New Attachments
A Futile and Stupid Gesture
Studio/Distributor(s): Netflix
Logline: The tragic story of Doug Kenney, co-founder and editor of the National Lampoon magazine and a major force in 1970s comedy, who tragically died at a young age.
Production Company(s): Principato-Young Entertainment, Darko Entertainment, Abominable Pictures
Producer(s): Peter Principato, Jonathan Stern
Writer(s): Michael Colton, John Aboud
Director(s): David Wain
Cast: Will Forte, Domhnall Gleeson, Joel McHale, John Gemberling, Thomas Lennon, Seth Green, Matt Walsh
Details: Based on the book “A Futile and Stupid Gesture” written by Josh Karp and published by Chicago Review Press in 2006.
SSN Insight: Shooting will begin this month with release planned on Netflix in 2017.
Battle of the Sexes
Logline: Centers on the 1973 tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs.
Studio/Distributor(s): Fox Searchlight Pictures,
Production Company(s): Cloud Eight Films, Decibel
Producer(s): Danny Boyle, Christian Colson
Writer(s): Simon Beaufoy
Director(s): Jonathan Dayton, Valerie Faris
Cast: Emma Stone, Steve Carell, Austin Stowell, Andrea Riseborough, Elisabeth Shue, Natalie Morales
SSN Insight: Brie Larson was previously in talks to co-star.
Despicable Me 3
Logline: Storyline is under wraps.
Studio/Distributor(s): Universal Pictures, Universal Pictures
Production Company(s): Illumination Entertainment
Voice Cast: Trey Parker, Steve Carrell
Details: 2nd Sequel to “Despicable Me” (2010) directed by Chris Renaud & Pierre Coffin and featuring the voices of Steve Carell and Jason Segel.
SSN Insight: South Park‘s Trey Parker will voice Gru’s villain, Balthazar Brat, a has been ’80s kid pop star turned bad.
Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas
Logline: The infamous Grinch tries to destroy Christmas by dressing as Santa and stealing all the gifts, trees and holiday food in Whoville.
Studio/Distributor(s): Universal Pictures, Universal Pictures
Production Company(s): Illumination Entertainment
Producer(s): Janet Healy, Christopher Meledandri, Scott Mosier
Writer(s): Michael LeSieur
Director(s): Peter Candeland, Yarrow Cheney
Voice Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch
Details: Based on the children’s book “How The Grinch Stole Christmas!,” written by Dr. Seuss and published by Random in 1957.
SSN Insight: Cumberbatch’s upcoming films include Keanu and Dr. Strange.
Fast 8
Logline: Eighth film in the street racing franchise.
Studio/Distributor(s): Universal Pictures, Universal Pictures
Production Company(s): Original Film, One Race Films
Producer(s): Neal H. Moritz, Vin Diesel
Writer(s): Chris Morgan
Director(s): F. Gary Gray
Cast: Vin Diesel, Lucas Black, Jason Statham, Dwayne Johnson, Charlize Theron, Scott Eastwood
Details: Eighth film in the franchise, beginning with “The Fast and the Furious” (2001) directed by Rob Cohen and starring Vin Diesel and Paul Walker.
SSN Insight: Scott Eastwood can next be seen in Suicide Squad, Snowden, Live by Night and Walk of Fame.
Flammable Children
Logline: Three families in 1970s Australia are affected by the sexual revolution.
Production Company(s): See Pictures
Producer(s): Al Clark, Jamie Hilton
Writer(s): Stephan Elliott
Director(s): Stephan Elliott
Cast: Guy Pearce, Radha Mitchell, Kylie Minogue
SSN Insight: Screen Australia, Screen NSW, Screen Queensland, Becker Film Group and Cutting Edge will finance the project and West End Films will handle international sales.
Goodbye Christopher Robin
Logline: Based on “Winnie the Pooh” author A.A. Milne and his family getaway to the London countryside, where his relationship with his young son, Christopher Robin, inspired him to begin his classic stories.
Studio/Distributor(s): Fox Searchlight Pictures
Production Company(s): Pinewood Studios, Ltd., DJ Films Limited
Producer(s): Damian Jones
Writer(s): Simon Vaughan
Director(s): Simon Curtis
Cast: Domhnall Gleeson
SSN Insight: Nick Hurran was previously attached to direct.
Guantanamo Diary
Logline: Mohamedou Ould Slahi has been imprisoned and subjected to torture at Guantánamo Bay since 2002, never having been charged with a crime.
Studio/Distributor(s): ,
Production Company(s): Zero Gravity Management, SunnyMarch
Producer(s): Lloyd Levin, Michael Bronner, Beatriz Gonzalez Blanco, Mark J. Holder, Christine Holder, Benedict Cumberbatch
Writer(s): Michael Bronner
Details: Based on the book “Guantanamo Diary” written by Mohamedou Ould Slahi and published by Little, Brown and Company on January 20, 2015.
SSN Insight: Convergent Media will provide development funds for the film.
Jeremiah Tower: The Last Magnificent
Logline: After rising to prominence in California cuisine in the 70s, Jeremiah Tower becomes one of America’s first celebrity chefs.
Studio/Distributor(s): The Orchard
Production Company(s): Zero Point Zero Productions, Inc.
Producer(s): Susan Porretta
Director(s): Lydia Tenaglia
SSN Insight: The film had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival and will be released in early 2017.
Kingsman: The Golden Circle
Logline: Storyline is under wraps.
Studio/Distributor(s): 20th Century Fox, 20th Century Fox Distribution
Production Company(s): MARV Films
Producer(s): Matthew Vaughn
Writer(s): Jane Goldman, Matthew Vaughn
Director(s): Matthew Vaughn
Cast: Taron Egerton, Channing Tatum, Pedro Pascal, Julianne Moore, Halle Berry, Edward Holcroft, Mark Strong
Details: Based on the comic book series “The Secret Service,” written by Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons and published by Marvel Comics on April 11, 2012. Sequel to “Kingsman: The Secret Service” (2015) directed by Matthew Vaughn and starring Colin Firth.
SSN Insight: Set to begin production in spring 2016. Elton John is in discussions to join the cast.
Meg
Logline: Carcharodon Megalodon, the 70 foot, 40 ton prehistoric cousin of the great white shark, rises from the abyss and threatens the California coastline.
Studio/Distributor(s): Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Company(s): Di Bonaventura Pictures, Gravity Pictures, Maeday Productions, Apelles Entertainment
Producer(s): Lorenzo Di Bonaventura, Colin Wilson, Belle Avery
Writer(s): James Vanderbilt, Dean Georgaris
Director(s): Jon Turteltaub
Cast: Jason Statham
Details: Based on the novel “Meg” written by Steve Alten published by Doubleday June 2, 1997.
SSN Insight: Bantam-Doubleday-Dell has reportedly paid $2.1 million for the publishing rights to this book and its sequel “Phobos.” Jan de Bont previously attached to direct.
National Bird
Logline: Three whistleblowers are determined to break the silence around one of the most controversial current affairs issues of our time: the secret U.S. drone war.
Studio/Distributor(s): FilmRise
Production Company(s): Ten Forward Films
Producer(s): Sonia Kennebeck, Ines Hofmann Kanna
Writer(s): Maxine Goedicke
Director(s): Sonia Kennebeck
SSN Insight: The film screened at Tribeca and will get a theatrical release in the fall.
Ready Player One
Logline: In a virtual world called Oasis, a teenager finds himself competing in a treasure hunt against ruthless foes after the game’s founder dies and offers his fortune as the grand prize.
Studio/Distributor(s): Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Company(s): Amblin Partners, Village Roadshow Pictures, De Line Pictures, Farah Films & Management
Producer(s): Donald De Line, Dan Farah, Kristie Macosko, Steven Spielberg
Writer(s): Zak Penn, Eric Eason, Ernest Cline
Director(s): Steven Spielberg
Cast: Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn, Tye Sheridan, Simon Pegg, Mark Rylance (in talks)
Details: Based on the novel “Ready Player One” written by Ernest Cline and published by Random House on August 16, 2011.
SSN Insight: Rylance won an Oscar for his role in Bridge of Spies. The book was published in 40 countries and was on The New York Times‘ best seller’s list.
Rebel in the Rye
Logline: JD Salinger is followed from the early days of his writing career, though his service in WWII, which change him forever and help him find his voice as a writer.
Production Company(s): Blue Star Entertainment, Bruce Cohen Productions, Black Label Media
Producer(s): Danny Strong, Molly Smith, Trent Luckinbill, Thad Luckinbill, Bruce Cohen
Writer(s): Danny Strong
Director(s): Danny Strong
Cast: Nicholas Hoult, Kevin Spacey, Laura Dern, Brian d’Arcy James, Hope Davis, Jimmy Smagula
Details: Based on the biography “JD Salinger: A Life” written by Kenneth Slawenski and published by Random House in 2010.
SSN Insight: Smagula has been cast as John Woodburn, the Little, Brown editor who agreed to publish Catcher in the Rye in 1951 after it had been rejected elsewhere.
Spider-Man: Homecoming
Logline: Storyline is under wraps, but involves a teenage Peter Parker.
Studio/Distributor(s): Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Releasing
Production Company(s): Marvel Entertainment, Pascal Pictures
Producer(s): Kevin Feige, Amy Pascal
Writer(s): John Francis Daley, Jonathan Goldstein
Director(s): Jon Watts, John Mahaffie
Cast: Tom Holland, Marisa Tomei, Zendaya Coleman, Michael Keaton (in talks)
Details: Based on the legendary Marvel comic book, Spider-Man created by writer/editor Stan Lee and writer/artist Steve Ditko, he first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15 cover-dated August 1962.
SSN Insight: Michael Keaton is in early discussions to join the cast in an unspecified villain role. Drew Goddard was previously in talks to write and direct.
Steven
Logline: This unauthorized biopic of former Smiths leader Morrissey focuses on his his troubled childhood in Manchester and how he overcame it to become a star.
Production Company(s): Honlodge Productions
Producer(s): Orian Williams, Baldwin Li
Writer(s): Mark Gill, William Thacker
Director(s): Mark Gill
Cast: Jack Lowden, Jessica Brown Findlay
SSN Insight: Findlay’s credits include Downton Abbey, The Riot Club, Jamaica Inn and The Outcast.
The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara
Logline: The true story of an Italian Jew who was taken from his parents at age seven in 1858 by Papal authorities, raised Catholic, and eventually become a priest.
Studio/Distributor(s): Amblin Partners
Production Company(s): Marc Platt Productions
Producer(s): Steven Spielberg, Kristie Macosko, Marc Platt
Writer(s): Tony Kushner, Jeremy Brock, Rob Eshman
Director(s): Steven Spielberg
Cast: Mark Rylance
Details: Based on the novel “The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara” written by David Kertzer and published by Alfred Knopf in 1997.
SSN Insight: Project was previously in development at Nick Wechsler Productions. Anthony Hopkins and Javier Bardem were previously attached to star.
The Mind’s Eye
Logline: A drifter with telekinetic powers targets a doctor working to develop a synthetic telekinetic serum.
Studio/Distributor(s): RLJ Entertainment
Production Company(s): Site B, Channel 83 Films
Producer(s): Joe Begos, Josh Ethier, Graham Skipper, Zak Zeman
Writer(s): Joe Begos
Director(s): Joe Begos
Cast: Graham Skipper, Lauren Ashley Carter, John Speredakos, Noah Segan, Matt Mercer
SSN Insight: RLJ Entertainment has picked up North American rights to the film that premiered at Toronto last year.
The Truth and Other Lies
Logline About famous writer Henry Hayden, whose façade of being a virtuous, loving husband is in danger of falling apart when his mistress becomes pregnant. He tries to get rid of her but makes a terrible mistake in the process. In order to keep the past from catching up with him, Henry must manage a growing series of lies and complications.
Production Company(s): Nick Wechsler Productions, Chockstone Pictures
Producer(s): Steve Schwartz, Paula Mae Schwartz, Nick Wechsler
Writer(s): Sascha Arango
Director(s): Brian De Palma
Details: Based on the novel “The Truth and Other Lies” written by Sascha Arango and published in Germany in February, 2014.
SSN Insight: The director was the subject of the Noah Baumbach/Jake Paltrow documentary De Palma.
Thor 3: Ragnarok
Logline: Storyline is under wraps.
Studio/Distributor(s): Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Production Company(s): Marvel Entertainment
Producer(s): Kevin Feige
Writer(s): Stephany Folsom, Craig Kyle, Christopher Yost
Director(s): Taika Waititi
Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Jaimie Alexander, Mark Ruffalo, Cate Blanchet, Tessa Thompson
Details: Based on the comic book character Thor who first appeared in “Journey into Mystery” created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby and published by Marvel Comics in August 1962. Second sequel to “Thor” (2011) directed by Kenneth Branagh and starring Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman and Anthony Hopkins.
SSN Insight: Tessa Thompson was previously seen in Creed. Her character is rumored to be a superhero who will appear in other Marvel films.
Untitled Edge of Tomorrow Sequel
Logline: Sequel to the story of Major William Cage, who was killed in combat with the alien race that has taken over Earth, then thrown into a time loop and forced to fight and die again and again.
Studio/Distributor(s): Warner Bros. Pictures
Writer(s): Joe Shrapnel, Anna Waterhouse
Director(s): Christopher McQuarrie
Cast: Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt
SSN Insight: Shrapnel and Waterhouse wrote the Jesse Owens biopic Race and a rewrite of The Gray Man, based on the novel by Mark Greaney, at Sony.
Welcome to Happiness
Logline: An author of children’s books has a secret door in his closet that opens into a mystical place called “Happiness” where people can get a do-over at life.
Studio/Distributor(s): FilmBuff
Production Company(s): Minutehand Pictures, On Q Productions
Producer(s): Oliver Thompson, Kyle Gallner, Bay Dariz, Molly Quinn
Writer(s): Oliver Thompson
Director(s): Oliver Thompson
Cast: Kyle Gallner, Nick Offerman, Molly Quinn, Olivia Thirlby, Frances Conroy
SSN Insight: The film will open day-and-date May 20 in theaters and on-demand.
What’s the Point?
Logline: Ensemble comedy about the concept that marriage should be a seven-year contract with an option to renew.
Production Company(s): More Films, Cold Iron Pictures , Ways & Means
Producer(s): Lake Bell, Jett Steiger, Miranda Bailey, Amanda Marshall
Writer(s): Lake Bell
Director(s): Lake Bell
Cast: Lake Bell, Ed Helms, Mary Steenburgen, Paul Reiser, Amber Heard
SSN Insight: The film is the follow-up to In A World…, for which Bell was awarded the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award.
Wolverine 3
Logline: Storyline is under wraps.
Studio/Distributor(s): 20th Century Fox, 20th Century Fox Distribution
Production Company(s): Donners’ Company, Hutch Parker Entertainment
Producer(s): Lauren Shuler Donner, Hutch Parker
Writer(s): Michael Green, David James Kelly, James Mangold
Director(s): James Mangold, Garrett Warren
Cast: Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Boyd Holbrook, Liev Schreiber
Details: Sequel to “Wolverine” (2013) directed by James Mangold and starring Hugh Jackman.
SSN Insight: Holbrook will play the lead villain.
New Projects
Another Day in the Death of America
Logline: Based on the true story of a writer who investigated the stories of 10 children shot dead in one random day in America.
Production Company(s): Double E Pictures, The Allegiance Theater, Yoruba Saxon Productions
Producer(s): David Oyelowo, Daniel Dubiecki, Eric Eisner
Cast: David Oyelowo
Details: Based on the book “Another Day in the Death of American” written by Gary Younger and published in the US by Nation Books on October 4, 2016.
SSN Insight: Oyelowo is currently shooting Amazon’s Nash Edgerton movie and will follow that with Paramount sci-fi thriller God Particle.
Blue Iguana
Logline: A black comedy about two outcasts who fall in love in the strangest of circumstances. An offbeat story about lying, stealing, and shooting.
Production Company(s): 3 Arts Entertainment
Producer(s): Hadi Hajaig, Tom Lassally
Writer(s): Hadi Hajaig
Director(s): Hadi Hajaig
Cast: Sam Rockwell
SSN Insight: The film is financed by UK Film Studio Productions, and will start principal photography in London in July.
Code 8
Logline: In the future, 4% of the population are born with supernatural powers, but they live in poverty and often turn to crime which pits them against a ruthless police force.
Producer(s): Jeff Chan, Chris Pare
Writer(s): Chris Pare
Director(s): Jeff Chan
Cast: Stephen Amell, Robbie Amell, Sung Kang
SSN Insight: The project has surpassed its $200,000 crowdfunding goal on Indiegogo by 323%, with over $646,000 raised so far. The Amells produced a self-financed, 10-minute short on March 22, 2016 to gain funding.
Done It All
Logline: Merle Haggard endures poverty and prison before becoming a legendary country singer.
Production Company(s): Blu-Sky Media, GMH Productions
Producer(s): Abraham Gordon, Mike Hollingsworth, Donald Kushner
Writer(s): Cliff Hollingsworth
SSN Insight: GMH Productions has optioned the script written by Cliff Hollingsworth, known for Cinderella Man.
Fourever
Logline: Revolves around friendship, love, secrets and lies between two couples in one New York apartment that will disrupt their lives forever.
Production Company(s): Ronalds Brothers Productions
Producer(s): Dean Ronalds, Emanuela Galliussi
Writer(s): Dean Ronalds, Emanuela Galliussi, Francesco Plazza
Director(s): Dean Ronalds
Cast: Emanuela Galliussi, Tammy Blanchard, Dominic Fumusa, Bryan Greenberg
SSN Insight: Production is set to start this month in New York City.
Life of the Party
Logline: Storyloine is under wraps.
Studio/Distributor(s): New Line Cinema
Production Company(s): On the Day Productions
Producer(s): Melissa McCarthy, Ben Falcone
Writer(s): Melissa McCarthy, Ben Falcone
Director(s): Ben Falcone
Cast: Melissa McCarthy
SSN Insight: McCarthy will next be seen in the Ghostbusters remake, and recently confirmed she’ll be appearing in Netflix’s Gilmore Girls revival.
Love Sonia
Logline: Tells the heartfelt and brave story of Sonia, a young Indian village girl whose life irrevocably changes when she is entrapped into the vicious global sex trade network.
Production Company(s): Big Stuff
Producer(s): David Womark
Writer(s): Ted Caplan, Alkesh Vaja
Director(s): Tabrez Noorani
Cast: Paul Dano, Mrunal Thakur, Freida Pinto, Manoj Bajpayee, Richa Chadda
Details: Inspired by true events, script was developed with the support and guidance from two of the world’s largest anti-trafficking NGOs.
SSN Insight: Kay Buck, CEO/exec directing of CAST (Coalition to Abolish Slavery & Trafficking) is advisor on the film and Apne Aap Woman Worldwide founder Ruchira Gupta is providing support for the actors as they research their roles.
Peter Pan
Logline: Adaptation of the J.M. Barrie novel about the boy who couldn’t age
Studio/Distributor(s): Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Writer(s): Toby Halbrooks
Director(s): David Lowery
SSN Insight: Halbrooks and Lowery teamed to write and Lowery directed Pete’s Dragon, a new version of Disney’s 1977 live action/animated musical.
Swiped
Logline: The film is about the craziness of modern dating.
Studio/Distributor(s): CBS Films
Production Company(s): Circle of Confusion
Producer(s): Matt Smith, Brad Mendelsohn
Writer(s): Alisha Brophy, Scott Miles
SSN Insight: The writers have also set up White Girl Problems, which is at Lionsgate and Boys Are Stupid at Universal Pictures.
The Corporation
Logline: The true story of Cuban American gangster Jose Miguel Battle Sr., aka “The Godfather,” was Batista’s bag man when the Mafia ran Cuba, trained by the CIA for the Bay of Pigs invasion, and financed the anti-Castro movement by funding paramilitary groups.
Studio/Distributor(s): Paramount Pictures
Production Company(s): Appian Way, Specialized Media, LLC, The Picture Company
Producer(s): Jaydee Freixas, Tony Gonzalez, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Davisson Killoran, Andrew Rona
Writer(s): David Matthews
Cast: Benicio Del Toro
Details: Based on the proposed book “The Corporation: An Epic Story Of The Cuban American Underworld” to be written by TJ English and published by William Morrow in 2017.
SSN Insight: The Picture Company, Sony, Ratpac, Lionsgate, MGM and Universal were all involved in the bidding war for the project.
The Jungle Book 2
Logline: The story of Mowgli, the boy raised by wolves who befriends all kinds of animals in the jungle, continues in this sequel.
Studio/Distributor(s): Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Producer(s): Jon Favreau, Brigham Taylor
Writer(s): Justin Marks
Director(s): Jon Favreau
Details: Sequel to “The Jungle Book” (2016) directed by Jon Favreau and voice by Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley, Scarlet Johansson, Lupita Nyong’o and others. Both films are based on the classic collection of fables “The Jungle Book” written by Rudyard Kipling and published by MacMillan Publishers in 1894.
SSN Insight: The live action Jungle Book is set for a release this Friday.
Untitled STX/Sylvester Stallone Project
Logline: Storyline is under wraps.
Studio/Distributor(s): STX Entertainment
Production Company(s): Grey Matter Productions
Producer(s): Lawrence Grey
Cast: Sylvester Stallone
SSN Insight: Grey Matter’s upcoming film is Lights Out with Section 6 and Winter’s Knight in active development.