AWARDS HEADLINES
As We Approach the Announcement Of the Golden Globe Nods, It’s Time To Predict the Nominees
Thanks in large part to Amy Poehler and Tina Fey, the Golden Globes have become a near equal to the Oscars in terms of actual ceremony anticipation, regardless of their actual importance to the Academy Awards. But first come the nominations, which will be announced this Thursday morning. And they should be a very interesting batch. (IW)
Seven Indie Contenders on Tight Budgets, Outside-the-Box Opportunities, Keeping Studios Out of Fests
The group includes Grandma star Lily Tomlin, 99 Homes co-writer/director Ramin Bahrani, I’ll See You in My Dreams actress Blythe Danner, Brooklyn actress Saoirse Ronan, The End of the Tour actor Jason Segel, I Smile Back actress Sarah Silverman and Meadowland actress/producer Olivia Wilde, all together to talk about indie cinema. (TR)
OTHER HEADLINES
TV Development For 12/8/15: Robert & Michelle King Developing ‘Vatican City’, Tom Welling Producing/Starring In ‘Section 13’, and More
Among the various announcements this week is the news that The CW has its eye on some monsters with Transylvania, a History Network look at the rise of the Roman Empire, an action-drama hour-long for NBC from The Art Of More creator Chuck Rose, and something new from the very busy John Ridley, among many others. (SSN)
PGA Lists Its 2016 TV Nominees, Mostly Ignores First-Timers For Veterans
In the Best Comedy and Best Drama categories this year, in fact, there’s only one freshman series: AMC’s Better Call Saul. Inside Amy Schumer earned it first nomination for best comedy series, following a breakthrough year that saw the third season become its most critically lauded yet. All other PGA nominations will be announced on January 5, 2016, and the awards will be presented on Saturday, January 23, 2016. Click the link for the full list. (TVG)
Benedict Cumberbatch Heading Back To World War II For ‘The War Magician’
Storyscape Entertainment principals Bob Cooper and Richard Saperstein, who made the announcement, are producing the project, which adapts the fact-based book by David Fisher and has Garry Whitta writing the screenplay. No director is on board the project currently. Cumberbatch will portray British hero Jasper Maskelyne, the titular magician whose clever illusions helped the Allied forces fight against the Nazis during World War II. (HV)
Apparently, Having Learned Nothing From the ‘Star Wars’ Universe, Lionsgate Explores ‘Hunger Games’ Prequels
While nothing has gone beyond the pondering stage, Lionsgate vice chairman Michael Burns dropped word that the studio is at least exploring development of prequels to be set before Jennifer Lawrence’s Katniss Everdeen came along and ruined President Snow’s fun. Talking up the fact that younger fans apparently missed the Hunger Games elements in the later Hunger Games films, Burns said, “if we went backwards, there obviously would be arenas.” (EMP)
Ang Lee’s Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier 3D Thrilla In Manila Film Back On As Jeff Robinov’s Studio 8 Answers Bell
Project, which originated at Universal Pictures after Lee won the Oscar for directing Life of Pi, is fast coming back together at Robinov’s new shingle. In 2013, Peter Morgan wrote a script and Lee planned to produce the film with his longtime producing partner James Schamus. Studio 8 insiders said it’s in development, but word is that Lee has already begun scouting and would like this to be the next film he directs. (DH)
Amazon Announces a New, “Streaming Partners Program” That Will Include Showtime and Starz
Company announced an over-the-top streaming subscription service for content providers that enables them to reach tens of millions of Amazon Prime members. Initial launch partners include: Showtime, Starz, A+E Network, AMC, Gaia, RLJ Entertainment, DramaFever, Tribeca Short List, Cinedigm, Smithsonian, IndieFlix, Curiosity Stream, Qello, FlixFling, BroadbandTV, DEFY Media, Gravitas, and Ring TV Boxing. (SAA)
Today In Remake News: ABC Greenlights a Three-Hour, Musical Version Of ‘Dirty Dancing’
Network has officially greenlit the new version of the 1987 hit romantic drama that starred Patrick Swazye and Jennifer Grey. This time around, Abigail Breslin will play the new “Baby.” EPs include Allison Shearmur and Eleanor Bergstein, who wrote the screenplay for the original movie. Jessica Sharzer will write the adaptation and Wayne Blair will direct. The music will be done by Adam Anders and Peer Astrom with Andy Blankenbuehler as choreographer. (EW)
Paramount Finds a Writer For Its Highly Touted ‘Wedding Sting’ Project
Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation scribe Drew Pearce has been tapped to pen the dramedy for the studio, which had optioned the rights to the Atlantic article, The Wedding Sting, after a competitive bidding war. Mary Parent is on board to produce. Written by Jeff Maysh, story tells the tale of how the police department in Flint, Mich., devised a plan in 1990 to create a fake wedding in order to lure all the local drug dealers to one party. (VAR)