Universal Buys Minority Stake In Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Partners
Universal Filmed Entertainment has agreed to buy a minority stake in Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Partners. As part of the deal, the studio’s chairman Jeff Shell will join the Amblin board. (VAR)
Benedict Cumberbatch To Star In, Exec Produce ‘The Child In Time’ For BBC, Masterpiece
Benedict Cumberbatch is reteaming with BBC One and Masterpiece for the adaptation of Ian McEwan’s award-winning 1987 novel The Child In Time. (DH)
‘Zero Dark Thirty’ Scribe Mark Boal Teaming With Megan Ellison For 2016 Election Limited Series
The Hurt Locker and Zero Dark Thirty scribe Mark Boal is teaming up with Annapurna Pictures head Megan Ellison to craft a “political drama” that will consist of eight to ten hours based on the 2016 election. (COLL)
‘Superstore’ Renewed For Season 3
NBC has renewed the America Ferrera-fronted comedy for a 22-episode third season. (TVL)
Philip Pullman Unveils Epic Fantasy Trilogy ‘The Book Of Dust’
Author’s new novel series is set in London and Oxford and overlaps with hugely popular His Dark Materials. (GUAR)
Disney Taps Company-Wide Talent For TV ‘Pitch-a-Palooza’
TV Group president Ben Sherwood’s employee competition heard over 300 ideas for TV shows, including a ‘Modern Family’ meets ‘The Wonder Years’ sitcom from a 29-year-old video distribution specialist that might just be the next hit comedy. (THR)
‘Brothered Up’ CBS Comedy Pilot: Adhir Kalyan To Star, James Burrows To Direct
Rules of Engagement alum Adhir Kalyan is returning to CBS as one of two leads in Brothered Up, the network’s multi-camera buddy cop comedy from CBS TV Studios. (DH)
The New Power Of “Yes”: Who Actually Has Greenlight Authority At The Movie Studios
Paramount re-evaluates Brad Grey’s influence as industry upheavals alter internal politics all over town and committees become the norm. (THR)