Netflix Continues Its Quest For Film World Domination, Nabs Distribution Rights To Christopher Guest’s Next Film
Precious little is known about the movie, titled Mascots, but it seems to be in Guest’s trademark mockumentary style. In Netflix’s announcement the description reads, “Welcome to all the drama, intrigue, and occasional excitement of the 8th World Mascot Association Championships, where a group of ‘unusual’ men and women, with big heads and furry shirts, compete to win the prestigious Gold Fluffy Award and be crowned Best Mascot in the World.” (COL)
Alibaba Pictures Eyes a Global Expansion, Names Itself a New President In the Process
While it reported lower-than-expected quarterly revenues this morning, the Chinese e-commerce giant also announced bullish plans for its film and TV production and distribution arm. Division is making changes to its organizational structure as it actively pursues expansion to become “a leader in the global entertainment industry.” The company has appointed Zhang Wei as President and named Deng Kangming as COO. Both are internal promotions. (DH)
David Lynch Is Officially Directing the Entire New Season Of ‘Twin Peaks’ and Treating It as One Long Movie
Showtime’s take on the series is scheduled to start shooting in September and is going to have at least nine episodes, but will probably have more, according to network president David Nevins. There is still no official word about how long production will last or when the new season will premiere, but it will probably be the third or fourth quarter of 2016 or perhaps the beginning of 2017. (TP)
Liam Neeson Shall Return To the Big Screen, This Time as General MacArthur In Korean Production
The actor will play U.S. Army General Douglas MacArthur in Operation Chromite, a Korean-made blockbuster set during the Korean War of the early 1950s. The film is to be produced by South Korea’s Taewon Entertainment and will focus on the heroic Korean troopers who carried out the covert “X-ray” operation that preceded the Incheon landing operation in the Yellow Sea. The landing shifted the momentum of the Korean War. (VAR)
Mark Wahlberg Has His Next Cop Movie Lined Up, but It’s a Bit Different Than the Others
The Other Guys star has signed on to Partners, in which he’ll star as an LAPD detective who winds up falling in love with a mysterious woman with whom he had a one-night stand. What he doesn’t know, however, is that this woman is both an FBI agent and his new boss – as she has been assigned to work with him on what’s simply described as “a high-profile case.” New Line is behind the comedy, and is apparently going for a Mr. and Mrs. Smith vibe with the project. (CB)
The CW Is Returning To the Old Concept Of a ‘Friday the 13th’ TV Show, but With a New Twist
After a version was developed last year, a new take has emerged, with the masked Jason being reimagined with “a stronger feel of grounded reality.” The current wave of Friday the 13th TV development began last year with a deal between Emmett/Furla/Oasis Films and Crystal Lake Entertainment to make an hourlong series based on the film franchise, with original Friday the 13th director Sean S. Cunningham around to exec produce. (SF)
No More Show Of His Own? No Problem For ‘Constantine’s Matt Ryan, Who Will Now Guest Star On ‘Arrow’
The star of the canceled NBC series will appear as everyone’s favortie con-man-magician in the fourth season of the hit CW show. Ryan will guest star in one episode of the new season, meaning the realm of DC Comics shows just got even more connected. The new season of Arrow premieres on The CW on October 7th. (CS)
Trailer Buzz, Part One: ‘Sleeping With Other People’
IFC has released the red band trailer to the upcoming comedy starring Jason Sudeikis and Alison Brie. A big hit at Sundance, the film hits theaters September 11th. (YH)
Trailer Buzz, Part Two: ‘Jem and the Holograms’
Universal has released the new trailer for the upcoming adaptation of the 80s cartoon. Starring Aubrey Peeples, Stefanie Scott, Hayley Kiyoko and Aurora Perrineau and directed by Jon M. Chu, the film hits theaters October 23rd. (EMP)
Screenwriters: ‘The Power of One’
The 153-page screenplay by Robert Mark Kamen, based on the novel by Bruce Courtenay. Script is dated February, 1990. (DS)