SSN ORIGINALS
Film & TV Deals for 4/27/16: Kerry Washington Signs With ABC Signature Studios, Gordon Ramsay Launches Banner with All3Media, Wesley Snipes and WWE Team-Up
Among the other big deals happening this week are the announcement of a new streaming service to highlight and feature films in the Criterion Collection, as well as several new overall deals signed between creators and production studios. To get the full skinny, head on over to SSN Insider by clicking on the provided link. (SSN)
Rep Moves For 4/27/16: Iggy Azalea Snagged by WME, ‘Star Wars’’ Mark Hamill Signs with Industry Ent, ‘Fresh off the Boat’s’ Constance Wu Heads to UTA
A surprisingly busy week in rep moves also includes a big move by producer Will Packer, while Oscar-winning writer Dustin Lance Black also settles into a new spot. Both UTA and WME have productive weeks, as well. To read more, click on the link. (SSN)
OTHER HEADLINES
Will Ferrell Gets Presidential, Will Play the 40th President In Black List Script, ‘Reagan’
The comedic actor, who already portrayed President George W. Bush in skits and on stage, has set his sights another Republican, President Ronald Reagan. Ferrell is attached to star in and produce Reagan, by Mike Rosolio. Ferrell will produce via his production banner Gary Sanchez Productions. No director is on board but the project is being packaged in order to be shopped.(THR)
Suddenly, Robert Downey Jr. Might Actually Be Interested In a Fourth ‘Iron Man’ Movie After All
When the actor signed his current contract extension with Marvel Studios, it was widely reported that a fourth Iron Man solo film was not included, and that he was committed instead to returning for The Avengers: Age of Ultron, Captain America: Civil War and the two-part Avengers: Infinity War. Downey also made public comments suggesting that the series, with him as Tony Stark, concluded with Iron Man 3. Now, he has apparently changed his mind. (SF)
NBC Continues To Fill Out Its ‘Hairspray Live!’ Cast, Adds Martin Short and Derek Hough
Based on the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, cast already includes Jennifer Hudson and Harvey Fierstein as the famed Edna Turnblad. Fierstein is also writing the teleplay. Short will play Edna’s loving husband, Wilbur, and Hough will step into the role of TV show host Corny Collins. Craig Zadan and Neil Meron are executive producing. (LF)
Weinstein Slots Three Summer Movies Outside Oscar Season, Plans To Skip Film Festivals To Chase BO Dollars
Ahead of this year’s Cannes film festival, we now know three films that won’t get the full Weinstein Co. festival treatment at Cannes or the fall awards circuit— because they’re coming out this summer. Tulip Fever will hit theaters July 15th as summer counter-programming, while The Founder is set for August 5th and Hands of Stone for August 26th. (IW)
‘Alita: Battle Angel': Lead Candidates Narrowed to Three for James Cameron-Robert Rodriguez Project
An adaptation of the popular Japanese manga has been on the docket for years now, with James Cameron in charge, but now he’s just a producer on the project, with Robert Rodriguez set to direct. The hunt for the female lead now has a short list, which includes Disney sensation Zendaya, and Maika Monroe, who broke out in indie horror gems The Guest and It Follows. Also vying for the role is Rose Salazar, from The Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials. (COL)
Paramount Confirms December Date For DreamWorks’ ‘Office Christmas Party’
Josh Gordon and Will Speck are throwing their all-star shindig on December 9th. Studiojust announced the wide release date for the comedy that stars Jennifer Aniston, Olivia Munn, Jason Bateman, T.J. Miller, Kate McKinnon — the list goes on. The pic follows a corporate branch manager who throws a Christmas party in order to land a big client as his uptight CEO sister is threatening to shut the division down. However, the party gets out of hand. (DH)
The Brave New World Of Celebrity Social Media
When one has a rather large announcement to make these days, the standard methods just won’t do. Social media is all the rage, and the only acceptable route to disperse your amazing news. Just look at Dwayne Johnson. The Rock himself is pretty much a master. (TB)
Trailer Buzz: ‘Florence Foster Jenkins’
Paramount Pictures has released the new trailer for the upcoming movie, based on true events. Starring Meryl Streep, Hugh Grant, Simon Helberg, Rebecca Ferguson and Nina Arianda, and directed by Stephen Frears, it hits theaters August 12th. (CS)