NEW ATTACHMENTS
Emperor
Logline: Explores the life of two young Romans–Gaius Julius Caesar and his blood-friend Marcus Junius Brutus.
Studio/Distributor: Lionsgate’s Summit Ent.
Production Company(s): Atmosphere Entertainment MM LLC, Hollywood Gang Productions, White Horse Pictures
Producer(s): Nigel Sinclair, Guy East, Gianni Nunnari, Mark Canton, William Broyles Jr.
Writer(s): Ian Mackenzie Jeffers, Burr Steers, William Broyles Jr., Stephen Harrigan
Details: Based on the novel “Emperor: The Gates of Rome” written by Conn Iggulden and published by HarperCollins on January 6, 2003. It is the first in the four-book “Emperor” series.
SSN Insight: Project is the first in a planned franchise on the novel series. Burr Steers previously attached to direct.
Escaping North Korea
Logline: A Korean-American helps North Koreans escape their repressive country and cross over into China.
Production Company(s): DAS Films, 3AD
Producer(s): Daniel Dae Kim, Chris S. Lee, Mike Kim, Sriram Das
Writer(s): Rosalind Ross
Cast: Daniel Dae Kim
Details: Based on the memoir “Escaping North Korea: Defiance and Hope in the World’s Most Repressive Country” written by Mike Kim and published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2008.
SSN Insight: Daniel Dae Kim is currently in production on the sixth season of CBS’ Hawaii Five-0. Ross has a feature film in development called Lioness with Ellen Page set to star.
Ferrari
Logline: Storyline under wraps.
Production Company(s): Forward Pass, Inc., Cecchi Gori Pictures
Producer(s): Michael Mann, Niels Juul
Writer(s): Troy Kennedy Martin, David Rayfiel
Director(s): Michael Mann
Cast: Christian Bale
Details: Based on the book “Enzo Ferrari: The Man, The Cars, The Race, The Machine” written by Brock Yates published by Doubleday May 1, 1991.
SSN Insight: Mann has been in development on the film for 15 years, at one time partnering with director Sydney Pollack. Cameron Crowe previously attached to direct. Literary sale date was in 2002.
Fifty Shades Darker
Logline: Anastasia has broken off her relationship with the troubled Christian to pursue a new career in a Seattle publishing house.
Studio/Distributor: Universal Pictures, Universal Pictures
Production Company(s): Trigger Street Productions, Michael De Luca Productions
Producer(s): Dana Brunetti, Michael De Luca
Writer(s): Niall Leonard
Director(s): James Foley (In Discussions)
Cast: Dakota Johnson, Jamie Dornan
Details: Based on the book “Fifty Shades Darker,” the second book in the Fifty Shade trilogy, written by E.L. James and published by Vintage on April 17, 2012. Sequel to “Fifty Shades of Grey” (2015) directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson and starring Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan.
SSN Insight: Sam Taylor-Johnson was previously attached to direct.
Gambit
Logline: The adventures of the X-Men world favorite mutant thief, Remy LeBeau, AKA Gambit.
Studio/Distributor: 20th Century Fox, 20th Century Fox Distribution
Production Company(s): Donners’ Company, Marvel Entertainment, Genre Films, Free Association
Producer(s): Lauren Shuler Donner, Channing Tatum, Reid Carolin, Simon Kinberg
Writer(s): Josh Zetumer
Director(s): Rupert Wyatt
Cast: Channing Tatum, Lea Seydoux (in talks)
Details: Based on the comic book character Gambit who appeared in “Uncanny X-Men” #266 created by Jim Lee and Chris Claremont and published by Marvel Comics on August 15, 1990.
SSN Insight: Seydoux was previously in Blue Is The Warmest Color and the 007 film Spectre.
Girl on the Train
Logline: A young woman gets mixed up in a murder investigation because of what she sees on her daily commute.
Studio/Distributor: DreamWorks Studios
Production Company(s): Marc Platt Productions
Producer(s): Marc Platt
Writer(s): Erin Cressida Wilson
Director(s): Tate Taylor
Cast: Haley Bennett, Emily Blunt, Rebecca Ferguson
Details: Based on the novel “Girl on the Train” written by Paula Hawkins and published by Riverhead Books in 2015.
SSN Insight: Kate Mara was mentioned to co-star.
Hacksaw Ridge
Logline: Storyline under wraps.
Studio/Distributor: Lionsgate
Production Company(s): Permut Presentations, Pandemonium, Cross Creek Pictures
Producer(s): Terry Benedict, David Permut, Bill Mechanic, Brian Oliver, Tyler Thompson
Writer(s): Robert Schenkkan, Randall Wallace
Director(s): Mel Gibson
Cast: Andrew Garfield, Vince Vaughn, Sam Worthington, Luke Bracey
SSN Insight: Previously set up at Walt Disney Pictures. Terry Benedict was originally hired to write the screenplay at the studio. Literary sale date was in 2001. Randall Wallace was previously attached to direct.
Mother’s Day
Logline: The stories of several mothers intertwine during the day leading up to the Mother’s Day holiday.
Studio/Distributor: Open Road Films
Production Company(s): PalmStar Entertainment, Gulfstream Pictures
Producer(s): Wayne Rice, Mike Karz, Daniel Diamond, Brandt Anderson, Kevin Scott Frakes
Writer(s): Anya Kochoff, Lily Hollander, Matt Walker, Tom Hines
Director(s): Garry Marshall
Cast: Julia Roberts, Jennifer Aniston, Kate Hudson, Jason Sudeikis, Ella Anderson, Timothy Olyphant, Shay Mitchell, Britt Robertson, Jack Whitehall, Aasif Mandvi and Loni Love
SSN Insight: Slated to be released in April 2016. Marshall previously directed Valentine’s Day and New Year’s Eve.
The Idol
Logline: Mohammad Assaf is the Gazan wedding singer who became a worldwide sensation after winning the live-singing competition Arab Idol in 2013.
Production Company(s): Idol Film Production LTD
Producer(s): Amira Diab, Ali Jaafar
Writer(s): Hany Abu-Assad, Sameh Zuabi
Director(s): Hany Abu-Assad
Cast: Kais Attalah, Hiba Attalah, Ahmad Qasem, Abdel Kareem Barakeh, Tawfeek Barhom
SSN Insight: Film to premiere as a Special Presentation at TIFF. Seville International is overseeing rights outside the Middle East on the feature.
The Meddler
Logline: An aging widow from New York City follows her daughter to Los Angeles in hopes of starting a new life after her husband passes away.
Studio/Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Production Company(s): Anonymous Content
Producer(s): Joy Gorman, Paul Green
Writer(s): Lorene Scafaria
Director(s): Lorene Scafaria
Cast: Susan Sarandon, Rose Byrne, J.K. Simmons, Michael McKean, Lucy Punch
SSN Insight: Sony Pictures Classics acquired domestic rights prior to the film’s premiere at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival.
Too Late
Logline: A private investigator in Los Angeles confronts his own past and tries to solve the murder of a woman.
Production Company(s): Too Late Movie LLC, Foe Killer Films
Producer(s): Alexandra Barreto, Taylor Feltner
Writer(s): Dennis Hauck
Director(s): Dennis Hauck
Cast: John Hawkes, Dichen Lachman, Rider Strong, Brett Jacobsen, Robert Forster
SSN Insight: Production went on hiatus in late 2012 and plans to resume filming in May 2014 Peter Bogdanovich was previously attached to star. Content Media has acquired international sales rights to the feature.
War of the Planet of the Apes
Logline: Storyline is under wraps.
Studio/Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Company(s): Chernin Entertainment, Shinbone Productions
Producer(s): Peter Chernin, Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, Jenno Topping
Writer(s): Matt Reeves, Mark Bomback
Director(s): Matt Reeves
Cast: Andy Serkis, Gabriel Chavarria
Details: Sequel to “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” (2011) directed by Rupert Wyatt and “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” (2014) directed by Matt Reeves.
SSN Insight: Gabriel Chavarria can next be seen in Universal’s upcoming Low Riders feature.
Why Him?
Logline: A father from the Midwest brings the whole family to visit his daughter at Stanford, where she’s a student, for Christmas, and the dad winds up getting into a tense competition with the daughter’s boyfriend, an Internet billionaire.
Studio/Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Company(s): Red Hour Films, 21 Laps Entertainment
Producer(s): Shawn Levy, Dan Levine, Ben Stiller, Stuart Cornfeld
Writer(s): John Hamburg, Ian Helfer, Nicholas Stoller
Director(s): John Hamburg
Cast: James Franco, Bryan Cranston
SSN Insight: In August, 2015, the California Film Commission picked “Why Him?” as one of 11 films to share $55.2 million in incentives and receive up to 25 percent in tax credits.
NEW PROJECTS
Behind the Curtain of the Night
Logline: A man who has a near death experience sees his past lives from before he was born and his future lives.
Production Company(s): Hollywood Media Bridge, Crypto One Bill
Producer(s): Milan Friedrich, Phillip B Goldfine
Writer(s): Dalibor Stach
Director(s): Dalibor Stach
Cast: Brendan Fraser, Marcia Cross, Dawn Olivieri, Massimo Dobrovic
SSN Insight: Brendan Fraser is also attached to Married and Cheating and Four Kings, both in active development.
Half Magic
Logline: A woman is looking for a nice guy and great sex and hopes to find both in one person.
Production Company(s): Bubble Factory, The
Producer(s): Sid Sheinberg, Jon Sheinberg, Bill Sheinberg
Writer(s): Heather Graham
Director(s): Heather Graham
Cast: Heather Graham, Angela Kinsey, Chris D’Elia, Jason Lewis, Molly Shannon
SSN Insight: Heather Graham will next voice Vera for Lionsgate’s Norm of the North and is attached to Vengeance: A Love Story in active development.
Long Shot
Logline: The true story of Kevin Laue, who defied all odds to become the first player missing a limb to play NCAA Division 1 basketball.
Production Company(s): WWE Studios
Writer(s): Kara Holden
Details: Based on the documentary “Long Shot: The Kevin Laue Story” (2012) directed by Franklin Martin.
SSN Insight: Holden previously wrote Soul Surfer.
Moonlight
Logline: A young man deals with his dysfunctional home life and comes of age in Miami during the War on Drugs era.
Production Company(s): Plan B Entertainment, A24
Producer(s): Adele Romanski
Writer(s): Barry Jenkins
Director(s): Barry Jenkins
Details: Based on the stage play “In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue” written by Tarell McCraney.
SSN Insight: A24 was launched in 2012 and This year released hit indie films Amy and Ex Machina.
Operation Brothers
Logline: The true story of Israel’s Mossad spy agency 1981 rescue of Ethiopian Jews to Israel is dramatized.
Studio/Distributor: Fox Searchlight Pictures
Production Company(s): Emjag Productions
Producer(s): Gideon Raff, Alexandra Milchan
Writer(s): Gideon Raff
Director(s): Gideon Raff
SSN Insight: Raff has executive produced Homeland, Tyrant and Dig.
The Final Service
Logline: A 40 year old music teacher’s damaged family relationship and unfulfilled dreams bring her to the verge of self-destruction, until an unexpected visit changes her life forever.
Production Company(s): Night Fox Entertainment
Producer(s): Timothy Christian
Writer(s): Kieth Merrill
Director(s): Kieth Merrill
Details: Based on the upcoming novel “The Final Service” written by Gary W. Moore and to be published by Savas Beatie LLC in May, 2016.
SSN Insight: Timothy Christian has also executive produced Z for Zachariah currently awaiting release.
Untitled Frank Calabrese Biopic Project
Logline: The true story of mobster Frank Calabrese, Sr. who ran the Chicago crime family “The Outfit” and his sons, one of whom became an FBI informant and helped bring his father to justice.
Production Company(s): Black Label Media
Producer(s): Eric Shepherd, Jeff Chianaki, Molly Smith, Thad Luckinbill, Trent Luckinbill
Writer(s): Mark Mallouk
SSN Insight: Black Label Media was previously behind The Good Lie and Begin Again and has financed Demolition and Sicario, both awaiting release.
Untitled Jennifer Lawrence/Amy Schumer Comedy Project
Logline: The comedy revolves around two sisters.
Writer(s): Jennifer Lawrence, Amy Schumer
Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Amy Schumer
SSN Insight: Schumer is currently writing and will star in an Untitled Feigco/Chernin/Mother Daughter Comedy for Fox.
Untitled M. Night Shyamalan/Blumhouse Project
Logline: Storyline is under wraps.
Production Company(s): Blinding Edge Pictures, Lightning Entertainment, Blumhouse Productions
Producer(s): Jason Blum, Marc Bienstock
Director(s): M. Night Shyamalan
Cast: Joaquin Phoenix (in talks)
SSN Insight: The two worked together most recently on upcoming Universal release The Visit.
XXX3
Logline: The adventures of Xander “XXX” Cage continue.
Studio/Distributor: Revolution Studios
Cast: Vin Diesel
Details: Sequel to the film XXX in 2002 and xXx: State Of The Union in 2005.
SSN Insight: The original film, xXx grossed $277 million worldwide and its sequel grossed $71 million worldwide.