Bankruptcy Judge Ready to Approve October Auction of Relativity Media
U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Michael Wiles said yesterday he is prepared to approve the Oct. 1st auction of the company, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last month. Wiles said his final approval of the sale of the company founded by Ryan Kavanaugh will be contingent on details being worked out, but he said he is ready to approve a sales plan initially proposed by Relativity’s senior lenders — Anchorage Capital, Luxor Capital and Falcon Investment Advisors. (VAR)
Michael Keaton Is On a Role, as His Legal Victory Over ‘Merry Gentleman’ Is Affirmed
The production company behind Keaton’s 2007 directorial debut aimed to recover the $5.5 million that was spent on the film. Having allegedly botched it, Keaton was taken to court with a claim he breached his directing contract, but yesterday, a judge ruled that Keaton did not, thereby negating the rights of producers to get their money back. (HESQ)
Mike Birbiglia Is Directing His Second Movie, and It’s About the Backstabbing World of Improv
The actor/comedian has begun production on his second feature film, Don’t Think Twice. Starring Birbiglia alongside Key & Peele‘s Keegan-Michael Key and Community‘s Gillian Jacobs, as well as Kate Micucci, Tami Sagher, and Chris Gethard, the movie bills itself as a dramedy about an improv group that begins to fall apart when a few of the members make it onto the biggest TV sketch show. He previously helmed Sleepwalk With Me. (VUL)
Hold Off On Those “George Miller Directing ‘Man Of Steel 2’” Rumors, as the Movie Now Might Not Even Happen
Miller is indeed in talks with Warner Bros. about the possibility of taking on one of its future DC movies, though exactly what that movie is hasn’t been decided as yet. One source said that what Miller directs will depend on what story most interests him, his take on it, and everyone’s availability. While this doesn’t rule out the possibility of Miller taking on Man of Steel 2, another source has said that, as far as they understand it, the sequel is on “permanent hold.” (DG)
Shondaland Developing Yet Another Show For ABC, This One a Drama About Nuns
Untitled drama hails from writer Alison Schapker (Fringe, Brothers and Sisters, Alias) and centers on a group of Catholic nuns fighting the closure of their Bronx-based convent who must suddenly deal with three young novices whose arrival unearths long-buried secrets. The ensemble drama will throw into question everything you think you know about the “Brides of Christ.” (TLF)
After Some Major Production Trouble, HBO Miniseries ‘Lewis And Clark’ To Resume Production In Spring
Cable net’s high-profile six-hour miniseries, starring Casey Affleck and Matthias Schoenaerts, shut down production three weeks ago after a rough early going, with internal as well as external, weather-related factors, impacting the production. Based on the book Undaunted Courage by Stephen E. Ambrose, film tells the story of America’s first contact with the land and native tribes of the country west of the Mississippi. HBO will find a new director and DP. (DH)
Producer Adi Shankar Has an Ultra Violent ‘Castlevania’ Animated Mini-Series In Store For Us
Shankar, the man behind such works as Dredd, The Punisher: Dirty Laundry, Venom: Truth in Journalism, Judge Dredd: Superfiend, and a brutally reimagined Power Rangers short, is behind the video game adaptation, along with Fred Siebert and Kevin Klonde. No other attachments have yet been announced. (BD)
Curious About When Your Favorite Shows Are Returning This Fall? Here’s a Handy Dandy Premiere Date Guide
Just about every single show that matters is on this list, though no reality TV programming is included. Nor, for that matter, are TV movies or Specials, with a few choice exceptions. What are included, however, are premiered dates for scripted TV series appearing on streaming sites like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, and Crackle. (COL)
How Did This Get Made? The Curious Case Of Whoopi Goldberg and ‘Theodore Rex’
Nobody sets out to make a bad movie. But the truth is, it happens all the time. And every time it does, there’s a fun misadventure and cautionary tale lurking somewhere behind the scenes. This is that story for the most expensive movie that ever went straight to video. (SF)
Screenwriters: ‘Slumdog Millionaire’
The Oscar-winning, 133-page screenplay by Simon Beaufoy, based on the novel Q&A by Vikas Swarup. Draft is dated August 15th, 2007. (DS)