Paramount, Amy Pascal Land Hot Frankfurt Book Title ‘All Our Wrong Todays’

Pascal is attached to produce via Pascal Pictures, the new production banner she formed earlier this year, making the acquisition one of her first projects (and the first outside her first-look deal at Sony). Todays centers on a man from a utopian alternate universe who, through a time travel malfunction, winds up marooned in the real (and messy) 2015. He must decide if he wants to establish a life in this new world or head back to the one he came from. (HV)

There’s Another Lizzie Borden Project Moving Forward, This One With Chloe Savigny and Kristen Stewart

Sevigny would play the infamous 19th century Massachusetts woman who was accused, and acquitted, of killing her father and stepmother. Stewart is slated to play the family’s maid, Bridget Sullivan. Dutch director Pieter Van Hees is helming the film, which would cover the time leading up to the murders. No one was ever actually convicted of killing Andrew and Abby Borden. (BC)

The Cast Of DreamWorks’ ‘Girl On the Train’ Adaptation Keeps Getting More and More Amazing

Allison Janney is the latest to join the cast, which includes Emily Blunt, Rebecca Ferguson, Haley Bennett, Jared Leto and Justin Theroux, with Tate Taylor directing. Story follows a woman (Blunt) devastated by a recent divorce who spends her commute fantasizing about a seemingly perfect married couple who live in a house her train passes every day. Along the way, she becomes entangled in a mystery revolving around them. Janney will play a police detective. (VAR)

‘Guardians Of the Galaxy, Volume 2’ Just Cast an Unknown To Play a Major Mysterious Role

French actress Pom Klementieff has joined the cast after Marvel Studios conducted a wide search for the mystery role, which called for an Asian actress. Sequel returns Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, and Bradley Cooper as unlikely heroes who must team up in order to defeat an epic cosmic force. James Gunn is back as director and writer for the sequel, which is expected to start shooting in early 2016 for a May 5th, 2017 release date. (CS)

Netflix Sets Up the First Of What Will Be Many Self-Financed Low Budget Indies

Karl Mueller’s Rebirth is one of a number of low budget indie features the SVOD giant is collaborating directly with filmmakers on as it expands its global film strategy. Fran Kranz, Adam Goldberg, Kat Foster, Nicky Whelan, Harry Hamlin, Andrew J West, Sheryl Lee, Pat Healy, Eric Ladin, Luis Geardo Méndez and Steve Agee have all joined the cast. (DH)

John Stamos’ Cold Streak Comes To an End as Fox Gives ‘Grandfathered’ a Full Season

Stamos’ rookie comedy has joined Tuesday companion The Grinder in landing the order. Like Grinder, Grandfathered has made little ratings noise since debuting last month. Its most recent episode attracted 3.3 million viewers and a 1.0 demo rating. Fox, however, notes that the show has delivered year-over-year gains, increasing the network’s average in the time period by 70 percent in the demo. (TVL)

Curious About the Future Of U.S.-China Film? An Interview With Chris Fenton Will Shed Some Light

The president of DMG Entertainment Motion Picture Group, a company partnering with Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. and leading commercial broadcaster Hunan TV to launch a home entertainment platform that combines Internet, broadcast TV and phone service, talks about the way the business is changing and what’s ahead. (EWB)

Thirty Years On, How ‘Just One Of the Guys’ Became an Unlikely Cult Hit

The movie almost never stood a chance at becoming a hit. In fact, according to the film’s co-writer Jeff Franklin, Just One of the Guys was only made because the studio was under fire for not having any female directors. Once released, it might have been forgotten had moviegoers not actually liked it. (UR)

Trailer Buzz: ‘Dirty Grandpa’

Lionsgate has released the first trailer from the upcoming comedy starring Robert De Niro, Zac Efron and Aubrey Plaza. It hits theaters January 22nd, 2016. (COL)

Screenwriters: Movie Pitch Pro — The Right Pitch For Selling Your Screenplay

Like any industry, the film industry is driven by sales. It is the single most important process that determines the success of a film project. Even if you’re making an obscure little art film, you still have to sell your creation. From script to screen, making a film involves the pitching and selling of the creative over and over again. The process may start with selling your screenplay, but it doesn’t end there. (SM)

NEW ATTACHMENTS

A Meyers Christmas
Logline: An estranged family spends their first Christmas together after their patriarch dies.
Studio/Distributor(s): Universal Pictures, Universal Pictures
Production Company(s): Will Packer Productions
Producer(s): Will Packer
Writer(s): David E. Talbert
Director(s): David E. Talbert
Cast: Gabrielle Union, Danny Glover, Mo’Nique, Kimberly Elise, J.B. Smoove, Kimberly Elise
SSN Insight: Spec script acquired for mid-six figures upfront, but will be seven figures for script and directing if the movie gets made.

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.
Studio/Distributor(s): , Warner Bros. Pictures Distribution
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: Owen Wilson, Ed Helms, J.K. Simmons, Ving Rhames, Katt Williams, Zachary Haven
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.

Before I Fall
Logline: Follows Samantha Kingston, a high school senior, who has it all: beautiful, with a great boyfriend and amazing best friends. That is until she finds herself stuck in a Groundhog Day style time loop, forced to relive February 12 over and over again.
Production Company(s): Jon Shestack Productions, AwesomenessTV
Producer(s): Jonathan Shestack, Carla Hacken, Matt Kaplan, Brian Robbins
Writer(s): Gina Prince-Bythewood, Maria Maggenti
Director(s): Ry Russo-Young
Cast: Zoey Deutch, Halston Sage, Logan Miller, Kian Lawley, Diego Boneta, Elena Kampouris
Details: Based on the novel “Before I Fall” written by Lauren Oliver and published by HarperCollins on March 2, 2010.
SSN Insight: Previously in development with Paper Pictures. Gina Prince-Bythewood was previously attached to direct.

Boomtown
Logline: A corporate investigator uncovers a conspiracy tied to the North Dakota oil boom.
Studio/Distributor(s): Focus Features
Production Company(s): Marc Platt Productions
Producer(s): Marc Platt
Writer(s): Matt King
Cast: Tyler Riggs, Boyd Holbrook, Rachel Brosnahan, Jocelin Donahue
SSN Insight: Boyd Holbrook was previously on Narcos, Rachel Brosnahan was previously on House of Cards, and Jocelin Donahue was previously seen in Knight of Cups.

Ferrari
Logline: About a pivotal year in the life of the Italian auto magnate Enzo Ferrari.
Studio/Distributor(s): Paramount Pictures
Production Company(s): Forward Pass, Inc., Cecchi Gori Pictures, Vendian Entertainment
Producer(s): Michael Mann, Niels Juul, Christopher Woodrow
Writer(s): Michael Mann, David Rayfiel, Troy Kennedy Martin
Director(s): Michael Mann
Cast: Christian Bale, Noomi Rapace
Details: Based on the book “Enzo Ferrari: The Man, The Cars, The Race, The Machine” written by Brock Yates published by Doubleday May 1, 1991.
SSN Insight: Cameron Crowe previously attached to direct. The film has been in development since its literary sale date on February 1, 2002.

Gateway 6
Logline: In the future, four soldiers isolated from everyone while waiting for either destruction or rescue, grow paranoid and suspicious of one another.
Production Company(s): Stigma Films, Sentinel Entertainment UK
Producer(s): Ben Pullen, William Pullen, Matt Wilkinson
Writer(s): Malachi Smyth
Director(s): Tanel Toom
Cast: Rhys Ifans, Ed Skrein
SSN Insight: Screenplay was included in the 2014 Brit List. Will Clarke’s Altitude Film will handle international sales at AFM.

HHhH
Logline: The true story of the assassination of Hitler’s colleague, Reinhard Heydrich.
Studio/Distributor(s): The Weinstein Company
Production Company(s): Legende Films, Echo Lake Entertainment, FilmNation, Adama Pictures
Producer(s): Ilan Goldman, Daniel Crown, Simon Istolainen
Writer(s): David Farr, Audrey Diwan, Cedric Jimenez
Director(s): Cedric Jimenez
Cast: Jason Clarke, Rosamund Pike, Jack O’Connell, Jack Reynor, Stephen Graham
Details: Based on the book “HHhH” by Laurent Binet; published by Grasset in 2009.
SSN Insight: Screenplay was included in the 2014 Brit List. Title refers to an acronym for “Himmlers Hirn Heisst Heydrich” (“Himmler’s Brain Is Called Heydrich”).

High Life
Logline: A group of criminals headed to space for a human experiment encounter an unforeseen tragedy.
Production Company(s): Pandora Film Produktion, Alcatraz Films
Producer(s): Oliver Dungey, Laurence Clerc, Olivier Thery-Lapiney, Claudia Steffen, Christoph Friedel
Writer(s): Claire Denis, Zadie Smith, Nick Laird
Director(s): Claire Denis
Cast: Robert Pattinson, Mia Goth
SSN Insight: Goth recently finished work on Gore Verbinski’s A Cure For Wellness, starring opposite Dane DeHaan.

It’s Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong
Logline: Follows Chinese-American Ruby, who meet ex-pat Josh one night. He shows her around the city, and through their carefree conversations, they soon realize they have an undeniable attraction.
Studio/Distributor(s): Gravitas Ventures
Production Company(s): Unbound Feet Productions
Producer(s): Emily Ting, Sophia Shek
Writer(s): Emily Ting
Director(s): Emily Ting
Cast: Bryan Greenberg, Jamie Chung
SSN Insight: Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong is the feature directorial debut of Emily Ting. She is the co-executive producer of Land Ho! from Sony Classics.

Jumanji (Remake)
Logline: A re-imagination of the children’s book and 1995 feature film about an adventure board game, filled with wild animals, that comes to life.
Studio/Distributor(s): Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Releasing
Production Company(s): Golden Mean Productions, Radar Pictures, Matt Tolmach Productions
Producer(s): Matt Tolmach, William Teitler
Writer(s): Scott Rosenberg, Zach Helm
Details: Remake of “Jumanji” (1995) directed by Joe Johnston. Based on the short story “Jumanji” written by Chris Van Allsburg and published by Houghton Mifflin April 27, 1981.
SSN Insight: Rosenberg’s credits include Beautiful Girls, High Fidelity and Gone In Sixty Seconds.

Latin Lover
Logline: Storyline is under wraps, but involves an aging Latin lover.
Studio/Distributor(s): Lionsgate
Production Company(s): Pantelion Films, 3pas Studios
Producer(s): Eugenio Derbez, Ben Odell
Writer(s): Chris Spain, Jon Zack
Director(s): Ken Marino
Cast: Eugenio Derbez
SSN Insight: Eugenio Derbez was previously attached to direct.

Micronauts
Logline: Microscopic robots who live in microscopic communities in a place called The Microverse.
Studio/Distributor(s): Paramount Pictures
Production Company(s): Bad Robot, Hasbro, Inc., Look Entertainment LLC
Producer(s): J.J. Abrams, Bryan Burk, Brian Goldner, Bennett Schneir
Writer(s): Thomas Wheeler, Paul Wernick, Rhett Reese
Details: Based on the toy line first released in Japan in 1974.
SSN Insight: Wheeler previously wrote Puss in Boots.

Paddington 2
Logline: Storyline is under wraps.
Studio/Distributor(s): StudioCanal
Production Company(s): Heyday Films
Producer(s): David Heyman
Writer(s): Paul King, Simon Farnaby
Director(s): Paul King
Details: Sequel to “Paddington” (2014) directed by Paul King. Based on the series of books “Paddington Bear” written by Michael Bond and published between 1958 and 1979.
SSN Insight: King wrote the first film and previous to that wrote Bunny And The Bull.

Shimmer Lake
Logline: This murder mystery centers on a sheriff investigating a series of killings, as well as the disappearance of a bank robber wanted for a heist committed three days earlier.
Production Company(s): Footprint Features, Writ Large
Producer(s): Britton Rizzio, Adam Saunders
Writer(s): Oren Uziel
Director(s): Oren Uziel
Cast: Benjamin Walker, Rainn Wilson, Wyatt Russell, Mark Rendall, Stephanie Sigman, Rob Corddry, Ron Livingston, Wyatt Russell, John Michael Higgins, Adam Pally
SSN Insight: Project was previously in development at Fox Atomic. Project was previously in development at Josephson Entertainment with Barry Josephson attached to produce. Project was included on the 2009 Black List.

Suburbicon
Logline: Storyline is under wraps.
Studio/Distributor(s): TriStar Productions
Production Company(s): Silver Pictures, Mike Zoss Productions
Producer(s): Joel Coen, Ethan Coen, Joel Silver
Writer(s): Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Director(s): George Clooney (In Discussions)
Cast: George Clooney (In Discussions)
SSN Insight: Previously in development at Warner Bros.

The Bleeder
Logline: The true story of New Jersey heavyweight boxer and womanizer Chuck Wepner.
Production Company(s): Hyde Park Entertainment, Campbell Grobman Films, Mandalay Sports Media
Producer(s): Michael Tollin, Carl Hampe, Liev Schreiber, Christa Campbell, Lati Dana Grobman
Writer(s): Jeff Feurerzeig, Jerry Stahl, Michael Cristofer
Director(s): Philippe Falardeau
Cast: Liev Schreiber, Naomi Watts, Elisabeth Moss
SSN Insight: Jeff Feurerzeig was previously attached to direct. Christina Hendricks was previously attached to co-star.

The Titan
Logline: In the near future, a military family is relocated so they can participate in a ground-breaking experiment of man’s genetic evolution into space.
Production Company(s): Motion Picture Capital, 42, Automatik
Producer(s): Brian Kavanaugh-Jones, Benjamin Pugh, Rory Aitken, Arash Amel, Leon Clarance
Writer(s): Max Hurwitz
Director(s): Lennart Ruff
Cast: Sam Worthington, Ruth Wilson, Sofia Boutella, Tom Wilkinson
SSN Insight: Voltage Pictures will is handling international sales at AFM with CAA handling domestic sales.

Theory of Obscurity: A Film About the Residents
Logline: About the renegade sound and video collective known as The Residents. A story that spans 40 years and is clouded in mystery. The Residents have released more than 60 albums, performed all over the world and inspired many people to be weird, take chances and find their own voice.
Studio/Distributor(s): Film Movement
Production Company(s): KTF Films
Producer(s): Don Hardy, Barton John Bishoff, Josh Keppel
Writer(s): Don Hardy
Director(s): Don Hardy
SSN Insight: The film will premiere in New York on November 14 as part of Doc NYC, with theatrical release planned to start in March, 2016.

Tomboy
Logline: After an assassin is double-crossed by gangsters and sent to a rogue surgeon who turns him into a woman, he (now she) sets out for revenge, aided by a nurse.
Studio/Distributor(s): ,
Production Company(s): SBS Productions
Producer(s): Said Ben Said, Michel Merkt
Writer(s): Walter Hill, Denis Hamill
Director(s): Walter Hill
Cast: Sigourney Weaver, Michelle Rodriguez
SSN Insight: Producers were interested in Andrea Riseborough to play the assassin, but a potential deal fell through because of scheduling issues with her role on the Netflix series “Bloodline.” Freida Pinto was previously attached to co-star.

Truth in Advertising
Logline: The film interweaves the meaning of family, the complications of love and the absurdity of the world of advertising from an insider’s point of view.
Production Company(s): Chartoff Productions, The Solution Entertainment Group
Producer(s): Billy Chartoff, Lynn Hendee, Lisa Wilson, Myles Nestel
Writer(s): John Kenney
Director(s): Roger Michell
Cast: Ryan Reynolds (in final negotiations)
Details: Based on the novel “Truth in Advertising” written by John Kenney and published by Simon & Schuster/Touchstone in 2013.
SSN Insight: The Solution is handling international sales at AFM. WME is repping North American rights and also arranged financing.

Untitled Jon Lucas/Scott Moore/Comedy
Logline: Storyline is under wraps.
Studio/Distributor(s): STX Entertainment
Production Company(s): Team Todd, PalmStar Entertainment, Merced Media Partners, Block Entertainment
Producer(s): Suzanne Todd, Bill Block, Raj Singh, Kevin Scott Frakes, Josh Church
Writer(s): Jon Lucas, Scott Moore
Director(s): Jon Lucas, Scott Moore
Cast: Mila Kunis, Christina Applegate, Kristen Bell
SSN Insight: Leslie Mann was previously attached to star, with husband Judd Apatow previously attached as producer. Previously titled Bad Moms.

Valerian
Logline: A man and woman are partners for a space-time police organization.
Production Company(s): EuropaCorp, Fundamental Films
Producer(s): Virginie Silla
Writer(s): Luc Besson
Director(s): Luc Besson
Cast: Dane DeHaan, Cara Delevingne, Clive Owen, Rihanna
Details: Based on the comic book series “Valerian,” written by Pierre Christin and published in France by Pilote in 1967.
SSN Insight: During the 2015 Cannes Film Festival, China’s Fundamental Films agreed to invest $50,000,000 into this project, marking the biggest deal of the year’s festival.

Viva
Logline: An eighteen-year-old Cuban named Jesus struggles to realize his true identity as he works at a Havana drag club, finds solace listening to records, and struggles with the sudden reappearance of his father, a celebrated boxer, who is released from prison.
Studio/Distributor(s): Magnolia Pictures
Production Company(s): Treasure Entertainment (Ireland)
Producer(s): Robert Walpole, Rebecca O’Flanagan, Cathleen Dore
Writer(s): Mark O’Halloran
Director(s): Paddy Breathnach
Cast: Hector Medina, Jorge Perugorria, Luis Alberto Garcia, Mark O’Halloran
SSN Insight: Ireland has made this film their submission into the foreign-language Oscar race.

War for the Planet of the Apes
Logline: Storyline is under wraps.
Studio/Distributor(s): 20th Century Fox, 20th Century Fox Distribution
Production Company(s): Bluegrass Films, Chernin Entertainment, Shinbone Productions
Producer(s): Peter Chernin, Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, Jenno Topping, Dylan Clark
Writer(s): Matt Reeves, Mark Bomback
Director(s): Matt Reeves
Cast: Andy Serkis, Gabriel Chavarria, Woody Harrelson, Steve Zahn, Judy Greer, Aleks Paunovic, Sara Canning
Details: Sequel to “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” (2011) directed by Rupert Wyatt and “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” (2014) directed by Matt Reeves.
SSN Insight: Both Canning and Paunovic are set to play ape characters.

Where to Invade Next
Logline: Edited in the style of a travelogue, the film has Moore spending time in countries such as Finland, Italy and France where he experiences those countries’ alternative methods of dealing with social and economic ills experienced in the United States.
Studio/Distributor(s): Unnamed Tom Quinn/Jason Janego Company
Production Company(s): Dog Eat Dog Films, Inc., IMG Worldwide
Producer(s): Michael Moore, Tia Lessin, Carl Deal
Writer(s): Michael Moore
Director(s): Michael Moore
SSN Insight: Tom Quinn, Jason Janego and Tim League’s new distribution label acquired domestic rights following the film’s premiere at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival.

Zootopia
Logline: Animals live and work in a world where human beings never existed.
Studio/Distributor(s): Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Production Company(s): Walt Disney Animation Studios
Producer(s): Clark Spencer
Writer(s): Jared Bush
Director(s): Byron Howard, Rich Moore
Voice Cast: Idris Elba, J.K. Simmons, Octavia Spencer, Bonnie Hunt, Tommy Chong, Alan Tudyk, Jenny Slate, Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman and Shakira
SSN Insight: In addition to this voice role, Elba is also voicing the tiger Shere Khan in The Jungle Book and a character in Finding Dory.

NEW PROJECTS

Backstabbing for Beginners
Logline: When an idealist gets a job at the U.N.’s Oil for Food program in post-war Iraq, power-hungry nations circling the country’s oil reserves and he discovers a possible conspiracy at the highest level.
Production Company(s): JJ Film, Parts and Labor , Eyeworks Sweden, Waterstone Entertainment, Houndstooth, Creative Alliance, Fortitude International
Producer(s): Lars Knudsen, Jay Van Hoy, Malene Blenkov, Nikolaj Vibe Michelsen
Writer(s): Per Fly, Daniel Pyne
Director(s): Per Fly
Cast: Josh Hutcherson, Ben Kingsley
Details: Inspired by the memoir “Backstabbing for Beginners: My Crash Course in International Diplomacy” written by Michael Soussan and published by Nation Books in 2008.
SSN Insight: Fortitude International is starting pre-sales at AFM next week.

Deconstructing Sammy
Logline: Sammy Davis Jr. rises from humble beginnings to become an entertainment icon.
Studio/Distributor(s): Freestyle Releasing
Production Company(s): Entertainment Studios Networks
Producer(s): Byron Allen
Details: Based on the book “Deconstructing Sammy” written by Matt Birkbeck and published by Amistad in 2008.
SSN Insight: Global distribution will be handled by Entertainment Studios’ recently-bought film finance and distribution company Freestyle Releasing.

Dora the Explorer
Logline: The film is based on the animated television series featuring Dora, a resourceful 7-year-old Latina girl who lives inside a computer and goes on adventures with her best friend, a monkey named Boots.
Studio/Distributor(s): Paramount Pictures
Production Company(s): Disruption Entertainment
Producer(s): Mary Parent
Writer(s): Thomas Wheeler
Details: Based on the animated children’s television series “Dora the Explorer” created by Valerie Walsh, Chris Gifford and Eric Weiner (Nickelodeon/2000-2013).
SSN Insight: Wheeler previously wrote Puss in Boots and is also set to pen Micronauts.

Fortunately, the Milk
Logline: A whimsical tale of a father who leaves one morning to buy milk and returns home with fantastic stories about his trip for his son, who narrates the story.
Studio/Distributor(s): 20th Century Fox
Production Company(s): Animal Logic Entertainment
Producer(s): Edgar Wright, Johnny Depp (in negotiations), Zareh Nalbandian
Writer(s): Bret McKenzie
Director(s): Edgar Wright
Cast: Johnny Depp (in negotiations)
Details: Based on the children’s book “Fortunately, the Milk” written by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Skottie Young and published by HarperCollins on September 17, 2013.
SSN Insight:

Henry the Second
Logline: Teenage outcast Henry’s estranged father is a world-class spy who returns to town to teach Henry how to lie and manipulate his way to the top of the social ladder.
Studio/Distributor(s): 3311
Production Company(s): 21 Laps Entertainment
Producer(s): Shawn Levy, Dan Cohen, Jennifer Dana, Mark Roberts, Ross Jacobson
Writer(s): Tripper Clancy
SSN Insight: Pic will be financed by 3311, which previously joined with Shawn Levy’s production company on the Fox Searchlight wedding comedy Table 19.

Queen of Hearts
Logline: The story of the young Queen of Hearts from the Lewis Carroll classic focuses on her teen years when she was princess of Wonderland Palace.
Studio/Distributor(s): Universal Pictures
Writer(s): Grant Myers
Details: Based on the YA novel trilogy “Queen of Hearts” written by Colleen Oakes.
SSN Insight: Universal director of development Sara Scott will oversee the project for Universal.

Realm
Logline: Storyline is under wraps.
Production Company(s): Fundamental Films, Stan Lee Global Entertainment
Producer(s): Gill Champion, Li Bingbing, Gregory Ouanhon, Stan Lee
Writer(s): Alex Litvak
Cast: Li Bingbing
SSN Insight: Stan Lee Global Entertainment is a joint venture launched in 2014 between Ricco Media Entertainment and Stan Lee’s POW! Entertainment.

The Discovery
Logline: Soon after the existence of the afterlife has been scientifically proven, the son of the man who made the discovery falls in love with a woman with a tragic past.
Production Company(s): Endgame Entertainment, Verisimilitude
Producer(s): Alex Orlovsky, James D. Stern
Writer(s): Charlie McDowell, Justin Lader
Director(s): Charlie McDowell
Cast: Rooney Mara, Nicholas Hoult
SSN Insight: McDowell and Lader previously teamed up for the film The One I Love starring Elizabeth Moss.

The Monopolists
Logline: The film is based on the story of origins of the most popular board game in history, Monopoly.
Production Company(s): Tiara Blu Films, Big Beach
Producer(s): Marc Turtletaub, Peter Saraf, Diane Nabatoff
Writer(s): Howard A Rodman
Details: Based on the book “The Monopolists: Obsession, Fury, and the Scandal Behind the World’s Favorite Board Game” written by Mary Pilon and published by Bloomsbury in 2015, and “The Billion Dollar Monopoly (R) Swindle”.
SSN Insight: Big Beach previously produced Little Miss Sunshine. Their upcoming films include About Ray starring Naomi Watts and the Jeff Nichols-directed Loving.

This Is Your Life, Harriet Chance!
Logline: Widow Harriet goes on an Alaskan cruise her late husband won, and discovers many truths about her life.
Studio/Distributor(s): Focus Features
Details: Based on the novel “This Is Your Life, Harriet Chance!” written by Jonathan Evison and published by Algonquin Books on September 8, 2015.
SSN Insight: Evison’s other novel, The Revised Fundamentals Of Caregiving, is also being adapted as a feature with Paul Rudd and Rob Burnett is directing from his script.

Tower of Terror
Logline: Five people who are staying in a luxury hotel take an elevator and disappear after it is hit by lightning.
Studio/Distributor(s): Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Production Company(s): Whitaker Entertainment
Producer(s): John August, Jim Whitaker
Details: Based on the Disneyland theme park ride of the same name.
SSN Insight: Tower of Terror was reportedly the very first theme park ride turned into a film, but it was produced for television in 1997 and starred Kirsten Dunst.

Fall is definitely underway and so is Oscar season. One contender is Brooklyn, which Fox Searchlight will release on November 4. The romantic film has been getting rave reviews and is the result of a international co-production between companies in Ireland, the United Kingdom, and Canada. In addition to Oscars, studios are also releasing films to capitalize on the Thanksgiving holiday with the final installment of the Hunger Games hitting the scene early on November 20 before The Good Dinosaur and Creed give it a run for its box office money. In other film news AFI and AFM are once again planned for November. Before AFM even opens its doors at the Loews in Santa Monica, news is already leaking out of films to be sold at the market with Natalie Dormer set to star in the indie thriller In Darkness and Ryan Reynolds in final talks to star in Truth in Advertising.

So, take a look below for your guide to the happenings this month and let us know in the comments below if there’s events we should also check out.

November Events Calendar

Sunday, November 1
Dia de los Muertos
Happy Birthday Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Penn Badgley, David Foster, Lyle Lovett, Toni Collette
TV- Breakthrough (NEW) on NatGeo, The Librarians on TNT, Holiday Baking Championship on TNT
Self Help Graphics & Art Día de los Muertos Celebration in Boyle Heights

Monday, November 2
Happy Birthday Nelly, David Schwimmer, Shah Rukh Khan, Stephanie Powers
TV- Apres Ski (NEW) on Bravo, Legends on TNT, Vanderpump Rules on Bravo, Mike Tyson Mysteries on Cartoon Network

Tuesday, November 3
Happy Birthday Kendall Jenner, Dolph Lundgren, Roseanne Barr, Dennis Miller, Elizabeth Smart, Anna Wintour
FILM- The Notorious Mr. Bout
TV- Sweet 15: Quinceanera (NEW) on TLC, Fix My Mom (NEW) on Oxygen, Christina Milian Turned Up on E!

Wednesday, November 4
Happy Birthday Sean Combs, Ralph Macchio, Matthew McConaughey, Jeff Probst, Dustin Brown, Curtis Stone, Laura Bush
FILM- Brooklyn
TV- Coach Charming (NEW) on TLC
AWARDS- CMA Awards
AFM Through November 11
San Francisco International Film Festival Film Submission Deadline

Thursday, November 5
Happy Birthday Kris Jenner, Bryan Adams, Luke Hemsworth, Famke Janssen, Tatum O’Neal, Sam Rockwell, Robert Patrick
TV- I Love Kellie Pickler (NEW) on CMT, Selling It: In the ATL (NEW) on WE, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie (NEW) on Amazon along with The Numberlys, Danger & Eggs, Eddie of the Realms Eternal, Everstar and Yoyotoki HappyEars!, Elementary on CBS, Mom on CBS
AFI Fest Through November 12
Zed Fest: Film Festival and Screenplay Competition Through November 8 in Burbank

Friday, November 6
Happy Birthday Emma Stone, Ethan Hawke, Sally Field, Thandie Newton, Maria Shriver, Susan Downey
FILM- Spotlight, Miss You Already, The Peanuts Movie, The Hallow, Spectre, The Outskirts, The House That Jack Built, Trumbo, The Nightingale, Lost in the Sun, Theeb
TV- Master of None (New) on Netflix, Care Bears and Cousins (NEW) on Netflix, Restoration Wild (NEW) on Animal Planet, Masterchef Junior on FOX, World’s Funniest Fails on FOX
Thessaloniki International Film Festival Through November 15
Annie Awards Deadline (midnight)
International Family Film Festival at Raleigh Studios Through November 8

Saturday, November 7
Happy Birthday Lorde, Adam DeVine, Kamal Haasan, Joni Mitchell
TV- Dr. Dee: Alaska Vet (NEW) on Animal Planet, TeenNick Top 10 on TeenNick
Three Acts, Two Dancers, One Radio Host Live at The Theatre at Ace Hotel

Sunday, November 8
Happy Birthday Gordon Ramsay, Jasmine Thompson, Parker Posey, Dania Ramirez, Bonnie Raitt
TV- Flesh and Bone (NEW) on Starz, Agent X (NEW) on TNT, The Real Housewives of Atlanta on Bravo, Getting On HBO, Untying the Knot on Bravo, Behind the Story With the Paley Center on Sundance

Monday, November 9
Happy Birthday Chris Jericho, French Montana, Nick Lachey, Lou Ferrigno
TV- Cake Wars: Christmas (NEW) on Food
BAFTA Entry Deadline

Tuesday, November 10
Happy Birthday Ellen Pompeo, Miranda Lambert, Tracy Morgan, Kiernan Shipka, Eve, Michael Jai White, Sinbad
TV- Donny! (NEW) on USA, Uncorked (NEW) on Esquire, American Epic (NEW) on PBS, Hunting Hitler (NEW) on History, The Kennedy Files (NEW) on Reelz
Cur-ATE Dinner Series at LACMA

Wednesday, November 11
Happy Birthday Leonardo DiCaprio, Demi Moore, David Deluise, Stanley Tucci, Calista Flockhart
TV- Men Women Wild (NEW) on Discovery, Going Deep with David Rees on Esquire

Thursday, November 12
Happy Birthday Ryan Gosling, Anne Hathaway, Omar Rudberg, Neil Young, Megan Mullally
FILM- Prem Ratan Dhan Payo
TV- Project Runway Junior (NEW) on Lifetime, 2 Broke Girls on CBS

Friday, November 13
Happy Birthday Whoopi Goldberg, Gerard Butler, Jimmy Kimmel, Monique Coleman, Matt Bennett
FILM- Condemned, The 33, Love the Coopers, Shelter, James White, Man Up, Steve McQueen: The Man & Le Mans, My Mother, My All American, Entertainment, By the Sea, Kilo Two Bravo, Song of Lahore, Ingrid Bergman in Her Own Words, Heist, The Funhouse Massacre
TV- W/ Bob & David (NEW) on Netflix
WGA Submission Deadline for Theatrical and Documentary Screenplays
Arpa International Film Festival Through November 15 at the Egyptian Theater

Saturday, November 14
Happy Birthday Josh Duhamel, Prince Charles, Yanni, Condoleeza Rice, Patrick Warburton
TV- Spotless (NEW) on Esquire
AWARDS – The Governors Awards (AMPAS)
International Student Film Festival Hollywood Through November 15

Sunday, November 15
Happy Birthday Shailene Woodley, Ed Asner, Sam Waterson
TV- Into the Badlands (NEW) on AMC, The Royals on E!
Miami Book Fair Through November 22
Hollywood Sign Summit at Griffith Observatory

Monday, November 16
Happy Birthday Lisa Bonet, Maggie Gyllenhaal

Tuesday, November 17
Happy Birthday Rachel McAdams, Danny DeVito, RuPaul, Martin Scorsese, Daisy Fuentes
FILM- Flutter
TV- Chicago Med (NEW) on NBC

Wednesday, November 18
Happy Birthday Owen Wilson, Mike Epps, Jake Abel, Damon Wayans Jr., Steven Moffat, Oscar Nunez, Megyn Kelly
Cinequest Film Festival Film Submission Deadline
International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam Through November 29

Thursday, November 19
Happy Birthday Jodie Foster, Meg Ryan, Calvin Klein, Larry King
TV- The Art of More (NEW) on Crackle
AWARDS- Latin Grammy Awards

Friday, November 20
Happy Birthday Joe Biden, Josh Turner, Dierks Bentley, Dominique Dawes, Bo Derek
FILM- Secret in Their Eyes, Carol, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 2, The Night Before, Legend, Criminal Activities, Kingdom of Shadows, Mustang, Up On the Wooftop
TV- Jessica Jones (NEW) on Netflix, The Man in the High Castle (NEW) on Amazon
LA Auto Show at the LA Convention Center Through November 29

Saturday, November 21
Happy Birthday Michael Strahan, Bjork, Goldie Hawn
TV- Demons in the City of Angels (NEW) on Reelz, Raising Whitley on OWN
Designer Con at Pasadena Convention & Visitors Bureau Through November 22

Sunday, November 22
Happy Birthday Scarleet Johansson, Mark Ruffalo, Eric Unger, Jamie Lee Curtis
AWARDS – BAFTA Children’s Awards, AMA’s

Monday, November 23
Happy Birthday Miley Cyrus, Snooki, Chris Hardwick, Katherine McNamara
WGA Submission Deadline for Videogame Writing

Tuesday, November 24
Happy Birthday Katherine Heigl, Stephen Merchant, Colin Hanks
WGA Preliminary Series online voting Deadline

Wednesday, November 25
Happy Birthday Kate Cassidy, Christina Applegate, Bruno Tonioli, Billy Burke
FILM- Victor Frankenstein, The Good Dinosaur, Creed
TV- Property Brothers at Home on the Ranch (NEW) on HGTV
Tribeca Film Festival Official Entry Deadline
HFPA Deadline for Nomination Ballots to be Mailed to HFPA Members

Thursday, November 26
HAPPY THANKSGIVING
Happy Birthday Rita Ora, Trevor Morgan, Natasha Bedingfield, Maia Campbell
AWARDS- ARIA Awards

Friday, November 27
Happy Birthday Bill Nye, Jaleel White, Samantha Harris, Michael Vartan
FILM- The Danish Girl, Iraqi Odyssey, Killing Them Safely, Janis: Little Girl Blue
TV- South of Hell (NEW) on WE, Unforgettable on A&E
Festival Dei Popoli – International Documentary Film Festival Through December 4
L.A. Zoo Lights Through January 3

Saturday, November 28
Happy Birthday Adam Hicks, Karen Gillan, Jon Stewart, Ed Harris, Daniel Henney
TV- Master P’s Family Empire (NEW) on Reelz, Dr. Feelgood (NEW) on Reelz

Sunday, November 29
Happy Birthday Howiw Mandel, David Lambert, Dianna Williams, Laura Marano, Don Cheadle
AWARDS- Soul Train Music Awards
Aspen ShortsFest Film Submission Deadline

Monday, November 30
Happy Birthday Ben Stiller, Chrissy Teigen, Billy Idol, Clay Aiken, John Bishop, Kevin Conroy, Elisha Cuthbert
TV- The Great Holiday Baking Show (NEW) on ABC
AWARDS- Gotham Awards

–Note all events are subject to change. If you would like to add events to our monthly calendar, please email marketing@ssninsider.com with the details.–

SSN ORIGINALS

SSN Events Calendar: AFI, Spectre, AFM, & The Final Hunger Games Are All In Store This November

Other November events you won’t want to miss include, the CMA Awards, the Miami Book Fair and the Gotham Awards.  (SSN)

Film Development for 10/29/15: Disney Sets Idris Elba Among Others For Zootopia, George Clooney Circles Coen Bros. Film, Paramount Puts Ferrari Movie Into Drive

Other film development news includes, writer Scott Rosenberg signing on to write the Jumanji remake at Columbia, Ken Marino signing on to direct the Latin Lover comedy at Lionsgate and Paramount announcing a Dora the Explorer movie. (SSN)

 OTHER HEADLINES

Fox TV Group COO Joe Earley To Step Down

The veteran Fox executive will exit at the year’s end. The news comes some 14 months after Earley had been upped to his current role as COO of the Fox TV Group. (THR)

YA Novel ‘Simon Vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda’ Acquired By Fox 2000

Fox 2000 has acquired Simon Vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda, a debut novel by Becky Albertelli that will be produced by Wyck Godfrey, Marty Bowen and Isaac Klausner of Temple Hill, and Pouya Shahbazian of New Leaf. (DH)

Netflix Adapting ‘13 Reasons Why’ Into Selena Gomez Series

Netflix is in final negotiations to adapt the best-selling young adult novel 13 Reasons Why as a 13-episode series with Selena Gomez set to exec produce. (VAR)

‘Walking Dead’ Star Norman Reedus Lands A New Motorcycle Show

The cable network is teaming with The Walking Dead star for a six-episode docuseries exploring motorcycle culture. (BI)

Spike Lee’s Amazon Movie ‘Chi-raq’ To Get Roadside/Lionsgate Release December 4

Amazon Studios has set the release strategy for the Spike Lee-directed Chi-raq, which is the company’s first theatrical feature. Amazon has set a December 4 release date and has brought in Roadside Attractions and Lionsgate. (DH)

Willem Dafoe Joins Nicolas Cage In ‘Dog Eat Dog’

Arclight Films and Pure Dopamine have announced the addition of Willem Dafoe to the crime-thriller, Dog Eat Dog, based on the award-winning book. Production has just begun on the film, directed by Paul Schrader. (CS)

Scared Young: 6 Teen Horror Novels Ready For Film

There’s an oddly overlooked area of the scare-lit genre that deserves some attention on the movie-making front: Young Adult Horror. Word and Film lists a few YA horror novels that are either making their way to the screen – or should be. (WF)

U.S. Request To Extradite Roman Polanski Denied By Polish Court

A Polish court today rejected a U.S. request to extradite the director for having unlawful sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old girl in 1977. The verdict is subject to appeal within seven days. The ruling comes days before a new, Conservative government is seated and which was considered more likely to grant the request. The refusal of the court to grant an extradition request from U.S. authorities closes the latest chapter on a decades-old case. (DH)

It’s Been Years In the Making, but It Appears We Are, Finally, Getting a ‘Bad Santa 2’

Miramax and Broad Green Pictures have announced that Billy Bob Thornton will reprise his role as Willie Soke, and production on the film will start in January in Montreal. However, there is no word on who has penned the script, or who will be directing. Steve Pink and Doug Ellin had been linked to the project in the past, but that was a long time ago. As for original helmer Terry Zwigoff, don’t count on him returning behind the camera. (COL)

Today In Reboot News: Sandra Bullock Will Lead an All-Female ‘Ocean’s Eleven’ Re-Do

A new version of the film is in the works, only this time, in line with the recent Hollywood gender-swapping trend, it’s due to feature an all female line-up, with Bullock in the lead, and Gary Ross directing. The project was initiated last year by the power trio of late producer Jerry Weintraub, Ocean’s trilogy director Steven Soderbergh, and the franchise’s main star, Clooney. Olivia Milch is working on the screenplay. (TP)

They Are Also Remaking ‘Billionaire Boys Club’, With Ansel Elgort and Taron Egerton

The pair is in final negotiations to star in a movie version of “Billionaires Boys Club,” Variety has learned exclusively. The film will follow the true story of the rise and fall of two outsiders, whose investment pool propelled  them into the upper echelons of Los Angeles in the early 1980s and led to murder. The story was originally told in a 1987 made for TV film starring Judd Nelson and Ron Silver. (VAR)

Add ‘The Muppets’ To the List Of New TV Series To Get a Full Season Order

ABC has given freshman comedy The Muppets a full season order — though a full season, in this case, means three more episodes that will ultimately total 16 instead of the standard 22. As for the other freshman series, ABC ordered a full back nine for Dr. Ken, while Quantico got six, with the potential for more. Fox has picked up The Grinder and Grandfathered for full seasons, the same for CBS with Limitless and Life in Pieces, while NBC gave Blindspot a full order. (EW)

James Franco’s Movie About the Making Of Cult Classic ‘The Room’ Finds a Home at New Line

The Disaster Artist, based on actor Greg Sestero‘s The Disaster Artist: My Life Inside The Room, will tell the story of the midnight movie favorite, The Room. Besides directing, Franco will star as eccentric filmmaker Tommy Wiseau. Franco’s brother Dave Franco will also star in the film as Sestero, a struggling actor who meets Wiseau in San Francisco and ends up part of the oddly-spoken man’s dream of finding success in the movies. (BC)

Don’t Count Out ‘Pacific Rim 2’ Just Yet, as Guillermo Del Toro Has Turned In a Script and Budget

Director del Toro tweeted out that he had turned the budget and Jon Spaihts’ script in to Universal and Legendary, and now can only wait and see what happens. Universal pushed Pacific Rim 2 off its calendar completely last month, but Guillermo del Toro has insisted he’s still working on it. (SF)

Meanwhile, Neill Blomkamp’s ‘Alien 5’ Project Has Been Pushed To the Back Burner

In a statement on his Twitter feed last night, Blomkamp announced that Ridley Scott’s Alien: Paradise Lost is the priority project when it comes to the two Alien universe pictures set up at 20th Century Fox. Even Scott himself was trying to put Blomkamp’s continuation of Ellen Ripley’s story on hold, at least until after his second prequel was out of pre-production. Scott’s movie is scheduled to shoot in early 2016. (CB)

Director Adrian Lyne Is Back In Business, and Has Nicole Kidman Starring In His New Thriller

Actress is set to star in The Silent Wife, based on the bestselling book by A.S.A. Harrison. Kidman will play a dedicated wife who, despite her husband’s frequent indiscretions, continues to play the dutiful spouse. When confronted with the brutal truth of him leaving her for a younger woman, Jodi will not accept defeat. What begins as a tragic dissolution of a marriage quickly spirals into a game of cat and mouse. Billy Ray adapted the script. (THR)

Screenwriters: ‘Basic’

The 110-page screenplay by Jamie Vanderbilt, labeled First Draft, March 27th, 2000. (DS)

STARTS

A Street Cat Named Bob
10/25/2015
Logline: A recovering drug addict has his life transformed when he meet a stray ginger cat.
Production Company(s): Prescience Film Finance, Shooting Script Films
Director(s): Roger Spottiswoode
Executive Producer(s): Damian Jones, Tim Smith, Paul Brett
Producer(s): Adam Rolston
Cast: Luke Treadaway, Ruta Gedmintas, Joanne Froggatt, Anthony Head
Writer(s): Maria Nation, Tim John
Details: Based on the book “A Street Cat Named Bob” written by James Bowen and published by St. Martin’s Press in 2013.
SSN Insight: Roger Spottiswoode’s previous credits incude 48 HRS., Turner & Hooch, Tomorrow Never Dies and The 6^th Day.

Freak Show
10/27/2015
Logline: Cross-dressing teen Billy is a new student at an ultra-conservative high school who takes a stand for his individuality by running for Homecoming Queen.
Production Company(s): Flower Films, Maven Pictures
Director(s): Trudie Styler
Producer(s): Trudie Styler, Charlotte Ubben, Celine Rattray, Chris Miller, Ember Truesdell, Drew Barrymore, Nancy Juvonen, Jeffrey Coulter, Bryan Rabin
Cast: Bette Midler, AnnaSophia Robb, Ian Nelson, Lorraine Toussaint, Alex Lawther
Writer(s): Beth Rigazio, P.J. Clifton
Details: Based on the novel “Freak Show” written by James St. James and published by Dutton Children’s Books in 2007.
SSN Insight: Drew Barrymore’s Flower Films is also behind the film, Hamptons at Warner Bros. in active development.

The Babysitter
10/27/2015
Logline: A lonely twelve-year-old boy in love with his babysitter discovers some hard truths about life, love and murder.
Studio/Distributor(s): New Line Cinema
Production Company(s): Wonderland Sound and Vision
Director(s): McG
Executive Producer(s): Brian Duffield, Steven Bello, Zachary Schiller, James McGough
Producer(s): McG, Mary Viola
Cast: Samara Weaving, Judah Lewis, Robbie Amell, Andrew Bachelor, Bella Thorne
Writer(s): Brian Duffield
SSN Insight: Project was included on the 2015 Blood List. The screenplay also made the 2014 Hit List and the 2014 Black List.

The Bleeder
10/26/2015
Logline: The true story of New Jersey heavyweight boxer and womanizer Chuck Wepner.
Production Company(s): Hyde Park Entertainment, Campbell Grobman Films, Mandalay Sports Media
Director(s): Philippe Falardeau
Executive Producer(s): Ashok Amritraj, Matty Beckerman, Linda Zander, Jeff Rice
Producer(s): Michael Tollin, Carl Hampe, Liev Schreiber, Christa Campbell, Lati Dana Grobman
Cast: Liev Schreiber, Naomi Watts, Elisabeth Moss
Writer(s): Jeff Feurerzeig, Jerry Stahl, Michael Cristofer
SSN Insight: Jeff Feurerzeig was previously attached to direct. Christina Hendricks was previously attached to co-star.

The Headhunter’s Calling
10/26/2015
Logline: A ruthless recruiter is about to take over the company when his son’s illness sets up a conflict between career ambition and his personal life.
Production Company(s): Scythia Films Inc.
Director(s): Mark Williams
Executive Producer(s): Bill Dubuque, Danielle Robinson, Daniel Bekerman
Producer(s): Gerard Butler, Mark Williams, Alan Siegel
Cast: Gerard Butler, Willem Dafoe, Alfred Molina, Gretchen Mol, David Koechner
Writer(s): Bill Dubuque
SSN Insight: Gerard Butler’s other upcoming films include Gods of Egypt, London Has Fallen, Geostorm and The Septembers of Shiraz.

The Legacy Of A Whitetail Deer Hunter
10/30/2015
Logline: Storyline is under wraps.
Production Company(s): Scott Rudin Productions, Rough House Pictures
Director(s): Jody Hill
Executive Producer(s): Danny McBride, David Gordon Green, John Carcieri, Lila Yacoub
Producer(s): Scott Rudin, Jody Hill, Eli Bush
Cast: Josh Brolin, Danny McBride
Writer(s): Jody Hill, Danny McBride, John Carcieri
Details:
SSN Insight: Danny McBride’s upcoming films include Don Verdean for Lionsgate as well as Zeroville alongside James Franco, Sausage Party for Sony and In Dubious Battle and The Sound and the Fury.

The Shallows
10/28/2015
Logline: A young woman who has recently lost her mother is surfing in an isolated area when she gets stranded on a buoy, and a gigantic great white shark is between her and the shore.
Studio/Distributor(s): Columbia Pictures
Production Company(s): Weimaraner Republic Pictures
Director(s): Jaume Collet-Serra
Producer(s): Lynn Harris, Matti Leshem
Cast: Blake Lively, Oscar Jaenada
Writer(s): Anthony Jaswinski
SSN Insight: Colulmbia Pictures won the active bidding battle set at high-six figures for the spec script by Tony Jaswinski. Project was included on the 2014 Black List and the screenplay was included in the 2014 Hit List.

Untitled John Wick Sequel Project
10/26/2015
Logline: In this sequel, the fearsome head of security for a stunning female crime lord will stop at nothing in his quest to destroy John.
Studio/Distributor(s): Lionsgate, Summit Entertainment
Production Company(s): Thunder Road Pictures, 87eleven
Director(s): Chad Stahelski
Executive Producer(s): Erica Lee
Producer(s): Basil Iwanyk, David Leitch
Cast: Keanu Reeves, Common, Ian McShane
Writer(s): Derek Kolstad
Details: Sequel to “John Wick” (2014) directed by Chad Stahelski and starring Keanu Reeves and Michael Nyqvist.
SSN Insight: David Leitch was previously attached to co-direct, but left the project to instead direct the film “Coldest City,” with Stahelski staying on to direct.

WRAPS

20th Century Women
10/27/2015
Logline: In 1979 Santa Barbara, three women are teaching a boy about men, women, love and freedom when his mother takes in a boarder, shaking his world view.
Production Company(s): Annapurna Pictures, Archer Gray Productions
Director(s): Mike Mills
Executive Producer(s): Chelsea Barnard
Producer(s): Megan Ellison, Anne Carey, Youree Henley
Cast: Annette Bening, Greta Gerwig, Elle Fanning, Billy Crudup
Writer(s): Mike Mills
SSN Insight: Mike Mills previously wrote and directed Thumbsucker for Sony and Beginners for Focus.

A Bus Could Run You Over
10/30/2015
Logline: Connor doesn’t want to leave London and go to Ibiza, but only he can help his best friend who’s mixed up with a drug gang. He might even be happy there, if he can stay alive.
Production Company(s): Fulwell 73 Productions
Director(s): Benjamin Turner
Executive Producer(s): Max Leverett, Jeremy Bussey, Andy Ruhan, Tony Truman, Wayne Lineker
Producer(s): Leo Pearlman
Cast: Billy Zane, Owain Arthur, Lyndon Ogbourne, Joel Dommett, Billy Boyd
Writer(s): Colin Butts
Details: Based on the novel “A Bus Could Run You Over” written by Colin Butts and published by Orion.
SSN Insight: Executive producers and investors on the project include owners of Ibiza bars and clubs, which will provide access to the dance scene of the island.

Marjorie Prime
10/27/2015
Logline: As elderly Marjorie’s memories begin to fail her, she subscribes to a service that provides holographic recreations of her deceased loved ones as she would like to remember them.
Production Company(s): BB Films Productions
Director(s): Michael Almereyda
Producer(s): Uri Singer, Isen Robbins
Cast: Lois Smith, Jon Hamm, Geena Davis, Tim Robbins
Writer(s): Michael Almereyda
Details: Based on the play “Marjorie Prime” written by Jordan Harrison which premiered at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles on September 10, 2014.
SSN Insight: Lois Smith also starred as Marjorie in the original stage production of “Marjorie Prime” at LA’s Mark Taper Forum.

Men of Granite
10/26/2015
Logline: In 1940s Illinois, a group of poor, immigrant high school boys rise above bigotry when they excel at playing basketball. Based on a true story.
Production Company(s): Blue Raven Films
Director(s): Dwayne Johnson-Cochran
Executive Producer(s): Ziggy Hildebrand, Aaron Millar
Producer(s): Valerie McCaffrey
Cast: William Hurt, Shirley MacLaine, George Finn, Kevin Dunn
Writer(s): Armand Kachigian
Details: Based on the book “Men of Granite” written by Dan Manoyan and published by AuthorHouse on October 16, 2007.
SSN Insight: David Henrie was previously attached to the role played by George Finn.

Neighbors 2
10/28/2015
Logline: In this sequel, a sorority moves next door to married parents Mac and Kelly, who turn to their former nemeses from the Delta Psi Beta fraternity to help battle the wild young women.
Studio/Distributor(s): Universal Pictures
Production Company(s): Point Grey Pictures, Good Universe
Director(s): Nicholas Stoller
Executive Producer(s): Andrew Jay Cohen, Brendan O’Brien, Nathan Kahane, Joe Drake
Producer(s): Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, James Weaver
Cast: Seth Rogen, Zac Efron, Rose Byrne, Ike Barinholtz, Chloe Grace Moretz
Writer(s): Andrew Jay Cohen, Brendan O’Brien, Nicholas Stoller, Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg
Details: Sequel to “Neighbors” (2014), directed by Nicholas Stoller and starring Seth Rogen, Rose Byrne, and Zac Efron.
SSN Insight: Nicholas Stoller is also the writer, co-director and producer on Storks, which is currently in production at Warner Bros.

Ouija 2
10/23/2015
Logline: Storyline is under wraps.
Studio/Distributor(s): Universal Pictures
Production Company(s): Platinum Dunes, Hasbro, Inc., Blumhouse Productions
Director(s): Mike Flanagan
Executive Producer(s): Trevor Macy
Producer(s): Jason Blum, Michael Bay, Brad Fuller, Andrew Form, Brian Goldner
Cast: Annalise Basso, Elizabeth Reaser, Henry Thomas, Lulu Wilson, Parker Mack
Writer(s): Jeff Howard, Mike Flanagan
Details: Sequel to “Ouija” (2014) directed by Stiles White and starring Olivia Cooke.
SSN Insight: Mike Flanagan is also attached to write and direct Gerald’s Game and Diver, both of which are in development at Intrepid Pictures.

The Journey
10/30/2015
Logline: After three decades of not speaking, Ian Paisley, staunch evangelical Protestant and advocate for Northern Ireland, and Martin McGuinness, a former leader of the IRA are forced to ride in a car together. Will their proximity help in the quest for peace?
Production Company(s): Tempo Productions, Generator Entertainment, Greenroom Entertainment
Director(s): Nick Hamm
Executive Producer(s): Stuart Ford, Matt Jackson
Producer(s): Nick Hamm, Mark Huffam, Piers Tempest
Cast: Timothy Spall, Colm Meaney, John Hurt, Toby Stephens, Freddie Highmore
Writer(s): Colin Bateman
SSN Insight: CAA and Bloom are selling the project on a promo reel at Cannes. Liam Neeson and Kenneth Branagh were previously attached to star.

The Levelling
10/30/2015
Logline: After the 2014 Somerset floods, a young woman returns to her family dairy farm following the tragic death of her younger brother.
Production Company(s): BFI, BBC Films, Wellington Films, Creative England, iFeatures
Director(s): Hope Dickson Leach
Executive Producer(s): Lizzie Francke, Steve Jenkins, Christopher Moll, Christopher Granier-Deferre
Producer(s): Rachel Robey
Cast: Ellie Kendrick
Writer(s): Hope Dickson Leach
SSN Insight: Ellie Kendrick previously was seen in IFC’s Cheerful Weather for the Wedding and Sony Pictures Classics’ An Education.

Viceroy’s House
10/25/2015
Logline: This film follows iconic British statesman Lord Mountbatten in 1947 Delhi, when he served as India’s last Viceroy, and was charged with handing India back to its people.
Production Company(s): Kintop Pictures, BBC Films, Bend It Films
Director(s): Gurinder Chadha
Executive Producer(s): Christine Langan
Producer(s): Gurinder Chadha, Deepak Nayar, Paul Ritchie
Cast: Hugh Bonneville, Gillian Anderson, Manish Dayal, Huma Qureshi, Tanveer Ghani
Writer(s): Gurinder Chadha, Paul Mayeda Berges, Moira Buffini
SSN Insight: Gurinder Chadha’s previous films include Paris, I Love You, Bride and Prejudice and Bend it Like Beckham.

-In our latest weekly series, SSN Insider will take a deep dive into the film ticket sales of the week leveraging data from the powerhouse ticketing website, MovieTickets.com. Not only will the infographic pinpoint which movies are claiming the largest piece of the pie from day to day in terms of sales but also which film had the biggest uptick in terms of a percentage variance surge and which had the biggest downtick or steepest dive between any two points.-

SSN ORIGINALS

SSN Screening Series: The DP, Editor & Composer Go Behind the Scenes on Steve Jobs- “Editing Sorkin Dialogue is Like Riding a Tidal Wave”

Last night kicked off another year of the SSN Screening Series. The first film showcased this season was Universal’s Steve Jobs. SSN’s Zorianna Kit moderated a Q&A with director of photography Alwin Küchler, editor Elliot Graham and composer Daniel Pemberton. (SSN)

On the Set for 10/30/15: Keanu Reeves Starts on John Wick Sequel, Seth Rogen and Zac Efron Wrap Up Neighbors 2

Other starts and wraps include, New Line’s McG movie, The Babysitter, starting production and Universal’s Ouija sequel wrapping. (SSN)

SSN Box Office Trending Report for 10/30/15: James Bond Beats Jedi As Spectre Overtakes Star Wars: The Force Awakens

SSN Insider takes a deep dive into the film ticket sales of the week leveraging data from the powerhouse ticketing website, MovieTickets.com. (SSN)

OTHER HEADLINES

Jennifer Aniston In Talks To Star In TriStar’s ‘What Alice Forgot’

The actress is in talks to star in the TriStar Pictures film What Alice Forgot, based on Liane Moriarty’s best-selling book. (THR)

Scott Waugh Tapped To Direct Action Thriller ‘Blackout’

Act Of Valor and Need For Speed director Scott Waugh has become attached to helm Blackout, an action thriller to be financed and produced by Sierra/Affinity. Broken Road’s Todd Garner and Jeremy Stein are producing. (DH)

‘The Walking Dead’ Renewed For Season 7

AMC announced that it has renewed The Walking Dead, the #1 show on television among adults 18-49 for the last three years, for a seventh season. AMC also renewed Talking Dead, the live after-show. (CS)

‘Longmire’ Renewed For Season 5 On Netflix

The crime drama Longmire will return to Netflix for a fifth season. Longmire aired on A & E for three seasons before being cancelled in 2014. It was later picked up by Netflix. (EW)

Oscars: 11 Under-the-Radar Performances That Deserve Buzz

Every year, the Academy throws some curveballs into the mix. Here are 11 performances that haven’t been buzzed about enough, but deserve Oscars consideration. (VAR)

The New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Books Of 2015

Every year since 1952, the Book Review has convened an independent panel of judges to select the New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Books. Judged purely on artistic merit, it’s the only annual award of its kind. (NYT)

Publisher Weekly’s Best Books Of 2015

The 150 best books of 2015, picked by Publisher Weekly’s editors for readers of all ages. (PW)

‘The Martian’ Wins Again At the Box Office, but the Bigger Story Is That All the New Films Flop

Ridley Scott’s sci-fi thriller took the top spot for the fourth of five weekends with $11.4 million, while Goosebumps came in second with $10.2 million, Bridge Of Spies had $8 million for third and Hotel Transylvania 2 was fourth with $5.8 million. Bradley Cooper’s Burnt and Sandra Bullock’s Our Brand Is Crisis both bombed, with the former getting $5 million and the latter just $3.4 million. Meanwhile, Spectre is breaking box office records in the U.K. (BO)

Today In Relativity Bankruptcy News: Judge Approves Debtor in Possession Financing Agreement

After weeks of delays, a U.S. bankruptcy court judge has approved a plan that will allow the studio to continue accessing a $35 million debtor-in-possession loan. The company is trying to hammer out a reorganization plan that will take it out of Chapter 11 protection. Founder Ryan Kavanuagh has cobbled together a group of investors to buy back parts of the company. (VAR)

And In the End, Sanity Wins Out: SXSW Restores Online Gaming Harassment Panels After Public Outcry

After canceling a pair of slated panels on online gaming harassment after a series of “threats of on-site violence,” SXSW has placed the previously rescinded panels back on the schedule. Four days after their cancellation (and the considerable online blowback for the decision), SXSW apologized for sending the message that “SXSW not only tolerates online harassment but condones it.” The festival has announced a day-long online harassment summit. (IW)

‘Straight Outta Compton’ Hit with Defamation Lawsuit by Former N.W.A Manager Jerry Heller

In a $110 million defamation lawsuit filed on Friday against producers and others connected with the hit film, Heller slams it as falsely portraying him as responsible for the break-up of the rap act consisting of Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Eazy E and others. Heller says he didn’t take advantage of the artists, didn’t withhold a $75,000 check from Ice Cube, wasn’t enjoying lobster brunches while contracts were being finalized, wasn’t fired by Eazy E and more. (HESQ)

There’s a New ‘Star Trek’ Series Coming To Your TV Screens, Thanks To Alex Kurtzman

Ever since Kurtzman and Bob Orci, key players on the Star Trek feature franchise, moved to CBS TV Studios, there had been talk about them resurrecting the studio’s marquee title. Now the long-gestating new Star Trek TV series is becoming a reality. It will be shepherded by Kurtzman, who will serve as executive producer. CBS Television Studios is the studio. (DH)

The ‘World War Z’ Sequel Just Took a Big Step Forward, as a New Writer Is Hired To Polish the Script

Dennis Kelly, the creator of the beloved UK series Utopia, will take a pen to Knight’s screenplay. In other news about the film, WWZ2 director J.A. Bayona was actually courted to helm the Jurassic World sequel over at Universal. Unfortunately for him, his contract at Paramount wouldn’t allow him to take it on, however in a bid to keep the filmmaker happy, the studio got activity going again on World War Z 2. (TP)

Natalie Portman’s Biopic ‘Jackie’ Just Added Greta Gerwig To Its Cast

Pablo Larrain will direct from a screenplay by Noah Oppenheim, in a film about the immediate days following President Kennedy’s assassination. Jackie catalogs the four days between JFK’s assassination and his burial, showing the beloved Kennedy at both her most vulnerable and her most graceful. Portman is playing Jackie, Peter Sarsgaard is playing Robert Kennedy, and Gerwig will play an aide to Portman’s titular icon. (CS)

Trailer Buzz, Part One: ‘By the Sea’

Universal Pictures has released the new look at the upcoming drama starring Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, and written and directed by Jolie. The movie hits theaters November 13th. (CB)

Trailer Buzz, Part Two: ‘Preacher’

The AMC network released the first trailer from the highly anticipated, and long in development, series based on the DC/Vertigo comic series. Starring Dominic Cooper, Ruth Negga, and Joseph Gilgun and created by Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, and Sam Catlin, the series will premiere in 2016. (SF)

Screenwriters: Back To the Chalkboard — Notes On Notes

The rules of giving notes apply to workshops, classrooms, writers’ groups, and in most ways to professional meetings. Obviously, when someone is paying you to take notes and deliver a specific vision, some of this must be observed through a different set of shades. (SM)

Company Launches & Partnerships

Cisco Systems is acquiring OTT video services provider 1 Mainstream. 1 Mainstream has raised about $8.75 million in funding, mostly from the U.K. satellite operator Sky and has about 70 customers, including Sky and CBS news.

The British Film Institute has launched BFI Player+, a new dedicated SVOD service, which will offer subscribers 300 films from its catalogue. The service will also feature a weekly exclusive video recommendation from Mark Kermode, an English film critic.

Digital video content producer Zazoom Media Group has merged with social media video content producer Veuer LLC but will continue to operate as Zazoom Media Group. Veuer founder Steve Charlier will has been named the company’s President. Steve Bradbury has left Zazoom as COO to pursue other opportunities.

IBM will acquire the Weather Company’s digital businesses including business-to-business, mobile, and cloud-based web properties. The Weather Channel will remain a separate entity. Reportedly, the deal is valued at more than $2 billion. The agreement is tentatively expected to close in Q1 of 2016.

Liberty Global, the largest cable company in the world, with 27 million customers across 14 countries, has extended their distribution deal with A+E Networks and is also launching two new HD channels in the UK. The deal covers A+E Networks’ UK channels on Liberty Global platforms across Europe. Lifetime and H2 will be also now be available in HD in both the UK and Ireland for the first time.

Lionsgate and its Grindstone Entertainment Group have extended their long-term partnership with Emmett/Furla/Oasis Films for another five movies, some of which will be distributed through Lionsgate’s newly launched Premiere label. Emmett/Furla/Oasis Films’ slate includes The Heist, The Extraction and The Marauders.

ESPN has closed the literary sports and culture blog, Grantland that was founded in 2011 by sportswriter Bill Simmons. Simmons had left the company six months ago. Chris Connelly was named the interim EIC. Connelly will continue at E:60 and SportsCenter. It’s estimated 40 people will be affected by the announcement. ESPN’s decision to shutter Grantland is reported to have no bearing on its other sites including FiveThirtyEight and The Undefeated.

VFX house MastersFX is launching a division dedicated to original TV content as well as consumer products called MFX Entertainment. The division’s first project will be a revival of the ’80s Halloween-themed toy line The Oh Lantern Family and an animated Halloween TV project based on the toys.

HBO Europe, Nordic and Netherlands have been consolidated under one umbrella. HBO Europe has appointed Herve Payan as their Chief Executive. Line Mykland will serve as COO and EVP of the Nordic region and Ondrej Zach will be named the COO and EVP, Central Europe.

Film

Jay Bastian has been upped from Creative Executive to SVP of Series at Warner Bros. Animation. In his new role, he will develop new TV series and content from properties within the Warner Bros. collection and oversee on-going production and current programming matters related to existing shows. Ed Adams has been promoted from Operations Chief to SVP and General Manager and will head all of the division’s non-production activities.

Jonathan Bing has been named the SVP of Corporate Communications, 21st Century Fox. He was formerly the President of Bing Communications Group.

Jonathan Bader has been upped from the SVP of Business Affairs to the Chief Administrative Officer at Amasia Entertainment. Kathryn Lyn has been upped from Development Executive to the Director of Development at Amasia Entertainment. Brad Liberti has upped from Development Assistant to a Coordinator of Production & Development at Amasia Entertainment.

Louise Chater has been named the EVP of International Strategy & Research at Sony Pictures Entertainment. Louise was previously the EVP of Strategy & Acquisitions at Clarius Entertainment.

Neil Hupfauer has been named the Interim President, Chief Operating Officer at Cinergy Entertainment Group Inc. He was formerly a Consultant at the company.

Kim Roth has been named the President of Production at Macro. She was previously the President, Production at Imagine Entertainment.

David Bates has been hired as the General Manager at Reel FX. He was formerly the Brand Manager, Director of Creative Operations & Creative Director at Bedrock Manufacturing.

David Burg has been named the SVP, Associate General Counsel at Universal Filmed Entertainment Group. He was formerly the SVP, Litigation at NBCUniversal.

Nina Cates has shifted from the Manager, Theatrical Distribution at Magnolia Pictures to the company’s Manager of Publicity. Danielle McCarthy-Boles has been upped from Manager of Publicity & Marketing to the Director of Regional Publicity at Magnolia Pictures in New York. George Nicholis has signed on as the Director of New York Publicity at Magnolia. He was formerly an Account Supervisor at PMK•BNC in New York.

Kira Thompson has been upped from Story Editor to a Creative Executive at Genre Films.

Robert Walak has been named the Co-Managing Director at Universal Pictures International Productions in London. He was formerly the President, Managing Director, Europe, Production, Acquisitions & Television at The Weinstein Company.

David Wardle has been named the VP of Business & Legal Affairs at Saban Films. He was formerly an Associate at Loeb & Loeb.

TV

Gina Balian has been upped from SVP to the EVP of Limited Series at FX Networks. Nicole Clemens has been upped from SVP to the EVP of Series Development at FX Networks. Jonathan Frank has been upped from SVP to the EVP of Current Series at FX Networks.

Laurens Drillich has been named the President at Endemol Shine Latino. She was previously the CEO at Endemol Shine Netherlands.

Sara Helman has been named the VP of Development & Production at TLC in New York. She was previously the VP of Development & Production at Destination America.

Jinny Howe has been upped from SVP to the EVP and Head of Television at John Wells Productions.

Dylan Jones has been upped from SVP, Corporate Communications to the EVP and Chief Communications Officer at Scripps Networks Interactive. Eleni Stratigeas has been upped from VP to SVP of Business & Legal Affairs and Corporate Secretary at Scripps Networks Interactive. Simone Nardi has been named the Managing Director of Finance & Operations, International at Scripps Networks Interactive in New York. He was formerly the Chief Financial Officer of International at Scripps Networks Interactive.

Julie Merson has been upped from Development Executive to the VP of Development at 44 Blue Productions. Willis Robertson has been named the Director of Development at 44 Blue Productions. She was previously a Manager of Development at Bunim/Murray Productions. Alison Dammann has been named the Director of Development at 44 Blue Productions. She was previously a Manager, Development at Relativity Television.

Gabrielle Neimand has been named the Head, Development & Production at Take Fountain Productions. She was previously the VP of Narrative Films at Participant Media.

Rachel Polan has been upped from Manager to the Director of Television at Lionsgate.

Leigh London Redman has been upped from VP to the SVP of Scripted Programming at Warner Horizon Television. Stephanie Groves has been named the VP of Scripted Programming at Warner Horizon Television. She was previously the SVP of Current Programming at Warner Bros. Television.

Management, PR, Agencies

Mike Esola has left WME where he was a Literary Agent. He is currently pursuing other opportunities.

Cara Lewis has left CAA where she was a Music Agent. She joined CAA several years ago after 23 years with WMA/WME. Her current client list includes Eminem, Iggy Azalea and Rita Ora among others.

David Anderson has signed on as an Executive of Digital Media at UTA. He was formerly the SVP at MediaLink. Seth Lawrence has signed on as an Agent, Alternative TV at UTA. He was formerly the SVP of Alternative TV at Rebel Entertainment Partners.

Rob Saunders has been upped from Assistant to Talent Manager at Luber Roklin Entertainment. Ryan Lewis Tunick has signed on as a Talent Manager at Luber Roklin Entertainment. He was formerly an Assistant at WME.

Music, Digital, Publishing, Misc.

Yahoo has hired Bob Lord as their Chief Information Security Officer to lead the Yahoo security team in the protection of the company’s more than one billion global users. Previously, Lord served CISO-in-Residence at the cybersecurity firm Rapid 7.

The media agency Vizeum, part of the Dentsu Aegis Network, has named Shoshana Winter as its new Chief Strategy Officer and will drive collaboration across multi-agency teams. Winter previously served as Executive Planning Director, Digital Integration at mcgarrybowen, Vizeum’s sister agency.

Digital marketing company Adaptly has hired Kelley Gott as VP and Head of Strategic Accounts to develop brand and agency relationships. Previously, Gott served as Chief Revenue Officer of social advertising company BLiNQ Media.

Univision Digital has named Carlos Chirinos to the position of Senior Political Editor. Previously, Chirinos spent 15 years at BBC World Service, most recently as Deputy Bureau Editor for BBC Mundo, BBC’s Spanish-language website.

Jason Klarman has been hired as the CMO at online video company Fullscreen. In the newly-created position, he will head marketing strategy for the brand, the company’s integrated marketing business and originals on Fullscreen’s entertainment service. Klarman most recently served president of consulting firm Hashtag Media Ideas.

John W. Eck has been named the Chief Local Media Officer at Univision Communications, Inc. in New York. He was formerly the EVP of Technology, Operations & Engineering at Univision Communications, Inc.

Marcy George has been named the VP of Global Consumer Products at Saban Brands. She was previously the Founder, CEO at David & Goliath Licensing. Scott Rosenbaum has been named the SVP of Business & Legal Affairs. He was formerly the Expert Counsel of Business & Legal Affairs at Mattel Inc. Stan Wan has been hired as a Creative Director of the Lifestyle Group at Saban Brands in Sydney. He was formerly the Director, Co-Owner at North Hill. Jennifer Wexler has been promoted from Consultant in the Lifestyle Group to the SVP of Marketing at Saban Brands. Tori Cook has been named the SVP of Global Retail Business at Saban Brands. She was previously the VP of Retail Business Development at Sanrio, Inc.

Jeff Minsky has been named the SVP of Digital Innovation & Integrated Media at NYC & Company in New York. He was formerly the Director of Emerging Media Investment at Omnicom Media Group in New York.

Brittany Turner has been upped from Director of Social Media to the VP of Digital Video at Adaptive Studios.

David MacMahon Mount has been named the VP of Business Development at Warner/Chappell Production Music in New York. He was formerly a Key Account Director of Cable Productions at APM Music.

SSN ORIGINALS

Exec Shuffle for 11/2/15: ESPN Shutters Grantland, Shifts at Magnolia Pictures, BFI Launches SVOD Service

Along with that news Mike Esola has left WME, Lionsgate will extend their long-term partnership with Emmett/Furla/Oasis Films, MastersFX is launching a division dedicated to original TV content and more. (SSN)

OTHER HEADLINES

Paramount to Win the Battle for The Ministry Of Ungentlemanly Warfare Film

Paramount Pictures is in final talks to acquire The Ministry Of Ungentlemanly Warfare: How Churchill’s Secret Warriors Set Europe Ablaze And Gave Birth To Modern Black Ops, a book rights package that got a three-party bidding war going last week. It’s reported to be a seven-figure commitment, between the fees for the writers and the rights to UK author Damien Lewis’s book. (DL)

Lionsgate Developing Theme Parks with Attractions Based on Hunger Games and Divergent

Move aside Disney and Universal, Lionsgate is developing theme parks with attractions to be based around the Hunger Games along with other franchises like Divergent and Step Up. Theme parks are entirely new businesses for Lionsgate so to limit risk, the studio is licensing its movie properties to developers, who will in turn pay to build and operate the attractions. (NYT)

Upstart UK Indie Signature Entertainment Inks Six-Picture Deal With Emmett/Furla/Oasis

Signature Entertainment has signed a six-film slate deal with Emmett/Furla/Oasis Films. Still a relatively young company, Signature previously picked up EFO’s forthcoming Precious Cargo, starring Bruce Willis, at this year’s Cannes Film Market. (SI)

Fox Commits to Family Drama From Producer Scott Rudin & Writer Eli Attie

The project stems from Rudin’s first-look deal with Fox Networks Group and Attie’s overall pact with 20th TV. Written by Attie, the untitled drama is described as a family saga about class, power, and the price of ambition. (DL)

Steve Jobs’ Michael Stuhlbarg in Talks to Join Doctor Strange

Michael Stuhlbarg, who is currently on screens as Apple engineer Andy Hertzfeld in the awards contender Steve Jobs, is in negotiations to join the cast of Marvel’s Doctor Strange. Rachel McAdams is set as the female lead with Tilda Swinton as the Ancient One, as well as Chiwetel Ejiofor and Mads Mikkelsen. (THR)

Move Aside Buffy- Syfy Developing Female Van Helsing Series with Neil LaBute as Showrunner

Syfy has acquired a female take on Van Helsing from Nomadic Pictures, with Neil LaBute set as showrunner. The 13-episode, hour long series re-imagines the Dracula mythology with the resurrection of Vanessa Helsing, the next in line of a lineage of warriors who now must lead mankind against a world controlled by vampires. (VAR)

21 Jump Street Directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller at it Again as Fox Buys Series Based on Greatest American Hero Film

In a preemptive buy, Fox has given a pilot production commitment to Greatest American Hero, a single-camera comedy inspired by Steven J. Cannell’s 1981 cult classic. 20th Century Fox TV, where Lord and Miller are under an overall deal, is the studio. (DL)

Trailer Buzz: Anomalisa

Paramount acquired worldwide rights for an estimated $5 million following a screening at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival of this film about a man who struggles with his inability to connect with other people. (VERGE)

Productivity Hack: How To Craft A Perfect, Productive 40-Hour Workweek

You don’t need to work around the clock if you follow this guide to working smarter, not harder. Here’s how to allocate a 40-hour workweek in order to create maximum sustainable progress. (FC)

It’s a Busy Week For Nicole Kidman, Who Might Just Be Signing On To Join “Wonder Woman’ Cast

The Oscar winner is in ongoing negotiations to play a high-ranking Amazonian warrior alongside Gal Gadot in the film, which Patty Jenkins is directing. Chris Pine is co-starring as Wonder Woman’s love interest Steve Trevor. Last week, Kidman signed on to star in Adrian Lyne’s thriller, The Silent Wife. (TW)

Start the Speculation: ‘X-Men: Apocalypse’ Reshoots Will Feature Hugh Jackman

After word originally came down that Jackman’s Wolverine would not actually appear in the film, that information has proved to be incorrect. Director Bryan Singer and company are returning to Mel’s Studio in Montreal, Quebec, where the the bulk of the production was shot earlier this year. The production will be shooting there for a few weeks, and Jackman will be on hand. (SF)

BBC Greenlights TV Series Based on Philip Pullman’s ‘His Dark Materials’

The BBC’s flagship channel, BBC One, has commissioned an initial eight-part series based on the three-part epic fantasy novel, from Bad Wolf and New Line Cinema, which will be produced in Wales. His Dark Materials is the first commission from Bad Wolf, a U.K./U.S. production company founded by former BBC executives Jane Tranter and Julie Gardner, and co-sited in South Wales and Los Angeles. The show is New Line’s first move into British television. (VAR)

‘Doctor Who’ Fans Can Relax, as Peter Capaldi Will Return For Another Season

While there were some whisperings that Capaldi was only going to be the Doctor for one season, showrunner Steven Moffat confirmed that the Eleventh Doctor will stick around for next season. The same can’t be said for the Doctor’s current companion Clara, because Jenna Coleman is definitely departing the series. (UR)

NBC Braces For U.S. Version Of UK Drama ‘Collision’; Eleventh Hour Developing

Originally aired as a five-part event series, show was a big hit for ITV in 2009. Created by Anthony Horowitz, a U.S. version is now being developed by the London-based shingle for NBC in partnership with TriStar Television. Horowitz will also showrun the American take, partnering with Carol Mendelsohn Productions. Horowitz is currently writing the first two episodes of a proposed 10-episode order. If it gets a greenlight, the show will go straight to series. (DH)

‘Mr. Robot’ Star Rami Malek Gets Rewarded For His Brilliant Work, Lands First Movie Lead

In his first leading role in a movie, Malek will head up the cast of Sarah Adina Smith’s indie Buster’s Mal Heart. The head-trippy mystery follows an eccentric mountain man (Malek) on the run from authorities who survives the winter by breaking into empty vacation homes. He’s haunted by a recurring dream of being lost at sea only to discover that the dream is real: He is one man in two bodies. This is the story of how he split in two. (THR)

‘The Archbishop and the Antichrist’ Lands Impressive Duo Of Forest Whitaker and Vince Vaughn as Leads

Pair is set to star in the upcoming drama from writer/director Roland Joffé. Based on the play by Michael Ashton, the feature film follows a fictionalized account of Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s (Whitaker) meetings with brutal murderer Piet Blomfield (Vaughn), who seeks redemption for the atrocities he’s committed while he serves a life sentence in prison in post-apartheid South Africa. (CS)

We Now Have a Release Date For Mark Wahlberg’s ‘Six Billion Dollar Man’ Adaptation

Dimension Films has announced that Wild Tales director Damián Szifron’s film will hit theaters on December 22nd, 2017. Szifron also rewrote the script. Wahlberg will be Steve Austin, a former astronaut who barely survives a horrific experimental plane crash. To save his life, he is given high-tech enhancements by scientists who replace his legs, right arm and left eye with bionic systems. Gifted super-human abilities, he becomes a secret agent. (EMP)

Add John Goodman To the Cast Of Comic Book Adaptation ‘The Coldest City’

Goodman joins Charlize Theron and James McAvoy in the film, based on the Oni graphic novel by Antony Johnston and Sam Hart. Set on the eve of the fall of the Berlin Wall, it centers on Theron’s Lorraine Broughton. She is ordered to find a list of undercover agents working in Berlin after the MI6 agent tasked with bringing the list back from the east of the city is found dead. John Wick co-director David Leitch is helming. Production is set to begin this month. (BC)

Online Film School: Ten Tips From ‘Spectre’ Director Sam Mendes

Sam Mendes has some advice for young filmmakers. The Spectre director, who was honored Friday night at BAFTA Los Angeles’ Britannia Awards with the organization’s John Schlesinger Award for Excellence in Directing, took his time on stage to offer up 10 helpful tips for up-and-coming directors who are looking to take on an action franchise. (THR)

Untitled Star Trek Series
Network: CBS All Access
Studio: CBS Television Studios
Production Company(s): Secret Hideout
Executive Producer(s): Alex Kurtzman, Heather Kadin
Logline: New explorers will seek imaginative new worlds and new civilizations, while exploring the dramatic contemporary themes that have been a signature of the franchise since its inception in 1966
Details: Based on Gene Roddenberry’s Star Trek.
SSN Insight: The series will premiere in January 2017 with a preview broadcast on CBS followed by an exclusive run via CBS All Access. The new Star Trek series will run concurrently with the feature franchise, but will not be related.

13 Reasons Why
Network: Netflix
Studio: Paramount Television
Production Company(s): Anonymous Content
Executive Producer(s): Selena Gomez, Mandy Teefey, Kristel Laiblin, Joy Gorman, Michael Sugar
Writer(s): Brian Yorkey
Logline: Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers several cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker, his classmate and crush who committed suicide two weeks earlier. On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he’ll find out how he made the list.
Details: Based on the novel “13 Reasons Why” written by Jay Asher and published by RazorBill in 2007.
SSN Insight: Originally in development as a feature film at Universal. Netflix has given a straight to series order.

Untitled Bess Wohl Nanny Comedic Drama Project
Network: ABC Entertainment Group
Studio: ABC Studios
Production Company(s): Shondaland
Executive Producer(s): Bess Wohl, Kerry Washington, Katie Lowes, Adam Shapiro, Shonda Rhimes
Writer(s): Bess Wohl
Logline: The story focuses on a clique of young nannies, a trio of interconnected families and their various support staffs, all trying to help the kids grow up when they haven’t quite grown up themselves.
SSN Insight: Wohl wrote another drama project for ABC during last year’s season- Broad Squad, which went to pilot.

Untitled Spencer Porter Ryan Reynolds Comedy Project
Network: ABC
Studio: Universal Cable Productions
Production Company(s): Dark Trick Films
Executive Producer(s): Ryan Reynolds
Writer(s): Spencer Porter
Logline: A family and relationship comedy.
Details: Loosely based on Spencer Porter’s personal life.
SSN Insight: Porter began his career as Seth MacFarlane’s assistant before being a staff writer on MacFarlane’s Family Guy. He later developed projects to ABC Family and Cartoon Network.

Botched By Nature
Network: E!
Production Company(s): Evolution Media
Executive Producer(s): Dr. Terry Dubrow, Paul Nassif, Douglas Ross, Greg Stewart, Alex Baskin
Writer(s):
Logline: Plastic surgeons look for prospective patients via the “ultimate house call.” Their plan is to embed themselves in the lives of their patients as they understand the physical and psychological scope of their situations. Whether it involves surgery on “disproportionate body parts” or “birth defects to major life accidents,” the doctors will invite their would-be patients back to Los Angeles for the ultimate transformation.
Details: The project is a spinoff of the series, “Botched,” which premiered on E! on June 24, 2014.
SSN Insight: E! has given a series order of eight episodes.

Butterfly
Network: Channel 4
Production Company(s): Boom! Studios, 42, Automatik
Executive Producer(s): Arash Amel, Benjamin Pugh, Rory Aitken, Brian Kavanaugh-Jones, Stephen Christy
Writer(s): Arash Amel
Logline: Rebecca Faulkner, codenamed Butterfly, is a deep cover US intelligence operative who is set up for a murder that she didn’t commit. Caught in a deadly global manhunt, and disavowed by her own handlers, her attempts to get home from foreign soil unwittingly lead her to a man she thought died twenty years ago – her own father, David Faulkner, a former Cold War spy codenamed Nightingale, now living under an assumed identity and with a new family. Father and daughter, two spies spanning two very different eras, have to pool their resources and trust each other through decades of hurt, secrets and lies to unravel the conspiracy behind her predicament: a conspiracy which may have its roots in his sinister past.
Details: Based on the comic book, “Butterfly,” written by Arash Amel and Marguerite Bennett and published by BOOM! Studios.
SSN Insight: Channel 4 has given a series order.

Untitled Elizabeth Kruger Craig Shapiro Spy Couple Drama Project
Network: CBS Entertainment
Studio: CBS Television Studios
Production Company(s): Amblin Television
Executive Producer(s): Elizabeth Kruger, Craig Shapiro, Justin Falvey, Darryl Frank
Writer(s): Elizabeth Kruger, Craig Shapiro
Logline: Divorced ex-CIA spies end up having to work with their biggest enemy, each other, when they’re tasked with solving the mysterious murder of a mutual friend.
SSN Insight: Kruger and Shapiro previously were EPs and showrunners on CBS’ Extant and previous to that created the USA show Necessary Roughness.

Untitled Jim Parsons Marisa Coughlan Comedy Project
Network: CBS Entertainment
Studio: Warner Bros. Television
Production Company(s): That’s Wonderful Productions
Executive Producer(s): Marisa Coughlan, Jim Parsons, Todd Spiewak
Writer(s): Marisa Coughlan
Logline: An optimistic and independent woman nearing 40 with an eccentric and supportive family (all of whom live in her building), decides to become a single mother and in the process learns that sometimes raising a child takes a village.
Details: Based on the life of writer and columnist Alyssa Shelasky.
SSN Insight: Parsons’ That’s Wonderful Productions currently has a deal with WB TV.

Untitled Tom Hertz Will Arnett Workplace Comedy Project
Network: CBS Entertainment
Studio: CBS Television Studios
Production Company(s): Principato-Young Entertainment, Electric Avenue
Executive Producer(s): Tom Hertz, Peter Principato, Gerry Dee, Mike Volpe, Will Arnett
Writer(s): Tom Hertz
Logline: A workplace ensemble comedy set at a public high school.
SSN Insight: Arnett just wrapped the first season of Flaked for Netflix, which he stars in and produces via Electric Avenue and Principato Young.

Collision
Network: NBC Entertainment
Studio: TriStar Television
Production Company(s): Carol Mendelsohn Productions, Eleventh Hour Films Limited
Executive Producer(s): Anthony Horowitz, Carol Mendelsohn, Julie Weitz, Nicole Finnan
Writer(s): Anthony Horowitz
Logline: The lives of a group of strangers are forever changed following a major road accident. When the police start their investigation they find themselves drawn into many different and dangerous worlds including government cover-ups, smuggling, torn relationships and murder.
Details: Based on the British series, “Collision,” which aired on ITV in November, 2009.
SSN Insight: NBC has given a straight to series order of ten episodes.

Driven to Love
Network: WE TV
Production Company(s): Zig Zag Productions, Lion Television Ltd., DWE Talent, Matar Productions, Knockout Entertainment
Executive Producer(s): Ray J, Tony Tackaberry, Allison Corn, Danny Fenton, Matt Graff
Logline: In each episode, one hopeful single will hop inside a tricked out SUV alongside Ray J, who will serve as their personal driver and wingman and provide insightful dating advice as they cruise around town meeting potential mates. Along the ride, Ray J will present a handful of carefully selected prospects and supervise dates that take place both inside and outside the vehicle. At the end of the day they’ll choose one match to join them for a romantic weekend getaway in the hopes of building a new relationship.
Details: Based on a format created by Matar Productions and Zig Zag Productions.
SSN Insight: WE TV has given a series order of eight episodes.

Untitled Chris Case Comedy Project
Network: Fox Broadcasting Company
Studio: 20th Century Fox Television
Production Company(s): Management 360
Executive Producer(s): Christopher Case, Evan Silverberg, Daniel Rappaport, Chris Spencer
Writer(s): Christopher Case
Logline: An African-American ex-NFL player with an old-school take on parenthood quickly marries his white Bohemian psychologist girlfriend and is forced to adjust to domestic life with her and her entitled, difficult children.
Details: Based on Chris Case’s experience as a teenager growing up with a black stepdad, an ex-football player, who married his white mom.
SSN Insight: Case co-created and executive produces the basketball-themed Sin City Saints for Yahoo, and is also developing a new cable series with Jim Jeffries.

Untitled Eli Attie Scott Rudin Family Drama Project
Network: Fox Broadcasting Company
Studio: 20th Century Fox Television
Production Company(s): Scott Rudin Productions
Executive Producer(s): Eli Attie, Scott Rudin, Garrett Basch, Eli Bush
Writer(s): Eli Attie
Logline: A family saga about class, power, and the price of ambition.
SSN Insight: Fox has given an initial script plus penalty commitment.

Untitled Julian Breece Megachurch Drama Project
Network: Fox Broadcasting Company
Studio: 20th Century Fox Television
Writer(s): Julian Breece
Logline: When a celebrity televangelist dies mysteriously, his family fights to salvage their Houston-based megachurch and “inspirational” media enterprise. Their cause is disrupted when the pastor’s illegitimate son (with a criminal past) returns to stake his claim on his father’s legacy.
SSN Insight: Breece is a grad of Harvard and USC’s Peter Stark Producing Program. His first screenplay Ball was a top 10 finalist for the Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting.

Heaven Changes Everything
Network: NBC Entertainment
Studio: Sony Pictures Television
Executive Producer(s): Todd Burpo, Sonja Burpo, Randy Brown, Joe Roth, T.D. Jakes
Writer(s): Randy Brown
Logline: A small-town pastor must find the courage and faith to lead his parishioners after the news of his son’s visit to Heaven due to a near-death experience begins to capture worldwide attention.
Details: Based on the book, “Heaven Changes Everything,” written by Todd and Sonja Burpo and published by Thomas Nelson on October 9, 2012. That book was a sequel to “Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy’s Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back.”
SSN Insight: Heaven Is For Real, the 2014 faith-based movie based on the book grossed more than $100 million on a $12 million budget.

Love, Sex and Neighbors
Network: NBC Entertainment
Studio: Warner Bros. Television
Production Company(s): Offspring Entertainment
Executive Producer(s): Gail Gilchriest, Adam Shankman, Jennifer Gibgot
Writer(s): Gail Gilchriest
Logline: When a fresh-faced, traditional values couple moves to Orange County, they discover that the parents at their kids’ school are experimenting with polyamory.
SSN Insight: Director-producer Adam Shankman will also produce a two-hour TV movie for NBC titled The Nutcracker.

Untitled Silvio Horta Rupert Grint Comic Book Drama Project
Network: NBC Entertainment
Studio: Warner Bros. Television
Production Company(s): Silent H Productions, Kapital Entertainment
Executive Producer(s): Silvio Horta, Aaron Kaplan
Writer(s): Silvio Horta
Logline: Rupert is a low-level New York office drone obsessed with Imperial City, a comic book series his father created before his death. Rupert has spent his whole life believing he owned all nine issues. But when a mysterious comic book collector reveals the existence of a tenth issue, Rupert discovers that the world of Imperial City is real, and he is the one person who can save it.
Details: Based on an idea by Aaron Kaplan.
SSN Insight: NBC has given an initial commitment of a put pilot.

Recall
Network: CBS Entertainment
Studio: CBS Television Studios
Production Company(s): Timberman/Beverly Productions
Executive Producer(s): Mark Goffman, Bret VandenBos, Brandon Willer, Sarah Timberman, Carl Beverly
Writer(s): Mark Goffman, Bret VandenBos, Brandon Willer
Logline: When a brilliant inventor discovers a way to travel back in time 24 hours, he and his team join forces with the CIA, going into the past to prevent crimes and other disastrous events from happening.
SSN Insight: Goffman is under an overall deal with CBS TV Studios he signed earlier this year following two-years as executive producer/showrunner on Fox’s Sleepy Hollow.

Ride With Norman Reedus
Network: AMC
Production Company(s): Left/Right Films
Executive Producer(s): Ken Druckerman, Banks Tarver
Writer(s): No Writer Available.
Logline: Biker-enthusiast Norman Reedus explores local motorcycle culture in cities around the country. Each week in a different city, Reedus and his riding companion, a fellow actor, musician, friend, or local chopper fanatic who shares his passion for motorcycles, will stop at various locales such as custom bike shops, tattoo parlors, collector’s warehouses, or a roadside smokehouse.
SSN Insight: AMC has given a series order of six episodes.

Search Party
Network: TBS
Production Company(s): Jax Media
Executive Producer(s): Sarah-Violet Bliss, Charles Rogers, Michael Showalter, Tony Hernandez, Lilly Burns
Writer(s): Sarah-Violet Bliss, Charles Rogers, Michael Showalter
Logline: Four self-absorbed 20-somethings come together when a former college acquaintance mysteriously disappears.
SSN Insight: TBS has given a series order.

Smoke & Mirrors
Network: CBS Entertainment
Studio: CBS Television Studios
Production Company(s): Anonymous Content
Executive Producer(s): Marc Webb, Dave Kalstein, Bard Dorros, Michael Sugar, Alex Goldstone
Writer(s): Dave Kalstein
Logline: A mysterious detective in the LAPD Robbery Homicide Division is a contemporary Houdini-like character who uses her knowledge of deception and misdirection to solve seemingly impossible crimes committed by criminal masterminds.
SSN Insight: Webb is currently an executive producer on Limitless, that was just given a full-season order, and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, which received a pickup for backup scripts.

Tempest
Network: CW Television Network
Studio: Warner Bros. Television
Production Company(s): Rob Thomas Productions
Executive Producer(s): Graham Norris, Deirdre Mangan, Rob Thomas, Danielle Stokdyk
Writer(s): Graham Norris, Deirdre Mangan
Logline: A young woman lives on a utopian spaceship. When she finds out the ship is secretly powered by slaves, she becomes enmeshed romantically and politically in the dangerous rebellion brewing below the decks.
SSN Insight: Graham Norris and Deirdre Mangan’s writing credits include the CW series iZombie.

The Greatest American Hero
Network: Fox Broadcasting Company
Studio: 20th Century Fox Television
Production Company(s): Lord Miller
Executive Producer(s): Phil Lord, Chris Miller, Seth Cohen, Tawnia McKiernan
Writer(s): Rick Famuyiwa
Logline: An ordinary man, completely content with being average, wakes up with a superpower suit he never asked for and has to deal with the complications it brings his life.
Details: The project is inspired by the series, “The Greatest American Hero,” starring William Katt and Robert Culp, which aired on ABC from 1981-1983.
SSN Insight: The project was previously in development at Fox for the 2015-2016 season with a different writer. It received a put pilot commitment but did not proceed to pilot. Fox has now ordered a pilot, as of November 2.

The Leeches
Network: NBC Entertainment
Studio: Sony Pictures Television
Production Company(s): B Story
Executive Producer(s): Jim Rash, Nat Faxon, Kevin J Walsh
Writer(s): Jim Rash, Nat Faxon
Logline: Jess is a young woman who, in an act of desperation to separate herself from her Pittsburgh family and be labeled a “success,” steals her mom’s idea and lands on a home shopping channel with an instant top seller. Caught in the act and her new-found success threatened, Jess is forced to make her nurturing, but no-nonsense mom, Joan, a partner and subsequently go into business with the family she was so desperately trying to escape.
SSN Insight: NBC has given an initial commitment of a script plus penalty.

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up
Network: NBC Entertainment
Studio: 20th Century Fox Television
Production Company(s): The Jackal Group
Executive Producer(s): Erica Oyama, Gregory S. Malins, Gail Berman
Writer(s): Erica Oyama, Gregory S. Malins
Logline: A young woman in a moment of crisis attempts to get her messy life in order.
Details: Based on the book, “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing,” written by Marie Kondo and published by Ten Speed Press on October 14, 2014.
SSN Insight: Erica Oyama previously created the series Burning Love.

The Nutcracker
Network: NBC Entertainment
Studio: Warner Bros. Television
Production Company(s): Offspring Entertainment
Executive Producer(s): Adam Shankman, Jennifer Gibgot
Writer(s): Todd Graff
Logline: A contemporary reimagining of the holiday ballet staple set in a magical New York City, with high school outcast Clara and Nutcracker-turned-Prince battling assassins across the Big Apple.
Details: Based on the classic ballet by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
SSN Insight: Director-producer Adam Shankman will also produce a series for NBC titled Love, Sex and Neighbors.

The Party
Network: ABC Entertainment Group
Studio: ABC Studios
Production Company(s): Fake Empire
Executive Producer(s): Josh Schwartz, Stephanie Savage
Writer(s): Josh Schwartz, Stephanie Savage
Logline: The story follows a murder investigation told over the course of 24 hours. The case begins at a celebration that is interrupted when a body is found floating in the pool. Through flashbacks, the mystery paints every guest as a possible suspect.
Details: Based on the Brazilian format.
SSN Insight: This project marks the first writing collaboration for Schwartz and Savage since creating Gossip Girl nine years ago.

The Wall
Network: NBC Entertainment
Production Company(s): CORE Media Group, Inc., Glassman Media, Springhill Entertainment
Executive Producer(s): Chris Hardwick, LeBron James, Maverick Carter
Writer(s):
Logline: Two-person teams vie for a life-changing amounts of cash that will either be won or lost based on answers to trivia questions – and the bounce of a ball. The ball element comes into play on a wall made up of a field of pegs with the game pieces careening towards slots marked with different monetary values.
SSN Insight: NBC has given a series order of ten episodes.

Van Helsing
Network: SyFy
Production Company(s): Echo Lake Entertainment, Nomadic Pictures, Industry Works, Dynamic Television
Executive Producer(s): Neil LaBute, Chad Oakes, Michael Frislev, Simon Davis Barry, Evan Tyler
Writer(s): Neil LaBute
Logline: Vanessa Helsing is the daughter of famous vampire hunter and Dracula nemesis Abraham Van Helsing. She is resurrected five years in the future to find out that vampires have taken over the world and that she possesses unique power over them. She is humanity’s last hope to lead an offensive to take back what has been lost.
Details: Inspired by the novel, “Dracula,” written by Bram Stoker and published in 1897 by A. Constable & Co.
SSN Insight: SyFy has given a series order of 13 episodes.
Untitled Phil Lord/Chris Miller Action Workplace Comedy
Network: NBC
Studio: 20^th Century Fox
Production Company(s): Lord Miller
Executive Producer(s): Phil Lord, Chris Miller, John Phillips
Writer(s): John Phillips
Logline: Desperate to pay off their student loans and start their “real” lives, a brother and sister illegally use their access to law enforcement information at the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office to start a private detective agency right under the noses of their bosses and solve the cases that fall in between the cracks.
SSN Insight: NBC has given a script commitment plus penalty.

His Dark Materials
Network: BBC One
Studio: New Line Cinema
Production Company(s): Bad Wolf
Executive Producer(s): Jane Tranter, Julie Gardner, Philip Pullman, Toby Emmerich, Carolyn Blackwood, Deborah Forte
Logline: The novels feature orphan Lyra who lives in a parallel universe, in which science, theology and magic are entwined. As Lyra learns the truth about her parents and her prophesied destiny, the two young people are caught up in a war against celestial powers that ranges across many worlds.
Details: Based on Philip Pullman’s trilogy of fantasy novels, His Dark Materials. The first book, Northern Lights, was turned into a feature titled The Golden Compass in 2007. New Line released that picture starring Daniel Craig and Nicole Kidman.
SSN Insight: The drama was greenlit by BBC One controller Charlotte Moore and BBC Drama Commissioning controller Polly Hill. The series will be made in Wales. This is New Line’s first TV project.

SSN ORIGINALS

The Accidental Turitz: Should There be Guidelines When Spoilers Go from Word of Mouth to Headline News?

Even though news sites run spoiler alerts within headlines, the fact that there is a spoiler in the headline is sort of like clicking on the safety after you’ve already pulled the trigger. Should there be guidelines for such transgressions? Senior Editor Neil Turitz certainly thinks so. (SSN)

TV Development for 11/3/15: Star Trek Journeying to CBS All Access, BBC Orders His Dark Materials Series, Two New Series for Lord & Miller

Lord & Miller are on the fast track, developing The Greatest American Hero for Fox along with an untitled workplace comedy for NBC. There’s also a new Star Trek series journeying to where it’s never gone before, to CBS’ streaming site, All Access. (SSN)

OTHER HEADLINES

The MPAA Fires its Cannons and Wins a Crucial Battle Against Pirates

The Motion Picture Association of America is hailing a success in the ongoing fight against piracy with word that the trade association has won the shutdown of the “official” Popcorn Time fork as well as torrent outfit YTS. (THR)

Development Pick List Featured Short, Miles, to be Adapted for Film by Lakeshore and David S. Goyer

Previously featured in SSN’s Development Pick List, Oliver Daly’s original short Miles stirred an auction when it came up for acquisition earlier this year. The short will now be developed into a feature by Lakeshore Entertainment and David S. Goyer’s Phantom Four banner. (Y!)

DreamWorks Studios Buys Trilogy of Novels About a Boy and His Dog Battling the Forces of Evil

DreamWorks Studios has acquired the John Connolly trilogy of novels, The Gates, The Infernals and The Creeps for middle-school readers as a possible new franchise. The books follow young protagonist Samuel Johnson and his loyal dog Boswell as they battle the forces of darkness starting days before Halloween. (DL)

Keep Your Passports Handy as Viceland Will Take Over H2 Cable Channel

Vice Media, whose brashness has made it one of the hottest media companies, is getting its own cable channel. On Tuesday, Vice and A&E Networks said they had put the final touches on a long-awaited deal for Vice to take over H2, an A&E Networks channel. (NYT)

Ellen DeGeneres to Develop Bewitching Film Based on Castle Hangnail Children’s Book for Disney

Disney has optioned the movie rights to Castle Hangnail, a children’s book by Ursula Vernon, for an adaptation to be produced by Ellen DeGeneres. The book tells of a 12-year old witch who shows up at a dark castle that needs a master or be decommissioned by the bureaucratic Board of Magic and its many minions. (THR)

Sons Of Anarchy The Ride Might Happen as Fox is Developing a New Theme Park in Dubai

Twentieth Century Fox has announced a licensing partnership with Al Ahli Holding Group that will result in the construction of a theme park and resort in Dubai. The park will be Fox-branded and will tap into the studio’s entertainment library. (VAR)

Project Greenlight Now Open 24/7 with Launch of Digital Studios & Contest

Following the revival of HBO’s Project Greenlight, Adaptive Studios has announced Project Greenlight Digital Studios allowing viewers and community members to participate in greenlighting projects. They are also launching the “Get the Greenlight” contest that will provide the winning creator with $25,000 to produce an original digital series. (DL)

The 30 Most Influential Teens of 2015

Yes Kendall and Kylie Jenner made the list, but you might be surprised at who else did. To determine TIME’s annual list, they considered accolades across numerous fields, global impact through social media and overall ability to drive news. (TIME)

With a Lot Of Free Time Suddenly On His Hands, Jon Stewart Signs Four-Year Deal With HBO

Former Daily Show host will be back in the TV saddle before too long: he and the pay cable net have entered a four-year, cross-platform agreement, including a first-look option for Stewart’s film and TV projects.Along with its forthcoming daily newscast from Vice and its recent agreement with Bill Simmons, the move further strengthens HBO’s efforts to expand beyond its prestigious fictional programming to compete in the 24-hour content cycle. (TOH)

Duncan Jones Lands Paul Rudd and Alexander Skarsgard For His Passion Project, ‘Mute’

A sci-fi set in Berlin forty years in the future, Mute centers on a mute bartender (played by Skarsgard) whose only reason for living suddenly disappears, leading to a search that takes him deep into the city’s underbelly and to a pair of American surgeons, led by Rudd. Jones says he’s been working on for 12 years, and co-wrote the script with Mike Johnson. (CS)

‘Concussion’ Director Will Follow Up With Watergate Drama, Has Liam Neeson Starring as Deep Throat

Neeson will star in Felt, the story of Mark Felt, the man who was the Watergate scandal’s infamous informant, Deep Throat. Peter Landesman, the filmmaker behind the upcoming Will Smith NFL drama, is directing the spy drama. Lifelong FBI agent Felt leaked information to Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward, who would only name his source as Deep Throat. His identity was revealed in 2005. (HV)

It’s a Busy Day For Kevin Spacey, Who Signs Up For Not One, but Two New Films

The Oscar winner is in the process of setting up his next two movie roles, and they’re both with Ansel Elgort. Spacey is in final negotiations to join Baby Driver, Edgar Wright’s pic starring Elgort, John Hamm, Jamie Foxx and Lily James. Spacey also has closed a deal to star in Billionaire Boys Club, directed by James Cox toplined by Elgort and Taron Egerton. (DH)

Cult Filmmaker Shane Carruth Assembles an Impressive Cast For His Next Project

Filmmaker’s shipping drama The Modern Ocean has Anne Hathaway, Keanu Reeves, Daniel Radcliffe, Chloe Grace Moretz, Tom Holland, Asa Butterfield, Abraham Attah and Jeff Goldblum all on board. Carruth will also star. Film centers on the competition for valuable shipping routes, the search for the hidden cache of priceless material and the powerful need for vengeance in a secretive world filled with mysterious technologies and bitter rivalries. (VAR)

‘Bad Santa 2’ Lands Itself a Director, and There Is Some ‘Mean’ Stuff In His Past

Mark Waters, who directed the hit 2004 Tina Fey-Lindsay Lohan film Mean Girls, has been set to direct the sequel to the 2003 comedy that is now in the works after Miramax and Broad Green Pictures agreed to co-finance and co-produce the comedy. Billy Bob Thornton, Tony Cox and Brett Kelly are returning the original cast. Principal photography starts in January in Montreal on the script from Doug Ellin, Shauna Cross, John Phillips and Johnny Rosenthal. (THR)

Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele To Team Up With Legendary Animator Henry Selick For New Stop-Motion Comedy

The trio will team up for Wendell and Wild, an animated comedy about two scheming demon brothers who must face their arch-nemesis, the demon-dusting nun Sister Helly, and her two acolytes, the goth teens Kat and Raoul. Selick is perhaps best known for James and the Giant Peach, The Nightmare before Christmas and Coraline. He will co-write the script with Peele, and will also be directing and producing the picture. (COL)

‘LEGO Batman’ Adds Another Prestigious Cast Member, as Ralph Fiennes Will Voice Alfred

Actor will voice the loyal butler to Will Arnett’s caped crusader. Fiennes joins a pretty fun cast including Michael Cera as Robin, Zach Galifianakis as The Joker and Rosario Dawson as Batgirl. Chris McKay moves from animation supervisor on The LEGO Movie to direct here, with Phil Lord and Chris Miller on board to produce. The Lego Batman Movie opens on February 10th, 2017. (TP)

One Hundred Women Directors Hollywood Should Be Hiring

Here’s a list of the best and brightest female directors in the industry, very few of whom are afforded the same major opportunities as their male counterparts. Some are promising up-and-comers, while others are award-winning veterans. Their talents run the gamut from comedy to drama, and from action to arthouse. (VUL)

Screenwriters: ‘Nothing But the Truth’ AKA ‘The Big Easy’

The second draft of the script by Jack Baran & Jim McBride, from an original screenplay by Daniel Petrie Jr. Script is labeled Pink Revisions, and dated November 11th, 1985. (DS)

Former Anderson Media Corporation CEO Charlie Anderson and creative executive/executive producer Mike Camello are partnering to launch a new production and distribution company titled Charlie Mike Productions. Upon the launch they signed a first multi-picture deal with Strong Eagle Media. Charlie Mike will fund and distribute Strong Eagle Media’s first two military films Citizen Soldier and Danger Close, both of which are in production and slated to be released in 2016.

SyFy Ventures has launched SyFy Films, a new company that will develop and acquire original science fiction films for release on theatrical, digital platforms, and select independent theaters through partnerships such as with XLrator Media. SyFy Films’ first film is the psychological thriller 400 Days scheduled for release on January 12, 2016 with plans to air on the Syfy network later in the year. Syfy Films includes a grouping of businesses to expand the brand’s global reach, among them digital platforms, licensing and merchandising, and video games.

Jon Stewart has inked a four-year production deal with HBO to include topical short-form digital content for HBO Now, HBO Go and other platforms as well as a first-look option for other film and TV ventures. This marks Stewart’s first deal since stepping down from The Daily Show earlier this year after a 16-year run.

Andrew Kreisberg has inked an overall deal with WBTV to develop new projects for the studio. He will continue to serve as showrunner on The Flash and Supergirl and executive produce Arrow and Legends of Tomorrow. The deal is Kreisberg’s first overall. His credits also include working with Greg Berlanti and Marc Guggenheim on Eli Stone as well as on David E. Kelley’s Boston Legal, The Simpsons and Hope & Faith.

The Chernin Group has partnered with private-equity firm KKR to invest in media and entertainment companies across Asia and to launch Emerald Media, to focus on providing growth capital ranging from $15 million-$75 million to take stakes in or ownership of media, entertainment and digital media businesses in the region. Chernin Group’s Rajesh Kamat and Paul Aiello will lead Emerald Media, which will have offices in Mumbai, Hong Kong and Singapore.

McG and his Wonderland Sound & Vision have inked a two-year overall deal with ABC Family/Freeform, ABC Studios and its cable/digital division ABC Signature, under which McG will direct and develop drama and comedy series and produce digital content for various platforms. McG is currently executive producing Freeform’s upcoming drama series Shadowhunters and the current Kevin From Work. This is the first TV studio agreement for Wonderland Sound & Vision since the it left Warner Bros. TV in 2013.

IMAX Corporation and Twentieth Century Fox have entered into a long-term, multi-picture agreement. Marking the two companies’ first joint multi-picture agreement, the deal includes future tentpoles from the Fox slate, including Deadpool, Independence Day Resurgence, Maze Runner: The Death Cure and the studio’s untitled Wolverine project. The IMAX release of each film will be digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience with proprietary IMAX Digital Re-mastering technology.

Former President of Paramount Pictures Adam Goodman has started Dichotomy that will produce films in a new model that will finance projects in increments. His company will fund $2 million over 20 days of production per film and then test the footage on an audience. If the project shows promise he will continue to invest in the film in increments up to $5 million. The company has a first-look deal with Paramount. He will focus on films outside of comic-book movies and pre-branded franchises and streamline the filmmaking process from development through post-production.

As reported in Exec Shuffle on Monday, Liberty Global, the largest cable company in the world, with 27 million customers across 14 countries, has extended their distribution deal with A+E Networks and is also launching two new HD channels in the UK. The deal covers A+E Networks’ UK channels on Liberty Global platforms across Europe. Lifetime and H2 will be also now be available in HD in both the UK and Ireland for the first time.

Emmy winner and The Beasts of No Nation director Cary Fukunaga and his banner Parliament of Owls have inked a two-year deal with Paramount TV that gives the studio exclusive rights to produce and distribute scripted programming directed, written and/or produced by Fukunaga for broadcast, cable and streaming services.

Reality producer Oliver Bogner and his Bogner Content banner have inked an overall deal with All3Media America to develop and produce unscripted content for both broadcast and cable. This is one of the first moves for Greg Lipstone as All3Media’s CEO. Bogner was a former client of his while Lipstone was at ICM. Bogner Content will be based out of the All3Media America Los Angeles headquarters.

As reported in Exec Shuffle on Monday, Lionsgate and its Grindstone Entertainment Group have extended their long-term partnership with Emmett/Furla/Oasis Films for another five movies, some of which will be distributed through Lionsgate’s newly launched Premiere label. Emmett/Furla/Oasis Films’ slate includes The Heist, The Extraction and The Marauders.

CAA: Singer, actress, dancer and model Jordyn Jones has signed with CAA for representation in all areas. The 15-year-old recently appeared on Abby’s Ultimate Dance Competition on Lifetime and opened for Demi Lovato this summer in New York. She also just wrapped production on the film Dance Camp, produced by Jon Chu and Awesomeness Films. On social media Jones has more than 74 million views on YouTube and 1.4 million Instagram followers. Jones will continue to be repped by Mhair Zeitounian at Reload Management and Stone Meyer.

UTA: Filmmaker and TV producer Callie Khouri has shifted from CAA to UTA. She previously won the Oscar for her first script Thelma & Louise and went on to direct Divine Secrets Of The Ya-Ya Sisterhood and Mad Money. She also is the creator, writer, director and executive producer of the ABC drama Nashville, currently in production on its fourth season. She continues to be represented by attorney Alan Wertheimer.

Vanguard Management Group: Actor RJ Mitte, best known for playing Walter “Flynn” White Jr. on Breaking Bad has signed with Vanguard Management Group. He’ll next be seen in the Tribeca drama Dixieland, which releases December 11, appearing along with Faith Hill.

Writ Large: Filmmaker Akiz has signed with the literary management company Writ Large. The director’s latest project is Der Nachtmahr which premiered at TIFF and screened at BFI London. The film is about a coming of age horror film recounting the tale of a Berlin party girl haunted by a repellant creature. Akiz’s previous work includes the award-winning shorts Painting Reality and Evokation.

SSN ORIGINALS

From Pixar to Indies: Filmmaker Carlos Baena Shares Lessons on Crafting an Animated Horror Film Outside of the Studio System

Filmmaker Carlos Baena’s resume has the companies that many animators dream of working with including Laika, ILM/Lucasfilms and Pixar. Those companies are known for their unique visions of spectacular art come to life that grace theater screens. So what made this animator leave Pixar, a place replete with creative pros at the top of their game and break out of the fold? A vision of his own. (SSN)

Film & TV Deals for 11/4/15: Adam Goodman Launches Dichotomy with New Model of Film Financing, Jon Stewart Inks Deal with HBO, SyFy Starts Film Division

Along with that news, McG has signed a deal with ABC Family/Freeform, Andrew Kreisberg has inked an overall deal with WBTV, and The Chernin Group has partnered with private-equity firm KKR to invest in media and entertainment companies across Asia. (SSN)

Rep Moves for 11/4/15: Multi-Hyphenate Teen Star Jordyn Jones Signs with CAA, Thelma & Louise Screenwriter & Nashville Creator Callie Khouri Shifts from CAA to UTA

Singer, actress, dancer and model Jordyn Jones has signed with CAA, the social media powerhouse has more than 74 million views on YouTube and 1.4 million Instagram followers. Breaking Bad‘s RJ Mitte has signed with Vanguard Management Group. (SSN)

OTHER HEADLINES

Late Night TV Hosting Proving Hazardous to One’s Health as Trevor Noah Undergoes Emergency Surgery

Trevor Noah, the host of The Daily Show, underwent an emergency appendectomy Wednesday morning which will cause him to miss Wednesday night’s broadcast, according to Comedy Central. (CNN)

Behind the Scenes Shakeup on ABC’s The Muppets as Showrunner Exits Stage Left

There is a behind the scenes shakeup on ABC’s freshman comedy series The Muppets. Gone is co-creator, executive producer and showrunner Bob Kushell. Kristin Newman (Galavant) is in negotiations to succeed him as new showrunner under her overall deal at ABC Studios. (DL)

Will the Tarantino Controversy Rattle The Hateful Eight’s Box Office?

Quentin Tarantino is no stranger to controversy, but nothing has prepared him for the firestorm he’s unleashed over the last few days. His words may be divisive but will they doom The Hateful Eight at the box office? (VAR)

Furious 7‘s Luke Evans On-board for Key Role in DreamWorks’ The Girl on the Train

The Girl on the Train, DreamWorks’ adaptation of the hit book, is adding Luke Evans to the cast. The actor has stepped into the shoes that were to be worn by Jared Leto, whose deal never took due to a scheduling issue. (THR)

On the Road to Oscars, Listen to Me Marlin and Amy Are Nominated for IDA Documentary Awards

The International Documentary Association announced nominations and creative recognition awards for the 31st annual IDA Documentary Awards to be held on Dec. 5. Best feature nominees include Amy about the life of singer Amy Winehouse, The Black Panthers: Vanguard of a Revolution and Listen to Me Marlin which leveraged hundreds of hours of Marlon Brando’s personal audio recordings and more. (VAR)

Kal Penn Reunites with Harold & Kumar Writers on Fair and Balanced TV Series Set at ABC

Harold & Kumar star Kal Penn is reuniting with the writers of the hit feature franchise, Hayden Schlossberg and Jon Hurwitz, for Fair And Balanced, a single-camera comedy, which has been set up at ABC about an aspiring NPR reporter who is swayed to work at a Fox News-type channel. (DL)

The Top 30 YouTube Influencers Prove Engagement Trumps Subscribers

Marketing giant Ogilvy & Mather believes that subscriber numbers mean a lot less than a creator’s ability to build a community. So Ogilvy has put together a list of the 30 online stars with the most-engaged fans as part of a larger paper on the new social contract. (THR)

Sony Dives Back Into the Lisbeth Salander Saga, Will Skip Second and Third Books

Beloved hacker will hack again on the big screen but not in The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo sequel, The Girl Who Played With Fire. Instead, Sony is putting its focus on the fourth book in the Millennium series, The Girl in the Spider’s Web, the first book famously not written by creator Stieg Larsson. Steven Knight is in talks to adapt the novel, while neither Rooney Mara nor Daniel Craig returning. Ditto for Dragon Tattoo director David Fincher. (THR)

Lily James Signs On For Another Period Piece, but This Time Will Ditch the Corset At Home

The actress known for Downton Abbey, Cinderella and the upcoming Pride and Prejudice and Zombies will play Olympic gold medalist and record-breaking swimmer Gertrude “Trudy” Ederle in Young Woman and the Sea for Paramount Pictures. In 1926, two years after winning an Olympic gold medal, Ederle became the first woman to swim across the English Channel, and was christened “Queen of the Waves.”  (WAH)

“Creative Differences” Is Once Again the Culprit as Director Michael Winterbottom Leaves ‘Russ & Roger’

Attached since last April to direct the Russ Meyer / Roger Ebert comedy biopic, Winterbottom has walked. Will Ferrell remains aboard to play “king of the nudies” Meyer, with Josh Gad his unlikely film-critic ally Ebert. Christopher Cluess wrote the screenplay, which focuses on the partnership between Meyer and Ebert, leading to the infamous Beyond the Valley of the Dolls. (EMP)

Elizabeth Banks Continues Her Astounding Year, Will Star In ‘Rita Hayworth With a Hand Grenade’

Sloane U’Ren will direct the adventure drama, from a script by Anotny Neely, and Robert Graf will produce. Set in World War II, Banks will portray one of the first female war photographers. She’s shot down and stranded on a South Pacific island, where the only other inhabitant is a marooned Japanese soldier. The two evolve from sworn enemies to reluctant allies in a 30-year battle against the forces of nature and their inescapable circumstances. (VAR)

Ricky Gervais Now the Latest To Join the Cast Of the Animated ‘Blazing Saddles’ Tribute

Blazing Samurai borrows heavily from Mel Brooks’ seminal fish-out-of-water western. Instead of a wisecracking African American sheriff, the film’s new protagonist will take the shape of a dog named Hank (voiced by Michael Cera), who dreams of becoming a samurai warrior. Gervais a villainous cat, while Samuel L. Jackson, George Takei, Gabriel Iglesias, Aasif Mandvi and Michelle Yeoh are also in the cast. The film opens August 4th, 2017. (TOH)

Bryan Cranston’s ‘Sneaky Pete’ Is Officially Picked Up To Series At Amazon

Streaming service was rumored to have ordered the drama, originally produced as a pilot last development season for CBS, and has now confirmed the news. From Sony Pictures Television, the drama from Cranston and David Shore stars Giovanni Ribisi as a conman who, after leaving prison, takes cover from his past by assuming the identity of his cell-mate, Pete. (LF)

Millennium Snags Major Trio For New Actioner, ‘Hitman’s Bodyguard’

Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson and Gary Oldman will lead the film, which follows the world’s top protection agent (Reynolds), who must protect a hit man who has come in from the cold. They’ve been on opposite ends of a bullet for years and hate one another. Now they’re stuck together and have 24 hours to get to the Hague. Oldman will play a villain. Jeff Wadlow will direct from a script by Tom O’Connor. (CS)

‘Jurassic World’ Fans Have Two More Films To Look Forward To, and In the End, They Will Form a Proper Trilogy

Universal studio executive Donna Langley not only confirmed that Jurassic World 2 and Jurassic World 3 (technically Jurassic Park 5 and Jurassic Park 6) is being outlined by World director Colin Trevorrow and series Godfather Steven Spielberg. She also said that the next two installments will be designed to tell one complete story begun in this past summer’s record-breaking reboot. (CB)

First Look: ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them’

Warner Bros. has released the first images from the highly anticipated Harry Potter prequel, staring Eddie Redmayne, Colin Farrell, Katherine Waterson, Samantha Morton, Alison Sudol, Ron Perlman, Ezra Miller, Jon Voight and Dan Fogler. Directed by David Yates and scripted by author J.K. Rowling, the film is currently shooting and will hit theaters November 18th, 2016. (EW)

Screenwriters: Specs & The City — Character Introduction and ‘The Silence Of the Lambs’

Screenwriters have it beat into them early by all of the gurus out there to never write anything that can’t be shown on the screen. This is good advice overall but, as with everything else, the real key is getting to the point in your craft where you know when (and how) to ignore it. Your character introductions are one of those places. (SM)

NEW ATTACHMENTS

478
Logline: A man seeks revenge against an air traffic controller responsible for the death of his family.
Studio/Distributor(s): Lionsgate
Production Company(s): Emmett/Furla/Oasis Films, Protozoa Pictures
Producer(s): Darren Aronofsky, Scott Franklin, Eric Watson, Randall Emmett, George Furla
Writer(s): Javier Gullion
Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger
SSN Insight: The Highland Film Group is handling international sales and this is expected to be a buzz-worthy title at AFM.

Ashes in the Snow
Logline: A 15-year-old aspiring artist from the Baltic region is deported to Siberia during Joseph Stalin’s reign during WWII.
Production Company(s): Unanimous Pictures, Super Crispy Entertainment, Sorrento Productions, Tauras Films
Producer(s): Zilvinas Naujokas, Marius A Markevicius, Jonathan Schwartz, Chris Coen
Writer(s): Ben York Jones
Director(s): Marius A Markevicius
Cast: Bel Powley, Jonah Hauer-King
Details: Based on the novel “Between Shades of Gray” written by Ruta Sepety and published by Philomel Books in 2011.
SSN Insight: The European co-production is completely financed and planned to begin filming in Lithuania early next year.

Baby Driver
Logline: A young, music-loving expert getaway driver is coerced into a heist for a mob boss which threatens his life, love and freedom.
Studio/Distributor(s): TriStar Productions, TriStar Pictures
Production Company(s): Working Title Films, Big Talk Productions, Media Rights Capital
Producer(s): Nira Park, Eric Fellner, Tim Bevan
Writer(s): Edgar Wright
Director(s): Edgar Wright
Cast: Ansel Elgort, Lily James, Jamie Foxx, Jon Hamm, Kevin Spacey
SSN Insight: Edgar Wright is also attached to Collider, Fortunately, the Milk, I, Macrobane and The Night Stalker.

Bad Santa 2
Logline: Storyline is under wraps.
Studio/Distributor(s): Miramax Films, Broad Green Pictures
Production Company(s): Media Talent Group
Producer(s): Geyer Kosinski
Writer(s): Doug Ellin, Johnny Rosenthal, John Phillips
Director(s): Doug Ellin
Cast: Billy Bob Thornton
Details: Sequel to “Bad Santa” (2003) directed by Terry Zwigoff and starring Billy Bob Thornton.
SSN Insight: Johnny Rosenthal and John Phillips were both hired to write separate drafts of the script, giving the studios a choice between the two screenplays and the possibility of using one for a third film. Steve Pink was previously in discussions to direct and rewrite.

Before I Fall
Logline: About Samantha Kingston, a high school senior who has it all: beautiful, with a great boyfriend and amazing best friends. But she finds that she may be living the last day of her life over and over until she gets it right.
Production Company(s): Jon Shestack Productions, AwesomenessTV
Producer(s): Jonathan Shestack, Carla Hacken, Matt Kaplan, Brian Robbins
Writer(s): Gina Prince-Bythewood, Maria Maggenti
Director(s): Ry Russo-Young
Cast: Zoey Deutch, Halston Sage, Logan Miller, Kian Lawley, Diego Boneta, Jennifer Beals
Details: Based on the novel “Before I Fall” written by Lauren Oliver and published by HarperCollins on March 2, 2010.
SSN Insight: Previously in development with Paper Pictures. Gina Prince-Bythewood was previously attached to direct.

Billionaire Boys Club
Logline: Based on the true story of the Billionaire Boys Club, a group of wealthy young men who resorted to murder in Los Angeles in the 1980s.
Production Company(s): Holly Wiersma Productions
Producer(s): Holly Wiersma, Cassian Elwes
Writer(s): Captain Mauzner, James Cox, Steve Cox
Director(s): James Cox
Cast: Ansel Elgort, Taron Egerton, Kevin Spacey
SSN Insight: Spacey would play the whale who represents the smart money and the fast lifestyle.

Blackout
Logline: Centers on a cop tasked with transporting a mysterious and dangerous criminal across town who is put to the test when a citywide blackout plunges them into darkness and chaos.
Studio/Distributor(s): Sierra/Affinity
Production Company(s): Broken Road
Producer(s): Todd Garner, Jeremy Stein
Writer(s): Sidney King
Director(s): Scott Waugh
SSN Insight: Scott Waugh’s previous credits include Act of Valor and Need for Speed.

Blazing Samurai
Logline: A scrappy dog fights to save his town from a evil feline warlord.
Studio/Distributor(s): , Open Road Films
Production Company(s): Huayi Brothers Film Company, Cinemation, Mass Animation
Producer(s): Rob Minkoff, Yair Landau, Susan Purcell, Nate Hopper, Pietro Ventani
Writer(s): Ed Stone, Nate Hopper
Director(s): Chris Bailey, Mark Koetsier
Voice Cast: Samuel L. Jackson, Ricky Gervais, George Takei, Gabriel Iglesias, Aasif Mandvi, Djimon Hounsou, Michelle Yeoh, Sandra Tsing Loh, Mel B., “Heavenly” Joy Jerkins.
Details: Loose remake of “Blazing Saddles” (1974) directed by Mel Brooks and starring Cleavon Little and Gene Wilder.
SSN Insight: Sony Pictures International Releasing has landed numerous major territories worldwide, and Huayi Brothers Media Corporation is distributing the film in Greater China. The film is animated.

Double Play
Logline: During the colonial unrest in 1970s Curacao, the fates of four men are revealed through a journey of love, loss and betrayal, while political, social and sexual rivalries are provoked.
Producer(s): Lisa Cortes, Gregory Elias
Writer(s): Evan Jones, Alaric Alexander Smeets
Director(s): Ernest Dickerson
Cast: Lennie James, Colin Salmon, Alexander Karim, Mustafa Shakir, Isaach De Bankolé
Details: Based on the novel “Double Play” (“Dubbelspel”) written by Frank Martinus Arion and published by The Busy Bee in 1973.
SSN Insight: Shooting is set to start this month on location in the book’s setting of Curacao.

Dude
Logline: Four high school senior girls party hard before parting ways for college.
Production Company(s): Mosaic
Producer(s): Langley Perer, Lawrence Inglee, Rob Ree
Writer(s): Olivia Milch
Director(s): Olivia Milch
Cast: Lucy Hale
SSN Insight: Project was included on the 2013 Black List.

Fourth Man Out
Logline: On his 24th birthday, Adam, a small-town mechanic in upstate New York, feels it is the perfect opportunity to tell his friends and family that he is gay.
Studio/Distributor(s): Gravitas Ventures
Producer(s): Lauren Avinoam, Lauren Hogarth, Jed Mellick
Writer(s): Aaron Dancik
Director(s): Andrew Nackman
Cast: Evan Todd, Parker Young, Chord Overstreet, Jon Gabrus, Kate Flannery
SSN Insight: The film won the Outstanding Narrative Feature prize at Outfest this year.

Get Out
Logline: A young African American man visits his white girlfriend’s family, with horrifying consequences.
Production Company(s): Blumhouse Productions, QC Entertainment
Producer(s): Jason Blum, Sean McKittrick, Ted Hamm
Writer(s): Jordan Peele
Director(s): Jordan Peele
Cast: Allison Williams
SSN Insight: This marks Williams’ feature film debut.

Havana Motor Club
Logline: About the underground drag racing scene in Cuba.
Studio/Distributor(s): Samuel Goldwyn Films
Production Company(s): Perlmutt Productions, Inc.
Producer(s): Bent-Jorgen Perlmutt, Zelmira Gainza
Writer(s): Bent-Jorgen Perlmutt
Director(s): Bent-Jorgen Perlmutt
SSN Insight: The film premiered this year at Tribeca Film Festival. A 2016 release is planned by Samuel Goldwyn Films.

Higher Power
Logline: About a regular guy who acquires the power of a demi-God
Studio/Distributor(s): Content Media
Production Company(s): Di Bonaventura Pictures Television
Producer(s): Lorenzo Di Bonaventura, Greg Siegel, Evan J. Cholfin
Writer(s): No Screenplay Available.
Director(s): Matthew Santoro
Cast: Ron Eldard, Colm Feore, Jordan Hinson, Austin Stowell, Marielle Jaffe
SSN Insight: Content Media will showcase the film to buyers at AFM. CAA co-reps U.S. distribution rights.

How to Talk to Girls at Parties
Logline: In 1970s London, a teenage boy who is into punk music gets involved with a tourist who want to escape from her tour group and explore the dangerous suburb of Croydon.
Studio/Distributor(s): ,A24
Production Company(s): Fortissimo Films, See-Saw Films, Little Punk
Producer(s): Neil Gaiman, John Cameron Mitchell, Howard Gertler, Iain Canning, Emile Sherman
Writer(s): Philippa Goslett, John Cameron Mitchell
Director(s): John Cameron Mitchell
Cast: Elle Fanning, Nicole Kidman, Ruth Wilson, Matt Lucas, Alex Sharp, Jessica Plummer
Details: Based on the short story “How to Talk to Girls at Parties” written by Neil Gaiman and published by neilgaiman.com in 2006.
SSN Insight: Hanway is handling sales.

Hyena Road
Logline: About three men caught at the intersection of modern warfare.
Studio/Distributor(s): Samuel Goldwyn Films
Production Company(s): Rhombus Media, Inc., Whizbang Films, Buffalo Gal Pictures
Producer(s): Niv Fichman, Paul Gross, Phyllis Laing
Writer(s): Paul Gross
Director(s): Paul Gross
Cast: Rossif Sutherland, Paul Gross, Christine Horne, Nabil Elouahabi, Allan Hawco
SSN Insight: The film was a gala presentation at this year’s Toronto Film Festival. A 2016 release is planned.

Keep Watching
Logline: A dysfunctional family must fight for their lives against home invaders.
Studio/Distributor(s): Screen Gems
Producer(s): Andrew Rona, Alex Heineman, Craig J. Flores, Nicolas Chartier
Writer(s): Joseph Dembner
Director(s): Sean Carter
Cast: Bella Thorne, Natalie Martinez, Chandler Riggs, Ioan Gruffudd, Leigh Whannell
SSN Insight: Found-footage style production.

Life Briefly
Logline: A blind young teenager becomes a musical prodigy but has a rocky relationship with his overbearing father.
Production Company(s): Russo Brothers, Fade to Black Productions
Producer(s): James D. Brubaker, Oren Kamara, Josh Elliott
Writer(s): Brandon Willer
Cast: Ty Simpkins, Bill Paxton, Ashley Judd
SSN Insight: Joe and Anthony Russo, who acquired the life rights from Brian Knapp, were previously developing the project.

Live by Night
Logline: A young gangster climbs through the ranks during the Prohibition era.
Studio/Distributor(s): Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures Distribution
Production Company(s): Pearl Street Films, Appian Way
Producer(s): Ben Affleck, Jennifer Davisson Killoran, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Todd
Writer(s): Ben Affleck
Director(s): Ben Affleck
Cast: Ben Affleck, Sienna Miller, Zoe Saldana, Elle Fanning, Chris Messina, Miguel
Details: Based on the novel “Live by Night,” written by Dennis Lehane and published by William Morrow on October 2, 2012.
SSN Insight: Miguel will next be seen on TV as a featured performer on Shining A Light: A Concert For Progress On Race In America.

Memoria
Logline: A teenager in Palo Alto, California from a working class family struggles with being on the outside of society and murky emotional teenager waters.
Studio/Distributor(s): Monterey Media
Production Company(s): Rabbit Bandini Productions.
Writer(s): Vladimir de Fontenay, Nina Ljeti
Director(s): Vladimir de Fontenay, Nina Ljeti
Cast: James Franco, Sam Dillon, Teo Halm, Thomas Mann, Luna Blaise
SSN Insight: Memoria is one of three feature films adapted from Franco’s short stories a long with “Killing Animals” and “Yosemite” Franco met de Fontenay and Ljeti while studying at NYU.

Metanoia
Logline: Controversial psychiatrist R.D. Laing, whose experimental methods and use of LSD with patients in 1960s and ‘70s shocked the psychiatric establishment, is the subject of this biopic.
Production Company(s): MMC Independent GmbH, Gizmo Films, Bad Penny Productions
Producer(s): Phin Glynn, Charlotte Arden, Harriet Hammond
Writer(s): Robert Mullan
Director(s): Robert Mullan
Cast: David Tennant, Elisabeth Moss, Michael Gambon, Gabriel Byrne
SSN Insight: The project is in pre-production and is set to begin filming in January.

Miles
Logline: A teenage dirt bike rider stumbles upon an escaped prototype of the most advanced military creation in history, and the two of them become friends.
Production Company(s): Lakeshore Entertainment, Phantom Four, 1st Man Productions
Producer(s): David S. Goyer, Kevin Turen, Adam P. Schneider, Tom Rosenberg, Gary Lucchesi
Writer(s): Oliver Daly
Director(s): Oliver Daly
Details: Based on the short film “Miles” (2015) directed by Oliver Daly and starring Alexa Demie and Robby Rasmussen, which was funded by Kickstarter.
SSN Insight: WME packaged the “proof of concept” short as a sales vehicle for its transition into a feature film for their client Oliver Daly.

Mute
Logline: A hard edged noir thriller set in a future-version of Berlin.
Production Company(s): Liberty Films
Producer(s): Stuart Fenegan, Duncan Jones
Writer(s): Duncan Jones, Michael Robert Johnson
Director(s): Duncan Jones
Cast: Alexander Skarsgard, Paul Rudd, Sam Rockwell
SSN Insight: Lotus Entertainment will handle international sales and finance the film to showcase at AFM.

Nocturnal Animals
Logline: Susan receives a manuscript from her ex-husband, and reading it causes her recall her first marriage and confront some dark truths about herself.
Studio/Distributor(s): Focus Features
Production Company(s): Fade to Black Productions
Producer(s): Tom Ford, Robert Salerno, Diane Sabatini
Writer(s): Tom Ford
Director(s): Tom Ford
Cast: Amy Adams, Jake Gyllenhaal, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Michael Shannon, Kim Basinger, Kristin Bauer Van Straten
Details: Based on the novel “Tony and Susan” written by Austin Wright and published by Baskerville Publishers in 1993.
SSN Insight: Project was previously in development at Smokehouse Pictures with George Clooney and Grant Heslov attached to produce. Focus Features and Universal Pictures International secured the rights at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival in a reportedly $20 Million deal, marking one of the biggest deal in Cannes history.

One More Time
Logline: About an aspiring rock star who is stuck in a rut — relegated to recording commercial jingles and lost in a series of one-night stands. When she is evicted from her Brooklyn apartment, she is forced to move into the Hamptons home of her wealthy and selfish father.
Studio/Distributor(s): Starz
Production Company(s): Parts and Labor , Maybach Film Productions
Producer(s): Lucas Joaquin, Saemi Kim, Saerom Kim, Lars Knudsen, Chris Maybach
Writer(s): Robert S Edwards
Director(s): Robert S Edwards
Cast: Amber Heard, Christopher Walken, Kelli Garner, Hamish Linklater, Ann Magnuson
SSN Insight: The pic debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival this year when it was called When I Live My Life Over Again.

Power Rangers
Logline: A group of teenagers who have been chosen to protect the world from aliens do it by morphing into superheroes and piloting giant robots.
Studio/Distributor(s): Lionsgate
Production Company(s): Saban Brands LLC, Allison Shearmur Productions
Producer(s): Haim Saban, Brian Casentini, Allison Shearmur
Writer(s): Ashley Edward Miller, Zack Stentz
Director(s): Dean Israelite
Cast: Naomi Scott, Dacre Montgomery, Ludi Lin, RJ Cyler, Becky G.
Details: Based on the live-action TV series “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” which originally aired on Fox Kids from August 28, 1993 through November 27, 1995.
SSN Insight: The franchise has been in production ever since with the series re-named each year. Roberto Orci previously attached to produce.

Sand Castle
Logline: True story of Americans soldiers who are sent on a mission to repair an aqueduct in a dangerous rural village in Iraq.
Production Company(s): Mark Gordon Company, 42, Treehouse Pictures
Producer(s): Mark R. Gordon, Justin Nappi, Benjamin Pugh
Writer(s): Chris Roessner
Director(s): Fernando Coimbra
Cast: Nicholas Hoult, Henry Cavill, Beau Knapp, Glen Powell, Logan Marshall-Green, Neil Brown Jr.
SSN Insight: Seb Edwards was previously attached to direct. Project was included on the 2012 Black List. Luke Evans was previously attached to play the role filled by Logan Marshall-Green.

Shot
Logline: A man and his fiance find their lives turned upside down when a teenager unintentionally shoots him.
Production Company(s): Wyle/Katz Company
Producer(s): Noah Wyle, Jeremy Kagan
Writer(s): William Lamborn, Anneke Campbell
Director(s): Jeremy Kagan
Cast: Noah Wyle, Elaine Hendrix
SSN Insight: In addition to playing Ava on the first season of Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll, Hendrix also was seen on Amazon’s Transparent.

Submergence
Logline: The interwoven stories of former lovers; one a member of British Intelligence, the other a scientist.
Production Company(s): Lila 9th Productions
Producer(s): Cameron Lamb, Andrew Banks
Writer(s): Erin Dignam
Director(s): Wim Wenders
Cast: James McAvoy
Details: Based on the novel “Submergence” by J.M. Ledgard; published by Coffee House Press March 26, 2013.
SSN Insight: The book came in second in New York magazine’s The Best Ten Books of 2013 and also was on the New York Times‘ list of 100 Notable Books of 2013.

The Bleeder
Logline: The true story of New Jersey heavyweight boxer and womanizer Chuck Wepner.
Production Company(s): Hyde Park Entertainment, Campbell Grobman Films, Mandalay Sports Media
Producer(s): Michael Tollin, Liev Schreiber, Carl Hampe, Christa Campbell, Lati Dana Grobman
Writer(s): Jeff Feurerzeig, Jerry Stahl, Michael Cristofer
Director(s): Philippe Falardeau
Cast: Liev Schreiber, Naomi Watts, Elisabeth Moss, Jim Gaffigan, Michael Rapaport, Pooch Hall, Morgan Spector
SSN Insight: Jeff Feurerzeig was previously attached to direct. Christina Hendricks was previously attached to co-star.

The Bye Bye Man
Logline: Inspired by a series of events that occurred in Wisconsin in the 1990s, three college students play with a Ouija board and summon a spirit with a dangerous story.
Studio/Distributor(s): STX Entertainment
Production Company(s): Intrepid Pictures, Los Angeles Media Fund
Producer(s): Trevor Macy, Simon Horsman, Jeffrey Soros
Writer(s): Jonathan Penner, David Britten Prior
Director(s): Stacy Title
Cast: Douglas Smith, Cressida Bonas, Lucien Laviscount, Doug Jones
Details: Based on the short story: “The Bridge to Body Island” from anthology “The President’s Vampire: Strange-but-True Tales of the United States of America”; published by Anomalist Books November 1, 2005.
SSN Insight: David Britten Prior was previously attached to write and direct. The deal with TWC-Dimension includes a proceed-to-production commitment.

The Disaster Artist
Logline: The story of the making of the 2003 feature “The Room,” which some have called the “worst movie ever made,” is told.
Studio/Distributor(s): New Line Cinema (in negotiations)
Production Company(s): Rabbit Bandini Productions, Point Grey Pictures, Good Universe
Producer(s): James Franco, Vince Jolivette, Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, James Weaver
Writer(s): Scott Neustadter, Michael Weber, Ryan Moody
Director(s): James Franco
Cast: James Franco, Dave Franco, Seth Rogen
Details: Based on the book “The Disaster Artist: My Life Inside The Room” written by Greg Sestero and Tom Bissell and published by Simon & Schuster in 2013.
SSN Insight: Franco reviewed the book for Vice in December 2013, calling it a combination of Boogie Nights and The Master.

The Last Word
Logline: Retired businesswoman Harriet, controlling to the end, writes her own obituary, but the newspaper writer tasked with the piece insists on learning the truth about Harriet’s life and the two become reluctant partners and friends.
Studio/Distributor(s): Myriad Pictures
Production Company(s): Pellington Films, Wondros
Producer(s): Kirk D’Amico, Mark Pellington, Anne-Marie Mackay
Writer(s): Stuart Fink
Director(s): Mark Pellington
Cast: Shirley MacLaine, Amanda Seyfried
SSN Insight: Myriad Pictures will finance and handle international sales for the film.

The Modern Ocean
Logline: A story about trade shipping routes on the ocean.
Production Company(s): Erbp, Blackbird Films, TadMor Entertainment Group
Producer(s): Shane Carruth, Lawrence Inglee, Eyal Rimmon
Writer(s): Shane Carruth
Director(s): Shane Carruth
Cast: Anne Hathaway, Keanu Reeves, Daniel Radcliffe, Chloe Grace Moretz, Tom Holland, Asa Butterfield, Abraham Attah, Jeff Goldblum
SSN Insight: FilmNation Entertainment will handle international sales at AFM.

The Silent Wife
Logline: A Chicago couple has a seemingly stable relationship, but while she is devoted to him and their marriage, he’s cheating on her, which prompts her to secretly plan his murder.
Production Company(s): Blossom Films, Mazur/Kaplan Company, SKE Global
Producer(s): Nicole Kidman, Paula Mazur, Mitch Kaplan, Per Saari, Adrian Lyne
Writer(s): Billy Ray
Director(s): Adrian Lyne
Cast: Nicole Kidman
Details: Based on the novel “The Silent Wife” written by A.S.A. Harrison and published by Penguin Books on June 25, 2013.
SSN Insight: FilmNation Entertainment initiated international sales of the film prior to the AFM.

Vacation Friends
Logline: A straight-laced couple has fun with a wild couple on vacation in Mexico, but when they go home, their crazy new friends won’t leave them alone.
Studio/Distributor(s): 20th Century Fox
Production Company(s): Broken Road Productions
Producer(s): Todd Garner
Writer(s): Steve Pink, Tom Mullen, Tim Mullen
Director(s): Steve Pink
Cast: Ice Cube
SSN Insight: Chris Pratt and Anna Faris were previously attached to co-star.

NEW PROJECTS

Arch Alien
Logline: Storyline is under wraps but involves conspiracy, mysticism and alien mythology.
Production Company(s): POW! Entertainment, Mission Control, Virtus Entertainment, Hualien Media
Producer(s): Stan Lee, Marcus Morton, William J MacDonald
Writer(s): Ralph Hemecker, William J MacDonald
Director(s): Ralph Hemecker
SSN Insight: POW! Media, Hualien Media and Mission Control Entertainment are developing “Arch Alien” as an action franchise. An accompanying comic book is to be released in English and Chinese in early 2016.

Come Hell or High Water
Logline: The true story of U.S. Naval Commander Capt. Ernest Evans who was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle off Samar in 1944.
Production Company(s): Maeday Productions, Tin Can Productions
Producer(s): William Wisher, Colin Wilson, Yale Badik, Des Carey
Writer(s): William Wisher
Director(s): John Moore
SSN Insight: Moore recently directed the feature I.T., starring Pierce Brosnan and currently in post-production.

Feed
Logline: Eighteen-year-old twins prepare for their last year of school together when tragedy tears them apart.
Production Company(s): Indy Entertainment
Producer(s): Ross Kohn, Nancy Leopardi, Troian Bellisario, Tommy Bertelsen
Writer(s): Tommy Bertelsen
Director(s): Tommy Bertelsen
Cast: Troian Bellisario, Tom Felton
SSN Insight: Financing was through Bank Leumi USA with support from David K. Henry.

Felt
Logline: The true story of Mark Felt, the lifelong G-Man who, as “Deep Throat,” leaked information to the press and broke the Watergate scandal is dramatized.
Production Company(s): Ridley Scott Films , Playtone, Everyman Pictures, Vendian Entertainment, Cara Films Ltd., MadRiver Pictures
Producer(s): Ridley Scott, Gary Goetzman, Tom Hanks, Giannina Scott, Marc Butan
Director(s): Peter Landesman
Cast: Liam Neeson (in talks)
SSN Insight: Principal photography is scheduled for March and the filmmakers are in discussion with additional cast.

Gut Instinct
Logline: Interconnected stories involve a junkie setting up a drug deal, an undercover cop, and an investigative reporter.
Production Company(s): Caramel Films, Mednick Productions
Producer(s): Andre Rouleau, Valerie d’Auteuil
Writer(s): Daniel Roby
Director(s): Daniel Roby
Cast: Josh Hartnett
SSN Insight: Hartnett co-stars on Showtime’s Penny Dreadful and will next be seen in James Franco’s upcoming The Long Home

In Darkness
Logline: A blind musician hears a murder in the apartment above her.
Production Company(s): 42
Producer(s): Benjamin Pugh, Josh Varney, Anthony Byrne
Writer(s): Natalie Dormer, Anthony Byrne
Director(s): Anthony Byrne
Cast: Natalie Dormer, Ed Skrein, Stacy Martin
SSN Insight: Dormer will next be seen in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 and Focus Features’ The Forest.

King Cobra
Logline: An adult film producer that discovers a new star finds himself the target of rival producer, leading to murder.
Production Company(s): Rabbit Bandini Productions, SSS Entertainment, Yale Productions
Producer(s): Jordan Yale Levine, Scott Levenson, James Franco, Vince Jolivette, Iris Torres
Writer(s): Justin Kelly
Director(s): Justin Kelly
Cast: James Franco, Christian Slater, Garrett Clayton, Keegan Allen, Molly Ringwald
SSN Insight: Production is underway with a 2016 release planned.

Lost Amazon
Logline: The son of an Amazonian village chief who desperately wants to show his father he can be a warrior is kidnapped by aliens.
Production Company(s): Awesometown Entertainment
Producer(s): Dan Krech
SSN Insight: Marks Roland Emmerich’s first animated feature. He will executive produce the film which has been acquired for international sales by Double Dutch International. The project will be introduced at AFM.

Mean Dreams
Logline: The daughter of a corrupt cop steals drug money from him and goes on the run.
Production Company(s): Woods Entertainment
Producer(s): William Woods
Writer(s): Ryan Grassby, Kevin Coughlin
Director(s): Nathan Morlando
Cast: Bill Paxton, Colm Feore, Kevin Durand, Sophie Nelisse, Josh Wiggins
SSN Insight: Canadian distribution is being handled by Elevation Pictures, with all other territories still available. The project is currently shooting in Northern Canada.

Simon Vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda
Logline: Simon is a 16-year-old, not-openly gay student, so when one of his emails falls into the wrong hands, his secret is at risk and he is forced to step out of his comfort zone before he’s outed.
Studio/Distributor(s): Fox 2000
Production Company(s): Temple Hill Entertainment, New Leaf Literary & Media
Producer(s): Wyck Godfrey, Marty Bowen, Isaac Klausner, Pouya Shahbazian
Writer(s): Isaac Aptaker, Elizabeth Berger
Details: Based on the YA novel “Simon Vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda” written by Becky Albertelli and published by Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, in 2015.
SSN Insight: Temple Hill has cultivated a young adult niche with previous films Fault, Paper Towns and Maze Runner.

The Archbishop and the Antichrist
Logline: During his life sentence in post-apartheid South Africa, brutal murderer Piet Blomfield seeks redemption through meetings with Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
Writer(s): Roland Joffe, Michael Ashton
Director(s): Roland Joffe
Cast: Forest Whitaker, Vince Vaughn
Details: Based on the stage play “The Archbishop and the Antichrist” written by Michael Ashton first performed as part of the Convictions festival at London’s Soho Theatre in 2011.
SSN Insight: The film is in preproduction and begins shooting in early 2016. 13 Films is handling international rights at AFM with WME Global handling North American rights.

The Bachelors
Logline: A new widower and his 17-year-old son move from a small town to a big city for a new start and find romance, grow apart, come back together and discover themselves in the process.
Producer(s): Matthew Baer, George Parra
Writer(s): Kurt Voelker
Director(s): Kurt Voelker
Cast: J.K. Simmons
SSN Insight: The film will begin shooting in spring 2016 in Los Angeles. Fortitude International is handling foreign rights at AFM.

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare
Logline: In 1939, Churchill responded to the German onslaught by dropping the accepted rule of engagement and create a group of “deniable” secret operatives to fight behind enemy lines.
Studio/Distributor(s): Paramount Pictures,
Production Company(s): Jerry Bruckheimer Films
Producer(s): Jerry Bruckheimer
Details: Based on the fact-based book “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare: How Churchill’s Secret Warriors Set Europe Ablaze And Gave Birth To Modern Black Ops” written by Damien Lewis and published by Quercus on September 8, 2015.
SSN Insight: The book rights package created a three-party bidding war and Paramount won in a seven-figure commitment deal for including writer’s fees and the rights to the book.

The Siege: 68 Hours Inside The Taj Hotel
Logline: The 2008 terrorist attack on India’s iconic Taj Mahal Palace Hotel by heavily armed Pakistani militants is dramatized.
Production Company(s): Kudos Film & Television, Shine Pictures
Producer(s): Ollie Madden
Writer(s): Anthony McCarten
Director(s): Justin Kurzel
Details: Based on the book “The Siege: 68 Hours Inside the Taj Hotel” written by of Cathy Scott-Clark and Adrian Levy and published by Penguin Books in 2013.
SSN Insight: Kurzel and StudioCanal previously joined forces on the Michael Fassbender-Marion Cotillard-starrer Macbeth.

White Fang
Logline: The classic survival story revolving around a wolf dog in Canada’s Yukon Territory.
Production Company(s): Big Beach, Bidibul Productions, Super Productions
Producer(s): Marc Turtletaub, Peter Saraf, Clement Calvet, Jeremie Fajner
Writer(s): Dominique Monfery, Philippe Lioret, Serge Frydman
Director(s): Alexandre Espigares
SSN Insight: It’s the first animated film for Little Miss Sunshine producer Big Beach.

Young Woman and the Sea
Logline: The daring journey of New York teen Gertrude Ederle, the first woman to ever swim across the English Channel.
Studio/Distributor(s): Paramount Pictures
Production Company(s): Jerry Bruckheimer Films
Producer(s): Jerry Bruckheimer
Writer(s): Jeff Nathanson
Cast: Lily James
Details: Based on the book “Young Woman and the Sea” written by Glenn Stout and published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in 2009.
SSN Insight: Nathanson’s previous credits include Rush Hour 2 (and 3), The Terminal, Tower Heist and The Last Shot.