4 - INDUSTRY NEWS

Longtime WME Lit Agent Mike Esola Exits Agency

October 30, 2015 0

Sources report that lit agent and Mike Esola is leaving WME, after a thirteen-year run. Esola has forged a notable presence in the lit space, representing numerous clients that have made the Hit List, Young and Hungry List, and Black List.

1 - BREAKING NEWS

{Exclusive} Jorge Michel Grau In Talks To Helm Screen Gem’s Thriller “He’s Out There”

October 30, 2015 0

Emerging horror director Jorge Michel Grau is in talks to tackle Screen Gems’ horror/thriller He’s Out There. Formerly titled Scarecrow, the project was featured on the 2014 Blood List.

2 - FILM NEWS

Greta Gerwig Set To Co-Star With Natalie Portman In “Jackie”

October 30, 2015 0

Greta Gerwig has been tapped to star opposite Natalie Portman in the Jackie Kennedy drama, Jackie. Gerwig is set to play one of the former First Lady’s aids, while Peter Sarsgaard, who just joined the cast this week, will star as Robert Kennedy.

3 - TELEVISION NEWS

“The Muppets” Gains Full-Season Order From ABC

October 29, 2015 0

The series is the eighth freshmen series to get an additional episode order, proving that the network has faith in the Muppet brand. Looks like Kermit and crew are here to stay.

2 - FILM NEWS

Willem Dafoe To Star In Nicolas Cage Thriller “Dog Eat Dog”

October 29, 2015 0

Based on the book of the same name by Eddie Bunker, Dog Eat Dog follows a trio of ex-cons deep in the underbelly of LA, who are hired for a kidnapping job. When the job goes awry, the situation spirals out of control and sends the trio on the run.

2 - FILM NEWS

Jessica Gomes Tapped For Owen Wilson/Ed Helms Comedy “Bastards”

October 29, 2015 0

Owen Wilson and Ed Helms star as two men who, after discovering that their mother lied to them about their father’s death, hit the road to find their real dad. Gomes will play the love interest to Wilson’s character.

2 - FILM NEWS

Fox 2000 Adapting YA Novel “Simon Vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda”

October 29, 2015 0

The debut novel by Becky Albertalli will be adapted by scribes Elizabeth Berger and Isaac Aptaker. Wyck Godfrey, Marty Bowen and Isaac Klausner of Temple Hill Entertainment produce, along with Pouya Shahbazian of New Leaf Literary & Media.

1 - BREAKING NEWS

{Exclusive} Indie Helmer Joe Swanberg Exits New Line’s Comedy “Work Wife”

October 29, 2015 1

Swanberg had been slated to make his studio directorial debut on the project since February of this year, though sources now indicate that the Drinking Buddies helmer has fallen off the project.

2 - FILM NEWS

Tom Wilkinson Joins Sam Worthington and Ruth Wilson In “The Titan”

October 28, 2015 0

Tom Wilkinson is preparing to join Sam Worthington and Ruth Wilson in Lennart Ruff’s elevated sci-fi pic The Titan. Wilkinson’s role is kept under lock and key, though he’ll round out a cast consisting of Worthington, Wilson, and Kingsman star Sofia Boutella.

3 - TELEVISION NEWS

“House of Cards” Actor Nathan Darrow To Play A Young Mr. Freeze On “Gotham”

October 28, 2015 0

House of Cards actor Nathan Darrow’s career is gaining steam, or should we say it’s on ice? Darrow’s been cast as a young Victor Fries, AKA Mr. Freeze on Fox’s Gotham.

2 - FILM NEWS

Paramount Sets Up Buzzy Novel “All Our Wrong Todays”

October 28, 2015 0

Written by Toronto-based screenwriter Elan Mastai, Todays concerns a man from a utopian alternate universe who ends up marooned in the real 2015 after a time travel mishap. He then must decide whether he wants to live his new life here or find a way back to his original world.

2 - FILM NEWS

Rihanna Joins Luc Besson’s Sci-Fi Epic “Valerian”

October 28, 2015 0

Pop singer-turned-actress Rihanna has joined the cast of Luc Besson’s sci-fi epic Valerian. Besson took to instagram to announce the casting and though he wasn’t specific as to what role she would play, he did hint that the part was a big one.

1 - BREAKING NEWS

{Exclusive} Possession Thriller “Salem Village” Set Up At STX Entertainment

October 28, 2015 0

STX Entertainment is furthering its expansion into the horror genre, picking up the possession thriller Salem Village. The pic will still see Marc Schmuger staying on to produce under his Global Produce banner.

2 - FILM NEWS

John Larroquette And John Rhys-Davies To Lead Indie Drama “Camera Store”

October 27, 2015 0

John Larroquette, John Rhys-Davies and Karina Lombard are set to lead the indie drama Camera Store, which just began shooting this past Monday in New Orleans.

2 - FILM NEWS

Film About The Origins Of Monopoly In The Works

October 27, 2015 1

Big Beach Films is developing a new film exploring the origins of the world’s most popular board games. The untitled pic, which centers on the creation of the hit Parker Brothers game Monopoly, will be based on Mary Pilon’s book The Monopolists.

1 - BREAKING NEWS

{Exclusive} Fred Savage Exits Charlize Theron Comedy “Ladies Night”

October 27, 2015 0

Due to his commitment to The Grinder, Savage is exiting the R-rated Bridesmaids-esque pic, though the search has already begun for a new director.

2 - FILM NEWS

Elizabeth Banks Officially Back To Direct “Pitch Perfect 3”

October 27, 2015 0

After making her breakout directorial debut on Pitch Perfect 2, Elizabeth Banks is now set to return to direct Pitch Perfect 3, the third installment in Universal’s hit musical-comedy franchise.

2 - FILM NEWS

“Kingsman” Star Sofia Boutella Circling Charlize Theron Thriller “The Coldest City”

October 26, 2015 0

Kingsman: The Secret Service breakout Sofia Boutella is circling Focus Features’ spy thriller The Coldest City. John Wick co-director David Leitch is helming from a script by Kurt Johnstad, who adapted the graphic novel of the same name.

1 - BREAKING NEWS

{Exclusive} Sony Acquires Russo Brothers Project “Ciudad” With Offers Out To Matthew McConaughey

October 26, 2015 0

The project, scripted by the Russo’s, was already set up at Sierra/Affinity Pictures and Closed On Mondays Entertainment, but will now be housed at the studio under the duo’s first-look deal.

2 - FILM NEWS

Sony Rolls The Dice On Scribe Scott Rosenberg For “Jumanji” Remake

October 26, 2015 0

With a release date set for next Christmas, Sony Pictures is not playing games about getting their Jumanji remake off the ground. The studio has tapped Scott Rosenberg to rewrite the reboot, with Jeff Pinkner consulting.

1 - BREAKING NEWS

{Exclusive} Mark Mavrothalasitis Scripting Alcon’s Urban Explorers Thriller “Vertical”

October 23, 2015 0

Emerging screenwriter Mark Mavrothalasitis has been tapped to script a page one rewrite of Alcon Entertainment’s Vertical, a disaster thriller pitched in the vein of Point Break meets The Towering Inferno.

2 - FILM NEWS

“Straight Outta Compton” Scribe Lands Scarlett Johansson Thriller “Ghost in the Shell”

October 23, 2015 5

Based on the anime of the same name, the film will star Scarlett Johansson as an elite cyborg part of an organization devoted to eliminating the world’s most dangerous criminals and extremists.

2 - FILM NEWS

Asa Butterfield Replaces Kodi Smit-McPhee For Grim Reaper Comedy “Croak”

October 23, 2015 0

Butterfield will now star in the comedy as a young grim reaper caught between the land of the living and oblivion. Stanley Tucci and Flight of the Conchords/What We Do in the Shadows star Jemaine Clement have also joined the cast.

2 - FILM NEWS

“Me and Earl and the Dying Girl’s” R.J. Cyler Suits Up As The Blue Ranger For “Power Rangers”

October 23, 2015 0

After bursting on the scene in the Sundance favorite Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, R.J. Cyler has been cast as the Blue Ranger in Lionsgate’s Power Rangers reboot. Cyler will join Ludi Lin as the Black Ranger, Naomi Scott as the Pink Ranger, and Dacre Montgomery as the Red Ranger.

2 - FILM NEWS

Edgar Ramirez Looking To Board DreamWorks’ “The Girl On The Train” Adaptation

October 22, 2015 0

Ramirez is in talks to take on the part of Dr. Kamal Abdric, a therapist who’s involved in an affair with the married Megan (Haley Bennett) and becomes a suspect after her disappearance.

3 - TELEVISION NEWS

“Orange Is The New Black” Star Laverne Cox To Play Frank-N-Furter In Fox’s “Rocky Horror Picture Show”

October 22, 2015 0

Orange The New Black star Laverne Cox is set to do the Time Warp for Fox’s TV remake of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Cox will take on the role made famous by Tim Curry, the mad scientist Dr. Frank-N-Furter.

1 - BREAKING NEWS

{Exclusive} Paramount Going Greek, Developing New “Jason And The Argonauts”

October 22, 2015 9

In competition with 20th Century Fox’s stagnant version, Paramount Pictures is now developing a new Jason and the Argonauts film. Sources confirm that the project is moving along quickly, with concept art and VFX presentations already being put together.

2 - FILM NEWS

“Ant-Man” Helmer Peyton Reed In Talks For Superhero’s Sequel

October 21, 2015 0

It looks like Ant-Man director Peyton Reed is game for another go-round with the size-shifting superhero, as reports say Reed is in talks to return for the Marvel Studios sequel.

1 - BREAKING NEWS

{Exclusive} Elisabeth Moss Heads Into The Ring For Naomi Watts/Liev Schreiber Drama “The Bleeder”

October 21, 2015 0

Fresh off of her final season on AMC’s hit series Mad Men, Elisabeth Moss is now joining the biopic about Rocky inspiration Chuck Wepner. The Bleeder, starring Liev Schreiber as Wepner, centers on the boxer’s claim to fame after he shocked the world by knocking Muhammad Ali to the canvas.

2 - FILM NEWS

“The Duff” Helmer Ari Sandel Enrolls For Universal’s “Monster High”

October 21, 2015 0

Sandel is in talks to helm the feature adaptation of the mega-popular Mattel toy line, which has been in development since 2009. The female-skewing series focuses on the teenage offspring of all the iconic monsters, including Dracula, the Wolfman, Frankenstein’s monster, the Mummy, and the Creature from the Black Lagoon.