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Beauty and The Beast 5/18/2015 Logline: In this live-action re-imagining of the fairy tale "Beauty and the Beast," a young woman takes her father's place as prisoner in a beast's castle, only to fall in love with her beastly captor, who turns out to be a prince. Studio: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Production Company(s): Mandeville Films/TV Director: Bill Condon Executive Producer(s): No Executive Producer Available. Producer(s): David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman Cast: Emma Watson, Luke Evans, Dan Stevens, Kevin Kline, Emma Thompson Writer(s): Stephen Chbosky, Evan Spiliotopoulos, Joe Ahearne Details: Re-imagining of the fairy tale "Beauty and the Beast". SSN Insight: Hot on the heels of the success of its live action adaptation of Cinderella, Disney is anxious to get this film out and has rounded out its cast and announced a release date of March 17, 2017.
Deepwater Horizon 5/18/2015 Logline: Based on the true events that occurred on an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico on April 20, 2010, the story chronicles the courage of those who worked on the Deepwater Horizon and the extreme moments of bravery and survival in the face of what would become one of the biggest man-made disasters in world history. Studio: Summit Entertainment, LLC Production Company(s): Leverage Management, Di Bonaventura Pictures, Participant Media, Closest To The Hole Productions Director: Peter Berg Producer(s): Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Mark Vahradian, Mark Wahlberg, Stephen Levinson, David Womark Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Gina Rodriguez, Liam Neeson, Michael Keaton, Dylan O'Brien Writer(s): J.C. Chandor, Matthew Michael Carnahan, Matthew Sand Details: Based on the article "Deepwater Horizon’s Final Hour" written by David Barstow, David Rohde, and Stephanie Saul and published in the New York Times on December 25, 2010. SSN Insight: Ric Roman Waugh previously in negotiations to direct. J.C. Chandor was previously attached to direct.
Keanu 5/18/2015 Logline: A group of friends pretend to be drug dealers in order to get back a stolen cat. Studio: New Line Cinema Director: Peter Atencio Producer(s): Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele, Peter Principato, Paul Young, Joel Zadak Cast: Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele, Writer(s): Jordan Peele, Alex Rubens, Method Man SSN Insight: New Line had previously discussed reviving the “Police Academy” franchise with Key & Peele. Method Mad can next be seen in Adam Sandler’s The Cobbler “The Cobbler” and Judd Apatow’s “Trainwreck.”
Leatherface 5/18/2015 Logline: The origin story of Leatherface’s early years in the 1970s. Studio: Nu Image/Millennium Films Production Company(s): Main Line Pictures Director: Julien Maury, Alexandre Bustillo Executive Producer(s): Avi Lerner, Trevor Short, Boaz Davidson, John Thompson, Mark Gill Producer(s): Carl Mazzocone, Christa Campbell, Lati Dana Grobman, Les Weldon Cast: Sam Strike, Stephen Dorff, James Bloor, Sam Coleman, Jessica Madsen Writer(s): Seth Sherwood Details: Reboot of "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" (1974) directed by Toby Hooper and starring Marilyn Burns and Gunnar Hansen. SSN Insight: The 2003 reboot of “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” grossed $107 million worldwide. It was followed by “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning” in 2006 which grossed $50 million and “Texas Chainsaw 3D” in 2013 which grossed $47 million.
Mena 5/18/2015 Logline: The true story of pilot Barry Seal, who transported contraband for the CIA and the Medellin cartel in the 1980s. Studio: Universal Pictures Production Company(s): Imagine Entertainment, Quadrant Pictures Director: Doug Liman Executive Producer(s): Kim Roth Producer(s): Doug Davison, Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, Brian Oliver, Tyler Thompson Cast: Tom Cruise, Sarah Wright, Jayma Mays, Domhnall Gleeson Writer(s): Gary Spinelli SSN Insight: Universal acquired the spec from Gary Spinelli for a reported $1 million. Screenplay was included in the 2014 Hit List. Ron Howard was previously attached to direct.
The Forest 5/18/2015 Logline: Against the backdrop of Japan’s Aokigahara forest, where people go to end their lives, an American woman braves the mysterious, uncharted terrain to search for her missing sister. Production Company(s): Phantom Four, Lava Bear Films Director: Jason Zada Producer(s): David S. Goyer, David Linde Cast: Natalie Dormer, Michiel Huisman, Taylor Kinney Writer(s): Nick Antosca, Sarah Cornwell SSN Insight: Project was previously set up at Universal Pictures.
The Greasy Strangler 5/16/2015 Logline: In Los Angeles, a man and his son compete for the attention of a seductive woman just as an inhuman, murderous maniac appears to strangle the innocent. Production Company(s): Alamo Drafthouse Films, Rook Films, Timpson Films, SpectreVision Director: Jim Hosking Executive Producer(s): Ben Wheatley, Tim League Producer(s): Daniel Noah, Josh C. Waller, Elijah Wood, Andy Starke, Anthony Timpson Writer(s): Jim Hosking, Toby Harvard SSN Insight: Picture marks the feature directorial debut of British helmer Jim Hosking. His previous short, The ABCs of Death 2, was released through the Drafthouse-backed Fantastic Fest.
The Wolves at the Door 5/18/2015 Logline: Four friends endure a terrifying home invasion in the Hollywood hills in 1969. Studio: New Line Cinema Production Company(s): The Safran Company Director: John R Leonetti Producer(s): Peter Safran Cast: Katie Cassidy, Miles Fisher, Elizabeth Henstridge, Adam Campbell Writer(s): Gary Dauberman SSN Insight: Loosely inspired by the murder of Sharon Tate, wife of Roman Polanski by Charles Manson and cult members in 1969. The film will not make a reference to the actual events.
Untitled Lonely Island Project 5/14/2015 Logline: Comedy group The Lonely Island stars in a film set in the world of music, following the story of a rapper whose latest album bombs, prompting him to desperately attempt a reunion concert with his former boy band. Studio: Universal Pictures Production Company(s): Apatow Productions Directors: Akiva Schaffer, Jorma Taccone Executive Producer(s): Morgan Sackett Producer(s): Judd Apatow, Rodney Rothman, Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, Jorma Taccone Cast: Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, Jorma Taccone, Sarah Silverman Writer(s): Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, Jorma Taccone SSN Insight: On the TV side, Lonely Island has a three-year deal with Fox to oversee the development of comedy projects through digital platforms, with the goal of bringing the projects to series on network TV.
Zama 5/17/2015 Logline: In the 18th century, a highly-placed servant of the Spanish crown, obsessed with petty grudges and fantasies, plots his transfer to Buenos Aires. Production Company(s): El Deseo S.A., Bananeira Filmes, Rei Cine Director: Lucrecia Martel Producer(s): Pedro Almodovar, Augustin Almodovar, Benjamin Domenech, Santiago Gallelli, Vania Catani Cast: Daniel Gimenez Cacho, Lola Duenas, Juan Minujin, Matheus Nachtergaele Details: Based on the novel "Zama" written by Antonio Di Benedetto and published in 1956. SSN Insight: Argentine director Martel previously wrote and directed the films “The Swamp”, “The Holy Girl” and “The Headless Woman”. Pedro Almodovar was a producer on those last two films.
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A Year by the Sea 5/13/2015 Logline: After years of being a loving wife and mother, a woman decides not to follow her husband to a new job out-of-state but, instead, to spend a year alone on Cape Cod. Production Company(s): Montabela Productions Director: Alexander Janko Cast: Karen Allen, S Epatha Merkerson, Michael Cristofer, Celia Imrie, Yannick Bisson Writer(s): Alexander Janko Details: Based on the memoir "A Year by the Sea" written by Joan Anderson and published by Doubleday in 1999. SSN Insight: Janko used a Kickstarter last May to help fund the film, asking $50,000 and receiving $53,012 in pledges with 277 backers.
Border Crossing 5/15/2015 Logline: A psychologist saves a drowning man, only to discover he’s the same person the psychologist put away for murder 12 years earlier. Production Company(s): The Film Community Director: Bette Gordon Executive Producer(s): Dean Devlin Producer(s): Jamin O'Brien, Daniel L. Blanc, Radium L. Cheung Cast: Josh Charles, Julia Stiles, Avan Jogia, Tracie Thoms, Leo Fitzpatrick Writer(s): Stephen Molton, Frank Pugliese, Andrew Bovell Details: Based on the novel "Border Crossing" by Pat Barker; published by Penguin UK January 1, 2001. SSN Insight: Project was previously in development at Slate Films with Andrea Calderwood attached to produce. Project was partially funded via Kickstarter.
Michelle Darnell 5/15/2015 Logline: A former corporate bigshot attempts to rebuild her image after a prison stint for insider trading, but many of her victims are unwilling to let bygones be bygones. Studio: Universal Pictures Production Company(s): Gary Sanchez Productions, On the Day Productions Director: Ben Falcone Executive Producer(s): Kevin J. Messick Producer(s): Melissa McCarthy, Ben Falcone, Will Ferrell, Adam McKay, Chris Henchy Cast: Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Bell, Peter Dinklage, Kathy Bates, Tyler Labine Writer(s): Melissa McCarthy, Steve Mallory, Ben Falcone SSN Insight: Gary Sanchez’s next films Welcome to Me and Daddy’s Home have wrapped. A sequel to Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters, The House, Crazy U, Devil’s Night, and Manimal are in development at Sanchez.
Silence 5/15/2015 Logline: Two 17th century Portuguese missionaries return to Japan to minister to Christians, who've been outlawed. Production Company(s): Winkler Films, Sikelia Productions, Cecchi Gori Pictures, FM Films, LLC Director: Martin Scorsese Executive Producer(s): Dale Brown, Matthew Malek, Tyler Zacharia, George Furla, Chad Verdi Producer(s): Irwin Winkler, Gaston Pavlovich, Randall Emmett, Martin Scorsese, Emma Tillinger Koskoff Cast: Andrew Garfield, Issey Ogata, Adam Driver, Liam Neeson, Tadanobu Asano Writer(s): Martin Scorsese, Jay Cocks Details: Based on the novel "Silence" written by Shusaku Endo and published by Tuttle Publishing 1969. SSN Insight: Graham King was previously attached to produce for GK Films. Daniel Day-Lewis, Gael Garcia Bernal and Benicio Del Toro were previously in discussions to star.
Snowden 5/12/2015 Logline: The story of Edward Snowden is told. Snowden made thousands of classified documents public while working at the US National Security Agency. Production Company(s): Ixtlan Inc., Onda Entertainment Director: Oliver Stone Producer(s): Oliver Stone, Moritz Borman, Eric Kopeloff Cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Shailene Woodley, Scott Eastwood, Nicolas Cage, Melissa Leo Writer(s): Oliver Stone Details: Based on the books "The Snowden Files: The Inside Story of the World’s Most Wanted Man" written by Luke Harding and published by Vintage on February 7, 2014 and "Time of the Octopus" written by Snowden's Russian attorney Anatoly Kucherena and to be published soon. SSN Insight: The film’s pre-production began in Germany with shooting set starting in Munich. Open Road Films and Endgame Entertainment announced in November, 2014 they would partner for the U.S. release.
The Girl in the Photographs 5/14/2015 Logline: When a beautiful young woman discovers a series of grisly photographs, she's spooked into ditching her small town and her dead-end job, but as she attempts to enter the big city fashion industry, she finds deeper horrors that are tailor-made for her. Production Company(s): Al-Ghanim Entertainment Director: Nick Simon Executive Producer(s): Wes Craven, Nawaf Alghanim, Brandon Michael Vayda, Krystal Vayda Producer(s): Andrea Chung, Thomas Mahoney Cast: Claudia Lee, Kal Penn, Mitch Pileggi, Katharine Isabelle, Miranda Rae Mayo Writer(s): Osgood Perkins, Robert Morast, Nick Simon SSN Insight: Halston Sage was previously attached to star.