Starts
Ben-Hur (Remake) 1/12/2015 Logline: A young Ben-Hur, who encounters Jesus Christ, finds himself betrayed by his best friend but survives after being sold into slavery and extracts revenge. Studio: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM), Paramount Pictures Production Companies: Mark Burnett Productions, Point Blank Productions, The Sean Daniel Company Director: Timur Bekmambetov Executive Producer(s): Roma Downey, Keith Clarke, Jason F. Brown, John Ridley Producer(s): Sean Daniel, Joni Levin, Mark Burnett Cast: Jack Huston, Nazanin Boniadi, Morgan Freeman, Toby Kebbell, Pedro Pascal Writer(s): John Ridley, Keith Clarke Details: Based on the novel "Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ," written by Lew Wallace and published in 1880. Source material was previously adapted as "Ben-Hur" (1959) directed by William Wyler and starring Charlton Heston and "Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ" (1925) directed by Fred Niblo and starring Ramon Novarro. SSN Insight: Gal Gadot was previously in negotiations to play Esther, but had to pass on the project because of production conflicts with "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice," in which she played Wonder Woman, as well as ongoing commitments to play the superhero in upcoming Warner Bros. films.
I.T. 1/12/2015 Logline: A successful book publisher is threatened by a disgruntled I.T. consultant. Production Company: Friendly Films Director: John Moore Producer(s): David Friendly, Craig J. Flores, Nicolas Chartier, Beau St. Clair Cast: Pierce Brosnan Writer(s): William Wisher, Daniel Kay SSN Insight: Stefano Sollima previously attached to direct. Voltage, which recently was behind the Joseph Gordon-Levitt-directed Don Jon, opened sales at AFM. Kay penned the script based on a concept by Friendly through his Friendly Films banner.
Oppenheimer Strategies 1/12/2015 Logline: Three years after small-time operator Norman Oppenheimer befriends a young politician during a low point in his life, the young man becomes an influential world leader and Norman’s life drastically. Studio: Tadmor Entertainment Group, Fabrica de Cine, Cold Iron Pictures Director: Joseph Cedar Executive Producer(s): Matthew Malek, Amanda Marshall Producer(s): Oren Moverman, Lawrence Inglee, Eyal Rimmon, Gideon Tadmor, Gaston Pavlovich Cast: Richard Gere Writer(s): Joseph Cedar SSN Insight: shooting begins in NY. Gere recently starred in Time Out Of Mind directed by Moverman as well as the sequel, The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. He is repped by WME. ICM Partners will be handling domestic rights, while The Solution Entertainment Group is representing international rights.
The Trust 1/12/2015 Logline: Two corrupt cops find a mysterious vault while investigating a drug operation and things get complicated when they decide to rob it. Studio: Electric Shadow Fund, Highland Film Group Production Company: Hassell Free Productions Director: Alex Brewer, Ben Brewer Executive Producer(s): Michael Nilon, Arianne Fraser, Delphine Perrier Producer(s): Molly Hassell, Braxton Pope Cast: Nicolas Cage, Jack Huston Writer(s): Ben Brewer, Adam Hirsch SSN Insight: Highland Film Group’s other films include Barely Lethal, starring Hailee Steinfeld, Samuel L. Jackson and Jessica Alba, Kevin Connolly's The Wright Girls and Your Right Mind, starring Katherine Heigl. Cage recently appeared in David Gordon Green's Joe and the thriller flick Frozen Ground. Huston, who was recently seen on Boardwalk Empire, was in American Hustle and Kill Your Darlings.
Wraps
Cook 1/9/2015 Logline: When a young girl and her dying mother are joined by a black, male cook who comes to live with them, little do they know that their lives are about to change forever. Inspired by true events and set in New Orleans, Cook tells the story of a most unique friendship built not on the color of one's skin but on the unconditional love within one's heart. Production Companies: Atmosphere Entertainment MM LLC, After Dark Films, Envision Media Arts, Cinelou Films Director: Bruce Beresford Executive Producer(s): Brad Kaplan, Yu Wei-Chung Producer(s): Lee Nelson, David Buelow, Courtney Solomon, Mark Canton Cast: Eddie Murphy, Britt Robertson, Natascha McElhone, Lucy Fry, Xavier Samuel Writer(s): Susan McMartin SSN Insight: David Anspaugh previously attached to direct. Samuel L. Jackson was previously mentioned to star. Uma Thurman and Juno Temple were previously mentioned as cast members.
Yoga Hosers 1/5/2015 Logline: Two 15-year-old yoga enthusiasts in Manitoba with an after school job at a convenience store called Eh-2-Zed join forces with a legendary man-hunter to battle an ancient evil and fight for their lives, yoga-style. Production Companies: SModcast Pictures, Invincible Pictures, StarStream Entertainment, Abbolita Productions Director: Kevin Smith Executive Producer(s): Kim Leadford, Charles Bonan, Tim Nye Producer(s): Elizabeth Destro, Jordan Monsanto, Jennifer Schwalbach-Smith Cast: Lily-Rose Depp, Harley Quinn Smith, Michael Parks, Justin Long, Haley Joel Osment Writer(s): Kevin Smith Details: Project is a spin-off to "Tusk" (USA/2014) directed by Kevin Smith and starring Michael Parks, Justin Long and Haley Joel Osment, and like "Tusk" is based on a podcast. The film is the second installment in director Kevin Smith’s True North Trilogy of stories that are steeped in Canadian myths and culture, preceded by "Tusk" (2014) and reportedly to be followed by "Moose Jaws," which Smith described as "just 'Jaws' with a moose." SSN Insight: Director Kevin Smith, a comic book enthusiast who has written for Marvel and DC comics and who previously wrote an unproduced "Superman" screenplay, has said that he considers "Yoga Hosers" to be his first comic book-style movie, "but instead of yet another dude saving the day our antiheroes are the most feared and formidable creatures man has ever encountered: two 15-year-old girls."