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Extraction 2/15/2015 Logline: A widowed former CIA operative and his son, a young agent following in his father's footsteps, are developing a super-weapon, and when the father is kidnapped the son leads a rogue rescue effort that uncovers deep secrets. Production Companies: Emmett/Furla/Oasis Films, Aperture Entertainment Director: Steven C. Miller Producer(s): Randall Emmett, George Furla, Adam Goldworm Cast: Bruce Willis Writer(s): Umair Aleem SSN Insight: Shooting commences in Alabama. Lionsgate/Grindstone through its multi-picture distribution deal will release the film domestically with Highland Film Group set to sell international rights in Berlin. This film marks the seventh film Willis has made with Emmett/Furla/Oasis Films.
Five Minutes to Live (Remake) 2/15/2015 Logline: Two hardened thieves team up to kidnap a bank executive's wife and demand a hefty ransom for her return. Production Companies: Hannibal Pictures, Patriot Pictures LLC, Nasser Entertainment Director: Chuck Russell Producer(s): Joseph Nasser, Michael Mendelsohn, Richard Rionda Del Castro Cast: Wesley Snipes Writer(s): Raul Sanchez Inglis, Chuck Russell Details: Remake of "Five Minutes to Live" (1961) directed by Bill Karn and co-starring Johnny Cash. The film was re-released in 1966 under the title "Door-to-Door Maniac." SSN Insight: Jan De Bont was previously attached to direct.
Joy 2/16/2015 Logline: A housewife, struggling to make ends meet, invents a mop that changes her life and makes her a millionaire. Based on a true story. Studio: Fox 2000 Production Company: Davis Entertainment Director: David O. Russell Producer(s): John Davis, John Fox, Ken Mok Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Édgar RamÃrez Writer(s): David O. Russell, Annie Mumolo Details: Based on the true story of Joy Mangano, the inventor of the Miracle Mop. SSN Insight: The film’s release is set for Christmas Day, 2015, and Russell’s films have had luck in winter with Silver Linings Playbook’s release November 16 2012 and American Hustle’s release in December 13 2013. Next up for Russell is the release of Accidental Love starring Jake Gyllenhaal set for a March 20 release.
The Danish Girl 2/9/2015 Logline: A man finds an alter ego when he puts on a dress to pose for his artist wife. Before long, however, they both realize their marriage is in trouble. Studio: Working Title Films Production Companies: Pretty Pictures, Harrison Productions Director: Tom Hooper Producer(s): Gail Mutrux, Anne Harrison, Linda Reisman, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner Cast: Eddie Redmayne, Alicia Vikander, Amber Heard, Matthias Schoenaerts Writer(s): Lucinda Coxon Details: Based on the book “The Danish Girl” written by David Ebershoff published by Viking February 7, 2000. SSN Insight: This project was previously set to start shooting on February 2. Lasse Hallstrom, Tomas Alfredson, Neil LaBute and Anand Tucker were all previously attached to direct. Rachel Weisz, Charlize Theron, and Gwyneth Paltrow were all previously attached to the role of Greta Wegener.
Untitled (Oliver Stone/Edward Snowden Project) 2/16/2015 Logline: The story of Edward Snowden is told. Snowden made thousands of classified documents public while working at the US National Security Agency. Production Companies: Ixtlan Inc., Onda Entertainment Director: Oliver Stone Producer(s): Oliver Stone, Moritz Borman, Eric Kopeloff Cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Shailene Woodley, Scott Eastwood, Melissa Leo, Zachary Quinto Writer(s): Oliver Stone Details: Based on the books "The Snowden Files: The Inside Story of the World’s Most Wanted Man" written by Luke Harding and published by Vintage on February 7, 2014 and "Time of the Octopus" written by Snowden's Russian attorney Anatoly Kucherena and to be published soon. SSN Insight: In November, Open Road and Endgame acquired domestic rights. Clint Eastwood’s son Scott has previously acted in his father’s Gran Torino and Flags Of Our Fathers. The Nicholas Sparks adaptation, The Longest Ride by Fox, marks his first studio starring role.
Wake 2/16/2015 Logline: A crew of ruthless criminals meets its match when it finds a sociopathic killer is among its hostages. Production Companies: DMG Entertainment, Circle of Confusion, Slingshot (UK), Benaroya Pictures Director: John Pogue Executive Producer(s): Stephen Emery, Chris Fenton, Arvind Ethan David Producer(s): Michael Benaroya, Tobin Armbrust, David Alpert, Chris Cowles Cast: Bruce Willis, Ben Kingsley Writer(s): John Pogue, Matthew Sand, Chris Borrelli SSN Insight: Kasper Barfoed was previously attached to direct. Mikael Hafstrom was previously attached to direct. Project was previously in development at Exclusive Media & Hammer Films. CAA is repping domestic rights while International Film Trust is handling international rights in Berlin.
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A Monster Calls 2/14/2015 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: River Road Entertainment, Participant Media, Apaches Entertainment Director: J. A. Bayona Executive Producer(s): Bill Pohlad, Jeff Skoll, Mitch Horwits, Jonathan King, Patrick Wachsberger Producer(s): Belén Atienza Cast: Felicity Jones, Toby Kebbell, Liam Neeson, Sigourney Weaver, Lewis MacDougall Writer(s): Patrick Ness SSN Insight: Focus Features is committing $20 million in P&A to release. 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. Screenplay was included in the 2013 Black List.
Belgica 2/10/2015 Logline: Two brothers who open a bar get caught up in its success in the Belgian nightlife scene. Production Companies: Pyramide Productions, Menuet , Topkapi Films Director: Felix van Groeningen Producer(s): Dirk Impens Cast: Stef Aerts, Tom Vermeir, Charlotte Vandermeersch Writer(s): Felix van Groeningen, Arne Sierens SSN Insight: Matthias Schoenaert was previously attached to co-star.
Elvis & Nixon 2/12/2015 Logline: Story of Elvis Presley's visit with Richard Nixon at the White House on December 21, 1970. Production Companies: Holly Wiersma Productions, Elevated Film Sales Director: Liza Johnson Executive Producer(s): Byron Wetzel, Robert Ogden Barnum, Jerry Schilling, David Hansen, Johnny Mac Producer(s): Cassian Elwes, Holly Wiersma Cast: Kevin Spacey, Michael Shannon, Luke Wilson, Kevin Connolly, Evan Peters Writer(s): Jason Micallef, Cary Elwes, Joseph Sagal, Hanala Sagal SSN Insight: Eric Bana was previously in negotiations to play Elvis Presley. Emma Roberts was previously in negotiations to play Margaret. Danny Huston was previously attached to star. The film was featured in SSN’s list of the most bankable films at AFM, click here to read more.
Geostorm 2/10/2015 Logline: When the world's climate-controlling satellites stop working, a satellite designer and his estranged brother must travel to space and work together to save the planet from total destruction. Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures Production Companies: Electric Entertainment, Skydance Productions Director: Dean Devlin No Executive Producer Available. Producer(s): Dean Devlin, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Marc Roskin, Rachel Olschan Cast: Gerard Butler, Abbie Cornish, Andy Garcia, Katheryn Winnick, Jim Sturgess Kieran Mulroney, Michele Mulroney, Dean Devlin, Paul Guyot SSN Insight: Skydance Productions bought the spec script by Dean Devlin and Paul Guyot for a reported seven figures. Project was previously in development at Paramount. Project marks writer, producer and director Dean Devlin’s feature directorial debut.
Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials 2/15/2015 Logline: After a group of teenagers escape from a mysterious maze, they face even more danger out in the open on a devastated planet. Studio: 20th Century Fox Production Companies: Gotham/Principal, Temple Hill Entertainment Director: Wes Ball No Executive Producer Available. Producer(s): Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, Lee Stollman, Wyck Godfrey, Marty Bowen, Joe Hartwick Jr. Cast: Dylan O'Brien, Aidan Gillen, Rosa Salazar, Kaya Scodelario, Dexter Darden Writer(s): T.S. Nowlin Details: Based on "The Scorch Trials," the second novel in the young-adult science fiction trilogy written by James Dashner and published by Delacorte Press in 2010. Sequel to "The Maze Runner" (2014), also directed by Wes Ball and starring Dylan O'Brien and Kaya Scodelario. SSN Insight: Director Wes Ball and screenwriter T.S. Nowlin are collaborating on “Ruin,” a post-apocalyptic live-action science-fiction feature currently in active development at 20th Century Fox, based on Ball’s acclaimed 2011 animated short of the same name.