Nate Parker’s ‘Birth Of A Nation’ Benefits From #OscarsSoWhite
The $10 million passion project, which Nate Parker produced, wrote, and directed, is sparking a bidding war which culminated in a record-busting $16 million bid from Fox Searchlight. (FOR)
‘Ghost in the Shell’ Moves To Paramount From Disney
DreamWorks’ Ghost in the Shell, starring Scarlett Johansson, has shifted from Disney to Paramount, keeping its March 31, 2017, wide release date. (VAR)
‘Ex Machina’ Producer DNA Films Acquired Award-Winning Novel ‘The Loney’
DNA Films has acquired the rights to Andrew Michael Hurley’s critically acclaimed and award-winning modern gothic horror novel The Loney. (DH)
‘Vampire Diaries,’ ‘Underworld’ Producers Land Pilot Orders From Fox
Fox has ordered pilots for two dramas set in the world of law enforcement; A.P.B. from writer and executive producer David Slack and to be directed by director Len Wiseman and Recon, from writer Caroline Dries. (WRAP)
ABC Orders Two More Family Comedy Pilots
Square Roots as well as Chunk & Bean mark the network’s fifth and sixth comedy pilots this season — all of them family fare. (THR)
‘A Dog’s Purpose’ Movie Based On Bestselling Book To Unleash In 2017
Universal Pictures has set director Lasse Hallström’s A Dog’s Purpose, based on the bestselling book of the same name, for release on January 27, 2017. (DH)
Miley Cyrus To Star In Woody Allen’s Upcoming Amazon Series
In her first major TV gig since Hannah Montana, Miley Cyrus has booked a starring role on Allen’s in-the-works project. (TVL)
Matt Smith To Play Photographer Robert Mapplethorpe In Biopic
Former Doctor Who actor Matt Smith has signed up to play the celebrated photographer Robert Mapplethorpe in a new biopic. The film, entitled Mapplethorpe, will be directed by Ondi Timoner. (GUAR)
Watch ‘The Raid’ Director Gareth Evans’ Samurai Short Film
Red-hot director Gareth Evans posted a pre-vis fight scene to his YouTube account — a short samurai tale about a warrior tasked with delivering a treaty who finds herself hunted by two assassins — check it out here. (COLL)