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Ali & Nino 2/23/2015 Logline: The novel is set in WWI on the eve of the Bolshevik Revolution and the beginnings of the Soviet Union. It’s the love story between Ali Khan Shirvanshir, the male descendant of a royal Muslim family and Nino Kipiani, a beautiful, Christian, Georgian princess. Production Company: Archery Pictures Director(s): Asif Kapadia Executive Producer(s): Leyla Aliyeva Producer(s): Kris Thykier, Diana Phillips Cast: Adam Bakri, Maria Valverde, Mandy Patinkin, Connie Nielsen, Riccardo Scamarcio Writer(s): Christopher Hampton Details: Based on the book "Ali & Nino" written by an author using the pseudonym Kurban Said and first published in German in 1937. The book was reissued in English by Overlook/Penguin in July 1996. SSN Insight: Alicia Vikander was previously attached to star. Kapadia previously directed Senna (2010), the highest grossing U.K. documentary of all time, for which he won a BAFTA award.
Arms and the Dudes 3/2/2015 Logline: Based on a Rolling Stone article about two stoners who became mega arms dealers. Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures Production Companies: Mark Gordon Company, S/Z Pictures, Unnamed Todd Phillips and Bradley Cooper Production Company Director(s): Todd Phillips Executive Producer(s): Bryan Zuriff Producer(s): Todd Phillips, Bradley Cooper, Scott Budnick, Mark R. Gordon Cast: Jonah Hill, Miles Teller, Ana de Armas Writer(s): Jason Smilovic, Todd Phillips, Stephen Chin Details: Based on the Rolling Stone magazine article "Arms and the Dudes" by Guy Lawson, published March 31, 2011. SSN Insight: Jesse Eisenberg and Shia LaBeouf were previously attached to star. Chris Pratt was previously mentioned as one of the stars.
February 2/25/2015 Logline: An unidentified young woman makes a pilgrimage to the site of a demonic possession at an all-girls boarding school in the dead of winter. Production Companies: 120db Films, Zed Filmworks, Paris Film, Inc., Unbroken Pictures, The Traveling Picture Show Company, Go Insane Director(s): Oz Perkins Executive Producer(s): Carissa Buffel-Matusow, Kevin J Matusow, Peter Graham, Stephen Hays, Arianne Fraser Producer(s): Bryan Bertino, Adrienne Biddle, Rob Paris, Robert Menzies, Alphonse Ghossein Cast: Kiernan Shipka, Emma Roberts, Lucy Boynton, James Remar, Lauren Holly Writer(s): Oz Perkins SSN Insight: Project was previously in development at Revolver Picture Company with Nick Phillips and Kelly Wagner attached to produce.
Knights Of The Roundtable: King Arthur 3/2/2015 Logline: A young Arthur must train for battle as he discovers his destiny in this origin story to the legend of King Arthur. Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures Production Companies: Weed Road Pictures, Safehouse Pictures Director(s): Guy Ritchie Executive Producer(s): No Executive Producer Available. Producer(s): Akiva Goldsman, Joby Harold, Tory Tunnell, Lionel Wigram Cast: Charlie Hunnam, Astrid Berges-Frisbey, Jude Law, Djimon Hounsou, Eric Bana Writer(s): Joby Harold SSN Insight: Guy Ritchie plans to retell the Arthur legend through a franchise that spans six films. Idris Elba was previously attached as a member of the cast.
Money Monster 2/26/2015 Logline: After a man loses all his money in the stock market by following the advice of a Wall Street TV host, he takes the money adviser hostage on live television. Studio: TriStar Productions Production Companies: Smokehouse Pictures, The Allegiance Theater Director(s): Jodie Foster Executive Producer(s): Timothy Crane Producer(s): Daniel Dubiecki, Lara Alameddine, George Clooney, Grant Heslov Cast: George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Jack O'Connell, Caitriona Balfe, Dominic West Writer(s): Jamie Linden, Jim Kouf, Alan DiFiore SSN Insight: IM Global was previously attached to finance with Stuart Ford attached as a producer. Screenplay was included in the 2014 Black List.
The Free State of Jones 3/2/2015 Logline: The true story of Newton Knight, a soldier for the Confederacy during the Civil War who became disillusioned with the South's cause, fled the battlefield, rallied supporters, and declared a safe haven in an area of southeastern Mississippi in opposition to the Confederacy. Studio: STX Production Companies: Larger Than Life Productions, Bluegrass Films Director(s): Gary Ross Producer(s): Gary Ross, Jon Kilik, Scott Stuber, Robert Simonds, Allison Thomas Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Keri Russell, Mahershala Ali Writer(s): Gary Ross SSN Insight: Previously in development at Universal Pictures. Mini-studio STX will co-finance and distribute the film. Per Deadline, STX was in talks to fund up to $20 million of the film’s $65 million budget. This is the first production on STX’s slate which includes Russ & Roger Go Beyond. The film was also chosen by SSN as one of bankable films this year at AFM, which you can read about here. IM Global handled international rights at AFM and closed deals with significant distributors including Studiocanal in the UK and Australia, Metropolitan in France, Leda Films in Latin America, Joy n Contents in Korea and Thailand.
Russ & Roger Go Beyond 3/1/2015 Logline: This is the story of the collaboration between provocative filmmaker Russ Meyer and film critic Roger Ebert while they made "Beyond the Valley of the Dolls." Studio: STX Production Companies: Permut Presentations, Sobini Films, Chautauqua Entertainment Executive Producer(s): Chris Mangano Producer(s): Mark Amin, David Permut, Richard Waltzer, Cami Winikoff, Tyler Boehm Cast: Will Ferrell Writer(s): Chris Cluess SSN Insight: STX has plans to finance, produce, and distribute 8 to 10 star-driven, theatrical films in the $20 million to $60 million budget range per year for the global market. The studio has direct distribution agreements with theater chains AMC Theatres, Regal Entertainment Group, Cinemark, and Carmike, as well as a strategic partnership with China-based Shanghai Media Group.
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Fan 2/27/2015 Logline: The storyline about a fan is under wraps. Production Company: Yash Raj Films (YRF) Director(s): Maneesh Sharma Producer(s): Aditya Chopra Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Ileana D'Cruz Writer(s): Habib Faisal SSN Insight: "Fan" is Shah Rukh Khan’s first film with Yash Raj Films since the passing of producer, director, and company founder Yash Chopra in 2012. Shah Rukh Khan plays double roles in the film, that of a wealthy and successful movie star, and a much less-fortunate, though identical, look-a-like fan. Khan previously played double roles in "Duplicate" (India/1998).
Kickboxer 2/25/2015 Logline: A man swears revenge after his older brother, who was world kickboxing champion, is crippled by a dirty fighter. Production Company: Radar Pictures Director(s): John Stockwell Executive Producer(s): Mike Weber, Peter Meyer, Brian O'Shea, Nathaniel McCormick, Jeff Bowler Producer(s): Dimitri Logothetis, Ted Field, Nick Celozzi Cast: Georges St. Pierre, Dave Bautista, Alain Moussi, Scott Adkins, Jean-Claude van Damme Writer(s): Jim McGrath, Dimitri Logothetis Details: Based on the film "Kickboxer" (1988) directed by David Worth, Mark DiSalle and Jean-Claude van Damme, and starring Jean-Claude van Damme. SSN Insight: Tony Jaa was previously attached, but was replaced by Jean-Claude Van Damme due to scheduling conflicts. Stephen Fung was previously attached to direct. The film will feature stars with more than 20 martial arts disciplines under their belt.
The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving 2/28/2015 Logline: After a man who's life is turned upside trains to become a caregiver, he is assigned to an ailing teen and realizes he's in over his head. The two of them go on a life-changing road trip that binds them together. Production Companies: Worldwide Pants Incorporated, B&B Productions, Battle Plan Productions, Levantine Films Director(s): Rob Burnett Producer(s): Donna Gigliotti, James Spies, Rob Burnett, Jon Beckerman Cast: Paul Rudd, Selena Gomez, Craig Roberts Writer(s): Rob Burnett Details: Based on the novel "The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving," written by Jonathan Evison and published by Algonquin Books on August 28, 2012. SSN Insight: Filming took place in Atlanta. Gomez’s previous indie credits include Harmony Korine’s provocative Spring Breakers and William H. Macy’s directorial debut Rudderless, which premiered last year at Sundance.The Trust 2/27/2015 Logline: Two corrupt cops find a mysterious vault while investigating a drug operation and things get complicated when they decide to rob it. Production Company: Hassell Free Productions Director(s): Alex Brewer, Ben Brewer Executive Producer(s): Michael Nilon, Arianne Fraser, Delphine Perrier, Julie Kroll Producer(s): Molly Hassell, Braxton Pope Cast: Nicolas Cage, Elijah Wood, Sky Ferreira Writer(s): Ben Brewer, Adam Hirsch SSN Insight: Jack Huston was previously attached to the role played by Elijah Wood.