Film Development for 3/17/16: Spielberg & Ford to Team Up Again on ‘Indiana Jones’ Sequel, Imperative Ent. Wins ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’
Among the other projects with updates this week are film about Brian Epstein’s pursuit of The Beatles, Harvey Weinstein making a movie with Jason Blum, a passel of casting news on American Express, and a brand new version of Cannonball Run in our future. There’s a lot more, of course, so click the link to read all about it. (SSN)
ABC, Warner Bros. TV Group Set Broad Agreement for In-Season Stacking Rights to Shows
Network and studio have hammered out a template agreement granting the network full in-season stacking rights to all episodes of new series, settling an issue that has become increasingly contentious between networks and studios as both sides push to better monetize on-demand delayed viewing platforms. (VAR)
Looking Ahead: Amazon Partners With Roadside Attractions for Awards Season Release of ‘Manchester By the Sea’
Online giant has partnered with indie distributor to release the film, surely hoping to grab some Oscar buzz during its release. Amazon was able to snag Manchester By the Sea with a reported $10 million offer after a brutal bidding war at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, where the film debuted to near-universal acclaim. Writer-director Kenneth Lonergan helmed the new drama starring Casey Affleck, Michelle Williams and Kyle Chandler. (IW)
What Was Rumored Is Now Confirmed, as Marvel Says That, Yes, Finn Jones Is Your ‘Iron Fist’
It was reported only a few weeks ago that the Game of Thrones star would be playing Danny Rand, a.k.a. Iron Fist, to star in a solo series and round out The Defenders team for Marvel and Netflix. After weathering a bit of social outcry and backlash for casting the White British Jones to play the White American Rand (a character who, arguably, appropriated Asian culture and history), Marvel and Netflix have confirmed Jones’ casting. (COL)
The Seemingly Cursed Reboot Of ‘The Crow’ Just Took Yet Another Hit, as Relativity Fires the Director
Director Corin Hardy has now left the project, as new producer Dana Brunetti once again re-starts the project from scratch. As troubled developments go, the new Crow is up there with the best of them. Blade director Stephen Norrington began working on it in 2008, but walked two years later. Subsequent directors Juan Carlos Fresnadillo and F. Javier Guitierrez would also both move on, and it’s also lost two Crows to date, Luke Evans and Jack Huston. (EMP)
It Appears That ABC Has Had Quite Enough Of ‘Of Kings and Prophets’, Thank You
Network’s attempt to find its own version of Game of Thrones has failed, as ABC has canceled the freshman drama. Shark Tank spinoff Beyond the Tank will take over its Tuesdays at 10 p.m. slot for the remainder of the season. Insiders say plans for the show’s future are currently being evaluated, though it will not air on ABC. (LF)
Sally Hawkins Starring In Guillermo Del Toro Cold War Pic; Octavia Spencer In Talks
Actress is set to star in Fox Searchlight’s untitled Cold War drama from writer-director-producer Del Toro, and Octavia Spencer is in talks to join the cast. It’s described as a mysterious and magical other-worldly love story set in 1963 America. (DH)
Forget Superheroes, Zack Snyder Now Developing An Adaptation Of Ayn Rand’s ‘The Fountainhead’
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice helmer said he wants to tackle a book by libertarian/conservative fave Rand, saying, “I have been working on The Fountainhead. I’ve always felt like The Fountainhead was such a thesis on the creative process and what it is to create something. Warner Bros. owns [Ayn Rand’s] script and I’ve just been working on that a little bit.” (TP)
At Long Last, We Will Finally Meet Leonard’s Father On ‘The Big Bang Theory’
Two-time Emmy winner Judd Hirsch has signed on to play the long-discussed but never seen husband to Christine Baranski’s character. The casting announcement happened Wednesday at PaleyFest in Los Angeles, and apparently Leonard himself was behind the whole thing. Actor Johnny Galecki met Hirsch at the NBC special for James Burrows and, according to Galecki, “bombarded” him about the role. (HP)
Trailer Buzz: ‘Genius’
Roadside Attractions has released the first look at the upcoming real life story of world renowned book editor Maxwell Perkins (the man who discovered authors like F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway) and the larger than life literary giant Thomas Wolfe. Starring Colin Firth, Jude Law and Nicole Kidman, the movie hits theaters June 10th. (CS)