New Attachments
Alita: Battle Angel
Logline: A female cyborg, discovered in a trash heap by a scientist, becomes a bounty hunter who tracks down criminals with her martial arts expertise.
Studio/Distributor(s): 20th Century Fox
Production Company(s): Lightstorm Entertainment
Producer(s): James Cameron, Jon Landau
Writer(s): Laeta Kalogridis, James Cameron
Director(s): Robert Rodriguez (In Negotiations)
Details: Based on the manga comic “Battle Angel Alita” as well as on Akinori Endo’s 1993 Japanese animated short film Battle Angel.
SSN Insight: James Cameron was previously attached to direct.
Furious 8
Logline: Eighth film in the street racing franchise.
Studio/Distributor(s): Universal Pictures
Production Company(s): Original Film, One Race Films
Producer(s): Neal H. Moritz, Vin Diesel
Writer(s): Chris Morgan
Director(s): F. Gary Gray
Cast: Vin Diesel, Lucas Black, Jason Statham, Dwayne Johnson
Details: Eighth film in the franchise, beginning with “The Fast and the Furious” (2001).
SSN Insight: F. Gary Gray’s past directing credits include Law Abiding Citizen, The Negotiator, and The Italian Job.
Imperium
Logline: An FBI agent goes undercover to infiltrate a white supremacist group that is planning on making a dirty bomb.
Studio/Distributor(s): Lionsgate
Production Company(s): Greenlight Group, Tycor International Film Company
Producer(s): Ty Walker, Dennis Lee, Simon Taufique, Daniel Ragussis
Writer(s): Daniel Ragussis
Director(s): Daniel Ragussis
Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Toni Collette, Tracy Letts, Sam Trammell
Details: Based on the real-life experiences of former FBI agent Michael German, who spent years undercover with U.S.-based neo-Nazi and militia groups.
SSN Insight: Collettte will play Angela Zampino, a battle-hardened FBI agent. Letts will play Dallas Wolf, a modern-day leader of the white supremacy movement. Trammell will take on the role of Jerry Conrad, an overtly average father in suburbia who, in actuality, is the local Ayran Youth recruiter.
Kong: Skull Island
Logline: Based on the mythic origins of King Kong on his home Skull Island, which is ruled by mutant giant creatures, the story follows a man who visits the island with a rescue party after his brother disappears during a search for a serum thought to cure all illness.
Studio/Distributor(s): Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Company(s): Legendary Entertainment, Disruption Entertainment
Producer(s): Thomas Tull, Jon Jashni, Mary Parent
Writer(s): Derek Connolly, Tony Gilroy, John Gatins, Max Borenstein
Director(s): Jordan Vogt-Roberts
Cast: Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, John C Reilly, Brie Larson, Corey Hawkins, Eugene Cordero
SSN Insight: Joe Cornish was previously mentioned to direct. Michael Keaton and JK Simmons were previously attached as members of the cast. Actors reportedly being considered to replace Michael Keaton and JK Simmons included Samuel L. Jackson for the Simmons role, and Russell Crowe and John C. Reilly for the Keaton role. Jackson and Reilly ultimately joined the project.
L.A. Riots
Logline: An examination of the Los Angeles riots of 1992 after the acquittal by a white jury of four police officers charged with beating African-American Rodney King.
Studio/Distributor(s): Universal Pictures
Production Company(s): Imagine Entertainment, Perfect Storm Entertainment, Broad Green Pictures
Producer(s): Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Justin Lin, Gabriel Hammond, Daniel Hammond
Writer(s): John Ridley, Terry George
Director(s): John Ridley
SSN Insight: Spike Lee previously attached to direct. Justin Lin was previously attached to direct.
Midnight Sun
Logline: Sheltered 17-year-old Katie, who has a rare disease that makes sunlight deadly to her, meets Charlie and they have a summer romance.
Production Company(s): Boies/Schiller Film Group, LLC, Rickard Pictures
Producer(s): John Rickard, Zachary Schiller, Jen Gatien
Writer(s): Eric Kirsten
Director(s): Scott Speer
Cast: Bella Thorne, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Rob Riggle, Quinn Shephard
Details: Based on “Taiyo No Uta (Midnight Sun”) (Japan/2006) directed by Norihiro Koizumi and starring Takashi Tsukamoto.
SSN Insight: Riggle will play Katie’s father Jack, a loving and compassionate man who tries his best to give his daughter a good life.
Sand Castle
Logline: True story of Americans soldiers who are sent on a mission to repair an aqueduct in a dangerous rural village in Iraq.
Production Company(s): Mark Gordon Company, 42, Treehouse Pictures
Producer(s): Mark R. Gordon, Justin Nappi, Benjamin Pugh
Writer(s): Chris Roessner
Director(s): Fernando Coimbra
Cast: Nicholas Hoult, Luke Evans, Henry Cavill, Beau Knapp, Glen Powell
SSN Insight: Seb Edwards was previously attached to direct.
Sully
Logline: The story of Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, the airline pilot who safely landed U.S. Airways flight 1549 on the frozen Hudson River in 2009.
Studio/Distributor(s): Warner Bros. Pictures,
Production Company(s): Kennedy/Marshall Company, Malpaso Productions, Flashlight Films
Producer(s): Frank Marshall, Allyn Stewart, Clint Eastwood, Tim Moore
Writer(s): Todd Komarnicki
Director(s): Clint Eastwood
Cast: Tom Hanks, Aaron Eckhart, Laura Linney, Jamey Sheridan, Wayne Bastrup
Details: Based on the book “Highest Duty: My Search for What Really Matters” written by Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger with Jeffrey Zaslow and published by William Morrow on October 13, 2009.
SSN Insight: Kathleen Kennedy was previously attached to produce.
The Godmother
Logline: The true story of Griselda Blanco, who became the deadliest, wealthiest woman to head a Colombian drug cartel.
Production Company(s): First Born Films
Producer(s): Daniela Cristina Cretu
Writer(s): Frank Baldwin
Director(s): Gerard Johnson
Cast: Catherine Zeta-Jones, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Olivier Martinez, Jordi Molla , Mehdi Dehbi, Diane Guerrero
Details: Life rights of Griselda Blanco optioned by Daniela Cretu.
SSN Insight: Eva Sorhaug was previously attached as director. Jon Bernthal and Oscar Jaenada were previously attached as cast members.
The Gray Man
Logline: The thriller originally focused on an expert CIA op-turned-assassin who is forced to evade adversaries as he saves the lives of daughters he didn’t know he had.
Studio/Distributor(s): Columbia Pictures,
Production Company(s): Denver & Delilah Films, Roth Kirschenbaum Films
Producer(s): Joe Roth, Charlize Theron, Beth Kono, A.J. Dix
Writer(s): Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Cast: Charlize Theron
Details: Based on the novel “The Gray Man” written by Mark Greaney and published by Jove on September 29, 2009.
SSN Insight: Shine is producing through its overall deal with New Regency. Brad Pitt was previously mentioned to star but Charlize Theron will now take the lead role and the script’s main character will be gender-swapped.
The Man Who Knew Infinity
Logline: The true story of Srinavasa Ramanujan, a self-taught math prodigy from India.
Studio/Distributor(s): IFC Films
Production Company(s): Animus Films, Pressman Film, Dutch Tilt, Cinemorphic Entertainment Company, Xeitgeist
Producer(s): Matt Brown, Edward R. Pressman, Sofia Sondervan, Joe Thomas, Jim Young
Writer(s): Matt Brown
Director(s): Matt Brown
Cast: Dev Patel, Jeremy Irons, Devika Urvashi Bhise, Stephen Fry, Toby Jones
Details: Based on the book “The Man Who Knew Infinity: A Life of the Genius Ramanujan” written by Robert Kanigel published by Scribner May 1991.
SSN Insight: The film premiered at TIFF and later was the opening-night film at the Zurich Film Festival.
The Snowman
Logline: A boy finds his missing mother’s pink scarf wrapped around the neck of a sinister-looking snowman. Detective Harry Hole is called in to investigate and begins to suspect it’s the work of a serial killer.
Studio/Distributor(s): Universal Pictures
Production Company(s): Working Title Films, Another Park Film
Producer(s): Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Tomas Alfredson, Peter Gustafsson
Writer(s): Peter Straughan, Saren Sveistrup, Matthew Michael Carnahan
Director(s): Tomas Alfredson
Cast: Michael Fassbender, Rebecca Ferguson (In Discussions)
Details: Based on the novel “The Snowman,” by Jo Nesbo, published by Knopf Publishing Group on May 10, 2011. Source material is the seventh book in the Harry Hole detective series.
SSN Insight: Martin Scorsese was previously attached to direct.
War for the Planet of the Apes
Logline: Storyline is under wraps.
Studio/Distributor(s): 20th Century Fox, 20th Century Fox Distribution
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, Steve Zahn, Amiah Miller
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: Steve Zahn will play a new ape character, but no word yet on Amiah Miller’s character.
New Projects
Ascension
Logline: A scientist must save the world after gravity is erased from Earth’s atmosphere.
Studio/Distributor(s): 20th Century Fox
Producer(s): Matthew Vaughn
Writer(s): Shannon Triplett
Director(s): Matthew Vaughn
SSN Insight: Fox acquired the spec for a mid-six against seven figures deal as a potential vehicle for Matthew Vaughn to direct and produce.
Boomtown
Logline: A corporate investigator uncovers a conspiracy tied to the North Dakota oil boom.
Studio/Distributor(s): Focus Features
Production Company(s): Marc Platt Productions
Producer(s): Marc Platt
Writer(s): Matt King
SSN Insight: Film marks the first sale for Matt King, a former journalist who has written for The Village Voice, American Lawyer and Focus Europe and worked with PBS’ Frontline.
Die Hard 6
Logline: Storyline is under wraps, but reportedly will be an origin story of John McClane.
Studio/Distributor(s): 20th Century Fox
Production Company(s): Di Bonaventura Pictures
Producer(s): Len Wiseman, Lorenzo Di Bonaventura
Details: Sixth installment of the “Die Hard” series which began with “Die Hard” (1988) directed by John McTiernan and starring Bruce Willis.
SSN Insight: Len Wiseman’s directing credits include the upcoming Underworld V and the Lucifer pilot, ordered to series at FOX.
Godzilla vs. Kong
Logline: The film revolves around an ecosystem of giant super-species, as the Monarch organization that re-discovered Godzilla expands its mission.
Studio/Distributor(s): Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Company(s): Legendary Entertainment
SSN Insight: Warner Bros. and Legendary have united their “Godzilla” and “King Kong” franchises, as the organization that re-discovered Kong in “King Kong” (2014) expands their mission through multiple releases.
Gorgeous George
Logline: The film chronicles the life and career of flamboyant professional wrestler George Raymond Wagner who helped bring sports into the TV age.
Production Company(s): WWE Studios, Great Point Media
Producer(s): Robert Halmi Jr.
Writer(s): Josh Gad, Ryan Dixon
SSN Insight: In addition to managing ScriptShark.com, the industry’s leading site for professional screenplay coverage, Dixon is also scripting an Untitled Josh Gad Family Adventure Comedy Project for Disney.
Obsidian
Logline: When a teenager moves to a small town with her mother she falls for a guy who is an alien, and his touch turns her into a homing device for an extraterrestrial bad guys.
Production Company(s): Mr. Mudd Productions, Sierra/Affinity
Producer(s): Russell Smith, Lianne Halfon
Writer(s): Ava Dellaira
Details: Based on the novel “Obsidian,” part of a five-volume series known as the Lux Series, written by Jennifer L. Armentrout and published by Macmillan in 2014.
SSN Insight: Dellaria previously adapted her own novel Love Letters To The Dead for Fox 2000 and was an associate producer on The Perks of Being A Wallflower.
Orphan Train
Logline: When a 17-year-old orphan is required to help an elderly Irish immigrant clean her attic as community service, they find commonality in their lives as outsiders.
Production Company(s): Groundswell Productions
Producer(s): Michael London, Janice Williams
Writer(s): Christopher Monger
Details: Based on the novel “Orphan Train” written by Christina Baker Kline and published by William Morrow Paperbacks on April 2, 2013.
SSN Insight: Groundswell Productions’ upcoming film is the Bryan Cranston starrer Trumbo, which will be released on November 6 through Bleecker Street.
The Dry
Logline: After a murder-suicide involving a childhood friend, a policeman returns to his rural hometown with questions.
Production Company(s): Pacific Standard
Producer(s): Reese Witherspoon, Bruna Papandrea
Details: Based on the novel “The Dry” written by Jane Haper; to be published by Flatiron Books.
SSN Insight: Haper’s book won the 2015 Victorian Premier Literary Award for an unpublished manuscript.
Tiger & Bunny
Logline: In a futuristic city where superheroes fight crime, a veteran is forced to partner with a cocky rookie.
Production Company(s): Imagine Entertainment, Namco Bandai Games, All Nippon Entertainment Works Co.
Producer(s): Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Sandy Climan, Annmarie Bailey, Masayuki Ozaki
Details: Based on the Japanese anime series “Tiger & Bunny” directed by Keiichi Sato; aired in 2011.
SSN Insight: Ozaki produced the original anime in Japan.
Untitled Darren Aronofsky Project
Logline: Storyline is under wraps
Director(s): Darren Aronofsky
Cast: Jennifer Lawrence (In Talks)
SSN Insight: Aronofsky does have a first-look deal at New Regency although no studio has been set for the project.
Untitled Elizabeth “Lee” Miller Biopic Project
Logline: American fashion model, artist and war correspondent Elizabeth “Lee” Miller was an acclaimed photojournalist who documented some of the most important moments in history and served as a muse and collaborator to Picasso and Man Ray.
Production Company(s): Entertainment One Films Australia Pty Ltd
Producer(s): Troy Lum, Andrew Mason
Cast: Kate Winslet
Details: The film is based on material from Lee Miller’s archives which are curated and managed by her son Antony Penrose as well as Penrose’s biography of his mother, “The Lives of Lee Miller” published by Holt, Rinehart and Winston in 1985.
Untitled Volkswagen Scandal Project
Logline: The film revolves around the Volkswagen scandal in which the company put illegal software in their clean diesel cars to falsify fuel emissions to meet EPA standards.
Studio/Distributor(s): Paramount Pictures
Production Company(s): Appian Way
Producer(s): Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Davisson Killoran
Details: Based on a book to be written by Jack Ewing and which was acquired by W.W. Norton & Company in a mid-six figures deal in October, 2015.
SSN Insight: Appian Way’s upcoming films include The Revenant and Delirium.
Wilderness
Logline: Storyline is under wraps.
Studio/Distributor(s): Fox 2000
Production Company(s): Color Force
Producer(s): Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson
Writer(s): Matt Charman
SSN Insight: Charman previously sold a pitch for Bridge of Spies to Steven Spielberg and is scripting Patriots Day for CBS Films with Scott Stuber producing, Peter Berg directing and Mark Wahlberg to star.
William Wenton and the Luridium Thief
Logline: When 12-year old code-breaking genius Wenton escapes from London to live in secrecy in Norway, his talent for cracking codes is revealed and puts him in danger.
Producer(s): Morten Tyldum, Janne Tyldum, Guri Neby, Morten Foss
Director(s): Morten Tyldum
Details: Based on the children’s novel “William Wenton and the Luridium Thief” the first in a series written by Bobbie Peers and published in Norway by Aschehoug in 2015.
SSN Insight: That is a debut children’s novel by Bobbie Peers who is also the writer/director of the 2006 short film Sniffer that won the Palme D’Or at the Cannes Film Festival.
Z-Men
Logline: Two government agents are sent to Pennsylvania in response to a zombie outbreak.
Studio/Distributor(s): Lionsgate
Production Company(s): Take-Two Interactive
Details: Based on the comic book series “Z-Men” created by Jeff McComsey and first published on September 16, 2015 by Double Take.
SSN Insight: The comic book series is the flagship of Double Take’s newly launched universe surrounding the Night of the Living Dead franchise.