What To Expect At AFI Fest, Film Development For 11/06/14, ‘Episode VII’ Gets a Title, ‘Downton Abbey’ To Get Sixth Season

SSN ORIGINALS

What to Expect at the 2014 AFI Fest 2014: Tech Showcases, Galas, Sophia Loren, and More

Starting with tonight’s opening night screening of A Most Violent Year, a mix of awards season contenders and under-the-radar indies can be seen, including Rupert Wyatt’s The Gambler and Bennett Miller’s closing night film, Foxcatcher. (SSN)

Film Development For 11/06/14: Wahlberg and Ferrell Re-Team For ‘Daddy’s Home,’ ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ and ‘LEGO: Batman’ In Development, and More

Other projects include 24 director Jon Cassar’s first studio feature, new attachments for adaptations Electric Boy Genius and The Shack, and at least two new projects based on comics. (SSN)

TODAY’S HEADLINES

Title Announcement Means ‘Star Wars: Episode VII’ Is No Longer Just a Number

Disney and Lucasfilm confirm that the title of the J.J. Abrams-directed movie will be Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and is still due to be released on December 18th, 2015. (EMP)

‘Downton Abbey’ Won’t Be Closing Down Any Time Soon

Emmy-winning show is renewed for a sixth season by ITV, with creator Julian Fellowes again writing, though no cast has been confirmed. Season Five starts airing in the U.S. January 4th, 2015. (VAR)

And, With the Addition of Demian Bechir, Casting on Quentin Tarantino’s ‘The Hateful Eight’ Is Complete

Channing Tatum also officially joins a cast that includes Jennifer Jason Leigh, Kurt Russell, Bruce Dern, Michael Madsen, Samuel L. Jackson, Walton Goggins and Tim Roth, and starts shooting next month in Colorado. (DH)

Mark Wahlberg Has Officially Signed Up To Be Colonel Steve Austin In ‘The Six Billion Dollar Man’

Updated adaptation of the famed ‘70s TV show starring Lee Majors will be directed by Wahlberg’s Lone Survivor helmer Peter Berg, and shoot next year for a 2016 release. (MF)

So, We’ll Be Seeing Kevin Spacey as Nixon and Michael Shannon as Elvis in a Movie About the Two Men Meeting? Yes, We Shall!

The two-time Oscar winner and the one-time nominee team up in a film co-written by Princess Bride star Cary Elwes, and to be directed by Liza Johnson. (TP)

In the Wake of Marvel’s Massive Movie Slate Announcement, Is There Actually a Movie … Missing?

The studio originally had nailed down July 8, 2016 as the target for one of its movies, which was thought to be Dr. Strange. But since that is now coming out in November of 2016, will another surprise film be announced? (MP)

Trailer Buzz, Part 1: The Hobbit — Battle of Five Armies

The initial trailer for the final installment of the Hobbit trilogy, starring Martin Freeman, Ian McKellan and the voice of Benedict Cumberbatch, and directed by Peter Jackson, hits theaters December 17th. (VUL)

Trailer Buzz, Part 2: ‘Into the Woods’

The first look at the highly anticipated musical from director Rob Marshall, based on the Sondheim musical and starring Johnny Depp, Meryl Streep and a host of others. Movie hits theaters Christmas Day. (IW)