Gael García Bernal To Don the Black Mask & Become Zorro in Jonás Cuarón’s Reboot
Gael García Bernal and Jonás Cuarón are coming together again — this time for the reboot of Zorro in a film entitled Z. Cuarón’s Desierto, which stars García Bernal, will be released by STX Entertainment later in the year. It is written and will be directed by Cuarón and is eyeing a fall start at the Pinewood Dominican Republic studios. (DL)
Shake-Up at Comedy Central as Kent Alterman Replaces Michele Ganeless at Top
Following her 12-year run, Comedy Central president Michele Ganeless is stepping down. She will be replaced by her second-in-command, original programming president Kent Alterman. Read Herzog’s internal memo to the staff here. (THR)
Amazon Partners with Machinima, Conde Nast & Others to Take on YouTube, Opening Video Platform to All Creators
Amazon, which touts itself as Earth’s biggest store, has officially launched its bid to be the place to watch any kind of video under the sun. With the launch of Amazon Video Direct, open to any video creator, the e-commerce giant will compete head-to-head with Google’s YouTube for video-ad dollars and views as well as other big Internet video distributors like Facebook and Vimeo. (VAR)
Inside the Secret Society that is the Cannes Jury
Kirsten Dunst, producer Jeremy Thomas and more offer a peek into a world where nine virtual strangers live in a bubble of film, food and friendship — until voting starts. (THR)
Bill Murray, Josh Hutcherson & Linda Cardellini Sign Up for ‘The King Of Counterfeit’
Bill Murray, Josh Hutcherson and Linda Cardellini have come on-board John McNaughton’s The King of Counterfeit, a fast-paced love story centered around two ambitious young counterfeiters and the crooked superstar lawyer that mentors them. (DL)
‘The Billion Dollar Spy’ Comes in from the Cold with Walden Media & Akiva Goldsman Producing the Film
Walden Media will develop, finance and produce a film adaptation of David E. Hoffman’s The Billion Dollar Spy with Akiva Goldsman producing. Ben August (Remember) is attached to write the script. (VAR)
How Amazon and Netflix Have Changed the Distribution Models at Cannes
The biggest story to emerge on the festival circuit this year is how the market has been upended by Amazon and Netflix. The streaming services have the financial heft to scoop up any project that catches their fancy. “Netflix and Amazon are making it more challenging for other distributors to compete,” says Jessica Lacy, head of international and independent film at ICM. (VAR)
SAG-AFTRA Members Ratify Commercials Contract that Includes $200 Million in Wage Increases
A month after its SAG-AFTRA’s national board of directors approved a new TV commercials contract, the union’s members voted overwhelmingly today to ratify it. The count was 92.3% in favor of the new deal with the ad industry that generates about $1.1 billion annually for actors, extras and voice-over artists. (DL)
Trailer Buzz: ‘Orange is the New Black’ Season 4
At the end of season 3, affairs at Litchfield Penitentiary was decidedly topsy turvy — and by the looks of a brand-new trailer for Orange Is the New Black’s fourth season, things have gotten progressively worse for its female inmates. (EW)
More Trailer Buzz: Stana Katic’s Last Episode of ‘Castle’
“Everything ends in tragedy — even an epic love story like yours.” That is what a nefarious character says to Rick in the promo for Castle‘s Season 8 finale aka leading lady Stana Katic’s final episode. (TVL)