![TRW 3]()
SSN ORIGINALS
A few years back, blockbuster titans George Lucas and Steven Spielberg predicted big-budget, overblown studio pics will come crashing to the ground, theater ticket prices will surge, and distribution models will change. That last prediction is hard to deny these days, with online platforms like Netflix getting into feature distribution and indie filmmakers putting their work out on their own. The stigma of not securing a studio release is long gone.
(SSN)
A huge amount of action this week, with tons of company launches, plenty of hirings in the film and TV world and just all kinds of movement. Click on the link to get the full skinny.
(SSN)
TODAY’S HEADLINES
The actor will play the titular Jesse Custer in AMC’s adaptation of the controversial comic book from the DC imprint Vertigo. Story revolves around a badass Texas preacher who, after losing his faith, learns that God has left heaven and forsaken his duties. Jesse becomes the only one who is able to track down God and hold him responsible for his abdication. Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg and Sam Catlin have adapted the project.
(THR)
Cable net is teaming with the producer and Warner Horizon Television to develop
Harvest, which tells a story set against the illegal market for human tissue, with a cemetery caretaker forced to pair up with his criminal father to protect his daughter. Ian Sobel and Matt Morgan wrote the script. The pact marks Spike’s first scripted deal with a major studio and marks an ongoing move by Spike to broaden its viewership beyond its core male audience.
(VAR)
Horizon Media will be STX’s “agency of record,” which means that Horizon will handle its media planning and buys, strategy, research and analytics and partnerships with promotions. STX has an annual media budget of $350M-$400M that it will spend to promote its 12-15 films a year. The timing also is critical as STX will release two films this year — the psychological thriller
The Gift on July 31 and the crime thriller
Secret In Their Eyes on October 23.
(DH)
Based on short stories by Maile Meloy about small-town life in Montana, the untitled project will be a series of vignettes and star Laura Dern, Kristen Stewart, Michelle Williams, and Rosanna Arquette. Reichardt has just wrapped up filming. The writer-director, who also penned the script to her new film, previously directed
Night Moves,
Meek’s Cutoff and
Wendy And Lucy, the latter two starring Williams.
(WAH)
No word on what the series will be, as details are being kept to a minimum, but it apparently involves reinventing an existing Marvel superhero character or property for ABC. Ridley is an executive producer of ABC’s acclaimed midseason drama
American Crime, which is looking good for a second season renewal. Coming off winning best adapted screenplay for
12 Years a Slave, he is also a writer/producer on the 2016 big-screen update of
Ben Hur.
(EW)
The comedian will star with Kevin Hart in the film, which promises to reveal the clandestine doings of dogs and cats when their owners leave for work or school. Script is from
Despicable Me writers Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio, and is scheduled for release on July 8, 2016. Ellie Kemper, Hannibal Buress, Lake Bell, Bobby Moynihan, and Albert Brooks also star.
(AVC)
Whenever a tidbit about the DC Cinematic Universe comes along, it never fails, somebody’s got to complain about how serious the whole endeavor is. Doesn’t DC understand they should make more movies like
The Avengers? Well, no, they don’t. Actually, they
shouldn’t.
(UR)
The latest look at the indie film sensation that was a huge hit at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. It hits theaters June 19th.
(SAA)
