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Star Wars: ‘Fleabag’ Star Eyed for Key Role in ‘Han Solo’ Spinoff (Exclusive)
9 hours ago | Variety - Film News | See recent Variety - Film News news »
Following her critically acclaimed turn in the Amazon series “Fleabag,” actress Pheobe Waller-Bridge is in talks for a key role in the upcoming “Star Wars” Han Solo spinoff starring Alden Ehrenreich.
The role would be a CGI-driven performance from Waller-Bridge but would still be a significant part of the ensemble, similarly to key Star Wars characters in the past like Chewbacca, C-3P0 and most recently, Alan Tudyk’s K-2So in “Rogue One.”
Donald Glover, Woody Harrelson and Emilia Clarke co-star star in the Disney-Lucasfilm film, with Phil Lord and Chris Miller directing.
The untitled Han Solo pic is set prior to “Star Wars: A New Hope,” like the other “Star Wars” standalone project, “Rogue One.”
Kathleen Kennedy and Allison Shearmur will produce with production slated to begin in January. The movie hits theaters on May 25, 2018.
The first “Star Wars Story,” “Rogue One,” has set the bar high. »
- Justin Kroll
Amazon Boards TV Crime Series From Nicolas Winding Refn (Exclusive)
12 hours ago | Variety - TV News | See recent Variety - TV News news »
Amazon is teaming up with “Drive” director Nicolas Winding Refn on new crime thriller, Variety has learned exclusively.
The drama, titled “Too Old To Die Young,” has been greenlit with a straight-to-series order with 10 episodes, according to sources. The show will shoot this fall in Los Angeles.
“Too Old To Die Young” explores the criminal underbelly of Los Angeles. The series is described as being in a similar vein to Refn’s Pusher trilogy, which looked at Danish criminals caught up in the drug trade. It explores various characters’ existential journeys from being killers to becoming samurai’s in the city of angels.
Refn will serve as co-writer with Ed Brubaker, who will be an executive producer. Refn will also direct the series and produce it.
Amazon has past ties to Refn, as the company previously released “The Neon Demon,” his recent horror film and fashion satire with Elle Fanning. His »
- Brent Lang and Elizabeth Wagmeister
Lee Daniels to Direct Oprah Winfrey in ‘Terms of Endearment’ Remake at Paramount (Exclusive)
11 hours ago | The Wrap | See recent The Wrap news »
Lee Daniels is in talks to direct “The Butler” star Oprah Winfrey in a remake of the 1983 Oscar winner “Terms of Endearment” that is in development at Paramount Pictures, TheWrap has learned. According to an individual with knowledge of the project, the studio has secured the rights to the project for Daniels to develop. Winfrey is lining up to play the smothering mother Aurora Greenway, a role that won Shirley MacLaine an Oscar for Best Actress in the original comedy-drama. The original earned 11 Academy Award nominations and won five, including Best Picture. Paramount had no comment. Reps for Daniels and. »
- Umberto Gonzalez
Adam McKay’s ‘Succession’ Media Family Drama Picked Up To Series By HBO
13 hours ago | Deadline TV | See recent Deadline TV news »
HBO has given a 10-episode series order to Succession, its drama pilot directed and executive produced by The Big Short's Adam McKay. Written/executive produced by Peep Show co-creator Jesse Armstrong, Succession follows the saga of the Roys, a fictional American global-media family that is not only rich and powerful but also powerfully dysfunctional. The drama, which explores family loyalty, international business, and the perils of power in the 21st century, comes on… »
‘Star Wars’ Spoof ‘Star Worlds’ in the Works From ‘Scary Movie’ Duo
15 hours ago | Variety - Film News | See recent Variety - Film News news »
A spoof of the Star Wars franchise is in development with Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer, whose credits include the Scary Movie franchise, “Epic Movie” and “Vampires Suck.”
The duo will write and direct the project, titled “Star Worlds Episode Xxxive=MC2: The Force Awakens The Last Jedi Who Went Rogue.” Covert Media’s CEO Paul Hanson (“District 9”) is producing the film alongside Broken Road Productions’ Todd Garner (“True Memoirs of an International Assassin”).
The film is currently in pre-production targeting a fall shoot. “Star Worlds” is being fully financed by Covert Media who will launch worldwide sales on the film at the Berlin Film Festival.
“Jason and Aaron are a powerhouse duo who have proven time and time again that they are fully tapped into the what audiences love,” Hanson said. “Their fearless take on pop culture has us beyond thrilled to tackle the world’s most »
- Dave McNary
'The Walking Dead': Everything You Need to Know for Midseason 7 Premiere
15 hours ago | Rollingstone.com | See recent Rolling Stone news »
After a bleak and often brutal stretch of episodes last fall, The Walking Dead wrapped the first half of its seventh season back in December with a rousing reunion between Rick, Michonne, Daryl, and Maggie at the Hilltop Colony. Our heroes gave every indication that they were ready to stop cautiously cowering from Negan and to start taking the fight directly to the Saviors. Given that this show's head writers Scott M. Gimple and Robert Kirkman never rush through any plot development, don't expect the Alexandrians to storm the Sanctuary any time soon. »
‘The OA’ Renewed for Season 2 at Netflix
17 hours ago | Variety - TV News | See recent Variety - TV News news »
Netflix has greenlit “The OA” for a second season, just eight weeks after the first installment of the mind-bending supernatural drama debuted.
“The OA” is written and produced by Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij. In the series, Marling stars as Prairie Johnson, a young blind woman who returns to her hometown after an unexplained seven-year absence — her eyesight restored and now calling herself “The OA.” She refuses to talk about her disappearance with anyone except four teenage boys and their high school teacher, sharing an incredible story involving her past identities, abduction and transdimensional travels in order to recruit them for a mysterious mission.
Netflix released season one of “The OA,” comprising eight one-hour episodes, on Dec. 16 with hardly any advance publicity.
In addition to Marling, the series cast includes Emory Cohen (“Brooklyn”), Scott Wilson (“The Walking Dead”), Phyllis Smith (“The Office”), Jason Isaacs (the “Harry Potter” films), Alice Krige (“Star Trek: First Contact”), Patrick Gibson »
- Todd Spangler
Charlie Rose to Undergo Heart Surgery, Take Break From ‘CBS This Morning’
21 hours ago | Variety - TV News | See recent Variety - TV News news »
“CBS This Morning” anchor Charlie Rose will undergo heart surgery on Thursday, forcing him to take a break from the show for at least a few weeks to recuperate.
Rose said in a note to CBS News staffers that the surgery was a voluntary decision to replace an artificial aorta valve that he first had installed 15 years ago. Rose said he expected to be back at work in March.
“I can’t wait to be back completely rested with my heart recharged, my passion for the work ahead purposeful and my joy at life’s pleasures high,” Rose wrote.
More to come
»
- Cynthia Littleton
Mel Brooks to Receive BAFTA Fellowship
23 hours ago | Variety - Film News | See recent Variety - Film News news »
Mel Brooks has been named this year’s recipient of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts’ Fellowship, it was announced Wednesday. The actor, director and producer will receive the award from Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, who serves as president of BAFTA, at the British Academy Film Awards, which take place at London’s Royal Albert Hall on Sunday.
“Mel Brooks is a truly unique and multi-talented filmmaker. We are absolutely thrilled to award him the Fellowship,” said Amanda Berry, chief executive of BAFTA.
The BAFTA Fellowship is the body’s highest honor. It recognizes an individual who has made an outstanding and exceptional contribution to film, television or games. Recent recipients include Terry Gilliam, Vanessa Redgrave, Christopher Lee, Martin Scorsese, Alan Parker, Mike Leigh and last year’s honoree Sidney Poitier.
“I am not overwhelmed, but I am definitely whelmed by this singular honor,” said Brooks. »
- Robert Mitchell
Spinal Tap Crew Joins Harry Shearer's $400 Million Lawsuit Against Vivendi
17 hours ago | Rollingstone.com | See recent Rolling Stone news »
This Is Spinal Tap actors Christopher Guest and Michael McKean and the mockumentary's director Rob Reiner have joined co-star Harry Shearer's lawsuit against the film's rights holder Vivendi.
In October, Shearer filed a $125 million lawsuit against Vivendi, alleging accounting misappropriation, fraud and breach of contract in regards to the 1984 cult classic and its soundtrack.
In the lawsuit, Shearer claimed that, over a 22-year period, he only received $98 for his contributions to the soundtrack and $81 from merchandising income. The income he generated from his share was "about enough to buy one miniature Stonehenge, »
Fox International to Produce Its First Movie in Indonesia
26 minutes ago | Variety - Film News | See recent Variety - Film News news »
Fox International Productions, the local-language movie-making arm of 20th Century Fox Film, is to co-produce its first feature film in Indonesia. With Indonesian producer Lifelike Pictures, it will produce “212 Warrior,” based on a best-selling martial arts book series.
The move to produce in Indonesia follows other local production initiatives by Fip around the world. In Asia Fip was involved in Korean films “The Yellow Sea” and 2016 Cannes festival film “The Wailing.”
Related storiesFilm Tank, Indigo Film Close Mexican-Italian Co-Production on Gaz Alazraki's 'Almost Paradise'FilMart: Two Fox Units Combine Forces for Expanded Chinese ProductionFox Intl. Productions Signs Russian Movie Pact with Paul Heth, Michael Schlicht »
- Patrick Frater
Berlin: Buyers Fall for German Rom-Com 'Blind Date'
1 hour ago | The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News | See recent The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News news »
StudioCanal has a sales hit on its hands with German romantic comedy My Blind Date With Life.
The feature, from Sophie Scholl director Marc Rothemund, has sold to some 37 territories, including to Kino Films in Japan, Alpha Filmes for Latin America and Flins & Pinicula for Spain.
Based on a true story, Blind Date stars Kostja Ullmann as a severally visually impaired man who, with the help of his friends, manages to bluff his way into a career at one of Munich's finest luxury hotels. Anna Maria Muhe (Love in Thoughts) co-stars.
"The fact that it is »
- Scott Roxborough
Berlin: Sharon Stone's Birthday Rom-Com Gets Raft of International Sales (Exclusive)
2 hours ago | The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News | See recent The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News news »
A Little Something for Your Birthday, the upcoming romantic comedy starring Sharon Stone, Tony Goldwyn and Ellen Burstyn, has landed a raft of deals ahead of the European Film Market in Berlin.
The film, which also stars Famke Janssen, Caitlin Fitzgerald, Liza Lapira and Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte in his acting debut, has been picked up by Eagle Pictures (Italy), Mediaset (Spain), Lusomundo (Portugal), Btv (Bulgaria), Discovery (Ex Yugoslavia), Sam Film (Iceland), Prime Pictures (Middle East), Swen (Latin America) and Penny Black (airlines).
The coming-of-age comedy from writer/director Susan Walter, sees Stone play a woman struggling »
- Alex Ritman
Vertical Entertainment Acquires Demi Moore, Alec Baldwin Romantic Drama ‘Blind’
2 hours ago | The Wrap | See recent The Wrap news »
Vertical Entertainment has acquired the North American rights to “Blind,” a romantic drama starring Demi Moore, Alec Baldwin and Dylan McDermott, TheWrap has learned. “Blind” reunites Moore and Baldwin after they appeared opposite each other in the 1996 thriller “The Juror.” Foresight Unlimited will be selling the international rights to the film directed by Michael Mailer at the Berlin market, it was announced Wednesday night, and Vertical is targeting a late summer/early fall 2017 theatrical release. Also Read: Watch Alec Baldwin Bust Out Donald Trump Impression at NYC Protest (Video) According to the studio’s description, “Blind” tells the story of »
- Debbie Emery
Berlinale: Aya Pro in Japan, eOne in Spain Bet on Afghanistan War Drama ‘Rescue Under Fire’ (Exclusive)
2 hours ago | Variety - Film News | See recent Variety - Film News news »
Sales house Latido Films has closed two distribution deals on Adolfo Martínez’s “Rescue Under Fire,” one of Spain’s building body of war films, and one of the most ambitious.
Tokyo’s Aya Pro has pre-bought Japanese rights; in Spain, the film opens wide on March 10, handled by eOne.
On the eve of Berlin’s European Film Market, “Rescue” has sparked a bidding war from distributors in China and Korea; companies from France, Italy and Latin America, among other territories, are showing strong interest, according to Latido Films CEO Antonio Saura.
“Rescue Under Fire” is set up at Tornasol Films (“The Secret in Their Eyes”).
Based on events that happened in 2012 in the north of Bala Murghab in Afghanistan, the pic follows the crew of a medical helicopter that suffered an accident while aiding a Spanish-American division. The Spanish Army has but one night to organize the rescue, while »
- Emiliano De Pablos
LevelK Acquires Icelandic Hit ‘Cruelty’ (Exclusive)
2 hours ago | Variety - Film News | See recent Variety - Film News news »
LevelK has acquired international sales rights to Icelandic filmmaker Anton Sigurdsson’s sophomore feature “Cruelty,” which opened in Iceland in October and became the second-biggest local hit of 2016.
“Cruelty,” which had its international premiere at Santa Barbara Film Festival, marks Sigurdsson’s followup to the well-received Icelandic film “Secret & Lies.”
Erlingur Jack Gudmundsson, Sigurdsson, and Haraldur Bender at Virgo Films are producing; Fenrir Films, BubbleHead Prods. and Fulton Street Entertainment are co-producing. Arnar Gunnlaugsson is executive productive.
“Cruelty” follows two detectives who set off to solve the gruesome murder of two little girls in Reykjavik and start discovering disturbing details.
LevelK is hosting a market screening of the film at Berlin’s Efm, where it’s also continuing sales on “Sami Blood.”
Related storiesIn Korea, Female Filmmakers Fight the Status Quo to Get AheadKorea's Star Directors Are Poised for Their Big 2017 Releases'Room' Star Jacob Tremblay Joins Xavier Dolan »
- Elsa Keslassy
Berlin Hidden Gem: Controversial 'This Is Our Land' Charts the Rise of Populism in France
2 hours ago | The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News | See recent The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News news »
This Is Our Land, Lucas Belvaux’s cinematic take on the rise of populism in France, was bound to cause controversy, especially in an election year where Marine Le Pen’s right-wing National Front could seize power.
But few expected the film to become the center of debate about censorship and freedom of speech before anyone had even seen it.
National Front vice president Florian Phillipot launched a pre-emptive strike against This Is Our Land, calling it “unacceptable” and accused the filmmakers of trying to swing the election, forcing French culture minister Audrey Azoulay to step in and defend the film, sight »
- Rhonda Richford
‘Fifty Shades Darker’ Review: At Least Look Like They’re Enjoying Themselves This Time
3 hours ago | The Wrap | See recent The Wrap news »
There’s a real temptation to cut the “Fifty Shades” films some slack; after all, almost every month sees the release of another superhero movie, designed to fulfill the power fantasies of boys of all ages. Even if the ongoing saga of Anastasia Steele (played by Dakota Johnson) is nothing but wish fulfillment, why should adult female audiences be deprived a vicarious shot at career advancement, gorgeous lingerie and a billionaire underwear model who’s fond of what the young hero of “20th Century Women” would refer to as “direct clitoral stimulation”? However, if you think that those same audiences also deserve characters. »
- Alonso Duralde
WTFilms Boards SXSW Player ‘Meatball,’ and Actioner ‘On the Ropes’ (Exclusive)
3 hours ago | Variety - Film News | See recent Variety - Film News news »
Paris-based sales company WTFilms has boarded Yoshihiro Nishimura’s SXSW-bound “Meatball Machine Kodoku” and James Mark’s English-language action-thriller “On the Ropes”
“Meatball Machine Kodoku” marks the reboot of the cult pic “Meatball Machine,” which turns on alien parasites turning humans into monstrous killing machines called necro-borgs. Nishimura is a renowned makeup effects supervisor (“Shin Godzilla,” “Machine Girl,” “Yakuza Weapon,” and “Dead Sushi”).
WTFilms and King Records will co-repesent “Meatball” at international markets.
“On the Ropes” toplines Can Aydin, Phong Giang, and Cha-Lee Yoon, a stunt team that worked on the “Hunger Games” franchise, “Skyfall,” the “Point Break” remake, and “Hitman: Agent 47,” among other films. Mark is also a busy stuntman, having worked on “Pacific Rim,” “RoboCop,” “Marco Polo,” and “Resident Evil: Retribution.”
Now in post-production, “On the Ropes” features Aydin as a young man who starts watching over his family’s criminal business after the death of his »
- Elsa Keslassy
Ugc, Gaumont, Illumination Macguff Team on ‘Gaston’ Adaptation (Exclusive)
3 hours ago | Variety - Film News | See recent Variety - Film News news »
Romain Rojtman, the French producer of French B.O. smash “Serial (Bad) Weddings,” is partnering with Ugc and Gaumont on “Gaston,” the film adaptation of André Franquin’s cult comic strip franchise Gaston Lagaffe.
“Gaston” will be mostly shot in live action with some animation, which will be created by Illumination MacGuff, the toon powerhouse behind “Despicable Me” and “Sing.”
Pierre Francois Martin-Laval is on board to direct “Gaston” with a budget of 19 million euros ($20 million), one of the biggest-budget films from France in 2018. Martin-Laval and Rojtman previously teamed on the two popular comedy films “Serial Teachers” and “Serial Teachers 2,” which together grossed $53 million at the French box office.
Martin-Laval will also star in the film as Gaston alongside Theo Fernandez (“The Tuche Family”) and Alison Wheeler (“Going to Brazil”).
“The comedy will carry the same values of ‘green attitude’ and ‘pacifism’ that’s in the comicbook,” said Cecile Gaget, »
- Elsa Keslassy
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