Starts
A Monster Calls 09/30/2014 Logline: A boy deals with his mother’s illness and bullies at school by living in a world of fairy tales and monsters. Studio: Focus Features Production Companies: Apaches Entertainment, River Road Entertainment, Participant Media Director: J. A. Bayona Executive Producers: Bill Pohlad, Jeff Skoll, Mitch Horwits, Jonathan King, Patrick Wachsberger Producer: Belén Atienza Cast: Felicity Jones, Toby Kebbell, Liam Neeson, Sigourney Weaver, Lewis MacDougall, Geraldine Chaplin Screenwriter: Patrick Ness Details: Based on the children’s novel "A Monster Calls" written by Patrick Ness and published by Walker Books on September 27, 2011. The novel was based on an original idea by the late Siobhan Dowd. SSN Insight: Screenplay was included in the 2013 Black List.
Urge 10/06/2014 Logline: A group of friends on an island vacation try a new designer drug that makes them lose all ability to control their urges. Production Company: Blackmrkt Incorporated Director: Aaron Kaufman Executive Producers: Tim Smith, Alastair Burlingham, Lee Vandermolen, Yoram Barzilai, Frank Martinez, Anthony Gudas, Clayton Pecorin, Peter Fruchtman, Russell Geyser Producers: Skip Williamson, Mark Neveldine Cast: Pierce Brosnan, Ashley Greene Screenwriters: Aaron Kaufman, Jason Zumwalt SSN Insight: Directorial debut of noted feature film producer Aaron Kaufman, whose producing credits include “Machete Kills” (USA/2013) and “Frank Miller’s Sin City: A Dame to Kill For” (USA/2014).
Ricki and the Flash 10/01/2014 Logline: A fading rock star tries to reconnect with her children as one of them goes through a difficult divorce. Studio: TriStar Productions Production Companies: Marc Platt Productions, MXN Entertainment Director: Jonathan Demme Producers: Marc Platt, Mason Novick Cast: Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, Rick Springfield, Ben Platt Screenwriter: Diablo Cody SSN Insight: TriStar Productions Chairman Tom Rothman assertively pursued, and ultimately won, a competitive situation in March 2014 that also saw Universal, The Weinstein Company, and Fox 2000 vying to collaborate on the project.
Wraps
Tarzan 10/03/2014 Logline: John Clayton III, Lord Greystoke, formerly known as Tarzan, a man who grew up in the wild, finds himself returning to the African jungle as the unwitting victim of a deadly plot of greed and revenge – but those orchestrating the conspiracy have no idea what they are about to unleash. Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures Production Companies: Riche Productions, Jerry Weintraub Productions, Dark Horse Entertainment Director: David Yates Executive Producers: David Yates, Susan Ekins, Nikolas Korda, Mike Richardson, Bruce Berman, Scott Cherrin Producers: Alan Riche, Tony Ludwig, Jill Arthur, Jerry Weintraub, Peter Riche, Keith Goldberg, David Barron Cast: Alexander Skarsgård, Christoph Waltz, Samuel L. Jackson, Margot Robbie, Djimon Hounsou, John Hurt Screenwriters: Craig Brewer, Adam Cozad (current draft); Cormac Wibberley, Marianne Sellek Wibberley, John August, John Collee, Stuart Beattie, Stephen Sommers (previous draft) Details: Based on the novel "Tarzan of the Apes" written by Edgar Rice Burroughs published in 1912. SSN Insight: Warner Bros. hired Craig Brewer and Adam Cozad to work on two separate scripts for the project, then fused both, focusing on Cozad's action set pieces and story structure while incorporating Brewer's character elements.
Director’s Cut 9/29/2014 Logline: A murderous psychotic who is stalking a film actress believes he is directing her film. Production Company: Golden Entertainment West Director: Adam Rifkin Producers: Penn Jillette, Adam Golden Cast: Penn Jillette, Glenn Beck, Lawrence O'Donnell Jr., Missi Pyle Screenwriter: Penn Jillette SSN Insight: The film’s director, Adam Rifkin, previously probed themes of Hollywood, celebrity, and filmmaking when he co-wrote, co-directed, and acted in the mockumentary “Welcome to Hollywood” (USA/1998).