SSN ORIGINALS
Film & TV Deals For 3/30/16: Skydance Raises $700M, ‘Royals’ Creator Inks Deal with Lionsgate & Universal, VIZ Media Pairs with UTA
In other news, the Weitz brothers sign a big new deal with Amazon Studios, Sky grabs a piece in Sugar Films, Vice Media makes a big purchase, as does Entertainment One. As always, there’s plenty more, so click on the link to read all about it. (SSN)
Rep Moves For 3/30/16: Director James Marsh Shifts to WME, Sophia Bush Signs with CAA, Alex Rodriguez Inks with WME
Among the other bits and pieces in this week’s activity roster of moves are new representatives for one young filmmaker, and a trio of others, as well as the legendary Tommy Tune switching over to Paradigm to work with theatrical literary head Jack Tantleff. As always, there’s plenty more, so click on the link to read on. (SSN)
OTHER HEADLINES
Fullscreen Unveils $5 Subscription-Video Service, Taking on Netflix and YouTube Red
Company will launch a $4.99-monthly ad-free video service, a bet that its blend of original and licensed content will resonate with millennials in an increasingly crowded market. The VOD service, set to debut April 26th, will have more than 800 hours of content, including feature-length movies, and series and original content from digital stars. The company has a major partner in AT&T, which will market the service to its 100 million-plus customer base. (VAR)
Open Road Shake-Up: Jonathan Helfgot Replacing Jason Cassidy as Marketing Chief
Helfgot arrives at a good time for the independent distributor. Run by CEO Tom Ortenberg, Open Road is home of Oscar best picture winner Spotlight, a major coup for the young company. Ortenberg launched it in 2011 on behalf of mega-theater circuits AMC Entertainment and Regal Entertainment, which co-own the venture. Helfgot’s hire comes not long after Peter Lawson exited his post as executive vp production and acquisitions at Open Road. (THR)
Fresh Off His First Oscar Nomination, Lenny Abrahamson Sets Up His Next Flick
Room helmer will direct The Grand Escape, adapted from the not yet published book by Neal Bascomb. Film4 and Element Pictures won the rights to the story, which chronicles three daredevil fighter pilots captured and held as POWs at one of Germany’s most infamous camps at that time. They go on to lead the First World War’s greatest mass prison escape in July, 1918. (EMP)
After Doing So Well the First Time They Worked Together, Oscar Isaac and Alex Garland Are Re-Teaming
Actor is officially on board Annhilation, joining Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Gina Rodriguez, and Tessa Thompson in the forthcoming sci-fi thriller. Garland is set to direct his own script, adapted from the first novel of the Southern Reach trilogy by science fiction author Jeff VanderMeer. Isaac starred in Garland’s Oscar-winning directorial debut, Ex Machina. (TB)
Brie Larson’s Oscar Follow-Up The Glass Castle Casts Her Character’s Parents
Lionsgate’s adaptation of Jeanette Walls’ bestselling memoir switched out Jennifer Lawrence for Larson late last year, and now they’ve added another heavy-hitter to the cast in the form of Naomi Watts. Watts will play Larson’s character’s eccentric mother, while Woody Harrelson is onboard to portray her alcoholic dad. Shooting is set to begin in Montreal this June. (CS)
No More ‘X-Men’ Movies For Jennifer Lawrence? Hold the Phone, She Might Be Coming Back After All!
The second X-Men trilogy will be wrapping up when X-Men: Apocalypse hits screens later this summer, and the one thing thought to be known for sure was that Lawrence would not be back in the role of Mystique beyond Apocalypse. However, now the actress is saying that not only would she be willing to come back, she actually really wants to return. (CB)
The Live TV Event Trend Continues, as Aaron Sorkin to Adapt ‘A Few Good Men’ as Live TV Event for NBC
Sorkin, who first wrote it as a stage play that premiered at the Music Box Theatre in 1989, has officially been hired on to adapt and produce A Few Good Men for a live presentation on NBC. Set to air in early 2017, the production will mark the first live drama to air since NBC kicked off the trend of live recreations of popular productions with A Sound of Music back in 2013. (IW)
Still Upset About Zack Snyder’s Version Of Superman? Watch This Piece About How Animator Max Fleischer Defined Him — 75 Years Ago
Whether you love or hate Snyder’s interpretation of the iconic superhero, it’s just one in hundreds, if not thousands, of incarnations of Krypton’s sole survivor. In this video, Superman — The Golden Age of Animation, you get a thorough, loving look back at what brought the alien in red and blue tights off the page and into the hearts of millions. (TP)