NEW ATTACHMENTS
Thirteen Hours Logline: The true story of the terrorist attacks on the U.S. Special Mission Compound and an CIA Annex in Benghazi on the eleventh anniversary of 9/11 through firsthand accounts. Studio/ Distributor:Paramount Pictures Production Company: 3 Arts Entertainment Producers: Erwin Stoff Writer: Chuck Hogan Director: Michael Bay Cast: John Krasinski Notes: Based on the book "Thirteen Hours: A Firsthand Account of What Really Happened in Benghazi" written by author Mitchell Zuckoff with surviving members of the Annex Security Team who fought the battle, published by Twelve September 9, 2014. SSN Insight: Krasinski will play the lead, but Chris Pratt was also being considered for the role.
The Accountant Logline: A seemingly a run-of-the-mill small town accountant who has overcome his severe Asperger's Syndrome and now heads a one-man accounting firm, where his clients include the world's most notorious criminals, secretly works as a hitman. Studio/ Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures Production Company: Electric City Entertainment Producers: Lynette Howell, Mark Williams, Kevin Scott Frakes, Raj Singh Writer: Bill Dubuque Director: Gavin O’Connor Cast: John Lithgow, Ben Affleck, Anna Kendrick, J.K. Simmons, Jon Bernthal, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Jeffrey Tambor SSN Insight: Film is finally set to start production next week after a long development history. Project was previously set up at Warner Bros. before their option expired, then was picked up by Sony but was put in turnaround. Warner Bros. bought the project back. Will Smith previously attached to star when the project was in development at Columbia Pictures.
Untitled Illumination Animated Movie Logline: A music-driven event comedy tackling courage, competition and carrying a tune. Studio/ Distributor: Illumination/ Universal Production Company: Illumination Producers: Chris Meledandri, Janet Healy Writer: Garth Jennings Director: Garth Jennings Cast: Matthew McConaughey SSN Insight: McConaughey is the first voice talent to sign on to the December 2016 release. Projects are secret in animation for as long as possible so it’s likely we won’t know much more about this film for awhile. Illumination in particular is very protective of their projects.
The Big Short Logline:A look at the American economy, the recession, and the sub-prime mortgage. Studio/ Distributor: Paramount PIctures Production Company: Plan B Entertainment Producers: Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Sarah Esberg Writer: Adam McKay Cast: Steve Carell, Brad Pitt, Ryan Gosling, Christian Bale Director: Adam McKay Notes: Based on the book "The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine" written by Michael Lewis and published by W.W. Norton on March 15, 2010. SSN Insight: Carell is proving himself a more serious actor, after getting awards attention for his recent role in Foxcatcher. This would be his next dramatic role in a true-life drama.
Mena Logline:The true story of pilot Barry Seal, who transported contraband for the CIA and the Medellin cartel in the 1980s. Studio/ Distributor: Universal Pictures, CrossCreek Production Company: Quadrant Pictures, Imagine Entertainment Producers: Doug Davison, Brian Grazer, Brian Oliver, Tyler Thompson Writer: Gary Spinelli Director: Doug Liman Cast: Tom Cruise SSN Insight: Ron Howard was previously attached to direct when Universal originally picked up the script as a spec for $1 million.
The Founder Logline: The true story how Ray Kroc, a salesman from Illinois, met Mac and Dick McDonald, who were running a burger operation in 1950s Southern California. Kroc was impressed by the brother’s speedy system of making the food and saw franchise potential. He maneuvered himself in a position to be able to pull the company from the brothers and create the billion dollar fast food empire, McDonald’s. Production Company: FilmNation, Combine Producers: Jeremy Renner, Don Handfield Writer: Rob Siegel Director: John Lee Hancock Cast: Michael Keaton SSN Insight: This film has been coming together quickly, only recently signing John Lee Hancock to direct. As soon as the holidays were over, Hancock wasted no time finding his lead, meeting with Birdman’s lead Michael Keaton, who has enjoyed a career resurgence thanks to the awards buzz of Birdman.
G.I. Joe Logline:Storyline under wraps Studio/ Distributor: Paramount Pictures, MGM Studios Financer: Skydance Productions Production Company: Hasbro Inc., Di Bonaventura PIctures Producers: Bennett Schneir, Brian Goldner, Lorenzo di Bonaventura Writer: Jonathan Lemkin Cast: Dwayne Johnson Director: D.J. Caruso SSN Insight: Caruso would be taking over the franchise from previous director, John Chu, who left to direct Jem and the Holograms for Universal.
Ben-Hur 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: MGM Studios, Paramount Pictures Production Company: The Sean Daniel Company, Mark Burnett Productions, Point Blank Productions Producers: Sean Daniel, Joni Levin, Mark Burnett Writer: John Ridley Cast: Rodrigo Santoro, Jack Houston, Nazanin Boniadi, Morgan Freeman, Toby Kebbell, Pedro Pascal, Sofia Black-D’Elia Director: Timur Bekmambetov SSN Insight: The casting of this film is finally coming together despite a lot of turmoil; 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. Olivia Cooke was previously in talks for the role of Tirzah, ultimately played by Sofia Black-D'Elia.
Strangers Logline:When an A-list movie star's private plane breaks down, he is given a lift back to Los Angeles by a wealthy stranger on a different private jet. Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures Production Company: Pearl Street Films Producers: Ben Affleck Writer: Gillian Flynn Cast: Ben Affleck Director: David Fincher SSN Insight: This Strangers on a Train (Hitchcock) remake finally comes together again with the new package of Ben Affleck, David Fincher and Gone Girl novelist, Gillian Flynn to adapt. Project was previously set up with the Kopelsons producing and Noam Murro directing.
Girl on a Train Logline:A young woman witnesses something on her daily commute that gets her involved in a murder investigation. Studio/ Distributor: Dreamworks Studios Production Company: Marc Platt Productions Producers: Marc Platt Writer: Erin Cressida Wilson SSN Insight: The Secretarywriter is said to be delivering her first draft soon to the studio who acquired the Paula Hawkins novel last March.
NEW PROJECTS
American Drug Lord Logline:Based on the story of Edgar Valdez, a high school football player from Texas who would become the only US citizen to become a drug cartel leader in Mexico. Studio/ Distributor: Legendary Entertainment Production Company: Legendary Entertainment, Plan B Entertainment Producers: Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner Writers: Jason Hall Cast: Charlie Hunnam SSN Insight: Legendary acquired this 2011 Rolling Stone article as a staring vehicle for Hunnam.
Escape From New York Remake Logline: Convict Snake Plissken is sent in to the inescapable maximum security prison known as Manhattan to rescue the president. Studio/Distributor: 20th Century Fox Production Company: The Picture Company Producers: Andrew Rona, Alex Heineman SSN Insight: Fox recently bought the rights to attempt this remake after the project failed at Studio Canal with Joel Silver producing and New Line with Original Film producing.
Baby Driver Logline: A young getaway driver who relies on his own beat to be the best in the game, is coerced into working for a crime boss and must face the music when a doomed heist threatens his life, love and freedom. Studio/ Distributor: TriStar Productions, Sony Pictures Production Company: Working Title Films, Big Talk Productions, Media Rights Capital Producers: Nira Park, Eric Fellner Tim Bevan, Writer: Edgar Wright Cast: Ansel Elgort Director: Edgar Wright SSN Insight: Wright recently dropped out of Marvel’s Ant – Man, which gave him reason to get Baby Driver off the ground. Both Rothman and Working Title have long-standing relationships with Wright so the team makes sense.
Dirty Rush Logline: Life in a sorority house is seen through the eyes of freshman Taylor Bell. Studio/ Distributor: TriStar Productions, Sony Pictures Production Company: Brownstone Productions Producers: Elizabeth Banks, Max Handelman Notes: Based on the novel "Dirty Rush" written by Taylor Bell, a pseudonym for Tanner Cohen and David Oliver Cohen, and published by S&S division of Gallery Books in January, 2015. SSN Insight: Rothman’s TriStar Productions won out in a competitive situation to acquire the rights to this comic novel which Pitch Perfect duo Banks and Handelman are attached to produce.