Anya Crittenton

Oscar-winner Leonardo DiCaprio is set to star in and produce The Black Hand, a new film set up at Paramount Pictures based on the book of the same name by Stephan Talty. DiCaprio’s Appian Way banner will co-produce alongside The Gotham Group.

Last night, Disney premiered the final trailer for their upcoming live-action remake of the 1991 classic Beauty and the Beast. It’s the most complete look at the film fans have been able to enjoy so far in all its two and a half minute glory.

This weekend was a mixed bag at the box office. There were some expected outcomes (Split‘s clear and defined defeat of A Dog’s Purpose) and some not-so predicted outcomes (namely, how well Hidden Figures and La La Land continued to do, though I really should have known better). Overall, it was largely a good weekend for the box office, with most films performing better than or at their expected totals.

We’ve partnered with the ISA Spotlight to provide the opportunity to highlight the winning screenplays from the Table Read My Screenplay – Park City contest and to introduce you to these talented writers.

The peacock network has picked up three new pilots from big-name talent — one from Mindy Kaling and Charlie Grandy, another from Tina Fey and Robert Carlock, and a final one from Adam Sztykiel and Bill Lawrence.

It’s time for animated films to be allowed onto the Oscar playing field and for bodies like the Academy, which are meant to recognize and award excellence in filmmaking, to give them more consideration beyond simply their designated Best Animated Feature category.

Keep up with what’s happening in the industry with the inside information on who’s getting hired, promoted, and let go. MTV, VH1, and Logo has made multiple promotions and Disney ABC Television has a new EVP and CFO.

In any other circumstances, the new film A Dog’s Purpose, a very appropriate January release, would come out on top this weekend. However, a controversy surrounding the film since last week has ruined the film’s chance, instead paving the way for M. Night Shyamalan’s thriller Split to maintain its top position for one more week.

After scoring eight Oscar nominations on Tuesday for Arrival, producer Shawn Levy is looking to stay in the realm of science-fiction. Along with his 21 Laps banner, Levy will produce an untitled sci-fi pitch, which has been acquired by Fox 2000. James Ponsoldt will direct based on a script by Daniel Casey.

The recent bidding war for Little America, a spec written by British filmmaker Rowan Athale, has been won by Universal. Director Michael Bay is set to produce the project with Platinum Dunes. Athale is also attached to helm the film.

Hitman: Agent 47 star Rupert Friend is set to try his hand at directing and writing for a second time with the biopic Cornerman about boxing trainer Cus D’Amato. The project is currently in pre-production with GK Films and Fabrica de Cine.

Infamous director M. Night Shyamalan is back. With Split‘s impressive opening, soaring high above both predictions and the rest of the weekend’s movies, the thriller auteur had his best opening in seven years. It’s also one of the director’s best-reviewed films (his second-best after The Sixth Sense), showing he’s back in the good graces of critics and audiences too.

Streaming giant Netflix has tapped Ben Schwartz and Noël Wells as the leads for their new original film Happy Anniversary. The project, written and directed by Jared Stern, will also feature Annie Potts and Joe Pantoliano in supporting roles.

The upcoming adaptation of Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda, based on the book of the same name by Becky Albertalli, is close to adding its newest cast member in X-Men star Alexandra Shipp.

The rights of upcoming drama Una, based on David Harrower’s Olivier-winning play Blackbird, have been secured by distributor Swen. They are an established distributor in Latin America and is starting to get involved in distribution Stateside via a deal with Eammon Films and Vision Films.

After two weeks of being on top, Hidden Figures is about to be dethroned this weekend. At least, that’s what all the projections are saying but we know the box office has been more than a little unpredictable lately. Instead, newcomers Split and xXx: The Return of Xander Cage are preparing to duke it out for the top spot.

The upcoming Dirty Rotten Scoundrels remake from MGM is eyeing its second lead to join Rebel Wilson and reports say Anne Hathaway is in talks for the role. Plus, the film, with a script by Jac Schaeffer, is also being renamed as Nasty Women.

Amazon Studios has given the greenlight to a 6-episode limited series of Good Omens, the 1990 book co-written by Gaiman and the late Terry Pratchett. The news comes on the dawn of the premiere of Starz’s American Gods, also based on a book by Gaiman.

Sony Pictures revealed today their upcoming Spider-Man animated film, written by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, will feature Miles Morales as the lead character. Kristine Belson, president of Sony Animation, confirmed the news.

Actor-director Nick Cassavetes has been tapped to helm New Line Cinema’s upcoming dramedy Honeymoon with Harry. Pitch creator Dan Fogelman is writing the current draft of the script, which is based on Bart Baker’s novel of the same name.

Fans have been waiting on tenterhooks and it’s official: the NBC sitcom Will & Grace is coming back. The network has given the series, which aired its last episode of its eight-season run in 2006, a 10-episode order.

Scandal writer Paul Davies has been given a pilot order from ABC for his untitled legal drama. The project is in development with Shondaland and head Shonda Rhimes, who created Scandal, is executive producing the pilot alongside Betsy Beers.

As predicted, Hidden Figures came out ahead at the box office over the holiday weekend but the rest of the results were more unexpected, such as the horror film The Bye Bye Man making it into the top five and both Sing and La La Land topping Rogue One.

British actor Richard Armitage has been cast in the highly anticipated Ocean’s Eight from director Gary Ross. The spinoff hails from Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow with a script co-written by Ross and Olivia Milch.

The Southern food critic, television host, and award-winning author Morgan Murphy has signed with Daniel Pancotto and Jon Kanak of Magnet Management in all areas of representation.

A brand new — and appropriately timely — spec is hitting the market this week from scribe Patrick McConville. The political thriller Inauguration Day has already captured the attention of several producers and is moving into major territories.

The highly publicized spec Keeper of the Diary from Evan Kilgore and Samuel Franco has sold to Fox Searchlight for a six figure amount. Matti Leshem and Lynn Harris will produce under their Weimaraner Republic Pictures shingle.

Headed to Sundance? You’ll need our Exclusive Party and Event Grid, VIP parties & RSVP details. We’ll continue to update the list as we get closer to the big event, so you’ll have everything you need to keep the party going the whole time!

Updated 01.16.17. Headed to Sundance? You’ll need our Exclusive Party and Event Grid, VIP parties & RSVP details. We’ll continue to update the list as we get closer to the big event, so you’ll have everything you need to keep the party going the whole time!

Updated 01.17.17. Headed to Sundance? You’ll need our Exclusive Party and Event Grid, VIP parties & RSVP details. We’ll continue to update the list as we get closer to the big event, so you’ll have everything you need to keep the party going the whole time!