AWARDS HEADLINES

Oscar Math: Why ‘Inside Out’ is a Lock While an Original Song Win is Up for Grabs

The mathematical models for the seven Oscar categories show the most lopsided category and why best original song remains a nail-biter. You don’t need math to tell you that Inside Out is headed toward a best feature animation Oscar victory — that win appears almost wrapped up. The model also suggests Inside Out could be joined by foreign-language film winner Son of Saul and documentary feature winner Amy. (THR)

Oscars Poll: 50 Critics Pick Who Will and Should Win Come Sunday

On the flip side, Indiewire skips the math and looks to critics in their annual poll. Last year their critics picked 12 correctly out of the 14 categories offered. Here’s this year’s recommendations. (IW)

OTHER HEADLINES

Former Relativity President Tucker Tooley Co-Financing Survival Flick ‘6 Below’

The first film that former Relativity Studios president Tucker Tooley is co-financing since forming monied production shingle Tooley Productions is 6 Below, a fact-based survival thriller that Scott Waugh will direct with 30 Days of Night‘s Josh Hartnett playing former Olympic hockey player Eric LeMarque. (DL)

HAN Capital Management Raises Half Billion China Film Fund

New York-based HAN Capital Management has raised $500 million for an entertainment fund that will invest in Chinese film and TV productions. Productions will target Chinese and global audiences and could have large budgets of up to $150 million. (VAR)

‘Creed’ Writer-Director Ryan Coogler Goes Behind Bars with ‘Short Term 12′ Helmer Destin Daniel Cretton for TV Series ‘Minors’

Minors promises to take an unflinching look at institutionalization, examining juvenile facilities and the children who grow up in that system. The series will show how that system shapes young people over a one-year period. (DL)

Pilot Locations 2016: Everything’s Coming Up Roses for Los Angeles

California’s new $330 million-a-year tax credit, which was expanded to TV pilots, is paying dividends as the number of broadcast drama pilots filmed in Los Angeles has risen for a second consecutive year. (DL)

How Lionsgate’s Peter Levin is Upping the Game by Fusing Together Hollywood and the Video Game Industry Like Never Before

Peter Levin has led Lionsgate to invest in four game companies, most recently with Fifth Journey, a developer that specializes in making games based on movies. Fifth Journey will get involved earlier in the process- reading scripts of films instead of being handed a fully-baked concept with a demand that a game be produced on a tight time frame. (AA)

Judy Greer’s Breaking Out Her Business Suit to Star in Fox Human Resources Comedy Pilot

The actress, fresh off two seasons of FX comedy Married, has been tapped to star in Fox’s untitled human resources comedy pilot. The single-camera comedy centers around Jane (Greer), who is described as the overused and underappreciated head of human resources for a New Jersey plastic molding plant, where a new eccentric CEO is changing the direction of the company and continually making her job more difficult. (THR)

Netflix is Moving on Up and Taking Over Hollywood’s Icon Building

Netflix is upping its Hollywood footprint, leasing the remaining five floors of the 323,000-square-foot Icon office building at Sunset Bronson Studios. The additional lease amounts to another 123,000 square feet of space. (VAR)

Screenwriters: 2015’s Best Picture Winner, ‘Birdman’

In honor of the big show on Sunday, here’s the script for last year’s Best Picture winner, Birdman, by Alejandro Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, Jr. & Armando Bo. (IW)

STARTS

A Storm In The Stars
02/20/2016
Logline: The story of the love affair between poet Percy Shelley and 18-year-old Mary Wollstonecraft, which resulted in Mary Shelley writing Frankenstein.
Production Company(s): Burstein Company, Parallel Films, Gidden Media
Producer(s): Amy Baer, Alan Moloney, Ruth Coady
Writer(s): Emma Jensen
Director(s): Haifaa al-Mansour
Cast: Elle Fanning, Bel Powley, Douglas Booth, Ben Hardy
SSN Insight: Hanway Films is overseeing international sales with UTA, which reps Al-Mansour and helped package the film. Haifaa al-Mansour wrote and directed the film, Wadjda. It was the first feature film shot wholly in Saudi Arabia and the first feature-length film made by a female Saudi director. It was nominated for Best Foreign Film at the 2014 BAFTA Awards.

Baby Driver
02/20/2016
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
Director(s): Edgar Wright
Executive Producer(s): Adam Merims, Liza Chasin, Michelle Wright, James Biddle
Producer(s): Eric Fellner, Tim Bevan, Nira Park
Cast: Ansel Elgort, Kevin Spacey, Jon Bernthal, Jamie Foxx, Jon Hamm
Writer(s): Edgar Wright
SSN Insight: Edgar Wright is also attached to Collider, Fortunately, the Milk, I, Macrobane and The Night Stalker.

Baywatch
02/25/2016
Logline: An elite group of lifeguards are forced to team up with a young, hotshot former Olympian to save their beloved bay.
Studio/Distributor(s): Paramount Pictures
Production Company(s): The Montecito Picture Company, Contrafilm, Vinson Films, Flynn Picture Co., 7 Bucks Entertainment
Director(s): Seth Gordon
Executive Producer(s): Michelle Rogers Berk, Tom Pollock, Ali Bell, Douglas Schwartz, Louise Rosner
Producer(s): Beau Flynn, Ivan Reitman, Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, Michael Berk
Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Zac Efron, Alexandra Daddario, Kelly Rohrbach, Ilfenesh Hadera
Writer(s): Damian Shannon, Mark Swift, Barry Schwartz, Justin Malen, Robert Ben Garant
Details: Based on the NBC television show “Baywatch” (1989-2000) starring David Hasselhoff, Pamela Anderson, Carmen Electra and Yasmine Bleeth.
SSN Insight: Jeremy Garelick was previously attached to direct. Project was originally in development at Dreamworks, which paid seven figures for the film rights to the TV show.

Collateral Beauty
02/26/2016
Logline: A man who works in a New York ad agency finds his life turned upside down when a tragedy sends him into a depression, and his colleagues set out to lift his spirits.
Studio/Distributor(s): Warner Bros. Pictures Distribution
Production Company(s): Village Roadshow Pictures, Overbrook Entertainment, Anonymous Content, PalmStar Entertainment, Scarlet Fire Entertainment, Likely Story
Director(s): David Frankel
Executive Producer(s): Kevin Scott Frakes, Anthony Bregman, Steven Pearl
Producer(s): Michael Sugar, Bard Dorros, Will Smith, Allan Loeb
Cast: Will Smith, Helen Mirren, Edward Norton, Michael Peña, Naomie Harris
Writer(s): Allan Loeb
SSN Insight: Hugh Jackman was previously attached to co-star. Johnny Depp was previously in talks to co-star. Rooney Mara was previously attached to co-star.

The Comedian
02/21/2016
Logline: A once-loved, but past-his-prime rage comedian is sentenced to community service after hitting an audience member in the head with his microphone. It’s there that he meets a woman who changes his life.
Production Company(s): Tribeca Films, The Linson Company, Atmosphere Entertainment MM LLC
Director(s): Taylor Hackford
Producer(s): Art Linson, Courtney Solomon, Mark Canton, John Linson, Jon Kilik
Cast: Robert De Niro, Leslie Mann, Edie Falco, Charles Grodin
Writer(s): Art Linson, Jeffrey Ross
SSN Insight: Sean Penn was previously attached to direct. Mike Newell was previously attached to direct.

The Solutrean
02/22/2016
Logline: An epic survival story set 20,000 years ago during the last Ice Age.
Studio/Distributor(s): , Sony Pictures Releasing
Production Company(s): Buzz Filmz, Studio 8, The Picture Company
Director(s): Albert Hughes
Executive Producer(s): Stuart Besser
Producer(s): Andrew Rona, Albert Hughes
Cast: Kodi Smit-McPhee, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, Jens Hultén, Natasha Wilson, Marcin Kowalczyk
Writer(s): Dan Wiedenhaupt
SSN Insight: Project was previously in development at Atlas Entertainment with Charles Roven attached to produce.

WRAPS

Rememory
02/22/2016
Logline: When a brilliant professor mysteriously dies before the release of his life-changing invention, his wife must use his new device to find out what happened.
Production Company(s): Palmer Productions
Director(s): Mark Palansky
Producer(s): Trevor Waterson, Lee Clay, Daniel Bekerman, Shawn Angelski
Cast: Peter Dinklage, Julia Ormond, Henry Ian Cusick, Carrie Fleming
Writer(s): Michael Vukadinovich
SSN Insight: Catherine O’Hara was previously attached to star. Peter Dinklage can next be heard as the voice of the mighty eagle in The Angry Birds Movie and will be seen in The Boss for Universal.

AWARDS HEADLINES

Looking For the Winners Of Today’s César Awards? We’ve Got Your Link Right Here

The French Oscars are being handed out this evening in Paris, and the more often you refresh the provided link, the more up to date the results will be. Leading the pack of contenders for the local equivalent to the Oscars are Arnaud Desplechin’s My Golden Days and Xavier Giannoli’s Marguerite with 11 nominations each. Also here is Deniz Gamze Erguven’s Mustang with nine. That film is also competing for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar on Sunday. (AL)

More Oscar Math: ‘The Revenant’ Looks Like a Good Bet To Take the Top Prize

After we ran a separate Oscar Math story this morning, here’s another one, that covers the more popular races. It looks like The Revenant is twice as likely as Spotlight to take the big prize of best picture at Sunday night’s 88th annual Oscars. Leonardo DiCaprio and Brie Larson are, statistically speaking, assured the top acting awards. But while many are predicting a Sylvester Stallone victory, that race is still looking like a close call. (HRA)

OTHER HEADLINES

SSN Box Office Trending Report for 2/26/16: ‘Deadpool’ to Win the Weekend While ‘Batman v Superman’ Presales Heat Up

In our 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)

On the Set for 2/26/16: Dwayne Johnson & Zac Efron Start Shooting ‘Baywatch’, Peter Dinklage & Julia Ormond Wrap ‘Rememory’

Additionally, a pair of ingenues get rolling with A Storm In the Stars, Edgar Wright gets Baby Driver going, and Robert De Niro and Charles Grodin reunite for The Comedian and director Taylor Hackford. As usual, there’s plenty more, so click on the link for the full skinny. (SSN)

Bill Block Signs First-Look Deal With Warner Bros., Developing Sam Raimi Film

Veteran independent financier-producer has found a home at Warner Bros. and is developing Sam Raimi’s World War 3. His Billblock Media has closed a first-look production deal with the studio, which will handle global distribution for all titles. The first film in development under the two-year deal is Raimi’s near-future feature, based on predictions in George Friedman’s non-fiction best-selling book The Next 100 Years. (VAR)

James Mangold Steps In For the Departed David Fincher To Helm ‘Captain Nemo’

Disney has resurrected the idea of reinvisioning 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea in the form of Captain Nemo, with The Wolverine director Mangold having signed on to take the helm. Fincher’s iteration had drafts by Scott Z. Burns and Andrew Kevin Walker, but the latest draft of Captain Nemo has Sebastian Gutierrez working on the script. The project is described as an origin story for the character as he creates his Nautilus. (COL)

Mark Wahlberg’s Getting Some Oscar-Winning Company In His Upcoming Boston Marathon Bombing Flick

With regular collaborators Wahlberg and Peter Berg confirmed as starring and directing, Boston Marathon bombing drama Patriots’ Day has started finding the rest of the cast. First up: J.K. Simmons. The film blends reality and cinematic invention to chronicle the events surrounding the bombing that happened at the finish line of the Boston race on April 15th, 2013. (EMP)

CBS Has Found Its Bad Cop For the Upcoming ‘Training Day’ Series, and His Name Is Bill Paxton

Actor will play Detective Frank Rourke, the “bad cop” with whom a young, idealistic officer is partnered. Antoine Fuqua, who directed the original film that starred Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke, is also returning for the TV series, set to direct the pilot episode. Writer and former LAPD detective Will Beall is attached to provide the script. (CS)

Disney Keeps Moving Forward With Its ‘Small World’ Movie, Hires Writers To Develop a Script

Studio has hired screenwriting duo Tim Rasmussen & Vince Di Meglio for a movie based on the popular theme park ride It’s A Small World. Rasmussen and Di Meglio have been working in the industry for a decade now, and their list of credits include License to Wed, Marmaduke and the in development Three Men and a Baby sequel Three Men and a Bride. (SF)

Trailer Buzz: ‘Taboo’

FX has released the first trailer for its upcoming historical crime drama, starring Oscar nominee Tom Hardy. There is no premiere date yet, but word is the show will hit the airwaves in 2017. (UR)

AWARDS HEADLINES

Oscar Winners 2016: The Complete List

The complete list of the winners of the 88th Academy Awards, plus links to Chris Rock’s opening monologue transcript, fashion slideshow and show highlights. (NYT)

Oscar Winners By Film & Studio – Chart

Mad Max: Fury Road rode the craft categories to the most wins of the night with six, twice its closest rival. That means it was good news for its studio Warner Bros in the final tally. (DH)

Full List Of All 2016 Film Independent Spirit Award Winners

Spotlight dominates The Spirit Awards winning Best Picture and Best Director. (IW)

OTHER HEADLINES

Weekend Box Office Wrap-up: February 28, 2016

Pulling off the three-peat is Deadpool with $31.5 million and up to $285.6 million domestically and $609.8 million globally. Debuting in second is the bomb Gods of Egypt, which could only manage $14 million in its first three days. (SR)

Ridley Scott’s ‘Alien: Covenant’ Moved Up To Summer 2017

Fox has moved up the release date for Alien: Covenant, Ridley Scott’s sequel to Prometheus, by two months to Aug. 4, 2017, from Oct. 6, 2017. (VAR)

‘House of Cards’ Taps New Showrunners Ahead Of Season Premiere

House of Cards writers Frank Pugliese and Melissa James have been promoted to showrunners of the Netflix political drama and will now take over creative control for the show’s fifth season as creator Beau Willmon departs. (TVG)

‘Kung Fu Panda 3′ Becomes China’s Biggest Animated Film Ever

The record is an important milestone for Jeffrey Katzenberg’s Shanghai-based Oriental DreamWorks venture, which spared no expense in animating the film in both English and Chinese. (THR)

Jimmy Smits Will Play A Senator in New 24 Series

Fox announced that Jimmy Smits has been cast as a U.S. senator in its upcoming 24 reboot, 24: Legacy. Smits will take the role of Senator John Donovan, husband of Miranda Otto’s character. (VUL)

Screenwriters: Where Story Begins – Genre

Company Launches & Partnerships

Dalian Wanda Group will invest $3.3 billion dollars in EuropaCity, a mega-project near Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport that will boast a theme park, attractions, cultural exhibitions, retail shops, outdoor sports venues and restaurants over about 200 acres and will create 14,000 jobs and due to open in 2024.

Warner Bros has acquired DramaFever, a U.S.-based company that operates subscription and on-demand video services. The deal follows SoftBank’s acquisition of the company in October 2014 in what was to be that company’s latest foray into becoming a global Internet power. The deal includes DramaFever’s flagship DramaFever channel, which offers Korean television and film drama, as well as programming from other countries, to subscribers in the U.S. and around the world.

Newsy, the video news service from Scripps, has joined forces with the programmatic advertising platform SpotX to manage its ad inventory and programmatic sales on connected TVs. The partnership makes Newsy one of the first programmers to monetize the fourth gen Apple TV’s operating system.

FilmOn, an internet TV provider, has joined forces with the FM hip-hop station Hot 97 in a multi-year deal that will see FilmOn live-stream Hot 97’s Summer Jam hip hop festival, which takes place at East Rutherford, NJ’s Metlife Stadium. FilmOn will also add four more channels. FilmBox Russia will focus on Russian movies and TV, while Kino Polska International will focus on Polish TV and movies, and Kino Polska Muzyka will focus on Polish music. MadscreenBox is a new interactive game channel that combines TV, mobile, and tablets.

Maker Studios, the MCN and digital studio owned by Disney, has launched Maker Studios Spark, a massive initiative that will invite digital creators from YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Vine to pitch concepts that can be funded and developed into cross-platform franchises or new series. Spark has quietly been in operation in recent months, working with creators including YouTube prankster Magic of Rahat and The Ellen DeGeneres Show alum Sophia Grace.

Fifth Journey, the Hong Kong-based gaming company, has signed deals with MGM, Universal, and Lionsgate. The startup will develop mobile games, virtual reality content, and interactive entertainment based on the studios’ movies. Each studio will also take an equity stake in the company. Fifth Journey will get involved earlier in the development process, sitting in the writers’ room for television shows and reading scripts of films, alleviating the tight deadline that usually comes with entering at the last stages of a project.

The self-service influencer platform Famebit has joined forces with the e-commerce platform Shopify. FameBit creators will now be able to launch their own multichannel stores on Shopify, and have a dedicated personal concierge at their disposal. They will also be able to generate donations to charity, and access applications to cross-promote their brands across digital channels. Brands using Shopify will be able to leverage FameBit influencers to promote their products.

Film

Rachel Fleit has been named the Creative Director at Killer Films Media. She was formerly the Co-Founder, Chief Creative Officer at Honor NYC.

Rishi Rajani, Greg Self, Kevin Shih and Liz Varner have all been promoted from Executive Assistants to Creative Executives at Studio 8. Rajani shifts from Assistant to Lit Division Head Chris Goldberg to CE in the Literary department, focusing on intellectual property in film and TV. Self was formerly the assistant to founding Studio 8 exec Jon Silk and will now be a CE in motion pictures. Shih, who was assistant to Studio 8 founder and CEO Robinov, will now be a CE in motion pictures. Varner, who previously worked under TV division head Katherine Pope, will now become a CE in TV.

David Shane is now pursuing other opportunities. He was previously the EVP of Chief Communications Officer at Relativity Media.

Beatriz Campos has been named the VP of Sales at StudioCanal. She was formerly the Director of Sales at Endemol Shine International in London. Sarah Mottershead has been named the Senior Sales Coordinator. She was formerly the Sales Coordinator at FremantleMedia in London. Mirela Nastase has shifted regions in her Sales Manager position from Munich to London. Elise Woolfe has been named the Sales Manager at StudioCanal. She was formerly the Senior Sales Executive at All3Media International. Elizabeth Trotman has been upped from General Manager of Sales and Marketing to Chief Executive of its Australia and New Zealand operations. She will take over from Robert Slaviero, who is leaving the company.

TV

Adam Stotsky has been upped from GM to President of E! Entertainment, which increases his responsibilities to include all unscripted programming and development. Stotsky previously served as General Manager for E! He will continue overseeing all day-to-day operations of the network, including news, digital, marketing, communications, research and acquisitions. He will also continue on as President of Esquire Network.

Cort Cass has been upped from Executive Director to the VP of Comedy Development at ABC Studios.

Kim Granito has been upped from VP to the SVP of Digital Media & Integrated Marketing at IFC in New York.

David Arroyo has been upped from SVP, Legal Affairs and Internal Audit to the Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer at Scripps Networks Interactive in Knoxville, TN. Andy Broyles has been upped from VP to SVP of Internal Audit at Scripps Networks Interactive. Timon Marshall has been named SVP and upped from Head of Legal, Latin America to Head of Legal, International at Scripps Networks Interactive.

Andrew Warren will pursue other opportunities at the end of 2016. He was previously the Senior EVP, CFO at Discovery Communications in Silver Spring, MD. Discovery has hired Howard Fischer Associates to lead the search for a replacement.

Louis Holder has been named the Chief Technology Officer at YipTV. He was previously the Chief Executive Officer at Innovaci in New York.

Luciana Nogueira has been named the Sales Director, Latin America at Endemol Shine International in Sao Paulo. She was formerly the International Distribution Manager at Media Mundi Brasil.

Melissa Prince has been upped from Director to the VP of Corporate Communications at INSP in Charlotte.

Julia Veale has been upped from SVP to the EVP of Business, Product Development & Management at Showtime Networks.

Management, PR, Agencies

Annick Muller has been named the SVP at Wolf Kasteler Public Relations. She was formerly the VP at ID Public Relations.

Steven Salisbury has been hired as a Talent Manager at The Cartel. He was previously a Talent Manager at Untitled Entertainment.

Matt Snow has been hired as a TV Literary Agent at Paradigm. He was previously the VP of Development at Tornante.

Evan Adlman has been named Head of Programmatic at Conde Nast Entertainment. He was previously the VP at PubMatic. Brooke Ellis has been named the Executive Director of Digital Design and UX at CNE. She was formerly the Creative Director of the design and strategy firm frog. Stephanie Fried has been named the SVP of Research and Analytics. She was formerly the VP of Digital Insights and Marketing at Discovery Communications. Matthew Starker has been named the GM of Digital Strategy and Initiatives. He was formerly CNE’s VP of Digital Strategy, has been promoted to General Manager of Digital Strategy and Initiatives.

Gary Marenzi has been named the Head, Entertainment Sales & Partnerships at IMG in Los Angeles & London. He was previously the Founder, President at Marenzi & Associates.

Music, Digital, Publishing, Misc.

David Litt has been hired as the Head Writer and Producer for Funny or Die’s Washington, D.C. operations. He was previously a speechwriter for President Barack and was the lead joke writer for the past four White House Correspondents Association dinners. He also helped the administration produce viral videos.

Natalie Kerris has been hired as the VP of Global Communications at Twitter. She previously spent 14 years as Apple’s Sr. Director of Worldwide Corporate Communications.

Bernadette Simpao has been signed on to Apple to handle PR efforts for content and apps related to the Apple TV, as well as for iTunes TV and movies, podcasts, books, and apps. Previously, she served as VP of Corporate Communications for AMC Networks.

David Treadway has been hired as the joint Managing Director for Europe, to serve alongside existing Managing Director for Europe Simon Kay at the digital media services company RR Media. Treadway will handle developing & enhancing RR Media’s 24/7 broadcast services. He previously was the CEO of WRN Broadcast.

Drew Bradstock has been hired as the SVP of Product at the Index Exchange. He was previously the Group Product Manager of Google’s Ad Exchange.

Brian Murphy has been named the Chief Technology Officer at Tumblr. He previously served as VP of Engineering at The New York Times.

Jukin Media, the media company known for its library of viral video clips, has partnered with the Spanish multimedia company Vocento. Jukin will license videos to Vocento, which boasts over 20 owned and operated media properties.

Susan Leiderman has been hired as the Communications Manager at Variety. She was formerly the Executive Administrator at PointRoll Inc.

Brittany Macofsky has shifted from Coordinator of Communications to an Associate Talent Relations Manager at Hulu.

Jigar Mehta has been named the VP of Digital Operations at Millennial-oriented multi-platform media company Fusion. Mehta previously served as Engagement Lead at AJ+, Al Jazeera’s online news channel.

Mark Connon has been named the Global Chief Mobile Officer for AOL platforms and advertising, a newly created position at AOL. He previously served as EVP of Platform Business at Millennial Media.

Summer Anne Burton will be a new Executive Creative Producer at BuzzFeed and will create content for brands. She previously worked in the creative unit BuzzFeed BFF, which is devoted to crafting native content for social platforms.

Leslie Ferraro has left her role as Co-Chair of Disney Consumer Products to pursue other opportunities. James Pitaro, formerly her Co-Chair now has sole control of Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media. Previously Pitaro was ran Yahoo’s media properties until 2010.

AWARDS HEADLINES

Oscar Ratings Dip as Chris Rock’s Hosting Return Draws 34 Million Viewers

The statuettes were all given out last night at the 88th Academy Awards but despite one of the most anticipated opening monologues in years due to the diversity controversy,  it turns out there is no gold, nor silver or bronze for ABC. With 34.3 million total viewers watching the Rock hosted shindig from the Hollywood and Highland on Sunday, the Oscars took a tumble this year to hit an 8-year low. (DH)

Oscar Aftermath: How ‘Spotlight’ Pulled Off a Best Picture Win, and How Sylvester Stallone Couldn’t Snag a Statuette

It was a twist-filled awards season right up until the last category was called on Oscar night, but in the end, did we twist around so much that we ended up right back where we started? Two of the most-talked-about wins happened when Spotlight took Best Picture over the surging The Revenant and Bridge of Spies star Mark Rylance triumphed in the Best Supporting Actor race over heavy favorite Sylvester Stallone. Still, the signs were there. We just got distracted. (VUL)

Looking Ahead Already, Here Are Some Predictions For the 2017 Oscars

The whirlwind ride that was the 2016 Academy Awards has been completed, and with the winners resting and their fellow nominees drafting their next move, we can put the cinematic awards season to rest. Now, turning a crystal ball to next year’s ceremony and with a varying degree of certainty and a good heap of salt, here are some very early picks for 2017’s Academy Award nominees in six major categories. (CB)

OTHER HEADLINES

Exec Shuffle For 2/29/16: Wanda Group Invests $3.3B in EuropaCity, Gaming Startup Fifth Journey & Film Studios Team-Up, Multiple Shifts at StudioCanal

Another busy week in Hollywoodland sees a major purchase for Warner Bros., a new launch by Maker Studios, a new VP of sales at StudioCanal, and lots of other hirings, promotions, and other executive movements. For more info, click on the provided link. (SSN)

Judge Rules Against Dismissing Sumner Redstone Health Lawsuit

A fight over Sumner Redstone’s health condition is moving forward. Today, Los Angeles Superior Court judge David Cowan denied a motion to dismiss Redstone ex-companion Manuela Herzer’s petition to be reappointed his healthcare agent. What’s more, the judge has set a trial date for all day on May 6th and May 9th and the afternoons of May 10th through May 12th. (HESQ)

CBS Finds Its Brand New Nancy Drew, In the Form Of Sarah Shahi

Person of Interest vet will play the titular role in Drew, the network’s spin on the classic detective character. The pilot will center around a 30-something who is a more mature version of Nancy than the one in the popular novels, and is now detective for the NYPD, where she investigates and solves crimes using her uncanny observational skills, all while navigating the complexities of life in a modern world. (VAR)

Channing Tatum’s X-Men Spinoff ‘Gambit’ Is Pulled From Fox’s Release Schedule

Anew slot for the superhero vehicle hasn’t yet been announced. With original director Rupert Wyatt departing the project last September, and his replacement Doug Liman only coming aboard in November, October 2016 was never looking realistic. It turns out that 11-month turnaround really was too tight. (EMP)

There’s Lots More ‘NCIS’ On Its Way, as Mark Harmon Signs On For Two More Seasons

CBS announced today that it has renewed the show, the number one television drama series in the U.S. and worldwide, for two more seasons, and that series star and executive producer Harmon has signed a new two-year deal. Currently in its 13th season, NCIS is a member of the exclusive 20 million viewer club. (CS)

USA Network Is No Longer Satisfied With ‘Satisfaction’, Cancels the Drama After Two Seasons

The NBCUniversal-owned cable network has canceled the escort drama. The news comes after the Matt Passmore-led drama was quietly moved to Fridays for its second season, which bowed in October and wrapped in December. The series hailed from former Suits executive producer Sean Jablonski and coincides with his new Netflix deal, which will see him see join the streaming service’s original drama Gypsy as an executive producer and co-showrunner. (LF)

Trailer Buzz: ‘Louder Than Bombs’

The Orchard has released the first look at the new film from acclaimed director Joachim Trier. Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Gabriel Byrne, Isabelle Huppert, Rachel Brosnahan, Amy Ryan and David Strathairn, the film will get a limited theatrical release on April 8th and a VOD release on July 12th. (TP)

AWARDS HEADLINES

Dwayne Johnson, Adele, Lin-Manuel Miranda Among Shorty Awards Finalists

Tom Hanks, Taraji P. Henson, Aziz Ansari, Michael B. Jordan, Emma Watson, Mark Ruffalo and J.K. Rowling are also top contenders for the awards, which highlight Periscope users for the first time. (THR)

OTHER HEADLINES

Stephen King and Nikolaj Arcel Discuss ‘The Dark Tower’

Stephen King confirms stars Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey as production nears start. (EW)

‘Top Secret Untitled Lonely Island Movie’ Has A Really Silly New Title And Poster

The film will officially be called Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping, which suggests that the tone of the film will be farcical or satirical, centered on the oft-absurd exploits of pop musicians and icons. (COLL)

‘Happy Endings’ Casey Wilson To Star In ABC’s ‘Hail Mary’ Comedy Pilot

The actress has been tapped to play the title role in the half-hour comedy pilot, which is based on the Austrian series Braunschlag.  The potential series was written by The McCarthys creator Brian Gallivan and directed by Seth Gordon. (TVL)

Nickelodeon To Revive ‘Legends Of The Hidden Temple’ As TV Movie

At their Upfronts presentation, Nickelodeon will unveil a live-action TV movie inspired by its mid-1990s game show Legends of the Hidden Temple, as well as a two-part TV movie based on Hey Arnold!. (VAR)

Wind Dancer Films Launches Kids Division With Dete Meserve At Helm

TV and film production company Wind Dancer Films is officially moving into the children’s television space with the launch of a new division aimed at kids. Wind Dancer Films president Dete Meserve will be in charge of children’s programming in the new division. (DH)

YouTube Star Megan Nicole Lends Her Voice To Netflix Cartoon ‘Popples’

YouTube sensation singer-songwriter Megan Nicole has signed on to lend her music and her voice to Netflix’s cartoon show Popples, debuting the new song “Together With My Friends” and voicing a character called Squeaky Pop when the show’s second season begins on March 11. (BB)

‘Clone Wars’ Matt Lanter To Star In Time Travel Drama From ‘Supernatural’ Creator

Matt Lanter has just been cast in a new time travel drama at NBC from Supernatural and The Shield creators Eric Kripke and Shawn Ryan. (CBR)

See Side-By-Side Comparisons Of 25 Films And Their Remakes

A Barcelona-based editor reveals what it means to be faithful in a remake by examining scenes from 25 films alongside their newer versions. (FCC)

Dark
Network: Netflix
Writer(s): Jantje Friese
Logline: A mysterious saga following four families living in a small German town. Their idyllic life is torn apart when two children mysteriously disappear and the families’ dark secrets begin to come to the surface.
SSN Insight: Project is the first German production for Netflix. Netflix has given a series order of ten episodes as of February 24. Production is set to start this year with a worldwide series debut in 2017. Dark will be directed by Baran bo Odar, who directed the German box office hit Who Am I – No System Is Safe.

Five Year
Network: Viki (online)
Production Company(s): Skybound Entertainment
Executive Producer(s): Robert Kirkman
Logline: A pre-apocalyptic series, about a family living under the threat of a deadly meteor headed toward Earth.
SSN Insight: The series will debut its first 16-episode season on Korean broadcast TV and worldwide on Viki. Producers plan to shoot five seasons over five years. Filming will begin later this year. Viki is a global TV site to discover, watch and subtitle global primetime shows and movies in more than 200 languages. Viki is a unit of Japanese Internet services company Rakuten.

Godless
Network: Netflix
Executive Producer(s): Scott Frank, Steven Soderbergh, Casey Silver
Writer(s): Scott Frank.
Logline: Storyline under wraps. A Western set in an 1800s New Mexico mining town.
SSN Insight: The series will be written, directed and executive produced by Frank. Frank earned an Oscar nomination for his feature adaptation of Elmore Leonard’s novel into the 1998 movie Out of Sight, which was directed by Soderbergh. The project is currently casting and will shoot in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Hey Arnold! (Animated TV Movie)
Network: Nickelodeon
Logline: Centers on Arnold, an 8-year-old city kid and his friends who endure the usual trials of childhood — playground bullies, secret crushes, snow days, school plays — while learning to cope with the obstacles that come with growing up in a tough urban environment.
Details: Based on the animated TV series that ran from 1996 to 2000 on Nickelodeon. Hey Arnold! The Movie, a feature length animated film, was released theatrically in 2002.
SSN Insight: Nickelodeon credits the recent emphasis on reviving past shows from their interns who thought the programs would work online. Executives instead aired a block of the shows on Teen Nick at night. In an interview with Variety, Cyma Zarghami, President of Viacom’s Kids and Family Group said social media played a part in the resurgence, “Interest in the Nick library was becoming louder and louder and louder.”

Legends of the Hidden Temple (TV Movie)
Network: Nickelodeon
Logline: Three siblings must conquer a series of obstacles to remain alive.
Details: Based on the game show that ran from 1993-1996 on Nickelodeon.
SSN Insight: Slated to premiere in late 2016. Isabela Moner will star. She previously appeared on Nick’s 100 Things to Do Before High School. The movie will feature callbacks to the game show including Olmec, a talking head who knows the secrets behind the temple; the Steps of Knowledge, the entrance to the temple and launching pad for the mission; and cameos from a green monkey, red jaguar and silver snakes, among others.

Mating
Network: Showtime Networks
Studio: Universal Television
Production Company(s): True Jack Productions
Executive Producer(s): Stu Zicherman, Jason Katims, Michelle Lee
Writer(s): Stu Zicherman
Logline: Explores modern dating and relationships, with each season chronicling a different protagonist’s journey. The first season-long arc will center on a recently divorced guy who tries to evolve and connect one date at a time.
SSN Insight: Showtime has ordered the pilot. The project was originally set up at Showtime in the summer of 2014. The show is a co-production between Universal TV and Showtime.

Minors
Production Company(s): MACRO
Executive Producer(s): Ryan Coogler, Destin Daniel Cretton, Chinaka Hodge, Charles D. King, Kim Roth
Writer(s): Chinaka Hodge
Logline: The series explores juvenile facilities, the kids that grow up in the system and how the facilities shape the kids over a one year time period.
Details: Based on Destin Daniel Cretton’s experience working in residential foster care, Ryan Coogler’s East Bay area upbringing and time working in a juvenile detention facility, and Chinaka Hodge’s experience teaching underserved youth in Bay Area continuation schools and her 15 years of working with local youth.
SSN Insight: The new drama will be shopped to networks and other TV vehicles. King’s MACRO production company was launched to produce film, TV and digital projects for African-American, Latino and multicultural audiences.

Ozark
Network: Netflix
Production Company(s): Media Rights Capital, Aggregate Films
Executive Producer(s): Jason Bateman, Bill Dubuque, Mark Williams, Chris Mundy
Writer(s): Bill Dubuque
Logline: Set at the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri, the story takes place in the dark and dangerous world of drug money laundering.
Details: Planned as a straight-to-series project. (9/25/2015)
SSN Insight: Netflix has greenlit the series. Bateman will star and direct the series along with his role as executive producer. Dubuque previously sold his pitch The Real McCoy to Universal with Chris Prat to star and also penned the upcoming The Accountant starring Ben Affleck for Warner Bros.

The Black 22s
Network: National Geographic Channel
Executive Producer(s): Paul Guyot, David Oyelowo, John Rogers, Jennifer Court, Bharat Nalluri
Writer(s): Paul Guyot
Logline: Based the true story of the brilliant African-American detective and one of the first all-black police squad in America in St. Louis, Missouri. Battling the gangland killers of Prohibition and set up to fail by their own bosses, they fought for justice during one of the most racially charged times in history, in a city that to this day is a flashpoint for racism and police brutality.
SSN Insight: Paul Guyot (TNT’s The Librarians) will also serve as showrunner. Bharat Nalluri (Life on Mars) is also attached to direct. NatGeo bought the script with a significant penalty attached and it marks one of the first major moves in the scripted space by the channel.

The Mist
Network: Spike TV
Studio: The Weinstein Company
Executive Producer(s): Christian Torpe
Writer(s): Christian Torpe
Logline: A seemingly innocuous mist seeps into a small town but contains limitless havoc. From psychological terrors to otherworldly creatures, the mist causes the town residents’ darkest demons to appear forcing them to battle the supernatural event and, more importantly, each other.
Details: Based on the novella, “The Mist,” written by Stephen King and first published as part of the horror anthology, “Dark Forces” by Viking Press in 1980. The novella was also adapted into the film, “The Mist,” (2007), directed by Frank Darabont and starring Thomas Jane and Marcia Gay Harden.
SSN Insight: Spike gave a pilot order on February 25. Christian Torpe created the hit Danish drama Rita, now completing its fourth season.

The Von Bulow Affair
Studio: Universal Cable Productions
Writer(s): Ilene Rosenzweig
Logline: Follows the greatest society trial of the 20th century when Claus Von Bulow is arrested for the murder of his wife, millionaire socialite Sunny Von Bulow. After she was found unconscious on her bathroom floor on Dec. 21, 1980, Sunny remained in a coma for 27 years. Claus went on trial for attempted murder in 1982, initiating a legal circus that would last for years.
Details: Based on the true-crime book The Von Bulow Affair by author-playwright William Wright published in 1983.
SSN Insight: Ilene Rosenzweig previously wrote Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce. UCP will shop the project to broadcast and cable networks.

Untitled Rasputin Drama Project
Production Company(s): Media Rights Capital, Parts and Labor
Executive Producer(s): Jay Van Hoy, Lars Knudsen
Writer(s): Robert Eggers
Logline: The story follows Russian mystic Rasputin’s origins in Siberia, his rise to power as an adviser to the Imperial family, and his eventual bloody death, after multiple unsuccessful attempts on his life, in St. Petersburg.
Details: Based on the true story of Rasputin, an adviser to the Russian royal family in the early 20th century.
SSN Insight: A network has not been set. Writer-director Robert Eggers will write and direct six to eight episodes. Eggers previously helmed The Witch. Eggers, Van Hoy and Knudsen take this on as they separately work on a remake of Nosferatu at Jeff Robinov’s Studio 8.

TV Development for 3/1/16: Nick Greenlights ‘Hey Arnold!’ TV Movie, Robert Kirkman Developing ‘Five Year’

Lots of action happening on the TV front, as Netflix keeps making movies, Showtime jumps into the modern dating world with a new anthology, Ryan Coogler gets involved with a drama set in the world of juvenile facilities, and lots more. To read on, click on the provided link. (SSN)

Nat Geo Orders Cop Drama From ‘Selma’ Star David Oyelowo

Project is based on the true story of an African-American detective and one of America’s first all-black police squad in St. Louis. The squad battled gangland killers of Prohibition and fought for justice during one of the most radically charged times in history in a city that continues to be a hot spot for racism and police brutality. John Rogers and Paul Guyot will also serve as exec producers, along with Jennifer Court and Bharat Nalluri, who is set to direct. (LF)

Brad Pitt and His Plan B Team Develop New Immigrant Doctor Drama With Disney

Studio and Oscar-winning production shingle are developing Dr. Q — a movie based on the life story of an illegal immigrant who became the head of brain tumor surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Matt Lopez has been tapped to write the screenplay about Alfredo Quinones-Hinojosa. Plan B, which is run by Pitt, Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner, began working on the project in 2007 when execs heard about Quinones-Hinajosa on the radio. (VAR)

Jeffrey Katzenberg Floats Idea of DreamWorks Animation Merger With Paramount

The DreamWorks Animation CEO today floated the idea of merging his company with Paramount Pictures. While he said he “fantasizes” about such a marriage, he acknowledged that Viacom is merely looking for an equity partner, not to sell the iconic film studio outright. (HTB)

Space Drama ‘Hidden Figures’ Adds Another Oscar Winner To Its Cast

Kevin Costner has joined Taraji P. Henson and Octavia Spencer in the 1960’s-set space drama. Costner will play the head of the NASA space program in the film, which revolves around a brilliant African-American mathematician who, along with two colleagues, served as key mathematical minds behind the historic launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit as he became the first American to orbit the Earth. (CS)

Young Barack Obama Film Casts Devon Terrell, ‘The Witch’ Star Anya Taylor-Joy

The story of a young Barack Obama trying to find his way in 1981 New York City has found its two leads. Terrell and Taylor-Joy will star in Barry, an indie drama being directed by Vikram Gandhi, a Vice correspondent who made the documentary Kumare. Black Bear Pictures is producing with Cinetic Media. The movie is expected to begin shooting next month. (THR)

‘The Von Bülow Affair’: Drama Series Based On William Wright’s Book In Works From UCP

Universal Cable Productions is developing the scripted true-crime series, about the infamous attempted-murder trial of British socialite Claus von Bülow. Ilene Rosenzweig is attached to write the adaptation. Set in early 1980s Newport and New York, follows the greatest society trial of the 20th century when von Bülow was accused of attempting to murder his wife, millionaire socialite Sunny, as first detailed in Reversal of Fortune, which won Jeremy Irons an Oscar. (DH)

Vanessa Williams Books Lead in VH1’s Scripted Drama Series Based on Star Jones’ ‘Satan’s Sisters’

Set in the bright lights of daytime television, Satan’s Sisters is the story of The Lunch Hour — a long-running, popular ladies’ talk show in which alliances are forged, careers are made, and bridges are burned. Slated for a 2017 premiere, the series will focus on the five female co-hosts of a popular daily TV talk show and the fireworks that ensue each weekday when they discuss life, love, family, politics, and gossip. (SAA)

Steven Soderbergh Signs On To EP Netflix’s Western Miniseries From Scott Frank

The director of the Cinemax series The Knick has signed on to executive produce the limited series “Godless,” which is currently in the works at the streaming giant. Frank, who wrote the 1998 Soderbergh film Out of Sight, is writing and directing the project, in addition to executive producing along with Soderbergh and Casey Silver. Few details are known about the project at this time, other than that it will be a Western set in 1884. (TW)

Trailer Buzz: ‘The Angry Birds Movie’

Sony Pictures has released the new look at its upcoming adaptation of the popular video game. Jason Sudeikis, Bill Hader, Maya Rudolph and Josh Gad lend their voices to the film, which hits theaters May 20th. (EMP)

Does Viacom’s Hunt for a Partner Foreshadow Big Media’s Tough Choices?

Viacom’s main business, cable TV networks, has withered in a changing climate marked by shrinking ad sales, viewer losses and potent online rivals like Netflix Inc. Other media companies are also vulnerable to those changes and may have to consider their own drastic measures in the coming months. (AA)

The New ‘Supergroup of Altruism’, The Artemis Agency, Signs Laday Gaga, Charlize Theron and Al Gore Charities

Four veteran philanthropic advisors, Sarah Adolphson, Catherine Kimmel, Regina Miller and Michelynn Woodard, have joined forces to launch The Artemis Agency, a firm dedicated to providing support for the philanthropic strategies of individual, corporate and nonprofit clients. (THR)

Idris Elba to Square Off Against Matthew McConaughey in ‘The Dark Tower’

Iconic author Stephen King made it official on his Twitter account that Idris Elba has been set to play the gunslinger Roland Deschain. He will square off against Matthew McConaughey, who’ll play the villainous Man in Black. (DL)

Making History: Gawker Staff Ratifies First Digital Media Contract for WGA

Gawker’s editorial staff has ratified the first digital media contract negotiated by representatives at the Writers Guild of America East. The guild touted the contract as a milestone in its efforts to organize digital media workers to join the labor movement around the world. (VAR)

#OscarsSoWhite Reverberates Across the Industry with a Wave of Diversity Casting News

Management 360 partner Darin Friedman said, “From both the filmmaker side and the buyer side, there’s a push for more diverse stories. It’s happening in a genuine way: an understanding that the cast or the directors who get hired should reflect the way the world looks.” (THR)

No Laughing Matter as 2 High Level Execs Depart Fox TV’s Comedy and Drama Departments

Two high-level development executives at 20th Century Fox TV, SVP of drama development Lisa Katz and SVP comedy development Dana Honor, will be leaving the studio at the end of their current contracts in July. Both opted not to enter new contracts. (DL)

Han Capital Management Sets Sights on U.S. with $200M Film Fund

Han Capital Management last week said it had raised $500M to finance Chinese film and TV projects. Founder John Liu has partnered with American United Entertainment’s Robert Rodriguez to produce 15 U.S.-based films under Han Pictures & Media Corp. The partners are working with an initial $200M fund. (DL)

Hot Blazes! Josh Brolin and Miles Teller to Star in Firefighter Action Movie ‘No Exit’

Tron: Legacy helmer Joseph Kosinski is directing the pic, which tells the true story of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, a group of firefighters that faced one of the deadliest wildfires in history in order to save an Arizona town, resulting in the tragic death of 19 crew members. (VAR)

Trailer Buzz: ‘Finding Dory’

Here’s a new trailer for the sequel to Pixar’s Finding Nemo, Finding Dory. Dory, the friendly-but-forgetful blue tang fish reunites with her loved ones and everyone learns a few things about the true meaning of family. (YT)

Screenwriters: What do the People of the Middle East Really Think of American Films?

Story analyst Julie Gray recounts her realizations after moving from Hollywood to the Middle East. “It has been quite an illuminating transition to say the least, and it has, among other things, allowed me to see Hollywood and storytelling itself, from a completely different angle. It has shown me the true impact of film.” (SM)

HBO has extended its licensing deal with Summit Entertainment through 2022. HBO also plans to extend their stand-alone streaming service, HBO Now to Brazil and Argentina in addition to their plans to go to Spain. Their streaming service is already available in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Colombia, Mexico, Hong Kong, and Singapore.

DirecTV will offer three nationwide, streamed video services next fall. DirecTV Now, will offer wired and wireless Internet users “a range of content packages, including much of what is available from DirecTV today,” AT&T says. DirecTV Mobile will be made available to any wireless customer who want to watch “premium video and made-for-digital content directly on a smartphone,” says AT&T. Lastly, DirecTV Preview will be a free, ad-supported offering for wired and wireless devices with original and acquired programming on AT&T’s Audience Network as well as “many networks and other content sources, and millennial-focused video from Otter Media.”

Patrick Milling-Smith and Brian Carmody, founders of talent and production firm Smuggler Inc, and Red Arrow Entertainment have launched TV company, Cove Pictures, to be headed by Heather Rabbatts. The goal is to make high-end drama, comedy and factual programs for the international market. Red Arrow will hold a minority stake in the company and distribute Cove projects internationally. In addition, they have set a creative alliance with James Bond producers Eon Productions.

NCIS star and executive producer Mark Harmon has signed with CBS TV Studios to extend his deal another two years. The studio is behind the hit CBS drama, which has been renewed another two years. NCIS is currently averaging 20.47 million viewers this season.

TV and film production company Wind Dancer Films is launching a new division aimed at kids. Wind Dancer Films President Dete Meserve, recently named Principal, will head children’s programming in the new division. In addition, Meserve has hired Rusty Tracy as the company’s new VP of Animation. Tracy previously worked on various animated kids TV series, including Monsters & Aliens and Kung Fun Panda: Legends of Awesomeness.

Alex Saks has launched June Pictures, which she’ll run with CEO Andrew Duncan. Saks was previously at ICM Partners, where she spent the past four years as an agent in their Independent and International Department. June Pictures will finance and produce features and documentaries, feature-length narrative and documentary films. The company recently finished production on Dude, directed by Olivia Milch and starring Lucy Hale.

Open Road Films and MadRiver Pictures have inked a non-exclusive production deal for all of Open Road Films’ inside productions over the coming years. Marc Butan’s MadRiver Pictures will collaborate with Open Road’s team to source and lead production on Open Road Films’ in-house productions. The plan is to produce two to four films a year, which Open Road will distribute in the U.S.

Separately, Open Road Films has signed a first-look deal with MadRiver Films to acquire U.S. distribution rights of MadRiver features. on acquiring U.S. distribution rights on MadRiver films. Foreign sales on MadRiver productions will be overseen by MadRiver’s new international sales division headed by Kimberly Fox. Foreign sales on Open Road’s in-house productions will still be run by Open Road International and partner FilmNation.

APA: Actress Mena Suvari has shifted from ICM Partners to APA for representation. Recently, she starred in WeTV’s series South of Hell, directed by Eli Roth and produced by Jason Blum. She also was seen as a recurring actor on Chicago Fire and American Horror Story. She is best known for her roles in American Beauty and the American Pie franchise.

ICM Partners: Actress Lex Scott Davis has signed with the agency. She recently played Toni Braxton in the Lifetime TV movie, Unbreak My Heart. The film earned 3.6 million viewers in January. Davis was previously seen on the TV Land series, The Exes.

Verve: Writer Heather Hach has shifted from WME to Verve. Her film credits include Freaky Friday and What to Expect When You’re Expecting. Currently she’s attached to the films Daddy’s Girls, Freaky Monday and French Women Don’t Get Fat, all in development.

UTA: Filmmaker Shaka King has moved to UTA following his agent, Mike Esola’s move to the agency. His feature debut, Newlyweeds, premiered at Sundance in 2013 and earned him the Spirit Awards’ Someone to Watch grant. In 2015 he released his short Mulignans at Sundance. He is currently developing hip-hop comedy These Are My Friends at HBO with Russell Simmons’ All Def Digital.

Primary Wave Entertainment: Comedian Elizabeth Guest has signed with Primary Wave Entertainment under manager Tatiana Sarah. She is a member of the Upright Citizens Brigade improv comic troop and recently created and starred in the web series Guest Appearances and regularly performs with her all-female comedy team Fresh Hell.

WME: YouTube celebrity Amanda Steele has signed with WME and IMG Models for representation and will work with her to expand her brand through fashion, film, television, digital and endorsements. Her makeup and beauty channel, MakeupbyMandy24 has 2.8 million subscribers. She also appeared in the 30-episode short-form series “Guidance” for Verizon’s Go90 mobile platform, which scored 1.2 million views for its first episode.

Paradigm: Actor Markees Christmas has signed with agency. The 16-year-old starred in this year’s Sundance Film Festival award winner Morris From America, which A24 will distribute. The film picked up two awards after it premiered at Sundance: a Special Jury Award for Robinson and the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award for writer-director Chad Hartigan.

Rep Moves for 3/2/16: Mena Suvari Shifts to APA, Sundance Stand-Out Markees Christmas Inks With Paradigm, WME Signs YouTuber Amanda Steele

It’s a light week when it comes to rep moves, but there were still a few comings and goings. Aside from the ones listed in the headline above, there were a couple others, as well. Click on the link to learn about them all. (SSN)

Film & TV Deals for 3/2/16: HBO Extends Deal with Summit, DirecTV to Offer 3 Streaming Services, Smuggler Inc. Founders Launch Cove Pictures

Meanwhile, there’s plenty of action here, with Mark Harmon signing on for two more years of NCIS, the launch of at least one new production shingle, and a couple of big new deals for Open Road Films. Click the link for the fully skinny. (SSN)

Miramax Changes Hands Again, Sells To beIN Media Group

Company has acquired 100% of the studio for an undisclosed sum, the Doha-based broadcaster announced today. It bought the company from a consortium of investors that includes Qatar Investment Authority and Colony Capital. They, in turn, purchased the studio in 2010 from Disney for $660 million. Miramax has a library of 700 titles. (VAR)

New Emmy Rules Open Categories to YouTube and Other Streaming Shorts

Starting this year, the Emmys will give more attention to digital and emerging platforms by adding new short form categories and expanding its definition of the genre to include more projects from the likes of Maker Studios, Fullscreen, Crackle, Awesomeness TV, YouTube Red and Adult Swim. Additionally, the Academy is opening up the writing and directing categories for comedy and drama from five to six nominees — among several other rule changes. (THR)

The Inevitable Has Once Again Happened, as Netflix Renews ‘Fuller House’ For Season Two

The Full House reboot has officially been given another go round by the streaming giant. And now there’s even hope the Olsen twins may reprise Michelle in future episodes. Fuller House, which flips things around to have D.J. Tanner-Fuller raise her three boys with the help of her sister Stephanie and BFF Kimmy, debuted on February 26th. Despite lackluster reviews, the show has had a massive response on social media. (HP)

Disney Has Big Plans For Oscar-Winning ‘Big Hero 6’, Announces Production Of a New Animated TV Series

Series has begun production for a 2017 premiere on Disney XD platforms around the world. Emmy Award-winning producers Mark McCorkle and Bob Schooley, creators and executive producers of the global hit Disney Channel series Kim Possible, are the executive producers. The series picks up immediately following the events in the feature film, and continues the adventures and friendship of 14-year-old tech genius Hiro and his compassionate, cutting-edge robot Baymax. (AS)

You Could Be in the Next ‘High School Musical’ Movie! Nationwide Casting Search Begins

More than 10 years after High School Musical became a global phenomenon, Disney Channel is getting ready to return to East High one more time. A nationwide casting search began today for a planned Disney Channel Original Movie, High School Musical 4, that will continue the story of the sensation and introduce new East High Wildcats and their cross-town school rivals, the West High Knights. Jeffrey Hornaday is attached to direct and choreograph the movie. (SAA)

AMC Wants To Be In the Ridley Scott Business, Green Lights Horror Anthology Series ‘The Terror’

Cable network today announced it had green-lit the series executive-produced by Scott. It’s based on the 2007 book by Dan Simmons, which postulated that, instead of dying of pneumonia and lead poisoning, the men of the doomed Franklin expedition of 1845 were instead eaten by a monster. David Kajganich and Soo Hugh will serve as showrunners. (VUL)

Vin Diesel Continues To Surround Himself With Beautiful People In the Cast Of ‘xXx: The Return Of Xander Cage’

Humiliated Miss Universe runner-up Ariadna Gutiérrez has joined the cast, alongside Deepika Padukone, Tony Jaa, Donnie Yen, Ruby Rose, Conor McGregor, Nina Dobrev Kris Wu, Hermione Corfield, Toni Collette and Samuel L. Jackson, who returns to his role as Agent Augustus Gibbons. D.J. Caruso is directing. (EMP)

Does Vice’s Move To TV Make Way For Vox Media and Others To Follow In Their Footsteps?

Several digital publishers, such as Vox Media, have TV Plans in motion. “The digital players that are going to be able to become real participants in the TV market are going to have the wherewithal…to do the hard work of TV,” said Marty Moe, President of Vox Media. (AA)

Will Smith, David Ayer Reteaming On Max Landis Spec ‘Bright’

Director David Ayer and Will Smith are in talks to join the Max Landis spec script Bright with Ayer attached to direct and Smith on board to star. Warner Bros. is expected to be the project’s home, though no deal has been made yet. (VAR)

‘Foxcatcher’ Director Bennett Miller To Direct New Adaptation Of ‘A Christmas Carol’

Bennett Miller is teaming up with screenwriter Tom Stoppard for a new adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. This new version would reunite Miller with his Foxcatcher producer Annapurna Pictures. (COLL)

Mark Wahlberg-Produced ‘Patriots’ Day’ Gets December Release Date

The Mark Wahlberg-produced and -starring Patriots’ Day will open in limited release on Dec. 21 in New York, Los Angeles, and Boston, ahead of a national wide release on Jan. 13, 2017. (EW)

Studio-by-Studio Profitability Report: Who’s Up, Who’s Down

Stormtroopers helped Disney deliver another record-setting year in 2015 as Time Warner squeaks to No. 2 on the back of 24 Warner Bros. films while Viacom sinks to the basement. (THR)

Phillip Noyce Entering ‘American Lion’ Den For HBO And Lionsgate

Phillip Noyce is concluding a deal to direct multiple episodes American Lion, the six-hour mini-series event to air on HBO next year. The project is expected to go before the cameras in October with Sean Penn portraying Andrew Jackson. (DH)

David Hasselhoff Joins The ‘Baywatch’ Movie

Trailer Buzz: ‘Ghostbusters’

Director Paul Feig has been slowly teasing his new reboot of the ’80s classic Ghostbusters and now it’s time for the first trailer. (VER)

Screenwriters: A Conversation With Sheila Nevins President HBO Documentary Films

The industry can finally release a collective breath now that awards season has officially passed. So why not kick back and watch a little TV? There’s House of Cards and Marvel’s Daredevil both returning to Netflix this month along with a slew of new shows on Vice Media including Noisey, Weediquette, Gaycation and others.

Typically March would be an off month for major tentpoles, but that’s not the case as Warner Bros. will unleash Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice on March 25. If you’re looking for something a little earlier, there’s The Divergent Series: Allegiant on March 18 and even earlier yet, Disney will release their latest animation offering, Zootopia on March 4. Believe it not that foxy movie has received a spectacular 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes with 65 reviews counted.

If you’re interested in some live entertainment, Bruce Springsteen is headed to LA on March 15, and Jane Lynch: See Jane Sing will be held on March 23 at the Largo. It’s received positive reviews throughout its run including one from Theater Mania’s Zachary Stewart saying, “You’ll definitely laugh heartily throughout the show.”

Let’s not forget to mention the annual SXSW which begins on March 11 in Austin. For the first time in the 30-year history of SXSW, a sitting President and the First Lady will participate. Yes, that means that President Barack Obama will appear as part of a Keynote Conversation at SXSW Interactive and First Lady Michelle Obama will be the opening Keynote at SXSW Music. So read on, for SSN’s March Events Calendar.

March Events Calendar

Tuesday, March 1
Happy Birthday Justin Bieber, Kesha, Jensen Ackles, Lupita Nyong’o, Ron Howard, Mark Paul Gosselaar
TV- Tour Group (NEW) on Bravo, The Mother/Daughter Experiment: Celebrity Edition (NEW) on Lifetime, Noisey (NEW) on Vice Media, Weediquette (NEW) on Vice Media

Wednesday, March 2
Happy Birthday Rebel Wilson, Jon Bon Jovi, Daniel Craig, Bryce Dallas Howard
FILM- Songs My Brothers Taught Me
TV- Hap and Leonard (NEW) on Sundance Channel, The Real O’Neals (NEW) on ABC, Raised By Wolves on Channel 4, Lab Rats: Elite Force (NEW) on Disney XD, Gaycation (NEW) on Vice Media, Balls Deep (NEW) on Vice Media
Upfronts- Nickeloden in New York

Thursday, March 3
Happy Birthday Jessica Biel, Julie Bowen, George Miller
TV- Mary Mary on WE: Women’s Ent., Adam Devine’s House Party on Comedy Central, The Family (NEW) on ABC, Super Fun Awesome Party Game (NEW) on YouTube, Geek and Sundry, F*ck, That’s Delicious (NEW) on Vice Media
Upfronts- Nick @ Nite/TV Land/CMT in New York
Salem Film Fest Through March 10
True/False Film Fest Through March 6
Cannes Film Festival Film Submission Deadline

Friday, March 4
Happy Birthday Patricia Heaton, Josh Bowman, Whitney Port
FILM- Knight of Cups, Mekong Hotel, Me Him Her, Zootopia, London Has Fallen, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, The Other Side of the Door, Ava’s Possessions, They Will Have To Kill Us First, Cemetery of Splendor, The Boy and the Beast, The Wave, Camino, Road Games, Always Be My Maybe
TV- Say Yes to the Dress on TLC, House of Cards on Netflix, LEGO Friends: The Power of Friendship (NEW) on Netflix, LEGO Bionicle: The Journey to One (NEW) on Netflix, Paranormal Lockdown (NEW) on Destination America

Saturday, March 5
Happy Birthday Eva Mendes, Matt Lucas, Niki Taylor
TV- First Time Flippers on DIY Network
Binge-Worthy Journalism with the Creators of Serial at the Valley Performing Arts Center
Dana Point Festival of Whales Through March 13

Sunday, March 6
Happy Birthday Shaquille O’Neal, Connie Britton, Moira Kelly
TV- Intervention on A & E, Bar Rescue on Spike TV, K.C. Undercover on Disney Channel, I Am Cait on E!, Long Lost Family (NEW) on TLC

Monday, March 7
Happy Birthday Bryan Cranston, Laura Prepon, Jenna Fischer, Rachel Weisz, Wanda Sykes
TV- Bates Motel on A & E, Damien (NEW) on A & E, Misfit Garage on Discovery Channel
Upfronts- Disney Media in Orlando, Through March 9

Tuesday, March 8
Happy Birthday Kat Von D, Stephanie Davis, Freddie Prinze Jr., Aidan Quinn, James Van Der Beek
TV- Of Kings and Prophets (NEW) on ABC, Intervention: Codependent (NEW) on Lifetime Movie Network
Upfronts- Game Show Network, Scripps Networks, and National Geographic Channel in New York
Omaha Film Festival Through March 13

Wednesday, March 9
Happy Birthday Brittany Snow, Oscar Isaac, Bobby Campo
TV- Wahlburgers on A & E, Underground (NEW) on WGN America, The Internet Ruined My Life (NEW) on Syfy
All-Star Chef Classic in LA, Through March 12

Thursday, March 10
Happy Birthday Carrie Underwood, Chuck Norris, Emily Osmet, Robin Thicke, Olivia Wilde
TV- 60 Days In (NEW) on A & E
CAAMFest in San Francisco Through March 20
Palm Springs International Festival of Short Film Submission Deadline

Friday, March 11
Happy Birthday Terrence Howard, Johnny Knoxville, Joel Madden, John Barrowman, Thora Birch
FILM- Eye in the Sky, The Young Messiah, 10 Cloverfield Lane, The Brothers Grimsby, The Automatic Hate, Barney Thomson, Remember, Hello, My Name Is Doris, Yalom’s Cure, Rise of the Legend, City of Gold, Admiral, Creative Control, Hyena Road, Lolo, Marguerite, The Perfect Match, Talent Has Hunger
TV- Bosch on Amazon, David Tutera’s CELEBrations on WE: Women’s Ent., Popples on Netflix, Flaked (NEW) on Netflix, The Characters (NEW) on Netflix, Stop/Start (NEW) on BBC 1
The Kid’s Choice Awards Air on Nickelodeon
PaleyFest Through March 20
ArtNight Pasadena
18th Thessaloniki Documentary Festival Through March 20
SXSW Film Festival Through March 19

Saturday, March 12
Happy Birthday James Taylor, Liza Minnelli, Jaimie Alexander, Aaron Eckhart
TV- School of Rock (NEW) on Nickelodeon, Party Over Here (NEW) on FOX
Holi, Festival of Colors in LA
Tucson Festival of Books Through March 13

Sunday, March 13
-Remember to Turn Your Clocks Ahead One Hour-
Happy Birthday Danny Masterson, Annabeth Gish, Emile Hirsch, Dana Delany
TV- Naked & Afraid on Discovery Channel, Life or Debt (NEW) on Spike TV, Little Big Shots (NEW) on NBC

Monday, March 14
Happy Birthday Ansel Elgort, Sasha Grey, Brian Quinn, Daniel Gillies, Billy Crystal, Michael Caine

Tuesday, March 15
Happy Birthday Will.i.am, Kellan Lutz, Jai Courtney, Fabio
TV- Faking It on MTV, The Willis Family on TLC, L.A. Clippers Dance Squad (NEW) on E!, Street Fighter: Resurrection (NEW) on Machinima, Verizon, Signal Boost (NEW) on YouTube, Geek and Sundry
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band at USC/Exposition Park Through March 19
Festival De Cine De Huesca Film Submission Deadline

Wednesday, March 16
Happy Birthday Alexandra Daddario, Blake Griffin, Lauren Graham, Flavor Flav, Jerry Lewis
FILM- Fireworks Wednesday, Miracles From Heaven
TV- The Americans on FX, Schitt’s Creek on Canadian Broadcasting Company (CBC), POP on Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders (NEW) on CBS, VH1 Family Therapy with Dr. Jenn (NEW) on VH1
MTV Woodies Awards at SXSW
Virginia Festival of the Book in Charlottesville, Through March 20

Thursday, March 17
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Happy Birthday John Boyega, Kurt Russell, Rob Kardashian, Rob Lowe, Mia Hamm,
TV- The Real World on MTV, Bajillion Dollar Propertie$ (NEW) on SeeSo, Big Jay Oakerson’s What’s Your F*@#ing Deal (NEW) on SeeSo, New York’s Funniest (NEW) on SeeSo, Cooks vs. Cons (NEW) on Food Network

Friday, March 18
Happy Birthday Adam Levine, Queen Latifah, Lily Collins, Dane Cook
FILM- The Little Prince, Too Late, The Preppie Connection, Midnight Special, The Program, The Divergent Series: Allegiant, The Bronze, Take Me to the River, Krisha, Thank You for Playing, My Golden Days, Sweet Bean, Kapoor & Sons – Since 1921
TV- Marvel’s Daredevil on Netflix
Silicon Valley Comic Con Through March 20
Cinéma du Réel International Documentary Film Festival in Paris, Through March 27

Saturday, March 19
Happy Birthday Bruce Willis, Garret Clayton, Glenn Close, Ursula Andress
TV- For Peete’s Sake (NEW) on OWN

Sunday, March 20
Spring Officially Starts
Happy Birthday Spike Lee, Bianca Lawson, Ruby Rose, David Thewlis
TV- Crowded (NEW) on NBC

Monday, March 21
Happy Birthday Gary Oldman, Scott Eastwood, Matthew Broderick, Rosie O’Donnell, Timothy Dalton
TV- Dancing With the Stars on ABC, Teen Mom 2 on MTV

Tuesday, March 22
Happy Birthday Reese Witherspoon, William Shatner, James Patterson, Keegan-Michael Key
TV- Friday Night Tykes: Steel Country (NEW) on Esquire Network, You Me Her (NEW) on DirecTV
Upfronts- Scripps Networks in Atlanta, Discovery Communications (In-Agency) in Chicago Through March 23

Wednesday, March 23
Happy Birthday Perez Hilton, Keri Russell, Michelle Monaghan
TV- Heartbeat (NEW) on NBC, Little Women: Terra’s Little Family on Lifetime
Jane Lynch: See Jane Sing Show at Largo

Thursday, March 24
Happy Birthday Peyton Manning, Jim Parson, Alyson Hannigan, Jessica Chastain
TV- The Catch (NEW) on ABC, Sisters In Law (NEW) on WE: Women’s Ent.

Friday, March 25
Happy Birthday Elton John, Sarah Jessica Parker, Aretha Franklin, Danica Patrick
FILM- Get a Job, I Saw the Light, The Disappointments Room, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, My Mother, My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2, Seve: The Movie, Born to Be Blue, Valley of Love, Baskin, Jane Wants a Boyfriend, A Bit Of Bad Luck
TV- Atlanta Plastic on Lifetime
WonderCon at LA Convention Center Through March 27
Independent Lens Film Submission Deadline

Saturday, March 26
Happy Birthday Keira Knightley, Steven Tyler, Kenny Chesney, Diana Ross
Hero Hype Convention in Miami

Sunday, March 27
Happy Birthday Quentin Tarantino, Nathan Fillion, Jessie J, Mariah Carey, Fergie
TV- Thicker Than Water on Bravo

Monday, March 28
Happy Birthday Lady Gaga, Reba McEntire, Vince Vaughn, Nick Frost
TV- The Haunting Of on Lifetime Movie Network
Galway Film Fleadh Film Submission Deadline
Encounters International Film Festival Film Submission Deadline

Tuesday, March 29
Happy Birthday Lucy Lawless, Elle Machpherson, Brendan Gleeson
TV- Like A Boss (NEW) on Oxygen
Upfronts- Scripps Networks in New York, Discovery Communications (In-Agency) Through April 7 in New York

Wednesday, March 30
Happy Birthday MC Hammer, Eric Clapton, Piers Morgan, Norah Jones, Ian Ziering
TV- Lopez (NEW) on TV Land, The Path (NEW) on Hulu, Quit Your Day Job (NEW) on Oxygen, Trailblazers (NEW) on Discovery Channel
Upfronts- Azteca America in LA, Crown Media Family Networks in New York

Thursday, March 31
Happy Birthday Ewan McGregor, Christopher Walken, Al Gore, Shirley Jones
TV- Archer on FXX, Rush Hour (NEW) on CBS, The Comedy Show Show (NEW) on SeeSo
Upfronts- Discovery Communications in New York, Scripps Networks in Boston

–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.–

New Attachments

A Storm In The Stars
Logline: The story of the love affair between poet Percy Shelley and 18-year-old Mary Wollstonecraft, which resulted in Mary Shelley writing Frankenstein.
Production Company(s): Burstein Company, Parallel Films, Gidden Media
Producer(s): Amy Baer, Alan Moloney, Ruth Coady
Writer(s): Emma Jensen
Director(s): Haifaa al-Mansour
Cast: Elle Fanning, Bel Powley, Douglas Booth, Ben Hardy, Tom Sturridge, Maisie Williams, Stephen Dillane, Joanne Froggatt
SSN Insight: Tom Sturridge was just nominated for an Olivier Award for the West End production of American Buffalo. Maisie Williams and Stephen Dillane have both appeared in Game of Thrones.

Alien: Covenant
Logline: The crew of the spaceship Covenant discover what they believe is an uncharted paradise, but in fact it is a dark and dangerous world whose only inhabitant is David.
Studio/Distributor(s): 20th Century Fox, 20th Century Fox Distribution
Production Company(s): Ridley Scott Films
Producer(s): Ridley Scott, Michael Schaefer
Writer(s): Michael Green, Jack Paglen
Director(s): Ridley Scott
Cast: Michael Fassbender, Noomi Rapace, Katherine Waterston, Demián Bichir, Billy Crudup
Details: Sequel to “Prometheus” (2012) directed by Ridley Scott and starring Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender and Charlize Theron.
SSN Insight: Actress Rebecca Ferguson used to be in discussions for this film. It is now unclear if Noomi Rapace will appear in this sequel.

Baywatch
Logline: An elite group of lifeguards are forced to team up with a young, hotshot former Olympian to save their beloved bay.
Studio/Distributor(s): Paramount Pictures, Paramount Pictures
Production Company(s): The Montecito Picture Company, Contrafilm, Vinson Films, Flynn Picture Co., 7 Bucks Entertainment
Producer(s): Beau Flynn, Ivan Reitman, Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, Michael Berk
Writer(s): Damian Shannon, Mark Swift, Barry Schwartz, Justin Malen, Robert Ben Garant
Director(s): Seth Gordon
Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Zac Efron, Alexandra Daddario, Kelly Rohrbach, Ilfenesh Hadera, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II
Details: Based on the NBC television show “Baywatch” (1989-2000) starring David Hasselhoff, Pamela Anderson, Carmen Electra and Yasmine Bleeth.
SSN Insight: Project was originally in development at Dreamworks, which paid seven figures for the film rights to the TV show. Jeremy Garelick was previously attached to direct.

Blood’s a Rover
Logline: During the late 1960’s the lives of three dangerous men collides with a mysterious woman who might impact the course of history.
Production Company(s): Mark Gordon Company, Story and Film, Inc.
Producer(s): Vincent Sieber, Clark Peterson, Mark R. Gordon
Writer(s): Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby
Details: Based on the novel “Blood’s a Rover,” written by James Ellroy and published by Knopf on September 22, 2009.
SSN Insight: The Mark Gordon Company will produce and finance this film. Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby received an Oscar nomination for Children of Men.

Ghost in the Shell
Logline: The exploits of Motoko Kusanagi, a member of the covert operations section of the National Public Safety Commission, Section 9, which specializes in fighting technology-related crime.
Studio/Distributor(s): Amblin Partners, Paramount Pictures
Production Company(s): Crystal Sky Entertainment, Arad Productions, Inc.
Producer(s): Avi Arad, Ari Arad, Steven Paul
Writer(s): Jonathan Herman, Bill Wheeler, Laeta Kalogridis, Jamie Moss
Director(s): Rupert Sanders
Cast: Scarlett Johansson, Sam Riley, Johan “Pilou” Asbaek, Michael Pitt, Takeshi “Beat” Kitano
Details: Based on the Japanese manga “Ghost in the Shell” created by Masamune Shirow and first published in Young Magazine in 1989. The manga series “Ghost in the Shell” has been previously adapted into two animated films: “Ghost in the Shell” (Japan/1995) and “Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence” (Japan/2004). An animated television series, “Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Solid State Society,” aired from 2004 to 2005.
SSN Insight: Margot Robbie was previously in talks to star. This will be Kitano’s first U.S. role since Keanu Reeves’ Johnny Mnemonic in 1995.

Hunter Killer
Logline: Navy SEALs try to stop a renegade Russian military leader who wants to start a war.
Studio/Distributor(s): ,
Production Company(s): Original Film, Tooley Productions, G-BASE
Producer(s): Neal H. Moritz, Toby Jaffe, Tucker Tooley, Gerard Butler, Alan Siegel
Writer(s): Peter Craig, Jamie Moss, John Kolvenbach, Arne L Schmidt
Director(s): Donovan Marsh
Cast: Gerard Butler, Common, Billy Bob Thornton, Gary Oldman
Details: Based on the novel “Firing Point” written by Don Keith and George Wallace and published by Signet in 2012.
SSN Insight: Pierre Morel and Phillip Noyce were both previously attached to direct.

iBoy
Logline: Before the attack, Tom Harvey was just an average teen, but a head-on collision with high technology leaves him with fragments from a broken iPhone embedded into his brain and turned him into an actualized App with super human powers.
Studio/Distributor(s): ,
Production Company(s): Pretty Pictures, XYZ Films, Wigwam Films
Producer(s): Emily Leo, Gail Mutrux, Oliver Roskill
Writer(s): Joe Barton
Director(s): Adam Randall
Cast: Bill Milner, Maisie Williams, Miranda Richardson, Rory Kinnear
Details: Based on the novel “iBoy” written by Kevin Brooks and published by Puffin Books on July 1, 2010.
SSN Insight: Will Poulter and Sarah Bolger were previously attached to co-star. Milner’s credits include X-Men: First Class and Son of Rambow.

It’s a Small World
Logline: Storyline is under wraps for a film based on the popular Disney attraction featuring animatronic children signing about international peace and unity.
Studio/Distributor(s): Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures,
Production Company(s): Junction Entertainment, Lin Pictures
Producer(s): Jon Turteltaub, Dan Lin
Writer(s): Tim Rasmussen, Vince Di Meglio
Director(s): Jon Turteltaub
Details: Based on the “It’s a Small World” attraction and ride which was created for the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair in honor of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and reopened at Disneyland Park on May 28, 1966.
SSN Insight: The project is envisioned as a potential franchise for the studio. The screenwriting duo wrote Meet The Fockers and The Girlfriend Equation.

Jackie
Logline: Examines the days immediately following the assassination of John F. Kennedy from Jackie Kennedy’s point-of-view.
Production Company(s): Why Not Productions, Protozoa Pictures, LD Entertainment, Fabula Producciones , Bliss Media
Producer(s): Darren Aronofsky, Scott Franklin, Ari Handel, Juan de Dios Larraín, Mickey Liddell
Writer(s): Noah Oppenheim
Director(s): Pablo Larraín
Cast: Natalie Portman, Peter Sarsgaard, Greta Gerwig, John Hurt, Billy Crudup
SSN Insight: Previously in development with New Regency. Rachel Weisz previously attached to star. Darren Aronofsky previously attached to direct.

Joshy
Logline: Josh treats what would have been his bachelor party as an opportunity to reconnect with his friends.
Studio/Distributor(s): Lionsgate, Hulu
Production Company(s): American Zoetrope, StarStream Entertainment, Bow & Arrow Entertainment, Destro Films
Producer(s): Elizabeth Destro, Michael Zakin
Writer(s): Jeff Baena
Director(s): Jeff Baena
Cast: Thomas Middleditch, Adam Pally, Alex Ross Perry, Nick Kroll, Brett Gelman
SSN Insight: Lionsgate and Hulu together have acquired North American rights to the film, which will be distributed through Lionsgate Premiere and stream exclusively on Hulu following its theatrical bow. Joshy premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.

Kursk
Logline: On August 12, 2000, explosions aboard the Russian submarine Kursk caused it to sink during a naval exercise in the Barents Sea, and twenty-three trapped survivors desperately waited for help to arrive as their oxygen supply quickly diminished.
Studio/Distributor(s): EuropaCorp
Production Company(s): EuropaCorp
Writer(s): Robert Rodat
Director(s): Thomas Vinterberg
Cast: Matthias Schoenaerts
Details: Based on the book “A Time to Die” written by Robert Moore and published by Crown in 2002.
SSN Insight: Martin Zandvliet was previously on board to direct.

Miss Sloane
Logline: A powerful lobbyist sacrifices her career on Federal Hill so she can push through an amendment enforcing stricter federal laws regulating guns.
Studio/Distributor(s): EuropaCorp
Production Company(s): EuropaCorp, FilmNation
Producer(s): Ben Browning, Kris Thykier, Ariel Zeitoun, Jonathan Vanger
Writer(s): Jonathan “Jonny” Perera
Director(s): John Madden
Cast: Jessica Chastain, Alison Pill, Jake Lacy, Michael Stuhlbarg, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Ennis Esmer
SSN Insight: Project was included in the 2015 Black List.

Patriots Day
Logline: Surrounds the events surrounding the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing.
Studio/Distributor(s): CBS Films, Lionsgate
Production Company(s): Leverage Management, Closest To The Hole Productions, Bluegrass Films
Producer(s): Scott Stuber, Dylan Clark, Mark Wahlberg, Stephen Levinson, Michael Radutzky
Writer(s): Matt Charman
Director(s): Peter Berg
Cast: Mark Wahlberg, J.K. Simmons
Details: Based on the firsthand account of Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis, whose life rights have been optioned by CBS Films, and on research done and footage shot by “60 Minutes.”
SSN Insight: The film starts shooting next month in Boston. Simmons will play Watertown PD Sgt. Jeffrey Pugliese.

Solo Pass
Logline: Follows the story of a psychiatric patient confined to the psychiatric ward of a city hospital after suffering a breakdown. Finally granted a one day “solo pass” to leave the facility and venture into the world, he begins to confront the experiences and fears that led him to his breakdown.
Studio/Distributor(s): Great Point Media
Production Company(s): Gotham Entertainment Group, Olive Productions
Producer(s): Steve Buscemi, Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, Lee Stollman, Wren Arthur, Stanley Tucci
Writer(s): Stu Zicherman
Director(s): Steve Buscemi
Cast: Steve Buscemi
Details: Based on the novel “Solo Pass” written by Ronald De Feo and published by Other Press in 2013.
SSN Insight: Robert Halmi Jr.’s Great Point Media will finance development and production on the film.

Speed the Plow
Logline: A movie studio executive Bobby Gould needs a hit, colleague Charlie Fox gives him a tip that will benefit himself, and both men bet on who can sleep with a pretty temp who has an angle of her own.
Studio/Distributor(s): Lionsgate, Lionsgate
Production Company(s): Emmett/Furla/Oasis Films, Winkler Films, The Fyzz Facility, Great Point Media
Producer(s): Randall Emmett, George Furla, Irwin Winkler
Writer(s): David Mamet
Director(s): Michael Polish
Details: Based on the play “Speed the Plow” written by David Mamet, which premiered on Broadway at the Royal Theatre on May 3, 1988.
SSN Insight: Polish previously directed Big Sur, Stay Cool and The Astronaut Farmer.

The Dark Tower
Logline: The tale of gunslinger Roland Deschain’s quest for the Dark Tower.
Studio/Distributor(s): Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Releasing
Production Company(s): Imagine Entertainment, Weed Road Pictures, Media Rights Capital
Producer(s): Brian Grazer, Akiva Goldsman, Ron Howard, Erica Huggins, Stephen King
Writer(s): Anders Thomas Jensen, Nikolaj Arcel, Akiva Goldsman, Jeff Pinkner
Director(s): Nikolaj Arcel
Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Idris Elba, Abbey Lee
Details: Based on the seven-book series “Dark Tower” that begins with “The Dark Tower I: The Gunslinger” written by Stephen King and published by Donald M. Grant in 1982.
SSN Insight: Screenwriters Akiva Goldsman and Jeff Pinkner reportedly are basing their new script on the first book in the series. “The Dark Tower” is planned to be the first in a series of movies. A complementary television series is also being developed by co-financier Media Rights Capital.

New Projects

Bright
Logline: Storyline is under wraps on this contemporary cop thriller with fantastical elements.
Production Company(s): Arcade Films, Clubhouse Pictures
Producer(s): Eric Newman, Bryan Unkeless, Max Landis
Director(s): David Ayer
Cast: Will Smith, Joel Edgerton
SSN Insight: David Ayer has written drafts on the features The Wild Bunch, The Wild Geese, Scarface and Dominion, all in development.

Fear, Inc.
Logline: Fear, Inc. follows a company of degenerates who can be hired for a premium to bring your greatest fears to life. But when horror junkie Joe Foster’s customized scare seemingly begins, he and his friends must decide if this company is there to scare them o
Production Company(s): Amasia Entertainment, Lone Suspect
Producer(s): Heather Kasprzak, Vincent Masciale, Luke Barnett, Natalie Masciale
Writer(s): Luke Barnett
Director(s): Vincent Masciale
Cast: Abigail Breslin, Lucas Neff, Caitlin Stasey, Chris Marquette, Stephanie Drake
SSN Insight: Breslin will star as Baby in the Dirty Dancing TV movie remake for ABC. She’s also attached to the features Virgin Mary and Vengeance: A Love Story.

Pax
Logline: Set against the backdrop of war, a boy is separated from his pet fox and they must try to find each other again against all odds.
Production Company(s): Sidney Kimmel Entertainment
Details: Based on the children’s book “Pax” by Sara Pennypacker.
SSN Insight: Sidney Kimmel Entertainment acquired the rights to the book after a bidding war with StudioCanal and Anonymous Content. Pennypacker has written 20 children’s books and is best known for her series, Clementine, which has more than 1.5 million books in print.

Teflon
Logline: This documentary examines the toxic side effects of plastic household products, and the cover up of these concerns by the plastics industry.
Production Company(s): Management 360, Pascal Pictures
Producer(s): Rachel O’Connor
Writer(s): Vanessa Taylor
Details: Based on the upcoming book “Teflon” written by Mariah Blake and her two articles, “Welcome to Beautiful Parkersburg, West Virginia: Home of the Largest Cover-up in Corporate History” published in the Huffington Post, and “The Scary New Evidence on BPA-Free Plastics” published on MotherJones.com, March/April, 2014.
SSN Insight: Vanessa Taylor was previously a co-EP on Game Of Thrones co-exec producer and wrote Divergent along with Hope Springs.

SSN Events Calendar: ‘Batman V Superman’, ‘Zootopia’, SXSW Film Festival, ‘House of Cards’ and ‘Marvel’s Daredevil’ All Coming This March

The industry can finally release a collective breath now that awards season has officially passed. So why not kick back and watch a little TV? There’s House of Cards and Marvel’s Daredevil, along with a slew of new shows on Vice Media. Typically March would be an off month for major tentpoles, but that’s not the case as Warner Bros. will unleash Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice on March 25th. (SSN)

Film Development For 3/3/16: Film Development for 3/3/16: David Ayer, Will Smith and Joel Edgerton Board ‘Bright’, ‘Iron Man’ Scribes to Pen ‘Blood’s A Rover’

In other news, Maisie Williams and Joanne Froggatt take on A Storm in the Stars, Billy Crudup signs on for Alien: Covenant, Gary Oldman joins Hunter Killer, and Disney’s It’s a Small World adaptation finds writers. There’s lots more, so click the link for the fully skinny. (SSN)

Fresh Off Her First Oscar Nomination, Mary Parent Lands the Vice Chairman Job At Legendary

The producer, who most recently worked on The Revenant and also is producing Kong: Skull Island, has been appointed to the newly created position of vice chairman of worldwide production for Legendary. Parent will oversee all aspects of the company’s film, television, digital, mobile and new media development and production activities reporting in to Legendary Chairman & CEO Thomas Tull. (THR)

Meanwhile, Legendary’s Television and Media President Bruce Rosenbaum Exits the Company

The wave of top executive changes at the company following the its recent acquisition by China’s Dalian Wanda Group has reached the television division. Rosenbaum, who has headed the unit as president of Legendary Television and Digital Media since departing Warner Bros. TV almost three years ago, is leaving the company. (DH)

Joseph Gordon-Levitt Set To Produce, and Maybe Star In, KKK Film ‘K Troop’

Actor-producer has come aboard the film that’s being developed at Amazon Studios. Based on an upcoming Slate article by Matthew Pearl, the film will track the rise of the post-Civil War rise of the hate group, and the actions of the U.S. Army’s K Troop unit who fought against them. Gordon-Levitt is eyeing the role of Major Lewis Merrill, the leader of K Troop who with the help of African-American informants brought down the KKK. (TP)

Warner Bros. Is So High On ‘Suicide Squad’, It Might Just Fast Track a Sequel For 2017

Studio execs have Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice coming out first, at the end of this month, but are supposedly so excited about the upcoming David Ayer-directed film that they are discussing putting a sequel into development immediately. While Ayer will be busy with the Will Smith-Joel Egerton film Bright, another writer will be brought in to write the script, but Ayer and the main players are wanted to return for the next go round. (COL)

Scarlett Johansson Gets Some Serious Company In Her Upcoming ‘Ghost In the Shell’ Flick

Japanese cinema icon Takeshi “Beat” Kitano will now be part of the line-up in the sci-fi action thriller, which adapts Masamune Shirow’s original 1989 manga and will be directed by Rupert Sanders. Johansson stars as a female special ops cyborg at the head of an elite task force in charge of stopping dangerous criminals and extremists, and their prime target is The Laughing Man, a terrorist dedicated to wiping out cyber technology. (EMP)

Not Done With Comic Book Heroes Yet, Bryan Singer Now Developing R-Rated ‘Red Sonja’ TV Series

No network has been chosen yet, though the project’s tone would limit it to networks like HBO or Showtime, or even an online platform like Netflix or Amazon. If it moves forward, Singer would direct the pilot and produce, while property owner Luke Lieberman would executive produce alongside Jason Taylor through Singer’s production company, Bad Hat Harry. (BC)

Fox’s ‘Lethal Weapon’ Reboot Just Got a Little More Fast and Furious

Jordana Brewster has joined the pilot and will play Maureen Cahill, a Los Angeles Police Department hostage negotiator and in-house therapist who works with traumatized cops. She joins Damon Wayans Sr. and Golden Brooks in the Warner Bros. TV reboot of the action film franchise that starred Mel Gibson and Danny Glover. Gibson’s character has yet to be cast. (VAR)

Trailer Buzz: ‘Nina’

RLJ Entertainment has released the first trailer for the upcoming biopic of the late, great Nina Simone, starring Zoe Saldana in the title role. Written and directed by Cynthia Mort and starring Mike Epps, David Oyelowo, Ronald Guttman, and Ella Thomas, the movie hits theaters April 22nd. (COL)

Hack Attack! WME Forced To Shut Down Computers To Prevent Virus Spread

All the computers at the agency were turned off yesterday as the agency’s IT department detected a virus and pre-emptively tried to stop its spread. There was apparently no breach of data, and it was business as usual as people were texting and still sending emails, as well as actually communicating with that arcane implement known as the telephone. It looks like the computers could stay off going into today. (DH)

ABC Goes On a Renewal Frenzy, Gives New Seasons To a Whole Bunch Of Shows, Including ‘Grey’s’ and ‘Scandal’

Network’s Thursday-afternoon renewal spree included all three #TGIT dramas — Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal and How to Get Away With Murder — as well as Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., black-ish, Once Upon a Time, Quantico, The Goldbergs and Fresh Off the Boat. Additionally, The Middle, Modern Family and Shark Tank have been renewed for Season 8, The Bachelor has made a date for Season 21, Dancing With the Stars will tango with Season 23 and America’s Funniest Home Videos will hit groins with rakes for a 27th season. (TVL)

Jason O’Mara Joining Bokeem Woodbine in A&E’s L.A. Riots Drama, ‘The Infamous’

Actor will play LAPD officer Bill Slidell, described as a good cop who considers himself morally sound but who holds some questionable views on race. The Infamous, written by Joshua Zetumer and directed by Anthony Hemingway, starts production in L.A. Monday. Woodbine was previously cast as a former gang member turned successful hip-hop producer who’s targeted by an LAPD detective. The series hails from A+E Studios and Color Force. (LF)

Andrea Riseborough Looks Poised To Join ‘Battle Of the Sexes’ Alongside Stone and Carell

Actress is in final negotiations to co-star with Emma Stone in Fox Searchlight’s flick, in which Stone will play Billie Jean King and Steve Carell will star as Bobbie Riggs. Riseborough will play Marilyn Barnett, the hairdresser and former lover who outed King in 1981. Little Miss Sunshine filmmakers Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris will direct from a script by Simon Beaufoy. Danny Boyle is producing along with Christian Colson. (VAR)

CBS’ New ‘Star Trek’ Series Boldly Adds Gene Roddenberry’s Son to the Crew

Rod Roddenberry, the son of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry and current CEO of Roddenberry Entertainment, has joined the series as an executive producer. It’s unclear whether or not they will have a truly active role in the creation of the show or whether this is more of an honorary credit to keep the old school fans happy. (SF)

AMC Makes a Big Acquisition and Becomes the Largest Theater Chain In the U.S.

Company and Carmlike Cinemas have entered into a definitive merger agreement, pursuant to which AMC will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Carmike in a transaction valued at approximately $1.1 billion, including the assumption of Carmike net indebtedness. Together, the two chains would have well over 600 theatre locations in 45 states across the country, including the District of Columbia. (CS)

Bashir Salahuddin Books Male Lead Opposite Regina Hall in Hulu Pilot ‘Crushed’

After HBO decided not to move forward with Brothers in Atlanta, the series he and Diallo Riddle had set up at the network, Bashir Salahuddin has found his next project. Hulu has cast him as the male lead in its new comedy pilot, joining the previously-cast Hall. Produced by Lionsgate Television and Homegrown Pictures, show follows siblings Will and Celia as members of an African American family who stumble into a successful wine business in Napa Valley. (SAA)

‘Spotlight’ Might Have Won the Oscar For Best Picture, but ‘The Martian’ Turns Out To Be the Big Winner At the Box Office

According to analysis of the financial performance of the eight best-picture nominees, Ridley Scott’s The Martian ended up with the most profit. Production budgets hardly tell the whole story, since there are all sorts of hidden costs, including marketing and money spent on award campaigns. The analysis relied on several experts to compare total expenses against box-office returns and ancillary revenue from home entertainment and television. (THR)

Thank You For Being a Friend: An Oral History of ‘The Golden Girls’

More than 20 years later, the ladies are still sharing cheesecake, still talking life lessons out on the lanai and still making fans laugh. The final episode of The Golden Girls aired May 9th, 1992, but thanks to around-the-clock reruns and a devoted fan base, Dorothy, Rose, Blanche and Sophia have endured in a way other TV characters haven’t. (FM)

Screenwriters: ‘Three Thousand’ (Filmed as ‘Pretty Woman’)

The 130-page screenplay by J.F. Lawton, labeled first draft and dated 1987. (DS)

STARTS

Jawbone
02/29/2016
Logline: When a fighter hits bottom, he returns to his childhood boxing club and is willing to risk his life to regain his place in the world.
Production Company(s): Revolution Films, BBC Films, Emu Films
Director(s): Thomas Napper
Executive Producer(s): Christine Langan, Nichola Martin
Producer(s): Mike Elliott, Andrew Eaton
Cast: Ray Winstone, Michael Smiley, Johnny Harris, Ian McShane
Writer(s): Johnny Harris
Details: The story is semi-autobiographical, based on the experiences of actor/writer Johnny Harris, and the marks his debut as a screenwriter.
SSN Insight: Thomas Napper is the director behind the 2012 doc, Lost Angels: Skid Row is My Home, distributed by Paramount. Winston was recently seen in the feature Barney Thomson.

Power Rangers
02/29/2016
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): Temple Hill Entertainment, Saban Brands LLC, Allison Shearmur Productions
Director(s): Dean Israelite
Producer(s): Haim Saban, Brian Casentini, Allison Shearmur
Cast: Naomi Scott, Dacre Montgomery, Ludi Lin, RJ Cyler, Becky G.
Writer(s): Ashley Edward Miller, Zack Stentz
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. The franchise has been in production ever since with the series re-named each year.
SSN Insight: Roberto Orci previously attached to produce. Naomi Scott last appeared in the features, The 33 and The Martian.

The Queen of Spain
02/29/2016
Logline: 18 years after fleeing Nazi Germany, Spanish film actress Macarena Granada has become a major Hollywood star and returns to Spain with to play to play Isabella I of Castille, surrounded by showbiz hype.
Production Company(s): Atresmedia, Fernando Trueba P.C.
Director(s): Fernando Trueba
Producer(s): Penélope Cruz, Anne Deluz, Cristina Huete, Eric Wilkinson
Cast: Penélope Cruz, Antonio Resines, Jorge Sanz, Rosa Maria Sarda, Santiago Segura
Writer(s): Fernando Trueba
SSN Insight: Post-production is due to be finalized late 2016 or early 2017. Project is the third collaboration between Trueba and Cruz, and their second collaboration, “The Girl of Your Dreams,” is a prequel to this film.

WRAPS

A Storm In The Stars
Logline: The story of the love affair between poet Percy Shelley and 18-year-old Mary Wollstonecraft, which resulted in Mary Shelley writing Frankenstein.
Production Company(s): Burstein Company, Parallel Films, Gidden Media
Producer(s): Amy Baer, Alan Moloney, Ruth Coady
Writer(s): Emma Jensen
Director(s): Haifaa al-Mansour
Cast: Elle Fanning, Bel Powley, Douglas Booth, Ben Hardy, Tom Sturridge, Maisie Williams, Stephen Dillane, Joanne Froggatt
SSN Insight: Tom Sturridge was just nominated for an Olivier Award for the West End production of American Buffalo. Maisie Williams and Stephen Dillane have both appeared in Game of Thrones.

All Eyez on Me
03/01/2016
Logline: This biopic will follow rapper Tupac Shakur’s career, including his time at Death Row Records and his involvement in the rivalry between East coast and West coast rappers, culminating in his murder in 1996.
Studio/Distributor(s): Open Road Films
Production Company(s): Morgan Creek Productions, Emmett/Furla/Oasis Films
Director(s): Benny Boom
Executive Producer(s): Afeni Shakur, Tom Ortenberg, Peter Lawson
Producer(s): James G. Robinson, David C. Robinson, LT Hutton, Randall Emmett, George Furla
Cast: Demetrius Shipp Jr., Jamal Woolard, Danai Gurira, Katerina Graham, Jamie Hector
Writer(s): John Singleton, Ed Gonzalez, Jeremy Haft, Michael Starrbury, David McKenna
SSN Insight: Antoine Fuqua was previously attached to direct. Soulja Boy was previously mentioned to star. Project was previously in development at Universal.

Bad Moms
03/01/2016
Logline: Three moms go on a quest to free themselves from their mundane, everyday chores, but they accidentally end up on a collision course with their children’s school’s PTA president and her devoted clique of “perfect” moms.
Studio/Distributor(s): STX Entertainment
Production Company(s): Team Todd, PalmStar Entertainment, Merced Media Partners, BillBlock Media
Director(s): Jon Lucas, Scott Moore
Executive Producer(s): John Friedberg
Producer(s): Suzanne Todd, Bill Block, Raj Singh, Kevin Scott Frakes, Josh Church
Cast: Mila Kunis, Christina Applegate, Kristen Bell, Jada Pinkett Smith, Kathryn Hahn
Writer(s): Jon Lucas, Scott Moore
SSN Insight: Leslie Mann was previously attached to star, with husband Judd Apatow previously attached as producer. Jada Pinkett Smith is also attached as a producer Untitled Karate Kid Sequel at Columbia Pictures and a remake of Uptown Saturday Night at WB, both in active development.
Overdrive
02/29/2016
Logline: Two car thief brothers journey to the south of France for new challenges and wind up in the crosshairs of the local crime boss.
Production Company(s): Sentient Entertainment, Elastic Confusion
Director(s): Antonio Negret
Executive Producer(s): Renee Tab
Producer(s): Pierre Morel, Michael Brandt, Derek Haas, Christopher Tuffin
Cast: Scott Eastwood, Ana de Armas, Freddie Thorp, Gaia Weiss
Writer(s): Michael Brandt, Derek Haas
SSN Insight: Alex Pettyfer and Matthew Goode were previously attached to star. Karl Urban, Ben Barnes, Emilia Clarke and Sam Claflin were previously attached to co-star.

Slumber
03/04/2016
Logline: A sleep doctor is forced to abandon reason and accept that a family is being terrorized by a parasitic demon, which paralyses victims as they sleep.
Production Company(s): Goldcrest, The Tea Shop & Film Company
Director(s): Jonathan Hopkins
Executive Producer(s): Nick Quested, Maggie Q
Producer(s): Mark Lane, James Harris, Pascal DeGove
Cast: Maggie Q, Will Kemp, Sylvester McCoy, William Hope
Writer(s): Jonathan Hopkins, Richard Hobley
SSN Insight: Kristen Connolly was previously attached to star. This marks the directorial debut for Jonathan Hopkins.

The Dinner
03/04/2016
Logline: As two couples dine at an upscale restaurant, their polite discourse disguises the fact that they are struggling to make the hardest decision of their lives over dinner.
Studio/Distributor(s): ,
Production Company(s): ChubbCo Film Co., Code Red Productions, Blackbird Films
Director(s): Oren Moverman
Executive Producer(s): Eva Maria Daniels, Olga Segura, Leonid Lebedev, Angel Lopez
Producer(s): Cotty Chubb, Lawrence Inglee, Edward Vaisman, Julia Lebedev
Cast: Laura Linney, Rebecca Hall, Chloë Sevigny, Richard Gere, Steve Coogan
Writer(s): Oren Moverman
Details: Based on the novel “The Dinner” written by Herman Koch, first published in Amsterdam by Anthos as “Het Diner” in 2009, and translated into English and published in the U.S. by Atlantic Books in 2012.
SSN Insight: Cate Blanchett was previously attached to direct, which would have been her directorial debut. Rebecca Hall can next be seen in Disney’s The BFG and The Orchard’s Christine.

SSN ORIGINALS

SSN Box Office Trending Report for 3/4/16: ‘Zootopia’ To Be King of the Jungle This Weekend While ‘Batman V Superman’ Presales Continue to Fly High

SSN Insider’s take on this weekend’s new films. The infographic pinpoints which movies are claiming the largest piece of the pie from day to day and which films had the biggest uptick or downtick. (SSN)

On the Set for 3/4/16: It’s Morphin’ Time as Cameras Start Rolling on ‘Power Rangers’ While Kristen Bell & Jada Pinkett Smith Wrap-up ‘Bad Moms’

Other on the set news includes, the Tupac Shakur biopic and a Mary Shelley drama both wrapping production. (SSN)

OTHER HEADLINES

Lasse Hallstrom To Direct Live-Action ‘Nutcracker’ For Disney

Lasse Hallstrom is on board to direct a new big-screen version of The Nutcracker. Mark Gordon is producing the live-action project which has a script by Ashleigh Powell. (THR)

‘Death Wish’ Remake Back On With Bruce Willis & Big Bad Wolves Directors

Julia Louis-Dreyfus To Produce ‘Soldier Girls’ Miniseries For HBO

Julia Louis-Dreyfus is taking on another project as producer for HBO, miniseries Soldier Girls. Black List scribe and former soldier Nicole Riegel will write the adaptation in her TV debut and will serve as co-producer. (DH)

‘Kevin From Work’ Canceled After One Season At Freeform

Kevin From Work has been fired at Freeform, as the network has opted not to go forth with a second season of the romantic workplace comedy. (VAR)

‘American Horror Story': Lady Gaga Confirms Season 6 Return

During a Z100 radio interview, Lady Gaga answered “yes” when asked if she is returning to FX’s anthology thriller. (TVL)

CAA President Richard Lovett: How I Work

Creative Artists Agency President Richard Lovett spoke to The Wall Street Journal about about his iced green tea addiction, the best way to say no in the entertainment business and how to handle a contentious negotiation. (WSJ)

Peter Mayhew Reveals Script Pages Proving Han Shot First, 1994 ‘Star Wars’ Style Guide Says “Be Original”

Lucasfilm Creative Executive Pablo Hidalgo stumbled across an old Star Wars style guide, the guidebook  for writers to follow when crafting stories for the franchise’s massive canon. Hidalgo posted pages featuring some of the rules. (IW)