Lee Cronin, the Irish filmmaker behind last year’s hit Evil Dead Rise, has joined forces with frequent collaborators John Keville and Macdara Kelleher of Wild Atlantic Pictures to launch Doppelgängers, a new production outfit focused on genre fare.
The company is starting hot out of the gate, signing a first-look deal with New Line Cinema for its feature film projects. New Line released Evil Dead Rise in 2023, with the movie making a splash at last year’s SXSW and going on to gross $147 million worldwide. Cronin and New Line are currently in development on a horror-thriller titled Thaw.
Under the Doppelgängers banner, the trio will develop genre-focused feature film and television projects for Cronin to write and direct. Cronin will also produce alongside Keville and Kelleher, whose credits range from R-rated comedy Cocaine Bear to acclaimed art house fantasy The Green Knight, which starred Dev Patel.
Cronin said the...
The company is starting hot out of the gate, signing a first-look deal with New Line Cinema for its feature film projects. New Line released Evil Dead Rise in 2023, with the movie making a splash at last year’s SXSW and going on to gross $147 million worldwide. Cronin and New Line are currently in development on a horror-thriller titled Thaw.
Under the Doppelgängers banner, the trio will develop genre-focused feature film and television projects for Cronin to write and direct. Cronin will also produce alongside Keville and Kelleher, whose credits range from R-rated comedy Cocaine Bear to acclaimed art house fantasy The Green Knight, which starred Dev Patel.
Cronin said the...
- 3/13/2024
- by Borys Kit
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Jackoway Austen, one of the most prominent Hollywood entertainment law firms that represents such bold-faced names as J.J. Abrams and Margot Robbie, has promoted five partners to the door.
Effective immediately, Michael Auerbach, Jeff Hynick, Kimberly Jaime, Ryan LeVine and Peter Sample are named partners in the 47-year-old firm. The quintet joining existing partners Jim Jackoway, Karl Austen, Barry Tyerman, Alan Wertheimer, Jamie Mandelbaum, Marcy Morris, Jeff Bernstein, Darren Trattner and Debby Klein.
Austen and Mandelbaum, the firm’s managing partners, made the announcement Thursday.
“We are incredibly excited about the next chapter for our firm,” said Austen and Mandelbaum in a joint statement. “With these promotions, we are strategically positioned for the future. In addition to being outstanding lawyers and formidable champions of our clients’ interests, Michael, Jeff, Kim, Ryan and Peter have an uncanny ability to identify game-changing talent, and a true dedication to collaboration and teamwork. Our...
Effective immediately, Michael Auerbach, Jeff Hynick, Kimberly Jaime, Ryan LeVine and Peter Sample are named partners in the 47-year-old firm. The quintet joining existing partners Jim Jackoway, Karl Austen, Barry Tyerman, Alan Wertheimer, Jamie Mandelbaum, Marcy Morris, Jeff Bernstein, Darren Trattner and Debby Klein.
Austen and Mandelbaum, the firm’s managing partners, made the announcement Thursday.
“We are incredibly excited about the next chapter for our firm,” said Austen and Mandelbaum in a joint statement. “With these promotions, we are strategically positioned for the future. In addition to being outstanding lawyers and formidable champions of our clients’ interests, Michael, Jeff, Kim, Ryan and Peter have an uncanny ability to identify game-changing talent, and a true dedication to collaboration and teamwork. Our...
- 2/1/2024
- by Borys Kit
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Witcher star Freya Allan, Daisy Jones and the Six actor Josh Whitehouse, and Raff Law, who appears in the upcoming Apple mini-series Masters of the Air, are starring in Triton, a fantasy horror thriller from filmmaker Janell Shirtcliff.
Elsie Hewitt, who appeared in FX’s Dave, Thalia Besson, daughter of French filmmaker Luc Besson, and musician Malcolm McRae are also toplining the indie, which is now in production in Athens, Greece.
Brad Feinstein at Romulus Entertainment is producing and financing the equity project. Brian Kavanaugh-Jones and Range are producing alongside Adonis Tountas and Everlast Pictures.
Based off a story by Shirtcliff and Angie Simms, with Simms penning the script, the story centers on three young women who, while in a vacation in Greece, run afoul of three charismatic young men who prove to be much more than they seem.
Central Athens in Greece is producing the film locally in Athens.
Elsie Hewitt, who appeared in FX’s Dave, Thalia Besson, daughter of French filmmaker Luc Besson, and musician Malcolm McRae are also toplining the indie, which is now in production in Athens, Greece.
Brad Feinstein at Romulus Entertainment is producing and financing the equity project. Brian Kavanaugh-Jones and Range are producing alongside Adonis Tountas and Everlast Pictures.
Based off a story by Shirtcliff and Angie Simms, with Simms penning the script, the story centers on three young women who, while in a vacation in Greece, run afoul of three charismatic young men who prove to be much more than they seem.
Central Athens in Greece is producing the film locally in Athens.
- 12/14/2023
- by Borys Kit
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Parker Finn, the filmmaker behind horror hit Smile, has launched Bad Feeling, a film and television production company, with Jonathan Fass named as the banner’s head of development.
The company will be based at Paramount, the studio that released Smile and with whom Finn signed a first-look deal earlier this year.
Bad Feeling has a definitive mission statement as it enters the space of scary movies and beyond. The company plans to shepherd distinct, high-end genre fare for audiences craving bold, boundary-pushing experiences. The goal is to event-ize the unusual while bringing a bespoke, craft-centric approach to commercial genre storytelling.
Finn’s Smile grossed over $216 million worldwide and was the biggest horror hit of 2022. The movie was the first original horror title to hold the no. 1 position at the domestic box office for two weeks since 2016. Paramount and Finn are already working on a sequel, which has a release date of Oct.
The company will be based at Paramount, the studio that released Smile and with whom Finn signed a first-look deal earlier this year.
Bad Feeling has a definitive mission statement as it enters the space of scary movies and beyond. The company plans to shepherd distinct, high-end genre fare for audiences craving bold, boundary-pushing experiences. The goal is to event-ize the unusual while bringing a bespoke, craft-centric approach to commercial genre storytelling.
Finn’s Smile grossed over $216 million worldwide and was the biggest horror hit of 2022. The movie was the first original horror title to hold the no. 1 position at the domestic box office for two weeks since 2016. Paramount and Finn are already working on a sequel, which has a release date of Oct.
- 10/4/2023
- by Borys Kit
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Lee Cronin, director of New Line’s upcoming Evil Dead Rise, is reuniting with the studio to direct the original horror feature Thaw.
Cronin, who is riding high from Rise’s rapturous reception at this year’s SXSW, will also rewrite the current draft.
Van Toffler and David Gale of Gunpowder & Sky, as well as Adam Goldworm of Aperture, who produced the well-regarded drama My Friend Dahmer and has Final Girl Support Group set up at HBO, are producing.
Set years after the polar ice caps have melted and sea levels have risen, the story of Thaw centers on a group of survivors at sea searching for a new home. Their prayers are answered with the discovery of an inhabitable town, that is, until they encounter a new nightmare living just below the water’s surface.
Thaw was initially written by Jeremy Passmore, who developed the project as an original spec with Goldworm,...
Cronin, who is riding high from Rise’s rapturous reception at this year’s SXSW, will also rewrite the current draft.
Van Toffler and David Gale of Gunpowder & Sky, as well as Adam Goldworm of Aperture, who produced the well-regarded drama My Friend Dahmer and has Final Girl Support Group set up at HBO, are producing.
Set years after the polar ice caps have melted and sea levels have risen, the story of Thaw centers on a group of survivors at sea searching for a new home. Their prayers are answered with the discovery of an inhabitable town, that is, until they encounter a new nightmare living just below the water’s surface.
Thaw was initially written by Jeremy Passmore, who developed the project as an original spec with Goldworm,...
- 3/29/2023
- by Borys Kit
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Lisa Kudrow (The Comeback) has been tapped to lead the ensemble cast of Time Bandits, Apple’s TV series adaptation of the beloved Terry Gilliam-directed movie, co-written, directed and executive produced by Taika Waititi (Our Flag Means Death), Joining Kudrow as series regulars are Kal-El Tuck (Unseeing Evil), Charlyne Yi (Knocked Up), Tadhg Murphy (Conversations With Friends), Roger Jean Nsengiyumva (You Don’t Know Me), Rune Temte (Eddie the Eagle), Kiera Thompson (Martyrs Lane) and Rachel House (Heartbreak High). The casting announcement also confirms the official series greenlight for the project, which had been in development at Apple since 2019.
Waititi directs the first two episodes of the 10-episode series, co-produced by Paramount Television Studios, Anonymous Content’s AC Studios and MRC Television. It’s described as a comedic journey through time and space with a ragtag group of thieves and their newest recruit: an eleven-year-old history nerd.
Kudrow plays Penelope...
Waititi directs the first two episodes of the 10-episode series, co-produced by Paramount Television Studios, Anonymous Content’s AC Studios and MRC Television. It’s described as a comedic journey through time and space with a ragtag group of thieves and their newest recruit: an eleven-year-old history nerd.
Kudrow plays Penelope...
- 9/28/2022
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: The Wilds’ Sarah Pidgeon and newcomer Tanzyn Crawford have been cast as series regulars alongside Kathryn Hahn and Quentin Plair in Hulu’s Tiny Beautiful Things, based on Cheryl Strayed’s bestselling book, from ABC Signature and Hello Sunshine. Additionally, Rachel Lee Goldenberg has been tapped to direct the first two episodes.
Created and written by Liz Tigelaar based on Strayed’s book, Tiny Beautiful Things is a half-hour series about a woman, Claire (Hahn), who reluctantly becomes Dear Sugar — an anonymous, revered advice columnist — when her own life is falling apart. Told in multiple timelines with astonishing intimacy, nerve and candor, she excavates the beauty, struggle and humor in her own life to show us that we are not beyond rescue, that it’s our stories that will ultimately save us.
Pidgeon will play Young Clare, the younger version of the lead character, played by Hahn. Rebellious and sharp-tongued,...
Created and written by Liz Tigelaar based on Strayed’s book, Tiny Beautiful Things is a half-hour series about a woman, Claire (Hahn), who reluctantly becomes Dear Sugar — an anonymous, revered advice columnist — when her own life is falling apart. Told in multiple timelines with astonishing intimacy, nerve and candor, she excavates the beauty, struggle and humor in her own life to show us that we are not beyond rescue, that it’s our stories that will ultimately save us.
Pidgeon will play Young Clare, the younger version of the lead character, played by Hahn. Rebellious and sharp-tongued,...
- 8/8/2022
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
The “Quantum Leap” pilot at NBC has cast Raymond Lee in one of the show’s lead roles, Variety has learned.
Serving as a sequel series to the original “Quantum Leap,” the new version takes place 30 years after Dr. Sam Beckett stepped into the Quantum Leap accelerator and vanished. Now a new team has been assembled to restart the project in the hopes of understanding the mysteries behind the machine and the man who created it.
Lee will star as Dr. Ben Seong, described as both a scientist and man of faith. He’s a world-renowned physicist working on a time travel project known as Quantum Leap.
Lee currently appears on the AMC series “Kevin Can F*** Himself,” which will end with its upcoming second season. He was also a series regular on the Alan Ball HBO series “Here and Now.” His other TV roles include “Made for Love,” “Mozart in the Jungle,...
Serving as a sequel series to the original “Quantum Leap,” the new version takes place 30 years after Dr. Sam Beckett stepped into the Quantum Leap accelerator and vanished. Now a new team has been assembled to restart the project in the hopes of understanding the mysteries behind the machine and the man who created it.
Lee will star as Dr. Ben Seong, described as both a scientist and man of faith. He’s a world-renowned physicist working on a time travel project known as Quantum Leap.
Lee currently appears on the AMC series “Kevin Can F*** Himself,” which will end with its upcoming second season. He was also a series regular on the Alan Ball HBO series “Here and Now.” His other TV roles include “Made for Love,” “Mozart in the Jungle,...
- 3/4/2022
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
Raymond Lee has been cast as the lead in NBC’s hourlong pilot Quantum Leap, a reboot of the beloved 1990s sci-fi drama. He will play Dr. Ben Seong, a spiritual successor to Scott Bakula’s Dr. Sam Beckett from the original series.
Lee’s Ben Seong is both a scientist and man of faith. He’s a world-renowned physicist working on a time-travel project known as Quantum Leap.
In the reboot, it’s been 30 years since Dr. Sam Beckett (Bakula) stepped into the Quantum Leap accelerator and vanished. Now a new team has been assembled to restart the project in the hopes of understanding the mysteries behind the machine and the man who created it.
Written and executive produced by La Brea EPs Steven Lilien and Bryan Wynbrandt and executive produced by Blindspot creator Martin Gero as well as Quantum Leap creator/EP Don Bellisario and EP/co-narrator Deborah Pratt,...
Lee’s Ben Seong is both a scientist and man of faith. He’s a world-renowned physicist working on a time-travel project known as Quantum Leap.
In the reboot, it’s been 30 years since Dr. Sam Beckett (Bakula) stepped into the Quantum Leap accelerator and vanished. Now a new team has been assembled to restart the project in the hopes of understanding the mysteries behind the machine and the man who created it.
Written and executive produced by La Brea EPs Steven Lilien and Bryan Wynbrandt and executive produced by Blindspot creator Martin Gero as well as Quantum Leap creator/EP Don Bellisario and EP/co-narrator Deborah Pratt,...
- 3/4/2022
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Marcy Kelly has signed on to partner with Mattel Films to write across their upcoming film slate.
Kelly has worked with Mattel Films on several projects, including a feature film script based on the #1 card game property Uno.
She adapted cult favorite Mean Girls into a branching narrative video game for Pocket Gems and Paramount. In its first year of release, Mean Girls: Senior Year achieved over 221 million views from 27 million unique players. Kelly is also known for her contained thriller featurette, Autonomous, and has been published in Slate’s Future Tense science fiction series.
Mattel Films has 14 live action feature films in various stages of production with two slated to start this year: Barbie in March and Masters of the Universe. Barbie stars Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Barbie – Begins production in March with Margo Robbie, Ryan Gosling, America Ferrera and Kate McKinnon. Greta Gerwig is directing off a...
Kelly has worked with Mattel Films on several projects, including a feature film script based on the #1 card game property Uno.
She adapted cult favorite Mean Girls into a branching narrative video game for Pocket Gems and Paramount. In its first year of release, Mean Girls: Senior Year achieved over 221 million views from 27 million unique players. Kelly is also known for her contained thriller featurette, Autonomous, and has been published in Slate’s Future Tense science fiction series.
Mattel Films has 14 live action feature films in various stages of production with two slated to start this year: Barbie in March and Masters of the Universe. Barbie stars Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Barbie – Begins production in March with Margo Robbie, Ryan Gosling, America Ferrera and Kate McKinnon. Greta Gerwig is directing off a...
- 3/3/2022
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: The creator, executive producer and showrunner of the acclaimed HBO Max series Station Eleven, Patrick Somerville, and the series’ associate producer and editor David Eisenberg, have opened the doors to feature film and television production company Tractor Beam.
Somerville and Eisenberg first met on The Leftovers, hitting it off as friends and hoping to become eventual collaborators. They reteamed for Station Eleven, where during the long, often pandemic-induced delays, they hatched the idea for Tractor Beam, with the mission of making content that centers on the creatives and empowers them to control the filmmaking process.
Hilary Flynn and Stephanie Jacob-Goldman have been brought aboard as Tractor Beam’s VP of Development and VP of Production, respectively. Somerville currently has a deal at Paramount Television Studios.
“Our mission at Tractor Beam is to help creators get home,” said Somerville. “Streamers have opened up astounding new opportunities in television and film,...
Somerville and Eisenberg first met on The Leftovers, hitting it off as friends and hoping to become eventual collaborators. They reteamed for Station Eleven, where during the long, often pandemic-induced delays, they hatched the idea for Tractor Beam, with the mission of making content that centers on the creatives and empowers them to control the filmmaking process.
Hilary Flynn and Stephanie Jacob-Goldman have been brought aboard as Tractor Beam’s VP of Development and VP of Production, respectively. Somerville currently has a deal at Paramount Television Studios.
“Our mission at Tractor Beam is to help creators get home,” said Somerville. “Streamers have opened up astounding new opportunities in television and film,...
- 1/20/2022
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Irish indie feature Extra Ordinary, a horror comedy about a ghost-busting duo, premiered in 2019 at SXSW to rave reviews.
It is now being adapted as a half-hour comedy series for TBS.
The Turner-owned cable network has put the project into development with Animal Pictures, the production company run by Maya Rudolph, Natasha Lyonne, and Danielle Renfrew Behrens.
The trio will produce the adaptation with Katie Holly & Yvonne Donohoe of Ireland’s Blinder Films, who produced the original movie with Mike Ahern and Enda Loughman, who wrote and directed the original feature attached to write and direct the series.
Extra Ordinary follows Rose and Martin, a ghostbustin’ duo, as they counsel ghosts in their small Irish village while navigating their own budding and sometimes awkward relationship. Everything is going well until an American family with supernatural powers moves into the local castle.
The film starred Maeve Higgins as Rose...
It is now being adapted as a half-hour comedy series for TBS.
The Turner-owned cable network has put the project into development with Animal Pictures, the production company run by Maya Rudolph, Natasha Lyonne, and Danielle Renfrew Behrens.
The trio will produce the adaptation with Katie Holly & Yvonne Donohoe of Ireland’s Blinder Films, who produced the original movie with Mike Ahern and Enda Loughman, who wrote and directed the original feature attached to write and direct the series.
Extra Ordinary follows Rose and Martin, a ghostbustin’ duo, as they counsel ghosts in their small Irish village while navigating their own budding and sometimes awkward relationship. Everything is going well until an American family with supernatural powers moves into the local castle.
The film starred Maeve Higgins as Rose...
- 10/5/2021
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Sosie Bacon, who recently starred opposite Kate Winslet in the Emmy-winning HBO Max series “Mare of Easttown,” has landed her first lead role in a studio movie.
The 29-year-old actor has been tapped to star as Rose in the Paramount Players film “Something’s Wrong With Rose.”
Based on the short “Laura Hasn’t Slept,” the movie centers on a doctor whose mind begins to turn on her after she witnesses a horrifying occurrence. The logline reads: “After a bizarre, traumatic event involving a patient, a psychiatrist begins to experience terrifying occurrences that only she can see, and grows increasingly convinced that she’s being pursued by a malevolent supernatural force.”
Parker Finn will write and direct “Something’s Wrong With Rose,” which is slated to start production in New Jersey this October. Temple Hill is producing for Paramount Players, a division of the studio that creates genre films from contemporary voices.
The 29-year-old actor has been tapped to star as Rose in the Paramount Players film “Something’s Wrong With Rose.”
Based on the short “Laura Hasn’t Slept,” the movie centers on a doctor whose mind begins to turn on her after she witnesses a horrifying occurrence. The logline reads: “After a bizarre, traumatic event involving a patient, a psychiatrist begins to experience terrifying occurrences that only she can see, and grows increasingly convinced that she’s being pursued by a malevolent supernatural force.”
Parker Finn will write and direct “Something’s Wrong With Rose,” which is slated to start production in New Jersey this October. Temple Hill is producing for Paramount Players, a division of the studio that creates genre films from contemporary voices.
- 9/22/2021
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
Starz is developing a drama series about Texan citizen journalist “Lagordiloca” (an alias for Priscilla Villarreal) penned by playwright and filmmaker Hilary Bettis, Variety has confirmed.
Inspired by Texas Monthly’s coverage about Villarreal, the show centers on the titular protagonist’s rise as a street journalist and modern-day folk hero in her border-town of Laredo, as she seized the power of social media and pushed the boundaries of the first amendment to expose corruption, cartels and other ills in her beloved community. The raw footage that she live-streamed to her whopping 190K followers made her a lead news source and a popular figure in Laredo and beyond— but, Villarreal was arrested for posting the names of two deceased victims before they had been made public by authorities.
The project hails from Bettis, Nina Tassler and Denise Dinovi’s PatMa Productions banner, as well as CBS Studios. Its executive producers include Bettis,...
Inspired by Texas Monthly’s coverage about Villarreal, the show centers on the titular protagonist’s rise as a street journalist and modern-day folk hero in her border-town of Laredo, as she seized the power of social media and pushed the boundaries of the first amendment to expose corruption, cartels and other ills in her beloved community. The raw footage that she live-streamed to her whopping 190K followers made her a lead news source and a popular figure in Laredo and beyond— but, Villarreal was arrested for posting the names of two deceased victims before they had been made public by authorities.
The project hails from Bettis, Nina Tassler and Denise Dinovi’s PatMa Productions banner, as well as CBS Studios. Its executive producers include Bettis,...
- 9/22/2021
- by Mónica Marie Zorrilla
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Starz has put in development Lagordiloca, a drama series that chronicles the rise of street journalist Priscilla Villarreal as she capitalizes on the power of livestream reporting to expose corruption, cartels, and serial killers in the border town of Laredo, Texas. The project, Inspired by Skip Hollandsworth’s and Leif Reigstad’s articles about Villarreal in Texas Monthly, comes from playwright, film/TV writer and filmmaker Hilary Bettis, who is penning the adaptation, Nina Tassler and Denise Di Novi’s PatMa Productions and CBS Studios where the company is based.
A modern-day Folk Hero Tale, Priscilla’s use of social media pushes the boundaries of freedom of speech and press to the extreme, shaking the community’s foundation to its core. But above all else, this is the story of one woman’s unconditional love for her family and community.
Bettis executive produces with Tassler, Di Novi and Joan Boorstein...
A modern-day Folk Hero Tale, Priscilla’s use of social media pushes the boundaries of freedom of speech and press to the extreme, shaking the community’s foundation to its core. But above all else, this is the story of one woman’s unconditional love for her family and community.
Bettis executive produces with Tassler, Di Novi and Joan Boorstein...
- 9/21/2021
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Hulu has given a formal pilot green light to Career Opportunities In Murder & Mayhem (working title), a drama headlined by Emmy and Tony winner Mandy Patinkin (Homeland) and Violett Beane (God Friended Me). Also set as series regulars in the ABC Signature-produced pilot are Lauren Patten (Jagged Little Pill) Hugo Diego Garcia, Angela Zhou (Hell on Wheels) and Rahul Kohli (iZombie).
Written by Stumptown duo Mike Weiss and Heidi Cole McAdams and to be directed by Marc Webb, Career Opportunities in Murder & Mayhem (wt) asks How do you solve a murder in a post-fact world? Especially when sailing the Mediterranean on an ocean liner filled with the wealthy and powerful. Everyone on board is hiding something… but is one of them a killer? That’s what the World’s Once Greatest Detective, Rufus Cotesworth (Patinkin), and his protége, Imogene (Beane), aim to discover. The truth at all cost.
Patten...
Written by Stumptown duo Mike Weiss and Heidi Cole McAdams and to be directed by Marc Webb, Career Opportunities in Murder & Mayhem (wt) asks How do you solve a murder in a post-fact world? Especially when sailing the Mediterranean on an ocean liner filled with the wealthy and powerful. Everyone on board is hiding something… but is one of them a killer? That’s what the World’s Once Greatest Detective, Rufus Cotesworth (Patinkin), and his protége, Imogene (Beane), aim to discover. The truth at all cost.
Patten...
- 9/16/2021
- by Nellie Andreeva and Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Mike Ahern and Enda Loughman will rewrite and direct the science fiction feature Sid for Amazon Studios from an original spec screenplay written by Travis Milloy (Pandorium), Deadline has learned. The storyline is being kept under wraps.
Ahern & Loughman’s feature directorial debut, Extra Ordinary, premiered in competition at last year’s SXSW to rave reviews, notching 98% on Rotten Tomatoes. The supernatural comedy follows Rose (Maeve Higgins), a mostly sweet and mostly lonely small-town driving instructor who must use her supernatural talent to save the daughter of Martin (Barry Ward), also mostly sweet and lonely, from a washed-up rock star (Will Forte) who is using her in a satanic pact that will reignite his fame.
Davis Entertainment and Zoic Studios are producing Sid. Producers are John Davis and John Fox via Davis Entertainment. EPs include Davis Entertainment’s Jeremy Stein and Zoic Studios’ Chris Jones, Samantha Shear and Loni Peristere.
Ahern & Loughman’s feature directorial debut, Extra Ordinary, premiered in competition at last year’s SXSW to rave reviews, notching 98% on Rotten Tomatoes. The supernatural comedy follows Rose (Maeve Higgins), a mostly sweet and mostly lonely small-town driving instructor who must use her supernatural talent to save the daughter of Martin (Barry Ward), also mostly sweet and lonely, from a washed-up rock star (Will Forte) who is using her in a satanic pact that will reignite his fame.
Davis Entertainment and Zoic Studios are producing Sid. Producers are John Davis and John Fox via Davis Entertainment. EPs include Davis Entertainment’s Jeremy Stein and Zoic Studios’ Chris Jones, Samantha Shear and Loni Peristere.
- 9/13/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Anna Akana has joined Emma Roberts in About Fate. Thomas Mann and Lewis Tan are also on board. The film was written by Tiffany Paulsen and will be directed by Marius Weisberg.
The romantic comedy tells a tale of two people who believe in love, but seem to never be able to find its true meaning. In a wild twist of events, fate puts each in the other’s path on a stormy New Year’s Eve and comedy and chaos ensue. Endeavor Content is handling worldwide sales for About Fate. Filming begins in June in Boston.
Akana can currently be seen in Jupiter’s Legacy on Netflix and had a recurring on ABC’s A Million Little Things.
She is represented by The Coronel Group, CAA and Jeff Hynick of Jackoway Austen Tyerman.
The romantic comedy tells a tale of two people who believe in love, but seem to never be able to find its true meaning. In a wild twist of events, fate puts each in the other’s path on a stormy New Year’s Eve and comedy and chaos ensue. Endeavor Content is handling worldwide sales for About Fate. Filming begins in June in Boston.
Akana can currently be seen in Jupiter’s Legacy on Netflix and had a recurring on ABC’s A Million Little Things.
She is represented by The Coronel Group, CAA and Jeff Hynick of Jackoway Austen Tyerman.
- 5/27/2021
- by Justin Kroll
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Macarena Achaga is set to join Andy Garcia in the Father of the Bride reboot, which Gaz Alazraki has been set to helm. The pic will revolve around a Cuban-American family, with Matt Lopez penning the script.
The film will tell the story of a father coming to grips with his daughter’s upcoming wedding through the prism of multiple relationships within a big, sprawling Cuban-American family. It will be more of a rom-com than previous versions of film. While this will mark the third iteration of the story, sources say this will be more in the vein of the original Spencer Tracy pic and not the Steve Martin franchise from the 1990s.
Achaga will be playing the stepmother to the groom. Gloria Estefan is set to play Garcia’s wife, with Adria Arjona tapped to play the bride-to-be. Diego Boneta is on board to play the groom.
Dede...
The film will tell the story of a father coming to grips with his daughter’s upcoming wedding through the prism of multiple relationships within a big, sprawling Cuban-American family. It will be more of a rom-com than previous versions of film. While this will mark the third iteration of the story, sources say this will be more in the vein of the original Spencer Tracy pic and not the Steve Martin franchise from the 1990s.
Achaga will be playing the stepmother to the groom. Gloria Estefan is set to play Garcia’s wife, with Adria Arjona tapped to play the bride-to-be. Diego Boneta is on board to play the groom.
Dede...
- 5/27/2021
- by Justin Kroll
- Deadline Film + TV
Jenna Ortega has been tapped for the title role in Wednesday, Tim Burton’s live-action Addams Family series for Netflix focused on the iconic character of Wednesday Addams.
The coming-of-age comedy, written by Smallville creators Al Gough and Miles Millar and to be directed by Burton, is a sleuthing, supernaturally infused mystery charting Wednesday Addams’ (Ortega) years as a student at Nevermore Academy. That’s where she attempts to master her emerging psychic ability, thwart a monstrous killing spree that has terrorized the local town, and solve the supernatural mystery that embroiled her parents 25 years ago — all while navigating her new and very tangled relationships.
The YA series, Wednesday Addams’ first solo vehicle, marks Burton’s first live-action show and his TV directing debut.
Ortega is taking over the role from Christina Ricci, the actress most closely associated the character, who played Wednesday in both feature films,...
The coming-of-age comedy, written by Smallville creators Al Gough and Miles Millar and to be directed by Burton, is a sleuthing, supernaturally infused mystery charting Wednesday Addams’ (Ortega) years as a student at Nevermore Academy. That’s where she attempts to master her emerging psychic ability, thwart a monstrous killing spree that has terrorized the local town, and solve the supernatural mystery that embroiled her parents 25 years ago — all while navigating her new and very tangled relationships.
The YA series, Wednesday Addams’ first solo vehicle, marks Burton’s first live-action show and his TV directing debut.
Ortega is taking over the role from Christina Ricci, the actress most closely associated the character, who played Wednesday in both feature films,...
- 5/19/2021
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Tim Burton has cast the leading lady for “Wednesday,” his upcoming live-action, comedic, coming-of-age Netflix series following the iconic “Addams Family” character Wednesday Addams.
Taking on the role of everyone’s favorite goth teen is “Jane the Virgin” and “You” alum Jenna Ortega, the streaming service said today. While Wednesday has been portrayed in television series, films, video games and even musicals, Ortega will have the honor of being the first to play the character in a solo story, rather than as part of The Addams Family ensemble.
Here’s the official description for the eight-episode YA show “Wednesday”:
“The series is a sleuthing, supernaturally infused mystery charting Wednesday Addams’ years as a student at Nevermore Academy. Wednesday’s attempts to master her emerging psychic ability, thwart a monstrous killing spree that has terrorized the local town, and solve the supernatural mystery that embroiled her parents 25 years ago — all...
Taking on the role of everyone’s favorite goth teen is “Jane the Virgin” and “You” alum Jenna Ortega, the streaming service said today. While Wednesday has been portrayed in television series, films, video games and even musicals, Ortega will have the honor of being the first to play the character in a solo story, rather than as part of The Addams Family ensemble.
Here’s the official description for the eight-episode YA show “Wednesday”:
“The series is a sleuthing, supernaturally infused mystery charting Wednesday Addams’ years as a student at Nevermore Academy. Wednesday’s attempts to master her emerging psychic ability, thwart a monstrous killing spree that has terrorized the local town, and solve the supernatural mystery that embroiled her parents 25 years ago — all...
- 5/19/2021
- by Jennifer Maas
- The Wrap
Born in New Zealand to a family of Chinese doctors, action maven Roseanne Liang describes herself as a “classic immigrant-child overachiever” who’d never questioned that she was destined to become a doctor until she got into medical school.
She deferred her acceptance for a year and decided to take classes that aligned more closely with her personal interests. “I was obsessed with Pixar and computer animation, so I did computer science and film theory,” says Liang, whose “Shadow in the Cloud” blends CG gremlins with a feminist action hero.
A big fan of Weta, Liang watches “Terminator 2” every year and dreams of directing a James Cameron-esque extravaganza.
Upon discovering her passion, she switched tracks and pursued a master’s in film. In school, “I was writing vampire and action movies,” she says, but at the advice of a professor, “I took a detour into moviemaking that was more accessible to me,...
She deferred her acceptance for a year and decided to take classes that aligned more closely with her personal interests. “I was obsessed with Pixar and computer animation, so I did computer science and film theory,” says Liang, whose “Shadow in the Cloud” blends CG gremlins with a feminist action hero.
A big fan of Weta, Liang watches “Terminator 2” every year and dreams of directing a James Cameron-esque extravaganza.
Upon discovering her passion, she switched tracks and pursued a master’s in film. In school, “I was writing vampire and action movies,” she says, but at the advice of a professor, “I took a detour into moviemaking that was more accessible to me,...
- 2/25/2021
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Amazon Studios and Automatik have set Jamie Bell and Margaret Qualley to star in Fred & Ginger, a new feature film profiling the iconic dancing pair Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Jonathan Entwistle will direct the biopic based off a script by Arash Amel.
Fred & Ginger goes behind the beloved stage personas of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, examining what individually drove them while celebrating the creative magic between them. The biopic will tell the untold, real love story between the two legends both on and off the screen.
Fred Berger and Brian Kavanaugh-Jones of Automatik will produce, with Bell, Qualley and Amel also producing. Max Minghella will executive produce under his and Bell’s Blank Tape banner, reuniting them with Automatik, their partners on Teen Spirit. Gemma Levinson will be overseeing for Automatik.
Both Bell and Qualley, with deep roots in dance, won’t be strangers to the rigorous choreography.
Fred & Ginger goes behind the beloved stage personas of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, examining what individually drove them while celebrating the creative magic between them. The biopic will tell the untold, real love story between the two legends both on and off the screen.
Fred Berger and Brian Kavanaugh-Jones of Automatik will produce, with Bell, Qualley and Amel also producing. Max Minghella will executive produce under his and Bell’s Blank Tape banner, reuniting them with Automatik, their partners on Teen Spirit. Gemma Levinson will be overseeing for Automatik.
Both Bell and Qualley, with deep roots in dance, won’t be strangers to the rigorous choreography.
- 12/11/2020
- by Justin Kroll
- Deadline Film + TV
Simon Kinberg’s Genre Films And Amazon Studios Land Rights To Novella ‘DNA’; Julian Meiojas To Adapt
Exclusive: Simon Kinberg’s Genre Films and Amazon Studios have partnered to develop the illustrated novella DNA (“Death Notification Agency”) following a competitive situation for the film rights. Genre’s Kinberg and Audrey Chon will produce alongside Russell Ackerman, John Schoenfelder and Jay Schuminsky, who published the original illustrated novella via their company NeoText.
Julian Meiojas will adapt the script based on the series of novellas he created. An established TV writer, this will be Meiojas’ first foray into film.
DNA is a genre-bending thrill ride set in a world where people are informed of their death 24 hours in advance by an organization known as the Death Notification Agency. We follow an ex-detective process server who, after being informed of his own death, goes on the run across a dystopian United States to uncover a larger conspiracy.
Genre Films was founded in 2010 by director-writer-producer Kinberg and under the banner he...
Julian Meiojas will adapt the script based on the series of novellas he created. An established TV writer, this will be Meiojas’ first foray into film.
DNA is a genre-bending thrill ride set in a world where people are informed of their death 24 hours in advance by an organization known as the Death Notification Agency. We follow an ex-detective process server who, after being informed of his own death, goes on the run across a dystopian United States to uncover a larger conspiracy.
Genre Films was founded in 2010 by director-writer-producer Kinberg and under the banner he...
- 11/16/2020
- by Justin Kroll
- Deadline Film + TV
HBO is heading to Hawaii with its latest limited series, The White Lotus, from Enlightened creator Mike White.
The premium cable network has ordered six episodes of the series, which will begin production this month on location in Hawaii under Covid-19 guidelines.
Created, executive produced, written and directed by White, the series is set at an exclusive tropical resort and follows the exploits of various guests and employees over the span of a week.
Murray Bartlett (Looking), Connie Britton (Nashville), Jennifer Coolidge (2 Broke Girls), Alexandra Daddario (True Detective), Fred Hechinger (Eighth Grade), Jake Lacy (Girls), Brittany O’Grady (Little Voice), Natasha Rothwell (Insecure), Sydney Sweeney (Euphoria) and Steve Zahn (Treme) star with more cast set to be revealed later.
David Bernad and Nick Hall exec produce alongside White with Mark Kamine as co-exec producer.
“Mike is an unparalleled talent whose groundbreaking work has transformed both the film and TV space,...
The premium cable network has ordered six episodes of the series, which will begin production this month on location in Hawaii under Covid-19 guidelines.
Created, executive produced, written and directed by White, the series is set at an exclusive tropical resort and follows the exploits of various guests and employees over the span of a week.
Murray Bartlett (Looking), Connie Britton (Nashville), Jennifer Coolidge (2 Broke Girls), Alexandra Daddario (True Detective), Fred Hechinger (Eighth Grade), Jake Lacy (Girls), Brittany O’Grady (Little Voice), Natasha Rothwell (Insecure), Sydney Sweeney (Euphoria) and Steve Zahn (Treme) star with more cast set to be revealed later.
David Bernad and Nick Hall exec produce alongside White with Mark Kamine as co-exec producer.
“Mike is an unparalleled talent whose groundbreaking work has transformed both the film and TV space,...
- 10/19/2020
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: We can tell you first that model and skateboarder Evan Mock has been cast as a series regular in HBO Max’s upcoming reimagination of Gossip Girl.
For multi-hyphenate Mock, it’s his first acting role, which is being kept under wraps.
Mock joins the Gossip Girl click which currently counts leads Emily Alyn Lind, Tavi Gevinson, Whitney Peak, Eli Brown, Johnathan Fernandez, Jordan Alexander, Savannah Smith and Jason Gotay as well as Thomas Doherty, Adam Chanler-Berat, Savannah Smith and Zion Moreno.
Like the original series, the new iteration of Gossip Girl, written by Joshua Safran, is based on the book by Cecily von Ziegesar. Eight years after the original website went dark, a new generation of New York private school teens is introduced to the social surveillance of Gossip Girl. The prestige series will address just how much social media — and the landscape of New York itself — has changed in the intervening years.
For multi-hyphenate Mock, it’s his first acting role, which is being kept under wraps.
Mock joins the Gossip Girl click which currently counts leads Emily Alyn Lind, Tavi Gevinson, Whitney Peak, Eli Brown, Johnathan Fernandez, Jordan Alexander, Savannah Smith and Jason Gotay as well as Thomas Doherty, Adam Chanler-Berat, Savannah Smith and Zion Moreno.
Like the original series, the new iteration of Gossip Girl, written by Joshua Safran, is based on the book by Cecily von Ziegesar. Eight years after the original website went dark, a new generation of New York private school teens is introduced to the social surveillance of Gossip Girl. The prestige series will address just how much social media — and the landscape of New York itself — has changed in the intervening years.
- 10/5/2020
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Count You and Jane the Virgin actress Jenna Ortega in for Spyglass Media Group and Paramount Pictures’ upcoming Scream. She joins franchise castmembers David Arquette and Courteney Cox who’ll reprise their respective roles as Dewey Riley and Gale Weathers, as well as newcomer Melissa Barrera (In the Heights). We first told you about Cox’x returns and Barrera addition. The production will shoot in Wilmington, North Carolina.
Ortega is best known for her roles in the Netflix series You as Ellie and the CW’s Jane the Virgin as Young Jane. Ortega can next be seen in Yes Day starring Jennifer Garner and The Babysitter: Killer Queen with Bella Thorne. The actress recently wrapped filming on Songbird opposite Demi Moore and Bradley Whitford, which was one of the first notable feature productions to shoot in Los Angeles after the pandemic shutdown.
Scream is being directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin...
Ortega is best known for her roles in the Netflix series You as Ellie and the CW’s Jane the Virgin as Young Jane. Ortega can next be seen in Yes Day starring Jennifer Garner and The Babysitter: Killer Queen with Bella Thorne. The actress recently wrapped filming on Songbird opposite Demi Moore and Bradley Whitford, which was one of the first notable feature productions to shoot in Los Angeles after the pandemic shutdown.
Scream is being directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin...
- 8/19/2020
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Doug Belgrad’s Sony-based 2.0 Entertainment has hired writers Sam Chalsen and Nelson Greaves to write a psychological thriller about Ted Kaczynski, who went from Harvard math prodigy, to the subject of an intense psychological experiment, ultimately becoming the Unabomber.
Chalsen and Greaves began their writing career together after their pilot Potus Maximus sold to Fox with Howard Gordon executive producing. Their blind deal at Warner Bros led to the pair writing the videogame adaptation Spy Hunter as well as a reboot of Inspector Gadget for Disney and producer Dan Lin.
When not writing together, Chalsen moved from writing on Fox’s Sleepy Hollow to CW’s The Flash while Greaves recently has been employed at Apple on both See and an Untitled David Weil show. Greaves also wrote the 2015 horror pic Unfriended, which off a small budget of $1M and a $64M global box office gross, was...
Chalsen and Greaves began their writing career together after their pilot Potus Maximus sold to Fox with Howard Gordon executive producing. Their blind deal at Warner Bros led to the pair writing the videogame adaptation Spy Hunter as well as a reboot of Inspector Gadget for Disney and producer Dan Lin.
When not writing together, Chalsen moved from writing on Fox’s Sleepy Hollow to CW’s The Flash while Greaves recently has been employed at Apple on both See and an Untitled David Weil show. Greaves also wrote the 2015 horror pic Unfriended, which off a small budget of $1M and a $64M global box office gross, was...
- 7/13/2020
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
In today’s film news roundup, three projects — “The Culling,” “Atlantis” and “A Savannah Haunting” — are unveiled; “Transhood” wins the Audience Award at AFI Docs; the WGA East announces 15 candidates; and the Visual Effects Society honors five members.
Project Launches
Universal Pictures is developing the thriller “Atlantis with “Jurassic World” director Colin Trevorrow and his Metronome Film Co. with Trevorrow directing and producing.
The project is based on a story about the mythical city of Atlantis by Trevorrow and Matt Charman. Dante Harper, who wrote the original spec script that became Tom Cruise’s “Edge of Tomorrow,” will write the script for “Atlantis.”
Metronome and Universal are also collaborating on “Space Opera,” a musical with producer Marc Platt based on Catherynne Valente’s book.
Treverrow’s directing credits include “Safety Not Guaranteed,” “The Book of Henry” and the upcoming “Jurassic World: Dominion.” The news was first reported by Deadline Hollywood.
Project Launches
Universal Pictures is developing the thriller “Atlantis with “Jurassic World” director Colin Trevorrow and his Metronome Film Co. with Trevorrow directing and producing.
The project is based on a story about the mythical city of Atlantis by Trevorrow and Matt Charman. Dante Harper, who wrote the original spec script that became Tom Cruise’s “Edge of Tomorrow,” will write the script for “Atlantis.”
Metronome and Universal are also collaborating on “Space Opera,” a musical with producer Marc Platt based on Catherynne Valente’s book.
Treverrow’s directing credits include “Safety Not Guaranteed,” “The Book of Henry” and the upcoming “Jurassic World: Dominion.” The news was first reported by Deadline Hollywood.
- 6/23/2020
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
“Shazam!” director David F. Sandberg is attached to direct the horror movie “The Culling,” which Lionsgate just acquired the spec script for, an individual with knowledge of the project told TheWrap.
Sandberg and Lotta Losten will produce through their newly formed Mångata production banner, alongside Chris Bender and Jake Weiner for Good Fear Content. Scott Stoops is executive producing. Stephen Herman wrote the spec script.
“The Culling” will follow a troubled priest who confines himself to a remote cabin in the middle of the woods where he attempts to make a last stand against the demon that terrorized his family when he was a child.
Also Read: Netflix Wins Horror Film 'The Unsound' With David F Sandberg Directing
Lionsgate’s Aaron Janus is overseeing the project along with Aaron Edmonds.
Sandberg most recently directed “Shazam!” for Warner Bros. which starred Zachary Levi in the title role and grossed over $366 million worldwide.
Sandberg and Lotta Losten will produce through their newly formed Mångata production banner, alongside Chris Bender and Jake Weiner for Good Fear Content. Scott Stoops is executive producing. Stephen Herman wrote the spec script.
“The Culling” will follow a troubled priest who confines himself to a remote cabin in the middle of the woods where he attempts to make a last stand against the demon that terrorized his family when he was a child.
Also Read: Netflix Wins Horror Film 'The Unsound' With David F Sandberg Directing
Lionsgate’s Aaron Janus is overseeing the project along with Aaron Edmonds.
Sandberg most recently directed “Shazam!” for Warner Bros. which starred Zachary Levi in the title role and grossed over $366 million worldwide.
- 6/22/2020
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Wrap
Exclusive: Lionsgate has acquired the Stephen Herman horror spec script The Culling for Shazam! helmer David F. Sandberg to direct. Sandberg & Lotta Losten will produce via their newly formed Mångata production banner, alongside Good Fear Content’s Chris Bender & Jake Weiner, with Scott Stoops exec producing.
A troubled priest confines himself to a remote cabin in the middle of the woods where he attempts to make a last stand against the demon that terrorized his family when he was a child.
Lionsgate’s Aaron Janus is overseeing the project along with Aaron Edmonds. Swedish-born Sandberg is coming off Shazam!, which grossed over $366M with Zachary Levi in the title role. Sandberg and Losten got started in 2013 when their short film Lights Out became a viral sensation with over 100 million hits. Short was acquired by New Line and Sandberg directed the feature with James Wan producing. That led Sandberg to the...
A troubled priest confines himself to a remote cabin in the middle of the woods where he attempts to make a last stand against the demon that terrorized his family when he was a child.
Lionsgate’s Aaron Janus is overseeing the project along with Aaron Edmonds. Swedish-born Sandberg is coming off Shazam!, which grossed over $366M with Zachary Levi in the title role. Sandberg and Losten got started in 2013 when their short film Lights Out became a viral sensation with over 100 million hits. Short was acquired by New Line and Sandberg directed the feature with James Wan producing. That led Sandberg to the...
- 6/22/2020
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Picturestart has teamed with Search Party creators Sarah-Violet Bliss and Charles Rogers on Monster, a movie based on their original pitch. They’ll write and direct, and Picturestart will develop, produce and finance. Bliss and Rogers will be exec producers.
Monster is a comedy about a young woman who moves to Los Angeles with big dreams of stardom. Upon her arrival, she lands a personal-assistant gig with a monster of a boss who may in fact be an actual monster. Lucy Kitada and Jessica Switch are overseeing for Picturestart.
Picturestart founder and CEO Erik Feig said: “There is absolutely no one better than Charles Rogers and Sarah-Violet Bliss to write and direct a wildly original movie about a young woman who discovers that the boss she worships is kind of a monster and maybe even a real monster. Search Party is an amazing show that I think would be...
Monster is a comedy about a young woman who moves to Los Angeles with big dreams of stardom. Upon her arrival, she lands a personal-assistant gig with a monster of a boss who may in fact be an actual monster. Lucy Kitada and Jessica Switch are overseeing for Picturestart.
Picturestart founder and CEO Erik Feig said: “There is absolutely no one better than Charles Rogers and Sarah-Violet Bliss to write and direct a wildly original movie about a young woman who discovers that the boss she worships is kind of a monster and maybe even a real monster. Search Party is an amazing show that I think would be...
- 5/19/2020
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Angelyne director and producer Lucy Tcherniak is expanding her relationship with Ucp, signing a first-look deal with the studio behind the upcoming Peacock series. The deal comes as the real-life Angelyne has boarded the eponymous series as executive producer.
Allison Miller (Strange Angel) serves as showrunner and executive producer on the series, alongside Tcherniak who directs and executive produces all episodes. Tcherniak join Angelyne star Emmy Rossum (Shameless) and Miller, who also have deals at Ucp.
Rossum stars in the title role in Peacock’s limited series about fame, identity, survival, billboards, Corvettes, lingerie, men, women, women teasing men, men obsessed with women, West Hollywood, crystals, UFOs, and most importantly of all, the self-proclaimed Rorschach test in pink, glow-in-the-dark queen of the universe, Angelyne.
Production on the series is currently underway in and around Los Angeles. In addition to Rossum, previously announced cast...
Allison Miller (Strange Angel) serves as showrunner and executive producer on the series, alongside Tcherniak who directs and executive produces all episodes. Tcherniak join Angelyne star Emmy Rossum (Shameless) and Miller, who also have deals at Ucp.
Rossum stars in the title role in Peacock’s limited series about fame, identity, survival, billboards, Corvettes, lingerie, men, women, women teasing men, men obsessed with women, West Hollywood, crystals, UFOs, and most importantly of all, the self-proclaimed Rorschach test in pink, glow-in-the-dark queen of the universe, Angelyne.
Production on the series is currently underway in and around Los Angeles. In addition to Rossum, previously announced cast...
- 2/19/2020
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: NBC has put in development Bad Taste, a single-camera workplace comedy from writer Justin Shanes (Superstore), Forever creator Matt Hubbard and Universal TV, where Hubbard is under a deal.
Written by Shanes, Bad Taste is set in the intimate pressure cooker of a restaurant kitchen whose star chef is forced to make an uncomfortable alliance with the newbie female line cook in order to keep pursuing his passion.
Shanes and Hubbard executive produce. Universal TV is the studio.
The project reunites Shanes and Hubbard, who worked together for a time on another NBC workplace comedy, Superstore. Shanes joined Superstore in the second season and rose through the ranks to his current role as producer. Hubbard worked on the first three seasons as consulting producer. Shanes previously was a writer on The Late Late Show with James Corden and Late Night With Jimmy Fallon. He’s repped by attorney Jeff Hynick at Jackoway Austen Tyerman.
Written by Shanes, Bad Taste is set in the intimate pressure cooker of a restaurant kitchen whose star chef is forced to make an uncomfortable alliance with the newbie female line cook in order to keep pursuing his passion.
Shanes and Hubbard executive produce. Universal TV is the studio.
The project reunites Shanes and Hubbard, who worked together for a time on another NBC workplace comedy, Superstore. Shanes joined Superstore in the second season and rose through the ranks to his current role as producer. Hubbard worked on the first three seasons as consulting producer. Shanes previously was a writer on The Late Late Show with James Corden and Late Night With Jimmy Fallon. He’s repped by attorney Jeff Hynick at Jackoway Austen Tyerman.
- 12/19/2019
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Creed and Avengers: Endgame star Tessa Thompson will star in and produce podcast The Left Right Game, the latest fiction pod from Blackout and Carrier outfit QCode.
Cast also includes W. Earl Brown, Aml Ameen, Dayo Okeniyi, Inanna Sarkis, Colleen Camp, Robin Bartlett, John Billingsley, Jojo T Gibbs, Brian Greenberg and Pat Healy.
Thompson plays Alice, an idealistic young journalist who tries to make a name for herself at a new job by following a group of paranormal explorers, obsessed with a seemingly harmless pastime known as the Left/Right Game. The journey takes her into a supernatural otherworld that she and the other members of the expedition cannot handle or survive.
The podcast, which is in post-production, was created by Jack Anderson and is based on his original Internet blog of the same name.
Thompson is producing with Rob Herting and David Henning of QCode, and Brian Kavanaugh-Jones...
Cast also includes W. Earl Brown, Aml Ameen, Dayo Okeniyi, Inanna Sarkis, Colleen Camp, Robin Bartlett, John Billingsley, Jojo T Gibbs, Brian Greenberg and Pat Healy.
Thompson plays Alice, an idealistic young journalist who tries to make a name for herself at a new job by following a group of paranormal explorers, obsessed with a seemingly harmless pastime known as the Left/Right Game. The journey takes her into a supernatural otherworld that she and the other members of the expedition cannot handle or survive.
The podcast, which is in post-production, was created by Jack Anderson and is based on his original Internet blog of the same name.
Thompson is producing with Rob Herting and David Henning of QCode, and Brian Kavanaugh-Jones...
- 12/16/2019
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Lionsgate is in final talks to acquire the action spec script package Shadow Force. Kerry Washington and Sterling K. Brown will star in and produce a Leon Chills-scripted action drama that is described as a two-hander action picture reminiscent of films like Mr. and Mrs. Smith.
Simpson Street’s Pilar Savone and Washington will produce alongside Indian Meadows Productions’ Danielle Reardon and Brown, and Stephen “Dr” Love, who is producing through his Made with Love Media company. The script started drawing bids last month.
Washington is shooting the Lynn Shelton-directed limited series Little Fires Everywhere, and has starred in Scandal, Confirmation and Django Unchained. She is repped by Washington Square Arts, CAA and attorney Gretchen Rush. Her Simpson Street premiered American Son at Toronto before it launches on Netflix.
Brown, the Emmy-winning This Is Us star, is coming off Black Panther and next stars in A24’s Waves,...
Simpson Street’s Pilar Savone and Washington will produce alongside Indian Meadows Productions’ Danielle Reardon and Brown, and Stephen “Dr” Love, who is producing through his Made with Love Media company. The script started drawing bids last month.
Washington is shooting the Lynn Shelton-directed limited series Little Fires Everywhere, and has starred in Scandal, Confirmation and Django Unchained. She is repped by Washington Square Arts, CAA and attorney Gretchen Rush. Her Simpson Street premiered American Son at Toronto before it launches on Netflix.
Brown, the Emmy-winning This Is Us star, is coming off Black Panther and next stars in A24’s Waves,...
- 9/12/2019
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Bidding has started on Shadow Force, a Leon Chills-scripted action drama that has Kerry Washington and Sterling K. Brown attached to star in and produce.
The script is described as a fresh take on Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Simpson Street’s Pilar Savone and Washington will be producing alongside Indian Meadows Productions’ Danielle Reardon and Brown, and Stephen “Dr” Love, who is producing through his Made with Love Media company.
Washington, who is filming the Lynn Shelton-directed limited series Little Fires Everywhere, has starred in Scandal, Confirmation and Django Unchained, and is repped by Washington Square Arts, CAA and attorney Gretchen Rush. Her Simpson Street has American Son premiering at Toronto next month before bowing on Netflix.
Brown, the Emmy-winning This Is Us star, is coming off Black Panther, currently voices a role in The Angry Birds Movie 2 and next stars in A24’s Waves and the...
The script is described as a fresh take on Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Simpson Street’s Pilar Savone and Washington will be producing alongside Indian Meadows Productions’ Danielle Reardon and Brown, and Stephen “Dr” Love, who is producing through his Made with Love Media company.
Washington, who is filming the Lynn Shelton-directed limited series Little Fires Everywhere, has starred in Scandal, Confirmation and Django Unchained, and is repped by Washington Square Arts, CAA and attorney Gretchen Rush. Her Simpson Street has American Son premiering at Toronto next month before bowing on Netflix.
Brown, the Emmy-winning This Is Us star, is coming off Black Panther, currently voices a role in The Angry Birds Movie 2 and next stars in A24’s Waves and the...
- 8/16/2019
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Harriet Dyer, star of NBC procedural drama The InBetween, is boarding Leigh Whannell’s The Invisible Man for Blumhouse-Universal.
Dyer joins the already announced cast of Elisabeth Moss, Aldis Hodge and Storm Reid. The pic will shoot in Dyer’s native country of Australia next month, specifically Sydney.
The InBetween, which is currently airing on NBC, centers around Cassie Bedford (Dyer), who has visions. Sometimes Cassie sees events that have previously occurred or will happen in the future or encounters unsettled spirits. When her father, Det. Tom Hackett (Paul Blackthorne) and his new partner, former FBI Agent Damien Asante (Justin Cornwell), need assistance solving a dark and puzzling murder, Cassie reluctantly agrees to use her abilities and helps solve some of the city’s most challenging cases.
Dyer also stars in the second season of the CBS All Access comedy No Activity. Her feature credits include the Australian horror...
Dyer joins the already announced cast of Elisabeth Moss, Aldis Hodge and Storm Reid. The pic will shoot in Dyer’s native country of Australia next month, specifically Sydney.
The InBetween, which is currently airing on NBC, centers around Cassie Bedford (Dyer), who has visions. Sometimes Cassie sees events that have previously occurred or will happen in the future or encounters unsettled spirits. When her father, Det. Tom Hackett (Paul Blackthorne) and his new partner, former FBI Agent Damien Asante (Justin Cornwell), need assistance solving a dark and puzzling murder, Cassie reluctantly agrees to use her abilities and helps solve some of the city’s most challenging cases.
Dyer also stars in the second season of the CBS All Access comedy No Activity. Her feature credits include the Australian horror...
- 6/20/2019
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: 20th Century Fox TV is developing Gerald’s World, an animated comedy from DJ, producer and actor Dillon Francis and writer Spencer Porter, with McG’s Wonderland Sound and Vision attached to produced.
Co-created by Francis and Porter, Gerald’s World is based on fan favorite character Gerald, Francis’ piñata best friend who is either the second coming of the Great Gatsby, Tyler Durden, or both. The character is featured on Dillon’s social media channels.
Francis and Spencer Porter executive produce. McG and Mary Viola produce via Wonderland Sound and Vision, along with Corey Marsh.
Francis is one of today’s most recognizable DJs and music producers, best known for pioneering the Moombahton genre and rising to fame alongside producer and DJ, Diplo. Francis has worked alongside DJ Snake, G-Eazy, Martin Garrix, Major Lazer, Calvin Harris, Zedd, and more. His performances have taken...
Co-created by Francis and Porter, Gerald’s World is based on fan favorite character Gerald, Francis’ piñata best friend who is either the second coming of the Great Gatsby, Tyler Durden, or both. The character is featured on Dillon’s social media channels.
Francis and Spencer Porter executive produce. McG and Mary Viola produce via Wonderland Sound and Vision, along with Corey Marsh.
Francis is one of today’s most recognizable DJs and music producers, best known for pioneering the Moombahton genre and rising to fame alongside producer and DJ, Diplo. Francis has worked alongside DJ Snake, G-Eazy, Martin Garrix, Major Lazer, Calvin Harris, Zedd, and more. His performances have taken...
- 4/17/2019
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Riverdale‘s K.J. Apa will play faith-based singer Jeremy Camp in Jon Erwin, Andrew Erwin and Kevin Downes’ I Still Believe it was announced at CinemaCon today by the Kingdom Studios chiefs. The movie follows the spiritual journey of Camp.
Gary Sinise is also joining the film as Jeremy’s father.
Camp has sold over 5 million albums and has toured the world, sharing his music in more than 36 countries. His kudos include four RIAA-certified Gold albums, two American Music Awards nominations, multiple Ascap awards, 38 No. 1 songs, a Gold digital single (“There Will Be A Day”), a multi-Platinum DVD, and he was Billboard’s No. 2 artist of the decade in 2010.
The Erwins will direct from a script by Jon Erwin and Jon Gunn. Downes and Erwins are producing I Still Believe under their Kingdom banner.
Kingdom Studios recently announced their full slate of faith-based projects with Lionsgate last week.
The studio...
Gary Sinise is also joining the film as Jeremy’s father.
Camp has sold over 5 million albums and has toured the world, sharing his music in more than 36 countries. His kudos include four RIAA-certified Gold albums, two American Music Awards nominations, multiple Ascap awards, 38 No. 1 songs, a Gold digital single (“There Will Be A Day”), a multi-Platinum DVD, and he was Billboard’s No. 2 artist of the decade in 2010.
The Erwins will direct from a script by Jon Erwin and Jon Gunn. Downes and Erwins are producing I Still Believe under their Kingdom banner.
Kingdom Studios recently announced their full slate of faith-based projects with Lionsgate last week.
The studio...
- 4/4/2019
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Chloë Grace Moretz will star in director Roseanne Liang’s action horror film “Shadow in the Cloud,” Endeavor Content announced on Wednesday.
“Shadow in the Cloud” follows Captain Maude Gardner, who boards a B-17 Flying Fortress with a black radio bag containing top-secret contents. Strange things begin to occur and she must save the all-male crew to protect her cargo. Max Landis wrote the screenplay.
Brian Kavanaugh-Jones and Fred Berger from Automatik, Kelly McCormick (“Atomic Blonde”) and Tom Hern (“The Meg”) of Four Knights Film are producing. Sandra Yee Ling is executive producing.
Also Read: Chloe Grace Moretz's 'Miseducation of Cameron Post' Acquired by HBO
Moretz most recently starred in “The Miseducation of Cameron Post” and Luca Guadagnino’s “Suspiria.” She will next star in “Greta” opposite Isabelle Huppert. Her other credits include “The Equalizer,” “If I Stay,” “Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising” and “Kick-Ass.”
Liang is a Chinese/New Zealand writer and director.
“Shadow in the Cloud” follows Captain Maude Gardner, who boards a B-17 Flying Fortress with a black radio bag containing top-secret contents. Strange things begin to occur and she must save the all-male crew to protect her cargo. Max Landis wrote the screenplay.
Brian Kavanaugh-Jones and Fred Berger from Automatik, Kelly McCormick (“Atomic Blonde”) and Tom Hern (“The Meg”) of Four Knights Film are producing. Sandra Yee Ling is executive producing.
Also Read: Chloe Grace Moretz's 'Miseducation of Cameron Post' Acquired by HBO
Moretz most recently starred in “The Miseducation of Cameron Post” and Luca Guadagnino’s “Suspiria.” She will next star in “Greta” opposite Isabelle Huppert. Her other credits include “The Equalizer,” “If I Stay,” “Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising” and “Kick-Ass.”
Liang is a Chinese/New Zealand writer and director.
- 1/30/2019
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Wrap
Netflix’s The Last Laugh is laughing first with the initial trailer from its film starring Chevy Chase, Andie MacDowell and Richard Dreyfuss, which bows in January.
Emmy winner Chase, MacDowell, and Oscar winner Dreyfuss weave the tale of talent manager and widower Al Hart. After 50 years, he reunites with former client Buddy Green, who gave up a promising career as a stand-up comedian to settled down to raise a family. After Al convinces Buddy to perform on a bucket list tour of classic stand-up venues across the Us, Buddy gets one last taste of the life he could have had.
The Netflix original comedy is written and directed by Greg Pritikin (Dummy) and hails from producer Rob Paris of Paris Film, Inc. It also co-stars Lewis Black (Inside Out), Kate Micucci (The Lego Batman Movie) and Chris Parnell (Battle of the Sexes).
“For me, The Last Laugh is about...
Emmy winner Chase, MacDowell, and Oscar winner Dreyfuss weave the tale of talent manager and widower Al Hart. After 50 years, he reunites with former client Buddy Green, who gave up a promising career as a stand-up comedian to settled down to raise a family. After Al convinces Buddy to perform on a bucket list tour of classic stand-up venues across the Us, Buddy gets one last taste of the life he could have had.
The Netflix original comedy is written and directed by Greg Pritikin (Dummy) and hails from producer Rob Paris of Paris Film, Inc. It also co-stars Lewis Black (Inside Out), Kate Micucci (The Lego Batman Movie) and Chris Parnell (Battle of the Sexes).
“For me, The Last Laugh is about...
- 12/28/2018
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Actress, writer, and comedian Anna Akana has signed with CAA for representation in all areas. A YouTube trailblazer, Akana is the co-creator, executive producer, and star of Youth & Consequences on YouTube premium.
Akana’s role in Youth and Consequences won her a Streamy Award for Best Actor. The dramedy was also nominated for Best Drama at the Streamy Awards. She has appeared in numerous films including Marvel’s Ant-Man, Dirty 30, and You Get Me. Her TV credits to her name including Corporate and Stitchers.
Last year, she wrote So Much I want to Tell You Letters to My Little Sister and has partnered with companies such as Google, Pantene, and Tiger. She recently launched her own line of fashionable eyewear in collaboration with Warby Parker and created her own clothing company, Ghost & Stars.
Akana is managed by Tom Spriggs at the Coronel Group. Her attorney is Jeff Hynick...
Akana’s role in Youth and Consequences won her a Streamy Award for Best Actor. The dramedy was also nominated for Best Drama at the Streamy Awards. She has appeared in numerous films including Marvel’s Ant-Man, Dirty 30, and You Get Me. Her TV credits to her name including Corporate and Stitchers.
Last year, she wrote So Much I want to Tell You Letters to My Little Sister and has partnered with companies such as Google, Pantene, and Tiger. She recently launched her own line of fashionable eyewear in collaboration with Warby Parker and created her own clothing company, Ghost & Stars.
Akana is managed by Tom Spriggs at the Coronel Group. Her attorney is Jeff Hynick...
- 11/9/2018
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
After debuting with the acclaimed 2011 film My Wedding And Other Secret, Roseanne Liang has come on board to direct, Fuse, an action thriller written by Aussies Marek Polgar and Martyn Pedler.
Described as a metaphorical and stylistic exploration into the psychological effects violence can have on a person, the story is a contemporary interpretation of Jeckyl & Hyde, centered around a government assassin who has developed split personality disorder; the first persona is attempting to complete his mission, while the second is trying to stop him
Producers are Nickel City’s Mark Fasano and Vishal Rungta, and Wolfhound Picture’s Paddy McDonald. Endeavor Content is packaging and handling domestic sales on the film.
Liang, whose short film, Do No Harm recently premiered at the Manhattan Short Festival, is repped by Wme, Grandview and Jeff Hynick.
Described as a metaphorical and stylistic exploration into the psychological effects violence can have on a person, the story is a contemporary interpretation of Jeckyl & Hyde, centered around a government assassin who has developed split personality disorder; the first persona is attempting to complete his mission, while the second is trying to stop him
Producers are Nickel City’s Mark Fasano and Vishal Rungta, and Wolfhound Picture’s Paddy McDonald. Endeavor Content is packaging and handling domestic sales on the film.
Liang, whose short film, Do No Harm recently premiered at the Manhattan Short Festival, is repped by Wme, Grandview and Jeff Hynick.
- 9/28/2018
- by Amanda N'Duka
- Deadline Film + TV
CBS has put in development Just Like Us, a multi-camera family comedy from One Day at a Time writer Debby Wolfe and co-creator/executive producer/co-showrunner Gloria Calderon Kellett.
Written by Salvadoran-American Wolfe, Just Like Us centers on a widower who takes in his teenage El Salvadorian niece while still raising his two grown daughters, retired parents and running the restaurant he started with his late wife.
Wolfe co-executive produces; Kellett executive produces via her GloNation banner alongside Marc Provissiero of Odenkirk Provissiero Entertainment. Sony Pictures TV, where Kellett and her GloNation are under an overall deal, is the studio.
Wolfe caught Kellett’s eye when the One Day at a Time co-creator was looking for fresh Latinx voices to join the Netflix reboot’s writers room and responded to Wolfe’s sample. Wolfe, an alum of the NBC Writers on the Verge program that had landed her a staff...
Written by Salvadoran-American Wolfe, Just Like Us centers on a widower who takes in his teenage El Salvadorian niece while still raising his two grown daughters, retired parents and running the restaurant he started with his late wife.
Wolfe co-executive produces; Kellett executive produces via her GloNation banner alongside Marc Provissiero of Odenkirk Provissiero Entertainment. Sony Pictures TV, where Kellett and her GloNation are under an overall deal, is the studio.
Wolfe caught Kellett’s eye when the One Day at a Time co-creator was looking for fresh Latinx voices to join the Netflix reboot’s writers room and responded to Wolfe’s sample. Wolfe, an alum of the NBC Writers on the Verge program that had landed her a staff...
- 9/11/2018
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
In today’s film news roundup, India Eisley-Mickey River drama “Adolescence” gets distribution and romance “Castle of Water” and horror short “They Hear It” are in development.
Distribution Rights
North of Two has acquired worldwide distribution rights to the dark coming-of-age drama “Adolescence,” starring India Eisley and Mickey River with Ashley Avis directing, Variety has learned exclusively.
The film was produced by Winterstone Pictures and is set to make its festival debut this fall. River portrays a shy teenager who falls in love with a beautiful, enigmatic runaway, played by Eisley, and is lured away from his bland life and into her vibrant and unpredictable world. He slips down a progressively dark path, filled with raging parties, drugs, and eventually heroin addiction.
The cast also includes Romeo Miller, Tommy Flanagan, Elisabeth Rohm, Jere Burns, Ever Carradine, Michael Milford, and Zac Brown Band member John Driskell Hopkins.
The film...
Distribution Rights
North of Two has acquired worldwide distribution rights to the dark coming-of-age drama “Adolescence,” starring India Eisley and Mickey River with Ashley Avis directing, Variety has learned exclusively.
The film was produced by Winterstone Pictures and is set to make its festival debut this fall. River portrays a shy teenager who falls in love with a beautiful, enigmatic runaway, played by Eisley, and is lured away from his bland life and into her vibrant and unpredictable world. He slips down a progressively dark path, filled with raging parties, drugs, and eventually heroin addiction.
The cast also includes Romeo Miller, Tommy Flanagan, Elisabeth Rohm, Jere Burns, Ever Carradine, Michael Milford, and Zac Brown Band member John Driskell Hopkins.
The film...
- 7/10/2018
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Legendary Entertainment and The Picture Company have secured the rights to first time filmmaker Julian Terry’s horror short They Hear It. Created by Terry as a proof of concept short, the film will be turned into a feature by Legendary and The Picture Company on which Terry will make his directing debut. The premise: there is a mysterious and terrifying noise called The Sound that attracts children when they hear it. Full plot details of the feature version are being kept under wraps, but sources compare the story to It and A Nightmare On Elm Street, films that explore an ominous presence that stalks the youthful inhabitants of a small community.
The Picture Company’s Alex Heineman and Andrew Rona will produce the film, and Jacob Chase will be executive producer. Chase is the writer/director behind another high-concept horror short turned movie project – Larry, which Amblin Partners...
The Picture Company’s Alex Heineman and Andrew Rona will produce the film, and Jacob Chase will be executive producer. Chase is the writer/director behind another high-concept horror short turned movie project – Larry, which Amblin Partners...
- 7/9/2018
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: In a solid six-figure deal, Screen Gems has acquired Padre, a stark drama spec by Mike Maples. Greg Champion and Mark Lawyer will be producers and Screen Gems’ James Lopez will oversee it. The script has a No Country For Old Men and A History of Violence vibe to it. A priest, trying to atone for his bloody past as a special ops soldier, witnesses the brutal murder of members from his congregation by a malevolent Sheriff and his deputies. Tortured and left for dead in the desert, he survives. Then, he faces a crisis of conscience and the dawning realization that his past military training and three tours in Afghanistan may have been preparation for what his soul and his heart tell him is right. From there it goes all bad for the crooked cops. Maples is repped by Luber Roklin Entertainment, and attorneys Alan Wertheimer and Jeff Hynick rep the producers.
- 4/8/2014
- by MIKE FLEMING JR
- Deadline
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