The Tracking Board’s Daily Debrief (05.22.17)

Zack Snyder Leaves Justice League to Deal With Family Tragedy, Joss Whedon to Finish Superhero Film

Autumn Snyder, the director’s daughter from his first marriage, committed suicide in March, and her death had been kept private until Snyder gave a heartbreaking interview to the Hollywood Reporter on Monday. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his whole family during this difficult time.

It’s Happening: Lupita Nyong’0 and Rihanna to Star in Netflix Movie Directed by Ava DuVernay

After intense bidding and negotiation, Netflix has landed a movie that originally started as a viral internet meme and sensation. The film will co-star Lupita Nyong’o and Rihanna, with Ava DuVernay directing and Insecure‘s Issa Rae in talks to pen the script.

The State of the Spec Market: 2016

In examining the newest Spec Book, Neil Turitz finds that for the second year in a row, there were more specs put on the market and, more importantly, more sold, than the year before. This means there are more opportunities for the writers themselves, and for the companies making the movies to bring fresh voices to their product.

More News From Around The Web

• Willem Dafoe will play iconic Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh in At Eternity’s Gate, which will be helmed by Julian Schnabel. Based on a screenplay by Schnabel and Jean-Claude Carriere, the film is centered on the time in the artist’s life that he spent in Arles and Auvers-sur-Oise, France. (The Hollywood Reporter)

• Two-time Academy Award nominee and Cannes jury member Jessica Chastain will star in Seducing Ingrid Bergman, and she and her Freckle Films has joined YRF Entertainment to produce it. (Deadline)

• Sam Mendes is in early talks to direct Disney’s live-action Pinocchio. The move would push forward yet another live-action reboot of the old tried and true animated classic for the studio. (Deadline)

• Shailene Woodley, Jai Courtney and online star Andrew “King Bach” Bachelor have joined the cast of animated feature Arkie. The film is based on the Scarygirl graphic novel and video game created by award-winning artist Nathan Jurevicius. (The Hollywood Reporter)

• Universal’s Bride of Frankenstein is slated for a February 14, 2019 release date with Bill Condon on board to direct. The pic is the studio’s second entry in its newly announced “Dark Universe,” which kicks off with The Mummy starring Tom Cruise and Sofia Boutella. (Variety)

• Joey King and The Affair‘s Julia Goldani-Telles have been tapped to co-star the Sylvain White-directed horror thriller Slender Man, along with Captain Fantastic actress Annalise Basso, Jaz Sinclair, Talitha Bateman, and Alex Fitzalan. (Deadline)

• The Resident Evil franchise is set to get a reboot. The franchise was set to end with this year’s Resident Evil: The Final Chapter which grossed $312 million worldwide after its January release. (Variety)

• Oliver Stone is making his first foray into directing for scripted television with Guantanamo, a multi-season dramatic series. Weinstein Television has acquired the series and plans to shop it in upcoming weeks. (Deadline)