NEW ATTACHMENTS
The Magnificent Seven (Remake) Logline: A group of seven tough gunslingers are hired by a village to put a stop to the vicious bandit and his gang who have been pillaging it for years. Studio/ Distributor: MGM Pictures Production Company: Roger Birnbaum Productions Producers: Roger Birnbaum Writer: John Lee Hancock, Nic Pizzolatto Director: Antoine Fuqua Cast: Peter Sarsgaard, Jason Momoa, Wagner Moura, Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt, Haley Bennett, Ethan Hawke, Vincent D’Onofrio SSN Insight: Sarsgaard signs on to play an outlaw, but rumor has it that the previously announced Jason Momoa has dropped out.
Wonder Woman Logline: A woman from the closely guarded amazon homeland of Paradise Island travels to the outside world and becomes Wonder Woman. Studio/ Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures Production Companies: DC Entertainment, Atlas Entertainment, Cruel & Unusual Films Producers: Charles Roven, Richard Suckle, Zack Snyder, Deborah Snyder Writers: Patty Jenkins, Jason Fuchs, Michael Goldenberg, Matthew Jennison, Brent Strickland Director: Patty Jenkins Cast: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine Notes: Based on the comic book “Wonder Woman” written by William Moulton Marston published by DC Comics. SSN Insight: Chris Pine is in talks to play Gal Gadot‘s love interest. Ivan Reitman, George Miller, Joss Whedon and Michelle MacLaren were previously attached to direct. Never Go Back Logline: Former military cop Jack Reacher finds himself embroiled in a quandary when he visits his old unit. Studio/ Distributor: Paramount. Pictures Production Company: Skydance Productions, Don Granger Productions Producers: Tom Cruise, Don Granger Writer: Edward Zwick, Marshall Herskovitz Director: Edward Zwick Cast: Tom Cruise Notes: Based on the novel "Never Go Back" written by Lee Child and published by Delacorte Press on September 3, 2013. Sequel to "Jack Reacher" (USA/2012) directed by Christopher McQuarrie and starring Tom Cruise. SSN Insight: New additions of Zwick and Herskovitz reunite Cruise with his Last Samurai team and put the project in gear, instead of waiting for the director on the first film, Christopher McQuarrie, to be freed up.
Tom’s Dad Logline: A performer living in Las Vegas in 1962 must deal with the changing face of comedy and the arrival of his estranged son. Studio/ Distributor: Production Company: Point Blank Productions, Infinitum Nihil, Arsenal Producers: Joni Levin, Keith Clarke, Johnny Depp, Christi Dembrowski, John Ptak Writer: Keith Clarke Director: Lasse Hallstrom Cast: Will Ferrell SSN Insight: Patrick Dempsey was previously attached to star.
Transformers Sequels and Spin-offs Logline: Storyline under wraps. Studio/ Distributor: Paramount Pictures Production Company: Hasbro Inc, Platinum Dunes, Amblin Entertainment, Di Bonaventura Pictures, Weed Road Pictures Producers: Michael Bay, Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Steven Spielberg, Akiva Goldsman Writer: Robert Kirkman, Art Marcum, Matt Holloway, Zak Penn and Jeff Pinker. SSN Insight: The producers are organizing a "writer's room" to develop story ideas for this two-part sequel as well as potential spinoff projects. Writer's Room to include producer Akiva Goldsman and Kirkman, Marcum, Holloway, Penn and Pinker.
CHiPs Logline: California motorcycle cops take down a criminal organization. Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures Production Companies: Panay Films, Primate PIctures Producers: Andrew Panay Writer: Dax Shepard Director: Dax Shepard Cast: Vincent D’Onofrio, Dax Shepard, Michael Pena SSN Insight: D’Onofrio has signed on to play the villain in the film version of the 1970’s cop show. His role is said to be of an auto-stealing ringleader and a former cop.
Jonny Quest Logline: Young Jonny Quest travels the world with his scientist father, adopted brother from India, Bandit the bulldog, and a government agent assigned to protect them investigating scientific mysteries. Studio: Warner Bros. Studios Production Companies: Lin Pictures, Prime Universe Films Producers: Dan Lin, Daniel Alter, Adrian Askarieh Writer: Robert Rodriguez, Terry Rossio Director: Robert Rodriguez SSN Insight: Warner Bros. has tried several times to get this film off the ground, once with Richard Donner and once with Peter Segal. Zac Efron and Dwayne Johnson were previously attached to star. Untitled Mother Daughter Comedy Logline: A mother and daughter are trapped with one another on a vacation gone awry. Studio/Distributor: 20th Century Fox Production Company: Chernin Entertainment, Feigco Entertainment Producers: Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping, Paul Feig, Jessie Henderson Writer: Amy Schumer, Kim Caramele Cast: Amy Schumer SSN Insight: Chernin Entertainment bought the original script by Katie Dippold for a reported low seven-figures and now attaches the hot comedienne in the new Judd Apatow comedy, Trainwreck. The Girl on the Train Logline: A young woman gets mixed up in a murder investigation because of what she witnessed on her daily commute. Distributor: Dreamworks Studios Production Companies: Marc Platt Productions Producers: Marc Platt Writer: Erin Cressida Wilson Director: Tate Taylor Notes: Based on the novel "Girl on the Train" written by Paula Hawkins and published by Riverhead Books in 2015. SSN Insight: The Help director returns to the studio that made his first studio film in 2011 for another lit adaptation. Keanu Logline: A group of friends pretend to be drug dealers in order to get back a stolen cat. Distributor: New Line Cinema Producers: Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele, Peter Principato, Paul Young, Joel Zadak Writer: Jordan Peele Director: Peter Atencio Cast: Gabrielle Union, Jordan Peele, Keegan-Michael Key, Method Man The Crow (Remake) Logline: A year after being murdered while attempting to rescue his fiancee from thugs, a rock musician comes back from the grave to get revenge. Financier/ Distributor: Relativity Studios Production Companies: Pressman Film, Apaches Entertainment, Farah Films & Management, uMedia Producers: Ed Pressman, Ryan Kavanaugh, Jeff Waxman, Kevin Misher Writer: Claire Wilson Director: Corin Hardy Cast: Andrea Riseborough, Jack Houston SSN Insight: Riseborough has signed on to play the villain character named “Top Dollar.”
NEW PROJECTS
Phenomenon Logline: Betty Robinson, the first woman to receive a gold medal, was seriously disabled in a plane crash, but fought her way back to participate in the 1936 Olympics and win again. Distributor/ Financier: Dreamworks Studios Producers: Frank Marshall, Rob Weisbach Notes: Based on the biography "Phenomenon" written by Roseanne Montillo and to be published by Crown Books in 2017. SSN Insight: Dreamworks optioned the book to be in line with their new studio mandate, which is more akin to Steven Spielberg’s original Amblin Entertainment shingle.
The Adventures of Beekle Logline: An imaginary friend is so odd that no child can imagine him, so he goes on a journey to the land of people to find a best friend. Studio/ Distributor: DreamWorks Animation Writer: Jason Reitman Director: Jason Reitman Notes: Based on the book The Adventures Of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend, written and illustrated by Dan Santat. It was awarded the 2015 Caldecott Medal. SSN Insight: DWA development exec Damon Ross brought the project to the studio, which will be animated. Ross will spearhead alongside Head of Development Gregg Taylor. Everything I Never Told You Logline: In the 1970s, a mixed-race, Asian-American family is shocked by the drowning of their seemingly perfect daughter, but after her death they discover that they did not know her at all. Distributor: Relativity Media Notes: Based on the novel "Everything I Never Told You" written by Celeste Ng and published by Penguin Books in 2015 SSN Insight: Book is a New York Times Bestseller and a New York Times Book Review Notable Book of 2014, as well as Amazon’s #1 Best Book of 2014.
The Longings of Jende Jonga Logline: West African immigrant Jonga is pursuing the American Dream working as a chauffeur for a high level executive at Lehman Brothers, and is profoundly challenged by the 2008 financial crisis. Studio/ Distributor: TriStar Productions Notes: Based on the novel "The Longings of Jende Jonga" written by Imbolo Mbue and to be published by Random House in April, 2016 SSN Insight: TriStar pre-emptively secured the rights to the manuscript, which was a big deal at last fall’s Frankfurt Book Fair where Random House made a seven-figure deal to pick up the U.S. rights.
Shanghai Dawn Logline: Mismatched buddies Chon Wang and Roy O’Bannon are reunited for more adventures. Studio/ Distributor: MGM Studios Cast: Jackie Chan, Owen Wilson SSN Insight: The sequel to 2003’s Shanghai Knights seems to be more of a reality now, with stars Chan and Wilson rumored to be attached. Studio is said to be looking for a screenwriter. Tink Logline: A new perspective on the iconic, miniature fairy Tinkerbell is explored. Studio/ Distributor: Walt Disney Studios Production Companies: Pacific Standard Producers: Reese Witherspoon, Bruna Papandrea Writer: Victoria Strouse Cast: Reese Witherspoon SSN Insight: The studio greenlights another live-action take on an animated classic with a new twist; story is said to offer a new perspective on the iconic character.
League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (Reboot) Logline: Story centers on Victorian-era literary characters such as Captain Nemo, the Invisible Man, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde teaming to fight a common enemy. Studio/ Distributor: 20th Century Fox Production Companies: Davis Entertainment Producers: John Davis SSN Insight: The original feature film was Sean Connery’s final live-action movie before he retired. The studio had planned for League to become a franchise but the worldwide gross reached only $180 million.
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. Beyblade Logline: Film based on Beyblade, a line of customizable toys modeled after traditional Japanese fighting tops. Studio/ Distributor: Paramount Pictures Production Companies: Disruption Entertainment Producers: Mary Parent Notes: Based on toys manufactured by Takaratomy and licensed to Hasbro. SSN Insight: In line with film franchises Transformers and G.I. Joe, Paramount is developing this toy line into a film. Beyblade has been very successful line for Hasbro, which gained the license in 2001, generating $2.5 billion in revenue. A new line will be launched in 2017.