SSN ORIGINALS
Film Development for 11/5/15: Liam Neeson in Talks for ‘Felt’, Miramax in for Bad Santa 2, Kevin Spacey Books Two Films, David S. Goyer to Produce ‘Miles’
Plenty of action this week, including new attachments for films like 478, Baby Driver and Billionaire Boys Club — with both of the latter snagging Kevin Spacey — while new projects like Felt and King Cobra get rolling. Click on the link to learn more. (SSN)
OTHER HEADLINES
A Changing Paradigm? Warner Bros. Is Opening ‘Point Break’ In China Three Weeks Before the U.S.
While this is not the first time a major Hollywood studio film has opened there first (Iron Man 3 and Penguins of Madagascar both did), it is an unprecedented lead time, and will be the last American movie to premiere there in December, which is normally a “blackout” period for foreign releases. The question being asked is, will this start a trend? (SF)
Awards Season Gets Into Swing, as 16 Animated Features Submitted To 2015 Oscar Race
Assuming all 16 qualify, the field is just large enough to warrant a full five-nomination slate at the upcoming 88th annual Academy Awards. The submitted features include Anomalisa, The Good Dinosaur, Home, Hotel Transylvania 2, Inside Out, Minions and The Peanuts Movie. (VAR)
TBS Renews Rashida Jones Comedy ‘Angie Tribeca,’ Sets 25-Hour Season One Marathon
Cable network has preemptively renewed its long-gestating project for a second season and set an unprecedented 25-hour commercial-free series premiere for the police comedy’s entire freshman order. The single-camera comedy will debut Sunday, January 17th at 9 p.m. and run through Monday, January 18th at 10 p.m. Season Two of the series will debut on Monday, January 25th with new episodes available weekly across all TBS platforms at 9:30 p.m. (LF)
STX Entertainment Takes a Big Step Toward Being a Major 21st Century Player
Company has locked down distribution agreements in more than 50 territories. The platform gives the ambitious company a top-tier worldwide distribution network for the studio’s 12-15 motion pictures a year. The first slate of films to come through the output deals will be The Space Between Us, Hardcore, Mile 22, Bad Moms, The Foreigner, Russ & Roger, and Happytime Murders. (DH)
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo Is In Talks To Play the Singer With the Golden Voice In a Biopic
Noomi Rapace is circling the lead in a film about the late British soul icon Amy Winehouse in a scripted project that is gathering steam at the AFM. August Rush director Kirsten Sheridan has written the script and is due to direct the feature. Music rights are currently in negotiation on the development project. (SD)
Julie Klausner’s Star Continues To Rise, as ‘Difficult People’ Co-Creator’s Book Gets Optioned For Film
Writer-actress’ 2010 memoir, I Don’t Care About Your Band, is currently being adapted for an eventual feature film. The book chronicles her many 20-something romantic and sexual entanglements with various men. Klaunser will co-write the script, with the possibility of her starring, although it has not yet been decided. Five years ago, the book was adapted for a pilot starring Lizzy Caplan, but HBO passed on it. (VUL)
Knowing a Good Thing When It Sees One, Alcon Will Continue Its Distribution Agreement With WB Through 2019
LA-based financing and production company is extending its long-standing “output” distribution agreement with the studio for four more years. The company has concurrently arranged a $200 million senior secured credit facility via a structured finance transaction involving a bank syndicate led by JP Morgan Chase, CIT Bank and Bank of America, it was announced by company co-founders and CEO’s Andrew Kosove and Broderick Johnson. (CS)
Trailer Buzz, Part One: ‘The Hateful Eight’
The Weinstein Company has released the first full-length trailer for the highly anticipated new film from Quentin Tarantino. Starring Kurt Russell, Samuel L. Jackson, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Walton Goggins, Tim Roth, Bruce Dern, Michael Madsen, Demian Bichir, it opens in limited release on Christmas Day. (CB)
Trailer Buzz, Part Two: ‘Concussion’
Sony Pictures has released the latest trailer for the upcoming drama from director Peter Landesman, and starring Will Smith. Alec Baldwin, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Albert Brooks, Luke Wilson, Paul Reiser, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje and David Morse co-star in the film, which opens Christmas Day. (IW)