ashton Kutcher created one of MTV’s signature series, has partnered STX Entertainment for what would be a series of movies — currently untitled — around the $5 million budget range that would ideally be released around April Fool's Day. The new studio founded by veteran executive Robert Simonds, does not yet have an international distribution apparatus, so it is in talks with Warner Bros. to distribute the films outside the U.S. (THR)

Get Ready For Another Video Game To Be Turned Into a Movie, as ‘Cut the Rope’ Is Now Moving Forward

ZeptoLab and Blockade Entertainment are developing an animated feature based on the popular mobile game about a little green monster who demands candy. Tentatively titled Om Nom, ZeptoLab and Blockade plan to have the Cut the Rope movie in theaters next year. Originally launched in 2010, the Cut the Rope series of games has been downloaded over 700 million times to date. (SF)

And Now For Something Completely Different: Fourteen Secrets Of Really Persuasive People

Whether you’re convincing your boss to fund your project or your preschooler to wipe his own butt after using the bathroom, persuasion is a skill that's instrumental to your success in life. Persuasive people have an uncanny ability to get you leaning toward their way of thinking. Their secret weapon is likeability. They get you to like more than their ideas; they get you to like them. Here are some tricks of the trade that exceptionally persuasive people use to their advantage. (TS)

Trailer Buzz: ‘Ricki and the Flash’

TriStar Pictures has released the first international trailer from its upcoming comedy-drama starring Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, Mamie Gummer, Audra McDonald and Rick Springfield. Written by Diablo Cody and directed by Jonathan Demme, it hits theaters August 7th. (CS)

Old ‘Daredevil’ Showrunner Joins ‘Transformers’ Room, New One Takes On ‘Akira’, Sony Taps Writing Team For Big Project, Netflix To ‘DeGrassi’s Rescue

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Daredevil

Former ’Daredevil’ Showrunner Steven DeKnight Is the Latest To Join the ‘Transformers’ Writers Room

DeKnight joins a braintrust that is lead by Academy Award winner Akiva Goldsman and includes Robert Kirkman, Art Marcum and Matt Holloway, Jeff Pinkner, Zak Penn, Andrew Barrer & Gabriel Ferrari, Ken Nolan, Geneva Robertson-Dworetrepeat, Christina Hodson, and Lindsey Beer. Some films previously mentioned as being possibilities from the writers room are a solo Bumblebee movie, a Cybertron origin film, as well as a revival of Beast Wars. (CS)

Meanwhile, Current ‘Daredevil’ Showrunner Marco J. Ramirez Is Hired By Warner Bros. To Take a Crack At Its ‘Akira’ Project

Studio is reviving its doomed live-action adaptation of the Akira manga, this time with some Marvel blood. Ramirez has been tapped to pen a new screenplay adaptation of the project. For those unfamiliar with Akira, the source material takes place in a post-nuclear apocalypse version of Tokyo and revolves around the rivalry between two young men, one of whom misuses his telekinetic abilities. (COL)

Sony Taps Sister Writing Team To Take On Its Female ’21 Jump Street’ Project

Lizzie and Wendy Molyneux, writers on animated comedy Bob's Burgers, have signed on to work on the project. The sisters are the second writing team to board the project, as the studio also has Lucia Aniello and Paul W. Downs, who are working on Comedy Central’s buzzy Broad City. The studio liked a pitch from the Molyneuxs, so it is moving forward with dual-track development, in which both writing teams are working on separate scripts. (THR)

Netflix To the Rescue Again! Streaming Giant Rescues ‘DeGrassi’ For Another Season

Just days after its cancellation in Canada on MTV the show has found a new life on Netflix. "Degrassi graduates to Netflix. Meet the Next Class, coming in 2016," the U.S. video streamer said this morning on its Twitter account. Netflix and Canada's Family Channel have ordered 20 episodes of Degrassi: Next Class, the latest incarnation of the franchise from Canadian indie producer Epitome Pictures. (THRT)

The IFP Has Come Out With Its List Of 2015 Independent Filmmaker Labs and Fellows

The Independent Filmmaker Project is out with the list of projects for its annual yearlong fellowship for rookie filmmakers. The teams behind the 10 narratives began their first week of sessions yesterday at the Made in NY Media Center. The projects cover genres ranging from sci-fi, fantasy, drama to young adult, comedy, horror and hybrid. Deadline has the full list. (DH)

Marion Cotillard Joins Brad Pitt To Topline His New World War Two Thriller

Robert Zemeckis is directing the film, which centers on two assassins (Pitt, Cotillard), who fall in love during a mission in Casablanca to kill a German ambassador. The duo marry, but domestic bliss is cut short when Pitt’s character, a French-Canadian, is informed his wife is a double agent working for the German government and he must kill her. Steven Knight wrote the script. (TP)

With the Recent Release Of Their New Netflix Show ‘Sense8’, We Take a Look At the Hidden Brilliance Of the Wachowskis

Despite popularizing the split-film formula that now defines much of serialized Hollywood with the second two Matrix films, the Wachowskis’ recent filmography looks positively alien in a landscape of shared cinematic universes and cyclical reboots. (FSR)

Trailer Buzz: ‘Southpaw’

The Weinstein Company has released the latest look at the upcoming Jake Gyllenhaal boxing drama, from director Antoine Fuqua. Written by Kurt Sutter and also starring Rachel McAdams and Rita Ora, it opens in theaters July 24th. (TOH)

Online Film School: Five Tips For Low Budget Filmmaking Success From Jason Blum

At the 2015 Produced By Conference in Los Angeles, filmmaker Eli Roth conducted a panel discussion with producer Jason Blum and top executives at Blum's wildly successful company, Blumhouse Productions. During the conversation, Blum provided some unique insights about low budget filmmaking. (IW)

TV Development for 6/9/15: Animation Bonanza as Netflix, Cartoon & Disney All Greenlight Series Plus Dwayne Johnson Set to ‘Rock the Troops’

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at arrivals for The 2014 ESPYS - Arrivals, Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE, Los Angeles, CA July 16, 2014. Photo By: Elizabeth Goodenough/Everett Collection

The Abolitionists Studio: EveryWhere Studios Production Company(s): FletChet Entertainment Executive Producer(s): David Calvert-Jones, Dan Angel, Tom Mazza, Chet Thomas, Darrin Fletcher, Gerald Molen Writer(s): Chet Thomas, Darrin Fletcher Logline: Documentary series based on former CIA and Homeland Security agent Tim Ballard’s efforts though his O.U.R. organization, to abolish child trafficking. His organization has completed missions with the cooperation of foreign governments and police departments in Haiti, Columbia, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic and Mexico among other locations. The series was primarily filmed guerrilla-style because the nature of the undercover sting operations with Ballard and his team assuming fake identities to lure perpetrators. Details: Based on the feature documentary, The Abolitionists produced by FletChet Entertainment. SSN Insight: FletChet and Everywhere Studios will team to produce the 10-episode series which will be shopped to networks. The feature-length documentary will also be shopped to networks to serve as an intro chapter.

Not Safe With Nikki Glaser Network: Comedy Central Production Company(s): Brillstein Entertainment Partners Executive Producer(s): Nikki Glaser, Chris Convy, Chris McGuire, Alex Murray, Brad Petrigala Writer(s): Nikki Glasser Logline: Providing a frank, funny, and honest perspective on all things sex, the show blends chats with comedians, pre-taped vignettes and social experiments, with Glaser and her guests sharing personal stories about sex, relationships and other taboo topics that Glaser frequently touches upon in her standup. SSN Insight: Comedy Central has given a 10 episode series order as of June 2. Untitled Nikki Glaser Stand-Up Comedy Special Network: Comedy Central Production Company(s): Brillstein Entertainment Partners Executive Producer(s): Nikki Glaser, Alex Murray Writer(s): Nikki Glasser Logline: Comedian Nikki Glaser performs her stand-up routine. SSN Insight: Glasser’s appeared on several Comedy Central shows including as a panelist on @midnight with Chris Hardwick, Inside Amy Schumer, Adam Devine’s House Party, The Burn With Jeff Ross, The Half Hour, and Comedy Underground With Dave Attell.

Untitled Prison Break Limited Series Network: Fox Broadcasting Company Studio: 20th Century Fox Television Executive Producer(s): Paul T. Scheuring, Marty Adelstein, Dawn Parouse Olmstead Logline: Storyline under wraps. Details: Based on the TV series, Prison Break, starring Wentworth Miller and Dominic Purcell, which aired on Fox from 2005-2009. SSN Insight: Fox has planned it as a limited series. Stars Wentworth Miller and Dominic Purcell are expected to return for the follow-up.

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Network: HBO Production Company(s): Plan B Entertainment Executive Producer(s): Zev Borow Writer(s): Zev Borow Logline: Three young adults grapple with the usual thirty-something problems: boredom, authenticity, and omnipotent online oligarchy. Details: Based on the novel, "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot," written by David Shafer and published by Mulholland Books on August 5, 2014. SSN Insight: The novel was on a number of 2014 Best Books list, including Time magazine and NPR’s lists. Plan B recently executive produced HBO Films’ Nightingale starring David Oyelowo, which premiered last week.

Apex Network: USA Network Production Company(s): Alcon TV Executive Producer(s): Adam Alleca, Ashley Christine Beyer, Andrew Kosove, Broderick Johnson, Sharon Hall Writer(s): Adam Alleca, Ashley Christine Beyer Logline: A female assassin saves the life of a teenage outcast and the two form an unlikely bond. Finding themselves at the heart of a dangerous conspiracy involving corrupt politicians, lawless mega-corporations, underworld thugs and a particularly crafty aging serial killer, this newly formed "family" fights for their survival while uncovering the truth. SSN Insight: The series marks the TV debut for Alleca. On the feature side he wrote The Last House on the Left and The Cell. In addition he’s written and directed Standoff starring Lawrence Fishburne that wrapped production and the upcoming The Blob with Simon West directing.

The Stranger Studio: Media Rights Captial Writer(s): Damien Szifron Logline: Storyline is under wraps. SSN Insight: Planned as a 10-episode limited Sci-Fi series by MRC. Szifron was nominated for a Best Foreign Language Film Oscar for Wild Tales and is on board to write The Six Million Dollar Man remake. This project has yet to be shopped to networks.

Rock The Troops Network: Spike TV Production Company(s): 7 Bucks Entertainment, Casey Patterson Entertainment Executive Producer(s): Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia Logline: The special, to be filmed on location at an overseas military base, will feature performances by stars in music, film, comedy, and sports. SSN Insight: This project is the first production in the development deal between Spike TV and Seven Bucks Productions. Per the deal, Johnson and Garcia of Seven Bucks will handle initiatives ranging from productions such as Rock The Troops and sporting events, dedicated to entertaining troops and veterans.

Ladies Of Law Network: WeTV Production Company(s): Monami Entertainment LLC, Eastern Executive Producer(s): Stefan Springman, Mala Chapple, Toby Barraud, Mona Scott-Young Logline: The series follows a group of four interconnected, powerful and glamorous African American female lawyers specializing in entertainment law in New York City, and specifically the male-dominated music industry. This group is behind some of the biggest names in music, but as the price of success grows they must set aside their competition with one another and sacrifice their personal lives to work together to bring in, and keep, major clients. SSN Insight: WeTV ordered the unscripted series on June 2. Monami Entertainment currently produces the Love & Hip Hop franchise of series for VH1.

Sisters In Law Network: WeTV Production Company(s): Collins Avenue Executive Producer(s): Jeff Collins, Michael Hammond, Sandi Johnson, Bryan Stinson, Laura Halperin Logline: Set in Houston, the series follows five powerful African American female attorneys as they bond over their shared vocation and struggles for success, while being pulled apart by the type of law they practice. On one side are the civil lawyers who fight for millions for their clients and, in the process, themselves. On the other side are the criminal lawyers who spend their days, and nights, fighting for justice. SSN Insight: WeTV ordered the unscripted series on June 2.

Untitled Ben Fountain Series Studio: The Ink Factory Executive Producer(s): Stephen Cornwell, Simon Cornwell, Rhodri Thomas and Alexei Boltho Writer(s): Ben Fountain Logline: storyline kept under wraps. SSN Insight: The series will be a one hour. Ink Factory is in production on Ang Lee’s adaptation of Fountain’s “Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk”. In addition Ink Factory has wrapped the Fabrice du Welz’s film, Message From The King and a TV series starring Hugh Laurie and Tom Hiddleston called The Night Manager. ReincarNATE Studio: eOne Production Company(s): Buck Productions Executive Producer(s): Patrice Theroux, Sean Buckley Writer(s): James Cooper Logline: After being shot in the head during an investigation, down-on-his-luck private eye Nate McCoy gains the ability to interact with versions of himself from past lives: Jameson, a wild west lawman; and Alan, a contract killer from the 1960s. With their help, Nate takes on the dangerous underworld, crooked cops, and scumbags, including El Panda, a criminal heavyweight who may have been responsible for the murder of his father. Details: Based on the comic book of the same name written by Michael Moreci and illustrated by Keith Burns. Heavy Metal is re-releasing the ReincarNATE trade paperback in November 2015, with a new series set for release in 2016. SSN Insight: Theroux left her position as head of eOne’s global film division last fall. Moreci has also penned the Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes comic for Boom! Studios, Roche Limit and Hoax Hunters for Image Comics.

ANIMATED

Ben 10: Omniverse Network: Cartoon Network Production Company(s): Man of Action Executive Producer(s): John Fang, Duncan Rouleau, Joe Casey, Joe Kelly, and Steven T. Seagle Logline: About the energetic, fun-loving, 10-year-old Ben Tennyson, his cousin Gwen, and Grandpa Max as they travel the country during summer vacation. When Ben finds the mysterious Omnitrix, a world of alien superpowers opens up to him. Details: Based on the original Ben 10 series which premiered on Cartoon Network in January 2006. The series led to three other animated series (Ben 10 Alien Force, Ben 10: Ultimate Alien, Ben 10: Omniverse), one animated movie (Ben 10: Secret Of The Omnitrix), and two live-action movies (Ben 10: Race Against Time, Ben 10: Alien Swarm). SSN Insight: The Ben 10 franchise has garnered three Emmys and grossed over $4.5 billion in retail sales around the world.

Tangled Network: The Disney Channel Production Company(s): Walt Disney Television Animation Executive Producer(s): Christopher Sonnenburg Logline: The series follows the long-locked Rapunzel as she acquaints herself with her parents, her kingdom and the people of Corona. She realizes there is much more she needs to learn before she can truly accept her royal destiny, causing her to put her crown and put her marriage on hold to seek out epic adventures, much to the dismay of her father, the King. Details: Based on the film, Tangled (2010), starring the voices of Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi. SSN Insight: Disney ordered the series on June 3. Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi will reprise their roles. The original 2010 film grossed $591 million worldwide. The story is set between the events of the 2010 film, Tangled and the 2012 animated short, Tangled Ever After. It will premiere in 2017.

Kulipari: An Army of Frogs Network: Netflix Production Company(s): Splash Entertainment Executive Producer(s): Nicolas Atlan Jackson, Mike Young Logline: A story about bravery and heroism, this animated series follows poisonous frogs, scorpions and spiders who must go to war to ensure their power and the survival of their entire world. Details: Based on the 2013 trilogy of books created by Trevor Pryce "An Army of Frogs: A Kulipari Novel". SSN Insight: Netflix gave a series order of 13 episodes on June 3. Splash is also behind the animated feature, Norm of the North, which Lionsgate is releasing in January 2016.

Luna Petunia Network: Netflix Production Company(s): Cirque Du Soleil, Saban Brands LLC Executive Producer(s): Guy Laliberte, Jacques Methe Logline: An animated series that will chronicle the adventures of Luna Petunia, a girl who lives in our world but plays in a dreamland where she learns how to make the impossible possible. SSN Insight: Netflix gave a series order of 11 episodes on June 3. Cirque Du Soleil is also producing The Wiz for NBC that is currently in preproduction.

Puffin Rock Network: Netflix Studio: Cartoon Saloon Production Company(s): Penguin Random House, Inc. Executive Producer(s): Paul Young, Tomm Moore Logline: Oona is a charismatic and plucky young puffling, who along with her ever-curious little brother Baba, explores the diverse array of sea, sky, land and underground creatures. SSN Insight: Cartoon Saloon is the award-winning studio behind Secret of the Kells, Moon Man and Song of the Sea. They are currently in production of the animated feature The Breadwinner. Netflix gave a series order of 13 episodes.

Tarzan and Jane Network: Netflix Production Company(s): Arc Productions, 41 Entertainment Executive Producer(s): Avi Arad Logline: A kids series based on Edgar Rice Burroughs’ collection of stories about his iconic characters, Tarzan and Jane. In this modern-day remake, 16 year old Tarzan returns from the African jungle to a London boarding school where he is a fish-out-of-water and challenges conformity. There he meets Jane, Tarzan’s ultimate partner, who helps him solve environmental injustice, crimes and mysteries. Details: Based on Edgar Rice Burroughs’ collection of stories about his iconic characters, Tarzan and Jane. SSN Insight: Netflix gave a series order of eight episodes to premiere in the later half of 2016. On the feature side Arad is producing the next Spider-Man film at Sony along with Ghost in the Shell for Disney.

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