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Governor Susana Martinez signed a bill today that will allow production companies to pre-assign their tax rebates to third parties. Unlike many states that require producers to sell their credits at a discount, New Mexico provides a direct cash rebate, and the ability to pre-assign the earned rebate is expected to benefit independent producers seeking financing for their projects. It goes into effect January 1st.
(DH)
Universal chairman Donna Langley said in 2014 that the studio would like to make 10 films, and according to multiple sources, that remains the plan. But as of now, there is no writer in place,
Furious 7 director James Wan will almost certainly not return after the grueling shoot for this movie, and many of the cast members have contract situations in a state of flux.
(THR)
Chris Cooper has joined the cast, as well as Sarah Gadon, Cherry Jones, Daniel Webber, George MacKay, Lucy Fry and Leon Rippy. James Franco is already on board as the lead, playing Jake Epping in the time traveling tale. J.J. Abrams s producing the series, with Kevin MacDonald directing the first two episodes of the nine-part series. Bridget Carpenter adapted the book.
(EMP)
Show executive producer Brian Grazer said in an interview that there are 17 more episodes coming of the popular show, which aired its fourth season in 2013 on Netflix. Last year, Netflix's Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos said he was "positive" that Season 5 would happen, and said “It’s just a matter of when.”
(HP)
Singleton has jumped from the project because of the ever reliable reason, “major creative differences.” Franklin has spent most of the past decade working on prestige TV shows like
House of Cards,
Homeland, and
Bloodline. Before that, he helmed films like
Out of Time,
High Crimes, and
Devil in a Blue Dress.
(SF)
Ratner’s RatPac Entertainment is teaming with WB to develop Ben Mezrich’s book,
Once Upon a Time In Russia: The Rise of the Oligarchs — A True Story of Ambition, Wealth, Betrayal, and Murder, into a feature. Mezrich’s books
The Accidental Billionaires and
Bringing Down the House were the basis for the Sony movies
The Social Network and
21.
(VAR)
Feature doc about five-year-old leukemia survivor Miles Scott, will debut in theaters nationwide on June 26th. New Line Cinema bought the worldwide distribution rights and narrative remake rights to Dana Nachman’s crowdfunded documentary just last month. Julia Roberts is set to produce and star in a feature based on the story.
(CBR)
Cable network’s 2015-16 slate includes nine scripted drama projects hailing from the likes of Charlize Theron, Rob Reiner, Barry Sonnenfeld, Eric Kripke, Aaron Korsh and Catherine Hardwicke, among others. The network is also developing an alternative project with Dwayne Johnson.
(CS)
Following battles between The Weinstein Company and the film’s director, Olivier Dahan, which almost led to the film not being released at all, the film will now debut on May 25th on the cable network.
(TP)
The undated, unspecified, 92-page screenplay by Max Landis, based on a story by Landis and Josh Trank.
(SS)
