AWARDS HEADLINES
Awards 2016: Filmmaker Matt Heineman Dives Deep into Action on ‘Cartel Land’ – “Things That Happened Off Camera Made It Even Scarier”
How often do you watch a movie and wonder how many times the filmmaker’s life was actually in danger while making it? Probably not very often, right? Well, tune in to Netflix and watch director Matt Heineman’s Cartel Land, and that’ll be the very first thing you think. (SSN)
In an All-Around Odd Year, Oscar Favorites Elbowed Aside for Rookie Writers in 2016 Race
The Oscars’ current problems are a lot like baseball’s, back in the day. The game is too white, too macho and a little too overloaded with grizzled veterans for many fans’ comfort. But encouraging signs can be spotted over in the writers’ division, where nine of this year’s 10 screenplay contenders were penned, in whole or in part, by first-time nominees. (IC)
In Case You Were Wondering, Now You Can Watch the Scenes That Nailed the 20 Acting Nominations
From Leonardo DiCaprio’s battle with that bear to Charlotte Rampling’s steely portrayal of a wife consumed with jealousy, here are the moments that mattered most for this year’s leading and supporting contenders, including exclusive video of Brie Larson’s emotional escape from Room. (THR)
OTHER HEADLINES
Film & TV Deals For 2/10/16: Tina Fey Inks Deal with Uni, Trans-Pacific Partnership a Go, NBCUni Assembles Ent. Networks Group
In other deal news, Lionsgate approaches Starz about a potential acquisition, the Multi-Ethnic Media Coalition launches an initiative to diversify the industry, and Film4 signs a big new deal. Click the link for more. (SSN)
Rep Moves for 2/10/16: UTA Snags Evangeline Lilly & Willow Smith, Sundance Talent Scooped Up By WME & Paradigm
It’s a busy week in Hollywoodland, as actors Minnie Driver and Jason Clarke also shift to new agencies, as does an established and esteemed comedy writer, and Egyptian comic and satirist Bassem Youssef. For the full skinny, click on the provided link. (SSN)
Xavier Dolan’s Star-Studded English Language Debut Just Got Even More Star-Studded
The French Canadian 26-year-old’s seventh film, The Death and Life of John F. Donovan, already has Jessica Chastain, Kathy Bates, Susan Sarandon, Taylor Kitsch and Kit Harington in the cast, and has now added Natalie Portman and Nicholas Hoult. Harington has the title role in the drama, which involves a Hollywood star’s career being destroyed when people start making assumptions about his correspondence with an 11-year-old actor. (EMP)
Feeling Ultra Confident Before a Big Weekend, Fox Greenlights a ‘Deadpool’ Sequel Before the First Movie Even Opens
Studio has given the green light to a follow-up, with Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick returning to write the script, though director Tim Miller is not yet locked in. There’s no word yet on plot details, but Ryan Reynolds recently shared that the character may rumble with X-Men a bit more, which isn’t a surprise given the current movie’s inclusion of Colossus and Negasonic Teenage Warhead. (TP)
Bona Fide Acquires Movie Rights to Knausgaard New York Times Series ‘My Saga’ for Alexander Payne
Production company’s principals, Albert Berger and Ron Yerxa, have acquired movie rights to popular Norwegian author Karl Ove Knausgaard’s two lengthy — and hilarious — 2015 New York Times Magazine travel articles tracing the Vikings’ historic trek through the Northern U.S. The intention is for their Nebraska director, Payne, to turn it into a film project. (TOH)
His ‘Rogue One’ Work Done, Chris Weitz Is Moving On to Adapt the LGBT Rights Drama ’21 Years to Midnight’
Based on Debbie Cenziper‘s upcoming book, which details the landmark “Obergefell v. Hodges” case that led to the U.S. Supreme ruling on June 26th, 2015, that the Constitution guarantees same-sex marriage as a right, making it legal across all 50 states. Weitz has been hired by Fox 2000 to adapt the script. No word if he will also direct. Temple Hill Entertainment’s Wyck Godfrey and Marty Bowen are producing. (COL)
Because Of Course: Now Sonic the Hedgehog Is Getting His Own Movie, Too
Beloved video game character is set to star in his first feature film, which will be produced by Sony Pictures and combine live-action with animation. In a statement, Sega chief executive, Hajime Saito, confirmed the movie is set for release in 2018. Sega is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its blue speedster this year and, as part of this, is expected to make a number of announcements over the coming months. (GS)