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I.T. 5/25/2015 Logline: A successful businessman, who was once a thug in his youth but has since changed his ways, discovers that his new I.T. handyman is actually a dangerous lunatic who's out to destroy the businessman, his company, and his family. Production Company(s): Irish DreamTime, Friendly Films Director: John Moore Producer(s): David Friendly, Beau St. Clair, Craig J. Flores, Nicolas Chartier Cast: Pierce Brosnan, Anna Friel, James Frecheville, Stefanie Scott Writer(s): William Wisher, Daniel Kay SSN Insight: Previously set to start shooting in March. Stefano Sollima previously attached to direct. Voltage, which was behind the Joseph Gordon-Levitt-directed Don Jon, opened sales at AFM. Kay penned the script based on a concept by Friendly through his Friendly Films banner.
Special Correspondents 5/19/2015 Logline: A radio journalist who's desperate for ratings fakes his news coverage of a turbulent overseas rebel uprising from the comfort of his hideout above a Spanish restaurant in Manhattan. Production Company(s): Unanimous Pictures, Les Films Manuel Munz, Bron Studios, Creative Wealth Media Finance Director: Ricky Gervais Executive Producer(s): Jason Cloth Producer(s): Chris Coen, Aaron Gilbert, Manuel Munz, Larry Sanitsky Cast: Ricky Gervais, Eric Bana Details: Remake of "Special Correspondents" (France/2009) directed by Frederic Auburtin. SSN Insight: Netflix will release the film worldwide in 2016, but the film will not have a U.S. theatrical release.
The Magnificent Seven 5/18/2015 Logline: A woman hires a group of gunslingers to protect her town from rampaging bandits. Studio: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM) Production Company(s): Roger Birnbaum Productions Director: Antoine Fuqua Executive Producer(s): Guy Riedel Producer(s): Roger Birnbaum, Todd Black Cast: Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt, Haley Bennett, Ethan Hawke, Vincent D'Onofrio Writer(s): John Lee Hancock, Nic Pizzolatto Details: Remake of The Magnificent Seven released on October 23, 1960 film directed by John Sturges. SSN Insight: Tom Cruise was previously attached to star Lawrence Kasdan previously attached to direct when project was in development at United Artists. Previously in development at United Artists who hired Terry Swann and Mark Kasdan to write.
Untitled (BBC/StudioCanal Donald Crowhurst Yacht Race Project) 5/20/2015 Logline: True story of Donald Crowhurt who, despite being a novice, entered the most challenging nautical around-the-world boat race. Studio: StudioCanal Distribution Production Company(s): Galatee Films, BBC Films, Blue Print Pictures Director: James Marsh Executive Producer(s): Christine Langan Producer(s): Graham Broadbent, Peter Czernin, Scott Burns, Nicolas Mauvernay, Jacques Perrin Cast: Rachel Weisz Writer(s): Scott Burns Details: Based on documentary "Deep Water" (USA/2006) directed by Louise Osmond and Jerry Rothwell. SSN Insight: Alejandro González Iñárritu was previously attached to direct. Colin Firth was previously attached to star.
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Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip 5/20/2015 Logline: Chipmunks Alvin, Simon, and Theodore feel neglected because Dave is spending too much time with his girlfriend, Samantha, and they try to do everything in their power to prevent Dave from asking for her hand in marriage. Studio: Fox 2000 Production Company(s): New Regency Productions, Bagdasarian Productions, Sunswept Entertainment Director: Walt Becker Executive Producer(s): Karen Rosenfelt Producer(s): Ross Bagdasarian Jr., Janice Karman Cast: Jason Lee, Tony Hale Writer(s): Adam Sztykiel, Randi Mayem Singer Details: Sequel to "Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked" (2011) directed by Mike Mitchell and starring Jason Lee. SSN Insight: Animation/live-action hybrid like the prior three films. The first film was released in 2007 and grossed $360 million worldwide, followed by the sequel in 2009 that grossed $443 million and the most recent film in 2011 that grossed $337 million.
Army of One 5/22/2015 Logline: A construction worker from Colorado tries to find Osama Bin Laden. Production Company(s): Conde Nast Publications, Inc., Endgame Entertainment, Emile Gladstone Productions Director: Larry Charles Executive Producer(s): Patrick Newall Producer(s): Harvey Weinstein, Bob Weinstein, Dawn Ostroff, Jeremy Steckler, Emile Gladstone Cast: Nicolas Cage, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Russell Brand, Ken Marino, Denis O'Hare Writer(s): Scott Rothman, Rajiv Joseph Details: Loosely based on the GQ article "An Army of One" written by Chris Heath and published September 2010. SSN Insight: Cage has a busy development slate with Bonjour Anne also in preproduction but has wrapped Snowden, The Trust, The Runner and Pay the Ghost.
Stephanie 5/22/2015 Logline: A young girl's powers force her into solitude. Studio: Universal Pictures Production Company(s): Gotham/Principal, Blumhouse Productions, Unbroken Pictures, Chapter One Director: Akiva Goldsman Executive Producer(s): Nate Matteson, Eric Robinson, Bryan Bertino Producer(s): Jason Blum, Matt Kaplan, Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, Adrienne Biddle Cast: Frank Grillo, Anna Torv, Shree Crooks, Kenneth Choi Writer(s): Ben Collins, Luke Piotrowski SSN Insight: Screenplay was included on the 2012 Blood List. Jonathan van Tulleken was previously attached to direct. Actor Frank Grillo also starred in the Universal Pictures/Blumhouse Productions film "The Purge: Anarchy" (2014).
The Big Short 5/23/2015 Logline: A look at the American economy, the recession, and the subprime mortgage market focusing on a group of investors who aim to prey upon the economic collapse for riches. Studio: Paramount Pictures Production Company(s): Plan B Entertainment Director: Adam McKay Executive Producer(s): Kevin J. Messick Producer(s): Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Sarah Esberg Cast: Brad Pitt, Christian Bale, Ryan Gosling, Steve Carell, Melissa Leo Writer(s): Adam McKay, Charles Randolph Details: Based on the book "The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine" written by Michael Lewis and published by W.W. Norton on March 15, 2010. SSN Insight: This film will continue to build Plan B’s reputation for tackling important issues, with “12 Years a Slave” landing the best picture Oscar and “Selma” garnering two Oscar noms as well.
The Neon Demon 5/22/2015 Logline: An aspiring model finds herself in a terrifying predicament with her survival hanging in the balance. Production Company(s): Space Rocket Nation Director: Nicolas Winding Refn Producer(s): Lene Borglum Cast: Elle Fanning, Abbey Lee, Keanu Reeves, Christina Hendricks, Jena Malone Writer(s): Nicolas Winding Refn, Mary Laws SSN Insight: France’s Gaumont and Wild Bunch will co-finance and co-distribute the film. They previously partnered on Refn’s 2013 film, Only God Forgives.
We Still Steal the Old Way 5/18/2015 Logline: After the Archer gang are put in prison for a carrying out a gold robbery, they must plan their escape while fending off old enemies on the inside. Production Company(s): GFM Films, Richwater Films Director: Sacha Bennett Producer(s): Rod Smith, Jonathan Sothcott Cast: Steven Berkoff, Ian Ogilvy, Dani Dyer, Christopher Ellison, Lysette Anthony Writer(s): Simon Cluett Details: Sequel to "We Still Kill The Old Way" (UK/2014) directed by Sacha Bennett. SSN Insight: Besides acting, Steven Berkoff is also an author, playwright and theatre director. He is best known for portraying Lt. Col Podovsky in Rambo: First Blood Part II, General Orlov in the James Bond film Octopussy and Victor Maitland in Beverly Hills Cop.