SSN ORIGINALS
Hollywood Bull In the China Shop, Part Two: Finding Money in the Land of Opportunity
Justin Feldman has spent the last decade working in production and development and previously was the VP of Production for Base Media, the original content division of China’s largest post/VFX firm. China is fast outpacing U.S. growth. In 2013 alone, while U.S. box office revenues grew by only 1%, ticket sales in China jumped by 27 percent, according to the MPAA. This is Part Two of Feldman’s look into the China Film Market. (SSN)
Film and TV Deals For 9/16/15: Ridley Scott Creates new Genre Label, Chinese Giant Tencent Opens Penguin Pictures
Among other deals happening over the past week are Cinedigm Launching The Dove Channel, the founding of the new production company Pictures, Pictures, several big deals signed by television creators with larger production companies, and plenty more. (SSN)
Rep Moves for 9/16/15: CAA Snags Venice Film Fest Winner Pablo Trapero Along with Jackie Chan & Ava DuVernay
Plenty of movement this week, with veteran reality producer and creator Matt Kunitz finding new representation, as well as one of the major agencies signing its very first Periscope talent. There’s a lot more, so click the link to read more. (SSN)
OTHER HEADLINES
Today In Franchise Crossovers: ‘Kong: Skull Island’ and ‘Godzilla 2’ Will Eventually Form a Trilogy At WB
Amidst news that Thomas Tull’s Legendary Pictures has moved the King Kong prequel from Universal to Warner, which will also be footing a part of the $120 budget for the film, comes word that it will tie in closely with the newly resurgent Godzilla franchise. The plan, apparently, is to release the two sequels and combine the franchises with a Kong vs. Godzilla project afterward. (COL)
Don’t Get Your Hopes Up Waiting For That ‘Pacific Rim 2’ Sequel, Which Has Now Been Halted Indefinitely
A behind the scenes kerfuffle between the franchise’s producer Legendary and its studio, Universal. Originally, the film had been scheduled for a 2017 release date, but now Legendary has halted the film’s development completely, choosing instead to focus on its King Kong and Godzilla franchises, with speculation now being that the film may not happen at all. (CB)
With the Great Success Of ‘Straight Outta Compton’ So Fresh, Universal Is Now Considering a Def Jam Origin Story
Studio is considering a feature that would be based on Russell Simmons’ 2002 book Life and Def: Sex, Drugs, Money, + God, which documents the founding of Def Jam Records, whose roster included rap icons like L.L. Cool J, Public Enemy, and the Beastie Boys; the launching of Def Comedy Jam, which introduced black comedic stars like Martin Lawrence, Bernie Mac and Chris Rock; and much more. Michael B. Jordan is reportedly being eyed to star. (SAA)
Judd Apatow Hops On Board Another HBO Show, Will Direct and Produce Pete Holmes’ ‘Crashing’
Cable network has given a green light to the show, a single-camera comedy pilot. Written by Holmes, the semi-autobiographical project centers on a sweet, wholesome comedian (Holmes) who, after his wife leaves him, has nowhere to stay but on the couches of New York’s finest comics. Apatow, Holmes and Holmes’ manager Dave Rath are executive producing the pilot, slated to film in November. Apatow is also an EP on Lena Dunham’s Girls. (DH)
A&E’s ‘Roots’ Remake Adds Forest Whitaker, Anna Paquin and Jonathan Rhys Meyers To Its Cast
For its four-night, eight-hour miniseries event, A+E Studios has already lined up Laurence Fishburne, Anika Noni Rose, Derek Luke and Chad L. Coleman, plus newcomers Malachi Kirby (as Kunta Kinte) and Regé-Jean Page (as Chicken George). Mario Van Peebles, Bruce Beresford, Phillip Noyce and Thomas Carter will each direct one night of the event. (TLF)
‘Heroes Reborn’ Player Danika Yarosh Just Got Herself a Pretty Major Casting Coup
The actress will join the cast of Jack Reacher 2, which stars Tom Cruise and Cobie Smulders, and which is based on the Lee Child novel, Never Go Back. Yarosh has been cast as a teenager who may or may not be the long lost daughter of Cruise’s title character. Ed Zwick is directing the film, which is about to go into production for an October 1st, 2016 release. (SF)
Trailer Buzz: ‘In the Heart Of the Sea’
Warner Bros. has released the latest trailer for the upcoming historical drama, adapted from Nathaniel Philbrick’s Moby Dick origin story of the same name. Starring Chris Hemsworth, Cillian Murphy, Benjamin Walker, Michelle Fairley, Charlotte Riley, Jordi Molla, Tom Holland and Sam Keeley, and directed by Ron Howard, it opens December 11th. (EMP)