SSN ORIGINALS
Film Development For 4/7/16: Speedy Gonzales Headed to the Big Screen, Charlize Theron Reteams with Jason Reitman on ‘Motherhood’ Project
Among the other bits and pieces and various attachments are several actors signing on to the National Lampoon movie, A Futile and Stupid Gesture, Chris Terrio and Ben Affleck joining the battle for Bunker Hill, and a couple big names being cast in Crown Vic, among a host of others. Click the link to read on. (SSN)
Screenwriters: Have a Case of the Blues or Writer’s Block? This Wisdom from Albert Einstein Can Rejuvenate Your Creativity
E = mc2? This month is the 136th anniversary of Einstein’s birth and his theory of gravity waves just got proved and made worldwide headlines! One awesome dude. What could an Artist learn from a Scientist? Turns out, quite a bit. (SSN)
OTHER HEADLINES
‘Fast 8’ Finds Its Main Villain, as Well as One Of Her Main Henchmen
Charlize Theron has joined the cast to play the main villain in the film, with Game of Thrones actor Kristofer Hivju also recruited to play a “tough henchman.” The pair joins returning stars Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, Michelle Rodriguez, and Jason Statham. F. Gary Gray is directing from a screenplay by Chris Morgan. It hits theaters April 14th, 2017. (TP)
Talk About Good News, Bad News: Mashable Lays Off Staff, Parts With Execs a Week After $15 Million Fundraiser
The good times didn’t last very long for some Mashable staffers: A week after announcing a new $15 million round of funding, the tech and lifestyle site has laid off a number of staffers as part of a reorganization that aims to shift the focus to online video and TV production. As part of that reorg, Mashable is also parting with its editor-in-chief Jim Roberts as well as its chief revenue officer Seth Rogin. (VAR)
Angelina Jolie’s Eternally In Development Cleopatra Film Lands Itself a New Writer
David Scarpa has come on board the project to pen the latest draft, based on the bestselling Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Schiff. The intended thrust of the adaptation is to ditch the pageantry and pomp of the famously disastrous Elizabeth Taylor epic, and concentrate instead on Cleopatra the power-hungry tactician. Scott Rudin and Amy Pascal are producing, but currently no director is attached. (EMP)
Bella Thorne Drama ‘Famous in Love’ Ordered to Series at Freeform
The Disney-owned cable network has ordered the show from Pretty Little Liars boss I. Marlene King. Based on the Rebecca Serle novel, Famous in Love follows ordinary college student Paige as she gets her big break after auditioning for the starring role in a Hollywood blockbuster. She must now navigate her new star-studded life and undeniable chemistry with her two co-leads while discovering the highs and lows that come with being the new It Girl in town. (LF)
Fox Likes What It Sees, Gives Second Seasons To ‘Lucifer’ and ‘Rosewood’
The two join Scream Queens as the three first-year Fox series to secure renewals so far. Still in contention and very much on the bubble are freshman comedies Grandfathered, starring John Stamos, and The Grinder, Rob Lowe, with likely one of them making it to Season 2. Not expected to continue are the other freshmen Fox series, dramas Second Chance and Minority Report and comedies Cooper Barrett’s Guide To Surviving Life and Bordertown. (DH)
A&E Networks Turning Weekend Mornings Into Home for Native Ads
In TV’s latest effort to reduce commercial loads and create a less intrusive advertising experience, A&E Networks is re-tooling some parts of the day as “enthusiast” blocks with more emphasis on branded content than traditional commercials. (AA)
Trailer Buzz, Part One: ‘David Brent: Life on the Road’
BBC Films and eOne Entertainment have released the first look at the new film written and directed by Ricky Gervais, who also stars. Gervais returns as his most famous creation in the film, which hits theaters in August. (IW)
Trailer Buzz, Part Two: ‘Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising’
Universal Pictures has dropped the new red band trailer for the upcoming comedy sequel, starring Seth Rogen, Zac Efron, Rose Byrne, Chloe Gratz Moretz, Kiersey Clemons, Selena Gomez, Ike Barinholtz, Carla Gallo, Dave Franco, Jerrod Carmichael, Hannibal Buress, and Lisa Kudrow. It’s scheduled for release on May 20th. (COL)