Exclusive: Wayfarer Studios, Meralta Films and Inked Entertainment are teaming on Errands & Espionage, a feature adaptation of the forthcoming action comedy novel by Sam Tschida, after prevailing in a bidding war for rights to the book.
Set to release in November 2024 via Forever, the buzzy title follows an unassuming, recently divorced housewife who is recruited by the CIA to complete a secret mission her doppelganger died attempting, forcing her to balance her roles as a housewife and novice spy. This is the first installment of Tschida’s new Secret Agent Housewife book series. Pitch for the feature take is The Flight Attendant meets Miss Congeniality.
Errands & Espionage will be executive produced by Steve Sarowitz of Wayfarer Studios and David Purse of Inked Entertainment. Justin Baldoni and Andrew Calof will produce for Wayfarer along with Oscar- and Emmy-nominated filmmaker Smriti Mundhra, Nina Aujla, and Maya Gnyp for Meralta Films. Tschida will serve as a consulting producer,...
Set to release in November 2024 via Forever, the buzzy title follows an unassuming, recently divorced housewife who is recruited by the CIA to complete a secret mission her doppelganger died attempting, forcing her to balance her roles as a housewife and novice spy. This is the first installment of Tschida’s new Secret Agent Housewife book series. Pitch for the feature take is The Flight Attendant meets Miss Congeniality.
Errands & Espionage will be executive produced by Steve Sarowitz of Wayfarer Studios and David Purse of Inked Entertainment. Justin Baldoni and Andrew Calof will produce for Wayfarer along with Oscar- and Emmy-nominated filmmaker Smriti Mundhra, Nina Aujla, and Maya Gnyp for Meralta Films. Tschida will serve as a consulting producer,...
- 1/11/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Every good sports movie needs an underdog that the audience can root for. The new film from director Rod Lurie (The Last Castle, The Outpost) has a real one that would have seemed too impossible to believe if a screenwriter had made him up. He’s Mike Flynt, who at the age of 59 went back to play for his college alma mater after 37 years, becoming one of the oldest men to ever play the game.
Superbly played by Michael Chiklis, he’s the real-life hero of The Senior, which recently received its world premiere at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival. When it gets its inevitable theatrical release, this crowd-pleaser should be a potent box office attraction, especially in non-urban areas. The lines are probably already forming in Texas theaters.
The story begins in 1970, when Flynt was a star linebacker at Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas. Unfortunately, he also had a violent temper,...
Superbly played by Michael Chiklis, he’s the real-life hero of The Senior, which recently received its world premiere at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival. When it gets its inevitable theatrical release, this crowd-pleaser should be a potent box office attraction, especially in non-urban areas. The lines are probably already forming in Texas theaters.
The story begins in 1970, when Flynt was a star linebacker at Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas. Unfortunately, he also had a violent temper,...
- 11/22/2023
- by Frank Scheck
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Exclusive: Venk Potula has been confirmed for The Black List fellow Nerris Nevarez-Nassiri’s upcoming indie musical Key Change.
The announcement follows the securing of an SAG-AFTRA interim agreement for the project, which has allowed the producers to push on with casting.
Potula previously made waves with his lead performance in Ravi Kapoor’s buzzy Tribeca 2022 selection and IFC and Hulu-acquired comedy Four Samosas.
The new project is described as a semi-autobiographical tale taking inspiration from the Mexican and Indian heritage of creators and writers Nassiri and Potula.
Potula will play a struggling, ambitious music producer who finds himself juggling dreams and newfound responsibilities when a long-lost half-sister walks into his life as he prepares a career-defining showcase.
The film will feature four original songs written by Nassiri, who makes his directorial debut.
Producers are Briana Frapart, Arjun Yadav for Rsa Endeavors, Potula for Khrisp Entertainment, and Nassiri.
The announcement follows the securing of an SAG-AFTRA interim agreement for the project, which has allowed the producers to push on with casting.
Potula previously made waves with his lead performance in Ravi Kapoor’s buzzy Tribeca 2022 selection and IFC and Hulu-acquired comedy Four Samosas.
The new project is described as a semi-autobiographical tale taking inspiration from the Mexican and Indian heritage of creators and writers Nassiri and Potula.
Potula will play a struggling, ambitious music producer who finds himself juggling dreams and newfound responsibilities when a long-lost half-sister walks into his life as he prepares a career-defining showcase.
The film will feature four original songs written by Nassiri, who makes his directorial debut.
Producers are Briana Frapart, Arjun Yadav for Rsa Endeavors, Potula for Khrisp Entertainment, and Nassiri.
- 11/8/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Emmy winner Michael Chiklis is set to star alongside Danny Pino in Hotel Cocaine, MGM+’s upcoming crime thriller from creator Chris Brancato.
Related: 2023 MGM+ Pilots & Series Orders
Hotel Cocaine is the story of Roman Compte (Pino), a Cuban expatriate who fought against Fidel Castro in the Bay of Pigs invasion and re-made his life in Miami. He is general manager of the Mutiny Hotel, the glamorous epicenter of the Miami cocaine scene of late ‘70s and early ‘80s. The Mutiny Hotel was Casablanca on cocaine, a glitzy nightclub, restaurant and hotel frequented by Florida businessmen and politicians, international narcos, CIA and FBI agents, models, sports stars and musicians.
Chiklis will play Agent Zulio who will stop at nothing to shut down the drug trade, even if it means using innocent civilians to accomplish his ends.
Brancato serves as executive producer and showrunner. Guillermo Navarro will direct the pilot...
Related: 2023 MGM+ Pilots & Series Orders
Hotel Cocaine is the story of Roman Compte (Pino), a Cuban expatriate who fought against Fidel Castro in the Bay of Pigs invasion and re-made his life in Miami. He is general manager of the Mutiny Hotel, the glamorous epicenter of the Miami cocaine scene of late ‘70s and early ‘80s. The Mutiny Hotel was Casablanca on cocaine, a glitzy nightclub, restaurant and hotel frequented by Florida businessmen and politicians, international narcos, CIA and FBI agents, models, sports stars and musicians.
Chiklis will play Agent Zulio who will stop at nothing to shut down the drug trade, even if it means using innocent civilians to accomplish his ends.
Brancato serves as executive producer and showrunner. Guillermo Navarro will direct the pilot...
- 3/20/2023
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Mary Stuart Masterson has been cast in Blumhouse’s feature film adaptation of “Five Nights at Freddy’s.” Production on the film adaptation of the popular video game series will begin in February in New Orleans.
She joins an ensemble that also includes Josh Hutcherson and Matthew Lillard. Emma Tammi (“The Wind”) is directing the film. Jim Henson’s Creature Shop will be working alongside Blumhouse to bring the game’s animatronics to life.
As fans of the survival game know, “Five Nights at Freddy’s” follows a troubled security guard as he begins working at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza. While spending his first night on the job, he realizes the night shift at Freddy’s won’t be so easy to make it through. The film was written by Scott Cawthon, Emma Tammi and Seth Cuddeback. The film will be produced by Blumhouse in association with Striker Entertainment. Scott Cawthon and...
She joins an ensemble that also includes Josh Hutcherson and Matthew Lillard. Emma Tammi (“The Wind”) is directing the film. Jim Henson’s Creature Shop will be working alongside Blumhouse to bring the game’s animatronics to life.
As fans of the survival game know, “Five Nights at Freddy’s” follows a troubled security guard as he begins working at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza. While spending his first night on the job, he realizes the night shift at Freddy’s won’t be so easy to make it through. The film was written by Scott Cawthon, Emma Tammi and Seth Cuddeback. The film will be produced by Blumhouse in association with Striker Entertainment. Scott Cawthon and...
- 1/30/2023
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Wayfarer Studios has announced its acquisition of The Algorithm, a narrative feature from Nenad Cicin-Sain (The Time Being) exploring how social media platforms dealt with the attack on the U.S. Capitol, which took place on January 6th, 2021.
The film will look to explore what happened during and in the aftermath of the event, when the platforms went into crisis mode, ultimately resulting in the permanent ban of then-u.S. President Donald Trump from several major social networks. It will cover what transpired behind the scenes during this historic moment, who ultimately made the unprecedented decision to ban Trump, and how the decision-making process unfolded, also questioning whether social media platforms have a position as arbiters of free speech.
Cicin-Sain is attached to pen the feature, from his own treatment. Angela Cardon will develop the project on behalf of Wayfarer Studios, which will serve as its financier, with Justin Baldoni,...
The film will look to explore what happened during and in the aftermath of the event, when the platforms went into crisis mode, ultimately resulting in the permanent ban of then-u.S. President Donald Trump from several major social networks. It will cover what transpired behind the scenes during this historic moment, who ultimately made the unprecedented decision to ban Trump, and how the decision-making process unfolded, also questioning whether social media platforms have a position as arbiters of free speech.
Cicin-Sain is attached to pen the feature, from his own treatment. Angela Cardon will develop the project on behalf of Wayfarer Studios, which will serve as its financier, with Justin Baldoni,...
- 9/20/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Tony Goldwyn has set an all-star cast for his newest feature Inappropriate Behavior, with two-time Emmy winner Bobby Cannavale (Blonde), two-time Oscar winner Robert De Niro (The Comeback Trail), two-time Emmy nom Rose Byrne (Physical), Oscar nom Vera Farmiga (Five Days at Memorial), three-time Emmy nominee Rainn Wilson (Weird: The Al Yankovic Story), Egot winner Whoopi Goldberg (Till) and William Fitzgerald signing on for roles.
The film, in which Goldwyn also appears, follows Max Bernal (Cannavale), a formerly successful late-night comedy writer turned not-so-successful stand-up comic, and his brilliant, complicated 11-year-old son Ezra (Fitzgerald), who is autistic. Having recently blown up both his career and his marriage, Max is now living with his father, Stan (De Niro). Max, profoundly at odds with his ex-wife Jenna (Byrne) about how to address their son’s needs, decides to kidnap Ezra and take him on a cross-country odyssey, with hilariously disastrous results.
Tony Spiridakis scripted the film,...
The film, in which Goldwyn also appears, follows Max Bernal (Cannavale), a formerly successful late-night comedy writer turned not-so-successful stand-up comic, and his brilliant, complicated 11-year-old son Ezra (Fitzgerald), who is autistic. Having recently blown up both his career and his marriage, Max is now living with his father, Stan (De Niro). Max, profoundly at odds with his ex-wife Jenna (Byrne) about how to address their son’s needs, decides to kidnap Ezra and take him on a cross-country odyssey, with hilariously disastrous results.
Tony Spiridakis scripted the film,...
- 9/15/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Grab your power pellets. A live-action movie based on the Pac-Man character and arcade game is in the works with actor Justin Baldoni’s Wayfarer Studios partnering with Bandai Namco Entertainment to produce the film.
While any plot details are currently under wraps, the film will be based on an original idea by Chuck Williams, an associate producer on “Sonic the Hedgehog.” Baldoni, Manu Gargi and Andrew Calof will produce on behalf of Wayfarer Studios, and Williams and Tim Kwok will produce on behalf of Lightbeam.
Also Read:
‘Mortal Kombat’ Director Simon McQuoid to Return for Sequel
“Pac-Man” is the classic arcade video game originally released in 1980 by Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. (previously Namco) in which players take control of a yellow, puck-shaped hero who navigates his way through a series of mazes in a race to chomp miniature pellets, all while being chased by four colorful ghosts.
The game...
While any plot details are currently under wraps, the film will be based on an original idea by Chuck Williams, an associate producer on “Sonic the Hedgehog.” Baldoni, Manu Gargi and Andrew Calof will produce on behalf of Wayfarer Studios, and Williams and Tim Kwok will produce on behalf of Lightbeam.
Also Read:
‘Mortal Kombat’ Director Simon McQuoid to Return for Sequel
“Pac-Man” is the classic arcade video game originally released in 1980 by Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. (previously Namco) in which players take control of a yellow, puck-shaped hero who navigates his way through a series of mazes in a race to chomp miniature pellets, all while being chased by four colorful ghosts.
The game...
- 8/8/2022
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Wayfarer Studios and Bandai Namco Entertainment have partnered to develop a live-action Pac-Man film based on the classic arcade game franchise, Deadline can confirm.
Released by the Japanese video game company Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. (formerly Namco) back in 1980, Pac-Man has a player controlling the yellow orb of the same name, as he winds through a maze in an effort to chomp up dots, while being chased around by four differently colored ghosts. The character has previously spurred the creation of two television series—the Saturday morning cartoon Pac-Man from Hanna-Barbera, which aired on ABC from 1982-1983, and the CG animated series Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures, which debuted on Disney Xd in 2013.
The new Pac-Man pic stems from an original concept from Lightbeam Entertainment’s Chuck Williams (Sonic the Hedgehog), who will produce with Tim Kwok for Lightbeam, along with Justin Baldoni, Manu Gargi and Andrew Calof on behalf of Wayfarer Studios.
Released by the Japanese video game company Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. (formerly Namco) back in 1980, Pac-Man has a player controlling the yellow orb of the same name, as he winds through a maze in an effort to chomp up dots, while being chased around by four differently colored ghosts. The character has previously spurred the creation of two television series—the Saturday morning cartoon Pac-Man from Hanna-Barbera, which aired on ABC from 1982-1983, and the CG animated series Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures, which debuted on Disney Xd in 2013.
The new Pac-Man pic stems from an original concept from Lightbeam Entertainment’s Chuck Williams (Sonic the Hedgehog), who will produce with Tim Kwok for Lightbeam, along with Justin Baldoni, Manu Gargi and Andrew Calof on behalf of Wayfarer Studios.
- 8/8/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
A live-action film is in development based on the classic arcade game with an endless appetite, Pac-man.
The project hails from Bandai Namco Entertainment — the company behind Pac-man, as well as games like Galaga and Tekken — and Wayfarer Studios, the production company founded by Justin Baldoni and Steve Sarowitz.
First introduced in the U.S. in 1980 — and originally called Puck Man in Japan — Pac-man became a coin-operated staple. The game is set in mazes where Pac-Man has to eat pellets while being pursued by colorful ghosts as the mazes get progressively more difficult.
The game begat merchandise, several sequel games like Ms. Pac-man, as well as two television series, including a Hanna–Barbera produced ABC series and a Disney Xd take.
The project will be based on an original idea from Chuck Williams (Sonic the Hedgehog) of Lightbeam Entertainment. Baldoni, Manu Gargi and...
A live-action film is in development based on the classic arcade game with an endless appetite, Pac-man.
The project hails from Bandai Namco Entertainment — the company behind Pac-man, as well as games like Galaga and Tekken — and Wayfarer Studios, the production company founded by Justin Baldoni and Steve Sarowitz.
First introduced in the U.S. in 1980 — and originally called Puck Man in Japan — Pac-man became a coin-operated staple. The game is set in mazes where Pac-Man has to eat pellets while being pursued by colorful ghosts as the mazes get progressively more difficult.
The game begat merchandise, several sequel games like Ms. Pac-man, as well as two television series, including a Hanna–Barbera produced ABC series and a Disney Xd take.
The project will be based on an original idea from Chuck Williams (Sonic the Hedgehog) of Lightbeam Entertainment. Baldoni, Manu Gargi and...
- 8/8/2022
- by Mia Galuppo
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Exclusive: In his return to Fox, Emmy winner Michael Chiklis is set to headline the premiere episode of the network’s straight-to-series crime anthology drama, Accused, executive-produced by Howard Gordon, Alex Gansa and David Shore. Fellow Emmy winner Michael Cuesta (Homeland) has been tapped to direct the premiere, reuniting with Homeland executive producers Gordon and Gansa.
Accused, co-produced by Fox Entertainment and Sony Pictures Television, is based on the BBC’s BAFTA-winning crime anthology. It opens in a courtroom on the accused, with viewers knowing nothing about their crime or how they ended up on trial. Told from the defendant’s point of view through flashbacks, Accused depicts how an ordinary person gets caught up in an extraordinary situation, ultimately revealing how one wrong turn leads to another, until it’s too late to turn back.
Chiklis will play Dr. Scott Corbett, a successful brain surgeon with a seemingly perfect family.
Accused, co-produced by Fox Entertainment and Sony Pictures Television, is based on the BBC’s BAFTA-winning crime anthology. It opens in a courtroom on the accused, with viewers knowing nothing about their crime or how they ended up on trial. Told from the defendant’s point of view through flashbacks, Accused depicts how an ordinary person gets caught up in an extraordinary situation, ultimately revealing how one wrong turn leads to another, until it’s too late to turn back.
Chiklis will play Dr. Scott Corbett, a successful brain surgeon with a seemingly perfect family.
- 2/22/2022
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
The life and career of legendary cyclist Marshall Walter “Major” Taylor will receive the biopic treatment with the feature drama “Black Cyclone,” helmed by Canadian filmmaker Clement Virgo.
The film depicts the life story of the pioneering bicycle racer, best known to the world as “Major” Taylor. At the turn of the 20th century, Taylor made history when he became the world’s fastest man, as well as America’s first Black world champion, at the height of the Jim Crow era. Set in the late 1890s and early 1900s, an official description of the film notes taht “Black Cyclone” follows Taylor as he “confronted racism, both subtle and deadly, yet triumphed with sheer will, the love of a woman, and his troubled alliances with a Black trainer and a white promoter.”
Of boarding the project as its director, Virgo said, “Major Taylor was a fascinating enigma, an athlete ahead of his time.
The film depicts the life story of the pioneering bicycle racer, best known to the world as “Major” Taylor. At the turn of the 20th century, Taylor made history when he became the world’s fastest man, as well as America’s first Black world champion, at the height of the Jim Crow era. Set in the late 1890s and early 1900s, an official description of the film notes taht “Black Cyclone” follows Taylor as he “confronted racism, both subtle and deadly, yet triumphed with sheer will, the love of a woman, and his troubled alliances with a Black trainer and a white promoter.”
Of boarding the project as its director, Virgo said, “Major Taylor was a fascinating enigma, an athlete ahead of his time.
- 11/22/2021
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Mary Stuart Masterson (Blindspot), Rob Corddry (The Unicorn), Brandon Flynn (13 Reasons Why), Corey Knight (We Are Who We Are) and Terayle (Judas and the Black Messiah) are joining Michael Chiklis in The Senior, a football drama that Rod Lurie is directing from a screenplay by Bob Eisele (The Great Debaters), which is entering production in Texas this fall.
The film from Wayfarer Studios and Select Films is based on the true story of Mike Flynt (Chiklis), who was kicked off his collegiate football team 37 years ago for an altercation with another teammate. Now, at age 59, Mike decides to go back to college to finish his degree and try out for the varsity team in an attempt to redeem his past.
Masterson will play Mike’s wife Eileen, a voice of reason who offers tough love, while supporting her husband’s dream.
Corddry will play Sam Weston,...
The film from Wayfarer Studios and Select Films is based on the true story of Mike Flynt (Chiklis), who was kicked off his collegiate football team 37 years ago for an altercation with another teammate. Now, at age 59, Mike decides to go back to college to finish his degree and try out for the varsity team in an attempt to redeem his past.
Masterson will play Mike’s wife Eileen, a voice of reason who offers tough love, while supporting her husband’s dream.
Corddry will play Sam Weston,...
- 10/13/2021
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
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