Exclusive: London-based lit agent Marnie Podos has left United Agents after eight years to form new management company Under New Mgmt.
She will retain her client list including in-demand screenwriter Krysty Wilson-Cairns, whose 1917 script with Sam Mendes is due to shoot next year, playwright Chris Urch (Lee), whose stage play The Rolling Stone heads to Lincoln Center next summer, and Oscar-nominated filmmaker Nikolaj Arcel (A Royal Affair).
Also among her roster are writers Lindsey Ferrentino (Ugly Lies The Bone), Bifa-winner Ingeborg Topsoe (Wildland), Sam Steiner, Sam Freeman (Unmasked), Charley Miles (Blackthorn), Ed Whitworth (Powell), Sarah Farinha (Proximity) and The Cured filmmaker David Freyne.
U.S.-born Podos has lived in the UK for 15 years and is respected on both sides of the pond for nurturing a boutique lineup of emerging talent and developing their projects with them.
Her breakaway is the latest sign of evolution in the UK agency space,...
She will retain her client list including in-demand screenwriter Krysty Wilson-Cairns, whose 1917 script with Sam Mendes is due to shoot next year, playwright Chris Urch (Lee), whose stage play The Rolling Stone heads to Lincoln Center next summer, and Oscar-nominated filmmaker Nikolaj Arcel (A Royal Affair).
Also among her roster are writers Lindsey Ferrentino (Ugly Lies The Bone), Bifa-winner Ingeborg Topsoe (Wildland), Sam Steiner, Sam Freeman (Unmasked), Charley Miles (Blackthorn), Ed Whitworth (Powell), Sarah Farinha (Proximity) and The Cured filmmaker David Freyne.
U.S.-born Podos has lived in the UK for 15 years and is respected on both sides of the pond for nurturing a boutique lineup of emerging talent and developing their projects with them.
Her breakaway is the latest sign of evolution in the UK agency space,...
- 10/12/2018
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Star Wars: The Last Jedi: Laura Dern (above in Twin Peaks) shared a first look at the character she plays in Star Wars: The Last Jedi (below). Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo became friends with Leia Organa in her youth and later began working with the resistance against the First Order. The sequel will open in theaters on December 15. [Instagram via BirthMoviesDeath] Excited to talk a little Star Wars with my buddy @theellenshow today!! A post shared by @lauradern on Oct 18, 2017 at 9:56am Pdt Powell: Morgan Freeman (Going in Style, above) will portray Colin Powell in a new biographical portrait of the former military leader. Ed Whitworth wrote the screenplay, which takes place during the years that Powell served as U.S. Secretary of...
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- 10/19/2017
- by Peter Martin
- Movies.com
Morgan Freeman is taking on the role of former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell in Powell, a biopic from Ashok Amritraj’s Hyde Park Entertainment.
Reginald Hudlin, who is coming off the Thurgood Marshall biopic Marshall, will direct the drama, which will be produced by Amritraj and Lori McCreary, Freeman’s partner at Revelations Entertainment.
Ed Whitworth wrote the script that was on the 2011 Black List and is set during Powell’s tenure as Secretary of State in the George W. Bush White House.
Powell, who went from respected Army general to the first African-American Secretary of State, initially opposed the...
Reginald Hudlin, who is coming off the Thurgood Marshall biopic Marshall, will direct the drama, which will be produced by Amritraj and Lori McCreary, Freeman’s partner at Revelations Entertainment.
Ed Whitworth wrote the script that was on the 2011 Black List and is set during Powell’s tenure as Secretary of State in the George W. Bush White House.
Powell, who went from respected Army general to the first African-American Secretary of State, initially opposed the...
- 10/18/2017
- by Borys Kit
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
"Lord of the Rings" screenwriter Philippa Boyens will helm Disney's newest film franchise, "Merlin", based on the "Merlin Saga" from author T.A. Barron. Philippa Boyens is the perfect person to adapt this series, because she has spent the last 20 years of her life adapting two other wonderful book series for the big screen: "The Hobbit" and "Lord of the Rings". Boyens even took home an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay in 2004 for her work on "Return of the King", which she shares with Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh. This version of "Merlin" will focus on the wizard's early life, as written in T.A. Barron's book, "Merlin, The Lost Years"."The Lost Years" is book one in a 10-book series, which means if "Merlin" does well at the box office, it could launch an entire franchise of films. "The Merlin Saga" has experienced an interesting journey in its years on the Hollywood market.
- 11/19/2015
- by Lauren Gallaway
- Hitfix
A hat-tip goes to our comrades at The Playlist for sniffing this one out, which was buried within a Variety piece on 10 British talents to watch - a list I skimmed a few days but didn't bother to look any closer at, given that there are no black talents on it (save for Gugu Mbatha-Raw; but she's been in our sights for a few years now, so I won't necessarily consider her that fresh of a face). But number 4 within the 10-page pictorial is a profile of screenwriter Ed Whitworth, which contains a mention that he's penned a screenplay centered around Colin Powell's "Iraq war problem," as I call it. The profile gives very little further information on the project, other than that...
- 10/1/2013
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
With Idi Amin ("The Last King Of Scotland") and Cecil Gaines aka Eugene Allen ("Lee Daniels' The Butler") under his belt, and a role as Martin Luther King Jr. slotted in Paul Greengrass' "Memphis" if/when that ever gets made, Forest Whitaker has carved out a tidy niche playing historical figures. Now he's lining up another role, this time taking on someone who's still very much alive and kicking. Somewhat buried in Variety's list of 10 Brits to Watch is this news that Whitaker will take the title role in a brewing film about former U.S. Secretary Of State and dedicated military man, Colin Powell. The script comes from Ed Whitworth, whose script for "Reyjavik," about the 1986 Reykjavik summit meeting between Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev, has already attracted Michael Douglas and Christoph Waltz for the lead roles in that film. So clearly Whitworth has a firm hand in tackling unique moments in history,...
- 9/30/2013
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
This week we noticed a trend with a number of in-development projects that were recently added to IMDbPro: Biopics. Move over Moneyball, Iron Lady and J. Edger, there's a new crop of biographies in the works.
Untitled Marion Barry Biopic – Eddie Murphy produces and stars in this HBO project based on the life of the civil rights activist-turned-troubled Washington D.C. mayor whose political career rebounded from a prison conviction for crack possession in the 1990s and eventually became mayor again. Spike Lee directs.
Powell – Forest Whitaker's Spirit Dance Entertainment is developing this Ed Whitworth script based on former Secretary of State Colin Powell's run-ins with President Bush over building a case for the U.S. to invade Iraq in 2003.
Dangerously Funny – George Clooney optioned this Smothers Brothers bio about the comedy duo's rise from the 1960s San Francisco club circuit to primetime TV. Scribes Brian Hecker and Craig Sherman will pen the script for Clooney and Grant Heslov's Smoke House and Sony.
Untitled Sammy Davis Jr. Biopic – Writer-producer-comedian Bryron Allen produces this drama based on the life of legendary entertainer, Sammy Davis Jr., which is not to be confused with Wil Haygood's competing script In Black and White that Universal once considered developing.
Ruby McCollum – Cary Elwes stars in and James Brolin directs this civil rights era biography about the woman who challenged the deep south's sexual slavery laws, also known as "paramour rights", when she was convicted for killing a white doctor who tried to force her to bear his child. Springtree Studios is producing the film.
If you know of something in the works, you can submit it via our online submission form (it doesn't have to be a biopic).
Untitled Marion Barry Biopic – Eddie Murphy produces and stars in this HBO project based on the life of the civil rights activist-turned-troubled Washington D.C. mayor whose political career rebounded from a prison conviction for crack possession in the 1990s and eventually became mayor again. Spike Lee directs.
Powell – Forest Whitaker's Spirit Dance Entertainment is developing this Ed Whitworth script based on former Secretary of State Colin Powell's run-ins with President Bush over building a case for the U.S. to invade Iraq in 2003.
Dangerously Funny – George Clooney optioned this Smothers Brothers bio about the comedy duo's rise from the 1960s San Francisco club circuit to primetime TV. Scribes Brian Hecker and Craig Sherman will pen the script for Clooney and Grant Heslov's Smoke House and Sony.
Untitled Sammy Davis Jr. Biopic – Writer-producer-comedian Bryron Allen produces this drama based on the life of legendary entertainer, Sammy Davis Jr., which is not to be confused with Wil Haygood's competing script In Black and White that Universal once considered developing.
Ruby McCollum – Cary Elwes stars in and James Brolin directs this civil rights era biography about the woman who challenged the deep south's sexual slavery laws, also known as "paramour rights", when she was convicted for killing a white doctor who tried to force her to bear his child. Springtree Studios is producing the film.
If you know of something in the works, you can submit it via our online submission form (it doesn't have to be a biopic).
- 12/16/2011
- by Eric Greene
- IMDbPro News
The 2011 Black List, the Top Unproduced Screenplays of the year has been released. The best unproduced screenplays from The Black List 2011 is compiled by votes from over 300 “execs, agency guys, and high-level assistants. Titled The Black List, the compendium highlights both established screenwriters and up-and-comers, and has served as a launching pad in the past for projects like Juno, Lars and the Real Girl, and (500) Days of Summer. Last year’s list included Margin Call, Crazy, Stupid, Love, The Hunger Games, and Snow White and the Huntsman.”
Regarding the validity of The Black List, things to keep in mind:
some of these screenplays have already been acquired and are already in development, though…none will have entered principal photography by December 31, 2011. Also worth pointing out is that, as in previous years, there have been rumors that some of the participants have been accused of using the Black List to promote their own clients or friends.
Regarding the validity of The Black List, things to keep in mind:
some of these screenplays have already been acquired and are already in development, though…none will have entered principal photography by December 31, 2011. Also worth pointing out is that, as in previous years, there have been rumors that some of the participants have been accused of using the Black List to promote their own clients or friends.
- 12/13/2011
- by filmbook
- Film-Book
The Black List of 2011 continues with the second-half of the list showcasing the screenplays that received the most number of votes.
Remember, this is a list voted on by Hollywood professionals of what they personally believe to be the best unproduced screenplays written in 2011. You might recognize titles for movies that are in development. That's fine by The Black List rules; the only condition that the screenplay must meet is that it's not being filmed within this calendar year. For Black List 2011 selections like Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained, that makes it valid for Black List inclusion.
If you've missed the first half of the list you can find it here.
13 Votes:
The Accountant by Bill Dubuque
The Treasury Department pursues a brilliant, autistic accountant who doubles as an assassin and “problem-solves” with precision in more ways than one.
Agency: Paradigm
Agent: Trevor Astbury
Management: Zero Gravity Management
Manager: Eric Williams...
Remember, this is a list voted on by Hollywood professionals of what they personally believe to be the best unproduced screenplays written in 2011. You might recognize titles for movies that are in development. That's fine by The Black List rules; the only condition that the screenplay must meet is that it's not being filmed within this calendar year. For Black List 2011 selections like Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained, that makes it valid for Black List inclusion.
If you've missed the first half of the list you can find it here.
13 Votes:
The Accountant by Bill Dubuque
The Treasury Department pursues a brilliant, autistic accountant who doubles as an assassin and “problem-solves” with precision in more ways than one.
Agency: Paradigm
Agent: Trevor Astbury
Management: Zero Gravity Management
Manager: Eric Williams...
- 12/13/2011
- by Patrick Sauriol
- Corona's Coming Attractions
The 2011 Black List has arrived online and there are a bunch of the hottest scripts in Hollywood. Some have already been picked up by studios, while most are still unproduced. Here is the press release: The Black List was compiled from the suggestions of over 300 film executives, each of whom contributed the names of up to ten of their favorite scripts that were written in, or are somehow uniquely associated with, 2011 and will not have begun principal photography during this calendar year.
This year, scripts had to receive at least six mentions to be included on the The Black List.
All reasonable effort has been made to confirm the information contained herein. The Black List apologizes for all misspellings, misattributions, incorrect representation identification, and questionable 2011 affiliations.
It has been said many times, but it's worth repeating:
The Black List is not a "best of" list. It is, at best, a "most liked" list.
This year, scripts had to receive at least six mentions to be included on the The Black List.
All reasonable effort has been made to confirm the information contained herein. The Black List apologizes for all misspellings, misattributions, incorrect representation identification, and questionable 2011 affiliations.
It has been said many times, but it's worth repeating:
The Black List is not a "best of" list. It is, at best, a "most liked" list.
- 12/13/2011
- by Tiberius
- GeekTyrant
[1] Each December since 2004, studio executive Franklin Leonard has compiled the best unproduced screenplays of the year, as voted by hundreds of execs, agency guys, and high-level assistants. Titled The Black List, the compendium highlights both established screenwriters and up-and-comers, and has served as a launching pad in the past for projects like Juno, Lars and the Real Girl, and (500) Days of Summer. Last year's list included Margin Call, Crazy, Stupid, Love, The Hunger Games, and Snow White and the Huntsman. It should be noted that the headline is somewhat misleading -- some of these screenplays have already been acquired and are already in development, though according to Leonard none will have entered principal photography by December 31, 2011. Also worth pointing out is that, as in previous years, there have been rumors that some of the participants have been accused of using the Black List to promote their own clients or friends.
- 12/12/2011
- by Angie Han
- Slash Film
This year at the Austin Film Festival, studio executive and “Black List” founder Franklin Leonard introduced the opening film, Butter. It’s a fantastic satirical comedy written by Jason Micallef and Leonard’s post-screening Q&A with him was equally hilarious and unconventional.
Sitting in the upper deck at the Paramount Theatre, I was in awe at how Leonard had not only created the list just six years prior but how it provided such legitimacy to emerging screenwriters, like Micallef. He was relatively unknown in ‘08, but his script placed third on the list. Now he has a movie coming out starring Jennifer Garner, his new scripts have Jack Black and Jason Segel attached (separately), and he wrote a movie titled Good Vibrations about, um, marital aids starring Charlize Theron. That’s the power of the Black List.
Simply put, “The Black List” is a collection of the best unproduced screenplays...
Sitting in the upper deck at the Paramount Theatre, I was in awe at how Leonard had not only created the list just six years prior but how it provided such legitimacy to emerging screenwriters, like Micallef. He was relatively unknown in ‘08, but his script placed third on the list. Now he has a movie coming out starring Jennifer Garner, his new scripts have Jack Black and Jason Segel attached (separately), and he wrote a movie titled Good Vibrations about, um, marital aids starring Charlize Theron. That’s the power of the Black List.
Simply put, “The Black List” is a collection of the best unproduced screenplays...
- 12/12/2011
- by Jeff Leins
- newsinfilm.com
As the New Year approaches, we are now getting a look at all the scripts that have been passed on, those unproduced screenplays of 2001, or what is better known as The Black List. This year, like every other year, is compiled from the suggestions of hundreds of film executives, each contributes the names of up to ten of their favorite scripts that were written in, or are somehow uniquely associated with, 2011 and will not be released in theaters during this calendar year. Some of the best scripts have come from The Black List. Films like The Social Network went on to become the best of 2010. Other movie scripts have catapulted writers into stardom. Diablo Cody’s Juno, Nancy Oliver’s Lars And The Real Girl, Scott Neustader’s and Michael Weber’s 500 Days Of Summer, are just some of the screenplays which appeared on The Black List and then were made.
- 12/12/2011
- by Mike Lee
- FusedFilm
Screenwriter Ed Whitworth has scored big, landing the coveted job of erecting Warner Bros. new tentpole project “The Lost Years of Merlin.”
Warners has been in heavy search mode for a replacement franchise now that Harry Potter is set to end next month. The source of billions of dollars in revenue over the last decade, Warner Bros. are looking to Whitworth to bring the project, based on acclaimed “The Lost Years of Merlin” by New York Times bestselling author T.A. Barron, to life.
The bookseries depicts the early years of eponymous wizard, from his foundlings days right up until his fateful meeting with King Arthur. Running the course of 5 books, the studio sees a multi-picture franchise based around the epic adventures of the young wizard.
Producer of the flick is Donald De Line, the light behind Friday’s Green Lantern movie, another new franchise-hopeful for Warners.
Whitworth has been...
Warners has been in heavy search mode for a replacement franchise now that Harry Potter is set to end next month. The source of billions of dollars in revenue over the last decade, Warner Bros. are looking to Whitworth to bring the project, based on acclaimed “The Lost Years of Merlin” by New York Times bestselling author T.A. Barron, to life.
The bookseries depicts the early years of eponymous wizard, from his foundlings days right up until his fateful meeting with King Arthur. Running the course of 5 books, the studio sees a multi-picture franchise based around the epic adventures of the young wizard.
Producer of the flick is Donald De Line, the light behind Friday’s Green Lantern movie, another new franchise-hopeful for Warners.
Whitworth has been...
- 6/15/2011
- by The DoorQus Maximus
- doorQ.com
With the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 in July, Warner Bros. (WB) will finally close the book on its decade-long, eight movie-strong tentpole franchise. But, the studio is apparently not ready to give up making movies about young wizards just yet. According to THR, WB has hired novice screenwriter Ed Whitworth, a script reader for Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Productions, to pen an adaptation of The Lost Years of Merlin, the first book in T.A. Barron's planned trilogy of fantasy books about the mythological wizard of Arthurian legends. Donald De Line (Green Lantern) is producing.
Next Showing:
Link | Posted 5/23/2011 by BrentJS
Donald De Line...
Next Showing:
Link | Posted 5/23/2011 by BrentJS
Donald De Line...
- 5/23/2011
- by BrentJS Sprecher
- Reelzchannel.com
With the final film in the lucrative Harry Potter franchise, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, scheduled for release next month, Warner Bros. execs started work on their next tent pole series, an adaptation of the fantasy series The Lost Years of Merlin, about the young years of the wizard Merlin, by T.A. Barron. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Warner Bros. acquired the rights to the books when the optioned expired at Paramount. Donald De Line (Green Lantern) joined the project as producer with up-and-coming scriptwriter Ed Whitworth of Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Productions signed on to adapt the books into the first feature film.
- 5/16/2011
- Upcoming-Movies.com
With the final film in the lucrative Harry Potter franchise, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, scheduled for release next month, Warner Bros. execs started work on their next tent pole series, an adaptation of the fantasy series The Lost Years of Merlin, about the young years of the wizard Merlin, by T.A. Barron. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Warner Bros. acquired the rights to the books when the optioned expired at Paramount. Donald De Line (Green Lantern) joined the project as producer with up-and-coming scriptwriter Ed Whitworth of Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Productions signed on to adapt the books into the first feature film.
- 5/16/2011
- Upcoming-Movies.com
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