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, Nicole Ari Parker, Omar Epps
SSN Insight: Spec script acquired for mid-six figures upfront, and upped to seven figures for script and directing as movie is getting made.
All Roads Lead to Rome
Logline: An American woman travels through Italy with her Italian ex-boyfriend as they look for her rebellious teenage daughter.
Studio/Distributor(s): Momentum Pictures
Production Company(s): Paradox Entertainment, Inc., AMBI
Producer(s): Andrea Iervolino, Monika Bacardi, Silvio Muraglia
Writer(s): Ella Lemhagen, Cindy Meyers, Josh Appignanesi
Director(s): Ella Lemhagen
Cast: Sarah Jessica Parker, Rosie Day, Raoul Bova, Claudia Cardinale, Paz Vega
SSN Insight: Julie Sultan of AMBI Distribution negotiated the deal for the rights with Momentum Pictures.
Amulet
Logline: Follow a young girl named Emily, her younger brother Navin, and their mother Karen as they move to their great-grandfather’s house to start a new life. The house proves to contain a dangerous portal, and after a creature pulls Karen through it, the kids set out to save her in an alternate world inhabited by demons, giant robots, elves and highly intelligent animals.
Studio/Distributor(s): 20th Century Fox
Production Company(s): Temple Hill Entertainment
Producer(s): Marty Bowen, Wyck Godfrey
Details: Based on the graphic novel “Amulet: The Stonekeeper” written by Kazu Kibuishi and published by Scholastic Books in January 2008. “Amulet: The Stonekeeper” is the first in a series of five graphic novels from Scholatic Books.
SSN Insight: Willow Smith and Jaden Smith were previously attached to star.
Cold Warriors
Logline: When a video gamer goes to Europe with his dull step-father, he finds out that the man is an ex-CIA agent working on an assignment.
Studio/Distributor(s): Millennium Films
Production Company(s): Revelations Entertainment, Schorr Pictures
Producer(s): Robin Schorr, Lori McCreary
Writer(s): Todd Berger
Director(s): Raja Gosnell
Cast: Morgan Freeman
SSN Insight: Freeman can next be seen in London Has Fallen, produced at Millennium, then the epic remake of Ben-Hur at Paramount and he’s in the cast of Going In Style in post-production at New Line Cinema.
Collateral Beauty
Logline: A man who works in a New York ad agency finds his life turned upside down when a tragedy sends him into a depression, and his colleagues set out to lift his spirits.
Production Company(s): Overbrook Entertainment, Anonymous Content, PalmStar Entertainment, Scarlet Fire Entertainment, Likely Story
Producer(s): Michael Sugar, Bard Dorros, Will Smith, Allan Loeb
Writer(s): Allan Loeb
Director(s): David Frankel (in negotiations)
Cast: Jason Segel, Will Smith
SSN Insight: Hugh Jackman was previously attached to co-star. Johnny Depp was previously in talks to co-star. Rooney Mara was previously attached to co-star.
Felt
Logline: The true story of Mark Felt, the lifelong G-Man who, as “Deep Throat,” leaked information to the press and broke the Watergate scandal is dramatized.
Production Company(s): Ridley Scott Films , Playtone, Everyman Pictures, Vendian Entertainment, Cara Films Ltd., MadRiver Pictures
Producer(s): Ridley Scott, Gary Goetzman, Tom Hanks, Giannina Scott, Marc Butan
Writer(s): Peter Landesman
Director(s): Peter Landesman
Cast: Liam Neeson, Diane Lane, Jason Bateman
SSN Insight: CAA arranged the financing and repped domestic rights at AFM; Sierra/Affinity handled the foreign rights.
Free Fire
Logline: In 1978, an arms deal in Boston goes terribly wrong.
Studio/Distributor(s): Alchemy
Production Company(s): Rook Films
Producer(s): Andy Starke, Ben Wheatley
Writer(s): Ben Wheatley, Amy Jump
Director(s): Ben Wheatley
Cast: Armie Hammer, Brie Larson, Cillian Murphy, Michael Smiley, Sharlto Copley
SSN Insight: Olivia Wilde was previously attached to the role played by Brie Larson. Luke Evans was previously attached to co-star. Alchemy acquired domestic rights for an amount estimated to be above $3 million at 2015 AFM.
Ghost Team
Logline: A team of ghost hunters who get more than they bargained for when they set out to do their own paranormal investigation.
Studio/Distributor(s): The Orchard
Production Company(s): Preferred Content, Mott Street Pictures, Tandem Pictures
Producer(s): Julie Christeas, Schuyler Weiss, Oliver Irving, Alex Sagalchik
Writer(s): Peter Warren
Director(s): Oliver Irving
Cast: Jon Heder, Justin Long, Amy Sedaris, David Krumholtz, Melonie Diaz
SSN Insight: The producers announced that that this will be the first feature to use the new Steadicam Tango, an innovation by cinematographer Garrett Brown. The Orchard has acquired North American, UK, Australian and New Zealand rights to the film.
Lego Batman
Logline: Storyline is under wraps.
Studio/Distributor(s): Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Company(s): Vertigo Entertainment, Animal Logic Entertainment, Lord Miller, LEGO Group, Lin Pictures
Producer(s): Dan Lin, Roy Lee, Phil Lord, Chris Miller
Writer(s): Seth Grahame-Smith
Director(s): Chris McKay
Voice Cast: Ralph Fiennes, Will Arnett, Michael Cera, Zach Galifianakis, Rosario Dawson, Mariah Carey (in talks)
Details: Spinoff of “The Lego Movie” (2014) directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. Based on the line of toys manufactured by the Lego Group.
SSN Insight: Mariah Carey is in talks for the role of Commissioner Gordon.
Live by Night
Logline: A young gangster climbs through the ranks during the Prohibition era.
Studio/Distributor(s): Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Company(s): Pearl Street Films, Appian Way
Producer(s): Ben Affleck, Jennifer Davisson Killoran, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Todd
Writer(s): Ben Affleck
Director(s): Ben Affleck
Cast: Ben Affleck, Sienna Miller, Zoe Saldana, Elle Fanning, Chris Messina, Max Casella
Details: Based on the novel “Live by Night,” written by Dennis Lehane and published by William Morrow on October 2, 2012.
SSN Insight: Casella has been cast as Digger, the boorish and overly aggressive son of a mob boss who is a thorn in Coughlin’s side.
Megan Leavey
Logline: Megan Leavey, a US Marine who was injured with her dog Rex by an IED while on patrol in Iraq, was awarded the Purple Heart, and years later fought through bureaucratic red tape to adopt and reunite with Rex upon his retirement from duty.
Production Company(s): LD Entertainment
Producer(s): Mickey Liddell, Jennifer Hilton Monroe, Pete Shilaimon
Writer(s): Annie Mumolo, Tim Lovestedt, Jordan Roberts, Pamela Gray
Director(s): Gabriela Cowperthwaite
Cast: Kate Mara, Edie Falco, Ramon Rodriguez, Tom Felton, Damson Idris
SSN Insight: Idris recently wrapped Pete Travis’ City Of Tiny Lights alongside Riz Ahmed and Kush Jumbo and will also be in John Singleton’s Snowfall.
Okja
Logline: Storyline is under wraps for this monster movie.
Studio/Distributor(s): Netflix
Production Company(s): Plan B Entertainment, Lewis Pictures
Producer(s): Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Lewis Taewan Kim
Director(s): Bong Joon-Ho
Cast: Tilda Swinton, Jake Gyllenhaal, Paul Dano, Kelly Macdonald, Bill Nighy
SSN Insight: Netflix is financing the film with an estimated $50 million budget.
Our Kind of Traitor
Logline: A couple on vacation becomes entangled in the dealings of a Russian mobster wishing to defect and the British Secret Service.
Studio/Distributor(s): StudioCanal, Lionsgate
Production Company(s): Film4 Productions, Potboiler Productions, Ink Factory
Producer(s): Stephen Mark Cornwell, Simon Cornwell, Rhodri Thomas, Gail Egan, Andrea Calderwood
Writer(s): Hossein Amini
Director(s): Susanna White
Cast: Ewan McGregor, Stellan Skarsard, Damian Lewis, Jeremy Northam, Naomie Harris
Details: Based on the novel, “Our Kind of Traitor,” by John LeCarre, published by Viking Adult on October 12, 2010.
SSN Insight: Justin Kurzel was previously attached to direct.
Outlaws and Angels
Logline: An outlaw hiding out in a frontier family’s home falls in love with their youngest daughter, while a bounty hunter closes in on his location.
Studio/Distributor(s): Momentum Pictures
Producer(s): Rosanne Korenberg, Chris Ivan Cevic, Luke Daniels
Writer(s): JT Mollner
Director(s): JT Mollner
Cast: Luke Wilson, Chad Michael Murray, Teri Polo, Francesca Ruth Eastwood, Ben Browder
SSN Insight: Momentum Pictures has acquired rights in multiple territories including the U.S.
Q
Logline: Right before his wedding, a man is visited by his future self who warns him against marrying his true love.
Studio/Distributor(s): Lionsgate
Production Company(s): 3 Arts Entertainment, Matt Tolmach Productions
Producer(s): Matt Tolmach, Erwin Stoff, Francis Lawrence
Writer(s): Allan Loeb, David Gordon Green
Details: Based on the novel “Q: A Novel” written by Evan Mandery and published by HarperCollins on August 23, 2011.
SSN Insight: Project was previously set up at Columbia Pictures. David Gordon Green was previously attached to direct.
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.
Studio/Distributor(s): ,
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, Henry Cavill, Beau Knapp, Glen Powell, Logan Marshall-Green, Tommy Flanagan
SSN Insight: Seb Edwards was previously attached to direct. Project was included on the 2012 Black List. Luke Evans was previously attached to play the role filled by Logan Marshall-Green.
Sherlock Gnomes
Logline: Gnomeo and Juliet get a famous detective to help them uncover the mystery of disappearing gnomes, but they find themselves in over their heads when they discover a sinister plot.
Studio/Distributor(s): Paramount Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM)
Production Company(s): Rocket Pictures
Producer(s): Elton John, David Furnish, Steve Hamilton-Shaw, Carolyn Soper
Writer(s): Ben Zazove, Andy Riley, Kevin Cecil
Director(s): John Stevenson
Voice Cast: James McAvoy, Emily Blunt, Johnny Depp
Details: Sequel to “Gnomeo & Juliet” (2011) directed by Kelly Asbury and starring James McAvoy and Emily Blunt.
SSN Insight: Depp will star as the title character.
Sky
Logline: A woman accidentally kills her husband during a violent fight while on vacation, and then embarks on a life-changing trip across California and Nevada.
Studio/Distributor(s): IFC Films
Production Company(s): Pandora Film Produktion, Le Bureau
Producer(s): Bertrand Faivre, Gabrielle Dumon
Writer(s): Fabienne Berthaud, Pascal Arnold
Director(s): Fabienne Berthaud
Cast: Diane Kruger, Gilles Lellouche, Lena Dunham, Norman Reedus, Q’Orianka Kilcher
SSN Insight: IFC Films has bought the North American rights to the TIFF pic that marks the English-language debut of Fabienne Berthaud.
The Bleeder
Logline: The true story of New Jersey heavyweight boxer and womanizer Chuck Wepner.
Studio/Distributor(s): ,
Production Company(s): Hyde Park Entertainment, Campbell Grobman Films, Mandalay Sports Media
Producer(s): Michael Tollin, Liev Schreiber, Carl Hampe, Christa Campbell, Lati Dana Grobman
Writer(s): Jeff Feurerzeig, Jerry Stahl, Michael Cristofer
Director(s): Philippe Falardeau
Cast: Liev Schreiber, Naomi Watts, Elisabeth Moss, Jim Gaffigan, Michael Rapaport, Ron Perlman
SSN Insight: Jeff Feurerzeig was previously attached to direct. Christina Hendricks was previously attached to co-star.
The Commuter
Logline: A businessman on his daily commute home unwittingly gets caught up in a criminal conspiracy, which threatens not only his life but the lives of those around him.
Studio/Distributor(s): Lionsgate
Production Company(s): The Picture Company
Producer(s): Andrew Rona, Alex Heineman
Writer(s): Philip de Blasi, Byron Willinger
Cast: Liam Neeson
SSN Insight: Olatunde Osunsanmi was previously attached to direct. Previously in development at Gold Circle with Julian Jarrold attached to direct. Previously in development at Boies/Schiller Film Group and Landscape.
The Girl in the Photographs
Logline: When a beautiful young woman discovers a series of grisly photographs, she’s spooked into ditching her small town and her dead-end job, but as she attempts to enter the big city fashion industry, she finds deeper horrors that are tailor-made for her.
Studio/Distributor(s): Vertical Entertainment
Production Company(s): Al-Ghanim Entertainment
Producer(s): Andrea Chung, Thomas Mahoney
Writer(s): Osgood Perkins, Robert Morast, Nick Simon
Director(s): Nick Simon
Cast: Claudia Lee, Kal Penn, Mitch Pileggi, Katharine Isabelle, Miranda Rae Mayo
SSN Insight: Halston Sage was previously attached to star.
The Little Mermaid
Logline: A young mermaid gives up her life in the sea to be with a prince with whom she falls in love.
Studio/Distributor(s): Universal Pictures,
Production Company(s): Working Title Films
Producer(s): Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner
Writer(s): Richard Curtis, Caroline Thompson, Kelly Marcel, Abi Morgan
Cast: Chloe Grace Moretz
Details: Based on the fairy tale “The Little Mermaid” written by Hans Christian Andersen and originally published in Denmark by C. A. Reitzel in April 1837.
SSN Insight: Joe Wright was previously attached to direct. Sofia Coppola was previously attached to direct.
The Trap
Logline: When a novelist learns that her sister’s murderer is a high-profile journalist, she decides to expose his guilt by writing a book about the killing and promoting it in an interview with him.
Studio/Distributor(s): TriStar Productions
Production Company(s): The Cantillon Company, Immersive Pictures
Producer(s): Elizabeth Cantillon, Josh Bratman
Writer(s): Phyllis Nagy
Details: Based on the novel “The Trap (Die Falle)” written by Melanie Raabe and to be published in the U.S. by Grand Central in 2016.
SSN Insight: Phyllis Nagy also wrote the Cate Blanchett-Rooney Mara film Carol.
Thru You Princess
Logline: Two very different musicians — Princess Shaw, a young black woman in the American South who posts her performances of her own songs on the web and Israeli viral-video artist Kutiman, whose YouTube-sampling compositions have earned millions of online hits
Studio/Distributor(s): Magnolia Pictures, Participant Media
Production Company(s): Atzmor Productions
Producer(s): Liran Atzmor, Steve Apkon
Director(s): Ido Haar
SSN Insight: Magnolia Pictures and Participant Media have co-acquired U.S. rights to the documentary by Israeli filmmaker Ido Haar that premiered in at TIFF.
Untitled John Wick Sequel
Logline: In this sequel, the fearsome head of security for a stunning female crime lord will stop at nothing in his quest to destroy John.
Studio/Distributor(s): Lionsgate, Summit Entertainment, LLC
Production Company(s): Thunder Road Pictures, 87eleven
Producer(s): Basil Iwanyk, David Leitch
Writer(s): Derek Kolstad
Director(s): Chad Stahelski
Cast: Keanu Reeves, Common, Ian McShane, John Leguizamo, Bridget Moynahan, Ruby Rose, Riccardo Scamarcio, Peter Stormare
Details: Sequel to “John Wick” (2014) directed by Chad Stahelski and starring Keanu Reeves and Michael Nyqvist.
SSN Insight: David Leitch was previously attached to co-direct, but left the project to instead direct the film “Coldest City,” with Stahelski staying on to direct “Wick 2″ on his own.
What Lola Wants
Logline: Untamed runaway Lola Franklin forges her own kidnapping, falls in love with a charming and talented pickpocket, and fiercely blazes her own trail.
Studio/Distributor(s): Anchor Bay Entertainment
Production Company(s): Bubble Factory, The, Cruzach Films
Producer(s): Ayisha Davies, Monnie Wills
Writer(s): Rupert Glasson
Director(s): Rupert Glasson
Cast: Sophie Lowe, Beau Knapp, Charles S. Dutton, Dale Dickey, Robert Taylor
SSN Insight: Starz subsidiary Anchor Bay Entertainment has bought the U.S. Rights, including Blu-ray/DVD, VOD and Digital HD to the flim.
New Projects
A Court of Thorns and Roses
Logline: After teenage huntress Feyre kills a wolf, she is taken to magical land by a powerful fairy.
Production Company(s): Tempo Productions
Producer(s): Jo Bamford, Piers Tempest
Details: Based on the novel “A Court of Thorns and Roses” written by Sarah J. Maas and published by Bloomsbury on May 5, 2015.
SSN Insight: Tempo acquired the option in a competitive situation. Tempo recently wrapped filming on Nick Hamm’s The Journey.
Amy Winehouse
Logline: Based on the life of Amy Winehouse, storyline under wraps.
Production Company(s): City Entertainment, Subotica Entertainment, Lotus Entertainment
Producer(s): Alexandra Whitlin, Joshua Maurer, Tristan Orpen Lynch
Writer(s): Kristen Sheridan
Director(s): Kristen Sheridan
Cast: Noomi Rapace
SSN Insight: Talks are talking place with Winehouse’s father, Mitch Winehouse for obtaining music rights. Lotus Entertainment will finance, executive produce and handle international sales.
Athena
Logline: A troubled young woman who has been recruited by a covert agency discovers that she is the descendant of Athena, goddess of wisdom and war.
Studio/Distributor(s): Columbia Pictures
Production Company(s): Pascal Pictures
Producer(s): Amy Pascal, Rachel O’Connor, Bryan Haas
Writer(s): Michael Diliberti
SSN Insight: Amy Pascal acquired the pitch in an estimated mid-six against seven figures deal.
Black-Eyed Susans
Logline: When the lone survivor of a serial killer begins doubting the guilt of man convicted of the crime, she launches her own investigation.
Production Company(s): Battleplan Productions
Producer(s): Rod Lurie, Marc Frydman
Writer(s): Rod Lurie, Kyra Davis
Details: Based on the novel “Black-Eyed Susans” written by Julia Heaberlin and published by Ballantine Books in 2015.
SSN Insight: Lurie’s films include The Last Castle, The Contender, Straw Dogs and Nothing But The Truth. Lurie’s Battleplan Productions will finance the movie.
Crash Override
Logline: It tells the story of how Zoe Quinn, creator of such hip interactive games as Depression Quest, was targeted by a digital mob bent on upending her life when a blog post by her ex-boyfriend went viral. It sparked the widely-discussed Gamergate controversy
Production Company(s): 360 Entertainment, Pascal Pictures
Producer(s): Amy Pascal, Rachel O’Connor
Writer(s): Rebecca Angelo, Lauren Schuker Blum
Details: Based on the memoir “Crash Override: How To Save The Internet From Itself”, written by Zoe Quinn to be published by Touchstone/Simon & Schuster in September 2016.
SSN Insight: Pascal Pictures won the option in a bidding war. Pascal Pictures will finance the film.
My Husband’s Ex-Wife
Logline: A young woman who is married to an older man and pregnant deals with several new issues, including the impact of her husband’s ex-wife being diagnosed with cancer.
Production Company(s): Mark Gordon Company, Shondaland
Producer(s): Mark R. Gordon, Shonda Rhimes, Betsy Beers
Writer(s): Michelle Lirtzman
SSN Insight: The Mark Gordon Company will finance the film. Mark Gordon Company and Shondaland previously teamed up for the long-running TV series, Grey’s Anatomy.
Supermoms
Logline: Four new mothers who meet in a new mommy group team up to right the societal injustices that are faced by new mothers like them.
Production Company(s): The Firm
Producer(s): Amanda Blue Peterson, Tessa Benson, Robbie Brenner, Jeff Kwatinetz
Writer(s): Amanda Blue Peterson
SSN Insight: Supermoms is the second film at The Firm since Brenner joined as film president/partner. Her first project was the Jennifer Garner/Maika Monroe-starrer Tribes of Palos Verdes.
The Gone World
Logline: The storyline of this sci-fi time travel procedural is under wraps.
Studio/Distributor(s): 20th Century Fox
Production Company(s): Chernin Entertainment
Writer(s): Neill Blomkamp (in talks)
Director(s): Neill Blomkamp (in talks)
Details: Based on the not-yet-published novel “The Gone World” written by Thomas Sweterlitsch.
SSN Insight: Blomkamp’s previous films include District 9, Elysium and Chappie
Untitled Tennessee Williams Biopic
Logline: This biopic chronicles the life of legendary playwright Tennessee Williams.
Production Company(s): Broad Green Pictures
Details: Based on the biography “Tennessee Williams: Mad Pilgrimage Of The Flesh” written by John Lahr and published by W. W. Norton & Company, Inc. in 2014.
SSN Insight: Reportedly, the project will next go out to available writers to adapt.