TV Development for 3/1/16: Nick Greenlights ‘Hey Arnold!’ TV Movie, Robert Kirkman Developing ‘Five Year’
Lots of action happening on the TV front, as Netflix keeps making movies, Showtime jumps into the modern dating world with a new anthology, Ryan Coogler gets involved with a drama set in the world of juvenile facilities, and lots more. To read on, click on the provided link. (SSN)
Nat Geo Orders Cop Drama From ‘Selma’ Star David Oyelowo
Project is based on the true story of an African-American detective and one of America’s first all-black police squad in St. Louis. The squad battled gangland killers of Prohibition and fought for justice during one of the most radically charged times in history in a city that continues to be a hot spot for racism and police brutality. John Rogers and Paul Guyot will also serve as exec producers, along with Jennifer Court and Bharat Nalluri, who is set to direct. (LF)
Brad Pitt and His Plan B Team Develop New Immigrant Doctor Drama With Disney
Studio and Oscar-winning production shingle are developing Dr. Q — a movie based on the life story of an illegal immigrant who became the head of brain tumor surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Matt Lopez has been tapped to write the screenplay about Alfredo Quinones-Hinojosa. Plan B, which is run by Pitt, Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner, began working on the project in 2007 when execs heard about Quinones-Hinajosa on the radio. (VAR)
Jeffrey Katzenberg Floats Idea of DreamWorks Animation Merger With Paramount
The DreamWorks Animation CEO today floated the idea of merging his company with Paramount Pictures. While he said he “fantasizes” about such a marriage, he acknowledged that Viacom is merely looking for an equity partner, not to sell the iconic film studio outright. (HTB)
Space Drama ‘Hidden Figures’ Adds Another Oscar Winner To Its Cast
Kevin Costner has joined Taraji P. Henson and Octavia Spencer in the 1960’s-set space drama. Costner will play the head of the NASA space program in the film, which revolves around a brilliant African-American mathematician who, along with two colleagues, served as key mathematical minds behind the historic launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit as he became the first American to orbit the Earth. (CS)
Young Barack Obama Film Casts Devon Terrell, ‘The Witch’ Star Anya Taylor-Joy
The story of a young Barack Obama trying to find his way in 1981 New York City has found its two leads. Terrell and Taylor-Joy will star in Barry, an indie drama being directed by Vikram Gandhi, a Vice correspondent who made the documentary Kumare. Black Bear Pictures is producing with Cinetic Media. The movie is expected to begin shooting next month. (THR)
‘The Von Bülow Affair’: Drama Series Based On William Wright’s Book In Works From UCP
Universal Cable Productions is developing the scripted true-crime series, about the infamous attempted-murder trial of British socialite Claus von Bülow. Ilene Rosenzweig is attached to write the adaptation. Set in early 1980s Newport and New York, follows the greatest society trial of the 20th century when von Bülow was accused of attempting to murder his wife, millionaire socialite Sunny, as first detailed in Reversal of Fortune, which won Jeremy Irons an Oscar. (DH)
Vanessa Williams Books Lead in VH1’s Scripted Drama Series Based on Star Jones’ ‘Satan’s Sisters’
Set in the bright lights of daytime television, Satan’s Sisters is the story of The Lunch Hour — a long-running, popular ladies’ talk show in which alliances are forged, careers are made, and bridges are burned. Slated for a 2017 premiere, the series will focus on the five female co-hosts of a popular daily TV talk show and the fireworks that ensue each weekday when they discuss life, love, family, politics, and gossip. (SAA)
Steven Soderbergh Signs On To EP Netflix’s Western Miniseries From Scott Frank
The director of the Cinemax series The Knick has signed on to executive produce the limited series “Godless,” which is currently in the works at the streaming giant. Frank, who wrote the 1998 Soderbergh film Out of Sight, is writing and directing the project, in addition to executive producing along with Soderbergh and Casey Silver. Few details are known about the project at this time, other than that it will be a Western set in 1884. (TW)
Trailer Buzz: ‘The Angry Birds Movie’
Sony Pictures has released the new look at its upcoming adaptation of the popular video game. Jason Sudeikis, Bill Hader, Maya Rudolph and Josh Gad lend their voices to the film, which hits theaters May 20th. (EMP)