NEW ATTACHMENTS
Star Wars: Rogue One Logline: A band of resistance fighters unite for a daring mission to steal the plans for the Death Star. Studio/ Distributor: Walt Disney Studios Production Company: LucasFilm LTD Producers: Kathleen Kennedy, John Knoll, Tony To Writer: Chris Weitz Director: Gareth Edwards Cast: Diego Luna, Felicity Jones, Riz Ahmed, Ben Mendelsohn, Sam Claflin Notes: Based on the novel "Departure" which was self published by author A.G. Riddle on December 4, 2014. SSN Insight: Diego Luna, last seen in 2013’s Elysium, is the latest to come on board the new Star Wars film as a rebel who plots to steal the plans for the Death Star. Fantastic Beasts And Where to Find Them Logline: 70 years before Harry Potter’s birth, Newton Artemis Fido Scamander is commissioned to write a reference guide to magical beasts, which would become a Hogwart’s textbook. Studio/ Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures Production Company: Wigram Productions, Heyday Films, Bronte Film and Television Producers: David Heynan, Steve Kloves, Lionel Wigram, J.K. Rowling Writer: J.K. Rowling Director: David Yates Cast: Eddie Redmayne Notes: Based on the novel "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" by J.K. Rowling; published by Arthur A. Levine June 2001 . SSN Insight: Project is the screenwriting debut of author, J.K. Rowling and now they seem to have landed Oscar-winner Redmayne. Departure Logline: Survivors of a plane crash in the English countryside soon come to realize they were brought there for a reason. Studio/ Distributor: 20th Century Fox Production Company: R & G Productions Producers: Steve Tzirlin Director: Drew Goddard Notes: Based on the novel "Departure" which was self published by author A.G. Riddle on December 4, 2014. SSN Insight: The novel was initially self-published by Riddle, but then became an on-line sensation and a big acquisition for Fox. Now, in demand director, Goddard (Cabin in the Woods) attaches to the project while also being considered to write and direct the new Spider-Man franchise.
Arabian Knights Logline: Storyline under wraps. Studio/ Distributor: Universal Pictures Production Company: Blacklight, Imagine Entertainment Producers: Zak Kadison, Brian Grazer, Erica Huggins Writer: Ashley Miller and Zack Stentz SSN Insight: The X-Men First Class writers sign on to rewrite the hot spec script by Kyle Ward and help the studio do a Pirates of the Caribbean version of the Arabain Knights story.
The New Mutants Logline: The storyline about the teenage mutant superheroes-in-training is under wraps. Studio: 20th Century Fox Production Companies: Genre Films, Donners Company Producers: Simon Kinberg, Lauren Shuler Donner Writer: Josh Boone, Knate Gwaltney Director: Josh Boone SSN Insight: Boone has been an in demand director ever since turning Fault in Our Stars into a mega-hit and has also been mentioned as a potential director for Sony’s reboot of Spider-Man.
Destiny Logline: When a man survives a near- fatal accident, he inherits the ability to see into the future, with grave consequences Studio: Dreamworks Studios Production Companies: Wide Awake Inc. Producers: Steven Spielberg, Luke Greenfield Writer: Luke Greenfield, Dana Stevens Director: Luke Greenfield SSN Insight: Project was set up at New Regency Productions when Greenfield was under contract there. The project never got off the ground but has been a passion project of Greenfield’s since its inception. Never giving up on it landed it in a new home, Dreamworks. The Founder Logline: The true story how Ray Kroc, a salesman from Illinois, met Mac and Dick McDonald, who were running a burger operation in 1950s Southern California. Kroc was impressed by the brother’s speedy system of making the food and saw franchise potential. He maneuvered himself in a position to be able to pull the company from the brothers and create the billion dollar fast food empire, McDonald’s. Studio/Distributor: The Weinstein Company Production Company: FilmNation, Combine Producers: Jeremy Renner, Don Handfield Writer: Rob Siegel Director: John Lee Hancock Cast: Laura Dern, Michael Keaton SSN Insight: Dern would play Ethel Kroc, Kroc’s first wife who suffers through his business schemes and whom he neglects. The Wolves at the Door Logline: Four friends endure a terrifying home invasion in the Hollywood hills in 1969. Distributor: New Line Cinema Production Companies: The Safran Company Producers: Peter Safran Writer: Gary Dauberman Director: John R Leonetti Cast: Katie Cassidy, Miles Fisher, Elizabeth Henstridge, Adam Campbell SSN Insight: The Arrow star signs onto the period thriller which is set to start shooting May 18.
NEW PROJECTS
Experience Hendrix Logline: This biopic of iconic rock guitarist Jimi Hendrix, who died at the height of his fame in 1970, features some of his best-known music. Production Companies: Legendary Entertainment Producers: Thomas Tull, Jon Jashni, Janie Hendrix, John McDermott, Peter Afterman Writer: Scott Silver Director: Paul Greengrass SSN Insight: Legendary had the opportunity to make a film based on Hendrix’s life several years ago but did not have the support of the Hendrix estate, so they backed off. They have now reached a new agreement with the estate and a new, appealing package. The Craft (Remake) Logline: Sarah meets three young women at St. Benedict’s Academy who also have found themselves banished to the outermost reaches of high school's inevitable pecking order. Nancy, Bonnie and Rochelle will never fit in with the "in" crowd. But together with Sarah, their outer and inner lives are about to change in ways they never suspected. They are about to learn that being an outsider has its own kind of power. Distributor: Columbia Pictures Production Companies: Red Wagon Entertainment Producers: Doug Wick, Lucy Fisher Writer: Leigh Janiak, Phil Graziadei Director: Leigh Janiak. SSN Insight: The studio has decided to move forward with a remake of their own cult classic film and attach an up and coming writer/ director in Janiak, who made her first film Honeymoon last year.
Pale Blue Dot Logline: A married astronaut returns to Earth after a mission and begins an affair with a fellow astronaut. She heads into a downward spiral as she loses her connection to her family, a condition that can afflict those who spend a long time in space. The bottom drops out when her lover has an affair with an astronaut trainee. Studio/ Distributor: Fox Searchlight Production Companies: Pacific Standard Producers: Reese Witherspoon, Bruna Papandrea Writer: Brian C. Brown, Elliott DiGuiseppi Cast: Reese Witherspoon SSN Insight: Bennett Miller (Foxcatcher) was circling to direct but never committed.
The Fugitive Logline: A man is forced to go on the run after being falsely accused of killing his wife Studio/ Distributor: Warner Bros Studios Production Companies: Kopelson Entertaiment Producers: Arnold and Anne Kopelson Writers: Christina Hodson SSN Insight: The studio puts a new installment of the classic film into development with the returning producers and a new writer. They even hope to be in production by early 2016. Alpha Squad Seven Logline: This action-comedy is set in space, details of the storyline are under wraps. Studio/ Distributor: Dreamworks Studios Production Companies: Flynn Picture Co, 7 Bucks Entertainment, The Garcia Companies Producers: Beau Flynn, Dwayne Johnson Writer: Jeremiah Friedman, Nick Palmer Cast: Dwayne Johnson SSN Insight: Project took all of two weeks to come to fruition, starting as a pitch from the writers to Flynn and his exec, then being fast-tracked by Johnson and lastly into the studios, sparking a bidding war.
Untitled Leslie Mann/ Judd Apatow Comedy Logline: Storyline under wraps. Studio/ Distributor: Paramount Pictures Production Companies: Block Entertainment, Merced Media Partners, PalmStar Entertainment, Apatow Productions Producers: Bill Block, Raj Singh, Kevin Scott Frakes, Judd Apatow, Josh Church Writers: Jon Lucas, Scott Moore Directors: Jon Lucas Scott Moore Cast: Leslie Mann SSN Insight: Project is the first package from Bill Block’s Block Entertainment and Raj Singh’s Merced Capital and Kevin Frakes’ PalmStar Media Capital financing vehicle.
The Wedding Sting Logline: In 1990, the police in Flint, Michigan lacked funds to round up the city’s drug dealers, so they a created a fake wedding to get them in one place and arrest them. Studio/ Distributor: Paramount Pictures Production Companies: Disruption Entertainment Producers: Mary Parent Notes: Based on the article "The Wedding Sting" written by Jeff Maysh and published in the May, 2015 issue of The Atlantic. SSN Insight: The article by studio favorite, Jeff Maysh, who has several other articles set up around town, was a competitive situation with Universal also bidding.