Exclusive: Mike Tollin, executive producer of Emmy-winning The Last Dance, today announced the launch of Mtp, a re-branding and restructuring of his Mike Tollin Productions, with a focus on expanded content.
The announcement follows the premiere last month of his six-episode docuseries Justice, USA on Max.
Under the re-brand, sports will remain a major component of Mtp’s content expansion, and has allowed Tollin to bring on new talent and reorganize the company structure. Jonathan Vogler has been elevated to President of Unscripted Productions and Ricky Cruz has been brought on as VP/Development. On the scripted side, Harry Wood is now VP Development and Sarah Alammuri has joined as Director/Development. Steve Tollin remains Director of Finance.
“I love the new team,” said Tollin. “They’re passionate and scrappy. Sports will continue to be our main lane, but we’ll follow the side streets as often as possible to tell stories with pro-social content.
The announcement follows the premiere last month of his six-episode docuseries Justice, USA on Max.
Under the re-brand, sports will remain a major component of Mtp’s content expansion, and has allowed Tollin to bring on new talent and reorganize the company structure. Jonathan Vogler has been elevated to President of Unscripted Productions and Ricky Cruz has been brought on as VP/Development. On the scripted side, Harry Wood is now VP Development and Sarah Alammuri has joined as Director/Development. Steve Tollin remains Director of Finance.
“I love the new team,” said Tollin. “They’re passionate and scrappy. Sports will continue to be our main lane, but we’ll follow the side streets as often as possible to tell stories with pro-social content.
- 4/3/2024
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
“The Studio,” Apple TV+’s upcoming half-hour from Seth Rogen’s Point Grey Pictures and Lionsgate Television, has added seven new cast members.
Joining Rogen in the cast are Catherine O’Hara, Kathryn Hahn, Ike Barinholtz and Chase Sui Wonders as series regulars, while Bryan Cranston, Keyla Monterroso Mejia and Dewayne Perkins will play recurring roles.
Per the official logline, “The Studio” follows “a legacy Hollywood movie studio trying to survive in a world where it is increasingly difficult for art and commerce to live together.” The project, which is now in production, was ordered to series in November of 2022.
O’Hara is repped by CAA and Brillstein Entertainment Partners. Hahn is repped by Gersh, Lighthouse Management & Media and Schreck Rose Dapello. Barinholtz is repped by UTA, Artists First, and Jared Levine from Morris Yorn Barnes Levine Krintzman Rubenstein Kohner & Gellman. Wonders is repped by UTA, Sloane, Offer, Weber and Dern,...
Joining Rogen in the cast are Catherine O’Hara, Kathryn Hahn, Ike Barinholtz and Chase Sui Wonders as series regulars, while Bryan Cranston, Keyla Monterroso Mejia and Dewayne Perkins will play recurring roles.
Per the official logline, “The Studio” follows “a legacy Hollywood movie studio trying to survive in a world where it is increasingly difficult for art and commerce to live together.” The project, which is now in production, was ordered to series in November of 2022.
O’Hara is repped by CAA and Brillstein Entertainment Partners. Hahn is repped by Gersh, Lighthouse Management & Media and Schreck Rose Dapello. Barinholtz is repped by UTA, Artists First, and Jared Levine from Morris Yorn Barnes Levine Krintzman Rubenstein Kohner & Gellman. Wonders is repped by UTA, Sloane, Offer, Weber and Dern,...
- 3/25/2024
- by Selome Hailu
- Variety Film + TV
Hulu’s Only Murders In The Building continues to assemble an all-star Season 4 cast, with Emmy winner Eugene Levy as the latest addition. In his first TV acting role since Schitt’s Creek, Levy is set to recur on Only Murders In the Building next season. He joins series stars/executive producers Steve Martin, who also co-created the mystery comedy, Martin Short and Selena Gomez as well as new recurring players Molly Shannon and Eva Longoria and returning Meryl Streep.
All new characters will be integral to the twists and turns of the investigation into the murder of Sazz Pataki (Jane Lynch), Charles-Haden Savage’s (Martin) stunt double from his years on the series Brazzos and its 2020 revival.
The casting reunites Levy with his old friend Short. The two hail from the same Canadian hometown, got their start on Sctv and have collaborated on multiple occasions. Levy also did cameos alongside...
All new characters will be integral to the twists and turns of the investigation into the murder of Sazz Pataki (Jane Lynch), Charles-Haden Savage’s (Martin) stunt double from his years on the series Brazzos and its 2020 revival.
The casting reunites Levy with his old friend Short. The two hail from the same Canadian hometown, got their start on Sctv and have collaborated on multiple occasions. Levy also did cameos alongside...
- 2/27/2024
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Julia Fox is set to star as the female lead alongside Marlon Wayans and Tyriq Withers in Monkeypaw’s Goat for Universal Pictures. Justin Tipping is directing.
The project, based on a Black List script by Zack Akers and Skip Bronkie, centers on a promising young athlete who is invited to train with a team’s retiring star. The film will be produced by Jordan Peele, Win Rosenfeld, Ian Cooper, and Jamal Watson. Executive producers are David Kern and Kate Oh.
Executive Vice President of Production Development Sara Scott and Director of Development Tony Ducret will oversee the project for the Studio.
Best known for her New York Times best-selling book Down the Drain, Fox had her breakout role opposite Adam Sandler in the Safdie Brothers’ thriller Uncut Gems. She followed that up with Steven Soderbergh’s No Sudden Move and is reuniting with Soderbergh for his upcoming thriller Presence,...
The project, based on a Black List script by Zack Akers and Skip Bronkie, centers on a promising young athlete who is invited to train with a team’s retiring star. The film will be produced by Jordan Peele, Win Rosenfeld, Ian Cooper, and Jamal Watson. Executive producers are David Kern and Kate Oh.
Executive Vice President of Production Development Sara Scott and Director of Development Tony Ducret will oversee the project for the Studio.
Best known for her New York Times best-selling book Down the Drain, Fox had her breakout role opposite Adam Sandler in the Safdie Brothers’ thriller Uncut Gems. She followed that up with Steven Soderbergh’s No Sudden Move and is reuniting with Soderbergh for his upcoming thriller Presence,...
- 2/21/2024
- by Justin Kroll
- Deadline Film + TV
In Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon, the late Robbie Robertson’s final original score, laced with Native American percussion and fierce electric guitar, captures the chilling tension that was building up in 1920s Oklahoma’s Osage Nation community.
The intense musical work, which Robertson composed while battling prostate cancer, was a labor of love for the five-time Grammy nominee given his own Mohawk tribal roots. He died in August at 80.
On today’s Crew Call, we speak with The Band co-founder’s longtime manager Jared Levine, who expounds on Robertson’s process with his longtime friend Scorsese in mounting the three-hour epic starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro and Lily Gladstone.
Related: Martin Scorsese & Robbie Robertson To Receive Society of Composers and Lyricists Spirit of Collaboration Award
“Being able to do work in the Native American music world was important to him,” says Levine. “This was the...
The intense musical work, which Robertson composed while battling prostate cancer, was a labor of love for the five-time Grammy nominee given his own Mohawk tribal roots. He died in August at 80.
On today’s Crew Call, we speak with The Band co-founder’s longtime manager Jared Levine, who expounds on Robertson’s process with his longtime friend Scorsese in mounting the three-hour epic starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro and Lily Gladstone.
Related: Martin Scorsese & Robbie Robertson To Receive Society of Composers and Lyricists Spirit of Collaboration Award
“Being able to do work in the Native American music world was important to him,” says Levine. “This was the...
- 2/8/2024
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Tyriq Withers is set to star alongside Marlon Wayans in Monkeypaw’s Goat for Universal with Justin Tipping.
The project, based on a Black List script by Zack Akers and Skip Bronkie, centers on a promising young athlete who is invited to train with a team’s retiring star.
The film will be produced by Jordan Peele, Win Rosenfeld, Ian Cooper and Jamal Watson. Executive producers are David Kern and Kate Oh. EVP Production Development Sara Scott and Director of Development Tony Ducret will oversee the project for Universal.
While execs always had their eyes on Wayans for the retiring star, Monkeypaw and Uni met with a number of up-and-comers for the younger star, with Withers rising to the top of the list.
Best known for his role in the FX series Atlanta, Withers is currently in production on the Ace Entertainment feature Family Secrets opposite Eric Dane and Maia Mitchell.
The project, based on a Black List script by Zack Akers and Skip Bronkie, centers on a promising young athlete who is invited to train with a team’s retiring star.
The film will be produced by Jordan Peele, Win Rosenfeld, Ian Cooper and Jamal Watson. Executive producers are David Kern and Kate Oh. EVP Production Development Sara Scott and Director of Development Tony Ducret will oversee the project for Universal.
While execs always had their eyes on Wayans for the retiring star, Monkeypaw and Uni met with a number of up-and-comers for the younger star, with Withers rising to the top of the list.
Best known for his role in the FX series Atlanta, Withers is currently in production on the Ace Entertainment feature Family Secrets opposite Eric Dane and Maia Mitchell.
- 1/24/2024
- by Justin Kroll
- Deadline Film + TV
Marlon Wayans is ready to look at the scary side of perfection. The actor and comedian will star as an all-time great athlete in Goat, a psychological horror film from Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions and Universal, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.
The film centers on an up-and-coming young athlete who is invited to train with a team’s retiring star, who will be played by Wayans. Justin Tipping will direct the feature, which came out of a pitch from Zack Akers and Skip Bronkie. Peele will produce along with Win Rosenfeld, Ian Cooper and Jamal Watson.
Wayans is coming off of work in Ben Affleck’s awards contender Air, about Nike’s quest to sign a young Michael Jordan, with other acting credits in recent years including the Aretha Franklin biopic Respect and Sofia Coppola’s On the Rocks. He came up with comedic roles, such as on the...
The film centers on an up-and-coming young athlete who is invited to train with a team’s retiring star, who will be played by Wayans. Justin Tipping will direct the feature, which came out of a pitch from Zack Akers and Skip Bronkie. Peele will produce along with Win Rosenfeld, Ian Cooper and Jamal Watson.
Wayans is coming off of work in Ben Affleck’s awards contender Air, about Nike’s quest to sign a young Michael Jordan, with other acting credits in recent years including the Aretha Franklin biopic Respect and Sofia Coppola’s On the Rocks. He came up with comedic roles, such as on the...
- 1/15/2024
- by Aaron Couch
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Exclusive: For their sports horror pic Goat, Universal Pictures and Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw banner looked to have found the actor to play their greatest of all time athlete as Deadline is hearing Marlon Wayans is set to star in in the pic. Justin Tipping is on board to direct the pic which is produced by Jordan Peele, Win Rosenfeld, Ian Cooper, and Jamal Watson. Executive producers are David Kern and Kate Oh.
The project, based on a pitch by Zack Akers and Skip Bronkie, centers on a promising young athlete who is invited to train with a team’s retiring star.
While execs have taken the screen testing route for finding the young athlete character, sources say Wayans was always top of the studio’s list for its titular character. Exec Vice President of Production Development Sara Scott and Director of Development Tony Ducret will oversee the project for the Studio.
The project, based on a pitch by Zack Akers and Skip Bronkie, centers on a promising young athlete who is invited to train with a team’s retiring star.
While execs have taken the screen testing route for finding the young athlete character, sources say Wayans was always top of the studio’s list for its titular character. Exec Vice President of Production Development Sara Scott and Director of Development Tony Ducret will oversee the project for the Studio.
- 1/15/2024
- by Justin Kroll
- Deadline Film + TV
Scoring Killers of the Flower Moon was a daunting prospect for Robbie Robertson.
The Band co-founder, who died in August at 80, had a vision he wanted to achieve but was “terrified of delivering something ordinary,” explained orchestrator-conductor Mark Graham during a panel for Martin Scorsese’s epic at Deadline’s Sound and Screen: Film awards-season concert event.
“Marty does not want any movie music, so that’s why Robbie would always say, ‘It can’t be movie music,'” added Jared Levine, Robertson’s former manager. “Marty doesn’t want it to comment on what he’s doing. It has to somehow fit and illuminate something in his film without it being used as a tool to make you feel something or think something is going to happen. It has to play a different role than what is usual. I had to talk Robbie into it, make him believe that...
The Band co-founder, who died in August at 80, had a vision he wanted to achieve but was “terrified of delivering something ordinary,” explained orchestrator-conductor Mark Graham during a panel for Martin Scorsese’s epic at Deadline’s Sound and Screen: Film awards-season concert event.
“Marty does not want any movie music, so that’s why Robbie would always say, ‘It can’t be movie music,'” added Jared Levine, Robertson’s former manager. “Marty doesn’t want it to comment on what he’s doing. It has to somehow fit and illuminate something in his film without it being used as a tool to make you feel something or think something is going to happen. It has to play a different role than what is usual. I had to talk Robbie into it, make him believe that...
- 11/10/2023
- by Lynette Rice
- Deadline Film + TV
Deadline’s Sound & Screen, our awards-season composer showcase of original music for some of this year’s most acclaimed films, gets underway tonight at UCLA’s Royce Hall, with a 60-piece orchestra tuning up to make it all sing.
The event for industry voters begins with a pre-reception at 5:30 p.m. Pt, with performances starting at 6:45 p.m. Follow along on social media all evening on Deadline’s social channels via #DeadlineSoundAndScreen, and stay with Deadline for full panel coverage.
This year’s lineup features Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt, co-composers and songwriters for Warner Bros. Pictures’ smash Barbie, who will walk the audience through how they approached that film’s music and wrote the catchy tune “I’m Just Ken.” Additionally, we’ve got Scottish musician Gary Clark here to talk us through his most recent collaboration with John Carney: the musical drama Flora and Son from Apple Original Films.
The event for industry voters begins with a pre-reception at 5:30 p.m. Pt, with performances starting at 6:45 p.m. Follow along on social media all evening on Deadline’s social channels via #DeadlineSoundAndScreen, and stay with Deadline for full panel coverage.
This year’s lineup features Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt, co-composers and songwriters for Warner Bros. Pictures’ smash Barbie, who will walk the audience through how they approached that film’s music and wrote the catchy tune “I’m Just Ken.” Additionally, we’ve got Scottish musician Gary Clark here to talk us through his most recent collaboration with John Carney: the musical drama Flora and Son from Apple Original Films.
- 11/9/2023
- by Diana Lodderhose
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: UTA Independent Film Group and CAA Media Finance are co-repping North American rights and Protagonist Pictures has come on board to handle international rights to Summer Camp. The film stars Diane Keaton and Kathy Bates along with Alfre Woodard. Rounding out the ensemble is Eugene Levy, Dennis Haysbert, Nicole Richie (Great News) and Josh Peck (Oppenheimer).
The film is currently in post-production and exclusive footage will be available to screen at AFM.
Written and directed by Castille Landon (After franchise), Summer Camp tells the story of Nora, Ginny and Mary, who have been best friends since childhood, spending their summers together at sleepaway camp. Fifty years later, a reunion at Camp Pinnacle means they’ll be back together just like old times. Their lives might not be where they’d imagine,...
The film is currently in post-production and exclusive footage will be available to screen at AFM.
Written and directed by Castille Landon (After franchise), Summer Camp tells the story of Nora, Ginny and Mary, who have been best friends since childhood, spending their summers together at sleepaway camp. Fifty years later, a reunion at Camp Pinnacle means they’ll be back together just like old times. Their lives might not be where they’d imagine,...
- 10/30/2023
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
Robbie Robertson’s manager of over 30 years Jared Levine remembered how much “Killers of the Flower Moon” director Martin Scorsese loved to cut to a harmonica when Robertson first presented sample scoring during early editing.
Scorsese’s latest film, adapted from the book of the same name by David Grann, stars Leonard DiCaprio as Ernest Burkhart, nephew of Robert DeNiro’s William Hale, who orchestrated the mysterious murders of Osage tribe members in the 1920s. Lily Gladstone stars as Mollie Burkhart. “Killers” was also the last film Robertson scored before he died.
“The interesting thing about Marty is that he likes to cut to music. So as soon as the film is done, as soon as he’s done shooting, he wants to have music. The first draft of the music for the film is with us not having seen any of the picture, we did go down and watch...
Scorsese’s latest film, adapted from the book of the same name by David Grann, stars Leonard DiCaprio as Ernest Burkhart, nephew of Robert DeNiro’s William Hale, who orchestrated the mysterious murders of Osage tribe members in the 1920s. Lily Gladstone stars as Mollie Burkhart. “Killers” was also the last film Robertson scored before he died.
“The interesting thing about Marty is that he likes to cut to music. So as soon as the film is done, as soon as he’s done shooting, he wants to have music. The first draft of the music for the film is with us not having seen any of the picture, we did go down and watch...
- 10/17/2023
- by Dessi Gomez
- The Wrap
Los Angeles, Aug 12 (Ians) Musician Robbie Robertson died proud that he supported Bob Dylan when he went electric.
The Band guitarist was part of Bob’s backing group known as The Hawks when the ‘Like a Rolling Stone’ singer was famously booed by fans at gigs in the mid-1960s for ditching his acoustic folk style for rock, reports aceshowbiz.com.
Robbie, whose death aged 80 was announced on Wednesday, August 9, said in a 2017 chat with Mojo that has been reprinted by the magazine in honor of his legacy, “(Bob Dylan and The Hawks) got booed all over North America, Australia, Europe, and people were saying this isn’t working and we kept on and Bob didn’t budge.
We got to a place where we would listen to these tapes and say, ‘You know what? They’re wrong. And we’re right.’ Eight years later, we do a tour, the (1974) Dylan/Band tour.
The Band guitarist was part of Bob’s backing group known as The Hawks when the ‘Like a Rolling Stone’ singer was famously booed by fans at gigs in the mid-1960s for ditching his acoustic folk style for rock, reports aceshowbiz.com.
Robbie, whose death aged 80 was announced on Wednesday, August 9, said in a 2017 chat with Mojo that has been reprinted by the magazine in honor of his legacy, “(Bob Dylan and The Hawks) got booed all over North America, Australia, Europe, and people were saying this isn’t working and we kept on and Bob didn’t budge.
We got to a place where we would listen to these tapes and say, ‘You know what? They’re wrong. And we’re right.’ Eight years later, we do a tour, the (1974) Dylan/Band tour.
- 8/12/2023
- by Agency News Desk
- GlamSham
Canadian singer and guitarist Robbie Robertson who was renowned in the rock’n roll scene for leading the rock band The Band passed away on August 9, at the age of 80. As reported by Variety, in a statement given by Jared Levine, who was the manager of Robbie for over 34 years, the musician passed away in his home in Los Angeles after battling a long time illness.
He said: “Robbie was surrounded by his family at the time of his death, including his wife, Janet, his ex-wife, Dominique, her partner Nicholas, and his children Alexandra, Sebastian, Delphine, and Delphine’s partner Kenny. He is also survived by his grandchildren Angelica, Donovan, Dominic, Gabriel and Seraphina.”
“Robertson recently completed his fourteenth film music project with frequent collaborator Martin Scorsese, ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to the Six Nations of the...
He said: “Robbie was surrounded by his family at the time of his death, including his wife, Janet, his ex-wife, Dominique, her partner Nicholas, and his children Alexandra, Sebastian, Delphine, and Delphine’s partner Kenny. He is also survived by his grandchildren Angelica, Donovan, Dominic, Gabriel and Seraphina.”
“Robertson recently completed his fourteenth film music project with frequent collaborator Martin Scorsese, ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to the Six Nations of the...
- 8/10/2023
- by Agency News Desk
- GlamSham
Robbie Robertson, the founding guitarist for The Band, has passed away. According to Robertson’s longtime manager Jared Levine, the world-famous musician passed away on Wednesday. He was 80.
Born Jaime Robbie Robertson on July 5, 1974, in Toronto, the Hall of Famer played on The Band’s classic hits like “The Weight,” “Rag Mama Rag,” “Up on Cripple Creek,” “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down,” “Atlantic City,” “Jawbone,” and more. Nominated for five Grammy awards, Robertson arrived on the music scene at the influential age of 16, when he played for Ronnie Hawkins’ The Hawks. He helped found the Americana genre and was Bob Dylan’s guitarist on the “electric” world tour in 1966.
The Hall of Fame released an official statement about Robertson’s passing, which you can read below:
The architect and primary songwriter of The Band, 1994 inductee Robbie Robertson changed the course of popular music in the late 1960s. Though born and raised in Canada,...
Born Jaime Robbie Robertson on July 5, 1974, in Toronto, the Hall of Famer played on The Band’s classic hits like “The Weight,” “Rag Mama Rag,” “Up on Cripple Creek,” “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down,” “Atlantic City,” “Jawbone,” and more. Nominated for five Grammy awards, Robertson arrived on the music scene at the influential age of 16, when he played for Ronnie Hawkins’ The Hawks. He helped found the Americana genre and was Bob Dylan’s guitarist on the “electric” world tour in 1966.
The Hall of Fame released an official statement about Robertson’s passing, which you can read below:
The architect and primary songwriter of The Band, 1994 inductee Robbie Robertson changed the course of popular music in the late 1960s. Though born and raised in Canada,...
- 8/9/2023
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
Robbie Robertson, the brilliant founding guitarist of The Band who also wrote many of its most famous songs and whose final farewell show with the group was memorialized in Martin Scorsese’s landmark documentary The Last Waltz, died today in Los Angeles. He was 80.
His longtime manager Jared Levine announced the news in a statement. Read it below.
Robertson wrote and played on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group’s classics including “The Weight,” “Up on Cripple Creek” and “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down,” the latter of which was was Top 5 hit for Joan Baez in 1971.
In 1969, The Band played at Woodstock and became the first North American rock group to appear on the cover of Time magazine.
A five-time Grammy nominee, Robertson got his break at 16 years old with Ronnie Hawkins’ The Hawks. He was Bob Dylan’s guitarist on the notorious 1966 “electric” world tour and,...
His longtime manager Jared Levine announced the news in a statement. Read it below.
Robertson wrote and played on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group’s classics including “The Weight,” “Up on Cripple Creek” and “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down,” the latter of which was was Top 5 hit for Joan Baez in 1971.
In 1969, The Band played at Woodstock and became the first North American rock group to appear on the cover of Time magazine.
A five-time Grammy nominee, Robertson got his break at 16 years old with Ronnie Hawkins’ The Hawks. He was Bob Dylan’s guitarist on the notorious 1966 “electric” world tour and,...
- 8/9/2023
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
Robbie Robertson, the Band’s guitarist and primary songwriter who penned “The Weight,” “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down,” “Up on Cripple Creek,” and many other beloved classics, died Wednesday at age 80.
Robertson’s management company confirmed the musician’s death. “Robbie was surrounded by his family at the time of his death, including his wife, Janet, his ex-wife, Dominique, her partner Nicholas, and his children Alexandra, Sebastian, Delphine, and Delphine’s partner Kenny,” his longtime manager Jared Levine said in a statement. “In lieu of flowers, the family...
Robertson’s management company confirmed the musician’s death. “Robbie was surrounded by his family at the time of his death, including his wife, Janet, his ex-wife, Dominique, her partner Nicholas, and his children Alexandra, Sebastian, Delphine, and Delphine’s partner Kenny,” his longtime manager Jared Levine said in a statement. “In lieu of flowers, the family...
- 8/9/2023
- by Andy Greene
- Rollingstone.com
Prime Video has given a series order to Butterfly, from Daniel Dae Kim’s 3Ad and Boom! Studios, publisher of the graphic novel of the same name created by Arash Amel. Kim is set to star as the lead in the six-episode series, with Ken Woodruff set as showrunner and co-creator for the adaptation alongside novelist Steph Cha. This marks Lost alum Kim’s first solo lead TV role.
Related: 2023 Prime Video Pilots & Series Orders
Butterfly, which will go into production after WGA, DGA and SAG-AFTRA reach new agreements with AMPTP, was among more than a dozen mini-writers rooms commissioned by Amazon Studios in the past couple of months. It is one of several projects that have been heating up for a series pickup, including Criminal, based on the Ed Brubaker comic.
A character-driven spy thriller that explores complex family dynamics within the treacherous world of global espionage,...
Related: 2023 Prime Video Pilots & Series Orders
Butterfly, which will go into production after WGA, DGA and SAG-AFTRA reach new agreements with AMPTP, was among more than a dozen mini-writers rooms commissioned by Amazon Studios in the past couple of months. It is one of several projects that have been heating up for a series pickup, including Criminal, based on the Ed Brubaker comic.
A character-driven spy thriller that explores complex family dynamics within the treacherous world of global espionage,...
- 5/24/2023
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Actor Freddie Prinze Jr. has signed with A3 Artists Agency for representation.
Prinze is best known for starring in such films as the Miramax rom-com She’s All That with Rachael Leigh Cook, Columbia Pictures’ slasher hit I Know What You Did Last Summer and sequel I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, which had him sharing the screen with Jennifer Love Hewitt, and Warner Bros’ Scooby-Doo pics of the early 2000s.
The actor most recently starred opposite Lucifer‘s Aimee Garcia in the Netflix holiday rom-com Christmas with You, which last year spent two weeks on Netflix’s Global Top 10 list for English-Language Films. He’s also in recent years lent his voice to video games and family-friendly animated series like Disney Xd’s Star Wars Rebels, which had him voicing Kanan Jarrus, one of the last surviving Jedi Knights. Additional television credits include Peacock’s recent...
Prinze is best known for starring in such films as the Miramax rom-com She’s All That with Rachael Leigh Cook, Columbia Pictures’ slasher hit I Know What You Did Last Summer and sequel I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, which had him sharing the screen with Jennifer Love Hewitt, and Warner Bros’ Scooby-Doo pics of the early 2000s.
The actor most recently starred opposite Lucifer‘s Aimee Garcia in the Netflix holiday rom-com Christmas with You, which last year spent two weeks on Netflix’s Global Top 10 list for English-Language Films. He’s also in recent years lent his voice to video games and family-friendly animated series like Disney Xd’s Star Wars Rebels, which had him voicing Kanan Jarrus, one of the last surviving Jedi Knights. Additional television credits include Peacock’s recent...
- 4/26/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Eugene Levy is heading out on his travels again for Apple TV+.
The Schitt’s Creek star will present and executive produce a second season of The Reluctant Traveler With Eugene Levy after Season 1 premiered earlier this year.
Levy will travel through Europe in Season 2 after taking in the likes of Costa Rica, Japan, and South Africa during his first adventure for Apple.
The Reluctant Traveler is produced by Twofour, the British production company. It hails from Jay Hunt’s Europen team at Apple, where Alison Kirkham oversees unscripted commissioning. David Brindley is the executive producer alongside Levy.
Levy said: “After experiencing Season 1, I’ve come to realize it’s true what they say about travel broadening the mind — and, I guess my mind could still take some broadening. So I’m packing my suitcase once again and looking forward, with a healthy dose of trepidation, to whatever adventures lie in store.
The Schitt’s Creek star will present and executive produce a second season of The Reluctant Traveler With Eugene Levy after Season 1 premiered earlier this year.
Levy will travel through Europe in Season 2 after taking in the likes of Costa Rica, Japan, and South Africa during his first adventure for Apple.
The Reluctant Traveler is produced by Twofour, the British production company. It hails from Jay Hunt’s Europen team at Apple, where Alison Kirkham oversees unscripted commissioning. David Brindley is the executive producer alongside Levy.
Levy said: “After experiencing Season 1, I’ve come to realize it’s true what they say about travel broadening the mind — and, I guess my mind could still take some broadening. So I’m packing my suitcase once again and looking forward, with a healthy dose of trepidation, to whatever adventures lie in store.
- 4/24/2023
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Schitt’s Creek alum Eugene Levy is heading to Summer Camp. The four-time Emmy winner will play Diane Keaton’s love interest in the comedy also set to star Kathy Bates and Alfre Woodard.
Castille Landon (After franchise) is directing the film, which is heading into production next month in North Carolina, from her own script. It tells the story of Nora, Ginny and Mary, who have been best friends since childhood, spending their summers together inseparably at sleepaway camp. As the years have passed, they’ve seen each other less and less, so when the chance for a summer camp reunion arises, they all take it, some begrudgingly and others excitedly. Each of their lives might not be where they’d imagined, but one thing is for sure — Nora, Ginny, and Mary need each other, and summer camp reminds them why.
Related Story A24 Sets Disaster Comedy ‘Y2K...
Castille Landon (After franchise) is directing the film, which is heading into production next month in North Carolina, from her own script. It tells the story of Nora, Ginny and Mary, who have been best friends since childhood, spending their summers together inseparably at sleepaway camp. As the years have passed, they’ve seen each other less and less, so when the chance for a summer camp reunion arises, they all take it, some begrudgingly and others excitedly. Each of their lives might not be where they’d imagined, but one thing is for sure — Nora, Ginny, and Mary need each other, and summer camp reminds them why.
Related Story A24 Sets Disaster Comedy ‘Y2K...
- 3/24/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Kimberly Harrison (The Crossover) has been tapped as showrunner for Hulu’s limited series about Sammy Davis Jr. from Lee Daniels and 20th Television, which stars Elijah Kelley as the Candy Man.
Written by Daniels and Thomas Westfall based on Will Haygood’s biography, In Black and White: The Life of Sammy Davis Jr., and inspired by Alex Haley’s interview of Davis, the yet untitled eight-episode series explores the entertainer’s life through the lens of his racial identity and his complex relationship with the Black community.
Related: 2023 Hulu Pilots & Series Orders
It centers on Davis (Kelley), who rose from childhood stardom on the vaudeville stage to become one of the most famous African American entertainers of the 1950s and ’60s (and the only Black member of Frank Sinatra’s Rat Pack). At the same time, he spent most of his career surrounded by controversy and ridicule – over...
Written by Daniels and Thomas Westfall based on Will Haygood’s biography, In Black and White: The Life of Sammy Davis Jr., and inspired by Alex Haley’s interview of Davis, the yet untitled eight-episode series explores the entertainer’s life through the lens of his racial identity and his complex relationship with the Black community.
Related: 2023 Hulu Pilots & Series Orders
It centers on Davis (Kelley), who rose from childhood stardom on the vaudeville stage to become one of the most famous African American entertainers of the 1950s and ’60s (and the only Black member of Frank Sinatra’s Rat Pack). At the same time, he spent most of his career surrounded by controversy and ridicule – over...
- 2/13/2023
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Daniel Dae Kim will star in and executive produce a series adaptation of the graphic novel “Butterfly” currently in development at Amazon, Variety has learned exclusively.
The project is described as a character-driven spy thriller. Per the official logline, the series centers on “David Jung (Kim), an enigmatic, highly unpredictable former US intelligence operative living in South Korea, whose life is blown to pieces when the consequences of an impossible decision from his past come back to haunt him, and he finds himself pursued by Rebecca, a deadly, sociopathic young agent assigned to kill him.” According to sources, the series would shoot in South Korea and feature both Korean and English dialogue.
The “Butterfly” graphic novel was created by Arash Amel and written by Amel and Marguerite Bennett. It was illustrated by Antonio Fuso and Stefano Simeone. It was originally published by Boom! Studios in 2015.
Ken Woodruff is co-creating the series with novelist Steph Cha.
The project is described as a character-driven spy thriller. Per the official logline, the series centers on “David Jung (Kim), an enigmatic, highly unpredictable former US intelligence operative living in South Korea, whose life is blown to pieces when the consequences of an impossible decision from his past come back to haunt him, and he finds himself pursued by Rebecca, a deadly, sociopathic young agent assigned to kill him.” According to sources, the series would shoot in South Korea and feature both Korean and English dialogue.
The “Butterfly” graphic novel was created by Arash Amel and written by Amel and Marguerite Bennett. It was illustrated by Antonio Fuso and Stefano Simeone. It was originally published by Boom! Studios in 2015.
Ken Woodruff is co-creating the series with novelist Steph Cha.
- 2/7/2023
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Fast-rising filmmakers Travon Free and Martin Roe have signed with CAA for representation, at the same time announcing the Paramount Pictures film Razorblade Tears, based on the New York Times bestselling novel by S.A. Cosby, as their next project.
The pic marking their narrative feature directorial debut will be produced by Top Gun: Maverick‘s Jerry Bruckheimer. The story follows Ike and Buddy Lee, two ex-cons with little else in common other than a criminal past and a love for their dead sons, who band together in their desperate desire for revenge. In their quest to do better for their sons in death than they did in life, the pair of hardened men will confront their own prejudices about their sons and each other, as they rain down vengeance upon those who hurt their boys.
Flatiron Books published Razorblade Tears in July 2021. In addition to directing, Free and Roe...
The pic marking their narrative feature directorial debut will be produced by Top Gun: Maverick‘s Jerry Bruckheimer. The story follows Ike and Buddy Lee, two ex-cons with little else in common other than a criminal past and a love for their dead sons, who band together in their desperate desire for revenge. In their quest to do better for their sons in death than they did in life, the pair of hardened men will confront their own prejudices about their sons and each other, as they rain down vengeance upon those who hurt their boys.
Flatiron Books published Razorblade Tears in July 2021. In addition to directing, Free and Roe...
- 1/26/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Hulu is developing The Midcoast, a drama series based on Adam White’s bestselling novel, from Escape at Dannemora co-creator Brett Johnson, Warren Littlefield’s The Littlefield Company and 20th Television.
Written by Johnson, based on White’s novel, The Midcoast is an hourlong drama set on the scenic coast of Maine exploring the rise and fall of Ed Thatch, a lobster fisherman turned blue collar criminal with an unstable devotion to his wife.
The Midcoast was published in June 2022 by Hogarth Press.
Johnson executive produces along with Littlefield, Ann Johnson, Graham Littlefield and Lisa Harrison for The Littlefield Company. White also serves as executive producer. 20th Television, where The Littlefield Company is under a deal, is the studio.
Johnson co-created, executive produced and served as showrunner on Showtime limited series Escape At Dannemora, nominated for 12 Primetime Emmy Awards. He most recently served as co-executive producer and writer on Hulu’s limited series Candy.
Written by Johnson, based on White’s novel, The Midcoast is an hourlong drama set on the scenic coast of Maine exploring the rise and fall of Ed Thatch, a lobster fisherman turned blue collar criminal with an unstable devotion to his wife.
The Midcoast was published in June 2022 by Hogarth Press.
Johnson executive produces along with Littlefield, Ann Johnson, Graham Littlefield and Lisa Harrison for The Littlefield Company. White also serves as executive producer. 20th Television, where The Littlefield Company is under a deal, is the studio.
Johnson co-created, executive produced and served as showrunner on Showtime limited series Escape At Dannemora, nominated for 12 Primetime Emmy Awards. He most recently served as co-executive producer and writer on Hulu’s limited series Candy.
- 1/17/2023
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
HBO Max is developing a dramedy about a murder trial that boasts Bill Lawrence among its executive producers, Variety has learned exclusively.
Titled “12 Rocks in a Box,” the series centers on Suzannah Weaver, who is described as “a self-described ‘Murderista’ obsessed with true crime.”
Per the official logline, Suzannah is “thrilled to find herself on a jury for a high-profile Las Vegas murder trial. But Suzannah soon begins to suspect that not all is as it seems with this case, and a DIY investigation leads her to believe that the killer may indeed be in the courtroom every day…and it isn’t the man on trial.”
Todd Berger will write and executive produce the project, with Sherri Cooper Landsman and Jennifer Levin also executive producing. Bill Lawrence, Jeff Ingold, and Liza Katzer of Doozer Productions will also executive produce. Warner Bros. Television will produce, with Doozer currently under an overall deal at the studio.
Titled “12 Rocks in a Box,” the series centers on Suzannah Weaver, who is described as “a self-described ‘Murderista’ obsessed with true crime.”
Per the official logline, Suzannah is “thrilled to find herself on a jury for a high-profile Las Vegas murder trial. But Suzannah soon begins to suspect that not all is as it seems with this case, and a DIY investigation leads her to believe that the killer may indeed be in the courtroom every day…and it isn’t the man on trial.”
Todd Berger will write and executive produce the project, with Sherri Cooper Landsman and Jennifer Levin also executive producing. Bill Lawrence, Jeff Ingold, and Liza Katzer of Doozer Productions will also executive produce. Warner Bros. Television will produce, with Doozer currently under an overall deal at the studio.
- 12/9/2022
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
German powerhouse Constantin Film and Frank Spotnitz’s Big Light Productions have teamed to make a high-end drama series about the events surrounding the Nuremberg Trials.
The drama, currently unnamed, follows the prosecution of Nazi officials after World War II, the first time in history that people were held accountable for war crimes, exploring characters from all sides of the trials.
The series will be executive produced by Oliver Berben and Robert Kulzer for Constantin Film, Spotnitz and Emily Feller for Big Light, and Ron Maxwell (Gettysburg) along with Jeff Berg of Northside Services.
“This series is a real powerhouse,” said Spotnitz. “It’s an investigative mystery, a suspense thriller set both in a courtroom and on the global stage, and one of the most searing moral dramas imaginable. The characters and the issues all seem startlingly relevant and contemporary.”
“On May 8, 1945, Nazi Germany unconditionally surrendered to the Allies,...
The drama, currently unnamed, follows the prosecution of Nazi officials after World War II, the first time in history that people were held accountable for war crimes, exploring characters from all sides of the trials.
The series will be executive produced by Oliver Berben and Robert Kulzer for Constantin Film, Spotnitz and Emily Feller for Big Light, and Ron Maxwell (Gettysburg) along with Jeff Berg of Northside Services.
“This series is a real powerhouse,” said Spotnitz. “It’s an investigative mystery, a suspense thriller set both in a courtroom and on the global stage, and one of the most searing moral dramas imaginable. The characters and the issues all seem startlingly relevant and contemporary.”
“On May 8, 1945, Nazi Germany unconditionally surrendered to the Allies,...
- 10/5/2022
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
Constantin Film, the German powerhouse behind the Resident Evil franchise, is partnering with U.K.-based Big Light Productions, founded by Frank Spotnitz (The Man in the High Castle, The X-Files, Medici, Leonardo), to develop a high-end drama series about the world-changing Nuremberg Trials.
The project will dive into the events surrounding the prosecution of Nazi officials following WWII, the first time in history that people were held accountable for war crimes, exploring characters from all sides of the trials, showing how not only justice was at stake but the global balance of power.
“This series is a real powerhouse,” said Spotnitz. “It’s an investigative mystery, a suspense thriller set both in a courtroom and on the global stage, and one of the most searing moral dramas imaginable. The characters and the issues all seem startlingly relevant and contemporary.”
“We are delighted...
Constantin Film, the German powerhouse behind the Resident Evil franchise, is partnering with U.K.-based Big Light Productions, founded by Frank Spotnitz (The Man in the High Castle, The X-Files, Medici, Leonardo), to develop a high-end drama series about the world-changing Nuremberg Trials.
The project will dive into the events surrounding the prosecution of Nazi officials following WWII, the first time in history that people were held accountable for war crimes, exploring characters from all sides of the trials, showing how not only justice was at stake but the global balance of power.
“This series is a real powerhouse,” said Spotnitz. “It’s an investigative mystery, a suspense thriller set both in a courtroom and on the global stage, and one of the most searing moral dramas imaginable. The characters and the issues all seem startlingly relevant and contemporary.”
“We are delighted...
- 10/5/2022
- by Alex Ritman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Exclusive: Kim Harrison, executive producer and co-showrunner of The Crossover, has signed an overall deal with 20th Television, the studio behind the upcoming basketball drama series for Disney+.
Under the pact, Harrison will develop new projects for 20th TV in addition to her work on The Crossover, which is based on the best-selling novel by Kwame Alexander. She serves as co-showrunner on the series alongside Alexander and Damani Johnson who wrote the pilot script together.
“Kim’s an incredibly skilled storyteller and a creative force, who delivers incomparable character work, and who possesses a unique and fresh voice, said Karey Burke, President, 20th Television. “She has proven to be an invaluable member of the studio’s The Crossover creative team as co-showrunner, and we are so very excited to continue our creative partnership with her for many years to come.”
The Crossover introduces teen brothers Josh and Jordan Bell, widely considered basketball phenoms.
Under the pact, Harrison will develop new projects for 20th TV in addition to her work on The Crossover, which is based on the best-selling novel by Kwame Alexander. She serves as co-showrunner on the series alongside Alexander and Damani Johnson who wrote the pilot script together.
“Kim’s an incredibly skilled storyteller and a creative force, who delivers incomparable character work, and who possesses a unique and fresh voice, said Karey Burke, President, 20th Television. “She has proven to be an invaluable member of the studio’s The Crossover creative team as co-showrunner, and we are so very excited to continue our creative partnership with her for many years to come.”
The Crossover introduces teen brothers Josh and Jordan Bell, widely considered basketball phenoms.
- 9/9/2022
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: ABC is developing Worst House on the Block, a half-hour comedy series from 20th Television.
Written by Niki Schwartz-Wright (Pivoting) and to be directed by Natalia Anderson (Maggie), Worst House on the Block has a Beverly Hillbillies vibe to it. In the show, when a poor family from South Texas inherits the worst house on the block in a chic L.A. neighborhood, they cause quite a stir among their new neighbors. Tensions may flare, but ultimately, we’ll watch as three different families, with nothing in common but their Zip code and how overwhelmed they feel by the sheer number of Love Island episodes there are to watch, start to find common ground and, slowly but surely, friendship.
Schwartz-Wright and Anderson executive produce with 3 Arts’ Oly Obst.
Most recently, Schwartz-Wright served as co-executive producer on Fox’s comedy series Pivoting. Before that, she was a co-executive producer on the NBC comedy series Abby’s.
Written by Niki Schwartz-Wright (Pivoting) and to be directed by Natalia Anderson (Maggie), Worst House on the Block has a Beverly Hillbillies vibe to it. In the show, when a poor family from South Texas inherits the worst house on the block in a chic L.A. neighborhood, they cause quite a stir among their new neighbors. Tensions may flare, but ultimately, we’ll watch as three different families, with nothing in common but their Zip code and how overwhelmed they feel by the sheer number of Love Island episodes there are to watch, start to find common ground and, slowly but surely, friendship.
Schwartz-Wright and Anderson executive produce with 3 Arts’ Oly Obst.
Most recently, Schwartz-Wright served as co-executive producer on Fox’s comedy series Pivoting. Before that, she was a co-executive producer on the NBC comedy series Abby’s.
- 9/1/2022
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Max Barbakow, the director of the 2020 Sundance comedy darling “Palm Springs,” has found his next film and will direct the comedy “Disaster Wedding” for Warner Bros., an individual with knowledge of the project told TheWrap.
“Spider-Man: No Way Home” director Jon Watts is also producing “Disaster Wedding” alongside End Cue’s Andrew Kortschak.
Dave Holstein is rewriting the script for the film from an original draft by Jeff Kaplan and Ian Springer. Plot details are being kept under wraps, though it’s worth noting that Barbakow’s “Palm Springs” was also about a disastrous wedding that resulted in its two stars becoming trapped in a “Groundhog Day” style continuous time loop repeating the same day over and over.
Also Read:
Robert De Niro to Play Dual Roles in Barry Levinson Mafia Drama ‘Wise Guys’ at Warner Bros.
“Palm Springs” was directed by Barbakow and based on his own story, and the film starred Andy Samberg,...
“Spider-Man: No Way Home” director Jon Watts is also producing “Disaster Wedding” alongside End Cue’s Andrew Kortschak.
Dave Holstein is rewriting the script for the film from an original draft by Jeff Kaplan and Ian Springer. Plot details are being kept under wraps, though it’s worth noting that Barbakow’s “Palm Springs” was also about a disastrous wedding that resulted in its two stars becoming trapped in a “Groundhog Day” style continuous time loop repeating the same day over and over.
Also Read:
Robert De Niro to Play Dual Roles in Barry Levinson Mafia Drama ‘Wise Guys’ at Warner Bros.
“Palm Springs” was directed by Barbakow and based on his own story, and the film starred Andy Samberg,...
- 8/17/2022
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Lionsgate Television Group has signed a scripted television development deal with “Home Economics” creators and executive producers Michael Colton and John Aboud.
Produced by Lionsgate, “Home Economics” debuted on ABC in April 2021. The series is based on Colton’s family and follows three adult siblings who live at different levels of financial security. In May 2022 it was renewed for a third season.
In addition to “Home Economics,” Colton and Aboud also wrote and produced the Netflix feature film “A Futile and Stupid Gesture” starring Will Forte, which debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in 2018. They also have served as executive producers of two seasons of “Close Enough” on HBO Max, wrote the DreamWorks Animation film “Penguins of Madagascar” and wrote three episodes of Adult Swim’s “Childrens Hospital.” In 2019, Colton and About won a Writers Guild of America Award for writing on the Comedy Central special “The Fake News with Ted Nelms.
Produced by Lionsgate, “Home Economics” debuted on ABC in April 2021. The series is based on Colton’s family and follows three adult siblings who live at different levels of financial security. In May 2022 it was renewed for a third season.
In addition to “Home Economics,” Colton and Aboud also wrote and produced the Netflix feature film “A Futile and Stupid Gesture” starring Will Forte, which debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in 2018. They also have served as executive producers of two seasons of “Close Enough” on HBO Max, wrote the DreamWorks Animation film “Penguins of Madagascar” and wrote three episodes of Adult Swim’s “Childrens Hospital.” In 2019, Colton and About won a Writers Guild of America Award for writing on the Comedy Central special “The Fake News with Ted Nelms.
- 6/16/2022
- by Selome Hailu
- Variety Film + TV
Michael Colton and John Aboud, creators of ABC comedy Home Economics, are doubling down with Lionsgate Television.
The indie studio has struck a development deal, better known as an overall pact, with the pair after landing a third season of the Topher Grace-fronted sitcom that they also exec produce.
Home Economics, which is inspired by Colton’s real-life experiences, tells the story of three siblings in very different situations: one in the ultra-rich, one in the middle class and one scraping by. It also stars Caitlin McGee, Jimmy Tatro, Karla Souza, Sasheer Zamata, Shiloh Bearman, Jordyn Curet, Chloe Jo Rountree and JeCobi Swain.
ABC renewed the show for a third season in May as Lionsgate went three for three with the broadcast networks including pick ups for Welcome To Flatch on Fox and Ghosts on CBS.
It is the latest pact for Lionsgate TV, which has talent partnerships with the likes of Paul Feig,...
The indie studio has struck a development deal, better known as an overall pact, with the pair after landing a third season of the Topher Grace-fronted sitcom that they also exec produce.
Home Economics, which is inspired by Colton’s real-life experiences, tells the story of three siblings in very different situations: one in the ultra-rich, one in the middle class and one scraping by. It also stars Caitlin McGee, Jimmy Tatro, Karla Souza, Sasheer Zamata, Shiloh Bearman, Jordyn Curet, Chloe Jo Rountree and JeCobi Swain.
ABC renewed the show for a third season in May as Lionsgate went three for three with the broadcast networks including pick ups for Welcome To Flatch on Fox and Ghosts on CBS.
It is the latest pact for Lionsgate TV, which has talent partnerships with the likes of Paul Feig,...
- 6/16/2022
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: After being courted by every major agency in town, Squid Game writer, director and executive producer Hwang Dong-hyuk, along with his producing partner Kim Ji-yeon, also an executive producer on the mega hit Netflix series, have signed with CAA.
Squid Game, which debuted in September 2021, became the most-watched series launch in Netflix history, amassing more than 1.65 billion hours viewed in its first 28 days of release. At its peak, it sat atop the streamer’s most-watched list in 94 countries.
Netflix recently confirmed that Squid Game will return for a second season with Hwang at the helm. In addition to developing the second season of Squid Game, Hwang and Ji-yeon are focused on their next Korean-language film, K.O. Club (also known as Killing Oldmen Club), based on an original idea. They are also working together to bring upcoming Korean-language projects to the U.S.
Hwang and Ji-yeon are also repped by attorneys Kevin Yorn,...
Squid Game, which debuted in September 2021, became the most-watched series launch in Netflix history, amassing more than 1.65 billion hours viewed in its first 28 days of release. At its peak, it sat atop the streamer’s most-watched list in 94 countries.
Netflix recently confirmed that Squid Game will return for a second season with Hwang at the helm. In addition to developing the second season of Squid Game, Hwang and Ji-yeon are focused on their next Korean-language film, K.O. Club (also known as Killing Oldmen Club), based on an original idea. They are also working together to bring upcoming Korean-language projects to the U.S.
Hwang and Ji-yeon are also repped by attorneys Kevin Yorn,...
- 6/14/2022
- by Justin Kroll
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Following a competitive bidding war, Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions has landed the film pitch Goat, with Zack Akers and Skip Bronkie penning the script. The pitch will fall under Monkeypaw’s overall deal with Universal Pictures.
Though the title hints at something revolving around everyone’s favorite farm animal, it is actually in reference to the sports acronym “Greatest Of All Time,” aka Goat, which is thrown around when debating today and yesterday’s sports legends. For this film, the story centers on a promising young athlete who is invited to train with a team’s retiring star.
The pitch goes into Monkeypaw’s diverse slate of projects as the company continues to stay busy. Next up on features side is Peele’s film Nope, which marks his next directing gig and is already building buzz following the final trailer release today. That comes out July 22 with Universal.
Though the title hints at something revolving around everyone’s favorite farm animal, it is actually in reference to the sports acronym “Greatest Of All Time,” aka Goat, which is thrown around when debating today and yesterday’s sports legends. For this film, the story centers on a promising young athlete who is invited to train with a team’s retiring star.
The pitch goes into Monkeypaw’s diverse slate of projects as the company continues to stay busy. Next up on features side is Peele’s film Nope, which marks his next directing gig and is already building buzz following the final trailer release today. That comes out July 22 with Universal.
- 6/9/2022
- by Justin Kroll
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Christa Miller (Head of the Class) is set as a lead opposite Jason Segel, Harrison Ford and Jessica Williams in Shrinking, Apple TV+’s 10-episode comedy series written and executive produced by Segel and Ted Lasso‘s co-creator/executive producer/showrunner Bill Lawrence and star-writer-producer Brett Goldstein.
2020-21 Apple TV+ Pilots & Series Orders
The Warner Bros Television-produced Shrinking follows Jimmy (Segel), a grieving therapist who starts to break the rules and tell his clients exactly what he thinks. Ignoring his training and ethics, he finds himself making huge, tumultuous changes to people’s lives — including his own.
Miller will play Liz, Jimmy’s (Segel) next door neighbor who has become a mother figure to his daughter. A recent empty nester, she is always there for Jimmy’s family even as she embarks on a journey to figure out the next chapter of her own life.
Shrinking is produced by...
2020-21 Apple TV+ Pilots & Series Orders
The Warner Bros Television-produced Shrinking follows Jimmy (Segel), a grieving therapist who starts to break the rules and tell his clients exactly what he thinks. Ignoring his training and ethics, he finds himself making huge, tumultuous changes to people’s lives — including his own.
Miller will play Liz, Jimmy’s (Segel) next door neighbor who has become a mother figure to his daughter. A recent empty nester, she is always there for Jimmy’s family even as she embarks on a journey to figure out the next chapter of her own life.
Shrinking is produced by...
- 4/8/2022
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: The story of former First Daughter Alice Roosevelt Longworth, a socialite, a writer and a force in 20th Century American politics, will be the subject of a half-hour comedy series in development at HBO Max.
Based on the book Alice: Alice Roosevelt Longworth from White House Princess to Washington Power Broker by Stacy A. Cordery, the project comes from the Santa Clarita Diet team of writer-producer Victor Fresco, Tracy Katsky’s KatCo and Aaron Kaplan Kapital Entertainment.
Co-written by Fresco and Alexandra Petri, a Washington Post columnist, Alice kicks off in 1901.
Teddy Roosevelt is suddenly thrust into the presidency, bringing his seventeen-year-old daughter into the spotlight. The country has never seen anyone like Alice Roosevelt in the White House: a whip-smart, out-of-control teenager who races cars, parties unchaperoned with boys, and dares to speak her mind. Teddy’s at wits’ end, “I can be Alice’s father, or I...
Based on the book Alice: Alice Roosevelt Longworth from White House Princess to Washington Power Broker by Stacy A. Cordery, the project comes from the Santa Clarita Diet team of writer-producer Victor Fresco, Tracy Katsky’s KatCo and Aaron Kaplan Kapital Entertainment.
Co-written by Fresco and Alexandra Petri, a Washington Post columnist, Alice kicks off in 1901.
Teddy Roosevelt is suddenly thrust into the presidency, bringing his seventeen-year-old daughter into the spotlight. The country has never seen anyone like Alice Roosevelt in the White House: a whip-smart, out-of-control teenager who races cars, parties unchaperoned with boys, and dares to speak her mind. Teddy’s at wits’ end, “I can be Alice’s father, or I...
- 2/25/2022
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
A24 has greenlit “F*cking Identical Twins,” an R-rated musical comedy that puts a subversive spin on “The Parent Trap.”
Comedians Aaron Jackson and Josh Sharp are adapting the film from their two-man stage show, which premiered at Manhattan’s Upright Citizens Brigade in 2014. In addition to writing the script, Jackson and Sharp will co-star as the eponymous identical twins. They will be joined by a star-studded ensemble includes Nathan Lane, Megan Mullally, Bowen Yang and Megan Thee Stallion. It is not clear who those actors will play.
Featuring original songs by Jackson, Sharp and composer Karl Saint Lucy, “F*cking Identical Twins” takes inspiration from Hallie and Annie’s mischievous exploits in “The Parent Trap” and follows two business adversaries who realize they’re identical twin brothers. They decide to switch places in order to reunite their divorced parents and become a family again.
Larry Charles, who previously directed...
Comedians Aaron Jackson and Josh Sharp are adapting the film from their two-man stage show, which premiered at Manhattan’s Upright Citizens Brigade in 2014. In addition to writing the script, Jackson and Sharp will co-star as the eponymous identical twins. They will be joined by a star-studded ensemble includes Nathan Lane, Megan Mullally, Bowen Yang and Megan Thee Stallion. It is not clear who those actors will play.
Featuring original songs by Jackson, Sharp and composer Karl Saint Lucy, “F*cking Identical Twins” takes inspiration from Hallie and Annie’s mischievous exploits in “The Parent Trap” and follows two business adversaries who realize they’re identical twin brothers. They decide to switch places in order to reunite their divorced parents and become a family again.
Larry Charles, who previously directed...
- 2/17/2022
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
A24 has boarded the R-rated musical comedy F*cking Identical Twins, directed by Borat helmer Larry Charles. The film stars and is written by Aaron Jackson and Josh Sharp — featuring original songs by Jackson, Sharp, and Karl Saint Lucy — based on the triumvirate’s original two-man stage show that premiered at the Upright Citizens Brigade in 2014.
Tony winner Nathan Lane, Emmy winner Megan Mullally, Saturday Night Live‘s Bowen Yang and multiple Grammy winner Megan Thee Stallion also will star.
A subversive musical spin on The Parent Trap, F*cking Identical Twins follows two business adversaries who realize they’re identical twin brothers and decide to switch places in order to reunite their divorced parents and become a family again. Chernin Entertainment will produce and co-finance alongside A24. Chernin Entertainment previously produced the musical film The Greatest Showman in 2017. A24 will handle the global release of the film.
Grammy-winning producer...
Tony winner Nathan Lane, Emmy winner Megan Mullally, Saturday Night Live‘s Bowen Yang and multiple Grammy winner Megan Thee Stallion also will star.
A subversive musical spin on The Parent Trap, F*cking Identical Twins follows two business adversaries who realize they’re identical twin brothers and decide to switch places in order to reunite their divorced parents and become a family again. Chernin Entertainment will produce and co-finance alongside A24. Chernin Entertainment previously produced the musical film The Greatest Showman in 2017. A24 will handle the global release of the film.
Grammy-winning producer...
- 2/17/2022
- by Justin Kroll
- Deadline Film + TV
Megan Thee Stallion, Nathan Lane, Megan Mullally and Bowen Yang are set to star in a new R-rated musical comedy called “F*cking Identical Twins” from A24 and Chernin Entertainment that is a subversive spin on “The Parent Trap.”
Aaron Jackson and Josh Sharp will both write the script and star in the film as two business adversaries who realize they’re identical twin brothers and decide to switch places in order to reunite their divorced parents and become a family again.
“F*cking Identical Twins” is based on Jackson and Sharp’s two-man stage show that premiered at the Upright Citizens Brigade in 2014. They are adapting the show for the screen along with original songs by Jackson, Sharp and Karl Saint Lucy.
Larry Charles, the director and producer known for “Borat,” “Seinfeld” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” is on board to direct “F*cking Identical Twins.” The film is in production now.
Aaron Jackson and Josh Sharp will both write the script and star in the film as two business adversaries who realize they’re identical twin brothers and decide to switch places in order to reunite their divorced parents and become a family again.
“F*cking Identical Twins” is based on Jackson and Sharp’s two-man stage show that premiered at the Upright Citizens Brigade in 2014. They are adapting the show for the screen along with original songs by Jackson, Sharp and Karl Saint Lucy.
Larry Charles, the director and producer known for “Borat,” “Seinfeld” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” is on board to direct “F*cking Identical Twins.” The film is in production now.
- 2/17/2022
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Bill Lawrence is staying put at Warner Bros. Television, with the TV writer and producer inking a massive five-year deal sources value at nine figures, Variety has confirmed.
Wbtv would not comment on the financial terms of the deal. This marks Lawrence’s fourth deal with the studio, where he has been based since 2011. His new deal will take effect in 2023 upon the conclusion of his current deal.
Lawrence’s team has been negotiating with Wbtv on the new deal for months due to the overwhelming success of the Apple series “Ted Lasso,” which Lawrence co-developed and on which he serves as showrunner and executive producer. He is the latest in a line of top TV creators to score such lucrative deals in the streaming era, with others including Shonda Rhimes, Kenya Barris, Ryan Murphy, and Mike Schur.
“Ted Lasso” won seven Emmy Awards back in September out of 20 nominations,...
Wbtv would not comment on the financial terms of the deal. This marks Lawrence’s fourth deal with the studio, where he has been based since 2011. His new deal will take effect in 2023 upon the conclusion of his current deal.
Lawrence’s team has been negotiating with Wbtv on the new deal for months due to the overwhelming success of the Apple series “Ted Lasso,” which Lawrence co-developed and on which he serves as showrunner and executive producer. He is the latest in a line of top TV creators to score such lucrative deals in the streaming era, with others including Shonda Rhimes, Kenya Barris, Ryan Murphy, and Mike Schur.
“Ted Lasso” won seven Emmy Awards back in September out of 20 nominations,...
- 2/11/2022
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
Bill Lawrence, the top comedy showrunner at the moment amid the enormous critical and commercial success of Ted Lasso, is staying put at Warner Bros. TV Group through 2028. After lengthy negotiations, Emmy winner Lawrence, who had a little time left on his current overall pact at the studio, has closed a blockbuster new five-year deal for his Doozer production company, I have learned. Noone is commenting but sources value the pact at more than $100 million, catapulting Lawrence in the very top tear of TV showrunners.
Like other overall agreements of that caliber in the era of Peak TV, the path to this one was not straight-forward, with some sources I spoke to calling it a wild ride. I hear Warner Bros. originally balked at Lawrence’s financial ask. Because he is still under an overall arrangement at the studio, the Scrubs creator could not go on the open market and officially test the waters.
Like other overall agreements of that caliber in the era of Peak TV, the path to this one was not straight-forward, with some sources I spoke to calling it a wild ride. I hear Warner Bros. originally balked at Lawrence’s financial ask. Because he is still under an overall arrangement at the studio, the Scrubs creator could not go on the open market and officially test the waters.
- 2/11/2022
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: 20th Television has optioned Steve Almond’s forthcoming novel All the Secrets of the World to adapt as a television series. The Gotham Group, which is under a first-look deal at 20th, would produce, and Jon Feldman is attached as showrunner. 20th Television is the studio. A search is underway for a writer.
All the Secrets of the World is set to be published by Zando on April 19. The book, described as “a sweeping social novel,” opens in 1981 in Sacramento, where 13-year-old Lorena Saenz has just been paired with Jenny Stallworth for the science fair by a teacher hoping to unite two girls from starkly different worlds. The unlikely friendship they form will draw their families into a web of secrets and lies, one that sends Lorena on an unforgiving odyssey through the desert, past the gates of a religious cult in Mexico, and into the...
All the Secrets of the World is set to be published by Zando on April 19. The book, described as “a sweeping social novel,” opens in 1981 in Sacramento, where 13-year-old Lorena Saenz has just been paired with Jenny Stallworth for the science fair by a teacher hoping to unite two girls from starkly different worlds. The unlikely friendship they form will draw their families into a web of secrets and lies, one that sends Lorena on an unforgiving odyssey through the desert, past the gates of a religious cult in Mexico, and into the...
- 2/8/2022
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Put away the collection plate, “Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul” finally has a buyer. Focus Features, Peacock and Jordan Peele’s MonkeyPaw Productions have acquired worldwide rights to the megachurch satire starring Sterling K. Brown and Regina Hall. The deal was worth a reported $8.5 million.
The movie, which premiered at Sundance Film Festival to positive reviews, will debut in theaters and on NBCUniversal’s streaming service Peacock later this year.
Adamma Ebo and Adanne Ebo, the filmmaking sibling duo known as the Ebo twins, wrote and directed “Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul” in their feature film debut.
“We’re so unbelievably blessed and hyped to be partners with Focus and Monkeypaw on our first feature film,” they said in a statement. “Their commitment to our vision as filmmakers and bolstering the film as a whole is amazing and we cannot wait to bring it to the world with this team.
The movie, which premiered at Sundance Film Festival to positive reviews, will debut in theaters and on NBCUniversal’s streaming service Peacock later this year.
Adamma Ebo and Adanne Ebo, the filmmaking sibling duo known as the Ebo twins, wrote and directed “Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul” in their feature film debut.
“We’re so unbelievably blessed and hyped to be partners with Focus and Monkeypaw on our first feature film,” they said in a statement. “Their commitment to our vision as filmmakers and bolstering the film as a whole is amazing and we cannot wait to bring it to the world with this team.
- 2/7/2022
- by Angelique Jackson and Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
Focus Features, Peacock, and Monkeypaw Productions have acquired global rights to Sundance Film Festival premiere Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul which will receive a theatrical day-and-date release in theaters and on Peacock later this year.
While others Universal titles such as The Boss Baby: Family Business and Halloween Kills, and this weekend’s upcoming Jennifer Lopez romantic comedy Marry Me, have gone theatrical day-and-date on the Comcast owned streaming service, this is arguably the first Focus Features title to have a dynamic window Peacock release.
Filmmaking sibling duo the Ebo twins, writer-director Adamma Ebo and producer Adanne Ebo, made their feature film debut with production company Pinky Promise in this adaptation of their previous short film of the same name.
In the movie, a proud first lady of a Southern Baptist megachurch, Trinitie Childs (Regina Hall) carries immense responsibility on her shoulders. After a scandal involving her husband, Pastor...
While others Universal titles such as The Boss Baby: Family Business and Halloween Kills, and this weekend’s upcoming Jennifer Lopez romantic comedy Marry Me, have gone theatrical day-and-date on the Comcast owned streaming service, this is arguably the first Focus Features title to have a dynamic window Peacock release.
Filmmaking sibling duo the Ebo twins, writer-director Adamma Ebo and producer Adanne Ebo, made their feature film debut with production company Pinky Promise in this adaptation of their previous short film of the same name.
In the movie, a proud first lady of a Southern Baptist megachurch, Trinitie Childs (Regina Hall) carries immense responsibility on her shoulders. After a scandal involving her husband, Pastor...
- 2/7/2022
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Focus Features, Peacock and Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions together have acquired the worldwide rights to “Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul.,” the satire about mega churches that premiered at Sundance 2022 and stars Regina Hall and Sterling K. Brown.
Adamma Ebo wrote and directed the film and worked alongside producer and twin sister Adanne Ebo for their feature film debut. The Ebo twins based “Honk for Jesus” on their short film of the same name.
Focus Features plans to release the film theatrically for a release date to be set later, but the film will also debut day-and-date on the streaming service Peacock, marking it as the first time Focus will be debuting a film day-and-date on Peacock in this way.
And as part of the acquisition, Jordan Peele is also joining “Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul.” as an executive producer. Monkeypaw along with Universal also previously snagged the...
Adamma Ebo wrote and directed the film and worked alongside producer and twin sister Adanne Ebo for their feature film debut. The Ebo twins based “Honk for Jesus” on their short film of the same name.
Focus Features plans to release the film theatrically for a release date to be set later, but the film will also debut day-and-date on the streaming service Peacock, marking it as the first time Focus will be debuting a film day-and-date on Peacock in this way.
And as part of the acquisition, Jordan Peele is also joining “Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul.” as an executive producer. Monkeypaw along with Universal also previously snagged the...
- 2/7/2022
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Exclusive: Cop Out writer Robb Cullen is working on a dark comedy drama inspired by his own life for BET+.
The streamer has teamed with Cullen and McG on Average Joe.
The project, which has received a cast contingent script-to-series order, is a darkly comedic, one-hour ensemble set in The Hill district of Pittsburgh.
It follows blue-collar plumber, Joe Washington, who discovers his recently deceased father lived a secret, second life and stole millions of dollars from dangerous people just before he died. Now those people think Joe knows where it is. A bloody and violent confrontation triggers a chain of events that force Joe and his close-knit circle of family and friends out of their very average and mundane lives into a life or death race against time to find the truth and the millions.
Average Joe is written and created by Cullen, who has created series including ABC...
The streamer has teamed with Cullen and McG on Average Joe.
The project, which has received a cast contingent script-to-series order, is a darkly comedic, one-hour ensemble set in The Hill district of Pittsburgh.
It follows blue-collar plumber, Joe Washington, who discovers his recently deceased father lived a secret, second life and stole millions of dollars from dangerous people just before he died. Now those people think Joe knows where it is. A bloody and violent confrontation triggers a chain of events that force Joe and his close-knit circle of family and friends out of their very average and mundane lives into a life or death race against time to find the truth and the millions.
Average Joe is written and created by Cullen, who has created series including ABC...
- 2/7/2022
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Apple Original Films has landed rights to the package The Beanie Bubble, a new film hailing from Imagine Entertainment that will be co-directed by Kristin Gore and Damian Kulash and star Zach Galifianakis, Elizabeth Banks, Sarah Snook and Geraldine Viswanathan.
The film is inspired by the story behind one of the biggest speculative crazes that blazed through American culture in the 1990s. It pulls back the curtain on the absurdities and injustices of the American Dream — particularly the female relationship to it. It’s a celebration of the women who helped power Ty Warner’s success, whose strengths and good instincts shaped and amplified the phenomenon, but whose names are not on the Beanie Babies’ heart-shaped tags.
Produced by Imagine Entertainment’s Brian Grazer, Ron Howard and Imagine Features president Karen Lunder, the pic marks the first film order to hail from an exclusive, first-look deal between Apple and Imagine Entertainment for scripted films.
The film is inspired by the story behind one of the biggest speculative crazes that blazed through American culture in the 1990s. It pulls back the curtain on the absurdities and injustices of the American Dream — particularly the female relationship to it. It’s a celebration of the women who helped power Ty Warner’s success, whose strengths and good instincts shaped and amplified the phenomenon, but whose names are not on the Beanie Babies’ heart-shaped tags.
Produced by Imagine Entertainment’s Brian Grazer, Ron Howard and Imagine Features president Karen Lunder, the pic marks the first film order to hail from an exclusive, first-look deal between Apple and Imagine Entertainment for scripted films.
- 1/11/2022
- by Justin Kroll
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Aimee Garcia and Freddie Prinze Jr. have signed on to star in an untitled holiday rom-com that Gabriela Tagliavini (Despite Everything) is directing for Netflix.
Pic centers on Angelina, a pop star feeling career burnout, who escapes to grant a young fan’s wish in small town New York. There, she not only finds the inspiration to revitalize her career, but also a shot at true love.
Jennifer C. Stetson and Paco Farias wrote the original screenplay, with Michael Varrati handling revisions.
German Michael Torres is producing for GMT Films, alongside Lucas Jarach, with Eric Brenner serving as the film’s executive producer.
Garcia is a SAG Award nominee known for her series regular role as Ella Lopez in Netflix’s Lucifer. The actress will next be seen in the second season of Hulu’s Woke and in Richard Gray’s Western...
Pic centers on Angelina, a pop star feeling career burnout, who escapes to grant a young fan’s wish in small town New York. There, she not only finds the inspiration to revitalize her career, but also a shot at true love.
Jennifer C. Stetson and Paco Farias wrote the original screenplay, with Michael Varrati handling revisions.
German Michael Torres is producing for GMT Films, alongside Lucas Jarach, with Eric Brenner serving as the film’s executive producer.
Garcia is a SAG Award nominee known for her series regular role as Ella Lopez in Netflix’s Lucifer. The actress will next be seen in the second season of Hulu’s Woke and in Richard Gray’s Western...
- 11/1/2021
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: FX is developing The Bobby Love Story, a one-hour drama starring and executive produced by Octavia Spencer, from writer Shalisha Francis-Feusner (Seven Seconds), Kerry Washington’s Simpson Street Productions and ABC Signature, where Spencer and her Orit Entertainment and Washington and Simpson Street are under deals.
Written and executive produced by Francis-Feusner, who also serves as showrunner, The Bobby Love Story is a dramatic true account of an escaped convict, Bobby Love, and his wife of 35+ years, Cheryl Love, who never knew his secret. Bobby Love and Cheryl Love serve as executive producers alongside Girls co-showrunner Jenni Konner.
The Loves’ story was featured in a 2020 multi-part series on Brandon Stanton’s Humans of New York blog where it went viral and led to a 10-way bidding war for the rights.
As a Black child in the Jim Crow South, Bobby Love found himself in legal trouble before his 14th birthday.
Written and executive produced by Francis-Feusner, who also serves as showrunner, The Bobby Love Story is a dramatic true account of an escaped convict, Bobby Love, and his wife of 35+ years, Cheryl Love, who never knew his secret. Bobby Love and Cheryl Love serve as executive producers alongside Girls co-showrunner Jenni Konner.
The Loves’ story was featured in a 2020 multi-part series on Brandon Stanton’s Humans of New York blog where it went viral and led to a 10-way bidding war for the rights.
As a Black child in the Jim Crow South, Bobby Love found himself in legal trouble before his 14th birthday.
- 10/21/2021
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
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