AWARDS HEADLINES
Awards 2016: ‘Spotlight’ Writer/Director Tom McCarthy on Flipping the Script & Getting Reporters to Open Up to Make a Film with Impact
Tom McCarthy had himself a pretty interesting 2015. It’s rare enough for a director to see two of his movies hit theaters in the same calendar year, much less have them be the most and least acclaimed entries of his filmography, but that’s exactly what happened to the writer-director of such indie classics as The Station Agent, The Visitor and Win Win. (SSN)
Straight to the Croisette: George Miller Selected as Jury President for 69th Annual Cannes Film Festival
A year after the Cannes Film Festival rapturously welcomed Mad Max: Fury Road, Miller will be returning to the festival to serve as jury president this year. No word yet on whom his fellow jury members will be. (COL)
CBS Stays In House For Its Tony Awards Host, Names Tony Winner James Corden To Run the Show
The affable Late Late Show host will lead the 70th annual Tony Awards, which the Peacock Network will telecast live from New York’s Beacon Theatre on June 12th from 8-11 PM. This will be Corden’s first time hosting the Tonys; he won the best actor in a play Tony in 2012 for his performance in One Man, Two Guvnors. (AL)
OTHER HEADLINES
TV Development For 2/2/16: ABC Orders 13 Pilots, ‘Gilmore Girls’ a Go, Amazon Bringing ‘American Girls’ to Life
Among the other new projects lined up for the various networks is a dating show for Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, the new episodes of Gilmore Girls, a brand new Justice League cartoon, and a secret new project from Louis C.K. Click on the link to read all about it. (SSN)
SXSW Unveils Lineup With James Caan, Ethan Hawke, Keegan-Michael Key Movies
South by Southwest has unveiled most of its eclectic lineup. The 23rd edition of the Austin-based festival opens March 11th with the previously announced Richard Linklater comedy-drama Everybody Wants Some. The nine-day festival will screen 139 films, including 52 films from first-time filmmakers, 89 world premieres, 14 North American premieres and seven U.S. premieres. (VAR)
‘The Fault In Our Stars’ Helmer Josh Boone Pushes Back Stephen King’s ‘The Stand’ To Next Direct ‘Revival’
On spec and in concert with producer Michael De Luca and author King, Boone has penned an adaptation based on King’s 2014 bestseller about a charismatic preacher who loses his faith when his wife and child are killed in a tragic accident. Boone and De Luca have submitted the script to Universal, where the producer has a first-look deal; it will likely find a home quickly if that studio doesn’t spark to the tale. (DH)
That New ‘Power Rangers’ Movie Has Its Villain, and Her Name Is Elizabeth Banks
Actress will play big bad Rita Repulsa in the latest big screen incarnation of the long-running franchise, which finds the Rangers, a group of power-infused teens who don brightly-colored costumes and use special vehicles to battle evil, going up against Rita, an alien witch that has decided to conquer Earth. RJ Cyler, Becky G, Ludy Lin, Naomi Scott and Dacre Montgomery are playing the Rangers. (EMP)
The Team Behind ‘American Psycho’ Are Reuniting For Another Movie About Monsters
Director Mary Harron and screenwriter Guinevere Turner will make The Family, about the Manson Family murders of 1969. Harron will direct from a script by Turner. The story centers on Karlene Faith, then a graduate student, who met three of the Manson girls while teaching in prison, and followed them on their personal journeys. (SF)
Deep-Web Spelunker Vocativ Is Jumping Headfirst Into Television
Company’s top executives are excited about the debut of its eight-episode series on Showtime, Dark Net, this Thursday at 11 p.m. ET. But the digital media company already has more irons in the fire. The company is also aiming for the silver screen. (AA)
Trailer Buzz: ‘Miles Ahead’
Sony Pictures Classics has released the first look at the upcoming biopic from director and star Don Cheadle. The film also stars Ewan McGregor and opens in theaters April 1st. (TP)