J.J. Abrams Producing Space Series ‘Glare’ With HBO
The filmmaker and his Bad Robot Productions are once again reteaming with the pay cable net to develop the new space drama. The hourlong sci-fi series will focus on the colonization of an alien planet. Abrams will be executive producing alongside Bad Robot head of development Ben Stephenson and Javier Gullón, who is also penning the script. No additional plot details were revealed. (IW)
A Movie About Roger Ailes’s Alleged Harassment of Megyn Kelly Is in the Works
Annapurna Pictures has signed on to produce a pitch from one of The Big Short‘s Oscar-winning writers, Charles Randolph. In this go-around, Megyn Kelly’s story will be the star: The pitch is said to center on the women whose sexual-harassment allegations brought the former Fox News chairman’s reign to a screeching halt. (VUL)
Louis C.K.’s ‘Horace and Pete’ Suddenly Appears on Hulu
The series, which C.K. wrote, directed, starred in and financed, had only appeared on his own website, but premiered this morning on Hulu, where it is available to subscribers. (COL)
Fox’s Next ‘X-Men’ Movie Will Start Shooting In May, and It’s Almost Certainly ‘New Mutants’
The series has stalled after the lukewarm reception toX-Men: Apocalypse, and it hasn’t been entirely clear what’s next for our ragtag mutants. New Mutants, the spin-off hoping to expand the X-Men universe, might be the answer. It’s been confirmed by the director Josh Boone that it will be the next X-Men movie hitting theaters (aside from Logan). (CB)
Fox Puts a ‘Puff the Magic Dragon’ Movie Into Development
Based on the Peter, Paul and Mary song, film is said to be a hybrid live-action/animated movie, Mike Mitchell will direct. Mitchell recently directed the animated feature Trolls for DreamWorks Animation, but he’s also no stranger to the concept of combining live-action photography with animation, having directed Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked as well as the live-action portions of The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water. (CS)
Terry George’s ‘The Promise’ Lands At Open Road, Gets April Release Date
Oscar Isaac, Charlotte Le Bon and Christian Bale star alongside Shohreh Aghdashloo, Angela Sarafyan, Jean Reno, James Cromwell, Daniel Giminez Cacho and Marwan Kenzari. Film is about the Armenian genocide that had its world premiere in the fall at Toronto. Open Road, which acquired and distributed last year’s Best Picture Oscar winner Spotlight, has set an April 28th, 2017 wide release date for the pic. (DH)
Break Out the Popcorn! ‘Strike Back’ Revived for Fifth Season at Cinemax
Cinemax is reviving its first foray into original scripted programming. The premium cable network and U.K. collaborator Sky are bringing back Strike Back for its fifth season. The drama was renewed for its fourth and then-final season in 2013 and wrapped its run in October 2015. The new season, which will feature an entirely new cast, will resume production in 2017. A premiere date has not yet been determined. (LF)
First Footage, Official Synopsis And New Title Revealed For ‘Fast 8’
The Fate of the Furious is now the official new name for the eighth entry in the blockbuster series. The first footage has been revealed as well, and it’s just a taste of what’s to come when the full trailer drops on Sunday. Film opens on April 14th, 2017. (TP)
Overpaid Actors, and the Studios Who Enable Them
Forbes released its annual list of overpaid actors on Wednesday, a list that is, for all intents and purposes, meaningless as long as the studios continue to throw around ridiculous amounts of money. Herein, some suggestions for how to better manage their cashflow. (TB)