NEW ATTACHMENTS
Anomalisa
Logline: A man struggles with his inability to connect with other people.
Studio/Distributor(s): Paramount Pictures
Production Company(s): Snoot Entertainment, Starburns Industries
Producer(s): Rosa Tran, Charlie Kaufman, Duke Johnson, Dino Stamatopoulos
Writer(s): Charlie Kaufman
Director(s): Duke Johnson, Charlie Kaufman
Details: Adaptation of Charlie Kaufman’s play “Anomalisa.” The producers raised $406,237 via the crowdfunding website Kickstarter prior to beginning production.
SSN Insight: Paramount acquired worldwide rights for a figure estimated to be over $5 million following a screening at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival.
Before I Fall
Logline: About a high school senior who finds that she may be living the last day of her life over and over until she gets it right. If you had only one day left on earth who would you kiss, who would you tell the real truth to, who would you save?
Production Company(s): Jon Shestack Productions, AwesomenessTV
Producer(s): Jonathan Shestack, Carla Hacken, Matt Kaplan, Brian Robbins
Writer(s): Gina Prince-Bythewood, Maria Maggenti
Director(s): Ry Russo-Young
Cast: Zoey Deutch
Details: Based on the novel “Before I Fall” written by Lauren Oliver and published by HarperCollins on March 2, 2010.
SSN Insight: Previously in development with Paper Pictures. Gina Prince-Bythewood was previously attached to direct.
Bleeding Heart
Logline: About a yoga instructor who finds herself behaving in ways she’d never have imagined herself, in an effort to protect her newly discovered sister, Shiva (Mamet), from a less-than-savory boyfriend.
Studio/Distributor(s): Gravitas Ventures
Production Company(s): Super Crispy Entertainment, Fido Features
Producer(s): Greg Ammon, Jonathan Schwartz, Andrea Sperling
Writer(s): Diane Bell
Director(s): Diane Bell
Cast: Jessica Biel, Zosia Mamet, Exie Booker, Edi Gathegi, Kate Burton
SSN Insight: Gravitas acquired domestic rights for the TIFF premiered film with the plan to release the film on demand November 3 followed by a theatrical release December 11.
Expiration
Logline: A hitman must find the antidote to a poison that’s slowly killing him.
Production Company(s): Corsan World Sales (CWS), Fable House
Producer(s): Paul Breuls, Adrien Brody
Cast: Adrien Brody
SSN Insight: Bruce Willis was previously attached to star. Nick Cassavetes was previously attached to direct. Project was previously in development at Emmett/Furla/Oasis Films with Randall Emmett and George Furla attached to produce and finance.
Eye in the Sky
Logline: A complex international anti-terrorism operation involving a drone escalates when a suicide bombing appears imminent, and the mission becomes further complicated when a little civilian girl inadvertently enters the picture.
Studio/Distributor(s): Bleecker Street
Production Company(s): Entertainment One, Raindog Films, Rumble Films
Producer(s): Colin Firth, Ged Doherty, Xavier Marchand, Benedict Carver
Writer(s): Guy Hibbert
Director(s): Gavin Hood
Cast: Helen Mirren, Aaron Paul, Barkhad Abdi, Alan Rickman, Iain Glen
SSN Insight: In a deal north of $2 million, Bleecker Street acquired the rights to the TIFF screened film. The project was previously in development at BBC Films. Olivier Hirschbiegel previously attached to direct. Project was previously in development at FilmNation with Karen Lunder, Aaron Ryder and Stephen Wright attached to produce.
Florence Foster Jenkins
Logline: The true story of New York socialite Florence Foster Jenkins, who aspired to become an opera singer despite an assertive lack of talent, and her aristocratic British “husband” and manager who both championed her skills and sought to protect her from the hard truth about her abilities.
Studio/Distributor(s): Paramount Pictures
Production Company(s): N1 European Film Productions and Co. KG, Qwerty Films
Producer(s): Michael Kuhn, Tracey Seaward
Writer(s): Nicholas Martin
Director(s): Stephen Frears
Cast: Meryl Streep, Hugh Grant, Simon Helberg, Rebecca Ferguson, Nina Arianda
SSN Insight: Paramount acquired domestic rights for $10 million at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival.
Forsaken
Logline: Former gunslinger John Henry Clayton returns home to the family ranch after a lengthy estrangement from his preacher father.
Studio/Distributor(s): Momentum Pictures Limited
Production Company(s): Panacea Entertainment, Vortex Words + Pictures, Minds Eye International, Rollercoaster Entertainment, Moving Pictures Media
Producer(s): Douglas John Falconer, Kevin DeWalt, Josh Miller, Gary Howsam, Isabella M. Rogona
Writer(s): Brad Mirman
Director(s): Jon Cassar
Cast: Kiefer Sutherland, Demi Moore, Donald Sutherland, Brian Cox, Michael Wincott
SSN Insight: Momentum acquired domestic rights prior to the film’s premiere at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival.
How to Talk to Girls at Parties
Logline: In 1970s London, a teenage boy who is into punk music gets involved with a tourist who want to escape from her tour group and explore the dangerous suburb of Croydon.
Studio/Distributor(s): A24
Production Company(s): Fortissimo Films, See-Saw Films, Little Punk
Producer(s): Neil Gaiman, John Cameron Mitchell, Howard Gertler, Iain Canning, Emile Sherman
Writer(s): Philippa Goslett, John Cameron Mitchell
Director(s): John Cameron Mitchell
Cast: Elle Fanning, Nicole Kidman, Ruth Wilson, Matt Lucas, Alex Sharp
Details: Based on the short story “How to Talk to Girls at Parties” written by Neil Gaiman and published by neilgaiman.com in 2006.
SSN Insight: A24 acquired domestic rights to the TIFF screened film.
Humbug
Logline: A contemporary retelling of the classic story of a wealthy real estate mogul who is shown a path to redemption by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future.
Studio/Distributor(s): Universal Pictures
Production Company(s): CubeVision, Prospect Park
Producer(s): Ice Cube, Jeff Kwatinetz
Writer(s): Todd R Jones, Earl Richey Jones
Director(s): Tim Story
Cast: Ice Cube
Details: Characters and story based on the novella “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens published by Chapman & Hall December 19, 1843.
SSN Insight: Project was previously in development at Relativity. Universal won a bidding war for this project over MGM, new Line and Disney.
I Kill Giants
Logline: Barbara Thorson is a misfit, who battles the monsters in her life, both real and imagined.
Production Company(s): 1492 Pictures, XYZ Films, Treehouse Pictures, Man of Action
Producer(s): Chris Columbus, Justin Nappi, Kim Magnusson, Kyle Franke, Michael Barnathan
Writer(s): Joe Kelly
Director(s): Anders Walter
Cast: Zoe Saldana, Madison Wolfe
Details: Based on the graphic novel “I Kill Giants” written by Joe Kelly, illustrated Ken Niimura and published by Image Comics on January 1, 2009.
SSN Insight: Saldana will play Mrs. Mollé, the school psychologist who helps Barbara through her struggles and forms a tight bond with her as a result.
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, Bill Pullman, Kim Allen, Michael Stahl-David, Jeffrey Donovan, Jennifer Jason Leigh
SSN Insight: Project was included in the 2014 Black List. Jeffrey Donovan of Burn Notice fame will play JFK. Leigh will play Lady Bird Johnson.
Life and Def
Logline: The life story of hip-hop impresario Russell Simmons and his business partner Rick Rubin.
Studio/Distributor(s): Universal Pictures, Universal Pictures
Production Company(s): Misher Films
Producer(s): Bobby Shriver, Kevin Misher
Writer(s): Kario Salem
Cast: Michael B. Jordan (mentioned), Jonah Hill (mentioned)
Details: Based on the book “Life and Def: Sex, Drugs, Money and God” written by Russell Simmons with Nelson George and published by Crown in October 2001.
SSN Insight: Michael B. Jordan was last seen in Fantastic Four.
Little Pink House
Logline: The story behind the infamous 2005 Kelo v. City of New London Supreme Court decision.
Production Company(s): Brightlight Pictures, Korchula Productions
Producer(s): Shawn Williamson, Courtney Balaker, Ted Balaker, Joel Soisson
Writer(s): Courtney Balaker
Director(s): Courtney Balaker
Cast: Catherine Keener
Details: Based on Jeff Benedict’s nonfiction book “Little Pink House”.
SSN Insight: Keener will play Susette Kelo, the Connecticut nurse who found herself in the middle of controversy when the city of New London, Connecticut claimed ownership of the working class Fort Trumbull neighborhood so that a proposed “Urban Village” could be built.
Nina
Logline: The story of Nina Simone’s ascent to stardom and her relationship with Paris-based manager, Clifton Henderson.
Studio/Distributor(s): RLJ Entertainment, Inc.
Production Company(s): Ealing Studios
Producer(s): Stuart Parr, Ben Latham-Jones, Cynthia Mort, Barnaby Thompson, Mark Burton
Writer(s): Cynthia Mort
Director(s): Cynthia Mort
Cast: Zoe Saldana, David Oyelowo, Mike Epps
SSN Insight: Producer Lauren Lloyd bought the life rights of Nina Simone’s manager, Clifton Henderson. Project previously set up at Paramount Pictures. Mary J. Blige was previously attached to star.
Pure Evel
Logline: The life of daredevil Evel Knievel.
Studio/Distributor(s): Columbia Pictures, No Domestic Theatrical Distributor Available.
Production Company(s): Trigger Street Productions, Michael De Luca Productions, Free Association, Cider Mill Pictures
Producer(s): Channing Tatum, Reid Carolin, Michael De Luca, Dana Brunetti, Bryan Haas
Writer(s): Scott Silver, Reid Carolin
Director(s): Darren Aronofsky (in talks)
Cast: Channing Tatum
Details: Based on the book “Life of Evel: Evel Knievel,” written by Stuart Barker and published by St. Martin’s Press on November 11, 2008.
SSN Insight: Project was previously in development at Michael De Luca Productions.
Six Minutes to Freedom
Logline: An American civilian living in Panama is arrested and tortured for attempting to overthrow Manuel Noriega, but is rescued by the Delta Force team during the invasion of Panama.
Production Company(s): Laura Bickford Productions, Brothers Dowdle Productions , SESSO Entertainment Group, MadRiver Pictures
Producer(s): Samuel V. Franco, Marc Butan, Laura Bickford, Drew Dowdle
Writer(s): John Erick Dowdle, Drew Dowdle, John Gilstrap
Director(s): John Erick Dowdle
Details: Based on the book “Six Minutes to Freedom,” written by Kurt Muse and John Gilstrap and published by Citadel on June 27, 2006.
SSN Insight: The Dowdles were recently behind the Owen Wilson-starrer No Escape.
The Angel Makers
Logline: During WWI, a group of women in the English countryside are left alone with German POWs after the men get called up to the battlefront.
Studio/Distributor(s): No Studio Available., No Domestic Theatrical Distributor Available.
Production Company(s): Octagon Films, The Producers, Iris Productions Deutschland
Producer(s): Jeanna Polley, Jenny Edwards, Alice De Sousa, Nicolas Steil
Writer(s): Paul Billing
Director(s): Jon Amiel
Cast: Emily Watson, Christina Hendricks, Abbie Cornish, Max Riemelt, David Kross
SSN Insight: Anna Friel, Lena Headey, Ken Duken, Hanno Koffler and Alexander Scheer were previously attached to co-star.
The Babysitter
Logline: A lonely twelve-year-old boy in love with his babysitter discovers some hard truths about life, love and murder.
Studio/Distributor(s): New Line Cinema, No Domestic Theatrical Distributor Available.
Production Company(s): Wonderland Sound and Vision
Producer(s): McG, Mary Viola
Writer(s): Brian Duffield
Director(s): McG
SSN Insight: Screenplay was included in the 2014 Hit List.
The Bronze
Logline: About a former gymnast who won a bronze medal but now must battle to maintain celebrity status in her small Ohio hometown when a 16-year-old gymnast begin to rise, threatening to overshadow her.
Studio/Distributor(s): Sony Pictures Classics
Production Company(s): Duplass Brothers Productions
Producer(s): Stephanie Langhoff
Writer(s): Melissa Rauch, Winston Rauch
Director(s): Bryan Buckley
Cast: Melissa Rauch, Gary Cole, Thomas Middleditch, Sebastian Stan, Cecily Strong
SSN Insight: Relativity acquired U.S. distribution rights for an estimated $3 million following the film’s premiere at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival. In September 2015, following Relativity’s filing for Chapter 11, Sony Pictures Classics acquired domestic distribution rights. Project marks the feature film directorial debut of noted commercials director Bryan Buckley.
The Circle
Logline: About a college graduate who goes to work at the Circle, an Internet monopoly that links users’ personal emails, social media, banking and purchasing with their universal operating system.
Production Company(s): Playtone, Parkes+MacDonald Image Nation, Likely Story
Producer(s): Tom Hanks, Gary Goetzman, Anthony Bregman, James Ponsoldt, Walter F Parkes
Writer(s): No Screenplay Available.
Director(s): James Ponsoldt
Cast: Tom Hanks, Emma Watson, John Boyega, Karen Gillan, Patton Oswalt
Details: Based on the novel “The Circle” writte by Dave Eggers and published by McSweeney’s in October, 2013.
SSN Insight: Alicia Vikander was previously attached to co-star.
The Headhunter’s Calling
Logline: A ruthless recruiter is about to take over the company when his son’s illness sets up a conflict between career ambition and his personal life.
Production Company(s): Scythia Films Inc.
Producer(s): Gerard Butler, Mark Williams, Alan Siegel
Writer(s): Bill Dubuque
Director(s): Mark Williams
Cast: Gerard Butler, Willem Dafoe, Alfred Molina
SSN Insight: Dafoe will play the head of the recruitment company who plans to retire. Molina is a downtrodden engineer who has it in him to rise one last time.
The House
Logline: After they lose their daughter’s college fund, a couple start an illegal casino in their basement to try to earn it back.
Studio/Distributor(s): New Line Cinema, New Line Cinema
Production Company(s): Gary Sanchez Productions, Good Universe
Producer(s): Adam McKay, Will Ferrell, Joe Drake, Nathan Kahane
Writer(s): Andrew Jay Cohen, Brendan O’Brien
Director(s): Andrew Jay Cohen
Cast: Will Ferrell, Amy Poehler, Ryan Simpkins, Cedric Yarbrough, Frank Gerrish
SSN Insight: Yarbrough will play Reggie Henderson, a hardworking suburban husband and father who has suppressed and hidden his feelings of pressure from work and family life and turns to gambling.
The Music of Strangers: Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble
Logline: Celebrated cellist Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble brings together master musicians from around the world to teach, collaborate, and perform.
Studio/Distributor(s): The Orchard, HBO
Production Company(s): Participant Media
Producer(s): Caitrin Rogers
Director(s): Morgan Neville
Cast: Kinan Azmeh
SSN Insight: The Orchard and HBO have partnered on rights on the documentary from Oscar winner Morgan Neville (20 Feet From Stardom) that premiered at the 2015 Toronto Film Festival.
The Program
Logline: A journalist works to prove his hunch that cycling superstar Lance Armstrong’s string of victories were influenced by doping, while Armstrong battles cancer and intense media scrutiny.
Studio/Distributor(s): Momentum Pictures Limited
Production Company(s): Working Title Films, Amazon, StudioCanal, Anton Capital Entertainment
Producer(s): Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Tracey Seaward, Kate Solomon
Writer(s): John Hodge
Director(s): Stephen Frears
Cast: Ben Foster, Chris O’Dowd, Guillaume Canet, Jesse Plemons, Dustin Hoffman
SSN Insight: Momentum has acquired domestic rights to the film that premiered at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival.
The Purge 3
Logline: On one night during the year, murder is legal and bad things happen to people who don’t stay locked in their homes.
Studio/Distributor(s): Universal Pictures, Universal Pictures
Production Company(s): Why Not Productions, Platinum Dunes, Blumhouse Productions
Producer(s): Jason Blum, Sebastien Lemercier, Michael Bay, Brad Fuller, Andrew Form
Writer(s): James DeMonaco
Director(s): James DeMonaco
Cast: Frank Grillo, Joseph Julian Soria, Betty Gabriel, Edwin Hodge, Kyle Secor, Mykelti Williamson, Elizabeth Mitchell
SSN Insight: Writer-director James DeMonaco was also behind the original and sequel films.
The Solutrean
Logline: An epic survival story set 20,000 years ago during the last Ice Age.
Studio/Distributor(s): Studio 8, Sony Pictures Releasing
Production Company(s): The Picture Company
Producer(s): Andrew Rona, Albert Hughes
Writer(s): Dan Wiedenhaupt
Director(s): Albert Hughes
SSN Insight: Project was previously in development at Atlas Entertainment with Charles Roven attached to produce. First film out of Jeff Robinov’s Studio 8.
Trolls
Logline: An upbeat princess leads a fun-filled adventure that reveals the story behind the the Trolls’ colorful, puffy hair.
Studio/Distributor(s): DreamWorks Animation, 20th Century Fox Distribution
Production Company(s): Festa Entertainment
Producer(s): Gina Shay
Writer(s): Erica Rivinoja, Adam Wilson, Melanie Wilson LaBracio
Director(s): Mike Mitchell
Voice Cast: Justin Timberlake, Anna Kendrick
Details: Based on the Good Luck Troll dolls created by Thomas Dam for his daughter in Denmark in 1959.
War of the Planet of the Apes
Logline: Storyline is under wraps.
Studio/Distributor(s): 20th Century Fox
Production Company(s): Bluegrass Films, Chernin Entertainment, Shinbone Productions
Producer(s): Peter Chernin, Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, Jenno Topping, Dylan Clark
Writer(s): Matt Reeves, Mark Bomback
Director(s): Matt Reeves
Cast: Andy Serkis, Gabriel Chavarria, Woody Harrelson
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: Harrelson will play a villain role. He is also signed on to play Lyndon Baines Johnson in Rob Reiner’s LBJ.
Warcraft
Logline: An epic fantasy set in a world populated with orcs, trolls, elves, and the undead.
Studio/Distributor(s): Universal Pictures, Tencent Pictures
Production Company(s): Legendary Entertainment, Activision Blizzard, Liberty Films
Producer(s): Jon Jashni, Thomas Tull, Charles Roven, Alex Gartner
Writer(s): Charles Leavitt, Duncan Jones
Director(s): Duncan Jones
Cast: Travis Fimmel, Paula Patton, Ben Foster, Toby Kebbell, Rob Kazinsky
Details: Based on the video game “Warcraft” released by Blizzard Entertainment in 1994.
SSN Insight: Sam Raimi previously attached to direct and produce. Colin Farrell was previously, and widely, rumored to be cast in a lead role. China’s Tencent Pictures, part of online giant Tencent, will partner with Legendary Pictures and invest an equity stake in the film.
Zeroville
Logline: Ike Jerome, a 24-year-old student, arrives in Hollywood in 1969 with dreams of breaking into the movie business. He becomes a successful film editor and embarks on a Hollywood journey that ends in both tragedy and discovery.
Studio/Distributor(s): Alchemy
Production Company(s): Patriot Pictures LLC, Rabbit Bandini Productions, Made-in-Film-Land
Producer(s): James Franco, Miles Levy, Vince Jolivette, Caroline Aragon.
Director(s): James Franco
Cast: James Franco, Jacki Weaver, Seth Rogen, Megan Fox, Will Ferrell
Details: Based on the novel “Zeroville” written by Steve Erickson and published by Europa Editions on November 1, 2007.
SSN Insight: Alchemy has acquired North American distribution rights.
NEW PROJECTS
Breakout
Logline: When a young photographer is falsely accused of drug trafficking and imprisoned in Bangladesh, his father enlists two friends to help him break his son out of prison and uncover the truth.
Production Company(s): Amasia Entertainment
Producer(s): Michael Helfant, Bradley Gallo
Writer(s): Richard D’Ovidio
Director(s): RZA
SSN Insight: The project rejoins Amasia with RZA, who stars in their Mr. Right. That film premiered at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival.
Captured!
Logline: The true story of the first documented alien abduction of Betty and Barney Hill.
Production Company(s): Gotham/Principal, Stellar Productions
Producer(s): Bryce Zabel, Eric Robinson
Writer(s): Bryce Zabel
Details: Based on the book “Captured! The Betty and Barney Hill UFO Experience: The True Story of the World’s First Documented Alien Abduction” by Stanton T. Friedman, Kathleen Marden ; published by New Page Books July 23, 2007.
SSN Insight: In addition to teaching at USC, Zabel has written Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, Atlantis: The Lost Empire, and for TV, The Crow, L.A. Law, and Lois And Clark.
Charlie’s Angels (Reboot)
Logline: The film is a reboot about the three female private detectives, Charlie’s Angels.
Studio/Distributor(s): Columbia Pictures, No Domestic Theatrical Distributor Available.
Production Company(s): Brownstone Productions
Producer(s): Elizabeth Banks (in talks), Max Handelman (in talks)
Director(s): Elizabeth Banks (in talks)
Details: Based on the popular television show “Charlie’s Angels” which ran from 1976-81, and originally starred Farrah Fawcett, Kate Jackson and Jaclyn Smith. The first “Charlie’s Angels” film (2000) was directed by McG and starred Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz and Lucy Liu.
SSN Insight: Banks’ feature directorial debut Pitch Perfect 2, grossed $285 million worldwide on a $29 million budget.
Cruise
Logline: In the summer of 1987, a working-class Italian-American, who has little on his mind but racing cars and chasing girls, meets a Jewish girl from Long Island who has gone to his neighborhood for some illicit thrills on the wrong side of the tracks.
Studio/Distributor(s): UTA
Production Company(s): AG Studios
Producer(s): Alex Garcia, Laura Walker, Holly Brown, Scott Lastaiti
Writer(s): Robert Siegel
Director(s): Robert Siegel
Cast: Emily Ratajkowski, Spencer Boldman
SSN Insight: Boldman has starred on Disney XD’s Lab Rats, which is ending its run after the current fourth season.
Jeepers Creepers 3
Logline: The Creeper returns, and on the final day of his 23-day feeding frenzy, Sergent Tubbs heads a task force determined to destroy him once and for all.
Production Company(s): American Zoetrope, The Cartel, Odyssey Media Inc.
Producer(s): Francis Ford Coppola, Kirk Shaw, Suraj Gohill, Stan Spry
Writer(s): Victor Salva
Director(s): Victor Salva
Cast: Jonathan Breck, Brandon Smith
SSN Insight: The film is slated to begin production in Vancouver early in 2016.
Mary Poppins
Logline: The magical nanny Mary Poppins comes to work for the Banks family and brings adventure and fun into the lives of the children.
Studio/Distributor(s): Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Production Company(s): Marc Platt Productions, Lucamar Productions
Producer(s): John DeLuca, Marc Platt
Writer(s): David Magee
Director(s): Rob Marshall
Details: Based on the “Mary Poppins” book series written by P.L. Travers published by HarperCollins in the UK and Harcourt, Brace in the US from 1934 through 1988.
SSN Insight: Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman are onboard to compose original songs for the film.
Miss Sloane
Logline: A powerful lobbyist sacrifices her career on Federal Hill so she can push through an amendment enforcing stricter federal laws regulating guns.
Production Company(s): EuropaCorp, FilmNation
Producer(s): Ben Browning, Luc Besson
Writer(s): Jonathan “Jonny” Perera
Director(s): John Madden
Cast: Jessica Chastain
SSN Insight: EuropaCorp will completely finance the film and handle worldwide distribution.
Our Souls at Night
Logline: A widow and widower who have been friends for many years begin a romantic relationship.
Studio/Distributor(s): Netflix (in talks)
Producer(s): Robert Redford
Writer(s): Scott Neustadter, Michael H Weber
Cast: Robert Redford, Jane Fonda
Details: Based on the novel “Our Souls at Night” written by Kent Haruf and published by Alfred A. Knopf in 2015.
SSN Insight: Netflix is currently making the festival rounds with its Beasts of No Nation film, that screened at TIFF.
Shambhala
Logline: The lone survivor of a plane crash in the mountains of Northern Pakistan suffers from amnesia and must fight to survive and reach civilization in a remote and unfamiliar land.
Production Company(s): Xeitgeist, Marcys Holdings
Producer(s): Huw Jones, Joe Thomas
Cast: Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Pallavi Sharda, Akshay Kumar
SSN Insight: The story will be told non-chronologically and is set to begin production this fall.
The Last Word
Logline: Retired businesswoman Harriet, controlling to the end, writes her own obituary, but the newspaper writer tasked with the piece insists on learning the truth about Harriet’s life and the two become reluctant partners and friends.
Studio/Distributor(s): Myriad Pictures
Production Company(s): Pellington Films, Wondros
Producer(s): Kirk D’Amico, Mark Pellington, Anne-Marie Mackay
Writer(s): Stuart Fink
Director(s): Mark Pellington
Cast: Shirley MacLaine, Amanda Seyfried
SSN Insight: Myriad Pictures will finance and handle international sales for the film.
The Nest
Logline: A team of exploratory scientists in a labyrinth of man-eating spiders must battle the deadly arthropods to save a colleague and learn the secret to the spiders’ power and intelligence.
Production Company(s): Nest Holdings, Loongs United Investment
Producer(s): Li Bingbing, Gary Hamilton, Ying Ye, Mark Lazarus, Serena Deng
Writer(s): Kimble Rendall
Director(s): Kimble Rendall
Cast: Li Bingbing
SSN Insight: The project is understood to be the largest Chinese-Australian co-production to date. It will be 3D and is currently in preproduction in Australia.
The Revenger
Logline: Storyline is under wraps.
Studio/Distributor(s): Universal Pictures
Production Company(s): Bluegrass Films, The District
Producer(s): Scott Stuber, Dylan Clark, Ruben Fleischer, David Bernad
Writer(s): Thomas Lennon, Robert Ben Garant
Director(s): Ruben Fleischer
Cast: Liam Neeson
SSN Insight: Neeson just wrapped production on the feature Silence for Paramount and A Monster Calls for Focus Features.