In What Should Be a Surprise To Absolutely No One, Apple Is Exploring Original Programming
The moment the media and technology industries have been expecting for years may finally be arriving, as the colossus has held preliminary conversations in recent weeks with executives in Hollywood to suss out their interest in spearheading efforts to produce entertainment content. The goal is to create development and production divisions that would churn out long-form content to stream in a bid to compete with Netflix. (VAR)
Marvel Studios Finally Makes a Change, Will Now Report To Alan Horn Instead Of Ike Perlmutter
A year after moving to the Disney lot, its president Kevin Feige has orchestrated a reorganization that sees him reporting directly to the Walt Disney Studios Chairman, wresting oversight of the film division away from the Marvel Entertainment COO. The change, which took effect last week, only affects the film division; television and other Marvel endeavors remain under Perlmutter’s purview. The new situation is similar to the one Disney has with Lucasfilm. (DH)
No Shades Of Gray Here: Universal Has Officially Offered the ‘Fifty Shades’ Sequel Directing Gig To James Foley
Two weeks after this news first broke, Foley has been officially offered the job directing Fifty Shades Darker. Talks are reportedly beginning now. Whether this will be a two-fer deal, with Foley also set to direct the third film, remains to be seen. Fifty Shades Darker is set for release on February 10th, 2017 and if things go according to plan Fifty Shades Freed will open on February 9th, 2018. (SF)
So Much For That ‘Coach’ Reboot At NBC: Network Decides To Not Move Forward With the Show
The network has opted to cancel the straight-to-series follow-up starring Craig T. Nelson. Barry Kemp — who created the original series that ran on ABC for nine seasons — was attached to write the NBC follow-up and exec produce the Universal Television multicamera series with Nelson. The new series, originally ordered for a 13-episode pickup, will be shopped elsewhere. (TLF)
Get as Much ‘Under the Dome’ as You Can Stand, Because This Season Is the Last
CBS has decided to end its summer thriller Under the Dome next month— which is still two years after the show was originally expected to conclude. The network has officially decided to not order a fourth season of the series, which is based on the Stephen King bestseller about a Maine town suddenly trapped under a mysterious force field. Instead, the Sept. 10th finale will serve as a series ender. (EW)
Wondering Why Bill Murray Agreed To Do His ‘Ghosbusters’ Cameo? He Has Some Answers For You
For a long time, it seemed like Bill Murray was done with the Ghostbusters franchise. It came as a surprise, then, when reports broke weeks ago that Murray had actually taken part in Paul Feig’s new female-driven film. It’s rumored that Murray will appear as a character out to debunk the new Ghostbusters crew, played by Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon, and Leslie Jones. He discussed his choice at the premiere of his new film, Rock the Kasbah. (VUL)
Jeremy Renner Inks Multi-Year Producing Deal With PalmStar Media
Actor-producer has inked a deal with PalmStar Media, the busy indie film finance and production company behind American Ultra and Pawn Sacrifice. As part of the multi-year deal, PalmStar will provide producing services and overhead, development and production financing for Renner and Don Handfield’s production company The Combine. The two companies aim to jointly produce two to three films per year. (THR)
Tony Todd Has Joined the Cast Of Season Two Of ‘The Flash’, or At Least His Voice Has
In the aftermath of the events of the show‘s dramatic season one finale last May, we’re going to be seeing a major update of the Reverse-Flash. The character, now known as Zoom, will not only receive a physical makeover, but will be voiced in season two by the legendary Tony Todd. Originally played by Tom Cavanaugh, who is still part of the cast, with a modulated voice, the character will now be voiced by Todd moving forward. (CS)
Trailer Buzz: ‘Downton Abbey’
ITV has released the first look at the final season of the Emmy-winning series, which premieres in Great Britain on Sunday, September 20th, and here in America on Masterpiece in January. (HP)
Online Film School: Six Filmmaking Tips From Penelope Spheeris
Perhaps best known for her work with various alumni of Saturday Night Live, Spheeris’s most popular works have obscured an extensive and eclectic filmmaking biography that includes establishing the first music video production company in LA, teaching Albert Brooks how to make films for his SNL shorts, directing Richard Pryor’s almost never-seen Uncle Tom’s Fairy Tales, and directing three of the most definitive documentaries on American punk ever made. (FSR)