TV Development for 3/15/16: Amazon Orders ‘The Tick’ Pilot, Christina Aguilera’s ‘Tracks’ Given the Greenlight, James Corden Shopping ‘Carpool Karaoke’ Series
Among the other projects with updates this week are a new show from Mumblecore legend Joe Swanberg, a small screen take on a big time Italian film, and a series about the life of John Paul Getty from the makers of Slumdog Millionaire. Click the link for more. (SSN)
Indiana Jones Rides Again! Harrison Ford and Steven Spielberg Returning For Fifth Movie In the Series
Disney has just announced that Ford will be reprising his iconic role in the fifth installment in the series with his Oscar-winning helmer returning to the director’s chair. The pic will hit screens on July 19th, 2019. Spielberg directed the previous four pics, and this one has yet to be titled. Franchise vets Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall will produce. (DH)
Knowing a Double Standard When They See One, Ang Lee, George Takei and Others Protest ‘Racist Stereotypes’ to Academy
Two dozen members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, including Lee and several other Oscar winners, have asked the AMPAS board for “concrete steps” to ensure that future Oscarcasts will avoid the “tone-deaf approach” to Asians that was exhibited in the February 28th ceremony. The protest was delivered in advance of today’s board meeting, where diversity promises to be a key item on the agenda. (VAR)
Disney’s Young Han Solo Search Narrows to Final Shortlist of Actors After Screen-Tests
The search for who will fill Han Solo’s leather vest could be in its final stages, as a shortlist quietly has emerged. Last weekend in London, tests were conducted involving actors Alden Ehrenreich, who did scene-stealing work in Hail, Caesar!; Jack Reynor, from Transformers: Age of Extinction; and Taron Egerton, of The Kingsman and Eddie the Eagle. There could be a few other names on the list, though due to the high level of secrecy, it’s hard to ascertain them. (HV)
It’s Promotion Day At ABC, as Brian Morewitz Is Upped to Oversee Drama Development
Network has promoted from within to fill the drama development void created by Channing Dungey’s appointment as ABC Entertainment president. Former vp drama Morewitz has been promoted to senior vp drama development, reporting directly to Dungey, the network announced today. (THR)
Fresh Off His Oscar For Co-Writing ‘The Big Short’, Charles Randolph Developing War Drama Series for Amazon
Streaming service is teaming with the screenwriter for an untitled drama currently in development. The drama is said to be a multifaceted realistic look at what it would take to create a present-day civil war in the United States of America. Amazon Studios will produce. (LF)
Shawn Levy and His 21 Laps To Take Up Arms In Action-Horror-Comedy ‘The Woods Run Red’
Story, from an original script by Paul Gerstenberger, combines elements of action, comedy, and horror, is about a group of highly trained government agents masquerading as unsuspecting teens in order to capture the maniacal slasher that has been at a lakeside cabin in the woods for years. It’s being pitched in the vein of Cabin in the Woods meets Predator. (TB)
Starz Picks Up SXSW Premiere ‘My Blind Brother’ After Rumored Bidding War
Cable net is nearing a deal to pick up Sophie Goodhart’s SXSW premiere. The outlet shares that the acquisition “will likely be the biggest sale out of this year’s South by Southwest” and is estimated to be in the low seven-figure range. The comedy, which stars Adam Scott, Nick Kroll and Jenny Slate, was reportedly the subject of a bidding war amongst distributors like Netflix, The Orchard, Sony and Gravitas Ventures. (IW)
Trailer Buzz, Part One: ‘Green Room’
A24 has released the new look a the upcoming film from director Jeremy Saulnier, starring Patrick Stewart, Anton Yelchin, Imogen Poots, Alia Shawkat, Joe Cole, Callum Turner, Mark Webber, Eric Edelstein, Macon Blair, and Kai Lennox. The horror-thriller hits theaters in New York and LA on Paril 15th and goes wide the 29th. (TP)
Trailer Buzz, Part Two: ‘Sausage Party’
Sony Pictures Entertainment and Annapurna Pictures’ have released the first look at the first R-rated CG animated comedy from writers Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Kyle Hunter and Ariel Shaffir. Rogen, Kristen Wiig, Jonah Hill, Bill Hader, Michael Cera, James Franco, Danny McBride, Craig Robinson, Paul Rudd, Nick Kroll, David Krumholtz, Edward Norton, and Salma Hayek all star. It hits theaters August 12th. (CS)