NEW ATTACHMENTS
Where’d You Go Bernadette Logline: A mother goes missing and her teen daughter tries to put the pieces together to find her. Production Company: Annapurna Pictures, Color Force Producers: Megan Ellison, Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson Writer: Scott Neustadter and Michael H Weber Director: Richard Linklater Notes: Based on the book "Where Did You Go Bernadette," written by Maria Semple and published by Little, Brown and Company on August 14, 2012. SSN Insight: Annapurna bought the book for a reported $200,000 against $500,000.
Tomb Raider (Reboot) Logline: The adventures of a younger Lara Croft, a beautiful antiquity hunter-for-hire, who goes out on her first adventure. Studio/ Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures, MGM Production Company: GK Films Producers: Graham King Writer: Evan Daugherty SSN Insight: Warner Bros. signs on to co-finance and co-produce the project with MGM and will distribute. Project is on the fast track and there is said to be progress to production language in the rights deal with the video game company, Square Enix. X-Men: Apocalypse Logline: In 1983, ten years after Wolverine traveled to the past to prevent a bleak future, the X-Men team up with Cyclops, Storm, and Jean in a battle to stop an unprecedented apocalypse by an ancient enemy. Studio/ Distributor: 20th Century Fox Production Company: Bad Hat Harry Productions Donners’ Company, Marvel Entertainment, Genre Films, Hutch Parker Entertainment Producers: Lauren Shuler Donner, Hutch Parker, Bryan Singer, Simon Kinberg Writer: Simon Kinberg Director: Bryan Singer Cast: Ben Hardy, Kodit Smit-McPhee, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Hugh Jackman, Nicholas Hoult, Oscar Isaac, Alexandra Shipp, Sophie Turner Tye Sheridan, Rose Byrne SSN Insight: X-Men Apocalypse continues to round out its cast as it barrels towards its production start in April. Ben Hardy stars in the UK series, EastEnders, and was said to have originally tested for the role of Cyclops, which ultimately went to Tye Sheridan, and was now cast in an undisclosed role. The Lego Movie (Sequel) Logline: The story about Lego figures who join forces against a wicked Lego despot continues. Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures Production Company: Lin Pictures, Vertigo Entertainment, Lego Group, Animal Logic Producers: Dan Lin, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, Roy Lee Writer: Phil Lord and Christopher Miller Director: Rob Schrab SSN Insight: Schrab together with his writing partner, Dan Harmon, is no stranger to family animation, having written on Sony’s motion-capture film Monster House, but has since stuck to television writing, directing and exec producing The Sarah Silverman Show. The Huntsman Logline: Tells the story of how The Huntsman, Eric meets Ravenna before either meets Snow White. Studio/ Distributor: Universal Pictures Production Company: Roth Films Producers: Joe Roth, Palak Patel Writer: Evan Spiliotopoulos Director: Cedric Nicolas-Troyan Cast: Jessica Chastain, Chris Hemsworth, Charlize Theron, Emily Blunt, Nick Frost
Winters Knight Logline: The film takes a new look at the origins of Christmas and Saint Nicholas, with some Viking mythology in the mix. Studio/ Distributor: Columbia Pictures Production Company: Grey Matter Productions, Marc Platt Productions Producers: Lawrence Grey, Marc Platt Writer: Patrick McKay and JD Payne Director: Joachim Ronning, Espen Sandberg Notes: Based on the children's book "The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus" by L. Frank Baum; published by Bowen Merrill April 12, 1902 SSN Insight: The spec created a bidding battle between studios for the project due to the concept and the fact that Ronning and Sandberg were attached to direct. Sony won the bidding war for a reported $1M sale. It was the highest spec sale so far in 2014.
Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates Logline: Two hard-partying brothers try to get dates for a wedding by placing an ad on Craigslist. Studio/ Distributor: 20th Century Fox Production Company: Chernin Entertainment Producers: Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping, David Ready, Jonathan Levine Writer: Andy Cohen and Brendon O’Brien Director: Jake Szymanski Cast: Adam DeVine, Zac Efron Notes: A book, "Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates…and a Thousand Cocktails" written by Mike and Dave Stangle will be published by Gallery Books on May 19, 2015. SSN Insight: DeVine is a star on the rise. He returns for Pitch Perfect 2, out in May, and he has two other movies in the can: The Intern, Nancy Meyers' workplace comedy from Warners, and The Final Girls, a horror-comedy from Sony that will premiere at SXSW.
NEW PROJECTS
The House Logline: A married couple loses their daughters college fund and teams up with their neighbors to start an illegal casino in their basement to earn back the cash. Studio/ Distributor: New Line Cinema Production Companies: Gary Sanchez Productions, Good Universe Producers: Will Ferrell, Adam McKay Writers: Andrew J. Cohen and Brendan O’Brien Director: Andrew J. Cohen Cast: Will Ferrell SSN Insight: New Line is said to be moving fast with the project, aiming for an August shoot. Andrew Cohen, the writer, will also make his feature directorial debut on the project, having previously made short fllms and Funny or Die sketches. I Was Here Logline: After her best friend Meg commits suicide, teenage Cody goes on a brave and dangerous journey from Meg’s dorm and clubs in Seattle to the Nevada desert, and the darkest parts of mind. Studio/ Distributor: New Line Cinema Notes: Based on the YA novel "I Was Here" written by Gayle Forman and published by Viking/the Penguin Group on January 27, 2015. SSN Insight: New Line also made Forman’s novel If I Stay into a movie last year, which grossed $78 million worldwide.
Untitled Drybar Project Logline: Although she had no business experience, hair stylist Alli Webb, with the help of her brother Michael Landau, created the successful DryBar franchise. Studio/ Distributor: Universal Pictures Production Companies: Sunswept Entertainment Producers: Karen Rosenfelt Notes: Universal Pictures has optioned the life rights for siblings Alli Webb and Michael Landau, co-founders of Drybar SSN Insight: Webb founded Drybar in 2010 after spending 15 years as a professional stylist. She had attended the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale and began her career in fashion in New York City in the early ’90s working for designer Nicole Miller. She left fashion retailing in 1996 to pursue her true passion of hairstyling. Sniper Elite Logline: The Pentagon creates a team of elite former Special Forces operators, led by Navy SEAL sniper Gil Shannon to find a nuclear suitcase and the man who intends to detonate it. Studio/ Distributor: Columbia Pictures Production Companies: Misher Films, Ombra Films, Apartment 3B Productions Producers: Kevin Misher, Jennifer Klein, Jaume Collet-Serra, Juan Sola Writer: Sheldon Turner Director: Jaume Collet-Serra Notes: Based on the "Sniper Elite" novel series written by Scott McEwen with Thomas Koloniar, and published by Simon & Schuster in 2013, 2014 and 2015. SSN Insight: Columbia acquired the property for a high-six against seven-figure deal. Untitled Kung Fu Space Western Logline: The leader of a ragtag group of rebel bandits battles a legendary villain over the fate of the galaxy. Production Companies: Reel FX, Chatrone Producers: Brad Booker, Jorge Gutierrez Writer: Jorge Gutierrez, Doug Langdale Director: Jorge Gutierrez SSN Insight: Hot on the heels of their success with The Book of Life, Reel FX Animation Studios has entered into a multi-year, multi-picture deal with the film’s writer and director, Jorge R. Gutierrez, starting with this first project. Untitled Thomas Edison Biopic Logline: The legendary inventor Thomas Edison is portrayed as a rugged and eccentric genius in this biopic. Studio/ Distributor: Paramount Pictures Production Companies: Bad Robot Producers: J.J. Abrams, Bryan Burk SSN Insight: The Weinstein Company is also developing its own Edison movie, The Current War, which Ben Stiller was previously in talks to direct.