NEW ATTACHMENTS
Independence Day 2 Logline: Enemy aliens return to Earth Studio: 20th Century Fox Production Company: Centropolis Entertainment, Electric Entertainment Producers: Dean Devin, Roland Emmerich, Harald Kloser Writer: Carter Blanchard Director: Roland Emmerich Cast: Travis Tope, Jessie Usher, Bill Pullman, Jeff Goldblum, Michael B. Jordan, Liam Hemsworth SSN Insight: The Boardwalk Empire actor is the latest to join the cast of the film which starts production in May. Ready Player One Logline: In a virtual world called Oasis, a teenager finds himself competing in a treasure hunt against ruthless foes after the game's founder dies and offers his fortune as the grand prize. Studio/ Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures, Village Roadshow Pictures Production Company: De Line Pictures, Farah Films & Management Producers: Steven Spielberg, Donald De Line, Dan Farah, Kristie Macosko Krieger Writer: Zak Penn Director: Steven Spielberg Notes: Based on the novel "Ready Player One" written by Ernie Cline and published by Random House on August 16, 2011. SSN Insight: Spielberg was no doubt attracted to the project’s ingenuity such as the innovative technology that will be needed to bring to life the films’ virtual world. A Star is Born (Remake) Logline: A young singer marries a fading rock star man and her career flourishes, while his crumbles. Studio/ Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures Production Company: Thunder Road Pictures, Malpaso Productions, Gerber Pictures, 22 Green Producers: Basil Iwanyk, Jon Peters, Bill Gerber, Clint Eastwood, Todd Phillips, Bradley Cooper Writer: Will Fetters Director: Bradley Copper Cast: Bradley Cooper SSN Insight: The remake has been in development at the studio for many years, dating back to a time when Jon Peters was producing and Joel Schumacher was directing. Clint Eastwood and Beyonce were also once attached to direct and star.
Morningstar Logline: Storyline of the Cold War thriller is under wraps. Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures Production Company: Quadrant Pictures, Madhouse Entertainment Producers: Doug Davison, Adam Kolbrenner, Robyn Meisinger Director: Daniel Espinosa Writer: David Birke
In the Deep Logline: A young woman who has recently lost her mother is surfing in an isolated area when she gets stranded on a buoy, and a gigantic great white shark is between her and the shore. Studio/ Distributor: Columbia Pictures Production Company: Weimaraner Republic Pictures Producers: Lynn Harris, Matti Leshem Writer: Anthony Jaswinski Director: Louis Leterrier SSN Insight: Screenplay was included in the 2014 Hit List. Colulmbia Pictures won the active bidding battle set at high-six figures for the spec script by Tony Jaswinski.
Avengers Infinity War Parts 1 & 2 Logline: Storyline is under wraps. Studio/ Distributor: Walt Disney Pictures Production Companies: Marvel Entertainment Producers: Kevin Feige Directors: Joe and Anthony Russo SSN Insight: Both Avengers: Infinity War Part 1 and Avengers: Infinity War Part 2 will be shot back-to-back in 2016. The Russo Brothers are taking over the franchise from previous director Joss Whedon.
Rings Logline: A group of high school students have to find someone to watch an evil videotape or else they'll all die. Studio/ Distributor: Paramount Pictures Production Companies: Parkes + MacDonald Image Nation, Benderspink, Macari/ Edelstein, Vertigo Producers: Walter F. Parkes, Laurie MacDonald Writer: Akiva Goldsman Director: F. Javier Gutierrez Cast: Alex Roe, Matilda Lutz Notes: Second sequel to The Ring (USA/2002) directed by Gore Verbinski and starring Naomi Watts, and remake of short film Rings (USA/2005) directed by Jonathan Liebesman. SSN Insight: Roe is a teen star on the rise, having just wrapped production on the YA film 5th Wave for Sony Pictures.
Robotech Logline: When an alien spacecraft crashes in the South Pacific, the people of Earth develop giant robots from the alien technology in order to fend off a wave of alien invasions. Studio/ Distributor: Columbia Pictures Production Companies: Hollywood Gang Productions, Atmosphere Entertainment Producers: Gianni Nunnari, Mark Canton Writer: Michael Gordon Notes: Based on the 85-episode television series "Robotech" produced by Harmony Gold USA, in association with Tatsunoko, and aired from March to July of 1985. The episodes were edited from the original Japanese anime series. SSN Insight: Project was previously set up at Warner Bros. in development at Weed Road, Material Pictures and Supercool Hollywood Big Time Productions with Tobey Maguire attached to star, Akiva Goldsman, Tobey Maguire, Matthew Plouffe, Joby Harold and Tory Tunnell attached to produce, Jason Netter and Frank Agrama attached to executive produce and drafts by Craig Silverstein, Alfred Gough, Miles Millar, S. Craig Zahler, Lawrence Kasdan and Tom Rob Smith. It’s What I Do Logline: The true story of Lynsey Addario, Pulitizer Prize-winning journalist who has covered stories in the most dangerous places in the world, is recounted. Studio/ Distributor: Warner Bros.Pictures Production Company: Mad Chance Productions Producers: Andrew Lazar, Wynn Wygal Writer: Peter Craig Director: Steven Spielberg Cast: Jennifer Lawrence Notes: Based on the memoir "It’s What I Do: A Photographer’s Life of Love and War" written by Linsey Addario and published by The Penguin Press in 2015. SSN Insight: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay scribe has re-teamed with Jennifer Lawrence on her new war drama.
Boston Strong Logline: The reaction of the city of Boston to the fatal attacks at the Boston Marathon and the hunt for the brothers suspected of the bombings is dramatized. Studio/ Distributor: 20th Century Fox Production Company: Hutch Parker Productions Producers: Hutch Parker, Dorothy Aufiero Writer: Josh Zetumer Director: Daniel Espinosa Notes: Based on the book "Boston Strong" written by Casey Sherman and Dave Wedge and to be published by University Press of New England in 2014. SSN Insight: The Fighter writers Eric Johnson and Paul Tamasy wrote the previous draft of the screenplay that piqued Fox's interest enough to bite. The studio is now turning to Zetumer, who is already working with Fox on X-Men spinoff Gambit to pen the rewrite.
NEW PROJECTS
Alien Nation Logline: A re-imagining of the original 1988 film, in which a human police officer partners with an alien to prevent an evil presence from taking over the world. Studio/ Distributor: 20th Century Fox Writers: Art Marcum, Matt Halloway SSN Insight: The project is in the nascent stages and no producer is yet attached, but the studio is said to be imagining a franchise ala Planet of the Apes. The Billion Brick Race Logline: U.S. and Chinese investigators team up to investigate a car smuggling ring in the South China sea, and the operation causes unexpected and violent results. Studio/ Distributor: Warner Bros. Producers: Phil Lord, Chris Miller, Dan Lin, Roy Lee Writer: Jason Segel, Drew Pearce Director: Jason Segel, Drew Pearce SSN Insight: This film only further extends the Lego franchise as the studio plans Billion Brick Race as a fourth in the franchise, following the three previously announced films.
Substitute Teacher Logline: Storyline under wraps. Studio/ Distributor: Paramount PIctures Production Companies: 21 Laps, Entertainment Principato-Young Entertainment Producers: Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele, Shawn Levy, Dan Levine, Peter Principato, Paul Young, Joel Zadak Writer: Rich Talarico, Alex Rubens Cast: Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele SSN Insight: Substitute Teacher is a popular skit from the sketch show Key & Peele on Paramount’s sibling cable channel, Comedy Central. Paramount seized the opportunity to give it a feature version after hearing a pitch from Key & Peele co-producers, Talarico and Rubens. Realm Logline: A young woman has the ability to enter the souls of those possessed, but is better at fighting the demons of others than the ones in her real world. Studio/ Distributor: Relativity Media Production Companies: Mad Horse Films Producers: John Swetnam, Scott Speer Writer: Rebecca Sonnenshine Director: Scott Speer Notes: Based on the film short, “Realm,” directed by Scott Speer. SSN Insight: Relativity was slipped the script based on the short just as it was gaining momentum on the web. Beautiful: The Carole King Musical Logline: The stories of pop singer-songwriter Carole King’s life and career are recounted in this musical film. Studio/ Distributor: Columbia Pictures Production Companies: Playtone, Evolution Music Partners Producers: Tom Hanks, Gary Goetzman, Paul Blake Notes: Based on the Broadway play "Beautiful: The Carole King Musical" written by Douglas McGrath and first performed on November 21, 2013. SSN Insight: Sony Pictures has obtained the rights to use King’s songs, as well as life rights from King and others featured in the show. Verona Logline: A retelling of the tragic love affair of the star-crossed teenagers. Studio/ Distributor: Columbia PIctures Production Company: Roth Films Producers: Joe Roth, Palak Patel Writer: Neil Widener, Gavin James SSN Insight: Sony snagged the rights to the spec script in a competitive situation and is said to be re-imagining the classic tale in a 300 -style visual way. Chrononauts Logline: An adventure about the first duo of scientists who travel back through time. Studio/ Distributor: Universal Pictures Production Companies: Chris Morgan Productions Producers: Chris Morgan, Mark Millar (EP) Notes: Based on the comic book "Chrononauts" by Mark Millar and Sean Gordon Murphy, the first issue of which was published by Image Comics in March, 2015. SSN Insight: Millar is one of the industry’s biggest comic book creators, including Civil War, the basis for the upcoming Captain America: Civil War, before departing to form Millarworld, where his creator-owned titles have been adapted into hit films for Universal and others.
Taking Flight Logline: Michaela DePrince, who was an orphan in war-torn Sierra Leone, overcame huge odds to become a world-famous ballerina. Studio/ Distributor: MGM Studios Production Companies: Alloy Entertainment Producers: Elysa Dutton, Leslie Morgenstein Notes: Based on the memoir "Taking Flight: From War Orphan to Star Ballerina" written by Michaela DePrince with Elaine DePrince and published by Knopf Books for Young Readers in 2014. SSN Insight: The inspiring true story is one that also was featured in the Sundance Selects 2012 documentary, First Position.
The Nightingale Logline: Two French sisters who live in France are followed throughout WWII. One becomes a prisoner in her own home and the other fights for the resistance. Studio/ Distributor: Tristar Productions Production Companies: The Cantillon Company Producers: Elizabeth Cantillon Notes: Based on the novel "The Nightingale" written by Kristin Hannah and published by St. Martin's Press on February 3, 2015. SSN Insight: The book has become a breakout hit, remaining on the New York Times Top 10 hardcover fiction bestseller list for the past six weeks.