New Attachments
Cosmos
Logline: Centers on Witold, who has just failed the bar, and his companion Fuchs, who has recently quit his fashion job. During a stay at a guesthouse, an incident launches Witold’s reality into a whirlwind of tension, histrionics, foreboding omens, and surrealistic logic as he becomes obsessed with the guesthouse owner’s newly married daughter Lena.
Studio/Distributor(s): Kino Lorber
Production Company(s): Alfama Films, Leopardo Filmes
Producer(s): Paulo Branco
Writer(s): Andrzej Zulawski
Director(s): Andrzej Zulawski
Cast: Sabine Azema, Jean-Francois Balmer, Jonathan Genet, Johan Libéreau, Andy Gillet
SSN Insight: Kino Lorber acquired North American rights to the first feature film in 15 years from Polish director Żuławski, whose horror pic Possession screened at Cannes in 1981.
Get Out
Logline: A young African American man visits his white girlfriend’s family, with horrifying consequences.
Production Company(s): Blumhouse Productions, QC Entertainment
Producer(s): Jason Blum, Sean McKittrick, Ted Hamm
Writer(s): Jordan Peele
Director(s): Jordan Peele
Cast: Allison Williams, Daniel Kaluuya, Bradley Whitford, Catherine Keener, Caleb Landry Jones, Betty Gabriel
SSN Insight: Gabriel’s credits include Experiementer, The Purge: Election Year and the upcoming Beyond Skyline.
Kingsman Sequel
Logline: Storyline is under wraps.
Studio/Distributor(s): 20th Century Fox, 20th Century Fox Distribution
Production Company(s): MARV Films
Producer(s): Matthew Vaughn
Writer(s): Jane Goldman, Matthew Vaughn
Director(s): Matthew Vaughn
Cast: Taron Egerton, Julianne Moore (mentioned)
Details: Based on the comic book series “The Secret Service,” written by Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons and published by Marvel Comics on April 11, 2012. Sequel to “Kingsman: The Secret Service” (2015) directed by Matthew Vaughn and starring Colin Firth.
SSN Insight: Julianne Moore is in talks to play the villain in this film.
L’ avenir aka Things to Come
Logline: About a married philosophy professor whose life revolves around her books, her students and her overbearing mother. When her husband leaves her and her mother passes away, she begins a new life alone, but for a cat, and full of possibility.
Studio/Distributor(s): Sundance Selects
Production Company(s): Rhône-Alpes Cinéma, Detailfilm GmbH, CG Cinema, Arte France cinéma
Producer(s): Charles Gillibert
Writer(s): Mia Hansen-Løve
Director(s): Mia Hansen-Løve
Cast: Isabelle Huppert, Roman Kolinka, Edith Scob, Andre Marcon
SSN Insight: Sundance Selects acquired domestic rights after the film’s premiere at the 2016 Berlin Film Festival.
Life
Logline: Storyline is under wraps.
Production Company(s): Mockingbird Pictures, Skydance Productions
Producer(s): David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Bonnie Curtis, Julie Lynn
Writer(s): Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick
Director(s): Daniel Espinosa
Cast: Rebecca Ferguson, Ryan Reynolds (in talks)
SSN Insight: Espinosa and Reynolds worked together previously on Safe House.
Loving
Logline: The true story of interracial couple Mildred and Richard Loving’s historical Supreme Court case that eradicated laws against marriage between interracial couples.
Studio/Distributor(s): Focus Features
Production Company(s): Sarah Green Film Corp., Big Beach, Augusta Films, The Zoo, Raindog Films
Producer(s): Ged Doherty, Sarah Green, Nancy Buirski, Colin Firth, Peter Saraf
Writer(s): Jeff Nichols
Director(s): Jeff Nichols
Cast: Joel Edgerton, Ruth Negga, Nick Kroll, Jon Bass, Marton Csokas
Details: Inspired by the documentary “The Loving Story” (2012) directed by Nancy Buirski.
SSN Insight: Project marks director Jeff Nichols’ second time directing actors Bill Camp and Joel Edgerton, and his fifth collaboration with Michael Shannon. Focus Features acquired domestic rights and most international territories for $9 million after viewing footage at the 2016 EFM.
Miss Sloane
Logline: A powerful lobbyist sacrifices her career on Federal Hill so she can push through an amendment enforcing stricter federal laws regulating guns.
Studio/Distributor(s): EuropaCorp
Production Company(s): EuropaCorp, FilmNation
Producer(s): Ben Browning, Luc Besson
Writer(s): Jonathan “Jonny” Perera
Director(s): John Madden
Cast: Jessica Chastain, Alison Pill, Jake Lacy, Michael Stuhlbarg, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Douglas Smith
SSN Insight: Project was included in the 2015 Black List.
My Cousin Rachel (Remake)
Logline: An orphan believes his cousin Rachel is responsible for the murder of his beloved guardian and plots his revenge, but finds his feelings being complicated as he falls under her spell.
Studio/Distributor(s): Fox Searchlight Pictures
Writer(s): Roger Michell
Director(s): Roger Michell
Cast: Rachel Weisz, Sam Claflin, Holliday Grainger (in final negotiations)
Details: Based on the novel “My Cousin Rachel” written by Daphne Du Maurier and published by Doubleday in 1951.
SSN Insight: Paula Milne previously adapted the novel for Fox 2000. Oliver Parker was previously attached to direct.
My King
Logline: A woman is recovering from a passionate but destructive romance.
Studio/Distributor(s): StudioCanal, Film Movement
Production Company(s): Les Films du Tresor
Producer(s): Alain Attal
Writer(s): Etienne Comar, Maïwenn
Director(s): Maïwenn
Cast: Vincent Cassel, Emmanuelle Bercot, Louis Garrel, Isild Le Besco
SSN Insight: Film Movement has acquired the U.S. rights to the film that is up for eight Cesar Awards, the national film award of France, including Best Film.
My Little Pony (Animated)
Logline: A new dark force threatens Ponyville, and the Mane 6 – Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Rarity – embark on an unforgettable journey beyond Equestria where they meet new friends and exciting challenges on a quest to use the magic of friendship and save their home.
Studio/Distributor(s): Lionsgate, Lionsgate
Production Company(s): Hasbro, Inc., Allspark Pictures
Producer(s): Stephen J. Davis, Brian Goldner
Writer(s): Meghan McCarthy, Rita Hsiao, Joe Ballarini
Director(s): Jayson Thiessen
Voice Cast: Emily Blunt, Kristin Chenoweth, Tara Strong, Cathy Weseluck, Andrea Libman, Tabitha St. Germain and Ashleigh Ball
Details: Based on the “My Little Pony” toy franchise which was introduced with the toy in 1981, and the toy line that ran from 1983 through 1995, and inspired animated specials, an animated feature length film, and four animated television series.
SSN Insight: Lionsgate will distribute and markets the film globally, with the exception of China.
On Chesil Beach
Logline: Set in England in 1962, On Chesil Beach follows Florence (Ronan), one half of two young lovers, in the touching story of how their unexpressed misunderstandings and fears shape the rest of their lives.
Production Company(s): Number 9 Films
Producer(s): Elizabeth Karlsen, Stephen Woolley
Writer(s): Ian McEwan
Director(s): Dominic Cooke
Cast: Saoirse Ronan
Details: Based on the novel “On Chesil Beach” written by Ian McEwan and published by Nan A. Talese June 5, 2007.
SSN Insight: Sam Mendes was previously attached to direct. Project was previously set up at Focus Features.
Rebel in the Rye
Logline: JD Salinger is followed from the early days of his writing career, though his service in WWII, which change him forever and help him find his voice as a writer.
Studio/Distributor(s): ,
Production Company(s): Blue Star Entertainment, Bruce Cohen Productions, Black Label Media
Producer(s): Danny Strong, Molly Smith, Trent Luckinbill, Thad Luckinbill, Bruce Cohen
Writer(s): Danny Strong
Director(s): Danny Strong
Cast: Nicholas Hoult, Kevin Spacey, Laura Dern, Brian d’Arcy James, Hope Davis
Details: Based on the biography “JD Salinger: A Life” written by Kenneth Slawenski and published by Random House in 2010.
SSN Insight: Bloom is handling international sales at EFM in Berlin, while CAA is repping North American rights.
Southside With You
Logline: The story of the eventful date in 1989 when a young associate named Barack Obama was trying to woo lawyer Michelle Robinson on a summer afternoon and evening that took them from the Art Institute of Chicago to a screening of Spike Lee‘s “Do the Right Thin
Studio/Distributor(s): Miramax, Roadside Attractions
Production Company(s): State Street Pictures, IM Global
Producer(s): Robert Teitel, Richard Tanne, Tika Sumpter, Stuart Ford, Matt Jackson
Writer(s): Richard Tanne
Director(s): Richard Tanne
Cast: Tika Sumpter, Parker Sawyers, Vanessa Bell Calloway
SSN Insight: Project was previously in development at Homegrown Pictures with Stephanie Allain attached to produce. Miramax and Roadside Attractions acquired domestic rights for an estimated $2 million following the film’s premiere at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival.
Stan & Ollie
Logline: The film follows the legendary comedy duo during their 1953 variety hall tour of Britain which began with low attendance and eventually became a hit with old and new fans.
Studio/Distributor(s): eOne
Production Company(s): BBC Films, Fable Pictures, Sonesa Films
Producer(s): Faye Ward
Writer(s): Jeff Pope
Director(s): Jon S Baird
Cast: Steve Coogan, John C Reilly
SSN Insight: eOne will co-finance the film with BBC Films and separately handle sales and distribute the film in its territories.
Star Wars: Episode VIII
Logline: Storyline is under wraps.
Studio/Distributor(s): Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Production Company(s): Bad Robot, Kasdan Pictures, Lucasfilm, Ltd., Ram Bergman Productions
Producer(s): Bryan Burk, George Lucas, J.J. Abrams, Lawrence Kasdan, Ram Bergman
Writer(s): Rian Johnson
Director(s): Rian Johnson
Cast: Benicio Del Toro, Laura Dern, Kelly Marie Tran, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Mark Hamill
Details: Sequel to “Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope” (1977) directed by George Lucas and starring Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher.
SSN Insight: Kelly Marie Tran was previously seen in the TV series Adam Ruins Everything, Comedy Bang! Bang! and About a Boy.
Suburbicon
Logline: When there is a deathly home invasion in the quiet town of Suburbicon, a seemingly perfect family turns to blackmail, revenge and betrayal.
Studio/Distributor(s): Paramount Pictures
Production Company(s): Silver Pictures, Mike Zoss Productions, Smokehouse Pictures
Producer(s): Joel Coen, Ethan Coen, Joel Silver, George Clooney, Grant Heslov
Writer(s): Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Director(s): George Clooney
Cast: George Clooney, Matt Damon, Julianne Moore, Josh Brolin
SSN Insight: Previously in development at Warner Bros. In addition to Paramount nabbing U.S. rights, eOne nabbed the UK rights in a deal reportedly in the $5 million range.
Thank You for Playing
Logline: Follows indie video game developer Ryan Green as he created That Dragon, Cancer, a game based on his youngest son’s battle with terminal cancer.
Studio/Distributor(s): FilmBuff
Production Company(s): Kinematic Films
Producer(s): David Osit, Malika Zouhali Worrall
Director(s): David Osit, Malika Zouhali Worrall
SSN Insight: FilmBuff has licensed worldwide rights to distribute the Tribeca Film Festival documentary. The video game featured in the film was released this month, and FilmBuff plans a platform release of the feature on March 18 along with VOD.
The Ardennes
Logline: Two bandit brothers — one fresh from prison and the other eager to escape their criminal past — form a potentially explosive love triangle with the ex-con’s ex-girlfriend.
Studio/Distributor(s): Film Movement
Production Company(s): Savage Film
Producer(s): Bart Van Langendonck
Writer(s): Jeroen Perceval
Director(s): Robin Pront
Cast: Jeroen Perceval, Veerle Baetens, Kevin Janssens
SSN Insight: Film Movement has bought the rights to Pront’s debut feature film. A 2016 theatrical and VOD release is scheduled.
The Beat Beneath My Feet
Logline: The tale of a teenage boy who discovers that his unruly neighbor is really a disgraced rock god who “died” eight years prior and owing a fortune in unpaid tax. The boy agrees not to reveal his secret on the condition that he teaches him the dark arts of rock guitar.
Studio/Distributor(s): Level 33 Entertainment, SSS Entertainment
Production Company(s): Scoop Films
Producer(s): Fiona Gillies, Raj Sharma
Writer(s): Michael Mueller
Director(s): John Williams
Cast: Luke Perry, Nicholas Galitzine, Lisa Dillon, Verity Pinter, James Tarpey
SSN Insight: The British film screened in 2015’s Berlin Film Festival Generation section. Level 33 acquired North American rights in conjunction with SSS Entertainment.
The Dinner
Logline: As two couples dine at an upscale restaurant, their polite discourse disguises the fact that they are struggling to make the hardest decision of their lives over dinner.
Production Company(s): ChubbCo Film Co., Code Red Productions, Blackbird Films
Producer(s): Cotty Chubb, Lawrence Inglee, Edward Vaisman, Julia Lebedev
Writer(s): Oren Moverman
Director(s): Oren Moverman
Cast: Laura Linney, Rebecca Hall, Chloë Sevigny, Richard Gere, Steve Coogan, Adepero Oduye
Details: Based on the novel “The Dinner” written by Herman Koch, first published in Amsterdam by Anthos as “Het Diner” in 2009, and translated into English and published in the U.S. by Atlantic Books in 2012.
SSN Insight: Cate Blanchett was previously attached to direct, which would have been her directorial debut.
The Lobster
Logline: About a dystopian society where unmarried people are given 45 days to find a mate, or else they are transformed into the animals of their choice.
Studio/Distributor(s): A24
Production Company(s): Film4 Productions, Haut et Court, Lemming Film, Scarlet Films, Element Pictures, Faliro House Productions, Limp
Producer(s): Yorgos Lanthimos, Ceci Dempsey, Lee Magiday, Ed Guiney
Writer(s): Yorgos Lanthimos, Efthymis Filippou
Director(s): Yorgos Lanthimos
Cast: Colin Farrell, Rachel Weisz, John C Reilly, Ben Whishaw, Léa Seydoux
SSN Insight: Alchemy acquired U.S. distribution rights at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival; however, producers subsequently struck a deal with A24, which acquired those rights during EFM 2016.
Undrafted
Logline: After a college baseball star doesn’t make the Major League Baseball draft, an intramural game with friends becomes hugely important to him as he tries to accept his broken dreams.
Studio/Distributor(s): Vertical Entertainment
Production Company(s): Efish Entertainment, Parlay Pictures
Producer(s): Joseph Mazzello, Eric Fischer, Brianna Lee Johnson
Writer(s): Joseph Mazzello
Director(s): Joseph Mazzello
Cast: Joseph Mazzello, Aaron Tveit, Matt Barr, Chace Crawford, Tyler Hoechlin
SSN Insight: Vertical Entertainment has picked up worldwide rights to the baseball drama.
Valley of the Gods
Logline: The intertwined stories of an ancient Najavo legend, a writer with an unbridled imagination who has the ability to alter reality, the richest man on earth and Grey Horse, a feisty young Native American.
Production Company(s): The Safran Company, Royal Road Entertainment
Producer(s): Filip Jan Rymsza, Carla Rosen-Vacher, Lech Majewski, Angelus Silesius, Natalia Safran
Writer(s): Lech Majewski
Director(s): Lech Majewski
Cast: Josh Hartnett, Charlotte Rampling, John Rhys-Davies
SSN Insight: Rampling will next appear in Ritesh Batra’s The Sense of an Ending with Jim Broadbent and Emily Mortimer.
Zero Days
Logline: Tells the story of Stuxnet, self-replicating computer malware that the U.S. and Israel unleashed to destroy a key part of an Iranian nuclear facility, and which ultimately spread beyond its intended target.
Studio/Distributor(s): Magnolia, Showtime
Production Company(s): Jigsaw Productions, Participant Media, Global Produce
Producer(s): Marc Shmuger, Alex Gibney
Director(s): Alex Gibney
SSN Insight: Magnolia and Showtime acquired domestic rights prior to the film’s premiere at the 2016 Berlin Film Festival.
New Projects
An Ideal Home
Logline: The extravagant life of a squabbling couple is changed when one of them learns he has a grandson and they take him in.
Studio/Distributor(s): Remstar Studios
Producer(s): Gabriella Tana, Maria Teresa Arida, Maxime Remillard, Aaron Ryder
Writer(s): Andrew Fleming
Director(s): Andrew Fleming
Cast: Paul Rudd, Steve Coogan
SSN Insight: The project is in pre-production with Remstar Studios and National Bank of Canada co-financing. UTA Independent Film Group and WME are handling U.S. rights.
Hotel Mumbai
Logline: The true story of the 2008 Pakistani terrorist attacks on the iconic Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in India are dramatized.
Production Company(s): Electric Pictures/Contemporary Films Ltd, Arclight Films Pty Ltd., Thunder Road Pictures, Xeitgeist
Producer(s): Basil Iwanyk, Gary Hamilton, Mike Gabrawy, Andrew Ogilvie, Julie Ryan
Writer(s): John Collee, Anthony Maras
Director(s): Anthony Maras
Cast: Dev Patel (in negotiations), Armie Hammer (in negotiations), Nazanin Boniadi, Teresa Palmer, Kunal Nayyar
Details: Based on the documentary “Surviving Mumbai” (Australia/2009).
SSN Insight: Maras was shortlisted for an Academy Award for his short film The Palace, which also picked up two Australian Academy Awards.
Mom and Dad
Logline: An unknown force causes parents to attack their children.
Production Company(s): Aldamisa International, Armory Films, Zeal Media Co.
Producer(s): Tim Zajaros, Christopher Lemole
Writer(s): Brian Taylor
Director(s): Brian Taylor
Cast: Nicolas Cage
SSN Insight: Cage and Taylor previously worked together on Ghost Rider: Spirit Of Vengeance.
San Andreas 2
Logline: Storyline is under wraps, but this time a massive earthquake involves the Ring of Fire.
Studio/Distributor(s): New Line Cinema,
Production Company(s): Flynn Picture Co., 7 Bucks Entertainment
Producer(s): Dwayne Johnson, Beau Flynn, Brad Peyton
Writer(s): Neil Widener, Gavin James
Director(s): Brad Peyton
Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino, Alexandra Daddario, Paul Giamatti
SSN Insight: Writers Widener and James sold Verona, a reimagining of Romeo and Juliet to Sony. Recently they set up the true-story drama Battle for Alcatraz at Paramount.
Terminal
Logline: Two hit men on a high paying job encounter a mysterious woman.
Production Company(s): Beaglepug, LuckyChap Entertainment
Producer(s): David Barron, Molly Hassell, Tom Ackerley, Josey McNamara, Margot Robbie
Writer(s): Vaughn Stein
Director(s): Vaughn Stein
Cast: Margot Robbie
SSN Insight: The Highland Film Group financing and selling the rights in Berlin. CAA is overseeing the U.S. rights.
The Grownup
Logline: A con woman who pretends to read auras is hired by a wealthy woman to banish an evil spirit from her house and it is soon clear that the fake exorcist is in over her head.
Studio/Distributor(s): Universal Pictures
Production Company(s): Michael De Luca Productions
Producer(s): Michael De Luca, Gillian Flynn
Writer(s): Natalie Krinsky
Details: Based on the short story “The Grownup” written by Gillian Flynn and published by Crown on June 17, 2014.
SSN Insight: Universal won a four-studio bidding war to pick up the rights to Gone Girl author Gillian Flynn’s story.
Untitled Bill Graham Biopic Project
Logline: The life story of iconic music promoter Bill Graham, who fled the Holocaust as a child and became an iconic music promoter who helped define rock in the ‘60s.
Studio/Distributor(s): 20th Century Fox
Production Company(s): 21 Laps Entertainment
Producer(s): Shawn Levy
Director(s): Shawn Levy
Details: Based on the autobiography “Bill Graham: My Life Inside Rock and Out” written by the Bill Graham and Robert Greenfield, and published by Da Capo Press in 1992.
SSN Insight: 21 Laps’ recent credits include the Netflix series Stranger Things; the Denis Villenueve-directed Story of Your Life, the Ice Cube starrer Fist Fight, the Fox comedy Why Him? and the Anna Kendrick starrer Table 19 at Searchlight.
Untitled Johnnie Cochran Project
Logline: The film follows lawyer Johnnie Cochran’s 1981 landmark wrongful death case of college football player Ron Settles.
Production Company(s): The Firm
Producer(s): Robbie Brenner, Kevin McKeon
Writer(s): David McMillan
SSN Insight: David McMillan was one of last year’s Fox Writers Intensive finalists and recently was a staff writer on the TV series Lucifer.