STARTS
American Express
03/07/2016
Logline: On the verge of losing his job, a man discovers his wife has been cheating on him, so he kidnaps himself in hopes of collecting ransom.
Studio/Distributor(s): Amazon Studios, Amazon
Production Company(s): Denver & Delilah Films, Ahimsa Films, Amazon Studios
Director(s): Nash Edgerton
Producer(s): Charlize Theron, Rebecca Yeldham, A.J. Dix, Beth Kono, Anthony Tambakis
Cast: Charlize Theron, David Oyelowo, Amanda Seyfried, Joel Edgerton
Writer(s): Matthew Stone, Anthony Tambakis
SSN Insight: Project was previously in development at Annapurna. Theron’s upcoming films include The Huntsman: Winter’s War, The Last Face, Kubo and the Two Strings and Coldest City.
Hidden Figures
03/06/2016
Logline: The film chronicles the true story of a group of unacknowledged African American women whose brilliance in math helped NASA win the space race.
Studio/Distributor(s): Fox 2000, 20th Century Fox Distribution
Production Company(s): Chernin Entertainment
Director(s): Ted Melfi
Executive Producer(s): Ivana Lombardi, Kevin Halloran
Producer(s): Donna Gigliotti, Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping, Ted Melfi
Cast: Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Kevin Costner, Janelle Monae
Writer(s): Allison Schroeder
Details: Based on the book “Hidden Figures” written by Margot Lee Shetterly and to be published by HarperCollins in 2016.
SSN Insight: This is Janelle Monae’s first studio film. Taraji P. Henson can next be seen in Term Life from Focus Features.
Nine Eleven
03/07/2016
Logline: Five individuals are trapped in an elevator in the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. This is their struggle to survive.
Production Company(s): Sunset Pictures, Vitamin A Films, Thunder Studios, Sprockefeller Pictures
Director(s): Martin Guigui
Executive Producer(s): Mark Burg, David Rodrick, Ryan Johnson
Producer(s): Martin Sprock, Dahlia Waingort, Warren Ostergard
Cast: Whoopi Goldberg, Charlie Sheen, Luis Guzman, Wood Harris, Olga Fonda
Writer(s): Martin Guigui, Steven Golebiowski
SSN Insight: The film will shoot in Long Beach, CA for four weeks. Whoopi Goldberg also wrapped on the feature, Black Dog, Red Dog, directed by James Franco.
The Meyerowitz Stories
03/07/2016
Logline: Tells the story of an estranged New York family coming together in preparation of artist & patriarch Harold’s career retrospective
Production Company(s): Scott Rudin Productions
Director(s): Noah Baumbach
Producer(s): Scott Rudin, Eli Bush
Cast: Adam Sandler, Ben Stiller, Emma Thompson, Dustin Hoffman, Grace Van Patten
Writer(s): Noah Baumbach
SSN Insight: Noah Baumbach is also the filmmaker behidn De Palma, awaiting release from A24. He also scripted The Emperor’s Children with Lake Bell attached as director and Madagascar 4 in active development.
The Midnight Man
03/07/2016
Logline: About a girl who plays a game with her friends that summons a creature known as The Midnight Man who uses their worst fears against them.
Production Company(s): Gussi Films, Zeal Media Co.
Director(s): Travis Zariwny
Executive Producer(s): Christopher Lemole, Mary Cybriwsky, Tim Zajaros, Horacio Altamirano, Penny Karlin
Producer(s): Cassian Elwes, Frankie Lindquist, Kirk Shaw
Cast: Robert Englund, Lin Shaye, Grayson Gabriel, Summer Howell, Keenan Lehmann
Writer(s): Travis Zariwny
SSN Insight: Horror stars Robert Englund (A Nightmare on Elm Street) and Lin Shaye (Insidious) previously starred together in 2001 Maniacs in 2005.
The Most Hated Woman in America
03/06/2016
Logline: The true story of Madalyn O’Hair, an atheist who got the Supreme Court to overturn prayer in public schools.
Studio/Distributor(s): Netflix
Production Company(s): Brownstone Productions
Director(s): Tommy O’Haver
Producer(s): Elizabeth Banks, Max Handelman, Laura Rister
Cast: Melissa Leo, Juno Temple, Peter Fonda, Adam Scott, Josh Lucas
Writer(s): Tommy O’Haver, Irene C Turner
SSN Insight: Netflix has worldwide rights and will release the film day-and-date on its streaming service and in theaters in 2016.
WRAPS
A Fantastic Woman
03/08/2016
Logline: A waitress moonlights as a nightclub singer, but finds herself suddenly vulnerable with the death of her older boyfriend.
Production Company(s): Participant Media, Fabula Producciones , Komplizen Films
Director(s): Sebastian Lelio
Executive Producer(s): Jeff Skoll, Jonathan King
Producer(s): Juan de Dios Larraín, Pablo Larraín, Sebastian Lelio, Gonzalo Maza
Cast: Daniela Vega, Marina Vidal
Writer(s): Sebastian Lelio, Gonzalo Maza
SSN Insight: Juan de Dios Larraín and Pablo Larraín previously produced the Academy Award nominated No and the film Jackie together.
Get Out
03/11/2016
Logline: A young African American man visits his white girlfriend’s family, with horrifying consequences.
Production Company(s): Blumhouse Productions, QC Entertainment
Director(s): Jordan Peele
Executive Producer(s): Couper Samuelson, Raymond Mansfield, Shaun Redick
Producer(s): Jason Blum, Sean McKittrick, Ted Hamm
Cast: Allison Williams, Daniel Kaluuya, Bradley Whitford, Catherine Keener, Caleb Landry Jones
Writer(s): Jordan Peele
SSN Insight: Stanfield recently appeared as Snoop Doggy Dogg in Straight Outta Compton, and will next be seen in Don Cheadle’s Miles Davis biopic Miles Ahead.
The Last Word
03/11/2016
Logline: Retired businesswoman Harriet, controlling to the end, writes her own obituary, but the newspaper writer tasked with the piece insists on learning the truth about Harriet’s life and the two become reluctant partners and friends.
Production Company(s): Pellington Films, Wondros
Director(s): Mark Pellington
Executive Producer(s): Aaron Magnani, Pat Peach
Producer(s): Kirk D’Amico, Mark Pellington, Anne-Marie Mackay
Cast: Shirley MacLaine, Amanda Seyfried, Steven Culp, Tom Sadoski
Writer(s): Stuart Fink
SSN Insight: Mark Pellington is the executive producer on NBC’s Blindspot. He also directed the features I Melt with You, Henry Poole is Here and the documentary U2 3D among others.