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IGN on SSN Comic-Con, Marisa Tomei in ‘Spider-Man’, ‘South Park’ Re-Ups with Hulu and Comedy Central, Courteney Cox and Roselyn Sanchez Join ‘Mothers Day’
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Universal Breaks Another Box Office Record, Paramount’s Major New Deal, Susan Sarandon Turns To TV, Sundance Wants More ‘Rectify’
Yet Another Major Box Office Record Has Been Broken: Universal Becomes the Fastest Ever To $3B Worldwide
With Minions opening impressively abroad, the studio shattered the record set by 20th Century Fox in October of 2014. This also marks the first time in Universal’s 103-year history that the studio has reached that mark in any calendar year. The incredible run is thanks to the performance of films like Jurassic World, Furious 7, 50 Shades Of Gray, Pitch Perfect 2 and the upcoming Minions, which opens here this weekend. (CS)Paramount Makes a Major Deal That Might Have Just Shattered the Theatrical Window
The Hollywood studio has struck a deal with two of North America's largest exhibitors, AMC Theatres and Canada's Cineplex Entertainment, to roll out a historic initiative to narrow the increasingly archaic window, which currently averages 90 days, between a movie's theatrical and home-video release. In the process, Paramount will share a percentage of the studio's digital revenue, including iTunes, through 90 days, on top of theatrical earnings. (TOH)Susan Sarandon Becomes the Latest Movie Star To Turn To TV, Joins Nick Nolte In ‘Graves’
Duo who starred together in the 1992 true-life drama Lorenzo’s Oil are re-teaming for Epix’s first original comedy. Sarandon will play Margaret Graves, the wife of Nolte’s character, a former U.S. president. She begins to pursue her own political ambitions when her husband decides to right the wrongs of his administration, 20 years after leaving office. Series creator Joshua Michael Stern will write and exec produce the 10-episode show. (VAR)SundanceTV Has So Much Faith In ‘Rectify’, It Gives the Drama a Fourth Season a Day Before the Season Three Premiere
The acclaimed drama to date has garnered a Television Critics Association Award nomination, kudos for Critics’ Choice TV Award nominees Aden Young (who plays Daniel) and Abigail Spencer (Amantha), and a WGA Award nod. New season premieres tomorrow picking up right where things left off, on the afternoon of Daniel’s plea deal. When the body of a missing person is discovered, law enforcement once again turns to him for answers. (TVL)Showtime’s ‘Roadies’ Pilot Undergoes a Major Casting Change
The female lead role of Shelli, played by Christina Hendricks in the pilot, written, directed and executive produced by Cameron Crowe, is being completely revamped and will be recast. The decision to re-conceive the character was made after the pilot was shot, and Crowe is currently in the process of re-writing. Word is that it was a creative decision to revamp the character and the parting was amicable. (DH)Ellen Page Is Going To War, Signs On To Play a U.S. Marine In ‘Lioness’
Film is based on the true story of Lance Corporal Leslie Martz, who was sent to Afghanistan as a leader of a Female Engagement Team and tasked with the dual mandate of gaining the trust of Afghan women by equipping them with skills for independence but also secretly extracting information from them about their Taliban husbands. She was also still in the closet, and formed a bond with the people she was charged to betray. No director has yet been attached. (WAH)Jonathan Rhys Meyers Lands the Role Of Joe Strummer In a New Movie About The Clash
London Town follows the story of a 14-year-old in 1970s London whose life is changed forever when his estranged mother introduces him to the music of the Clash. Doughy Scott, Natasha McElhone and Daniel Huttlestone also star in the film, currently shooting in London with Derick Borte directing a script by Kirsten Sheridan, Sonya Gildea and Matthew Brown. (EMP)Trailer Buzz, Part One: ‘Billions’
Showtime has released the first look at its upcoming financial drama, starring Damian Lewis and Paul Giamatti, from creators David Levien, Brian Koppelman and Andrew Ross Sorkin, the show will premiere on the cable network in 2016. (VUL)Trailer Buzz, Part Two: ‘Bridge Of Spies’
Twentieth Century Fox has released the new trailer for the period thriller about James Donovan, a lawyer tasked with rescuing an American U-2 pilot shot down in the Soviet Union. Tom Hanks stars and Steven Spielberg directs a script by the Joel and Ethan Coen. The film also stars Amy Ryan, Alan Alda, Austin Stowell, Mark Rylance and Eve Hewson, and opens Oct. 16th. (HP)Screenwriters: Meet the Reader — Lessons Learned From Reading Too Many Spec Scripts
Working for a major screenwriting contest, for regular industry employers, and for private clients, has allowed Ray Morton to read over 100 spec screenplays in the past two or so months. Making his way through such a large quantity of material has given him a chance to identify some of the most common mistakes that spec writers tend to make in crafting their screenplays. Here are some helpful tips. (SM)↧
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Film Development for 7/9/15: Hello Kitty, Prince Charming Films in the Works, Dominic Cooper Replacing Henry Cavill in Stratton
NEW ATTACHMENTS
Spider-Man (Reboot) Logline: Storyline is under wraps, but involves a teenage Peter Parker. Studio/ Distributor: Columbia Pictures Production Companies: Marvel Entertainment, Pascal Pictures Producers: Kevin Feige, Amy Pascal Director: Jon Watts Cast: Marisa Tomei (in final negotiations), Tom Holland SSN Insight: Tomei attaches to the role of Aunt May. Previous actresses who took on the role include Rosemary Harris and Sally Field.
Lioness Logline: While working in Afghanistan, Marine Lance Corporal Leslie Martz was torn between loyalty to her superiors and the Afghan women she was befriending to get information on their Taliban husbands. Production Company: Modern Man Films Producers: James Dahl Writer: Rosalind Ross Cast: Ellen Page SSN Insight: The indie is being developed and packaged by James Dahl who also produced The End of the Tour with an upcoming release of July 31. CHiPS Logline: California motorcycle cops take down a criminal organization. Studio/ Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures Production Company: Panay Films, Primate Pictures Producers: Andrew Panay Writer: Dax Shephard Director: Dax Shephard Cast: Kristen Bell, Dax Shephard, Michael Pena, Vincent D’Onofrio Notes: Feature film version of television series CHiPs, which featured Larry Wilcox and Erik Estrada. SSN Insight: The film was previously in development years ago with Wilmer Valderrama slated to star. Assassin’s Creed Logline: A bartender finds out he comes from a long line of assassins. He is captured by a secret corporation who sends him back to various times and places in order to bring back artifacts. Studio/ Distributor: 20th Century Fox, Regency Enterprises Production Company: Ubisoft Motion Pictures, New Regency Productions, Kennedy/ Marshall Company, DMC Films Producers: Jean-Julien Baronnet, Eli Richbourg, Michael Fassbender, Coor McCaughan, Frank Marshall, Arnon Milchan, Patrick Crowley Writers: Adam Copper & Bill Collage Director: Justin Kurzel Cast: Michael K Williams, Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, Ariane Labed SSN Insight: Williams, who played Chalky White on Boardwalk, is also in negotiations for a supporting role in Sony’s Ghostbusters.
Ghosbusters (Reboot) Logline: With paranormal activity on the rise, a Columbia University academic, her ghost-chasing friend, the friend's business partner, and an MTA employee join forces to bust ghosts and save New York. Studio/Distributor: Columbia. Pictures Production Company: Ocean Pictures, Apatow Productions, Montecito Picture Company, Quantity Entertainment, Pascal Pictures, Feigco Entertainment Producers: Ivan Reitman, Dan Aykroyd, Gene Stupnitsky, Ali Bell, Lee Eisenberg, Alex Plapinger Amy Pascal Writer: Katie Dippold, Paul Feig Director: Paul Feig Cast: Michael K Williams, Neil Casey, Andy Garcia, Matt Walsh, Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Leslie Jones, Kate McKinnnon, Dan Aykroyd, Chris Hemsworth, Cecily Strong, Pat Kiernan SSN Insight: Garcia will play the mayor of New York City, Williams will be someone named Hawkins, and Walsh (Veep's press secretary Mike McClintock) will play a guy named Rourke.
Stratton Logline: The adventures John Stratton, an operative of the special forces of the British Navel Service, are chronicled. Production Companies: Amber Entertainment, GFM Films Producers: Ileen Maisel, Lawrence Elman, Charlie Cavill, Rex Glensy Director: Simon West Cast: Dominic Cooper, Austin Stowell, Gemma Chan, Tyler Hoechlin, Tom Felton Details: Based on the 8-novel "Stratton" series written by Duncan Falconer and published by Little, Brown Book Group. The first novel, "The Hostage" was published on March 1, 2003 and the eighth novel "Assassin" was published on published July 26, 2012. "Duncan Falconer" is a pseudonym for the author who drew on his own military background to create the character "John Stratton." SSN Insight: Henry Cavill was previously attached to star. Shooting will begin next week in Italy.
Mile 22 Logline: A CIA agent stationed in Indonesia must contend with dangerous foes and internal double-crosses to deliver a compromised informant from the middle of the city to a getaway plane at the airport 22 miles away. Studio/ Distributor: STX Entertainment Production Company: Film 44 Producers: Peter Berg (in negotiations), Mark Wahlberg (in negotiations), Stephen Levinson, Braden Aftergood Writer: Graham Roland Director: Peter Berg (in negotiations) Cast: Mark Wahlberg (in negotiations), Ronda Rousey, Iko Uwais SSN Insight: Wahlberg and Berg are in negotiations with STX to team-up for this film. Currently they’ve teamed up to shoot Lionsgate’s Deepwater Horizon, a disaster drama based on the April 2010 oil-rig explosion and previously they worked together on the 2013 action drama Lone Survivor. Mother's Day Logline: A group of mothers and daughters have separate experiences on Mother's Day. Studio/ Distributor: No Studio Available. Production Company: Siempre Viva Productions Producers: Danielle James, Amy Morrison Williams Writers: Paige Cameron Director: Paul Duddridge, Nigel Levy Cast: Courtney Cox, Susan Sarandon, Eva Amurri Martino, Christina Ricci, Andie MacDowell, Rainey Qualley, Sharon Stone SSN Insight: Not to be confused with Garry Marshall’s Mother’s Day starring Julia Roberts that will also feature interwoven stories. Production on this film has already begun in LA and slated to wrap this fall.
NEW PROJECTS
Good Time Logline: The indie film centers on a bankrobber's flailing efforts to evade the dragnet closing in on him. Pattinson will star as Connie. Production Companies: Elara Pictures Producers: Sebastian Bear-MCclard Writers: Josh Safdie, Ronald Bronstein Directors: Josh Safdie, Benny Safdie Cast: Robert Pattinson SSN Insight: The directing duo recently signed with WME and directed Heaven Knows What, currently in theaters. The film is said to be in the theme of a neo-grindhouse caper. Untitled Marriage Equality Project Logline: The film is about Jim Obergefell, the lead plaintiff in the U.S. Supreme Court case that legalized same-sex marriage on June 26, 2015. Distributor/ Financier: Fox 2000 Production Companies: Temple Hill Entertainment Producers: Marty Bowen, Wyck Godfrey Notes: The story will be based in part on the forthcoming book "21 Years to Midnight: The Promise that Brought Marriage Equality to America" to be written Jim by Obergefell and Debbie Cenziper. SSN Insight: Film will be based on Obergefell’s true life story - he married John Arthur in Maryland in 2013, three months before Arthur died. The state of Ohio refused to list Obergefell as his spouse on the death certificate, so Obergefell sued. Untitled Hans Solo Origin Story Logline: The film tells the story of how the young Han Solo became the scoundrel, smuggler thief who Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi first met at the Mos Eisley cantina. Distributor: Walt Disney Pictures Producers: Christopher Miller, Phil Lord Writer: Lawrence Kasdan, Jonathan Kasdan Director: Christopher Miller, Phil Lord SSN Insight: This film is not to be confused with the origin story of Boba Fett, which had Josh Trank attached to direct before he left the project due to issues on his Fantastic Four shoot.
Prince Charming Logline: The story about the iconic prince is seen from the point of view of his brother who never quite lived up to the family name. Studio/ Distributor: Walt Disney Pictures Production Companies: Mandeville Films/ TV Producers: David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman, Tripp Vinson Writer: Matthew Fogel SSN Insight: UTA took the spec out to studios last week and several studios put in bids for the property before Disney finally outbid all suitors.
Hello Kitty Logline: Storyline about the iconic kitty with the red bow is under wraps. Financier: Sanrio Communications Production Companies: Sanrio Communications SSN Insight: Sanrio is planning to finance and produce the film through its recently established US subsidiary. The project will have an expected budget of anywhere from $160 million-$240 million and be released in 2019. Untitled Puppet Murder Mystery Project Logline: In a place where puppets and humans co-exist, a puppet private eye teams with his former partner from the police force to track down a serial killer. Production Companies: STX Entertainment, Jim Henson Company Producers: Brian Henson, Robert Simonds Writers: Erich & Jon Hoeber Director: Brian Henson SSN Insight: The project used to be set up at Lionsgate and Katherine Heigl was attached to star. Project is said to be racy enough for an R-rating.
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Comic-Con Hit List, Film Dev, Ben Affleck’s ‘Live By Night’ Gets Greenlight, ‘Urban Cowboy” Pilot Ordered, Illumination Options ‘Johnny Express’
SSN ORIGNALS
THE 2015 COMIC-CON HIT LIST: THE 8 COMICS RIPE FOR FILM AND TV ADAPTATION
SSN brings you eight comic book titles being featured at this years Comic-Con that have yet to be nabbed up for film or TV adaptation. And we even give you good reason to give them a look. (SSN)FILM DEVELOPMENT FOR 7/9/15: HELLO KITTY, PRINCE CHARMING FILMS IN THE WORKS, DOMINIC COOPER REPLACING HENRY CAVILL IN STRATTON
Also, Marisa Tomei attaches to play Aunt May in the Spider-Man reboot, Michael K. Williams gets supporting roles in both Assassin's Creed and Ghostbusters, a Hans Solo spin-off project is announced and Fox 2000 puts a film in development based on the same-sex marriage Supreme Court case. (SSN)OTHER HEADLINES
Ben Affleck’s ‘Live By Night’ Gets Greenlight, November Start Date
Warner Bros. has given the greenlight to Affleck’s next directing gig Live By Night, with plans to begin production this November. The film is based on Dennis Lehane’s Prohibition-era crime novel. (VAR)'Urban Cowboy' Pilot Ordered at Fox
Fox has ordered a pilot for Urban Cowboy, a reimagining of the 1980 Paramount movie starring John Travolta and Debra Winger. Craig Brewer (Footloose remake) is writing, directing and executive producing the project, which is from Paramount TV and 20th Century Fox TV. (TVL)‘Minions’ Maker Illumination Forges Pact With South Korean Animator Kyungmin Woo, Options His Short ‘Johnny Express’ For Feature: Comic Con
Chris Meledandri’s Universal-based family film company has formed a partnership with Korean animation studio Mofac Alfred, based in South Korea and spearheaded by Korean writer, director and animator Kyungmin Woo. Illumination has optioned the rights to Johnny Express, the award winning short film that Woo wrote and directed. (DH)Margo Martindale Joins 'The Good Wife' for Season 7
Margo Martindale is set to recur on the upcoming seventh season of the CBS legal drama, playing Willa Eastman, a top campaign operative responsible for previous successes by underdog presidential candidates in Iowa who hides her intelligence and cunning under a fake, folksy charm. (THR)Being a Nerd Morphs Into Big Business at Comic-Con
Nerdist founder, Chris Hardwick and president Adam Rymer are creating an enterprise that's itself part of the entertainment industry it venerates. Nerdist is developing its first TV series for NBC Universal's SyFy channel, based on the web series "Nerdist News," and release its first movie, "The Hive." Learn more about their big plans here. (AA)Female Directors Pick Their Favorite Films Made by Women
Film Fatales is a bicoastal collective of women filmmakers who mentor and collaborate in an indie space. Here they make their picks for the best films directed by women. Start watching now. (IW)Oscar-Winner Dustin Lance Black Directs An Affecting Tale Of Friendship For Coke
In April, Coke debuted a new campaign in Latin America that focused on friendship across web films. At the time, it debuted two web films that focused on empathy through stories about gossip, secrets and isolation caused by bullying and other forms of social cruelty. Now the brand releases the third web film and reveals that all three films were directed Dustin Lance Black, the Oscar-winning screenwriter of Milk. View the latest film here. (FC)↧
Ben Affleck’s New Batman Movie, Duncan Jones’ New Sci-Fi Movie, Neil Cross’ New TV Show Revival, J.K. Simmons’ New Musical Role
It Looks Like the Rumors Are True, Ben Affleck Is Making a Batman Movie In 2018
The star of the upcoming Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice will star in, direct and co-write (with DC Comics CCO Geoff Johns) a standalone flick that would take place after both the upcoming flick and the two-part Justice League movie scheduled for 2017. The plan is for Affleck to shoot his longstanding adaptation of Dennis Lehane’s Live By Night this fall and then follow it up with the Batman film. (DH)Duncan Jones Still Has a Year Before His ‘Warcraft’ Is Released, So He’s Doing Another Film In the Interim
Mute, a small noir sci-fi that was shaping up to be the director’s homage to his beloved Blade Runner, slipped away as he shifted gears from Moon to Source Code and now onto Warcraft. Well, it’s slipped right back again. With Warcraft in postproduction, he will spend the next 11 months on the low budget sci-fi flick. (EMP)Neil Cross, Creator Of ‘Luther’, Will Next Revive a Classic British Cult Series
Sapphire and Steel initially ran for 34 episodes between 1979 and 1982 and starred Joanna Lumley and David McCallum as the titular duo. The pair played two shadowy operatives charged with mending "disturbances in time", by drawing on their own semi-superhuman abilities. Cross confirmed that he is working on the show and has a British network interested, but offered no other details. (GR)J.K. Simmons Won an Oscar the Last Time He Worked With Damien Chazelle, So He’s Doing It Again
Lionsgate is behind the musical La La Land, which stars Ryan Gosling as a jazz pianist and Emma Stona as an aspiring actress in the story, in which the duo fall in love but face difficulties as they become more successful. Chazelle is directing from his own script. Simmons will portray a character called the Boss. Jessica Rothe, Sonoya Mizuno and Callie Hernandez are also starring. (VAR)J.K. Rowling’s ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them’ Keeps Adding To Its Cast
Alison Sudol has been set to star with Eddie Redmayne and Katherine Waterston in Warner Bros. Pictures’ highly-anticipated feature. Sudol will play Queenie, the sister of Tina (Waterston). The two women meet Newt Scamander (Redmayne) when the magizoologist makes a stop in New York on his travels to find and document fantastic beasts. David Yates is directing from a screenplay by J.K. Rowling. (CS)Today In Remake News: Feillini’s Family Approves a ‘La Dolce Vita’ Redo
Federico Fellini‘s Oscar-winning 1960 classic tracks an episodic, week-long journey of a journalist (Marcello Mastroianni) through Rome and it’s often considered one of his finest works. Now, the AMBI Group and producer Daniele Di Lorenzo, in cooperation with the Fellini family, will produce an “homage” to the drama. No director, writer or talent have yet been attached. (TFS)Ewan McGregor’s Directorial Debut Just Added Another Piece To the Casting Puzzle
Valorie Curry has joined Ewan McGregor's directorial debut American Pastoral. McGregor will also star in the Lakeshore film along with Dakota Fanning and Jennifer Connelly. The story, set in 1960s America, centers ona man who watches his seemingly perfect life fall apart as his daughter's new political affiliation threatens to destroy their family. John Romano and Noah Haidle wrote the script based on the Philip Roth novel. (THR)Robert Pattinson Is Ready For a Little Grindhouse, Signs On To New Indie Flick
Filmmakers Josh and Benny Safdie, who made waves with their addiction drama Heaven Knows What, are directing Good Time. Described as a "neo-grindhouse" flick, Pattison will play Connie, a bank robber to tries to escape as a dragnet beings to draw closer and closer. No shooting dates are announced, but Pattinson is set to shoot James Gray’s Lost City Of Z later this year. (TP)Trailer Buzz: ‘Homeland’
Showtime has released the first trailer for the upcoming fifth season of the Emmy Award-winning series. Starring Claire Danes, Rupert Friend and Mandy Patinkin, the show premieres in the fall. (HP)Screenwriters: ‘Hyde Park On Hudson’
The undated, unlabeled 118-page script by Richard Nelson. (GITS)↧
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Exec Shuffle for 7/10/15: Broad Green Pictures Continues to Grow, Dark Horse Gets First Look Deal at Uni Cable, Pascal Pics Snags Ian Dalrymple
Company Launches, Partnerships & Deals
Temple Hill, which just snapped up former Xbox Entertainment Studios exec Albert Page as head of its TV division, has inked a two-year overall deal with 20th Century Fox TV Studios. The team of Marty Bowen, Wyck Godfrey and Page will develop new projects for the studio in addition to the picked up Fox drama pilot Rosewood. Prior, Temple Hill had an overall deal with ABC Studios.
Universal Cable Productions has signed Dark Horse Entertainment to a first look deal with an emphasis on developing and producing scripted programming from their comic book library along with new material. New projects include Harrow County, Umbrella Academy, Back Up and Concrete.
German media powerhouses ProSiebenSat and Axel Springer are in talks to merge. ProSiebenSat is worth over $10 billion and has a 28% share of Germany’s free-TV market while Alex Springer, valued around $5 billion owns the country’s bestselling daily newspaper Bild.
Jane Tranter has left BBC Worldwide Productions & Adjacent Productions which she’s headed since 2009 to launch her as of yet unnamed production company together with Julie Gardner who executive produced Doctor Who. She will be replaced by Matt Forde, BBC’s EVP TV Sales & Digital Distribution, who will head both LA-based production units as their EVP of Content Production, Sales and Distribution and report to Ann Sarnoff.
FILM
Broad Green Pictures has signed on Marc Danon as President of acquisitions and co-productions. He was previously the SVP of acquisitions and business development at Lionsgate. He will now oversee a team bringing in both wide commercial release as well as prestige platform pre-buys and organize the studio’s festival acquisition strategy and the preparation for such festivals.
Universal Filmed Entertainment Group has snagged Clarissa Weirick as their General Counsel after 18 years at WB. She most recently worked in WB’s Home Entertainment division. At Universal she will manage all legal issues impacting the Filmed Entertainment Group and jointly oversee the various legal departments and work closely with the NBCUniversal corporate legal resources on corporate transactional, litigation and other legal matters.
Todd Cohen has been promoted from SVP to EVP of Development at Karga Seven Pictures. Suzanne Rauscher has been upped from VP to SVP of Current Programming. Angela Teed has been named the VP of Production at Karga. She was previously their Executive in Charge of Production. Scott Hunter has been promoted at Karga from Coordinator to Manager of Development.
Fox Searchlight Pictures has upped Matthew Greenfield and David Greenbaum to EVP’s of production. They will jointly lead all aspects of the production department and continue to report President of Production Claudia Lewis. Formerly Greenfield was a senior exec at Fox Searchlight as was Greenbaum. Additionally Greenbaum was involved in the Fox Innovation Lab where he oversaw the studio’s first virtual reality production, Wild: The Experience.
Ian Dalrymple has been hired by Pascal Pictures to run a New York outpost. He was formerly a creative exec at Scott Rudin Productions. He will report to O’Connor, who left her Sony position as SVP to join Amy Pascal in her new production company.
Casey O’Brien has moved from The Koch Company to Code Entertainment where he retains the same position as a CE.
TV
CBS TV Studios has named Alec Botnick as their VP of Comedy Development. Previously he spent six years as a TV lit agent at WME. He will report to EVP Comedy Development Kate Adler in his new role.
Carolyn Cassidy has been named the SVP of Current Programming at 20th Century Fox TV, taking over for Jeffrey Glaser. Glaser will be on hand as a consultant during the transition. Cassidy joined Fox in 2009 as VP of Comedy Series and was promoted in 2013. She recently oversaw the development of ABC’s hit Fresh Off the Boat and Fox’s anticipated The Grinder.
Raymond Dooley was named VP of Marketing for truTV.
Jordanna Guarino is a new Manager of Development at Universal Cable Productions. She was previously Jeff Wachtel’s executive assistant at NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment.
Lori Hall has been named TV One’s SVP of Marketing. She was previously the VP of Consumer Marketing at UP TV.
Albert Page has been named the Head of TV at Temple Street Productions. He was previously the VP of Creative at Xbox Ent. Studios.
Benny Reuven has been hired at Oxygen Media as their VP of Development and will develop lifestyle programming for the network’s multicultural female audience. Based in Los Angeles, Reuven will report to Cori Abraham, SVP Development & International at Oxygen Media.
Mark Pesavento has joined Fox Sports Digital as SVP Content and will handle editorial and video content Fox Sports with an emphasis on multiplatform programming and growth through mobile consumption and social media sharing. He was formerly at USA Today Sports Media Group as their VP Digital Strategy and before that at Yahoo! Sports.
Gina Girolamo has been named the SVP of TV Production and Development at Alloy Entertainment. She hails from Working Title Films where she was EVP of TV and before that Wonderland Sound and Vision. She has worked for Ally previously, having executive produced eight projects to pilot and series her three years there.
Mike Kerns has been snapped up by The Chernin Group as their new President of Digital and will work with Chairman Peter Chernin and President Jesse Jacobs. He was previously in charge of Yahoo’s home page and video verticals under CEO Marissa Mayer.
FX Networks has upped five senior marketing executives. Sally Daws has been promoted to EVP, Marketing and Digital Media and will oversee advertising, consumer integrated promotions, and digital media. John Varvi has been named EVP, On-Air Promotions. Todd Heughens has been upped to SVP, Print Design and will give daily oversight of digital media efforts. Jason Phipps is SVP of Digital Media and Lance Reiss has been upped to SVP of Marketing and will handle advertising, content distribution, and finance among other areas. They will all report to Stephanie Gibbons, President, Marketing, Digital Media and On-Air Promotions.
Peter Barnett has left his post as Gaumont International Television’s SVP of Production to pursue producing independent projects.
Univision News, the news division of Univision Communications Inc., has named Keith Summa as their SVP of Content Innovation to report directly to Isaac Lee, president of News and Digital for UCI and CEO of Fusion. He will lead development of journalistic tools, models and narratives for the operation, also working with Fusion, the millennial-targeting joint venture between Univision and ABC. Prior to this new role, Summa was Vice President of News Partnerships for Univision News; he was previously head of the CBS News Investigative Unit.
John Cora has been hired as Sprout’s VP of Insights & Strategy. He previously held the same title at Fox Networks Group.
Benny Reuven has shifted from VP of Development at Wilshire Studios to the same position at Oxygen Media.
Janine Sherman Barrois has inked a multi-year overall deal at Warner Bros. Television to create and develop new drama and comedy series. Previously she was an executive producer on ER and Criminal Minds and was a graduate of Warner Bros. Writers’ Workshop. In 2013 she had a deal with ABC Studios.
Marina Williams has shifted from CEO of Central and Eastern Europe and MENA regions, Endemol Shine Group to COO of International Operations for the Endemol Shine Group in London. Matthew Borst was upped to Director of Social Media and Sales Strategy for Endemol Beyond at Endemol Shine North America. He joined ESNA last year as Social Media Manager.
Management, PR, Agencies
Helen Brann who runs a self-named lit agency has made a deal with ICM Partners to bring her writers over to ICM upon her retirement. Brann began her career in 1968 working with Sterling Lord before handling 60 clients and in 1973 and becoming the first woman in the U.S. to have her own independent literary agency representing book writers.
Alex Creasia has shifted from Vol. Unlimited Ent to Dialed-In Ent. and will retain her position as a Literary Manager.
CAA has picked James Burtson as their new CFO, replacing Jeff Berry on July 13. He was formerly a Time Warner SVP, handling global mergers and acquisitions and involved with the spin offs of Time Warner Cable, AOL and Time Inc., and content and new media property buys.
Music, Digital, Publishing, Misc.
Maxime Saada has been named the CEO of Canal Plus Group in Paris, taking over for Rodolphe Belmer. Maxime was upped from EVP and Head of Pay TV.
Pongo has hired Ron Pomerantz as their VP of Content + Strategy. Pomerantz joins Pongo from the Disney Channel, where he had been Vice President, Marketing + Creative.
Charlotte Koh has been named GoPro’s Head of Features and Series. She was snagged from Hulu where she was Head of Original Content.
iHeartMedia hired Carter Brokaw as President of Digital Revenue Strategy. Brokaw was most recently EVP at Guardian News and Media, where he handled the company’s U.S. commercial strategy, positioning, pricing, packaging and tiered accounts.
Jacqueline Sheehy has been hired on as Edelman’s Director of Brand Partnerships. She was previously Director of Sales & Branded Integrations, Collective Digital Studio.
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Exec Shuffle, IGN on SSN, Dan Fogler in ‘Fantastic Beasts’, Jennifer Lawrence’s New Project, HBO Renews ‘Ballers’
SSN ORIGINALS
EXEC SHUFFLE FOR 7/10/15: BROAD GREEN PICTURES CONTINUES TO GROW, DARK HORSE GETS FIRST LOOK DEAL AT UNI CABLE, PASCAL PICS SNAGS IAN DALRYMPLE
Other news consists of Fox Searchlight upping two execs to EVP's, Carolyn Cassidy replacing Jeffrey Glaser at 20th Century Fox TV and Albert Page being named head of Temple Hill's TV division. (SSN)IGN ON SSN: PIXAR PRESENTS ‘SANJAY’S SUPER TEAM’ AT COMIC-CON 2015
Pixar and Disney showcased their upcoming animated short film Sanjay’s Super Team at Comic-Con yesterday. The short, which will play in in front of The Good Dinosaur, is directed by Sanjay Patel, who took the audience behind the scenes of the production process. (SSN)OTHER HEADLINES
Dan Fogler Cast In 'Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them' As Jacob
Warner Bros has set Dan Fogler to join the cast of Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them, the David Yates-directed adventure based on J.K. Rowling’s novel. He’ll play the role of Jacob, a non-magical person whom Newt (Redmayne) befriends while on his adventure in New York. (DH)
Jennifer Lawrence to Star in Love Story 'Rosie Project'
The Hunger Games star has attached to the Columbia Pictures romantic dramedy, The Rosie Project, which is an adaptation of a Graeme Simsion novel. Scott Neustadter and Michael Webber (500 Days of Summer) wrote the script. (THR)HBO Renews Dwayne Johnson Comedy ‘Ballers’ For Season 2
HBO has renewed the Dwayne Johnson sports comedy Ballers for a second season. The half-hour series has generated strong buzz for HBO since its June 21 debut. (VAR)GHOSTBUSTERS: First Look at Full Cast in Costume Revealed
This past week we've seen Melissa McCarthy in costume, the new Ecto-1, and the new proton pack at Comic-Con, but now we have our first photo of the main quartet in full Ghostbusters costume. (COLL)
20 Performers Who Deserve 2015 Emmy Nominations (But Probably Won't Get Them)
Looking ahead to next week’s announcement, Indiewire picks out twenty performances that are unlikely to pick up nods but are just as deserving of being highlighted. (IW)Trailer Buzz: 'The Walking Dead' Season 6
AMC is supposed to release The Walking Dead Season 6 trailer during its Comic-Con panel today, but a low-quality version has hit the Internet early, and getting tons of buzz. The show returns to AMC in October. (HUFF)Zachary Levi’s Geek-Culture Brand, Nerd Machine, Levels Up
Zachary Levi (Chuck and upcoming Heroes Reborn) has built a geek culture brand that fosters greater interaction between fans and celebrities. Nerd HQ, the live event and philanthropic division of his company Nerd Machine runs through Sunday in San Diego. (FC)↧
‘Minions’ Cleans Up At the Box Office, Comcast’s Big Streaming Plan, and Tons and Tons Of Big Comic-Con News
‘Minions’ Does the Expected, Finally Trounces Both ‘Jurassic World’ and ‘Inside Out’
The Universal and Illumination Entertainment flick posted the second-best opening ever for an animated flick, pulling in $115 million, a remarkable $97 million more than runner up Jurassic World, which finished second at $18.1 million. Inside Out came in third at $17.1 million, while Terminator: Genisys was fourth with $13.7 million. The Gallows opened up with $10 million to round out the top five. (BO)Comcast Targets ‘Cord-Nevers’ With New Streaming Plan That Includes HBO
The telecom giant’s Xfinity Stream Internet-only TV service offers the pay cable net and the major broadcast TV networks, both live and on-demand programming, for $15 per month to Comcast subs with standalone broadband service. New service matches the retail price point of HBO Now, the premium cabler’s unbundled offering, but Comcast’s over-the-top service also includes broadcast nets and other on-demand content, plus a cloud-based DVR. (VAR)Quentin Tarantino Shows Up In San Diego, Tells the World That Ennio Morricone Will Score ‘The Hateful Eight’
Two-time Oscar-winner Tarantino was joined on stage by nearly his entire amazing cast, including Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Walton Goggins, Demian Bechir, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, and Bruce Dern, and announced that the legendary composter of such westerns as Once Upon a Time In the West and The Good, The Bad and The Ugly will be providing the music for his upcoming film. It will hit theaters Christmas Day. (CB)There’s a New ‘Danger Mouse’ On Its Way, and Lena Headey and John Oliver Are On Board
The two actors have joined the BBC’s re-launching of the classic kids’ animated series, with the Last Week Tonight host voicing mad scientist wolf Dr. Augustus P. Crumhorn III, and Headey as U.S. Secret Agent Jeopardy Mouse. Show will air on kids’ channel CBBC in the fall. Brit comedian Alexander Armstrong is voicing the lead role of Danger Mouse, the eponymous British secret agent rodent. The show originally ran for over a decade from 1981 to 1992. (DH)Hugh Jackman Teases ‘Wolverine 3’ Plot, Basically Confirms ‘X-Men: Apocalypse’ Cameo
Jackman showed up at the Fox Comic-Con panel and told the gathered throng, “Three words: Old Man Logan,” referring to a popular story that showed a much older Wolverine in an adventure long after everyone he knew was gone. X-Men director Bryan Singer also gave more details about the upcoming film, which hits theaters Memorial Day weekend next year. (TP)More Comic-Con News: Warner Basically Announces That All Those Green Lantern Casting Rumors Could Be True
The new film, due in 2020, will actually be called Green Lantern Corps., meaning it will focus on the entire fictional universal police force that assigns a pair of Green Lanterns to each galactic sector. With that in mind, the rumors of both Chris Pine and Tyrese Gibson being cast in the film (as Hal Jordan and John Stewart, respectively), could indeed be on the money. (COL)It’s Taken Almost 40 Years, but Harrison Ford Is Finally a ‘Star Wars’ Fan
After literally decades of Ford belittling his legendary character and making it seem like Han Solo meant nothing to him, he took the stage during a Star Wars: The Force Awakens panel at Comic-Con and spoke lovingly about Solo and how it changed his life. (VUL)Trailer Buzz, Part One: ‘Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice’
Warner Bros. has finally released the first trailer for the much-discussed and highly anticipated superhero movie, starring Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Jesse Eisenberg, Holly Hunter, Laurence Fishburne, Amy Adams and Jeremy Irons. The film by Zack Snyder is due in theaters March 26th, 2016. (HP)Trailer Buzz, Part Two: ‘Ash Vs. Evil Dead’
The Starz network has released the first full-length look at its upcoming spinoff show, based on the popular trilogy originally directed by Sam Raimi and starring Bruce Campbell, who also stars in the new show. The new show will premiere, of course, on Halloween. (EMP)Screenwriters: Writing the Film Treatment — Tell the Heart Of Your Story One Beat At a Time
You don’t have to be an artist to see when something is off in a picture. The same holds true for writers and screenwriting. But sometimes you have to see a problem before you can fix it. (SM)↧
On the Set for 7/13/15: Jennifer Garner Begins Shooting Miracles From Heaven, Michael Bay Wraps 13 Hours & Doug Liman Calls Cut on Mena
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Brain on Fire 7/13/2015 Logline: The film tells the story of a young woman's descent into insanity. Studio/Distributor: Broad Green Pictures Production Company(s): Denver & Delilah Films, Foundation Features, Broad Green Pictures Director: Gerard Barrett Producer(s): Charlize Theron, A.J. Dix, Beth Kono, Robert Merilees, Lindsay MacAdam Cast: Chloe Grace Moretz, Thomas Mann, Jenny Slate Writer(s): Gerard Barrett Details: Based on the memoir "Brain On Fire: My Month of Madness" written by Susannah Cahalan and published by Free Press in 2012. SSN Insight: Dakota Fanning was previously attached to the role played by Chloe Grace Moretz. Will Poulter was previously attached as a member of the cast.
Equity 7/11/2015 Logline: A female investment banker navigating the cutthroat world of Wall Street finds herself threatened by a financial scandal, forcing her to untangle a web of corruption and reexamine the business she has always loved. Production Company(s): Broad Street Pictures Director: Meera Menon Producer(s): Alysia Reiner, Sarah Megan Thomas Cast: Anna Gunn, James Purefoy, Sarah Megan Thomas, Alysia Reiner, Carrie Preston Writer(s): Amy Fox SSN Insight: The film is being called the first female-driven Wall Street film. No wonder has Broad Street is producing and was founded in 2014 by Alysia Reiner and Sarah Megan Thomas to produce films with strong female roles behind and in front of the camera.
Miracles From Heaven 7/13/2015 Logline: The true story of a young girl suffering from a rare digestive disorder has a near-death experience, visits heaven and returns to life, healed of her crippling condition. Studio/Distributor: Columbia Pictures, TriStar Pictures Production Company(s): TDJ Enterprises, Roth Films, Franklin Entertainment Director: Patricia Riggen Producer(s): Joe Roth, DeVon Franklin, T.D. Jakes Cast: Jennifer Garner, Queen Latifah, Martin Henderson Writer(s): Randy Brown Details: Based on the memoir "Three Miracles From Heaven: A Sick Little Girl, Her Journey to Heaven, and the Lives Forever Changed," written by Christy Beam and to be published by Hachette in spring 2015. SSN Insight: Sony’s last faith-based film, Heaven Is For Real grossed $101 million on a $12 million dollar budget. Jennifer Garner was also cast in Barry Sonnenfeld’s Nine Lives in production and The Mark Gordon Company produced The Tribes of Palos Verdes in preproduction.
So B. It 7/13/2015 Logline: A 12-year-old girl decides to take a cross-country trip by herself, leaving the safety of her home with her mentally-challenged mother and agoraphobic neighbor. Production Company(s): Branded Pictures Entertainment, Outside the Box Pictures, LLC Director: Stephen Gyllenhaal Executive Producer(s): Adam Tenenbaum, Michael Nelson Producer(s): J. Todd Harris, Orien Richman Cast: Alfre Woodard, Talitha Bateman, John Heard, Cloris Leachman, Jacinda Barrett Writer(s): Garry Williams Details: Based on the young adult novel "So B. It" written by Sarah Weeks and published by Laura Geringer Books in 2004. SSN Insight: Alfre Woodard can next be seen in Mississippi Grind to be released by A24.
The Runaround 7/6/2015 Logline: During a last-minute layover in L.A., a workaholic father tries to visit his daughter and learns she’s disappeared, so he teams up with her ex-boyfriend to find her. Production Company(s): Spring Pictures, American Film Productions, Heretic Productions, Wing and a Prayer Pictures, Abbolita Productions Director: Gavin Wiesen Producer(s): Mandy Tagger, Adi Ezroni, George Voskericyan, Ron Perlman, Josh Crook Cast: J.K. Simmons, Emile Hirsch Writer(s): Seth W. Owen SSN Insight: J.K. Simmons is keeping busy with providing the voice of Kai in Kung Fu Panda 3, signing on for the cast of Summit’s La La Land in preproduction and on Relativity EuropaCorp Distribution’s The Lake in production.
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13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi 7/12/2015 Logline: The true story of the terrorist attacks on the U.S. Special Mission Compound and an CIA Annex in Benghazi on the eleventh anniversary of 9/11 through firsthand accounts. Studio/Distributor: Paramount Pictures Production Company(s): 3 Arts Entertainment Director: Michael Bay Executive Producer(s): Richard Abate Producer(s): Erwin Stoff Cast: John Krasinski, Pablo Schreiber, James Badge Dale, David Denman, Max Martini Writer(s): Chuck Hogan Details: Based on the book "Thirteen Hours: A Firsthand Account of What Really Happened in Benghazi" written by author Mitchell Zuckoff with surviving members of the Annex Security Team who fought the battle, published by Twelve September 9, 2014. SSN Insight: Michael Bay has also been named as a director of Sabotage, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon, Affirmative Action for Disney and an untitled adventure project at Paramount all in development. In addition he’s signed on to direct Time Salvager in active development.
Comancheria 7/10/2015 Logline: Two brothers, Toby and Tanner, go on a calculated bank robbery spree that puts them on a collision course with a West Texas Ranger determined to take them down. Studio/Distributor: CBS Films Production Company(s): Sidney Kimmel Entertainment, OddLot Entertainment, Film 44 Director: David MacKenzie Executive Producer(s): Carla Hacken, Gigi Pritzker, Braden Aftergood Producer(s): Sidney Kimmel, Peter Berg, Julie Yorn Cast: Chris Pine, Ben Foster, Jeff Bridges Writer(s): Taylor Sheridan SSN Insight: Peter Berg was previously attached to direct. Marc Forster was previously attached to direct.
Keanu 7/10/2015 Logline: A group of friends pretend to be drug dealers in order to get back a stolen cat. Studio/Distributor: New Line Cinema, Warner Bros. Pictures Distribution Director: Peter Atencio Producer(s): Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele, Peter Principato, Paul Young, Joel Zadak Cast: Jordan Peele, Keegan-Michael Key, Method Man, Gabrielle Union, Will Forte Writer(s): Jordan Peele, Alex Rubens SSN Insight: Key and Peele are also signed on to produce a Police Academy reboot for New Line that’s in active development along with Substitute Teacher to produce and star in for Paramount.
Mena 7/10/2015 Logline: The true story of pilot Barry Seal, who transported contraband for the CIA and the Medellin cartel in the 1980s. Studio/Distributor: Universal Pictures Production Company(s): Imagine Entertainment, Quadrant Pictures, Rhea Films Director: Doug Liman Executive Producer(s): Kim Roth, Paris Kasidokostas-Latsis, Terry Dougas, Jean-Luc De Fanti Producer(s): Doug Davison, Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, Brian Oliver, Tyler Thompson Cast: Tom Cruise, Sarah Wright, Jayma Mays, Domhnall Gleeson, Jesse Plemons Writer(s): Gary Spinelli SSN Insight: Universal acquired the spec from Gary Spinelli for a reported $1 million. Screenplay was included in the 2014 Hit List. Ron Howard was previously attached to direct.
Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiars 7/9/2015 Logline: On an isolated island off of Wales, 16-year-old Jacob discovers an abandoned orphanage that was a home for children with strange powers. Studio/Distributor: 20th Century Fox Production Company(s): Chernin Entertainment Director: Tim Burton Producer(s): Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping, Dylan Clark Cast: Eva Green, Asa Butterfield, Ella Purnell, Samuel L. Jackson Writer(s): Jane Goldman Details: Based on the novel "Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children" written by Ransom Riggs and published by Quirk on June 7, 2011. SSN Insight: Along with being in discussions to direct WB’s Beetlejuice 2, he’s also on board as a director on MGM’s The Addams Family and Disney’s Dumbo remakes along with WB’s Night of the Living.
Rupture 7/8/2015 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 Director: Steven Shainberg Producer(s): Andrew Lazar, Christina Weiss Lurie, Steven Shainberg, Wynn Wygal, Andrea Iervolino Cast: Noomi Rapace, Michael Chiklis, Peter Stormare, Kerry Bishe, Lesley Manville Writer(s): Brian Nelson SSN Insight: AMBI Distribution repped international sales at Cannes film market. Shainberg is best known for directing the film Secretary.
Shot Caller 7/10/2015 Logline: A newly released prisoner is forced by the leaders of his gang to orchestrate a crime with a rival gang in Southern California. Studio/Distributor: Relativity Media Distribution Group Production Company(s): Participant Media, Bold Films Director: Ric Roman Waugh Executive Producer(s): Gary Michael Walters, Jeff Skoll Producer(s): Michel Litvak, Matthew Rhodes, Jonathan King, Ric Roman Waugh Cast: Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Lake Bell, Omari Hardwick, Jon Bernthal, Benjamin Bratt Writer(s): Ric Roman Waugh SSN Insight: Relativity acquired U.S. distribution rights for an estimated $3 million.
Tallulah 7/11/2015 Logline: A young woman rescues a baby and the public thinks she's a kidnapper, so she turns to assistance from her ex-boyfriend's mother and sets out to return the kid, making discoveries about herself, personal responsibility, and the bonds of motherhood along the way. Production Company(s): Maiden Voyage Films, Route One Entertainment Director: Sian Heder Producer(s): Russell Levine, Heather Rae, Chris Columbus, Eleanor Columbus, Todd Traina Cast: Ellen Page, Allison Janney Writer(s): Sian Heder SSN Insight: Ellen Page and Allison Janney previously were seen together in the 2007 Juno and the 2013 film Touchy Feely. Sian Heder is also a co-producer on Orange is the New Black.
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Franchise Wars: ‘Terminator’, STX Buys a Relativity Property, Michelle Dockery’s New Show, On the Set For 7/13/15
SSN ORIGINALS
Franchise Wars: What Can Be Learned From the ‘Terminator’ Film Series
So far the boys from Fast & Furious, the mighty Avengers and the dinos of Jurassic World have entered the battlefield. All of those franchises have earned billions for their studios and two of those, Furious and World, were revived from almost certain death. This week though, the combatant, The Terminator, didn’t get the hero’s welcome parade others have. SSN delves into the franchise’s history and its latest installment to find out why. (SSN)On the Set For 7/13/15: Jennifer Garner Begins Shooting Miracles From Heaven, Michael Bay Wraps ’13 Hours’ and More
In other news, Charlize Theron’s Brain On Fire starts shooting with Chloe Grace Moretz in the lead, while the YA adaptation So B. It also fires up principal photography, along with The Runaround, starring J.K. Simmons. Meanwhile, Comancheria, with Chris Pine, Ben Foster and Jeff Bridges, and Mena with Tom Cruise and directed by Doug Liman, call it a wrap. (SSN)OTHER HEADLINES
With Relativity On the Ropes, STX Swoops In To Pick Up One Of the Embattled Studio’s Hot Properties
The two are in negotiations for STX Entertainment to pick up Out Of This World, which centers on the first human born on Mars, who is secretly raised on the planet after his astronaut mother dies during childbirth. As a teen, he strikes up an online romance with a girl from Colorado, prompting him to travel across the universe to meet her, all the while pursued by NASA. Allan Loeb wrote the script and Peter Chelsom is attached to direct. (VAR)From ‘Downton’ To Ex-Con, Michelle Dockery May Have Found Her Next TV Show
TNT has given a pilot order to Good Behavior, which stars Dockery and hails from Wayward Pines boss Chad Hodge. Based on the Letty Dobesh books by Blake Crouch, show tells the story of Letty Dobesh (Dockery), a thief and a con artist whose life is always one bad decision from implosion — which is exactly how she likes it. Hodge will write and executive-produce the drama with Crouch, who also penned the book series on which Wayward Pines is based. (EW)John C. Reilly Has Confirmed That He Will, In Fact, Return For ‘Wreck-It Ralph 2’
There has been talk of a sequel since before the first one came out in 2012 to rave reviews and earned over $470 million in worldwide box office, hailed as “Toy Story with video games.” The film’s director, Rich Moore, has stated that part two will likely find the big-fisted Ralph exploring the worlds of online gaming and console gaming. (CS)Shawn Ryan Has a New Show Coming On Amazon, and Allison Tolman Will Guest Star
The actress, who earned an Emmy nomination for her work in last year’s Fargo limited series, has been tapped to star on Mad Dogs, which centers on four former frat brothers who travel to Belize for a reunion but their luxury vacation interrupted by a series of wild events that exposes dark secrets, deception and murder. Show was previously developed at FX before landing at Amazon. It is currently shooting in Puerto Rico for a 2016 premiere. (THR)Jessica Brown Findlay and Tom Wilkinson Join ‘This Beautiful Fantastic’ Cast
Andrew Scott, Jeremy Irvine, Anna Chancellor and Sheila Hancock are also in the ensemble cast, with Simon Aboud directing the project, which starts shooting this week in London. Story follows a young woman with OCD who dreams of writing and illustrating children’s books, but is forced to deal with her neglected garden. This brings her into contact with the cantankerous, loveless older man next door who happens to have the greenest thumbs around. (EMP)Trailer Buzz, Part One: ‘She’s Funny That Way’
Lionsgate and Grindstone Entertainment have released the first trailer from the upcoming comedy from legendary director Peter Bogdanovich. The screwball comedy, which stars Owen Wilson, Imogen Poots, Kathryn Hahn, Will Forte, Rhys Ifans, and Jennifer Aniston, opens theatrically and on VOD August 14th. (YT)Trailer Buzz: Part Two: ‘Show Me a Hero’
HBO has released the first trailer from its upcoming mini-series, starring Oscar Isaac and from The Wire creator David Simon. True story follows a 1980s mayor whose efforts to integrate his city outrage his white constituents. It premieres August 16th on the pay cable net. (VUL)Trailer Buzz, Part Three: ‘Suicide Squad’
Warner Bros. has changed course and decided to make public the sizzle reel initially shown at Comic-Con over the weekend. The studio had planned to keep that under wraps, limiting it to the crowd in Hall H, but one of the audience members illegally bootlegged it and put it on the internet, so the studio decided to get ahead of things. The movie, directed by David Ayers, hits theaters August 5th, 2016. (DH)↧
Ongoing Ratings Slide Hurts Cable Earnings, ‘Hotel Transylvania’ the TV Show, Sony Finds a ‘Dark Tower’ Director, ‘Splinter Cell’s New Writer
Drawn and Quartered: Ongoing Ratings Slide Will Take a Bite Out of Cable Earnings
The C3 ratings for the second quarter are in and it would appear that there is no end in sight for cable's ongoing demo drought. According to Nielsen data on TV-land currency — three-day commercial ratings among 18-to-49-year-olds — ad-supported cable networks saw their prime-time deliveries drop 9% in the second quarter. Wall Street-watchers say the decline will have an impact on big media's upcoming earnings calls. (AA)Good News For ‘Hotel Transylvania’ Fans, as Adam Sandler Film Will Become a TV Show
Sony Pictures has tapped Canadian cartoon producer Nelvana to produce an animated TV show based on the Sony Animation hit film. The small-screen adaptation will focus on the teenage years of Dracula’s daughter, Mavis, and her friends. An early 2017 TV airdate is planned. Rick Mischel of Sony Pictures Animation will executive produce along with Colin Bohm and Irene Weibel for Nelvana. (THR)After Years Of Development and Plenty Of Rumors, Sony Has Finally Locked In Its ‘Dark Tower’ Director
Nikolaj Arcel, best known for A Royal Affair and the Swedish The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo adaptation, will direct the film, and will team up with Anders Thomas Jensen on the latest version of the script, which may or may not build upon a former treatment by Fringe writers Akiva Goldsman and Jeff Pinkner. Project is based on Stephen King’s legendary seven book series, that follows Gunslinger Roland Deschain through a mysterious land. (UR)Tom Hardy's 'Splinter Cell' Movie Just Got Itself a Brand New Writer
Based on the UbiSoft series of video games, the film adaptation has gone through several incarnations and had been working off a script by American Hustle co-writer and Oscar nominee Eric Warren Singer, but not actor/writer Frank John Hughes has come aboard to pen a new version. Hardy is attached to star, but still no director attached. (SF)Once Shelved By NBC, the ‘Wizard Of Oz’ Takeoff ‘Emerald City' Now Has a Director
Tarsem Singh has come aboard the project and will direct all 10 episodes of the series, which received a straight-to-series order from the network in 2014 before being shelved last year. Original executive producer/writer Josh Friedman left the show in August, and about three months ago, a report surfaced claiming that NBC held on to the project, and that David Schulner is the new showrunner. (COL)Universal Television and Will Packer Both Recognize a Good Thing When They See It, Renew Their Pact
The successful producer, via his Will Packer Productions shingle, has renewed his overall deal with Universal Television, extending the relationship (initially inked in 2013) through 2017. He has two new comedies coming next season that he is executive producing: People Are Talking premieres on NBC on October 16th, and Uncle Buck will air on ABC in January. (SAA)In the Days Leading Up To the Release Of ‘Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation’, a Look At That Insane Plane Stunt
A new behind-the-scenes featurette has appeared online for Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation, focusing exclusively on the stunt that has had everyone talking … that's right, it's Tom Cruise hanging off the side of an Airbus during takeoff. Cruise insisted on doing the stunt for real, which would be death-defying enough if he'd nailed it in one take. As it turned out, he had to go through the whole process eight times over. (GR)Trailer Buzz, Part One: ‘The Dressmaker’
Universal has released the first trailer for the upcoming drama starring Kate Winslet, Judy Davis, and Liam Hemsworth, and based on the book by Sue Maslin. It hits theaters October 22nd. (VUL)Trailer Buzz, Part Two: ‘Bastard Executioner’
FX has revealed the first look at the new show by Sons Of Anarchy creator Kurt Sutter, a period drama set in the 14th century. The cable network has not set a premiere date yet, but it will be on TV screens come fall. (TVL)Online Film School: How To Direct Men as a Woman Filmmaker
Director Gabrielle Demeestére discusses working with James Franco on her debut film, Yosemite, and the challenges that go along with being a young, female filmmaker in a male-dominated business. (WAH)↧
TV Development for 7/14/15: Gale Ann Hurd & Warren Ellis Team-Up on ‘El Pantera’, Johnny Depp & Richard Branson Join Forces on ‘Muscle Shoals’
And Then There Were None Network: BBC 1, Lifetime Production Company(s): Acorn Productions, Mammoth Screen Executive Producer(s): Sarah Phelps, Mathew Prichard and Hilary Strong Writer(s): Sarah Phelps Logline: 10 strangers marooned on an island. One by one they start to die. Details: Based on the novel "And Then There Were None," written by Agatha Christie and published by Dodd, Mead, in 1940, which has sold over 100 million copies. SSN Insight: Craig Viveiros (The Liability, Ghosted) is directing the miniseries which stems from a BBC 1, Lifetime partnership. The miniseries stars Douglas Booth, Charles Dance, Maeve Dermody, Sam Neill, Miranda Richardson and Aidan Turner among others.
El Pantera Studio: Universal Cable Productions Production Company(s): Valhalla Entertainment, Televisa USA Executive Producer(s): Gale Anne Hurd Writer(s): Warren Ellis Logline: Set in a fictional metropolis on the U.S.-Mexico border, where a young officer is appointed head of police. He only has one request: that his friend, who was wrongfully imprisoned, be set free. Under the guise of his rumored death, the two create "El Pantera" to rid the city of the Mexican mob. Based on the comic book. Details: Based on the 1970's Mexican comic book, "El Pantera," written by Daniel Munoz. SSN Insight: In addition, Gale Anne Hurd is producing Hunters which SyFy ordered straight to series and Falling Water for USA which was given a pilot order.
Kill Shakespeare Network: SyFy Studio: Universal Cable Productions Writer(s): Anthony Del Col, Conor McCreery Logline: The series pits Shakespeare's greatest heroes, like Hamlet, Juliet, Othello and Falstaff, against his most menacing villains, including Richard III, Lady Macbeth and Iago, in an adventure to find and kill or save a reclusive wizard named William Shakespeare. Based on the comic book. Details: Based on the the comic book series, "Kill Shakespeare," created by Anthony Del Col and Conor McCreery and published by IDW Publishing in 2010. SSN Insight: The comic has also hatched a stage production and a board game.
The Machine Studio: Universal Cable Productions Writer(s): Caradog James Logline: A brilliant computer programmer, desperate to save his terminally ill daughter, creates the first-ever piece of self-aware artificial intelligence. But things go terribly wrong when the technology, designed to help injured soldiers, is hijacked by the government and used to create the ultimate robotic weapon. Details: Based on the film, "The Machine," (2013/UK) directed by Caradog James and starring Toby Stephens and Caity Lotz. SSN Insight: Caradog James directed the original movie in 2013. He’s also directing features including Don’t Knock Twice in preproduction and Eaten and Zeta Files, both in development.
Good Behavior Network: TNT Writer(s): Chad Hodge Logline: Letty Dobesh is a thief and a con artist whose life is always one wrong turn, one bad decision from implosion which is exactly how she likes it. Fresh out of prison, Letty is attempting to stay afloat. But when she overhears a hitman being hired to kill a man’s wife, she sets out to derail the job, setting her on a collision course with the killer and entangling them in a dangerous and seductive relationship. Details: Based on the Letty Dobesh novel series, written by Blake Crouch and published by Amazon Digital Services, Inc. SSN Insight: TNT has ordered a pilot for the drama series that’s a follow-up to Downton Abbey for its star Michelle Dockery. Dockery is currently shooting the final, sixth season of Downton to air in the fall on UK’s ITV and in 2016 on PBS in the U.S.
Growing Up Hip Hop Network: WETV Studio: eOne Television Production Company(s): Datari Turner Productions Executive Producer(s): Master P, Romeo Miller, Angela Simmons Writer(s): No Writer Available. Logline: The series will explore the real stories behind some of hip-hop's most well-known figures and their famous offspring. Each episode will focus on how their children are challenged with maintaining their own identity while evolving the hip-hop sound and culture they came from. SSN Insight: WETV has given a series order of six episodes as of July 8.
I Shudder Network: TV Land Production Company(s): The Dan Jinks Company Executive Producer(s): Dan Jinks, Nick Nantell, Paul Rudnick Writer(s): Paul Rudnick Logline: Storyline under wraps. Details: Based on short stories by Paul Rudnick. SSN Insight: TV Land has ordered a pilot of the dark comedy to star Hamish Linklater.
Jeff Dunham: Unhinged in Hollywood Network: NBC Entertainment Executive Producer(s): Jeff Dunham Writer(s): Jeff Dunham Logline: The special with comedian and ventriloquist Jeff Dunham will feature a combination of comedy acts and live musical performances. It will also include behind-the-scenes footage of the show. SSN Insight: NBC will air the one-hour special on September 17, to be taped next month at the Dolby Theater and will include a performance by Brad Paisley and guest appearances by Chris Parnell and former UFC champion Chuck Liddell.
Muscle Shoals Production Company(s): Infinitum Nihil, Virgin Produced, City Entertainment Executive Producer(s): Johnny Depp, Sir Richard Branson, Joshua Maurer and Alixandre Witlin Logline: The series will explore the rich and vast milieu of the tumultuous and often poetically tragic segregated South through its colorful characters, rich cultural and political history and southern gothic settings, which became a unique melting pot of diverse musical and cultural traditions. Based on the documentary. Details: Based on the documentary, "Muscle Shoals," (2013), directed by Greg Camalier. SSN Insight: Greg Camalier will also produce this TV adaption. Johnny Depp’s Infinitum Nihil, Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Produced, and City Entertainment’s Joshua Maurer and Alixandre Witlin have partnered to produce the series. No word yet on a broadcast network.
Riverdale Network: CW Television Network Studio: Warner Bros. Television Production Company(s): Berlanti Productions, Archie Comics Entertainment Executive Producer(s): Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, Jon Goldwater Writer(s): Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa Logline: Set in the present, the series offers a subversive take on Archie, Betty, Veronica and their friends, exploring the surreality of small-town life the darkness and weirdness bubbling beneath Riverdale’s wholesome facade. Details: Based on the characters from the Archie comics. SSN Insight: Project was previously in development at Fox but it has since moved to The CW. Berlanti has a string of shows at the CW including Arrow, The Flash and the upcoming Legends Of Tomorrow.
The Infamous Network: A&E Studio: A+E Networks Production Company(s): Color Force Executive Producer(s): Josh Zetumer, Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson Writer(s): Josh Zetumer Logline: Two complicated men are on a collision course: an ambitious reformed gangster poised to break out of South Central and the LAPD detective hell-bent on taking him down. The story is set against real events in turbulent 1990s Los Angeles leading up to the riots. SSN Insight: A&E ordered the pilot on July 8. Joshua Zetumer’s feature writing credits include the Robocop remake and the upcoming X-Men spinoff Gambit.
The McAfee Project Network: Spike TV Production Company(s): Rakontur, Impact Future Media Executive Producer(s): Billy Corben, Alfred Spellman, Francois Garcia, Kimberley Berlin Logline: A billionaire online security pioneer leaves the U.S. and gets caught up in an international murder probe. John McAfee is the eccentric Silicon Valley entrepreneur who sold multiple estates and his possessions to move to the Belize jungle, arm and fund his own private police force and was arrested in 2012 for suspicion of complicity in the death of a neighbor. McAfee went on the run for three weeks before crossing the border to Guatemala, where he was detained by authorities and claimed the police and drug cartels in Belize were out to kill him. Following a lengthy legal battle, he was deported to the United States while his home in Belize mysteriously burned to the ground. SSN Insight: Spike has given a series order of six episodes for the miniseries. In 2013, Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski wrote a feature version for Warner Bros. but the project remains in development.
Tutankhamun Network: ITV 1 Production Company(s): ITV Studios Productions (UK) Executive Producer(s): Francis Hopkinson, Catherine Oldfield Writer(s): Guy Burt Logline: The story unfolds from 1905 when Carter, an eminent British archaeologist then in his 20’s, is fervently leading an expedition only to have his license to dig revoked by Cairo’s Antiquities Service. A chance meeting with British aristocrat, the dashing and eccentric Lord Carnarvon, brings a change of fortunes. After years of searching for the tomb, Carter and Carnarvon successfully discover the last resting place of the boy-king in 1921 against all odds and at great personal expense. SSN Insight: ITV 1 has given a series order of four episodes for the miniseries. Peter Webber will direct. His credits include Girl With a Pearl Earring and the Tommy Lee Jones-starrer Emperor and most recently, the climate change documentary Ten Billion.
Urban Cowboy Network: Fox Broadcasting Company Studio: 20th Century Fox Television, Paramount Television Production Company(s): No Production Company Available. Executive Producer(s): Craig Brewer, Robert Evans, Sue Naegle, Chris Levinson 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," (USA/ 1980), directed by James Bridges and starring John Travolta and Debra Winger. SSN Insight: Fox has ordered a pilot. The project was one of the first Fox placed in development for next season and it was originally given a script order in May.
You Me Her Network: DirecTV Studio: eOne Television Production Company(s): Alta Loma Entertainment, eOne Television Executive Producer(s): John Scott Shepherd, Alan Gasmer, Peter Jaysen Logline: The show centers on a three-way relationship in which two of the parties are a suburban married couple. Details: Inspired by the article, "Sugar on Top," written by John H. Richardson and published in Playboy Magazine in November, 2012. SSN Insight: DirecTV has given a straight-to-series order of ten half-hour episodes. Shepherd’s feature writing credits include Life Or Something Like It and Joe Somebody.
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Comic-Con Top 20, TV Dev, Universal Hires Army Vet to Pen Fallujah Memoir, Bryan Singer Developing WWIII Drama, Richard Jenkins on ‘Berlin Station’
SSN ORIGINALS
ALL THE COMIC-CON NEWS IN ONE PLACE – THE TOP 20 FILM & TV BITES
SSN has compiled the best, funniest and juiciest film and TV news and goings-on surrounding Comic-Con. Careful though, as there are plenty of spoilers ahead. (SSN)TV DEVELOPMENT FOR 7/14/15: GALE ANN HURD & WARREN ELLIS TEAM-UP ON ‘EL PANTERA’, JOHNNY DEPP & RICHARD BRANSON JOIN FORCES ON ‘MUSCLE SHOALS’
In other TV development news, NBC will air a one hour special on ventriloquist Jeff Dunham, Riverdale moves from Fox to the CW with Greg Berlanti producing and feature writer Josh Zetumer (Robocop, X-Men spinoff Gambit) teams up with producer Nina Jacobson for an A + E pilot. (SSN)OTHER HEADLINES
Universal Drafts Army Gunner-Turned-Scribe Max Adams To Adapt Fallujah Memoir ‘House To House’
Universal has set Max Adams, an 11 year Army vet and writer on the studio's The Risk Agent, to pen House to House, their Fallujah memoir. (DH)
Bryan Singer Developing 'World War III' Drama for Spike TV
The Viacom-owned cable network announced that it is developing five new scripted dramas, including World War III from exec producer Bryan Singer. (THR)Richard Jenkins Stops At Epix’s ‘Berlin Station’
Richard Jenkins has joined the ensemble cast of Berlin Station, the 10-episode spy tale that is Epix's first drama series. He’ll portray Steven Frost, a veteran of the Cold War who serves as the CIA’s Chief of the Berlin Station. (DH)'Parenthood's' Peter Krause Joins Shonda Rhimes' 'Catch' as Male Lead
Parenthood vet Peter Krause has signed on to replace NCIS‘ Damon Dayoub as the male lead opposite Mireille Enos in Shonda Rhimes’ latest ABC drama. (TVL)James Franco Joins Murder Mystery 'The Killer Next Door'
James Franco has another novel in development, collaborating with Ahna O’Reilly on Alex Marwood's murder mystery, The Killer Next Door. (EMP)Comic-Con Movie Wrap-up: The Winners, the Losers, and the Most Homoerotic Panel Ever
Which movies came out of Comic-Con with a big bump, and which left us stumped? Here are Vulture's winners, losers, and everything enticing in between. (VUL)Talent Agencies Turn Clients Into Brands Amid Pressure to Diversify
WME/IMG’s acquisition in April of the Pueblo, Colo.-based sports outfit underscores how talent agencies are searching far and wide beyond the traditional film, TV and music arenas for new profit sources. (VAR)↧
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Relativity’s Deal Not as Good as First Reported, Jesse Eisenberg’s Bad Analogy, ‘Last Straighter’ To TV, Dan Aykroyd’s ‘Ghostbusters’ Cameo
Hold On a Minute: Relativity’s Canada-Based Saviors Aren’t Investing as Much as Originally Thought
The Toronto-based private equity firm that was supposed to help rescue Ryan Kavanaugh’s company from its long-running debt crisis is investing substantially less than the $320 million previously reported. Original reports had Catalyst Capital Group of Canada taking on all $150 million of Relativity’s debt and inject another $170 million in new equity. But now comes word that Catalyst is not investing $170 million, or any new equity dollars. (VAR)Jesse Eisenberg Just Angered a Whole Lot Of People With a Poorly-Chosen Comic-Con Analogy
The Oscar-nominated actor — in San Diego to help push next spring’s Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice, in which he plays Lex Luthor — compared the convention to “some kind of genocide,” immediately earning the ire of people from all walks of life. In the same interview, he went on to explain that, in researching his role as a journalist for his upcoming The End Of the Tour, he now “understands the pariahs” that journalists are. (NSA)More Than Three Decades Later, ‘The Last Starfighter’ Is Being Adapted For TV
Surreal.tv is teaming with the film’s screenwriter Jonathan Betuel for a new show that will be titled The Starfighter Chronicles. Film was released in 1984 and stars Lance Guest as a teenage boy who, because of his exceptional skill at video games, is recruited by an intergalactic fleet to help defend the galaxy against evil forces. Show will drop the film’s video game recruitment angle and will instead focus on intergalactic law enforcement. (CS)No Bill Murray? No Problem, as Dan Aykroyd Confirms ‘Ghostbusters’ Cameo
The co-writer and star of the 1984 original was on set yesterday filming a scene with Kristen Wiig, who stars in the new film alongside Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones, as well as Andy Garcia and Chris Hemsworth. Paul Feig is directing the movie, which will hit theaters next summer. (SF)Amazon Confirms the Long-Suspected Rumor That ‘Chi-Raq’ Will Be Its First Original Movie
The new film from Spike Lee will feature Nick Cannon, Wesley Snipes, Jennifer Hudson, D.B. Sweeney, Harry Lennix, Steve Harris, Angela Basset with John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson., with Teyonah Parris in the lead role. Chi-Raq was shot entirely in Chicago and wrapped last week. Written by Lee and Kevin Willmott, Chi-Raq looks at inner city violence in Chicago. (DH)Now That We’re Finished With Comic-Con, What Is the State of the Superhero Movie?
This weekend, San Diego Comic-Con, the biggest event in the geek culture calendar, reinforced what we already knew: the next few years is going to be heavy on capes and tights, as the superhero movie gears up in a big way to dominate the tentpole calendar. This is not new information, though, so the question is, where are we going with these films and how will we get there? (TP)Trailer Buzz, Part One: ‘Fantastic Four’
Fox has released the final trailer for its upcoming comic book adaptation, which hits theaters August 7th. The film stars Miles Teller, Michael B. Jordan, Kate Mara, Jamie Bell, Toby Kebbell, Reg E. Cathey and Tim Blake Nelson, and was directed by Josh Trank. (COL)Trailer Buzz, Part Two: ‘Joy’
New from 20th Century Fox and Annapurna Pictures is the first trailer for the upcoming David O. Russell film, which stars Jennifer Lawrence as Joy Mangano, the inventor of the Miracle Mop. Also starring Bradley Cooper, Robert De Niro, Edgar Ramirez, Virginia Madsen and Isabella Rossellini, the film opens Christmas Day. (THR)First Look: “Westworld’
HBO has released the first images from its adaptation of the 1973 Michael Crichton movie into a sci-fi TV series. Starring Anthony Hopkins, Ed Harris, Thandie Newton, Jeffrey Wright, James Marsden and Evan Rachel Wood, and executive produced by Jonathan Nolan, Lisa Joy and J.J. Abrams, the show will premiere in 2016. (GR)Screenwriters: ‘Get Low’
The undated, unlabeled 102-page screenplay by Chris Provenzano and C. Gaby Mitchell, with story by Chris Provenzano & Scott Seeke. (GITS)↧
Rep Moves for 7/15/15: Uma Thurman Returns to CAA, Producer Phil Rosenthal Inks with UTA & 3Arts to Rep MMA Athletes
CAA: Uma Thurman who was repped from CAA from 1990 to 2011 has signed once more with the agency. After leaving CAA in 2011 she signed with WME, shifted to UTA in 2013 and has been without agency representation for the past year. Her upcoming features include the Cassian Elwes produced film The Brits Are Coming in preproduction, the Weinstein Co. produced film Adam Jones also starring Bradley Cooper and Sienna Miller and awaiting release. In addition, she's been cast in films Anita, Blind, and Girl Soldier all in active development. Thurman continues to be represented by Untitled Entertainment and attorney James Adams at Schreck Rose.
3Arts: Full service agency MMA has signed an exclusive deal with 3Arts Entertainment to expand the reach of top mixed martial arts athletes including clients Urijah Faber, Chael Sonnen, Anthony Pettis, Chad Mendes, Lance Palmer and Paige VanZant to film, TV and digital. Multiple MMA atheltes already have projects in place including Faber who’s developing a reality series with Pilgrim TV. Sonnen has worked for ESPN as a commentator on Fox Sports’ UFC Tonight while Mendes is developing a hunting series.
WME: Director Clay Kaytis has signed with WME. He’ll be making his feature directorial debut with Sony’s upcoming Angry Birds movie starring Jason Sudeikis, Josh Gad, Danny McBride and Maya Rudolph among others to be released May 20, 2016. He was previously a head of animation at Disney with credits on Frozen, Wreck-It Ralph and Bolt among many others. Kaytis will continue to be managed by Primary Wave Entertainment and repped by Weston, Garrou & Mooney.
UTA: Phil Rosenthal, most notable for creating Everybody Loves Raymond, has shifted from CAA to UTA and will be repped by Jay Sures and Gregory McKnight. His upcoming project is the one-hour international food travel series I’ll Have What Phil’s Having to debut in fall on PBS. He has a passion for food, having executive produced the 2013 documentary Spinning Plates about the restaurant scene, having invested in restaurants and naming his shingle after that love, Where’s Lunch. He continues to be repped by manager Howard Klein and lawyer Patti Felker. DDA: Producer Rick Bosner who was previously credited as the line producer on the indie hit Fruitvale Station and is developing the feature Other People with Adam Scott has signed with Dattner Dispoto and Associates (DDA) for representation.Gersh: Frank Whaley has inked with Gersh as a writer and director. His most recent feature, which he wrote and directed, was Like Sunday, Like Rain, starring Leighton Meester and Billie Joe Armstrong, released in March. His first feature, Joe the King, was awarded the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award at the 1999 Sundance Film Festival. He will continue to be repped by APA and Karen Forman Management for acting.
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Writing Low Budget Scripts, Rep Moves, Hugh Jackman Out of ‘Collateral Beauty,’ WME-IMG Acquires Wall Group
SSN ORIGINALS
DREAM BIG, WORK SMALL-ISH: ON WRITING LOW BUDGET SCREENPLAYS
ScriptShark offers up a pretty convincing argument from a working writer as to why writing a low budget screenplay is better than writing a tentpole. (SSN)REP MOVES FOR 7/15/15: UMA THURMAN RETURNS TO CAA, PRODUCER PHIL ROSENTHAL INKS WITH UTA & 3ARTS TO REP MMA ATHLETES
Other moves include Angry Birds director, Clay Kaytis, signing with WME and Frank Whaley signing with Gersh as a writer/ director. (SSN)OTHER HEADLINES
Hugh Jackman Drops Off ‘Collateral Beauty'; Palmstar Out To Johnny Depp
Hugh Jackman has dropped off Palmstar’s Collateral Beauty and producers are now out to Johnny Depp. PalmStar Media and Likely Story had acquired rights to the script written by Allan Loeb for $2.25 million. (DH)WME-IMG to Acquire Wall Group, an Agency for Stylists
WME-IMG announced that it has bought the Wall Group, one of the pioneers of the stylist agency business, with one of the most prominent client lists in the industry. (NYT)Reese Witherspoon At Center Of ‘All Is Not Forgotten’ Novel Deal By Warner Bros
Warner Bros closed a preemptive acquisition of the GG Walker novel All Is Not Forgottenn with Reese Witherspoon and her Pacific Standard producing partner Bruna Papandrea producing. (DH)‘Twilight’s’ Catherine Hardwicke to Direct YA Novel Adaptation ‘Stargirl’
Catherine Hardwicke is on board to direct an adaptation of the bestselling YA novel Stargirl. Kristin Hahn will adapt Jerry Spinelli’s book and produce the film, along with Gotham Group, Hahnscape Entertainment and BCDF Productions. (VAR)Nikki Reed to Play Betsy Ross on Fox's 'Sleepy Hollow'
The Twilight and Thirteen alum has landed the key series regular role of Betsy Ross on the upcoming third season of Fox's Sleepy Hollow. (THR)Martin Campbell to Direct Jackie Chan in The Foreigner
Martin Campbell is in talks to direct Jackie Chan in The Foreigner for STX Entertainment. The film, an adaptation of Stephen Leather’s novel The Chinaman, is scheduled to start filming in the fall. (CS)Hayao Miyazaki Cancels Retirement Again
Legendary Japanese animator, director and writer, Hayao Miyazaki, has announced that he is putting his sixth attempt at retirement aside in order to work on a 10 minute CG short called Kemushi no Boro (“Boro the Caterpillar”) to screen exclusively at the Studio Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, Tokyo. (AM)↧
More Trouble For Relativity, Francis Lawrence Eyes Post-‘Hunger Games’ Flick, Disney’s Live Action ‘Aladdin’ Prequel, Searchlight Moves ‘Demolition’ To 2016
There’s a New Lawsuit Against Ryan Kavanaugh and Relativity, but He Comes Out Swinging Against It
Relativity Media’s troubles continue to mount and the company struggles financially to make ends meet. CEO Kavanaugh has not only just been sued by vendor RKA, but now there is news that Catalyst Capital has sold off a significant portion of its purchase of loan-term interest to a group of hedge fund managers. Meanwhile, Kavanaugh came out with a strong statement against the lawsuit, saying they have no claim. (DH)With ‘The Hunger Games’ In His Rearview Mirror, Francis Lawrence Sees a New Project Ahead
One project on Lawrence’s radar is Red Sparrow, a spy thriller that previously had Darren Aronofsky and then David Fincher circling. He is reportedly eyeing the Jason Matthews adaptation, which has a script by American Hustle‘s Eric Warren Singer. The thriller follows two intelligence agents in modern-day Russia who start to fall in love, putting themselves and everyone around them at risk. (SF)Disney’s Live Action Remake Machine Stays In Action, Starts Developing an ’Aladdin’ Prequel
Studio has screenwriters Damian Shannon and Mark Swift working on the script for the film. There is no director attached just yet, but Tripp Vinson, who recently played a part in the production on San Andreas, is serving as one of the new project's producers. At this time there aren't any plot details available, though the idea is to have Genie set up what would become a specific live-action remake of Aladdin. (COL)Jake Gyllenhaal Will Only Have One Performance In Oscar Contention, as Searchlight Moves ‘Demolition’ To Next Year
The Jean Marc Vallee-directed drama about an investment banker who spirals out of control following the tragic death of his wife and forms a bond with an unconventional pot-smoking single mother will now open on April 8th, 2016. Naomi Watts also stars in the film, as do Chris Cooper, Heather Lind, and newcomer Judah Lewis. (TP)Nicole Holofcener Needs To Recast the Lead In Her Next Film, as Julianne Moore Exits
Freshly minted Oscar winner for Still Alice has left Can You Ever Forgive Me over creative differences with Holofcener, who will direct her own script, adapted from the memoir by Lee Israel. In 1992, Israel fell on hard times and began selling letters that she had forged from deceased writers and actors, and turned to stealing the actual letters from library archives and selling them when people got suspicious. Shooting was scheduled to begin next week. (VAR)‘The Flash’ Casts a Great and Underrated Character Actor In a Key Villain Role For Season Two
Michael Ironside joins the cast as the father of Captain Cold and his sister, Golden Glider, played by Wentworth Miller and Peyton List, respectively. The character has previously been described as a corrupt cop who abused his kids until he was arrested. Ironside will first appear in the upcoming second season’s third episode, known as ‘Family Of Rogues.” (CB)How Did They Do That? Behind the Making Of the iPhone-Filmed ‘Tangerine’
After completing his fourth feature, Starlet, director Sean Baker vowed he'd never make another micro-budgeted film again. For the next 18 months, he waited. And waited. But when Starlet didn’t open the doors he thought it would, he didn’t wallow in his frustration. Instead, he decided to explore his options. Enter the new look of the iPhone 5S, and what became a huge hit at Sundance. (FCC)Trailer Buzz, Part 1: ‘Sisters’
Universal has released the first trailer from its upcoming comedy starring Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, about a pair of adult sisters who throw a raging party in the house they grew up in before their parents sell it. James Brolin, Dianne Wiest, Ike Barinholtz, Maya Rudolph, Kate McKinnon and John Leguizamo also star. The film opens December 18th as Star Wars counter-programming. (EMP)Trailer Buzz, Part 2: ‘Fargo’
The FX network has come out with several new teaser trailers for Season Two of its Emmy-winning crime anthology series. Set in 1979, the new season will follow some of the same characters from the first season, only 35 years earlier. Patrick Wilson, Ted Danson, Jean Smart, Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemmons, Brad Garrett, Nick Offerman, Bokeem Woodbine, Jeffrey Donovan and Kieran Culkin, and premieres in September. (FSR)Screenwriters: Writers On the Web — Getting a Web Series In Festivals, Part 1
Now that you’ve worked your butt off to finish your web series and get some press coverage on it, it’s time to get it in front of the web series community at festivals, so you can have the chance to be recognized for your work and maybe even win some awards. The first in a series from writer-producer Rebecca Norris. (SM)↧
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Film Development for 7/16/15: Disney Developing Live-Action Aladdin, Colin Trevorrow Directing ‘Star Wars IX’ & Jennifer Lawrence’s Next Project
NEW ATTACHMENTS
Bastards Logline: Two brothers, raised to believe their biological father died, find out their mother slept with many powerful and famous men in the 1970s and the siblings hit the road to find their real father. Production Company(s): Alcon Entertainment, The Montecito Picture Company, DMG Entertainment Producer(s): Broderick Johnson, Andrew Kosove, Ivan Reitman, Tom Pollock, Ali Bell Writer(s): Justin Malen Director(s): Lawrence Sher Cast: Ed Helms, Owen Wilson SSN Insight: Paramount Pictures acquired the spec script from writer Justin Malen in a reported six-figure deal. Project was previously set up at Paramount, but went into turnaround. Jason Sudeikis was previously attached to co-star.
Candy Land Logline: Storyline is under wraps. Studio/Distributor: Warner Bros. Production Company(s): Happy Madison Productions, Hasbro, Inc. Producer(s): Adam Sandler, Brian Goldner, Bennett Schneir Writer(s): Adam Sandler, Robert Smigel, Jonathan Aibel, Glenn Berger, Chris Morgan Director(s): Kevin Lima Cast: Adam Sandler Details: Based on the popular board game "Candy Land" created by Eleanor Abbott and first published by Milton Bradley Company (now Hasbro) in 1949. SSN Insight: Previously in development at Sony, and Universal before that.
Crucifixion Logline: Based on a true story, after a priest is accused of murdering a nun on whom he was performing an exorcism, an investigative journalist tries to find out if the priest lost the battle with the demon he was attempting to banish. Studio/Distributor: No Studio Available. Production Company(s): The Safran Company, Lotus Entertainment Producer(s): Peter Safran, Chad Hayes, Carey Hayes Writer(s): Chad Hayes, Carey Hayes Director(s): Xavier Gens Cast: Sophie Cookson SSN Insight: Cookson appeared in Matthew Vaughn’s Kingsman: The Secret Service and can next be seen in Lee Tahmori’s historical epic Emperor with Adrien Brody.
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, Katherine Waterston, Ezra Miller, Alison Sudol, Dan Fogler Details: 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.
Fist Fight Logline: Two teachers who work in a broken-down school system wind up in an epic fist fight. Studio/Distributor: New Line Cinema Production Company(s): 21 Laps Entertainment Producer(s): Max Greenfield, Billy Rosenberg, Dan Cohen, Shawn Levy Writer(s): Evan Susser, Van Robichaux, Max Greenfield Director(s): Richie Keen (in negotiations) Cast: Ice Cube, Charlie Day SSN Insight: Project marks Keen’s feature debut. He’s previously directed episodes of comedy series such as Maron, The Comedians, Shameless, New Girl, and worked alongside Day on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
House to House Logline: In 2004 the United States encountered a brutal battle in Fallujah, Iraq to free it from insurgent occupation. Studio/Distributor: Universal Pictures Production Company(s): Imagine Entertainment, Five Smooth Stones Productions Producer(s): Rich Middlemas, Brian Grazer Writer(s): Max Adams Details: Based on the book "House to House: An Epic Memoir Of War," written by David Bellavia and published by Free Press on September 4, 2007. SSN Insight: Max Adams recently turned in a draft to Universal for The Risk Agent to star Vince Vaughn. He has a military background as he’s served 11 years in the U.S. Army during the Iraq War. After service he produced the Robert De Niro-starrer Bus 657, and produced and directed the Bruce Willis starrer Precious Cargo.
La La Land Logline: Lonely aspiring actress Mia and cocky jazz pianist Sebastian balance their art and love in Los Angeles, the land of the dreamers. Studio/Distributor: Lionsgate, Summit Production Company(s): Marc Platt Productions, Gilbert Films, Impostor Pictures Producer(s): Jordan Horowitz, Fred Berger, Marc Platt Writer(s): Damien Chazelle Director(s): Damien Chazelle Cast: Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, J.K. Simmons, Jessica Rothe, Sonoya Mizuno, Calle Hernandez SSN Insight: Emma Watson was previously attached to star. Miles Teller was previously attached to star.
Splinter Cell Logline: Storyline under wraps. Studio/Distributor: Regency Enterprises, 20th Century Fox Distribution Production Company(s): New Regency Productions, Hypnotic, Thunder Road Pictures, Ubisoft Motion Pictures Producer(s): Basil Iwanyk, Jean-Julien Baronnet, Doug Liman, David Bartis Writer(s): Frank John Hughes, Adam Cooper, Bill Collage, Sheldon Turner, Eric Warren Singer Cast: Tom Hardy Details: Based on the video game "Splinter Cell" by Tom Clancy released by Ubisoft February 2003. SSN Insight: Peter Berg previously attached to direct and produce. Project previously set up at Paramount Pictures. Previously in development at Dreamworks. Hughes is set to write the next draft of the feature.
Star Wars: Episode 9 Logline: Storyline is under wraps. Studio/Distributor: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Production Company(s): Lucasfilm, Ltd. Writer(s): Rian Johnson Director(s): Colin Trevorrow (in talks) Details: Sequel to "Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope" (USA/1977) directed by George Lucas and starring Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher. SSN Insight: Director Colin Trevorrow’s previous film, Jurassic World has grossed $1.4 billion worldwide. He is in talks to direct this sequel but it has not been confirmed yet.
Stargirl Logline: Storyline under wraps. Production Company(s): Gotham/Principal, BCDF Pictures, Hahnscape Entertainment Producer(s): Jeffrey Clifford, Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, Lindsay Williams, Kristin Hahn, Brice Dal Farra Writer(s): Kristin Hahn, Paul Feig, Nick Pustay, Elizabeth Allen Director(s): Catherine Hardwicke Details: Based on the novel "Stargirl" written by Jerry Spinelli and published by Scholastic in 2001. SSN Insight: Joe Medjuck was previously attached to produce, Ivan Reitman and Tom Pollock were previously attached to executive produce; through Montecito Pictures.
The Baby Shower Logline: Storyline is under wraps. Studio/Distributor: Constantin Film Development, Inc. Production Company(s): Invention Films Producer(s): Margo Klewans, Nicky Weinstock, Robert Kulzer Writer(s): Karen McCullah Lutz, Jenni Ross Director(s): Tamra Davis SSN Insight: McCullah is on a role as she’s also penning Expendabelles in active development, penned the current re-write to The Civilian and wrote the previous draft of While We’re Young.
The Last Duel Logline: The true story of a duel in 1386 France between knights Jean de Carrouges and Jacques LeGris was the last sanctioned by the French government ruled at the time by King Charles IV. Studio/Distributor: Studio 8 Production Company(s): 3 Arts Entertainment Producer(s): Erwin Stoff Writer(s): Shaun Grant Director(s): Francis Lawrence Details: Based on the book "The Last Duel: A True Story of Crime, Scandal, and Trial by Combat in Medieval France" written by Eric Jager published by Broadway; October 12, 2004. SSN Insight: Project was previously set up at Paramount with an adapted screenplay by Doug Jung and Martin Scorsese attached to direct. Martin Scorsese was previously attached to produce via his Sikelia Productions.
The Rosie Project Logline: A socially awkward genetics professor designs a questionnaire to help him find the perfect partner. Studio/Distributor: Columbia Pictures Production Company(s): Matt Tolmach Productions, COTA Films Producer(s): Matt Tolmach, Michael Costigan Writer(s): Scott Neustadter, Michael H Weber, Graeme Simsion Cast: Jennifer Lawrence Details: Based on the novel "The Rosie Project" written by Graeme Simsion and published by Simon & Schuster in October 2013. SSN Insight: Phil Lord and Christopher Miller were previously in talks to direct.
This Beautiful Fantastic Logline: A shy and obsessively tidy children's author has her world turned upside down when she falls in love with a crazy inventor. Production Company(s): Constance Media Producer(s): Kami Naghdi Writer(s): Simon Aboud Director(s): Joel Hopkins Cast: Joanna Lumley, Rupert Friend, Rhys Ifans, Felicity Jones, Bill Nighy, Jessica Brown Findlay SSN Insight: Terry Loane was previously attached to direct. Carey Mulligan, Tom Wilkinson, Joanna Lumley, Christopher Eccleston and MacKenzie Crook were previously attached to star.
Untitled (Bruce Willis Detective Film) Logline: When a Los Angeles private investigator’s dog Buddy is stolen by a notorious gang, he has to deal with vicious gang leaders and various goons and crooked characters to get his dog back. Production Company(s): Voltage Pictures Producer(s): Nicolas Chartier, Zev Foreman, Lauren Ford, Mark Cullen, Robb Cullen Director(s): Mark Cullen, Robb Cullen Cast: Bruce Willis, Jason Momoa, Thomas Middleditch, Famke Janssen, John Goodman, Tyga, Ken Davitian, David Arquette and Victor Ortiz SSN Insight: Voltage Pictures launched international sales at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival.
The Foreigner Logline: Storyline Under Wraps Studio/Distributor: STX Entertainment Production Company(s): The Fyzz Facility Producer(s): Wayne Marc Godfrey Writer(s): David Marconi, Peter Buchman Director(s): Martin Campbell (in talks) Cast: Jackie Chan Details: Based on the novel "The Chinaman" written by Stephen Leather and published by Pocket Books in 1992. SSN Insight: Arthur Sarkissian was previously attached to produce. David Marconi was previously attached to direct.
NEW PROJECTS
Aladdin Logline: Storyline kept under wraps. Studio/Distributor: Walt Disney Pictures Details: Remake of the 1992 Aladdin film. SSN Insight: Disney is developing two live-action films based on Aladdin: Aladdin and Genie. Genie would be released first. A live-action reboot of Beauty and the Beast starring Emma Watson is set to be released in 2017 with a live-action reboot of Dumbo in development.
Genies Logline: Centers on the magical Genie from Aladdin, exploring his world and how he ended up trapped in the lamp. Studio/Distributor: Walt Disney Pictures Production Company(s): Vinson Films Producer(s): Tripp Vinson Writer(s): Damian Shannon, Mark Swift Details: Based on the characters that first appeared in The Book of One Thousand and One Nights (Arabian Nights). SSN Insight: Serves as a prequel to Aladdin, which is also getting a live-action remake. Shannon and Swift began in the horror genre, writing 2003’s Freddy vs. Jason and the Friday the 13th remake.
All is Not Forgotten Logline: After a teenager is raped, her parents decide to give her a pill to erase her short-term memory to ease her trauma, but as the memory returns, shocking secrets are revealed. Studio/Distributor: Warner Bros. Television Production Company(s): Pacific Standard Producer(s): Reese Witherspoon, Bruna Papandrea Details: Based on the novel "All is Not Forgotten" written by Wendy Walker (using a pseudonym) and to be published by St. Martin’s Press in spring of 2017. SSN Insight: The movie deal for the novel was in the mid six figure against $1 million range. Warner Bros. is interested in having Reese Witherspoon play the key role of the mother in the film.
Armageddon 2419 A.D. Logline: A man who awakens after 500 years in suspended animation struggles to find a way to fit in with a war-torn world. Production Company(s): Angry Films Producer(s): Don Murphy, Susan Montford Writer(s): Flint Dille, Edward Neumeier Details: Based on the novella "Armageddon 2419 A.D" written by Philip Francis Nowlan, which originally appeared in Amazing Stories magazine in March 1929, considered the original Buck Rogers story. SSN Insight: Angry Films’ principal Don Murphy is a producer on the Transformers franchise and also produced Real Steel.
Batman Logline: The story focuses on Batman’s adventures after "Batman V Superman and Justice League." Studio/Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures Production Company(s): DC Entertainment Producer(s): Geoff Johns Writer(s): Ben Affleck, Geoff Johns Director(s): Ben Affleck Cast: Ben Affleck SSN Insight: The project is a standalone Batman film. Affleck will next be seen in WB’s The Accountant and Batman v Superman. He’s also set to direct his passion project, crime drama Live By Night, which is an adaptation of the Dennis Lehane novel, set to shoot this November.
Dead Mountain Logline: The true story of the mysterious deaths of nine experienced hikers in Russia’s Ural Mountains, who were moved by "a compelling force" to open their tents and run barefoot into the snow in 1959. Production Company(s): Straight Up Films, Inc. Producer(s): Donnie Eichar, Kate Cohen, Marisa Polvino, Casey Carroll Writer(s): Brandon Tenney Details: Based on the book "Dead Mountain: The Untold True Story of the Dyatlov Pass Incident" written by Donnie Eichar and published by Chronicle Books in 2013.
First Girl I Loved Logline: A sarcastic, closeted teenage girl and a classmate who’s suddenly become unsure about her orientation fall for each other. Production Company(s): PSH Collective Producer(s): Dave Hunter, Ross Putman, Seth Caplan Writer(s): Kerem Sanga Director(s): Kerem Sanga Cast: Dylan Gelula, Brianna Hildebrand, Mateo Arias, Pamela Adlon, Tim Heidecker SSN Insight: Sanga’s previous outing The Young Kieslowski won the audience award at last year’s LA Film Festival.
Good Time Logline: A bank robber desperately tries to escape the dragnet that is closing in on him. Production Company(s): Elara Pictures Producer(s): Sebastian Bear-McClard Writer(s): Josh Safdie, Ronald Bronstein Director(s): Josh Safdie, Ben Safdie Cast: Robert Pattinson SSN Insight: The Safadie brothers’ most recent project includes the acclaimed drama Heaven Knows What and the Cannes favorite Daddy Longlegs.
Hidden Figures Logline: The film chronicles the true story of a group of unacknowledged African American women whose brilliance in math helped NASA win the space race. Studio/Distributor: Fox 2000 Production Company(s): Chernin Entertainment Producer(s): Donna Gigliotti, Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping Writer(s): Allison Schroeder Director(s): Ted Melfi (in discussions) Details: Based on the book "Hidden Figures" written by Margot Lee Shetterly and to be published by HarperCollins in 2016. SSN Insight: Melfi has penned the screenplay to Going in Style remake for WB in active development along with Sony’s Tender Bar which he will also direct.
Johnny Express Logline: In 2150, a Space Delivery man travels to different planets with packages, but he seems to cause trouble wherever he goes. Production Company(s): Illumination Entertainment, Mofac Alfred Producer(s): Christopher Meledandri, Kyungmin Woo Writer(s): Kyungmin Woo Director(s): Kyungmin Woo Details: Based on the short film "Johnny Express" (2014) directed by Kyungmin Woo. SSN Insight: Project marks Kyungmin Woo’s feature debut.
Pipino Logline: Follows the exploits of master thief Vincenzo Pipino, who scaled multiple stories and clay rooftops to swipe precious and refined art, clothing, and jewelry in 1990’s Italy. Studio/Distributor: 20th Century Fox Production Company(s): Epic Entertainment Producer(s): Joshua Davis, Joshuah Bearman Writer(s): David Wolman, Joshua Davis (author) Details: Based on the Epic Magazine article Pipino: Gentleman Thief written by David Wolman and Joshua Davis. Based on a true story. SSN Insight: One of the first films to enter development under Fox’s first look deal with Epic Magazine.
Roche Limit Logline: A girl mysteriously disappears in a space colony that has become a community made up of criminal factions. Production Company(s): Heavy Metal Producer(s): Jeff Krielitz, David Boxenbaum, Brian Witten Writer(s): Seth Sherwood Details: Based on the first issue of the comic book series "Roche Limit" created by Michael Moreci and published by Image Comics on September 24, 2014. SSN Insight: Seth Sherwood also penned the feature Leatherface in production at Lionsgate.
The Killer Next Door Logline: Six neighbors at a rundown complex are forced into an alliance, not realizing one of them is a killer. Production Company(s): Rabbit Bandini Productions Producer(s): James Franco, Ahna O'Reilly, Vince Jolivette Cast: Ahna O'Reilly Details: Based on the novel "The Killer Next Door" published by Penguin Books on October 28, 2014. SSN Insight: James Franco was also cast in Queen of the Desert and Little Prince, both of which are awaiting release. In addition he was cast in The Long Home, currently in production.
Ultra Logline: Storyline is under wraps. Studio/Distributor: Columbia Pictures Production Company(s): Overbrook Entertainment, Single Cell Pictures Producer(s): Will Smith, James Lassiter, Caleeb Pinkett, Sandy Stern Writer(s): Shea Mirzai, Evan Mirzai SSN Insight: Writers Shea Mirzai and Evan Mirzai are Black List alums.
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Creating Characters, Film Dev, Emmy Noms, ‘It’ Finds New Director, Michael Cera to Voice Robin
SSN ORIGINALS
Screenwriting 101: Two Keys to Creating Compelling Characters
ScriptLab gives us the low down on how to create a compelling character for whom we will hope and fear; by establishing likability and goals and objectives. (SSN)Film Development For 7/16/15: Disney Developing Live-Action Aladdin, Colin Trevorrow Directing ‘Star Wars IX’ & Jennifer Lawrence’s Next Project
In other film dev news, Warner Bros. picks up Adam Sandler's Candy Land, Dan Fogler attaches to Fantastic Beasts, Catherine Hardwicke signs on to direct YA novel, Stargirl and Warner Bros. picks up a novel with Reese Witherspoon producing. (SSN)OTHER HEADLINES
Emmy Nominations By Series – Chart
HBO’s Game Of Thrones led all series in the 67th Primetime Emmy Awards nominations. FX’s American Horror Story was next with 19. HBO had three of the top four most-nommed shows along with Olive Kitteridge and Bessie, while the top-nommed broadcast network show was ABC’s American Crime. Here’s the full list by show. (AWL)Emmy Award Nominations: 10 Things the TV Academy Got Right
Instead of skewering the Emmys for what they got wrong, Variety jumps ahead and points out 10 things that the voters got right. (VAR)2015 Emmy Nominations Snub Jim Parsons, 'The Americans,' Kerry Washington And More
With this year's Emmy rule changes and a slate of excellent television to cherry-pick, a lot of favorites made the ballot. Still, there are plenty of omissions to gripe about. HuffPo rounds up the names left off this year's Emmy shortlist. (HP)Walden Media & Jim Henson Prods. Pact For Family Holiday Comedy ‘Happy Krampus’
Walden Media and Jim Henson Prods. have joined together to develop and produce a new family-friendly film project called Happy Krampus! This will be a fully live-action project and is based on an original idea by Kealan O’Rourke (The Boy In The Bubble). (DH)Stephen King's 'It' Finds New Director
Andy Muschietti, the director behind the surprise horror hit Mama, is in negotiations to direct It, New Line’s adaptation of the Stephen King classic. (THR)Holy Bricks Batman! Michael Cera to Voice Lego's Robin
The team behind The Lego Movie’s Lego Batman spin-off have Will Arnett back as the Dark Knight and have now attached Michael Cera as the voice of Robin. (EP)'Alien' Meets 'The Hunger Games' - Studio 8 Options YA, Sci-Fi Novel ‘Way Down Dark’
Studio 8 has just optioned 'Way Down Dark', a trilogy of novels from award-winning author James Smythe about a strong teenage girl intent on surviving on a crazy spaceship names Australia. (DH)↧
Kavanaugh and Relativity’s New Trouble, Marvel and Sony’s New Spidey Writers, Hulu’s New Pricing Plan, J. Law’s New ‘X’ Attitude
More Trouble For Ryan Kavanaugh and Relativity, as New Investor Is Bought Out By New York Firm
Just 10 days after a Canadian investment firm emerged as the possible financial savior of Relativity Media, the investor has been bought out by a New York financial house that now holds a substantial share of the entertainment company’s senior debt. After remaining publicly silent for weeks, Kavanaugh lashed out at the press yesterday for the second time in less than 24 hours, suggesting that all the fretting about Relativity is part of a “malicious witch-hunt.” (VAR)Marvel and Sony Have a Screenwriting Duo, Fresh Off a ‘Vacation’, In Mind For Their ‘Spider-Man’ Reboot
John Francis Daly and Jonathan M. Goldstein are in talks to script the upcoming stand-alone film, after previously collaborating on Horrible Bosses 2, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 and The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, as well as this month’s reboot of Vacation, which they also directed. John Watts is on board to direct the project. (COL)Hulu Joins Netflix, Announces New, Pricier, Commercial-Free Plan
The current price plan, of $7.99 per month, includes ads with the shows you watch on the online streaming service. Now comes word that a new option will charge between $12 and $14 per month, but an opportunity to slip the ads. While that price point would be more expensive than most SVOD options in the U.S. marketplace, the logic behind the move is that would avoid siphoning away the 9 million subscribers already paying for the current version. (UR)Jennifer Lawrence Is Not Swearing Off More ‘X-Men’ Movies, as Previously Thought
X-Men: Apocalypse is a pivotal film in the franchise not only due to its epic plot and villain but for the fact that it might be Jennifer Lawrence’s last appearance as Mystique. The actress has previously stated that she thought Apocalypse would be her final stint as the shapeshifter, but now she may have reversed course, saying at Comic-Con, “I don’t want to not be asked” to return to play the role again. (EW)Keshet Studios Launching a U.S. Wing, Brings In Peter Taugott To Run It
Company has tapped prolific producer Peter Traugott as head of domestic scripted operations. Traugott — who with producing partner Rachel Kaplan, both formerly of TBD Entertainment — will oversee development, production, packaging, promotion and sales of Keshet International's scripted fare in the U.S. Traugott will serve as president of scripted, while Kaplan will be executive vp. Both will report to Keshet International CEO Alon Shtruzman. (THR)Chloe Grace Moretz Is Getting More Company In Her ‘Brain On Fire’ Film
Richard Armitage and Carrie-Anne Moss have joined the cast of the film, adapted from Susannah Cahalan’s memoir, which was subtitled My Month Of Madness. The book chronicles her real-life experiences being diagnosed with a mystery illness that left her labelled psychotic, violent, and a dangerous flight risk. She woke up alone in a hospital room confined to the bed, unable to speak or move and with no memory of what happened. (EMP)Trailer Buzz, Part One: ‘Pan’
Warner Bros. has released the latest look at the upcoming retelling of the Peter Pan story, starring newcomer Levi Miller alongside Garrett Hedlund, Rooney Mara and, of course, Hugh Jackman. Directed by Joe Wright, the movie opens October 9th. (HP)Trailer Buzz, Part Two: ‘The X-Files’
Fox has made public the first footage from the highly anticipated new take on the classic cult series, once again starring David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson, as well as Annet Mahendru and Joel McHale and a host of other actors who originally appeared on the show. It will premiere in 2016. (CS)Trailer Buzz, Part Three: ‘The Revenant’
Twentieth Century Fox and New Regency are showing people the first trailer from director Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárittu’s followup to his Oscar-winning Birdman, which stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy. Based on the novel by Michael Punke, it hits theaters Christmas Day. (SF)Screenwriters: ‘Greenberg’
The undated, unlabeled, 124-page screenplay by Noah Baumbach, based on a story by Baumbach and Jennifer Jason Leigh. (GITS)↧