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‘Dark Tower’ Taps Newcomer Tom Taylor for Jake Chambers Role (Exclusive)
38 minutes ago
With Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey now set to star the adaptation of Stephen King’s “The Dark Tower,” Sony and Mrc have found the pivotal character of Jake Chambers in newcomer Tom Taylor.
Sources tell Variety that Taylor won the role after a worldwide search to find the young actor who would serve as Roland Deschain’s (Elba) protege in the upcoming films.
McConaughey is on board to play the Man in Black with “Mad Max: Fury Road” actress Abbey Lee also has a role in the film.
Sony and Mrc declined to comment.
Nikolaj Arcel is directing the movie, which is currently set to bow on Feb. 17, 2017.
The first installment in the series of books focuses on Roland, the Gunslinger, establishing a relationship with Chambers.
The first book, “The Gunslinger,” has already been adapted by Akiva Goldsman and Jeff Pinkner. Goldsman and Imagine Entertainment’s Brian Grazer, Ron Howard »
- Justin Kroll
Christine Birch Rejoins Sony as Executive Vice President of Creative Marketing
39 minutes ago
Christine Birch is returning to Sony Pictures as executive vice president of domestic creative marketing strategy.
She was most recently president of marketing for Focus Features, overseeing the campaigns of such films as “The Theory of Everything” and “London Has Fallen.” Birch rejoins the studio where she spent 12 years on the marketing team. The position was created especially for Birch and will see her working in advertising, publicity, digital and creative content.
“Christine understands the conversation that needs to take place with the consumer to turn a film into a shared experience, making her the perfect addition to our team,” said Josh Greenstein, president of worldwide marketing & distribution for Sony Pictures. “She will help develop and implement cohesive ideas across all marketing disciplines so that our movies and franchises are the ones that are talked about, buzzed about and, ultimately, seen by audiences.”
Prior to Focus, Birch ran marketing for »
- Brent Lang
Eugenio Derbez Reflects on His Career as He Prepares for Star on Walk of Fame
49 minutes ago
Eighteen months ago, Eugenio Derbez walked away from his life in Mexico City and his career as one of his country’s most famous and successful comedy actors.
“My wife and I were crying as we closed up our house and headed to the airport with all our luggage,” he recalls. “And on the plane we kept thinking, ‘Have we made a terrible mistake? Are we doing the right thing?’ Because we just left everything behind, to come to the U.S. and pursue my dream of making it here.”
But on arrival at Lax, Derbez was immediately hit with a “huge sign” that their leap of faith was about to pay off. “We were deluged with all these calls that I was getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame,” he says. “And I remembered the first time I ever came to Hollywood as a kid and saw »
- Iain Blair
Eugenio Derbez’s 3Pas Studios Gets Busy with a Range of Film, TV Projects
50 minutes ago
One of Eugenio Derbez’s “big goals” in relocating to Los Angeles was to expand his business model and creative interests, especially in the North American market, and so far it’s been a very busy first year for 3Pas Studios, his fledgling Santa Monica-based film and TV shingle co-owned by Ben Odell.
“We formed 3Pas Studios off the success of ‘Instructions Not Included,’ ” says Odell, former president of Pantelion, which is a joint venture between Lionsgate and Televisa. “It’s not only a platform for Eugenio’s acting and directing, but also for creating original content for the U.S. Latino and Latin American markets and beyond.”
The company inked a first-look deal with Lionsgate/Pantelion in August 2014, after the studio released Derbez’s breakout hit “Instructions Not Included,” which earned $99 million worldwide.
“He’s the perfect blend of passionate actor, filmmaker and comedian,” says Pantelion CEO Paul Presburger. »
- Iain Blair
Bella Thorne, Halston Sage to Star in Awesomeness Films Thriller ‘You Get Me’
50 minutes ago
Awesomeness Films’ next movie is thriller “You Get Me” starring Bella Thorne and Halston Sage.
The film, written by Ben Epstein (MTV’s “Happyland”), will be directed by Brent Bonacorso and produced by Awesomeness Films’ Brian Robbins and Matt Kaplan. Production on the film is slated to begin in April and shot primarily on location in Los Angeles.
In “You Get Me,” Tyler — fresh off an argument with his perfect girlfriend, Ali (Sage) — lands in the arms of sexy out-of-towner Grace (Thorne). The morning after, he finds that not only does Ali agree to take him back, but Grace is a new student at their school and is dead set on getting her new man.
“We are thrilled to be working with Bella and Halston again,” said Kaplan, president of Awesomeness Films. “They are both incredibly talented actors and we can’t wait to bring this fresh thriller to audiences worldwide. »
- Todd Spangler
‘Captain America: Civil War’ New Trailer Reveals Spider-Man
1 hour ago
The new Spider-Man finally makes his debut in the latest trailer for “Captain America: Civil War.”
Iron Man calls on Spidey (or “Underoos,” as he hilariously refers to him), who’s evidently on his team, to use his web powers to steal Captain America’s shield and bind his arms.
“Hey, everyone,” Tom Holland’s character then says, perched on a car roof, in the final moments of the second trailer.
The “Avengers”-sized film, which hits theaters on May 6, centers on the epic clash between Cap (Chris Evans) and Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) that threatens to tear the Marvel Cinematic Universe apart.
The government sets up an organization to oversee the Avengers, splintering the team into two camps — one led by Steve Rogers (Captain America), who’s opposed to government interference, and the other by Tony Stark (Iron Man), who supports government oversight after being brainwashed.
The web »
- Maane Khatchatourian
Nick Jonas Thriller ‘Careful What You Wish For’ Bought by Starz
1 hour ago
Starz has acquired all U.S. distribution rights to the thriller “Careful What You Wish For,” starring Nick Jonas, Isabel Lucas, Graham Rogers and Dermot Mulroney.
Starz Digital is planning a June theatrical and VOD release, followed by an exclusive TV premiere on Starz later this year. Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum (“Aquamarine”) directed from a script by Chris Frisina.
Set is a wealthy vacation community, “Careful” stars Jonas as a young man who is about to leave for college and begins an affair with the wife (Lucas) of a powerful investment banker, played by Mulroney. Complications arise when suspicious death embroils the young lovers in scandal.
Hyde Park-ImageNation and Troika Pictures financed the film with Amasia Entertainment and Roberi Media, in association with Merced Media Partners and Myriad Pictures. The producers are Ashok Amritraj, Michael A. Helfant, Robert L. Stein, Bradley Gallo and Kirk D’Amico.
Jonas also starred in the Sundance hazing drama “Goat. »
- Dave McNary
Producer Mubina Rattonsey Launches Zero Gravity in L.A.
2 hours ago
Producer Mubina Rattonsey has launched Zero Gravity as a Los Angeles-based operation for film development, production and post-production, Variety has learned exclusively.
The first two film projects from Zero Gravity will be “Wraith” and “Gamma Man,” both written by Armaan Chopra.
“Wraith” is inspired by the true story of a possessed child. Principal photography will commence in October. “Gamma Man” is a superhero film about a teenager who acquires supernatural powers when he is exposed to a meteor shower.
Rattonsey’s credits include “Before the Rains,” “Terrorist,” “Navarasa,” “Tahaan – A Boy With a Grenade,” “Kaminey” and “Prarambha” — a short film for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Zero Gravity plans to produce four to six projects a year at varying budget levels — all aimed at being wide releases for the global audience.
“From a business perspective, I see more opportunity in Hollywood today than ever before, and I have been evaluating »
- Dave McNary
Amazon Prime Boards First German Movie ‘Bullyparade’
2 hours ago
London — Amazon Prime has boarded its first German feature film, Michael Bully Herbig’s “Bullyparade — Der Film,” which is based on the cult comedy series.
The film, a co-production between Herbig’s HerbX Film and Warner Bros. Film Productions Germany, will premiere on the platform six months after next year’s theatrical release by Warner Bros., and before it goes out on DVD.
The film will see Herbig reunited with actors Rick Kavanian and Christian Tramitz, who appeared alongside him in the box office hits “Manitou’s Shoe” in 2001 and “(T)Raumschiff Surprise – Periode 1” (2004).
The screenplay was written by Herbig, Kavanian, Tramitz and Alfons Biedermann. Filming starts this month in Spain, and then shifts to locations in Munich, and Bavaria Film Studios.
Last month, Amazon Prime announced that German star and writer-director Matthias Schweighoefer would produce the platform’s first German-language TV series, “Wanted.” In the suspense series, Schweighoefer will »
- Leo Barraclough
Lionsgate Hires Sony’s Michael Fisk for International Marketing Post
2 hours ago
Lionsgate has hired Sony veteran Michael Fisk for a newly created post as executive VP of international marketing, citing the continued globalization of the studio’s motion picture business.
Fisk is a 12-year veteran of Sony Pictures, where he spearheaded international marketing campaigns for the James Bond films “Spectre,” “Skyfall” and “Casino Royale,” along with “Insidious,” the “Resident Evil” franchise, “Hotel Transylvania” and “The Smurfs.”
Fisk will be responsible for developing international marketing strategies for all Lionsgate films and work closely with international distributors in local markets, along with providing creative direction and oversight for the local execution of global strategies.
“Michael has proven himself to be an adept strategist during his tenure at Sony, spearheading the international campaigns of films representing a wide array of genres and numerous blockbuster franchises,” said Tim Palen, Lionsgate chief brand officer & president of worldwide marketing.
“He has great talent relationships, a terrific grasp »
- Dave McNary
Larrain’s Alfredo Castro, Antonia Zegers Set for Marcela Said’s ‘The Dogs’ (Exclusive)
2 hours ago
Guadalajara – Alfredo Castro, star of Venezuela’s 2015 Venice Golden Lion winner “From Afar” and all of fellow Chilean compatriot Pablo Larrain’s movies through the upcoming “Neruda,” and Antonia Zegers (“No,” “The Life of Fish”) will topline “Los Perros” (“The Dogs”), the anticipated second feature by Chile’s Marcela Said.
“The Dogs” marks Said’s follow-up to “The Summer of Flying Fish,” her debut, a critique of Chile’s bourgeoisie’s disavowal of political realities that was selected for Cannes’ 2013 Directors’ Fortnight, proved one of the new Latin American AMC-Sundance Channel’s first two pick-ups from Latin America, and established Said as one of Latin America’s distaff directors to track.
Zegers will play Mariana, 40, a lonely upper-class woman who chafes at the role her father and husband have created for her of conceiving children. She finds solace with her riding instructor, an exquisitely mannered retired colonel (Castro), who »
- John Hopewell
BBC, Giant Screen Team for Film on Cuba (Exclusive)
3 hours ago
Giant Screen Films and BBC Earth are teaming with Golden Gate 3D on a new large-format film about Cuba that will be shot entirely in the island nation, Variety has learned exclusively.
The film, which has the working title of “Cuba” and is produced by San Francisco’s Golden Gate 3D, will be distributed globally by Giant Screen Films. “Cuba” will be produced in association with BBC Earth and exec produced with BBC natural history filmmaker Neil Nightingale (“Walking With Dinosaurs”).
“In many ways, Cuba is a place whose past is still alive today and consequently offers a fascinating cultural and environmental study,” Nightingale said.
Peter Chang is directing the film from a script by Mose Richards. Production is under way with a target release for early next year. “Cuba” will focus on the nation’s culture, meticulously maintained colonial architecture and pristine ecosystems at a time when the nation »
- Dave McNary
South Korea Proposes Quotas For Art Movies
3 hours ago
South Korea may introduce a theatrical quota system for homegrown art films.
The Korean Film Council (Kofic) floated the proposal Thursday as part of a three-year action plan to promote local films.
The government agency, which is both a regulator and a financier of the industry, said that it may introduce the new system as a variation of the existing screen quota for local movies. These currently require all movie theaters in Korea to screen local films for a minimum of 73 days a year.
With Korean-made films enjoying a more than 50% share of ticket sales in the country the existing quotas currently have little operational impact on theaters.
Details and timetable for adoption of the new quota system for art films has yet to be firmly decided.
“We understand that it is practically impossible to impose the same rules on all exhibitors. Depending on the population of the city where each theater is located, »
- Sonia Kil
Jalisco Up Next! — Celso García to Caress ‘Velvet’
3 hours ago
On-the-rise Mexican helmer Celso Garcia is prepping “Velvet,” his follow-up to “The Thin Yellow Line,” produced by Guillermo Del Toro and Bertha Navarro, Del Toro’s partner at Mexco’s Tequila Gang, as well as Alejandro Springall.
“Velvet” is inspired by the life of Mexican Julia Pastrana, who was born in 1834 with a rare illness, hypertrichosis — popularly known as “werewolf syndrome” — consisting of abnormal, disproportionate hair growth over the entire body. No taller than five feet, Pastrana was called “the ugliest woman in the world,” traveled as a freak attraction throughout the U.S., and had a “tragic, intense and exciting life,” in García’s words.
“Velvet” will be structured as a Mexican-u.S. co-production, international talent, per Garcia. To be released in Mexico on July 1, “Line’s” international sales are handled by Madrid-based Latido Films.
“Line” took the Ibero-American feature Jury Prize and Audience Award for a Mexican feature at Mexico’s 2015 Guadalajara Fest. »
- Emilio Mayorga
Argos Cine Teams With Bob Yari, Arturo Perez Reverte (Exclusive)
5 hours ago
Guadalajara — Mexico’s Argos Cine is teaming with both Bob Yari, producer of “Crash” and “The Illusionist,” to co-produce “Luciérnagas en El Mozote” (“Fireflies at El Mozote”) and with Spain’s Arturo Perez Reverte, author of “Queen of the South,” for a second movie, “The Man From Rome,” an English-language big-screen makeover of Reverte’s Seville-set thriller “La piel del tambor,” in deals that mark out Argos Cine and parent Argos Comunicacion as an ambitious go-to production partner in Mexico for both film and TV.
Moving forward on the series “Burn the Bridge,” Argos Cine struck no fewer than nine co-production deals at Mexico’s Guadalajara Festival, boarding three titles at its Co-production meeting – Chile’s “Another Lake,” Costa Rica’s “Ballroom,” and Mexico’s “Night of July” – and two genre pic projects from Spanish producer Antonia Nava, agreeing to co-produce Ahinoa Menendez’s “Eco” and Gustavo Moheno’s “Melisa. »
- John Hopewell
Wanda Movie, Studio Units to Receive $384 Million Investment From Oceanwide
5 hours ago
Wanda Pictures, a film subsidiary of China’s property to entertainment conglomerate Dalian Wanda, is to enjoy a $163 million (RMB1.06 billion) capital injection from Oceanwide Holdings, a property to Internet group.
That will give Oceanwide 6.61% of Wanda Pictures, according to documents filed by Oceanwide, which is listed in Shenzhen.
Documents circulated last month in financial circles showed Wanda was seeking $1.5 billion of outside investment in Wanda Pictures ahead of an Ipo or backdoor stock listing that would value Wanda Pictures at $5.37 billion (RMB35 billion) on flotation.
Dalian Wanda announced the $3.5 billion acquisition of “The Dark Knight” producer Legendary Entertainment. That deal may still need regulatory approvals. When the takeover is completed, Legendary appears on course to be injected into Wanda Pictures and provide most of its value.
Oceanwide will also invest $221 million (RMB1.44 billion) in Qingdao Wanda Pictures, the Wanda unit that is currently constructing a massive studio and facilities »
- Patrick Frater
Panama and Argentina Making First Fiction Co-Production (Exclusive)
6 hours ago
Guadalajara – Underscoring the rising collaboration among Latin American filmmakers, the first Panamanian-Argentinean fiction co-production is primed to start shooting in May. Panama Meets director Arianne M. Benedetti will be making her feature debut “Mas Que Hermanos” (“Beyond Brotherhood”) with Argentina’s Magma Cine (“El Ardor”) on board to co-produce with Benedetti’s Treehouse Studios and VFX Panama.
212 Productions, Ingrid Barajas’ U.S.- based event organizer and publisher of Flaunt Magazine, also co-produces and will handle the red carpet premiere of the pic in Los Angeles. At the end of the day, “Hermanos” will boast a cast and crew from Panama, Chile, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia and the U.S., said Benedetti. Dialogue will be in both Spanish and English. “Around 90% of the above-the-line crew will be female,” noted VFX owner and senior producer Regina Barletta.
Based on her eponymously-titled bestselling novel and her own screenplay adaptation, Benedetti will draw on »
- Anna Marie de la Fuente
Corazon Takes Mexico, Latin America VOD on ‘The Apostate’ (Exclusive)
7 hours ago
Guadalajara – Who said distributors can no longer rely on TV sales? In a deal model which looks set to multiply in the Mexico, as competition in Latin America’s VOD space heats up, Eckehardt Von Damm’s Corazon Films has acquired all rights for Mexico and VOD for the whole of Latin America – both Svod and Tvod – to Federico Veiroj’s “The Apostate.”
“New VOD platforms in the region allow local distributors to be more aggressive as Latin American films become more palatable,” said Sandro Halphen, Corazon head of development and rights’ manager.
Pick-up by Corazon Films, a production-distribution shingle that releases a mix of U.S. (Scott Hick’s “Fallen,” “American Ultra”) and Mexican movies, ticks off another major territory for “The Apostate,” an irreverent belated coming-of-age comedy from Spanish-Uruguayan director Veiroj which, world premiering at Toronto, won a Fipresci award and Special Jury Prize at San Sebastian.
As »
- John Hopewell
Antonio Banderas Taps Mexico’s Jorge Vergara to Back Carlos Saura’s Picasso Pic ‘33 Dias’
9 hours ago
Guadalajara – In town to accept a Mayahuel de Plata on March 8 for his contribution to Ibero-American cinema and give a master class, multi-hyphenate Antonio Banderas revealed he had a third reason for coming to Mexico. “I’ve closed a pre-agreement with a Mexican company to complete the financing for “33 Dias,” he said in reference to Carlos Saura’s long-gestating film about iconic Spanish artist Pablo Picasso and hiss 33-day creation of anti-war masterpiece “Guernica.”
He later revealed that the new backer was Jorge Vergara, the Mexican billionaire who also owns the prominent Chivas soccer club. Vergara has produced pics in the past including Alfonso Cuaron’s Oscar-nommed “Y Tu Mama Tambien” and Niels Mueller’s “The Assassination of Richard Nixon” through his shingle, Producciones Anhelo. Banderas, who was born just four blocks from Picasso’s birthplace in Malaga, signed on to play the artist in 2012.
It’s an apt collaboration »
- Anna Marie de la Fuente
Guadalajara: Premio Maguey Toasts the Global Gay Evolution
9 hours ago
Guadalajara – Celebrating its fifth year at the Guadalajara Int’l Film Festival (Ficg), the Premio Maguey has been a standard bearer of Guadalajara’s vibrant Lgbt community.
This year’s theme is “evolution,” which in the words of Guadalajara Int’l Film Fest Board of Trustees president Raul Padilla, describes the Premio Maguey as “a space where sexual diversity is celebrated, and as a response to criticism towards Guadalajara as a homophobic, chauvinistic and hypocritical city.”
“We’ve also borne witness to the evolution in films about sexual diversity, where straight actors no longer balk at playing gay and directors don’t hesitate to deal with such themes,” said Cortes, citing Indian entry “Loev” whose director Sudhanshu Saria relates how he didn’t tell his crew what the film was about to avoid any conflict in a country where homosexuality is taboo. Its star, Indian heartthrob Shiv Pandit, may have »
- Anna Marie de la Fuente
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