SSN ORIGINALS
Film Development For 10/8/15: Joseph Gordon-Levitt Starrer ‘In Sight’ Set at Universal, Thor 3 and the Flash Both Closing in on Directors, and More
Among the big news items this week is Live Schreiber and Naomi Watts finding a director for their boxing drama, The Bleeder, George Lopez joining a Christmas movie, actors joining the Michael Fassbender Assassin’s Creed adaptation, and STX Entertainment hopping aboard Jonas Cuarón’s new film. Click on the link to learn more. (SSN)
OTHER HEADLINES
Universal Makes It Official: F. Gary Gray Is Your ‘Furious 8’ Director
Taking a page from franchise star and producer Vin Diesel’s playbook, Gray confirmed the deal via a recent post on his Facebook page. The helmer is coming off the phenomenal success of the N.W.A. biopic Straight Outta Compton, which was also for the studio. Diesel has not yet reacted to the news of Gray’s hiring. The film is scheduled for release in April of 2017. (COL)
Good News For ‘Ant-Man’ Fans, Marvel Has Found a Spot In Its Schedule For a Sequel
Ant-Man and The Wasp will arrive in theaters July 6th, 2018, which means the studio will move Black Panther up to February 16th, 2018, and pushing Captain Marvel back to March 8th, 2019. No word yet on any creative team on the project, or if director Peyton Reed will return, but it is assumed that Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly will continue in the title roles. (EMP)
Additionally, Marvel Has Three More Unknown Movies Set For Some Time In 2020
The studio has called dibs on May 1st, July 10th and November 6th of that year, but has yet to reveal what movies or characters might take those spots. It is probably not a huge stretch to imagine that a third Guardians of the Galaxy film, seeing as how the first one came out in 2014 and Volume 2 is due in 2017. A potential Doctor Strange sequel is also a good possibility, as is a second film for the rebooted Spider-Man franchise, starring Tom Holland. (TP)
Meanwhile, Pixar Has Announced Dates For ‘Toy Story 4’ and ‘The Incredibles 2’
The schedule, announced today, features just two original additions out of the studio’s next six films. Those two new films are the The Good Dinosaur (out next month) and the previously untitled Day of the Dead–themed Coco, set for 2017. Brad Bird’s long-awaited Incredibles sequel will bow in 2019. Meanwhile, the fourth Toy Story installment has been pushed back from 2017 to 2018. Finding Dory and Cars 3 will be out in June 2016 and 2017, respectively. (VUL)
It’s About To Get a Wee Bit More Expensive To Watch Your Movies and TV On Netflix
Online streaming giant’s current price of $7.99 per month, or $8.99 for new subscribers, will increase to $9.99 per month. Netflix said that current pricing for existing subscribers on the “standard” plan will remain in place for 12 months, unless they’re already covered by a price guarantee with a longer term. It’s the company’s second price hike in the U.S. in less than two years. (VAR)
Three Months Before Nominations Are Expected, Academy Finalizes Its Foreign Language Film Contenders
Eighty-one countries have submitted official entries for the Foreign-Language Film Oscar race. The only first-time entrant this is Paraguay. Nominations for the 88th Academy Awards will be announced January 14th at the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, and the hardware will be doled out February 29th at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood. (DH)
Showtime’s ‘Twin Peaks’ Reboot Is Recasting Sheriff Harry S. Truman
Michael Ontkean, who originated the role on the ABC series 25 years ago, will not be returning for the reboot, as he has retired from show business and has no interest in coming out of it. No confirmation on who will take his place, but Robert Forster is rumored to be circling the part. (CB)
‘Halt and Catch Fire’ and ‘Tyrant’ Each Get a Third Season Order From Their Corresponding Networks
AMC is bringing back its period computer drama and FX wants more of its Middle Eastern-set thriller. For Halt, co-creators and writers Christopher Cantwell and Christopher C. Rogers have been upped to showrunners. Both shows will have their 10-episode third season premiere in the summer of 2016. (CS)
Continuing Its Move Towards Original Programming, Vimeo Offers Up Its First Full Slate
Online service’s announcement includes a second season of The Outs, about young gay life in New York City, as well as Darby Forever, an original short film from Saturday Night Live breakout cast member Aidy Bryant, and Bianca Del Rio’s Rolodex of Hate Comedy Special: Live from Austin, Vimeo’s first original stand-up special. All three Vimeo Originals will premiere this winter exclusively on Vimeo On Demand. (IW)