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Sony Gets Virtual App Thriller Spec, Annette Bening Joins ‘Katrina: American Crime Story,’ Kathleen Rose Perkins in ‘Good Girls’ Pilot, STX Gets ‘Adrift At Sea’

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Sony Picks Up ‘/Reddoor’ Spec, Supernatural Thriller About Virtual App

Sony pre-empted the supernatural thriller spec /reddoor over the weekend for producers Barry Josephson, Liz Bassin and Jim Wedaa. (DH)

Annette Bening Joins FX’s ‘Katrina: American Crime Story’

FX has announced today that Golden Globe Award-winning actress Annette Bening has joined the cast of Katrina: American Crime Story, the second installment of the limited series from Ryan Murphy, Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson. (CS)

‘Episodes’ Kathleen Rose Perkins Joins NBC Drama Pilot ‘Good Girls’

The Episodes actress is set to star in the NBC drama pilot, which hails from onetime Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal EP Jenna Bans. (TVL)

Sundance Breakout Timothee Chalamet Joining Steve Carell In ‘Beautiful Boy’

The Amazon Studios film reflects on meth addiction and recovery through the eyes of a father who watches his son as he struggles with the disease. (THR)

STX In Talks To Board Shailene Woodley Survival Tale ‘Adrift at Sea’

STX Entertainment is in final talks to board the survival story Adrift at Sea, with Shailene Woodley attached to star and Baltasar Kormákur directing. (VAR)

Paramount Pulls Brad Pitt’s ‘World War Z 2,’ ‘Friday The 13th’ Reboot From Schedule

Paramount Pictures has pulled two high profile projects from its release schedule, while dating the anticipated collaboration between Jennifer Lawrence and Darren Aronofsky. (WRAP)

M. Night Shyamalan Has Started Writing His Next Film, Which May Or May Not Be The Sequel To ‘Split’

It sounds like director M. Night Shyamalan is likely writing a sequel/spinoff of sorts for a character who appears late in the film. (VUL)

‘Supergirl,’ ’Big Bang Theory’ And More WB Shows Get The Lego Treatment To Honor ‘Lego Batman’ — See All The Billboards

Lego Batman will also appear in promos for The CW’s superhero shows, which will also feature Lego end cards. (IW)

Why Oh Why Do Any Movies Come Out Super Bowl Weekend?

The month of January has long been known as a dumping ground for the least appealing offerings on the studio slates, but that has changed somewhat of late. January is now something of a thriving marketplace and rather than an entire month dedicated to the box office graveyard, it’s now boiled down to one very specific weekend. (TB)


McConaughey in Harmony Korine Movie, Sony and Paramount Shift Release Schedules, ‘Mortal Engines’ Finds Lead

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Berlin: Matthew McConaughey Boards Stoner Comedy ‘The Beach Bum’ From ‘Spring Breakers’ Director

Matthew McConaughey looks set to be returning to his comedic stoner roots, having been cast as the lead in The Beach Bum from Spring Breakers writer/director Harmony Korine. (THR)

Sony Pictures 2018 Schedule Shifts ‘Hotel Transylvania’, ‘Bad Boys’, ‘Goosebumps’ And More

The upcoming Sony Pictures schedule has shifted and, while it means delays for both Bad Boys for Life and Goosebumps 2, Genndy Tartakovsky’s animated sequel Hotel Transylvania 3 is now set to hit theaters more than two months earlier than originally planned.  (CS)

‘mother!’: Darren Aronofsky Drama Starring Jennifer Lawrence Gets Awards-Friendly Release Date

World War Z 2 and Friday the 13th, meanwhile, have been removed from Paramount’s schedule. (IW)

‘Mortal Engines': Hera Hilmar Scores A Lead Role

Producer Peter Jackson and director Christian Rivers are really gearing up Mortal Engines. Last week, they cast Robert Sheehan And Ronan Raftery and now Icelandic actress Hera Hilmar has been added to the ensemble. (EMP)

The Firm Grabs Corporate Thriller About A Big Pharma Whistleblower

The Firm has just picked up the untitled Big Pharma/Whistleblower, a corporate thriller from screenwriters Hayley Schore and Roshan Sethi. (DH)

Alexander McQueen Movie Boarded By Embankment

Embankment Films is launching worldwide sales at Berlin’s European Film Market on McQueen, a feature-doc about Alexander McQueen. The film is directed by Ian Bonhote. (VAR)

Michael Sheen, Michelle Monaghan To Star In ‘The Price Of Admission’

Casey Affleck is executive producing the film that Radiant Films International will introduce to buyers in Berlin. (THR)

Rowan Blanchard Joins ‘The Goldbergs’ In First Post-‘Girl Meets World’ Role

Just over a month after Disney Channel announced the cancellation of Girl Meets World, its star has booked a guest spot on ABC’s The Goldbergs. (TVL)

‘Don’t Breathe’ Director Fede Alvarez Finds Post-Trump Company Name: Bad Hombre

Uruguayan filmmaker Fede Alvarez has partnered with Good Universe to form a new content company called Bad Hombre. (WRAP)

Jack Nicholson in ‘Toni Erdmann’ Remake, Star Wars and Avatar’s Disney Lands, Polio Cure Spec Sells

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Jack Nicholson To Star In ‘Toni Erdmann’ Remake, His First Major Role In A Decade

Paramount Pictures has acquired the remake rights to the acclaimed German film with Nicholson attached to play the title character. (VAR)

Pandora – The World Of Avatar Opening In May, Star Wars Lands In 2019

CEO of The Walt Disney Company Bob Iger confirmed that Pandora – The World of Avatar will officially open at Disney’s Animal Kingdom on May 27. He also confirmed that Star Wars Lands at both Disneyland and Disney’s Hollywood Studios are on target for a 2019 opening. (CS)

Black Bear Lands ‘The Impossible War’; Jonas Salk & Albert Sabin Race To Cure Polio

Teddy Schwarzman’s Black Bear won an auction and will pay mid-six figures to team with Pacific View Management & Production to produce and fully finance The Impossible War, a spec script by Robert Specland. (DH)

Jennifer Connelly Joins James Cameron’s ‘Alita: Battle Angel’

Jennifer Connelly has joined the cast of Alita: Battle Angel, James Cameron and Robert Rodriguez’s ambitious adaptation of the popular manga graphic novels. (THR)

Spy Drama Based On Charlaine Harris Short Stories Gets Pilot Order At NBC

Bestselling author Charlaine Harris, whose books inspired True Blood, has gotten a pilot order at NBC for the spy drama Redliners. (TVL)

Johnny Galecki’s ‘Living Biblically’ Ordered To Pilot At CBS

CBS has ordered to pilot Living Biblically, a new comedy project co-executive produced by Johnny Galecki. Patrick Walsh is writing and executive producing the potential new series. (WRAP)

David Fincher Wants To Direct ‘World War Z 2’; Ball Is In Paramount’s Court

David Fincher wants to direct World War Z 2, but Paramount is dragging its heels. (COLL)

What’s And Who’s Next At Sony Pictures?

Sony Corp president and CEO Kazou Hirai is looking for a replacement for outgoing Sony Pictures CEO Michael Lynton and is looking for a manager who has strong experience in both film and television and also with international markets. (DH)

Luvvie Ajayi’s Book ‘I’m Judging You’ Is Being Developed As Shondaland’s First Comedy

The series, which will be part of Shondaland’s overall deal with ABC, will be the production company’s first foray into comedy. (VUL)

VES Awards Winners, Nicole Kidman and ‘The Expatriates,’ Richard Armitage in Julie Delpy Film

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‘Jungle Book,’ ‘Game of Thrones’ Dominate Visual Effects Society Awards

Disney’s The Jungle Book took home major honors at the 15th Annual Visual Effects Society Awards at the Beverly Hilton. (VAR)

Nicole Kidman To Produce & Possibly Star In ‘The Expatriates’ TV Series Adaptation

Nicole Kidman and her Blossom Films have optioned Janice Y.K Lee’s bestselling novel The Expatriates to be adapted as a television series. Screenwriter Alice Bell is attached to pen the adaptation. (DH)

Richard Armitage Added To Julie Delpy’s ‘My Zoe’

Richard Armitage has been added to the cast for Julie Delpy’s sixth film as a director, My Zoe. (EMP)

Mia Wasikowska, Christopher Abbott Starring In Thriller ‘Piercing’

Mia Wasikowska and Christopher Abbott have wrapped production on Nicolas Pesce’s psychological thriller Piercing. (VAR)

‘How I Met Your Mother’ Creators Score Second CBS Pilot Order

How I Met Your Mother creators Carter Bays and Craig Thomas are back at CBS with their second pilot order of the season. (THR)

WWE Studios Developing Remake Of Norwegian Slasher ‘Cold Prey’

WWE Studios has acquired the remake rights to Cold Prey, and they’ve also sealed a deal for an option to purchase a screenplay currently being penned by Casey La Scala. (BD)

Weinstein Co.’s Ballerina Animated Pic ‘Leap!’ Jumps To April

Weinstein Co.’s animated feature Leap! is hopping from March 3 to April 21, which is the weekend after Easter. (DH)

How The Sundance Entry “Fun Mom Dinner” Became A Movie

Before it was a Netflix-bound Sundance film, Fun Mom Dinner was a screenplay. And before that, it was just a gleam in Julie Rudd’s eye. (FCC)

‘Out of Africa’ TV Series, Kerry Washington in ‘The Perfect Mother,’ Paramount Buys Offspring Spec, Lena Headey in ‘Fighting With My Family’

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‘Out of Africa’ Series Adaptation In The Works From ‘Harry Potter’ Producer

Oscar-winning director Susanne Bier would helm the series, which hails from NBC International Studios. (THR)

Kerry Washington To Star In Movie Drama ‘The Perfect Mother’

Kerry Washington is in final talks to star in and produce the movie drama The Perfect Mother for Sony’s TriStar division. The studio has preemptively acquired movie rights to Aimee Molloy’s debut novel. (VAR)

Paramount Buys Thriller Pitch ‘Gasp’ For Offspring

Paramount Pictures has acquired the thriller pitch Gasp for Jennifer Gibgot and Adam Shankman’s Offspring Entertainment. The script will be written by Mario Celaya, and American Horror Story‘s Jessica Sharzer will supervise the scribe and co-produce. (DH)

Lena Headey To Join Dwayne Johnson’s ‘Fighting With My Family’ For WWE Studios

Lena Headey has joined Fighting With My Family, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s wrestling film for WWE Studios and Film 4. (WRAP)

Nicolas Winding Refn To Develop Crime Series ‘Too Old To Die Young’ For Amazon

Nicolas Winding Refn is ready to make his first venture into American television. The Danish filmmaker is now set to reunite with Amazon on the crime series Too Old To Die Young. (IW)

HBO Orders Adam McKay’s Media Family Drama ‘Succession’ To Series

HBO has given a series order to Adam McKay’s Succession, which stars Brian Cox in the 10-episode drama series. (SF)

Netflix Renews ‘Love’ And ‘Travelers’, ‘Catastrophe’ Teaser And More

Love will remain in the air at Netflix. The streaming service has renewed the relationship comedy, which is executive-produced by Judd Apatow and stars Gillian Jacobs and Paul Rust, for Season 3. (TVL)

Michael Caine And Ray Winstone Lined Up For Hatton Garden Heist Film

Working Title’s caper movie about the notorious robbery to also feature Michael Gambon and Jim Broadbent as the veteran criminals. (GUAR)

‘The Color Purple’s’ Cynthia Erivo Will Star In A Harriet Tubman Biopic

Erivo, who recently won a Tony for her work in The Color Purple, has signed on to play abolitionist Harriet Tubman in a new biopic titled Harriet, written by Gregory Allen Howard and directed by Seith Mann. (VUL)

‘The Crown’ Adds Kennedy Cast, Spike TV Now Paramount Network, Open Road Gets ‘Finding Steve McQueen’

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‘The Crown’ Adds Michael C Hall & Jodi Balfour As Jack & Jackie Kennedy

Netflix’s Golden Globe- and SAG Award-winning period series The Crown has found its Jack and Jackie Kennedy. Michael C. Hall and Jodi Balfour are joining the upcoming Season 2 as the late President and First Lady. (DH)

Viacom To Rebrand Spike TV As Paramount Network

Viacom will rebrand Spike TV as Paramount Network. The move is part of a new company-wide strategy  unveiled by CEO Bob Bakish. (VAR)

Open Road To Go Wide In US On Travis Fimmel, Forest Whitaker Heist Movie

Open Road Films has acquired US distribution rights to heist film Finding Steve McQueen, directed by Mark Steven Johnson. (SI)

Imogen Poots Becomes A ‘Serial Dater’ For Jena Friedman — Berlin

Brit singer Imogen Poots is attached to star in comedy Serial Dater, created and destined by comedian Jena Friedman. (PM)

Don Granger Promoted To Skydance Pic Production Prexy

Skydance has promoted Don Granger to President of Feature Film Production, where he will oversee the development and production of David Ellison’s ambitious film slate. (DH)

TV Pilot Season’s Hot Trends: Trump-Friendly Military Dramas, Fewer New Shows, Bigger Stars

The total number of pilots ordered currently hovers around 70, down from nearly 90 last year. (THR)

‘Trollhunters’ Renewed At Netflix! Guillermo del Toro Teases Season 2 Cast And Characters

Guillermo del Toro officially revealed the renewal of a 13-episode Season 2 for the fantasy adventure series. (COLL)

Netflix Renews ‘The OA’ For A Second Season

Co-creator and star Brit Marling revealed that Netflix has picked up part two of the supernatural drama. (VUL)

The Effect Of Writing Contests On Hollywood (Part Two)

So you want to be a Screenwriter. You sit down and crank out a piece of writing that you think is worthwhile. But even if you have Hollywood connections, getting someone of import to read your work is difficult — which leaves you wondering, now what? (TB)

Emma Watts Vice Chair at Fox, STX Options New Spec, Sony Classics Gets ‘A Fantastic Woman,’‘American Idol’ Revival

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Twentieth Century Fox Promotes Emma Watts To Vice Chairman

The veteran production executive will work closely with studio chairman and CEO Stacey Snider. (THR)

STXfilms Options Spec ‘The New Neighbors’ With Leslye Headland Attached To Direct

STX has just optioned the spec The New Neighbors for Leslye Headland to direct. The psychological revenge thriller was co-written by Headland and David Schickle. (DH)

Sony Classics Picks Up Trans Drama ‘A Fantastic Woman’

Sony Pictures Classics has acquired the North America, Australia and New Zealand rights to director Sebastián Lelio’s Spanish-language trans drama A Fantastic Woman from Participant Media. (WRAP)

‘American Idol’ Revival Eyed At… NBC!

Less than a year after its 15-season run ended on Fox, American Idol may be returning to television — on NBC. (TVL)

Jeffrey Godsick To Head Sony Pictures New Branding Division

Sony Pictures Entertainment has formed a new brand management division and promoted Jeffrey Godsick to lead the unit — a move to try to exploit the “long-term branding initiatives” for franchise films. (VAR)

Syfy’s ‘Channel Zero’ To Creep Audiences Out Through At Least Season 4

Syfy has renewed Channel Zero through Season 4, a rather timely renewal considering that perhaps the most infamous Creepypasta creation ever, Slenderman, has been in the news a bit this year. (COLL)

Amy Poehler Is Making A ‘Dark Musical’ About ‘Bob’s Burgers’ John Roberts For HBO

Bob’s Burgers’ John Roberts is set to star in an HBO comedy executive produced by Amy Poehler. Edison, which is described as a “dark musical,” will be based on Roberts’s quaint former life in Edison, New Jersey. (VUL)

Joe Manganiello, Marley Shelton In Talks To Join Dwayne Johnson In ‘Rampage’

Joe Manganiello and Marley Shelton are in negotiations to join Dwayne Johnson in Rampage, New Line’s adventure project based on the 1980s video game. (THR)

 

Sony Gets Tom Hanks Drama, David Gordon Green on New ‘Halloween,’ John Pogue Directing ‘Brodie’s Law’

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Sony Pictures In World Rights Deal For Tom Hanks WWII Drama ‘Greyhound’

Sony Pictures is acquiring worldwide rights to Greyhound, a World War II drama that Tom Hanks scripted and will star in, with Aaron Schneider directing. (DH)

David Gordon Green and Danny McBride To Write/Direct New ‘Halloween’ Movie

David Gordon Green and Danny McBride will be writing and directing the new Halloween movie with John Carpenter serving as executive producer and consultant on the project. (SF)

John Pogue Set To Direct ‘Brodie’s Law: Project Jameson’ – Berlin

Writer-director John Pogue has signed on to helm a film version of popular UK graphic novel series Brodie’s Law: Project Jameson, created by David Bircham and Daley Osiyemi. (DH)

Berlin: Elle Fanning To Star In Max Minghella’s ‘Teen Spirit’

The film marks the directorial debut for the son of the late Academy Award-winning director Anthony Minghella. (THR)

CBS Buys Stake In Aaron Kaplan’s Kapital Entertainment

CBS has bought a stake in producer Aaron Kaplan’s Kapital Entertainment banner and will handle worldwide distribution of its TV series. (VAR)

Stranger Things’ Season 2 Lands ‘Finding Dory’ Director Andrew Stanton For 2 Episodes

Andrew Stanton is reportedly on board to helm a pair of episodes. Stanton, who was a fan of the series, actually contacted the show’s executive producer Shawn Levy to inquire about directing some episodes. (COLL)

Joel Edgerton, Jon Bernthal Team For ‘Stingray’

Joel Edgerton has signed on to star opposite Jon Bernthal in the rural dark crime thriller Stingray at Unified Pictures. (DAR)

Kevin Smith Is Working On A New ‘Jay And Silent Bob’ Movie

Kevin Smith is working on a new Jay and Silent Bob movie called Jay and Silent Bob Reboot. (VUL)

Meet The Oscar Underdog Up Against ‘Star Trek’ And ‘Suicide Squad’

A Man Called Ove had only about $20,000 to spend on hair and makeup—but that was enough to get it an Oscar nod. (VF)


Weekend Box Office, Grammy Winners, BAFTA Winners, USC Scripter Awards, ADG Winners, NAACP Winners

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‘John Wick 2′ Box Office: Keanu Reeves Sequel Scores Explosive $30M Weekend

Keanu Reeves’ John Wick opened with $14.4 million in October of 2014, riding a wave of strong reviews and solid buzz to a $43m domestic and $86m worldwide cume. (FOR)

Grammy Awards 2017 – Full List Of Winners

Chance the Rapper takes home best new artist and David Bowie’s Blackstar makes posthumous wins as the night unfolds with our definitive list. (GUAR)

BAFTAS 2017: Dev Patel And Emma Stone Win Awards

La La Land has dominated the Baftas, taking five trophies – including best film and best actress for Emma Stone. (BBC)

‘Moonlight,’ ‘Night Manager,’ ‘People v. O.J. Simpson’ Win USC Scripter Awards

Moonlight, The Night Manager and The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story walked away with top honors at the 29th USC Libraries Scripter Awards Saturday night. (VAR)

Art Directors Guild Awards Winners: Oscar Frontrunner ‘La La Land,’ ‘Passengers,’ ‘Hidden Figures’

La La Land, which is far out in front to win the Oscar for Best Production Design, won the contemporary category at the 21st annual Art Directors Guild Awards on Saturday. (GD)

Digital Cinematography Camera Makers Honored At SciTech Awards

Leslie Mann and John Cho hosted Saturday’s ceremony where the film tech community celebrated the cameras that helped usher in the digital age of filmmaking and a total of 18 scientific and technical achievements.. (THR)

‘Hidden Figures’ And ‘Fences’ Win Big At 48th NAACP Image Awards

The historical drama scored two awards including outstanding motion picture and outstanding actress in a motion picture for Taraji P. Henson during Saturday’s portion of the awards. (LAT)

MGM Headlocks World Rights To ‘Fighting With My Family’ In $17.5M Deal: Berlin

In a whopping Berlin market deal that could be worth as high as $17.5 million, MGM is stepping up big to put a choke hold on world rights for Fighting With My Family.  (DH)

Matt Reeves Is ‘The Batman’ Director!

Following Ben Affleck‘s recent stepping down as director of Warner Bros. Pictures’ upcoming The Batman, the studio has set a replacement in Matt Reeves. (CS)

Steve Levitan Helming ‘LA to Vegas’ Pilot, ‘Hard Powder’ Sells Out Internationally, Nick Cannon Quits ‘America’s Got Talent,’ Princess Diana Doc Coming

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‘Modern Family’ Co-Creator To Direct Fox Comedy Pilot

Steve Levitan will helm L.A. to Vegas, which is produced by 20th Century Fox Television — where he is under an overall deal. (THR)

Berlinale: Liam Neeson’s ‘Hard Powder’ Nearly Sells Out Internationally

Upcoming action thriller Hard Powder, starring Liam Neeson, has sold almost all international rights, with the U.S. under negotiation, European film-TV group Studiocanal said. (VAR)

Nick Cannon Quits ‘America’s Got Talent’ Over Censorship Dispute With NBC

In a lengthy Facebook post on Tuesday, a “deeply saddened” Cannon explained that he’s decided to part ways with NBC after he allegedly received backlash from the network over a joke he made during a recent stand-up special on Showtime. (TVL)

Princess Diana Documentary Planned For 20th Anniversary Of Death

A two-night, four-hour documentary about Princess Diana will air on ABC this August to mark the 20th anniversary of her death. (RS)

HBO, WWE To Produce Andre The Giant Documentary

HBO Sports, WWE and the Bill Simmons Media Group will produce a documentary film examining the life and career of one of the most beloved legends in WWE history. (WRAP)

Sarah Silverman’s New Comedy Special Coming To Netflix This Spring

Netflix revealed that Sarah Silverman will be bringing a comedy special to the streaming platform. Slated to shoot later this month, the special will launch globally on Netflix Tuesday, May 30, 2017. (COLL)

Jeffrey Wright, Alexander Skarsgard, James Badge Dale To Star In Netflix Thriller ‘Hold the Dark’

Riley Keough and James Bloor are also cast in Jeremy Saulnier’s follow-up to his acclaimed Green Room. (THR)

Trailer Buzz: ‘Ghost In The Shell’

The new trailer gives us the clearest sense of what the film will look and feel like as a whole, and it certainly captures the cyberpunk aesthetic series creator Mamoru Oshii established in the original film. (VER)

Robert Downey to Produce Movie Based on Podcast, Neal Moritz Gets Boom! Comic, ‘The Bachelor’ Casts Black Lead

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Richard Linklater, Robert Downey Jr, Annapurna Partner For ‘Man of the People’ Film Adaptation

Annapurna Pictures has partnered with Susan and Robert Downey Jr.‘s Team Downey production company on a new, untitled feature film based on the episode Man of the People from Gimlet Media’s Reply All podcast. (WRAP)

‘Fast And Furious’ Producer To Adapt Comic ‘Talent’ For Film

Fast & Furious franchise producer Neal Moritz is teaming up with Boom! Studios to adapt the comic company’s action thriller Talent. (THR)

After 33 Seasons, ABC’s ‘The Bachelor’ Franchise Reportedly Casts A Black Lead

Audiences of The Bachelor are already acquainted with the lucky woman—Rachel Lindsay, a lawyer from Texas who is “competing” on the current season of The Bachelor. (VF)

Edward James Olmos To Star In FX’s ‘Sons Of Anarchy’ Spinoff ‘Mayans MC’

Battlestar Galactica vet Edward James Olmos has signed on to star in the in-the-works offshoot, tentatively titled Mayans MC (TVL)

‘Distefano’: Annie Potts To Co-Star In CBS Comedy Pilot

Veteran Annie Potts has been tapped to co-star opposite Chris Distefano in Distefano, CBS’ comedy pilot from How I Met Your Mother creators Carter Bays & Craig Thomas and Sony TV. (DH)

Jason Biggs To Star In ABC Comedy Pilot ‘Charlie Foxtrot’

ABC has set the leads for two of its comedy pilots: Jason Biggs will star in Charlie Foxtrot, and Natalie Morales will star in Losing It. (VAR)

Lucifer’ Renewed For Season 3

FOX has renewed its DC/Vertigo Comics-based series Lucifer for a third season. The renewal comes two months before Season 2 resumes airing new episodes on May 1st, following a midseason break. (IGN)

‘Stranger Things': How Many Seasons Will The Netflix Series Go?

Right now, Ross and Matt Duffer, the creators of the hit series, are envisioning Things will last four or five seasons but that can all change. (EW)

Mahershala Ali Joins Paramount Pic, Fox 2K Gets ‘The Fox Hunt,’‘Mulan’ Finds Director

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Mahershala Ali In Negotiations To Join JC Chandor’s ‘Triple Frontier’

Mahershala Ali is in negotiations to join the cast of Paramount Pictures’ Triple Frontier, the thriller which will be directed by JC Chandor from a script by Mark Boal. (DH)

‘Spotlight’ Scribe To Adapt ‘The Fox Hunt’ At Fox 2000 With Marc Platt Producing

Fox 2000 has acquired the rights to the unpublished non-fiction book The Fox Hunt, with La La Land‘s Marc Platt producing and Spotlight writer Josh Singer set to adapt the story. (TB)

Disney’s Live-Action ‘Mulan’ Finds Director

Niki Caro will helm the film, while Crouching Tiger producer Bill Kong is joining as executive producer. (THR)

Vince Vaughn Joins Dwayne Johnson In ‘Fighting With My Family’

Dwayne Johnson has announced that Vince Vaughn has joined the cast of the real-life wrestling comedy/drama Fighting With My Family. (CS)

North American rights to Roman Polanski’s thriller Based on a True Story have been sold to Sony Pictures Classics. (VAR)

‘Pretty Little Liars’ Ian Harding Joins Fox’s ‘Thin Ice’ Comedy Pilot

The actor, who will wrap his seven-season stint as Ezra Fitz on the Freeform phenom this summer, has landed a series-regular role in the Fox comedy pilot Thin Ice. (TVL)

Amazon Picks Up Bryan Cranston-Ron Moore Anthology Series

Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams is based on the short stories of the award-winning sci-fi author. (THR)

10 Underrated Love Stories To Watch On Valentine’s Day

In honor of the holiday, Indiewire has picked ten of their favorite underrated, under-seen or just plain under-appreciated big screen romances to check out right now. (IW)

Things Just Ain’t What They Used To Be: Movies Studios From The 90s To Now

Not so long ago, the studios actually made original films that were not sequels, or superhero movies, or based on an IP and the industry was actually doing just fine. (TB)

 

 

Universal Invests in Amblin, Benedict Cumberbatch in ‘The Child In Time,’ Annapurna Plans 2016 Election Movie

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Universal Buys Minority Stake In Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Partners

Universal Filmed Entertainment has agreed to buy a minority stake in Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Partners. As part of the deal, the studio’s chairman Jeff Shell will join the Amblin board. (VAR)

Benedict Cumberbatch To Star In, Exec Produce ‘The Child In Time’ For BBC, Masterpiece

Benedict Cumberbatch is reteaming with BBC One and Masterpiece for the adaptation of Ian McEwan’s award-winning 1987 novel The Child In Time. (DH)

‘Zero Dark Thirty’ Scribe Mark Boal Teaming With Megan Ellison For 2016 Election Limited Series

The Hurt Locker and Zero Dark Thirty scribe Mark Boal is teaming up with Annapurna Pictures head Megan Ellison to craft a “political drama” that will consist of eight to ten hours based on the 2016 election. (COLL)

‘Superstore’ Renewed For Season 3

NBC has renewed the America Ferrera-fronted comedy for a 22-episode third season. (TVL)

Philip Pullman Unveils Epic Fantasy Trilogy ‘The Book Of Dust’

Author’s new novel series is set in London and Oxford and overlaps with hugely popular His Dark Materials. (GUAR)

Disney Taps Company-Wide Talent For TV ‘Pitch-a-Palooza’

TV Group president Ben Sherwood’s employee competition heard over 300 ideas for TV shows, including a ‘Modern Family’ meets ‘The Wonder Years’ sitcom from a 29-year-old video distribution specialist that might just be the next hit comedy. (THR)

‘Brothered Up’ CBS Comedy Pilot: Adhir Kalyan To Star, James Burrows To Direct

Rules of Engagement alum Adhir Kalyan is returning to CBS as one of two leads in Brothered Up, the network’s multi-camera buddy cop comedy from CBS TV Studios. (DH)

The New Power Of “Yes”: Who Actually Has Greenlight Authority At The Movie Studios

Paramount re-evaluates Brad Grey’s influence as industry upheavals alter internal politics all over town and committees become the norm. (THR)

Mel Gibson May Direct ‘Suicide Squad,’ Trump Election Pilot, Tom Brady Book, Richie Keen Directing New Line’s ‘Partners’

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Mel Gibson Confirms He Is In Talks With WB To Direct ‘Suicide Squad 2′

WB is in “early talks” with the controversial director about directing Suicide Squad 2. Later, while attending a screening of his Oscar-nominated film Hacksaw Ridge, Gibson confirmed the report. (CB)

‘Trump: It Happened Here’ Pilot – The Hottest Read In Hollywood?

The pilot and second-episode scripts for an eight- to 10-part limited series about the behind (and in front of) the scenes machinations of the Donald Trump campaign is making the rounds in Hollywood, and Deadline got their hands on the hot read. (DH)

Tom Brady Book, Movie In the Works From Oscar Nominated ‘The Fighter’ Writers

Paul Tamasy and Eric Johnson are combining forces with New York Times bestselling author Casey Sherman to tell the historic story New England Patriots’ quarterback. (WRAP)

‘Fist Fight’ Director To Helm New Line’s Action Comedy ‘Partners’

Richie Keen will direct the film about an LAPD detective who learns that a beautiful woman from a one-night stand is actually his new boss on a high-profile case. (THR)

‘The Big Bang Theory’ Eyes Huge Two-Season Renewal Deal At CBS

CBS is close to renewing The Big Bang Theory for Seasons 11 and 12. In fact, executive producer Bill Prady confirms on his Facebook page that the deal is “actually done.” (TVL)

Amblin Scores Female ‘John Wick’ Film ‘Ruthless’

Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment has picked up Into the Storm scribe John Swetnam’s script Ruthless to be directed by Brad Peyton. (DAR)

Jared Leto To Direct Patty Hearst Crime Thriller ’77’

The Academy Award-winning actor will make his feature-length scripted directorial debut with Paramount and Wolf Films’ 77. (EW)

Universal Lands ‘City Of Saints & Thieves’; Will Packer, Kerry Washington Produce

Universal Pictures has optioned City Of Saints & Thieves, the bestselling debut novel by Natalie C. Anderson. Will Packer’s Will Packer Productions and Kerry Washington’s Simpson Street production company are in negotiations to produce. (DH)

Buddhist Movie ‘Becoming Who I Was’ Picked Up By Bond/360

Marc Schiller’s Bond/360 has acquired the exclusive U.S. and Canadian rights to Chang-Yong Moon’s Buddhist documentary film Becoming Who I Was. (VAR)

Natalie Dormer’s New Role, Cary Fukunaga & Sam Raimi Eye New Projects, ‘Chelsea’s New Format, ‘Compton’ Writer’s New Gig

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Natalie Dormer Nabs the Lead For Australian TV Remake of ‘Picnic at Hanging Rock’

Foxtel has cast numerous roles in its 21st century re-imagining of Joan Lindsay’s literary classic. Game of Thrones‘ Dormer will star as English headmistress Mrs Hester Appleyard in the project produced by FremantleMedia Australia and co-financed by Screen Australia and Film Victoria. Show will premiere on Foxtel’s showcase channel in Australia this year, but no date has been announced. FremantleMedia is handling worldwide sales. (DH)

Cary Fukunaga Might Just Have His Next Project, and It’s Very Explosive

Director best known for steering the first season of HBO’s True Detective, is in negotiations to direct Working Title and Universal’s adaptation of atomic bomb drama Shockwave: Countdown to Hiroshima. Hossein Amini, who wrote Snow White and the Huntsman and 47 Ronin for Universal, will adapt the screenplay. (THR)

Sam Raimi’s Next Movie Might Just Be a Bermuda Triangle Flick

Spider-Man director is in talks to direct a mystery thriller revolving around the Bermuda Triangle for Skydance Productions. The project boasts a recent screenplay by scribes Doug Miro and Carlo Bernard, and is actually one of three separate Bermuda Triangle movies in development at the moment, as Universal and Warner Bros. have their own films in the works, so story details are being kept firmly under wraps. (COL)

Netflix Loves ‘Chelsea,’ Brings Back Handler’s Talk Show For a Second Season

The imaginatively titled talk show is officially returning to the streaming service for a second season. This new batch of episodes will bring with it a change in format, as the series will now be an hour long and feature more in-depth interviews and dinner parties as well as extensive field pieces. (IW)

‘Straight Outta Compton’ Writer Andrew Berloff Heads To ‘The Kitchen’ For Her Next Gig

Oscar nominee has been tapped by New Line to adapt and direct The Kitchen. This will be her directorial debut. Based on the Vertigo comic, Kitchen follows the wives of some Irish mobsters who take over their spouses’ organized crime ring after said spouses land in prison, and takes place in 1970s Hell’s Kitchen. (TB)

‘Pitch’ Star Set To Sign Up For a Whole Different Kind of ‘Game Night’

Kylie Bunbury, star of the freshman Fox drama, is in negotiations to join Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams in the New Line comedy. Jesse Plemons is also on board to topline with Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley helming the movie. Goldstein and Daley also wrote the latest version of the screenplay, based on Mark Perez’s original draft. (VAR)

Not Counting Its Chickens Before They Hatch, Warner Has Two Other Directors In Mind For ‘Suicide Squad 2’ If Mel Doesn’t Do It

A new report confirms that Warner Bros. and DC have considered Zombieland‘s Ruben Fleischer and Warm Bodies‘ Jonathan Levine to helm the upcoming Suicide Squad sequel if Mel Gibson doesn’t pan out. The film is obviously in the very earliest stages of development, so at this point, it remains to be seen who DC will ultimately opt to sign for the project. (CB)

Ryan Murphy Has Announced the Subject of the Next ‘American Horror Story’, and It’s Really Creepy

The prolific TV creator revealed that he will turn the 2016 presidential election into his next American Horror Story. Yup, that’s the newly revealed theme for the seventh season FX’s horror anthology series, which premieres this fall. Murphy revealed the election theme during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live. (SF)

Trailer Buzz: ‘The House’

Warner Bros. and New Line has released the first look at the upcoming comedy starring Will Ferrell and Amy Poehler. Directed by Andrew Jay Cohen, it hits theaters June 30th. (VUL)

Online Film School: Write Club — Five Choices You Must Make Before You Start Writing

As you commence writing your script, you may find that reaching page 60 (or so) is a gut-check moment. That mid-point can please, delight, and disturb you in equal measure. If the mid-point of your journey brings only flop-sweat and waves of self-doubt (or self-loathing), you may have joined that very non-exclusive club of writers who cheated themselves in the pre-writing phase. So what are the essential pre-writing choices you should make? Let’s start with these five. (SC)


SSN Awards Roundup: WGA Winners, Final Voting Days, Documentary Shorts, ‘Fantastic Beasts’ and Prod. Design

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SSN Awards Roundup

With Oscar voting ballots due by 5 p.m. PT on Tuesday, February 20th, SSN rounds up a few of our favorite contender articles for review.  Happy voting!

WGA Awards: ‘Moonlight,’ ‘Arrival’ Win For Best Screenplay, ‘Atlanta’ Wins Twice

Barry Jenkins’ script for coming-of-age story “Moonlight” won the Writers Guild of America award for best original screenplay and Eric Heisserer’s script for science-fiction saga “Arrival”  won for best adapted screenplay. (VAR)

Oscars: Is ‘Moonlight’ Poised To Make History After WGA Original Screenplay Win?

For only the third time since 1984, the Writers Guild and the Oscars are possibly going to have two different winners in the Original and Adapted Screenplay categories. They are both likely to have Moonlight as a shared winner – but in two different writing categories. (DH)

Oscars: Contenders Make Closing Arguments Throughout Stressed-Out City Of Stars

THR’s awards analyst summarizes where and how nominees are courting votes in the final days before Oscar ballots are due. (THR)

The Oscar Nominees Most Likely To Break Your Heart

A busy week of five pre-Oscar Little Gold Men episodes kicks off with a look at the documentary shorts and an interview with nominee Roger Ross Williams. (VF)

‘Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them’: Designing The Immigrant Experience

Created in London, the Oscar-contending production and costume design of the Harry Potter standalone emphasizes New York’s historical diversity. (IW)

‘Lion’ Writer Breaks Down Nicole Kidman’s Most Emotional Scene

Lion may be the story of a young man, Saroo Brierley and his quest to find his birth family in India after being separated from them as a child, but writer Luke Davies and director Garth Davis found its heart elsewhere. (EW)

Will ‘La La Land’ Fatigue Keep The Musical From Dominating At The Oscars?

When the movie stormed the scene, brimming with award season potential and the overwhelming charm of Ryan Gosling, it was pure industry blasphemy to even think that it might be a little bit over-the-top. (EO)

Are We Underestimating ‘Hacksaw Ridge’ For Oscars Sound Awards Sweep?

In the audio categories typically the loudest film wins. There’s one film that would fit this typical rule: Mel Gibson’s WWII drama Hacksaw Ridge, whose second half takes place during a battle. (GD)

Oscars Week 2017: The Complete Party (and Protest) Guide

From the Spirit Awards and the Night Before Party to Elton John’s major milestone and Vanity Fair, get the scoop on all the A-list parties happening in Hollywood to celebrate all things Oscar. (THR)

Weekend Box Office, Make-Up and Hair Stylists Award Winners, Live-Action ‘Lion King’ Cast

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Box Office: ‘LEGO Batman’ Wins Weekend, ‘Great Wall’ Crashes, ‘Fifty Shades’ And ‘John Wick 2′ Shine

The Presidents Day weekend was not a happy one for new releases, as you had two mild underperformers and one outright flop.  For the second weekend in a row, the top movie is The Lego Batman Movie. The Warner Bros./Time Warner Inc. release earned $33 million in weekend two. (FOR)

Make-Up And Hair Stylists Guild Awards: ‘La La Land’ Continues Winning Streak

The Oscar frontrunner for Best Make-Up and Hair Styling, Star Trek Beyond, took home the prize for special effects makeup at the guild awards on Sunday. (GD)

Donald Glover & James Earl Jones Set As Leads In Jon Favreau’s Live-Action ‘The Lion King’

Donald Glover and James Earl Jones have been cast in the crucial roles of Simba and Mufasa, the lion father-and-son pair at the center of the film. (COLL)

Keith Cox To Be Promoted To President Of Development For The Paramount Network & TV Land

The recently rebranded Paramount network has zeroed in on Keith Cox to lead development and production for the revamped channel. (DH)

‘This Is Us’ Star Sterling K. Brown Officially Joins Shane Black’s ‘Predator’ Reboot

Sterling K. Brown is officially on board 20th Century Fox’s The Predator. The news that Brown was in talks for the role broke last month. However, the deal has now closed. (VAR)

Tom Hanks To Publish Debut Story Collection, ‘Uncommon Type’

Tom Hanks will publish his debut collection of short stories with Alfred A. Knopf.  The collection comprises 17 stories, each having something to do with a different typewriter. (EW)

Liv Tyler, Sherlock Vet Join Kit Harington In Guy Fawkes Miniseries ‘Gunpowder’

Tyler is one of three actors joining the Game of Thrones star in the three-part BBC One drama. Sherlock‘s Mark Gatiss and Top of the Lake‘s Peter Mullan have also signed on to appear in supporting roles. (TVL)

Brad Grey’s Paramount Exit And Studios In Turmoil

Paramount’s Brad Grey is merely collateral damage in an industry that’s figuring out how to survive. (THR)

Is There Another Writers’ Strike On The Horizon?

The contract is up between the Writers Guild and the producers, and the guild leadership is letting it be known that a strike is a very real possibility, like the one that sent things off the rails for four months in the fall of 2007 and the winter of ’08. (TB)

Charlize Theron in Universal Thriller, Jennifer Garner in ‘Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens,’‘Raised By Wolves’ Pilot Cast

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Charlize Theron To Star In And Produce CIA Thriller ‘Need To Know’

Charlize Theron will star in and produce Universal Pictures’ adaptation of the upcoming novel Need to Know. (CS)

Jennifer Garner In Final Negotiations To Join ‘Simon vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda’

Jennifer Garner is in final negotiations to join Fox 2000’s coming-of-age film Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda based on the popular YA novel by Becky Albertelli. (DH)

ABC’s Greg Berlanti-Diablo Cody Comedy ‘Raised by Wolves’ Casts Its Star

Vice Principals and The New Normal alum Georgia King is set to topline the comedy pilot from executive producers Diablo Cody and Greg Berlanti. (THR)

Demi Moore Joins Fox’s ‘Empire’ Cast

The star will make her first appearance in the show’s current season finale, playing “a take-charge nurse with a mysterious past” who will become ever more entangled with the Lyon family next fall.  (EW)

Jason Ritter To Star In ABC Dramedy Pilot ‘The Gospel Of Kevin’

The Parenthood vet is set to play the title role in The Gospel of Kevin, an hour-long comedic drama pilot about a down-on-his-luck man who is tasked by God with a mission to save the world. (TVL)

Tim Robbins Joins HBO’s Alan Ball Series

Tim Robbins has joined the cast of HBO’s family drama from Alan Ball. The Academy Award winner will star alongside Holly Hunter in the untitled 10-episode series. (VAR)

‘Castle Rock’: Details Emerge For Stephen King’s Upcoming Hulu Series

Hulu has ordered a 10-episode first season of the on-going series with production set to begin this year. (COLL)

The Cast Of The Standalone Han Solo Movie Is Anything But Scruffy-Looking

Principal photography on the standalone Star Wars film began at London’s Pinewood Studios. Disney, which owns Lucasfilm, included the first cast photo in a press release. (HUFF)

Screenwriters: Done Outlining? Ready To Type Fade In? Think Again

Outlining for depth and meaning, not just to create beats, enables you to understand your story and create a foundation for your successful Dream Script. (SM)

 

Costume Designer Award Winners, Scorsese’s ‘Irishman’ to Netflix, Paramount’s Interim Exec Plan, Simon Kinberg on Next ‘X-Men’ Movie

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Costume Designers Guild Award Winners

Winners have been announced for the 19th CDGA (Costume Designers Guild Awards) at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles, CA. (AD)

Martin Scorsese’s ‘The Irishman’ Bought By Netflix

The streaming giant takes on the project – starring Robert De Niro as mob hitman Frank Sheeran – after the director’s film Silence under-performs. (GUAR)

Paramount’s Brad Grey Will Be Replaced By Interim Committee To Run Studio Until Successor Is Named

Viacom has set an interim committee of internal executives — including film group chief Marc Evans and TV head Amy Powell — to run Paramount Pictures until a successor can be found for outgoing studio chief Brad Grey. (VAR)

Simon Kinberg In Talks To Write And Direct The Next ‘X-Men’ Movie

Simon Kinberg is looking to make his directorial debut with the next X-Men movie and he’s already written the screenplay.  (COLL)

Lionsgate Sets ‘Most Likely To Murder’; ‘Crazy Ex-Girlfriend’s Rachel Bloom & Adam Pally Star

Lionsgate has acquired and set for a March production start in New York Most Likely To Murder, a comedy that will star Crazy Ex-Girlfriend star Rachel Bloom and Adam Pally. (DH)

Kyle Chandler Joins ‘Godzilla: King Of Monsters’

Stranger Things‘ Millie Bobby Brown joined Godzilla: King Of Monsters last month. Now we know that Kyle Chandler is also aboard. (EMP)

Brian Robbins To Step Down As AwesomenessTV CEO

AwesomenessTV parent company DreamWorks Animation sold to Comcast last year for $3.8 billion. (THR)

‘CSI’ Vet Marg Helgenberger Joins Fox’s ‘Behind Enemy Lines’ Pilot

CSI vet Marg Helgenberger is heading Behind Enemy Lines as a “fierce but fair” Navy Admiral in Fox’s McG-directed pilot. (TVL)

Angelina Jolie Lines Up New Acting, Directing Projects

Jolie is in talks to star in The Spy Who Loved and a Catherine the Great project, both at Universal; is developing Without Blood as a directing vehicle; and has signed on to produce The One and Only Ivan for Disney. (THR)

Recon Acquires Millennium Films, WGA Strike Looming, Kristen Stewart in ‘Underwater,’‘Suits’ Spinoff Coming

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China’s Recon Group Acquires 51 Percent Of Millennium Films For $100M

The Chinese conglomerate takes a majority stake in Avi Lerner and Trevor Short’s production company. (THR)

WGA Membership Meeting Shows Guild On Strike Footing As Contract Talks Loom

Bargaining on a new contract isn’t expected to begin until next month, but if tonight’s informational meeting is any indication, the Writers Guild of America is definitely on a strike footing. (DH)

Kristen Stewart In Talks For Deep-Sea Thriller ‘Underwater’

The Twilight star is in talks to star in Underwater, a sub-sea thriller in the works at Fox. (EW)

Suits Spinoff Centered On Gina Torres’ Jessica Eyed At USA Network

A Suits spinoff centered on former cast member Torres — whose fan-favorite character Jessica Pearson was written out of the legal drama last September — is quietly being developed. (TVL)

Jose Padilha To Helm ‘Arc of Justice’

Jose Padilha is set to direct a film adaptation of National Book Award winner and historian Kevin Boyle’s 2004 non-fiction work Arc of Justice for The Mark Gordon Company. (DAR)

Steve Buscemi, Stanley Tucci’s Olive Pacts With eOne On TV Projects

Olive Prods., the New York-based production company led by Steve Buscemi, Stanley Tucci and Wren Arthur, has inked a multi-year television first-look deal with global producer-distributor Entertainment One. (VAR)

Damon Wayans Jr. To Star In FX AI Comedy From Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg

The actor, who has been fielding multiple broadcast pilot offers, has been tapped to star in FX comedy Singularity. (THR)

‘Lethal Weapon’ Renewed For Season 2

One of this TV season’s success stories, Lethal Weapon has now been renewed for Season 2 by FOX. (IGN)

Paula Abdul To Star In NBC Comedy

The singer-dancer-actress and former So You Think You Can Dance judge has been tapped to star in the network’s comedy pilot from Fresh Off the Boat‘s Kourtney Kang and Nahnatchka Khan. (BILL)

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