NEW ATTACHMENTS
A Meyers Christmas
Logline: An estranged family spends their first Christmas together after their patriarch dies.
Studio/Distributor(s): Universal Pictures, Universal Pictures
Production Company(s): Will Packer Productions
Producer(s): Will Packer
Writer(s): David E. Talbert
Director(s): David E. Talbert
Cast: Gabrielle Union, Danny Glover, Mo’Nique, Kimberly Elise, J.B. Smoove, Kimberly Elise
SSN Insight: Spec script acquired for mid-six figures upfront, but will be seven figures for script and directing if the movie gets made.
Bastards
Logline: Two brothers, raised to believe their biological father died, find out their mother slept with many powerful and famous men in the 1970s and the siblings hit the road to find their real father.
Studio/Distributor(s): , Warner Bros. Pictures Distribution
Production Company(s): Alcon Entertainment, The Montecito Picture Company, DMG Entertainment
Producer(s): Broderick Johnson, Andrew Kosove, Ivan Reitman, Tom Pollock, Ali Bell
Writer(s): Justin Malen
Director(s): Lawrence Sher
Cast: Owen Wilson, Ed Helms, J.K. Simmons, Ving Rhames, Katt Williams, Zachary Haven
SSN Insight: Paramount Pictures acquired the spec script from writer Justin Malen in a reported six-figure deal. Project was previously set up at Paramount, but went into turnaround. Jason Sudeikis was previously attached to co-star.
Before I Fall
Logline: Follows Samantha Kingston, a high school senior, who has it all: beautiful, with a great boyfriend and amazing best friends. That is until she finds herself stuck in a Groundhog Day style time loop, forced to relive February 12 over and over again.
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, Halston Sage, Logan Miller, Kian Lawley, Diego Boneta, Elena Kampouris
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.
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
Cast: Tyler Riggs, Boyd Holbrook, Rachel Brosnahan, Jocelin Donahue
SSN Insight: Boyd Holbrook was previously on Narcos, Rachel Brosnahan was previously on House of Cards, and Jocelin Donahue was previously seen in Knight of Cups.
Ferrari
Logline: About a pivotal year in the life of the Italian auto magnate Enzo Ferrari.
Studio/Distributor(s): Paramount Pictures
Production Company(s): Forward Pass, Inc., Cecchi Gori Pictures, Vendian Entertainment
Producer(s): Michael Mann, Niels Juul, Christopher Woodrow
Writer(s): Michael Mann, David Rayfiel, Troy Kennedy Martin
Director(s): Michael Mann
Cast: Christian Bale, Noomi Rapace
Details: Based on the book “Enzo Ferrari: The Man, The Cars, The Race, The Machine” written by Brock Yates published by Doubleday May 1, 1991.
SSN Insight: Cameron Crowe previously attached to direct. The film has been in development since its literary sale date on February 1, 2002.
Gateway 6
Logline: In the future, four soldiers isolated from everyone while waiting for either destruction or rescue, grow paranoid and suspicious of one another.
Production Company(s): Stigma Films, Sentinel Entertainment UK
Producer(s): Ben Pullen, William Pullen, Matt Wilkinson
Writer(s): Malachi Smyth
Director(s): Tanel Toom
Cast: Rhys Ifans, Ed Skrein
SSN Insight: Screenplay was included in the 2014 Brit List. Will Clarke’s Altitude Film will handle international sales at AFM.
HHhH
Logline: The true story of the assassination of Hitler’s colleague, Reinhard Heydrich.
Studio/Distributor(s): The Weinstein Company
Production Company(s): Legende Films, Echo Lake Entertainment, FilmNation, Adama Pictures
Producer(s): Ilan Goldman, Daniel Crown, Simon Istolainen
Writer(s): David Farr, Audrey Diwan, Cedric Jimenez
Director(s): Cedric Jimenez
Cast: Jason Clarke, Rosamund Pike, Jack O’Connell, Jack Reynor, Stephen Graham
Details: Based on the book “HHhH” by Laurent Binet; published by Grasset in 2009.
SSN Insight: Screenplay was included in the 2014 Brit List. Title refers to an acronym for “Himmlers Hirn Heisst Heydrich” (“Himmler’s Brain Is Called Heydrich”).
High Life
Logline: A group of criminals headed to space for a human experiment encounter an unforeseen tragedy.
Production Company(s): Pandora Film Produktion, Alcatraz Films
Producer(s): Oliver Dungey, Laurence Clerc, Olivier Thery-Lapiney, Claudia Steffen, Christoph Friedel
Writer(s): Claire Denis, Zadie Smith, Nick Laird
Director(s): Claire Denis
Cast: Robert Pattinson, Mia Goth
SSN Insight: Goth recently finished work on Gore Verbinski’s A Cure For Wellness, starring opposite Dane DeHaan.
It’s Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong
Logline: Follows Chinese-American Ruby, who meet ex-pat Josh one night. He shows her around the city, and through their carefree conversations, they soon realize they have an undeniable attraction.
Studio/Distributor(s): Gravitas Ventures
Production Company(s): Unbound Feet Productions
Producer(s): Emily Ting, Sophia Shek
Writer(s): Emily Ting
Director(s): Emily Ting
Cast: Bryan Greenberg, Jamie Chung
SSN Insight: Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong is the feature directorial debut of Emily Ting. She is the co-executive producer of Land Ho! from Sony Classics.
Jumanji (Remake)
Logline: A re-imagination of the children’s book and 1995 feature film about an adventure board game, filled with wild animals, that comes to life.
Studio/Distributor(s): Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Releasing
Production Company(s): Golden Mean Productions, Radar Pictures, Matt Tolmach Productions
Producer(s): Matt Tolmach, William Teitler
Writer(s): Scott Rosenberg, Zach Helm
Details: Remake of “Jumanji” (1995) directed by Joe Johnston. Based on the short story “Jumanji” written by Chris Van Allsburg and published by Houghton Mifflin April 27, 1981.
SSN Insight: Rosenberg’s credits include Beautiful Girls, High Fidelity and Gone In Sixty Seconds.
Latin Lover
Logline: Storyline is under wraps, but involves an aging Latin lover.
Studio/Distributor(s): Lionsgate
Production Company(s): Pantelion Films, 3pas Studios
Producer(s): Eugenio Derbez, Ben Odell
Writer(s): Chris Spain, Jon Zack
Director(s): Ken Marino
Cast: Eugenio Derbez
SSN Insight: Eugenio Derbez was previously attached to direct.
Micronauts
Logline: Microscopic robots who live in microscopic communities in a place called The Microverse.
Studio/Distributor(s): Paramount Pictures
Production Company(s): Bad Robot, Hasbro, Inc., Look Entertainment LLC
Producer(s): J.J. Abrams, Bryan Burk, Brian Goldner, Bennett Schneir
Writer(s): Thomas Wheeler, Paul Wernick, Rhett Reese
Details: Based on the toy line first released in Japan in 1974.
SSN Insight: Wheeler previously wrote Puss in Boots.
Paddington 2
Logline: Storyline is under wraps.
Studio/Distributor(s): StudioCanal
Production Company(s): Heyday Films
Producer(s): David Heyman
Writer(s): Paul King, Simon Farnaby
Director(s): Paul King
Details: Sequel to “Paddington” (2014) directed by Paul King. Based on the series of books “Paddington Bear” written by Michael Bond and published between 1958 and 1979.
SSN Insight: King wrote the first film and previous to that wrote Bunny And The Bull.
Shimmer Lake
Logline: This murder mystery centers on a sheriff investigating a series of killings, as well as the disappearance of a bank robber wanted for a heist committed three days earlier.
Production Company(s): Footprint Features, Writ Large
Producer(s): Britton Rizzio, Adam Saunders
Writer(s): Oren Uziel
Director(s): Oren Uziel
Cast: Benjamin Walker, Rainn Wilson, Wyatt Russell, Mark Rendall, Stephanie Sigman, Rob Corddry, Ron Livingston, Wyatt Russell, John Michael Higgins, Adam Pally
SSN Insight: Project was previously in development at Fox Atomic. Project was previously in development at Josephson Entertainment with Barry Josephson attached to produce. Project was included on the 2009 Black List.
Suburbicon
Logline: Storyline is under wraps.
Studio/Distributor(s): TriStar Productions
Production Company(s): Silver Pictures, Mike Zoss Productions
Producer(s): Joel Coen, Ethan Coen, Joel Silver
Writer(s): Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Director(s): George Clooney (In Discussions)
Cast: George Clooney (In Discussions)
SSN Insight: Previously in development at Warner Bros.
The Bleeder
Logline: The true story of New Jersey heavyweight boxer and womanizer Chuck Wepner.
Production Company(s): Hyde Park Entertainment, Campbell Grobman Films, Mandalay Sports Media
Producer(s): Michael Tollin, Carl Hampe, Liev Schreiber, Christa Campbell, Lati Dana Grobman
Writer(s): Jeff Feurerzeig, Jerry Stahl, Michael Cristofer
Director(s): Philippe Falardeau
Cast: Liev Schreiber, Naomi Watts, Elisabeth Moss
SSN Insight: Jeff Feurerzeig was previously attached to direct. Christina Hendricks was previously attached to co-star.
The Titan
Logline: In the near future, a military family is relocated so they can participate in a ground-breaking experiment of man’s genetic evolution into space.
Production Company(s): Motion Picture Capital, 42, Automatik
Producer(s): Brian Kavanaugh-Jones, Benjamin Pugh, Rory Aitken, Arash Amel, Leon Clarance
Writer(s): Max Hurwitz
Director(s): Lennart Ruff
Cast: Sam Worthington, Ruth Wilson, Sofia Boutella, Tom Wilkinson
SSN Insight: Voltage Pictures will is handling international sales at AFM with CAA handling domestic sales.
Theory of Obscurity: A Film About the Residents
Logline: About the renegade sound and video collective known as The Residents. A story that spans 40 years and is clouded in mystery. The Residents have released more than 60 albums, performed all over the world and inspired many people to be weird, take chances and find their own voice.
Studio/Distributor(s): Film Movement
Production Company(s): KTF Films
Producer(s): Don Hardy, Barton John Bishoff, Josh Keppel
Writer(s): Don Hardy
Director(s): Don Hardy
SSN Insight: The film will premiere in New York on November 14 as part of Doc NYC, with theatrical release planned to start in March, 2016.
Tomboy
Logline: After an assassin is double-crossed by gangsters and sent to a rogue surgeon who turns him into a woman, he (now she) sets out for revenge, aided by a nurse.
Studio/Distributor(s): ,
Production Company(s): SBS Productions
Producer(s): Said Ben Said, Michel Merkt
Writer(s): Walter Hill, Denis Hamill
Director(s): Walter Hill
Cast: Sigourney Weaver, Michelle Rodriguez
SSN Insight: Producers were interested in Andrea Riseborough to play the assassin, but a potential deal fell through because of scheduling issues with her role on the Netflix series “Bloodline.” Freida Pinto was previously attached to co-star.
Truth in Advertising
Logline: The film interweaves the meaning of family, the complications of love and the absurdity of the world of advertising from an insider’s point of view.
Production Company(s): Chartoff Productions, The Solution Entertainment Group
Producer(s): Billy Chartoff, Lynn Hendee, Lisa Wilson, Myles Nestel
Writer(s): John Kenney
Director(s): Roger Michell
Cast: Ryan Reynolds (in final negotiations)
Details: Based on the novel “Truth in Advertising” written by John Kenney and published by Simon & Schuster/Touchstone in 2013.
SSN Insight: The Solution is handling international sales at AFM. WME is repping North American rights and also arranged financing.
Untitled Jon Lucas/Scott Moore/Comedy
Logline: Storyline is under wraps.
Studio/Distributor(s): STX Entertainment
Production Company(s): Team Todd, PalmStar Entertainment, Merced Media Partners, Block Entertainment
Producer(s): Suzanne Todd, Bill Block, Raj Singh, Kevin Scott Frakes, Josh Church
Writer(s): Jon Lucas, Scott Moore
Director(s): Jon Lucas, Scott Moore
Cast: Mila Kunis, Christina Applegate, Kristen Bell
SSN Insight: Leslie Mann was previously attached to star, with husband Judd Apatow previously attached as producer. Previously titled Bad Moms.
Valerian
Logline: A man and woman are partners for a space-time police organization.
Production Company(s): EuropaCorp, Fundamental Films
Producer(s): Virginie Silla
Writer(s): Luc Besson
Director(s): Luc Besson
Cast: Dane DeHaan, Cara Delevingne, Clive Owen, Rihanna
Details: Based on the comic book series “Valerian,” written by Pierre Christin and published in France by Pilote in 1967.
SSN Insight: During the 2015 Cannes Film Festival, China’s Fundamental Films agreed to invest $50,000,000 into this project, marking the biggest deal of the year’s festival.
Viva
Logline: An eighteen-year-old Cuban named Jesus struggles to realize his true identity as he works at a Havana drag club, finds solace listening to records, and struggles with the sudden reappearance of his father, a celebrated boxer, who is released from prison.
Studio/Distributor(s): Magnolia Pictures
Production Company(s): Treasure Entertainment (Ireland)
Producer(s): Robert Walpole, Rebecca O’Flanagan, Cathleen Dore
Writer(s): Mark O’Halloran
Director(s): Paddy Breathnach
Cast: Hector Medina, Jorge Perugorria, Luis Alberto Garcia, Mark O’Halloran
SSN Insight: Ireland has made this film their submission into the foreign-language Oscar race.
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, Judy Greer, Aleks Paunovic, Sara Canning
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: Both Canning and Paunovic are set to play ape characters.
Where to Invade Next
Logline: Edited in the style of a travelogue, the film has Moore spending time in countries such as Finland, Italy and France where he experiences those countries’ alternative methods of dealing with social and economic ills experienced in the United States.
Studio/Distributor(s): Unnamed Tom Quinn/Jason Janego Company
Production Company(s): Dog Eat Dog Films, Inc., IMG Worldwide
Producer(s): Michael Moore, Tia Lessin, Carl Deal
Writer(s): Michael Moore
Director(s): Michael Moore
SSN Insight: Tom Quinn, Jason Janego and Tim League’s new distribution label acquired domestic rights following the film’s premiere at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival.
Zootopia
Logline: Animals live and work in a world where human beings never existed.
Studio/Distributor(s): Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Production Company(s): Walt Disney Animation Studios
Producer(s): Clark Spencer
Writer(s): Jared Bush
Director(s): Byron Howard, Rich Moore
Voice Cast: Idris Elba, J.K. Simmons, Octavia Spencer, Bonnie Hunt, Tommy Chong, Alan Tudyk, Jenny Slate, Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman and Shakira
SSN Insight: In addition to this voice role, Elba is also voicing the tiger Shere Khan in The Jungle Book and a character in Finding Dory.
NEW PROJECTS
Backstabbing for Beginners
Logline: When an idealist gets a job at the U.N.’s Oil for Food program in post-war Iraq, power-hungry nations circling the country’s oil reserves and he discovers a possible conspiracy at the highest level.
Production Company(s): JJ Film, Parts and Labor , Eyeworks Sweden, Waterstone Entertainment, Houndstooth, Creative Alliance, Fortitude International
Producer(s): Lars Knudsen, Jay Van Hoy, Malene Blenkov, Nikolaj Vibe Michelsen
Writer(s): Per Fly, Daniel Pyne
Director(s): Per Fly
Cast: Josh Hutcherson, Ben Kingsley
Details: Inspired by the memoir “Backstabbing for Beginners: My Crash Course in International Diplomacy” written by Michael Soussan and published by Nation Books in 2008.
SSN Insight: Fortitude International is starting pre-sales at AFM next week.
Deconstructing Sammy
Logline: Sammy Davis Jr. rises from humble beginnings to become an entertainment icon.
Studio/Distributor(s): Freestyle Releasing
Production Company(s): Entertainment Studios Networks
Producer(s): Byron Allen
Details: Based on the book “Deconstructing Sammy” written by Matt Birkbeck and published by Amistad in 2008.
SSN Insight: Global distribution will be handled by Entertainment Studios’ recently-bought film finance and distribution company Freestyle Releasing.
Dora the Explorer
Logline: The film is based on the animated television series featuring Dora, a resourceful 7-year-old Latina girl who lives inside a computer and goes on adventures with her best friend, a monkey named Boots.
Studio/Distributor(s): Paramount Pictures
Production Company(s): Disruption Entertainment
Producer(s): Mary Parent
Writer(s): Thomas Wheeler
Details: Based on the animated children’s television series “Dora the Explorer” created by Valerie Walsh, Chris Gifford and Eric Weiner (Nickelodeon/2000-2013).
SSN Insight: Wheeler previously wrote Puss in Boots and is also set to pen Micronauts.
Fortunately, the Milk
Logline: A whimsical tale of a father who leaves one morning to buy milk and returns home with fantastic stories about his trip for his son, who narrates the story.
Studio/Distributor(s): 20th Century Fox
Production Company(s): Animal Logic Entertainment
Producer(s): Edgar Wright, Johnny Depp (in negotiations), Zareh Nalbandian
Writer(s): Bret McKenzie
Director(s): Edgar Wright
Cast: Johnny Depp (in negotiations)
Details: Based on the children’s book “Fortunately, the Milk” written by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Skottie Young and published by HarperCollins on September 17, 2013.
SSN Insight:
Henry the Second
Logline: Teenage outcast Henry’s estranged father is a world-class spy who returns to town to teach Henry how to lie and manipulate his way to the top of the social ladder.
Studio/Distributor(s): 3311
Production Company(s): 21 Laps Entertainment
Producer(s): Shawn Levy, Dan Cohen, Jennifer Dana, Mark Roberts, Ross Jacobson
Writer(s): Tripper Clancy
SSN Insight: Pic will be financed by 3311, which previously joined with Shawn Levy’s production company on the Fox Searchlight wedding comedy Table 19.
Queen of Hearts
Logline: The story of the young Queen of Hearts from the Lewis Carroll classic focuses on her teen years when she was princess of Wonderland Palace.
Studio/Distributor(s): Universal Pictures
Writer(s): Grant Myers
Details: Based on the YA novel trilogy “Queen of Hearts” written by Colleen Oakes.
SSN Insight: Universal director of development Sara Scott will oversee the project for Universal.
Realm
Logline: Storyline is under wraps.
Production Company(s): Fundamental Films, Stan Lee Global Entertainment
Producer(s): Gill Champion, Li Bingbing, Gregory Ouanhon, Stan Lee
Writer(s): Alex Litvak
Cast: Li Bingbing
SSN Insight: Stan Lee Global Entertainment is a joint venture launched in 2014 between Ricco Media Entertainment and Stan Lee’s POW! Entertainment.
The Discovery
Logline: Soon after the existence of the afterlife has been scientifically proven, the son of the man who made the discovery falls in love with a woman with a tragic past.
Production Company(s): Endgame Entertainment, Verisimilitude
Producer(s): Alex Orlovsky, James D. Stern
Writer(s): Charlie McDowell, Justin Lader
Director(s): Charlie McDowell
Cast: Rooney Mara, Nicholas Hoult
SSN Insight: McDowell and Lader previously teamed up for the film The One I Love starring Elizabeth Moss.
The Monopolists
Logline: The film is based on the story of origins of the most popular board game in history, Monopoly.
Production Company(s): Tiara Blu Films, Big Beach
Producer(s): Marc Turtletaub, Peter Saraf, Diane Nabatoff
Writer(s): Howard A Rodman
Details: Based on the book “The Monopolists: Obsession, Fury, and the Scandal Behind the World’s Favorite Board Game” written by Mary Pilon and published by Bloomsbury in 2015, and “The Billion Dollar Monopoly (R) Swindle”.
SSN Insight: Big Beach previously produced Little Miss Sunshine. Their upcoming films include About Ray starring Naomi Watts and the Jeff Nichols-directed Loving.
This Is Your Life, Harriet Chance!
Logline: Widow Harriet goes on an Alaskan cruise her late husband won, and discovers many truths about her life.
Studio/Distributor(s): Focus Features
Details: Based on the novel “This Is Your Life, Harriet Chance!” written by Jonathan Evison and published by Algonquin Books on September 8, 2015.
SSN Insight: Evison’s other novel, The Revised Fundamentals Of Caregiving, is also being adapted as a feature with Paul Rudd and Rob Burnett is directing from his script.
Tower of Terror
Logline: Five people who are staying in a luxury hotel take an elevator and disappear after it is hit by lightning.
Studio/Distributor(s): Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Production Company(s): Whitaker Entertainment
Producer(s): John August, Jim Whitaker
Details: Based on the Disneyland theme park ride of the same name.
SSN Insight: Tower of Terror was reportedly the very first theme park ride turned into a film, but it was produced for television in 1997 and starred Kirsten Dunst.