NEW ATTACHMENTS
A Dog’s Purpose
Logline: A canine’s quest to discover his purpose in the world over the course of several lifetimes with multiple owners.
Studio/Distributor(s): DreamWorks Studios
Production Company(s): Walden Media, Pariah, Mark Sourian Productions
Producer(s): Gavin Polone
Writer(s): Audrey Wells, Keith Bunin, W Bruce Cameron, Cathryn Michon
Director(s): Lasse Hallstrom
Cast: Britt Robertson, Dennis Quaid, K.J. Apa, Juliet Rylance, Peggy Lipton, John Ortiz
Details: Based on the novel “A Dog’s Purpose” written by W. Bruce Cameron and published by Forge Books on July 6, 2010.
SSN Insight: The film is a series of vignettes and Ortiz will star as “Carlos” in his segment, a stern, all business cop who trains his dog to assist him in solving crime.
All We Had
Logline: Set during the worldwide financial crisis in 2008, a single mother and her teenage daughter find a new home and hope for their future when they move to a small Midwestern town.
Production Company(s): Tribeca Films
Producer(s): Jane Rosenthal, Berry Welsh, Katie Mustard
Writer(s): Josh Boone, Jill Killington
Director(s): Katie Holmes
Cast: Katie Holmes, Stefania Owen, Richard Kind, Luke Wilson, Judy Greer, Mark Consuelos
Details: Based on the novel “All We Had: A Novel” by Annie Weatherwax; published by Scribner August 5, 2014.
SSN Insight: Feature film directorial debut of Katie Holmes.
Baby Driver
Logline: A young, music-loving expert getaway driver is coerced into a heist for a mob boss which threatens his life, love and freedom.
Studio/Distributor(s): TriStar Productions, TriStar Pictures
Production Company(s): Working Title Films, Big Talk Productions, Media Rights Capital
Producer(s): Nira Park, Eric Fellner, Tim Bevan
Writer(s): Edgar Wright
Director(s): Edgar Wright
Cast: Ansel Elgort, Lily James, Jamie Foxx (in talks)
SSN Insight: Jamie Foxx wrapped on Sleepless Night and is cast in the following films in active development: Martin Luther King, Mean Business on North Ganson Street, and an Untitled Mike Tyson Biopic
Bridget Jones’ Baby
Logline: Bridget Jones tries to have a baby.
Studio/Distributor(s): Universal Pictures,
Production Company(s): Working Title Films, Monumental Television
Producer(s): Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Debra Hayward, Jonathan Cavendish
Writer(s): Paul Feig, Helen Fielding, David Nicholls
Director(s): Sharon Maguire
Cast: Renee Zellweger, Colin Firth, Patrick Dempsey
Details: Sequel to “Bridget Jones’s Diary” (2001), directed by Sharon Maguire and starring Renee Zellweger, Hugh Grant, and Colin Firth, and “Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason” (2004), directed by Beeban Kidron.
SSN Insight: Paul Feig was previously attached to direct. Shooting delayed from a February start due to script changes.
Bushwick
Logline: When Lucy comes out of the Brooklyn subway and finds her neighborhood under attack, she crosses five dangerous blocks of Bushwick with her new companion Stupe to get home to her grandmother.
Production Company(s): XYZ Films, Bullet Pictures
Producer(s): Nate Bolotin, Adam Folk
Writer(s): Nick Damici, Graham Reznick
Director(s): Cary Murnion, Jonathan Milott
Cast: Jane Levy, Dave Bautista
SSN Insight: Dave Bautista was recently seen in Guardians of the Galaxy. This film is scheduled to go into production in New York this year.
Collateral Beauty
Logline: A man who works in a New York ad agency finds his life turned upside down when a tragedy sends him into a depression, and his colleagues set out to lift his spirits.
Studio/Distributor(s): New Line
Production Company(s): Overbrook Entertainment, Anonymous Content, PalmStar Entertainment, Scarlet Fire Entertainment, Likely Story
Producer(s): Michael Sugar, Bard Dorros, Will Smith, Allan Loeb
Writer(s): Allan Loeb
Director(s): Alfonso Gomez-Rejon
Cast: Jason Segel, Will Smith
SSN Insight: Hugh Jackman was previously attached to co-star. Johnny Depp was previously in talks to co-star. Rooney Mara was previously attached to co-star. New Line has acquired worldwide rights on the film.
De Palma
Logline: A candid discussion with the director Brian De Palma, exploring his illustrious 50-year career.
Studio/Distributor(s): A24
Production Company(s): Empire Ward
Producer(s): Noah Baumbach, Jake Paltrow
Director(s): Noah Baumbach, Jake Paltrow
SSN Insight: A24 is partnering with Baumbach and Paltrow on its worldwide release and has landed the rights, the deal was made on the same day as its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival.
Gifted
Logline: A thirty year old man attempts to continue raising his deceased sister’s seven year old daughter, a kid-genius, while battling his own mother for custody.
Production Company(s): FilmNation
Producer(s): Karen Lunder, Andy Cohen
Writer(s): Tom Flynn
Director(s): Marc Webb
Cast: Chris Evans, Octavia Spencer, McKenna Grace, Lindsay Duncan
SSN Insight: Spencer can next be seen in theThe Divergent Series: Allegiant Part 1, the faith-based drama The Shack, and The Great Gilly Hopkins. Grace recently wrapped the Fox feature Independence Day: Resurgence alongside Liam Hemsworth.
Going in Style (Remake)
Logline: A group of retired, bored, senior citizens decide to rob a bank.
Studio/Distributor(s): New Line Cinema, Warner Bros. Pictures Distribution
Production Company(s): De Line Pictures
Producer(s): Donald De Line
Writer(s): Ted Melfi
Director(s): Zach Braff
Cast: Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Alan Arkin, Matt Dillon, Ann-Margret, John Ortiz
Details: Remake of the film “Going in Style” (1979) directed by Martin Brest and starring George Burns, Art Carney and Lee Strasberg.
SSN Insight: Don Scardino was previously in discussions to direct. Ted Melfi was previously in discussions to direct.
Gotti
Logline: The story of infamous New York mob boss John Gotti, focusing on his relationship with his son, John Jr.
Studio/Distributor(s): Lionsgate
Production Company(s): Emmett/Furla/Oasis Films, Herrick Entertainment, Fiore Films, LLC
Producer(s): Michael Froch, Marc Fiore, Randall Emmett, George Furla, Norton Herrick
Writer(s): Lem Dobbs, Leo Rossi
Director(s): Kevin Connolly
Cast: John Travolta
SSN Insight: Nick Cassavettes was previously in talks to direct. Marco Fiore acquired John Gotti, Jr.’s life rights for the film. Barry Levinson was previously attached to direct and rewrite the screenplay. Travolta and Connolly will go to Toronto to help the film’s foreign sales.
Heart of a Dog
Logline: Renowned multi-displinary artist Laurie Anderson reflects on the deaths of her husband Lou Reed, her mother, her beloved dog, and such diverse subjects as family memories, surveillance, and Buddhist teachings.
Studio/Distributor(s): Abramorama Entertainment, HBO Documentary Films
Production Company(s): Field Office Films, Canal Street Communications
Producer(s): Laurie Anderson, Dan Janvey
Writer(s): Laurie Anderson
Director(s): Laurie Anderson
SSN Insight: Abramorama and HBO Documentary Films acquired domestic rights prior to the film’s premiere at the 2015 Telluride Film Festival.
Kilo Two Bravo
Logline: Tells the true story of a platoon set out to disable a Taliban roadblock. On nearing the insurgents, one of the soldiers triggers a land mine, setting into motion a desperate rescue mission.
Studio/Distributor(s): Honora Productions, Search Engine
Production Company(s): Pukka Films
Producer(s): Andrew de Lotbiniere, Paul Katis
Writer(s): Tom Williams
Director(s): Paul Katis
Cast: Mark Stanley, Malachi Kirby, Paul Luebke, Ali Cook, Andy Gibbins
SSN Insight: Katis earned a BAFTA Award nomination this year for outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer. The deal comes ahead of its North American premiere at TIFF. The VOD release will fall on November 10 plan followed by a theatrical rollout beginning November 13.
LBJ
Logline: Lyndon Johnson goes from powerful Senate Majority Leader, powerless Vice President to President of the United States following the assassination of John F. Kennedy.
Production Company(s): Castle Rock Entertainment, Star Thrower Entertainment, Acacia Entertainment, Savvy Media Holdings
Producer(s): Matthew George, Rob Reiner, Liz Glotzer, Michael Williams, Tim White
Writer(s): Joey Hartstone
Director(s): Rob Reiner
Cast: Woody Harrelson, Richard Jenkins, Kim Allen, Michael Stahl-David
SSN Insight: Project was included in the 2014 Black List. Michael Stahl-David will appear as Bobby Kennedy.
Little Brother
Logline: A group of teenagers in San Francisco, in the aftermath of a terrorist attack, defend themselves against the Department of Homeland Security.
Studio/Distributor(s): Paramount Pictures
Production Company(s): Angry Films
Producer(s): Don Murphy, Susan Montford
Details: Based on the novel “Little Brother” written by Cory Doctorow and published by Tor Books on April 29, 2008.
SSN Insight: Paramount seeks to create a reality-based YA franchise. Doctorow is a co-owner and moderator on the popular blog site BoingBoing.net.
Ma Ma
Logline: Centers on Magda, a woman whose strength, grace, and unending capacity for love guide her through both tragedies and miracles. A chance encounter following a grim medical diagnosis connects her with soccer star Arturo, who is, himself, dealing with unspeakable loss. Together, they raise Magda’s son while grappling with the realities of their situations and ultimately rising above life’s trials to find joy.
Studio/Distributor(s): Oscilloscope Laboratories
Production Company(s): Morena Films, 88 Productions, Alicia Produce S L
Producer(s): Penelope Cruz (EP), Alvaro Longoria, Julio Medem
Writer(s): Julio Medem
Director(s): Julio Medem
Cast: Penelope Cruz, Luis Tosar
SSN Insight: Oscilloscope Laboratories has acquired U.S. rights ahead of its world premiere in the Special Presentations section at TIFF. eOne’s Seville International is overseeing international sales at Toronto and eOne is releasing the film in Spain and Canada.
Men & Chicken
Logline: Two sad sack brothers head to a dilapidated mansion on a remote island to meet their biological father — and their three seriously eccentric siblings.
Studio/Distributor(s): Drafthouse Films
Production Company(s): M & M Productions A/S, Studio Babelsberg
Producer(s): Tivi Magnusson, Kim Magnusson
Writer(s): Anders Thomas Jensen
Director(s): Anders Thomas Jensen
Cast: David Dencik, Mads Mikkelsen, Nikolaj Lie Kaas, Nicolas Bro
SSN Insight: Drafthouse Films has bought the North American distribution rights before the film’s North American premiere in the Vanguard section at TIFF.
Nocturnal Animals
Logline: Susan receives a manuscript from her ex-husband, and reading it causes her recall her first marriage and confront some dark truths about herself.
Studio/Distributor(s): Focus Features
Production Company(s): Fade to Black Productions
Producer(s): Tom Ford, Robert Salerno
Writer(s): Tom Ford
Director(s): Tom Ford
Cast: Amy Adams, Jake Gyllenhaal, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Michael Shannon, Kim Basinger, Isla Fisher
Details: Based on the novel “Tony and Susan” written by Austin Wright and published by Baskerville Publishers in 1993.
SSN Insight: Project was previously in development at Smokehouse Pictures with George Clooney and Grant Heslov attached to produce. Focus Features and Universal Pictures International secured the rights at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival in a reportedly $20 Million deal, marking one of the biggest deal in Cannes history.
The Journey
Logline: After three decades of not speaking, Ian Paisley, staunch evangelical Protestant and advocate for Northern Ireland, and Martin McGuinness, a former leader of the IRA are forced to ride in a car together. Will their proximity help in the quest for peace?
Studio/Distributor(s): No Domestic Theatrical Distributor Available.
Production Company(s): Tempo Productions, Generator Entertainment, Greenroom Entertainment
Producer(s): Nick Hamm, Mark Huffam, Piers Tempest
Writer(s): Colin Bateman
Director(s): Nick Hamm
Cast: Timothy Spall, Colm Meaney, John Hurt, Toby Stephens, Freddy Highmore
SSN Insight: CAA and Bloom are selling the project on a promo reel at Cannes. Liam Neeson and Kenneth Branagh were previously attached to star.
The Last Days in the Desert
Logline: Follows Jesus in an imagined chapter from his 40 days of fasting and praying in the desert. On his way out of the wilderness, he struggles with the Devil over the fate of an ordinary family in crisis, setting for himself a dramatic test with distinctly human conflicts.
Studio/Distributor(s): Tugg.com, Broad Green Pictures
Production Company(s): Mockingbird Pictures, Zoetrope Films, Division Films, Aspiration Media
Producer(s): Julie Lynn, Bonnie Curtis, Wicks Walker
Writer(s): Rodrigo Garcia
Director(s): Rodrigo Garcia
Cast: Ewan McGregor, Ciarin Hinds, Ayelet Zurer, Tye Sheridan, Susan Gray
SSN Insight: The film premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Broad Green, Tugg and specialty marketing agency Different Drummer have partnered to screen the movie in non-theatrical spaces in local markets.
The Sense of an Ending
Logline: A reclusive older man must face the flawed recollections of his younger self and his long buried secrets.
Studio/Distributor(s): CBS Films
Production Company(s): Origin Pictures
Producer(s): David M. Thompson, Ed Rubin
Writer(s): Nick Payne
Director(s): Ritesh Batra
Cast: Jim Broadbent, Charlotte Rampling, Harriet Walter, Michelle Dockery, Emily Mortimer
Details: Based on the novel “The Sense of an Ending” by Julian Barnes; published by Jonathan Cape in 2011.
SSN Insight: Drama will be featured at Toronto with the film currently shooting. FilmNation Entertainment, BBC Films and LipSync are financing.
Trainspotting 2
Logline: Sequel to be based on Irvine Welsh’s sequel novel to Trainspotting, entitled Porno.
Production Company(s): DNA Films
Producer(s): Andrew Macdonald
Writer(s): John Hodge
Director(s): Danny Boyle
Cast: Ewan McGregor, Jonny Lee Miller, Robert Carlyle, Ewen Bremner, Kelly Macdonald
Details: Sequel to “Trainspotting” (UK/1996) directed by Danny Boyle and starring Ewan McGregor and Jonny Lee Miller. Based on the novel “Porno” written by Irvine Welsh and published by Jonathan Cape August 2002.
SSN Insight: Hodge also wrote A Life Less Ordinary, The Beach and Trance, both directed by Boyle.
Underworld V
Logline: In this fifth installment of the “Underworld” franchise, a new, younger generation of vampires and werewolves are embroiled in a supernatural race war.
Studio/Distributor(s): Screen Gems
Production Company(s): Lakeshore Entertainment
Producer(s): Gary Lucchesi, Len Wiseman, Richard Wright, Tom Rosenberg
Writer(s): Cory Goodman, Kyle Ward
Director(s): Anna Foerster
Cast: Kate Beckinsale, Theo James, Tobias Menzies, Clementine Nicholson, Bradley James
SSN Insight: Anna Foerster is the first woman to direct a film in the “Underworld” franchise. Production is scheduled for October in Prague.
Untitled Playmobil Project
Logline: This animated feature is based on the iconic Playmobil Toys brand.
Production Company(s): Wild Bunch, Pathe International, ON Entertainment, Morgen Studios
Producer(s): Dimitri Rassam, Aton Soumache, Alexis Vonarb, Moritz Borman
Writer(s): Bob Persichetti
Director(s): Bob Persichetti
Details: Based on the figurines designed by Hans Beck, which are popular with children in over 100 countries.
SSN Insight: French sales-distribution-production house Wild Bunch will officially launch the project at Toronto and is in advanced negotiations with a U.S. studio to secure wide domestic distribution. The film is planned for release in 2017.
NEW PROJECTS
Braven
Logline: A logger who lives on the U.S./Canada border is confronted by a group of drug runners in his secluded mountain cabin, and must do everything he can to protect his family.
Studio/Distributor(s): ,
Production Company(s): LINK Entertainment, Pride of Gypsies, Hassell Free Productions
Producer(s): Jason Momoa, Brian Mendoza, Michael Nilon, Molly Hassell
Writer(s): Thomas Pa’a Sibbett
Director(s): Lin Oeding
Cast: Jason Momoa
SSN Insight: Sales set to be launched at TIFF, where Highland Film Group handling will handle international sales.
Her
Logline: A past grudge slowly unfolds after a struggling mother has a seemingly chance encounter with a sophisticated woman.
Production Company(s): Timedale Entertainment
Producer(s): David A Stern, D. Matt Geller
Writer(s): Jesse Peyronel
Director(s): Jesse Peyronel
Details: Based on the novel “Her,” written by Harriet Lane and published by Little, Brown and Company in 2015.
SSN Insight: Peyronel is currently writing a feature adaptation of the Image comic book Sheltered which he will also direct along with the Fox International original pilot Collider.
Marauders
Logline: When an FBI agent is investigating a bank robbery, he uncovers a trail of secrets that the bank owner has been protecting.
Studio/Distributor(s): Lionsgate Premiere
Production Company(s): Emmett/Furla/Oasis Films, 4th Wall Entertainment
Producer(s): Randall Emmett, George Furla, Joshua Harris, Rosie Charbonneau
Writer(s): Michael Cody, Chris Sivertson
Director(s): Steven C. Miller
Cast: Bruce Willis, Christopher Meloni, Dave Bautista, Lydia Hull, Tyler Olson
SSN Insight: Emmett/Furla/Oasis Films is producing and financing the film and has secured a release through its deal with Lionsgate Premiere. Highland Film Group is overseeing international rights.
Schooled
Logline: The story involves a high-school teacher who will go to extreme lengths to get the respect she believes she deserves.
Studio/Distributor(s): Universal Pictures
Production Company(s): Paper Kite Productions
Producer(s): Amy Poehler, Brooke Posch
Writer(s): Erica Oyama (pitch)
SSN Insight: Poehler will next be seen alongside Tina Fey in Sisters. After that she will appear with Will Ferrell in The House. Her Paperkite banner also produces Broad City for Comedy Central and Difficult People for Hulu..
Untitled Warner Bros./Christopher Nolan Project
Logline: Storyline is under wraps.
Studio/Distributor(s): Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures Distribution
Director(s): Christopher Nolan
SSN Insight: The studio has set a July 21, 2017 release date. Details are kept under a tight lid. Nolan is an executive producer on Warner Bros.’ Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice along with an Untitled Keith Gordon Project.