‘The Falcon And The Winter Soldier’ Director Kari Skogland Set For ‘The Wheel Of Time’ Origins Movie
Exclusive: BAFTA winner and Emmy nominee Kari Skogland has been set to direct live-action feature The Age of Legends, the first installment in the planned trilogy of films that will explore the origins of Robert Jordan’s bestselling book series The Wheel of Time.
Screenplay comes from Thor, X-Men: First Class and Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous scribe Zack Stentz.
Set several millennia before the timeline of the books, The Age of Legends will chart the emergence of ‘the Dark One’, when the world descended into darkness and war. The film will delve into the corrosive nature of power and pride, as seen through the tragic tales of the Forsaken – once honored leaders who fell victim to the Dark One’s seduction, each personifying distinct elements of human weakness and ambition. The story will also portray the valorous sacrifices of unexpected heroes who rise against the Dark One to defend humanity...
Screenplay comes from Thor, X-Men: First Class and Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous scribe Zack Stentz.
Set several millennia before the timeline of the books, The Age of Legends will chart the emergence of ‘the Dark One’, when the world descended into darkness and war. The film will delve into the corrosive nature of power and pride, as seen through the tragic tales of the Forsaken – once honored leaders who fell victim to the Dark One’s seduction, each personifying distinct elements of human weakness and ambition. The story will also portray the valorous sacrifices of unexpected heroes who rise against the Dark One to defend humanity...
- 12/14/2023
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: DC and Marvel regular Jay Oliva has been set to direct iwot’s upcoming 3D animated feature, The White Tower, based on Robert Jordan’s epic novel series The Wheel Of Time.
The YA project will be set in a time before the events chronicled in the 14 novels by Jordan and Amazon and Sony’s Wheel of Time TV series.
The action-adventure movie will chart the story of a young girl with a special gift. Her life is forever changed when evil visits her remote mountain village. Finding herself alone in a dangerous world, she must go to The White Tower to learn how to use her magical powers to save her family and friends. Rebellious and mistrusting, she learns that there is something in this world that is as powerful a weapon in the fight against evil as any form of magic.
As previously announced, the long-gestating project...
The YA project will be set in a time before the events chronicled in the 14 novels by Jordan and Amazon and Sony’s Wheel of Time TV series.
The action-adventure movie will chart the story of a young girl with a special gift. Her life is forever changed when evil visits her remote mountain village. Finding herself alone in a dangerous world, she must go to The White Tower to learn how to use her magical powers to save her family and friends. Rebellious and mistrusting, she learns that there is something in this world that is as powerful a weapon in the fight against evil as any form of magic.
As previously announced, the long-gestating project...
- 10/19/2023
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
Veteran literary manager Jerry Kalajian, who co-founded the Intellectual Property Group, has died. He was 68.
Kalajian died after battling cancer on Sept. 9 in San Diego.
His death was announced by the Intellectual Property Group, where Kalajian was a partner.
“His partners, everyone at Intellectual Property Group, and his life-long, dearest friends Cynthia Campos-Greenberg, Michael Moore, Cathleen Gallagher-Joachim, Spyros Skouras, Julia Kole, Ilene Feldman, Helene Tobias, Gaelyn Nichols-Marvin and so many others love Jerry so very much and will miss him terribly every day,” the literary management company said in a statement on Wednesday.
Born in Detroit, Kalajian moved to Los Angeles in 1974, where he worked as a waiter before earning his first position at the Diamond Talent Agency with Abby Greshler.
He then became a talent agent at Herb Tobias & Associates and APA/Agency for the Performing Arts. That was followed by Kalajian...
Veteran literary manager Jerry Kalajian, who co-founded the Intellectual Property Group, has died. He was 68.
Kalajian died after battling cancer on Sept. 9 in San Diego.
His death was announced by the Intellectual Property Group, where Kalajian was a partner.
“His partners, everyone at Intellectual Property Group, and his life-long, dearest friends Cynthia Campos-Greenberg, Michael Moore, Cathleen Gallagher-Joachim, Spyros Skouras, Julia Kole, Ilene Feldman, Helene Tobias, Gaelyn Nichols-Marvin and so many others love Jerry so very much and will miss him terribly every day,” the literary management company said in a statement on Wednesday.
Born in Detroit, Kalajian moved to Los Angeles in 1974, where he worked as a waiter before earning his first position at the Diamond Talent Agency with Abby Greshler.
He then became a talent agent at Herb Tobias & Associates and APA/Agency for the Performing Arts. That was followed by Kalajian...
- 10/13/2022
- by Jackie Strause
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Literary manager Jerry Kalajian, a partner at Intellectual Property Group, has died aged 68.
Kalajian was responsible for a number of film and TV adaptations of books including Life of Pi, Big Little Lies, The Dry and The Book Thief. He died of cancer at Scripps Mercy Hospital.
Kalajian was an agent, manager, and producer and represented a number of preeminent producers, directors, literary talent, and screenwriters.
Born in the Detroit area, Kalajian moved to Los Angeles in 1974, working as a waiter before earning his first position at the Diamond Talent Agency with Abby Greshler. He then went on to become a talent agent at Herb Tobias & Associates and APA/Agency for the Performing Arts. After APA, Jerry formed a partnership and new literary agency, Becsey, Wisdom, Kalajian. Then, Jerry, Larry Becsey, and Joel Gotler joined forces to do business as Intellectual Property Group and have worked together for 20 years under that banner,...
Kalajian was responsible for a number of film and TV adaptations of books including Life of Pi, Big Little Lies, The Dry and The Book Thief. He died of cancer at Scripps Mercy Hospital.
Kalajian was an agent, manager, and producer and represented a number of preeminent producers, directors, literary talent, and screenwriters.
Born in the Detroit area, Kalajian moved to Los Angeles in 1974, working as a waiter before earning his first position at the Diamond Talent Agency with Abby Greshler. He then went on to become a talent agent at Herb Tobias & Associates and APA/Agency for the Performing Arts. After APA, Jerry formed a partnership and new literary agency, Becsey, Wisdom, Kalajian. Then, Jerry, Larry Becsey, and Joel Gotler joined forces to do business as Intellectual Property Group and have worked together for 20 years under that banner,...
- 10/13/2022
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: The Dispatcher, created by author John Scalzi, started life as an Audible audiobook narrated by Zachary Quinto.
It is now being adapted for the small-screen after producer Uri Singer, the producer behind Netflix’s feature film adaptation of Don DeLillo’s Underworld, acquired the rights.
The Dispatcher takes place in Chicago in a distant future in which it becomes almost impossible to murder anyone – 999 times out of a thousand, anyone who is intentionally killed comes back. The ongoing series follows Tony Valdez, a Dispatcher – a licensed, bonded professional whose job is to humanely dispatch those about to die, so they can have a second chance to avoid the reaper. He teams up with Chicago Pd detective, Nona Langdon, to help save those at death’s crosshairs and solve the crimes that put them there.
It is written by Scalzi, the former president of the Science and Fiction Fantasy Writers of America,...
It is now being adapted for the small-screen after producer Uri Singer, the producer behind Netflix’s feature film adaptation of Don DeLillo’s Underworld, acquired the rights.
The Dispatcher takes place in Chicago in a distant future in which it becomes almost impossible to murder anyone – 999 times out of a thousand, anyone who is intentionally killed comes back. The ongoing series follows Tony Valdez, a Dispatcher – a licensed, bonded professional whose job is to humanely dispatch those about to die, so they can have a second chance to avoid the reaper. He teams up with Chicago Pd detective, Nona Langdon, to help save those at death’s crosshairs and solve the crimes that put them there.
It is written by Scalzi, the former president of the Science and Fiction Fantasy Writers of America,...
- 12/20/2021
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: In a competitive situation with multiple bidders, A+E Studios has landed exclusive rights to No. 1 New York Times-bestselling author Sue Grafton’s alphabet book series featuring private investigator protagonist Kinsey Millhone. Under the pact, the studio can develop and produce the entire library of Grafton’s wildly popular alphabet mysteries for television.
This marks the first time the screen rights to the book series has been made available, with Steve Humphrey, Grafton’s husband for more than 40 years, serving as executive producer on the adaptations.
A+E Studios, led by president Barry Jossen and EVP Tana Jamieson, is fast-tracking the project. “We are actively speaking with interested platforms and seeking a showrunner for the series, as well as the perfect actress to embody the coveted lead role of Kinsey Millhone,” Jossen said. “Sue Grafton is the ultimate storyteller who spent decades entertaining readers through her rich characters and spellbinding mysteries.
This marks the first time the screen rights to the book series has been made available, with Steve Humphrey, Grafton’s husband for more than 40 years, serving as executive producer on the adaptations.
A+E Studios, led by president Barry Jossen and EVP Tana Jamieson, is fast-tracking the project. “We are actively speaking with interested platforms and seeking a showrunner for the series, as well as the perfect actress to embody the coveted lead role of Kinsey Millhone,” Jossen said. “Sue Grafton is the ultimate storyteller who spent decades entertaining readers through her rich characters and spellbinding mysteries.
- 10/6/2021
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
“Ted Lasso” star Juno Temple has joined the cast of Doug Liman’s action-adventure thriller “Everest.” The movie has also struck a number of global pre-sales for HanWay Films.
Temple will play mountaineer George Mallory’s wife, Ruth, who is left behind to handle their life during his life-threatening attempts to scale the mountain. The actor has joined cast members Ewan McGregor, who plays Mallory, alongside Sam Heughan and Mark Strong.
The movie, which launched at the pre-Cannes virtual market in June, will be released theatrically in all territories. It has so far sold into Sky Cinema (U.K.), Snd (France), Wild Bunch, Notorious, Belga (Benelux), Nordisk (Scandinavia), Nos (Portugal), Madman, Idc (Latin America), Elevation (Canada), Paradise (Cis/Baltics), Monolith (Poland), ProRom (Central and Eastern Europe), FrontRow (Middle East), Forum (Israel), Gravel Road (South Africa), Medialink (Hong Kong), PVR (Indian subcontinent), Falcon (Indonesia), Shaw (Singapore), Joy n Cinema (South Korea...
Temple will play mountaineer George Mallory’s wife, Ruth, who is left behind to handle their life during his life-threatening attempts to scale the mountain. The actor has joined cast members Ewan McGregor, who plays Mallory, alongside Sam Heughan and Mark Strong.
The movie, which launched at the pre-Cannes virtual market in June, will be released theatrically in all territories. It has so far sold into Sky Cinema (U.K.), Snd (France), Wild Bunch, Notorious, Belga (Benelux), Nordisk (Scandinavia), Nos (Portugal), Madman, Idc (Latin America), Elevation (Canada), Paradise (Cis/Baltics), Monolith (Poland), ProRom (Central and Eastern Europe), FrontRow (Middle East), Forum (Israel), Gravel Road (South Africa), Medialink (Hong Kong), PVR (Indian subcontinent), Falcon (Indonesia), Shaw (Singapore), Joy n Cinema (South Korea...
- 9/9/2021
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
iwot productions and Radar Pictures have tapped screenwriter Zack Stentz to pen the script for the first of three planned motion pictures based on Robert Jordan’s bestselling series of books, The Wheel of Time.
“I’ve been a fan of Robert Jordan’s work for many years, and it is especially his allusions to the origins and backstory of The Wheel of Time that I have always found most intriguing. I’m excited to be bringing this era Robert Jordan conceptualized to life,” said Stentz, “A fusion of the fantasy and science-fiction genres, the Age of Legends is a tale of paradise lost, as a futuristic Garden of Eden devolves into a dangerous and broken world.”
“We are fortunate to have an accomplished storyteller like Zack Stentz,” said Rick Selvage, President of iwot productions, “his ability to portray unforgettable characters who command great powers while...
“I’ve been a fan of Robert Jordan’s work for many years, and it is especially his allusions to the origins and backstory of The Wheel of Time that I have always found most intriguing. I’m excited to be bringing this era Robert Jordan conceptualized to life,” said Stentz, “A fusion of the fantasy and science-fiction genres, the Age of Legends is a tale of paradise lost, as a futuristic Garden of Eden devolves into a dangerous and broken world.”
“We are fortunate to have an accomplished storyteller like Zack Stentz,” said Rick Selvage, President of iwot productions, “his ability to portray unforgettable characters who command great powers while...
- 7/13/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Having recently tackled the world of haute couture in “Halston,” Ewan McGregor is going to break out his climbing gear to scale the heights in “Everest.”
The high-altitude adventure comes courtesy of Doug Liman, the exacting action auteur behind “The Bourne Identity” and “Edge of Tomorrow,” and will star McGregor as George Mallory, an English mountaineer who took part in the first three British expeditions to Mount Everest. This is, of course, not to be confused with 2015’s “Everest,” a re-telling of the 1996 Mount Everest disaster, when eight climbers caught in a blizzard died while attempting to descend from the summit.
Here’s the official logline: “1921. Everest remains the very last great unconquered challenge on earth. Many have sacrificed their sanity and often their lives in the attempt to reach its fabled summit. George Mallory (McGregor) is picked by the arrogant Arthur Hinks (Strong) of the Royal Geographic Society to scale the impossible.
The high-altitude adventure comes courtesy of Doug Liman, the exacting action auteur behind “The Bourne Identity” and “Edge of Tomorrow,” and will star McGregor as George Mallory, an English mountaineer who took part in the first three British expeditions to Mount Everest. This is, of course, not to be confused with 2015’s “Everest,” a re-telling of the 1996 Mount Everest disaster, when eight climbers caught in a blizzard died while attempting to descend from the summit.
Here’s the official logline: “1921. Everest remains the very last great unconquered challenge on earth. Many have sacrificed their sanity and often their lives in the attempt to reach its fabled summit. George Mallory (McGregor) is picked by the arrogant Arthur Hinks (Strong) of the Royal Geographic Society to scale the impossible.
- 6/16/2021
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Ewan McGregor, Outlander‘s Sam Heughan and Mark Strong have been set to star in Everest, an adventure thriller to be directed by Doug Liman from a script from Oscar-nominated Up in the Air scribe Sheldon Turner. The just announced pic is set to start shooting in the UK and Italy in January 22. HanWay Films will rep international sales and distribution beginning at the upcoming Cannes Virtual Market. UTA Independent Film Group will handle the U.S. sale.
Inspired by Jeffrey Archer’s novel Paths of Glory, the story is set in 1921 and centers on the real-life George Mallory (McGregor) who is picked by Arthur Hinks (Strong) of the Royal Geographic Society to scale the previously unconquerable Mt Everest. Following World War I, the fading British empire is desperate for a victory, but for Mallory and his rival, the eccentric Aussie George Finch (Heughan), the challenge has nothing to do with patriotism,...
Inspired by Jeffrey Archer’s novel Paths of Glory, the story is set in 1921 and centers on the real-life George Mallory (McGregor) who is picked by Arthur Hinks (Strong) of the Royal Geographic Society to scale the previously unconquerable Mt Everest. Following World War I, the fading British empire is desperate for a victory, but for Mallory and his rival, the eccentric Aussie George Finch (Heughan), the challenge has nothing to do with patriotism,...
- 6/16/2021
- by Patrick Hipes and Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Ewan McGregor, Sam Heughan and Mark Strong are set to star in “Everest,” the next film from director Doug Liman (“Edge of Tomorrow”) about a team of climbers in 1921 who attempt to brave the world’s tallest peak, Mount Everest.
The film is being presented to buyers at the Cannes Film Market next week, with UTA Independent Film Group overseeing the U.S. sale and HanWay Films handling international sales and distribution. Production aims to begin in the UK and Italy in January 2022, and the film is produced by Jennifer Klein and Liman.
“Everest” is not based on a true story of real climbers, but is inspired by the novel “Paths of Glory” by author Jeffrey Archer. The book tells the story of a climber named George Mallory who died attempting to climb Everest; in the novel, it remained a mystery whether or not he ever reached the summit.
The...
The film is being presented to buyers at the Cannes Film Market next week, with UTA Independent Film Group overseeing the U.S. sale and HanWay Films handling international sales and distribution. Production aims to begin in the UK and Italy in January 2022, and the film is produced by Jennifer Klein and Liman.
“Everest” is not based on a true story of real climbers, but is inspired by the novel “Paths of Glory” by author Jeffrey Archer. The book tells the story of a climber named George Mallory who died attempting to climb Everest; in the novel, it remained a mystery whether or not he ever reached the summit.
The...
- 6/16/2021
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Exclusive: Denis O’Sullivan and Jeff Kalligheri’s Compelling Pictures have closed a deal to produce and finance a feature adaptation of Michael Connelly’s recent New York Times bestseller Fair Warning which is being seen as a potential franchise. Connelly will write the screen adaptation and produce alongside O’Sullivan and Kalligheri. Two-time Emmy nominee Jeffrey Pollack (Laurel Canyon) will also produce.
Fair Warning was released this summer and is the third in Connelly’s series of books about investigative journalist Jack McEvoy, who has often been cited as the character most closely resembling the author in real life, with Connelly himself having been a crime reporter for years.
The murder mystery is set around the rapidly evolving ‘wild west’ world of DNA sequence data harvesting; specifically in regard to such data being sold for profit within an industry that has no oversight. It delves into the murky moral questions...
Fair Warning was released this summer and is the third in Connelly’s series of books about investigative journalist Jack McEvoy, who has often been cited as the character most closely resembling the author in real life, with Connelly himself having been a crime reporter for years.
The murder mystery is set around the rapidly evolving ‘wild west’ world of DNA sequence data harvesting; specifically in regard to such data being sold for profit within an industry that has no oversight. It delves into the murky moral questions...
- 9/15/2020
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Author Jeffrey Archer has aligned with his first Hollywood rep. He has teamed with veteran book-to-film agent Joel Gotler at Ipg to shop his newest bestseller, Nothing Ventured, as well as his back list titles for film and television.
Archer has sold 275 million copies worldwide, across 97 countries and in 33 languages, and he has authored 27 Sunday Times #1 bestsellers. Oxford educated, he ran the 100 yard dash for Great Britain, and was a Member of Parliament. But he hasn’t been repped in Hollywood before, even though TV series were made from his novels Not A Penny More, Not a Penny Less, Kane and Abel, and First Among Equals.
Nothing Ventured will be followed this October by Hidden in Plain Sight. Both center on the brilliant Scotland Yard detective, William Warwick, as he battles a powerful criminal nemesis. Gotler is already fielding offers to turn William Warwick into a major television series.
Archer has sold 275 million copies worldwide, across 97 countries and in 33 languages, and he has authored 27 Sunday Times #1 bestsellers. Oxford educated, he ran the 100 yard dash for Great Britain, and was a Member of Parliament. But he hasn’t been repped in Hollywood before, even though TV series were made from his novels Not A Penny More, Not a Penny Less, Kane and Abel, and First Among Equals.
Nothing Ventured will be followed this October by Hidden in Plain Sight. Both center on the brilliant Scotland Yard detective, William Warwick, as he battles a powerful criminal nemesis. Gotler is already fielding offers to turn William Warwick into a major television series.
- 5/20/2020
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Roma Downey’s LightWorkers Media banner has optioned the TV rights to the inspirational novel series “Angels Everywhere” penned by Debbie Macomber.
The deal gives LightWorkers rights to all seven books in the series to date, including “A Season of Angels,” the first installment published in 2001, as well as “The Trouble With Angels,” “Touched By Angels” and “Those Christmas Angels.”
The subject matter returns Downey to the angelic arena where she had her breakthrough as the star of “Touched By an Angel,” the CBS drama that ran from 1994 to 2003.
“When Debbie Macomber agreed to allow myself and LightWorkers to option her angel book series I was thrilled,” Downey said. “I feel like I have come home in these stories. Debbie’s fans are going to love seeing her beloved characters Shirley, Goodness and Mercy come to life on screen and ‘Touched By An
Angel’ fans will love having a brand...
The deal gives LightWorkers rights to all seven books in the series to date, including “A Season of Angels,” the first installment published in 2001, as well as “The Trouble With Angels,” “Touched By Angels” and “Those Christmas Angels.”
The subject matter returns Downey to the angelic arena where she had her breakthrough as the star of “Touched By an Angel,” the CBS drama that ran from 1994 to 2003.
“When Debbie Macomber agreed to allow myself and LightWorkers to option her angel book series I was thrilled,” Downey said. “I feel like I have come home in these stories. Debbie’s fans are going to love seeing her beloved characters Shirley, Goodness and Mercy come to life on screen and ‘Touched By An
Angel’ fans will love having a brand...
- 9/11/2019
- by Variety Staff
- Variety Film + TV
The tumultuous marriage of Judy Garland and Sid Luft gets the documentary treatment on Showtime this October, with director Stephen Kijak Sid & Judy making use of the recently public observations of Luft as well as never-before-heard recordings by Garland.
Showtime Documentary Films announced the doc today, with a TV premiere of Friday, October 18, 8 p.m. Et/Pt. Jon Hamm and Jennifer Jason Leigh narrate the film, which screened in June at the Frameline Festival in San Francisco and is set for Outfest Los Angeles on Saturday, July 27 in Hollywood.
Luft was Garland’s third husband as well as, for a while, her manager. In Showtime’s description, Sid & Judy chronicles their life together through “Luft’s observations, only recently made public, and Garland’s own words…” What emerges, says Showtime, is “a poignant portrait of a woman whose vulnerabilities were exploited by an industry she helped build, but whose resilience,...
Showtime Documentary Films announced the doc today, with a TV premiere of Friday, October 18, 8 p.m. Et/Pt. Jon Hamm and Jennifer Jason Leigh narrate the film, which screened in June at the Frameline Festival in San Francisco and is set for Outfest Los Angeles on Saturday, July 27 in Hollywood.
Luft was Garland’s third husband as well as, for a while, her manager. In Showtime’s description, Sid & Judy chronicles their life together through “Luft’s observations, only recently made public, and Garland’s own words…” What emerges, says Showtime, is “a poignant portrait of a woman whose vulnerabilities were exploited by an industry she helped build, but whose resilience,...
- 7/23/2019
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Beating out bidders from several studios in a fevered auction, Sony Pictures has scored The Tree With Matchmaking Powers, an article in The Atlantic by Jeff Maysh. Peter Chiarelli (Crazy Rich Asians) will script a movie based on the true story of a German mailman who delivers love letters to a magical tree with matchmaking abilities. Producing will be Sugar23’s Michael Sugar (Spotlight), David Klawans (Argo), and Lawrence Grey (Lights Out).
The Bridegroom’s Oak is a 500-year-old tree in Germany. It is the only tree in the world with its own mailing address, and each day it receives dozens of lonely hearts letters. It has also become a popular gathering spot for the lovelorn, who come from everywhere to reach into a knothole in the trunk, hoping it spurs them to soon find a partner. Known as ‘the original Tinder,’ the tree is responsible for hundreds of marriages.
The Bridegroom’s Oak is a 500-year-old tree in Germany. It is the only tree in the world with its own mailing address, and each day it receives dozens of lonely hearts letters. It has also become a popular gathering spot for the lovelorn, who come from everywhere to reach into a knothole in the trunk, hoping it spurs them to soon find a partner. Known as ‘the original Tinder,’ the tree is responsible for hundreds of marriages.
- 6/26/2019
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
In a heated auction with multiple studios bidding, Netflix won movie rights to Dr. Rapp, and already is eyeing for John Hamburg to write the script and direct the film. The Atlantic magazine article by Jeff Maysh was published in January under How a Stroke Turned a 63-Year-Old Into a Rap Legend. It became the year’s first heated material acquisition.
David Klawans (Argo) will produce with Michael Sugar (Spotlight) and Ashley Zalta through Sugar23’s first-look Netflix deal.
Article tells the story of Dr. Sherman Hershfield, a respected neurologist from Beverly Hills who practiced medicine in the San Fernando Valley. When Hershfield suffered a stroke, an unusual side effect changed his life forever: He couldn’t stop speaking in rhyme. Remarkably, Hershfield then emerged in South Central as a freestyle performer, Dr. Rapp.
Hamburg’s scripting credits include Night School and Little Fockers. Films he has directed include Along Came Polly,...
David Klawans (Argo) will produce with Michael Sugar (Spotlight) and Ashley Zalta through Sugar23’s first-look Netflix deal.
Article tells the story of Dr. Sherman Hershfield, a respected neurologist from Beverly Hills who practiced medicine in the San Fernando Valley. When Hershfield suffered a stroke, an unusual side effect changed his life forever: He couldn’t stop speaking in rhyme. Remarkably, Hershfield then emerged in South Central as a freestyle performer, Dr. Rapp.
Hamburg’s scripting credits include Night School and Little Fockers. Films he has directed include Along Came Polly,...
- 1/31/2019
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
After a bidding war that involved several studios and production companies, Netflix has won the film rights to an Atlantic magazine story about Dr. Rapp, a 63-year-old doctor-turned-freestyle rapper.
Author Jeff Maysh’s story “How a Stroke Turned a 63-Year-Old Into a Rap Legend” was published on Jan. 16 and sparked the first major rights auction of 2019.
It describes the life of Dr. Sherman Hershfield, a respected neurologist from Beverly Hills, who practiced medicine in California’s San Fernando Valley. When Hershfield suffered a stroke, an unusual side effect changed his life forever: He couldn’t stop speaking in rhyme. Remarkably, Hershfield then emerged in South Central as a freestyle performer, “Dr. Rapp.”
Also Read: 'Fuller House' Renewed for Fifth and Final Season on Netflix: Watch the Farewell Announcement (Video)
David Klawans (“Argo”) will produce with Michael Sugar (“Spotlight”) and Ashley Zalta through Sugar23’s first-look Netflix deal.
This...
Author Jeff Maysh’s story “How a Stroke Turned a 63-Year-Old Into a Rap Legend” was published on Jan. 16 and sparked the first major rights auction of 2019.
It describes the life of Dr. Sherman Hershfield, a respected neurologist from Beverly Hills, who practiced medicine in California’s San Fernando Valley. When Hershfield suffered a stroke, an unusual side effect changed his life forever: He couldn’t stop speaking in rhyme. Remarkably, Hershfield then emerged in South Central as a freestyle performer, “Dr. Rapp.”
Also Read: 'Fuller House' Renewed for Fifth and Final Season on Netflix: Watch the Farewell Announcement (Video)
David Klawans (“Argo”) will produce with Michael Sugar (“Spotlight”) and Ashley Zalta through Sugar23’s first-look Netflix deal.
This...
- 1/31/2019
- by Umberto Gonzalez
- The Wrap
Fox is developing “How an Ex-Cop Rigged McDonald’s Monopoly Game and Stole Millions” as a movie with Ben Affleck attached to direct and Matt Damon starring.
The studio won the movie rights to Jeff Maysh’s true-crime story, recently published in the Daily Beast, which detailed how an ex-cop rigged the McDonald’s Monopoly game in 2001, allegedly stealing millions of dollars.
Damon and Affleck will produce through their Pearl Street company. The “Deadpool” writing team of Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese has been hired to write the script.
The auction was handled by Ipg’s Joel Gotler, who repped Maysh. David Klawans is exec producing.
The story describes how Michael Hoover claimed he had won the $1 million grand prize after collecting Monopoly pieces and a camera crew was dispatched to his home in Rhode Island.
“The camera crew listened patiently to his rambling story, silently recognizing the inconsequential details...
The studio won the movie rights to Jeff Maysh’s true-crime story, recently published in the Daily Beast, which detailed how an ex-cop rigged the McDonald’s Monopoly game in 2001, allegedly stealing millions of dollars.
Damon and Affleck will produce through their Pearl Street company. The “Deadpool” writing team of Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese has been hired to write the script.
The auction was handled by Ipg’s Joel Gotler, who repped Maysh. David Klawans is exec producing.
The story describes how Michael Hoover claimed he had won the $1 million grand prize after collecting Monopoly pieces and a camera crew was dispatched to his home in Rhode Island.
“The camera crew listened patiently to his rambling story, silently recognizing the inconsequential details...
- 8/2/2018
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Fox is poised to win the hot lit property in the marketplace at the moment, a giant Happy Meal that everyone wanted. Ben Affleck is attached to direct, and Matt Damon to star in a true crime story written by Jeff Maysh and published in The Daily Beast several days ago on an ex-cop who rigged the McDonald’s Monopoly game, allegedly stealing over $24 million dollars and sharing it with an unsavory group of co-conspirators who offered kickbacks to the mastermind. The Pearl Street partners will produce, and the Deadpool scribes Paul Wernick & Rhett Reese will write the script.
Sources said that bidding was ferocious for Maysh’s How An Ex-Cop Rigged McDonald’s Monopoly Game And Stole Millions. Lining up to bid were Universal for Kevin Hart, Warner Bros for John Requa & Glenn Ficarra and Steve Carell and producer Andrew Lazar, and Netflix, which bid for producing partners Eric Newman & Bryan Unkeless,...
Sources said that bidding was ferocious for Maysh’s How An Ex-Cop Rigged McDonald’s Monopoly Game And Stole Millions. Lining up to bid were Universal for Kevin Hart, Warner Bros for John Requa & Glenn Ficarra and Steve Carell and producer Andrew Lazar, and Netflix, which bid for producing partners Eric Newman & Bryan Unkeless,...
- 8/2/2018
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
The companies are developing four European-based films starting with Ol Parker’s take on the story of London concert promoter and con artist Roy Tempest.
The slate includes Fallen Idol, a remake of the 1948 Carol Reed / Graham Greene crime noir, and airship disaster story Hindenburg.
The three are being developed in association with long-term Parkes+MacDonald Productions partner ImageNation Abu Dhabi. Walter Parkes and Laurie MacDonald will produce each title, with Parkes+MacDonald president of production Evan Hayes serving as executive producer.
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel writer Parker (pictured) is adapting Great Pretender from Tempest’s autobiography. Intellectual Property Group’s Joel Gotler is on board as an executive producer.
The story takes place in the early 1960s when Tempest faked a UK tour of America’s biggest soul acts like The Temptations to The Ronettes using ordinary people masquerading as the singers.
Patrick Radden...
The slate includes Fallen Idol, a remake of the 1948 Carol Reed / Graham Greene crime noir, and airship disaster story Hindenburg.
The three are being developed in association with long-term Parkes+MacDonald Productions partner ImageNation Abu Dhabi. Walter Parkes and Laurie MacDonald will produce each title, with Parkes+MacDonald president of production Evan Hayes serving as executive producer.
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel writer Parker (pictured) is adapting Great Pretender from Tempest’s autobiography. Intellectual Property Group’s Joel Gotler is on board as an executive producer.
The story takes place in the early 1960s when Tempest faked a UK tour of America’s biggest soul acts like The Temptations to The Ronettes using ordinary people masquerading as the singers.
Patrick Radden...
- 11/15/2016
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
This year’s Blood List has named the 13 best genre scripts around town, and in its sixth year the annual screenplay contest is expanding its scope to include hot books, TV pilots, and young scribes ripe for signing. Taking top honors in 2014 is sci-fi thriller Bird Box from The Thing and Final Destination 5 scribe Eric Heisserer, an apocalyptic tale of a woman trying to lead her children to safety – all three blindfolded – after monsters descend on earth that turn people insane on sight. Universal set Heisserer to adapt the manuscript from Josh Malerman in 2013 for Mama helmer Andy Muschietti. Previous Blood List alumni include Black Swan, Stoker, Warm Bodies, and the upcoming Blumhouse thriller The Boy Next Door.
Like the Black List naming the top unproduced screenplays circulating around Hollywood, the genre-focused Blood List taps exec votes to determine each year’s best unmade horror, sci-fi, and thriller scripts.
Like the Black List naming the top unproduced screenplays circulating around Hollywood, the genre-focused Blood List taps exec votes to determine each year’s best unmade horror, sci-fi, and thriller scripts.
- 10/31/2014
- by Jen Yamato
- Deadline
Exclusive: Chockstone Pictures partners Steve Schwartz and Paula Mae Schwartz have teamed with Nick Wechsler to acquire film rights to the Peter Swanson novel The Kind Worth Killing. The book had made the rounds under the title The Lonely Lives Of Murderers but just got a new title. The novel focuses on a particularly ruthless female killer. On a late-night flight from London to Boston, Ted Severson meets fellow passenger Lily Kintner. Thinking he will never see her again, he tells her he’s been thinking about murdering his faithless wife. When they land, Lily tells the guy she wants to help, and they form a strange twisted, bond plotting the wife’s demise. He doesn’t know she has some experience in this kind of thing. The book will be published January by HarperCollins. “For Lily, murder is a lifestyle,” said Paula Mae Schwartz. “The gorgeous femme fatale that...
- 5/30/2014
- by MIKE FLEMING JR
- Deadline
Exclusive: In a high six against potential 7-figure deal, Warner Bros has acquired screen rights to The Ghostman, the upcoming Knopf novel by 23-year old author Roger Hobbs. The deal is high because it comes with a blind script commitment for Hobbs, whose book has recently sold foreign rights in the $3 million range. Kevin McCormick’s Langley Park will produce. Warner Bros went hard after the novel because it has franchise potential for a young leading man in his 30s. The protagonist is a young man who cleans up messes and helps fugitives disappear. He is careful but gets sucked into a casino heist gone terribly wrong. His former mentor bankrolled the casino heist, which left several dead, and a crack addict in the wind with $1 million in cash that was supposed to pay off a drug debt.The Ghostman finds himself in a race over 48 hours to clean up...
- 4/12/2012
- by MIKE FLEMING
- Deadline
The novella "Embassy" recently was sent around to producers by Joel Gotler, president of the Intellectual Property Group, inviting them to team with him to create a movie package to offer major studios. What was unusual was not that the thriller was written in five days by New York real estate investor, hedge-fund manager and author Richard Doetsch, or that it was published by Simon & Schuster but isn't available in bookstores. What was new was that "Embassy" has been published as a Vook, a hybrid of text and embedded video that intertwine to tell the story of a hostage crisis and can be read and viewed full-screen online or on any mobile device.
The Vook, Gotler says, is "the hottest thing right now."
What the Vook offers, along with a dramatic "Die Hard"-style story, is compelling video that helps sell the concept -- an element many producers are adding...
The Vook, Gotler says, is "the hottest thing right now."
What the Vook offers, along with a dramatic "Die Hard"-style story, is compelling video that helps sell the concept -- an element many producers are adding...
- 10/29/2009
- by By Alex Ben Block
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Weinstein Co. has signed Michael Connelly and Terrill Lee Lankford to adapt the 1980s TV series The Equalizer for the big screen. Paul McGuigan's action film follows an ex-government operative who strikes out on his own. Both Connelly and Lankford are established novelists: Connelly's books include Echo Park, and Lankford's include Blonde Lightning. Weinstein Co. executive vp and co-head of business and legal affairs Eric Roth and vp business and legal affairs Jonathan Fuhrman negotiated the deal with Joel Gotler of Intellectual Property Group on behalf of Connelly and Lankford.
- 1/11/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Larry Becsey and Jerry Kalajian, formerly of the Becsey, Wisdom, Kalajian agency, are merging with Joel Gotler's Intellectual Property Group to create a new management and production company, which will continue to carry the IPG banner and represent literary properties as well as writers and producers. Investors in the company include Stone Village Pictures, Glenn Schaeffer, Danny and Robin Greenspun and Andrew Molasky.
- 11/15/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
In a seven-figure deal, Lakeshore Entertainment has picked up the movie rights to Michael Connelly's upcoming crime novel The Lincoln Lawyer and will produce with Scott Steindorff's Stone Village Pictures. Connelly is a brand name in the crime-fiction world, and his latest book, the serial-killer thriller The Narrows, is on the best-seller charts. His novel Blood Work was adapted into a 2002 film that starred and was directed by Clint Eastwood. Lawyer concerns an attorney with a questionable set of ethics and an old Lincoln Town Car as his office. He discovers that a man he put on death row for murder is innocent and the man he currently is defending is the real killer. The book is scheduled to be released in the fall with a 500,000-copy first printing. Lakeshore's Tom Rosenberg and Gary Lucchesi will act as producers with Steindorff. Lakeshore and Stone Village partnered on 2003's The Human Stain. Lakeshore produced the Oscar-winning Million Dollar Baby, and Stone Village produced the upcoming Empire Falls with Paul Newman, Marc Platt and HBO. Connelly is repped by Joel Gotler of IPG.
Scott Steindorff's Stone Village Pictures has optioned the rights to James Ellroy's recently published collection of stories Destination: Morgue! L.A. Tales. Ellroy will adapt the material. Destination encompasses 14 pieces, some fictional and some based on real-life incidents about Los Angeles. The book includes three novellas that focus on a tough-skinned LAPD cop who is assigned to a case involving a famous actress being stalked. "James Ellroy is extremely intelligent and has an unusual perspective on life," said Steindorff, who will produce. "That's why his books are so compelling. He just knows everything about Los Angeles, and he really gets under the skin of his characters, which is what makes them so memorable." Upcoming projects for Stone Village include the HBO pic Empire Falls, based on Richard Russo's novel, and The Tortilla Curtain, with Kevin Costner and Meg Ryan and based on T.C. Boyle's novel. Steindorff also is remaking Akira Kurosawa's Ikiru with DreamWorks, to star Tom Hanks and to be directed by Jim Sheridan. Steindorff also is an executive producer on the NBC series Las Vegas. Ellroy, whose film credits include L.A. Confidential and Black Dahlia, is writing The Man Who Kept Secrets, a biopic about Hollywood lawyer Sydney Korshak that William Friedkin is attached to direct. He is repped by Joel Gotler and Intellectual Property Group.
- 10/24/2004
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.