Studio Briefs & Project Development Briefs – April 11-12 2015

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11 Apr 2015

StudiobriefsPilotSeason

We will be providing briefs of what comes out of the studios or independent project development on a daily basis and summarizing them in daily posts.   These will be a quick way to attempt to keep everyone updated on movement of projects.   This post is updated throughout the day.  So check back for the latest updates.

 

NON-SPECIFIC (OR MULTIPLE ENTITES)

 

ABC/DISNEY/ABC FAMILY/LIFETIME

 

AMC NETWORKS/AMC ENTERTAINMENT/A&E/IFC

 

 

CBS/CW/CBSFILMS/SHOWTIME/Pop

 

DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION (AOL, AMAZON, HULU, NETFLIX, YAHOO)

 

DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS (DISCOVERY CHANNEL)/TLC

 

 

DREAMWORKS /DREAMWORKS ANIMATION

 

 

FOX ENTERTAINMENT GROUP/FOX SEARCHLIGHT/NEW REGENCY

 

 

LIONSGATE

 

 

MGM, ORION, UNITED ARTISTS

 

NBC/UNIVERSAL STUDIOS/USA NETWORK/COMCAST/E!/SyFy

  • Michael De Luca has entered into a three-year first look production agreement with Universal Pictures.  De Luca exited Sony earlier this month to begin producing the remaining two sequels of the Fifty Shades of Grey triology.  The sequels will not be the only projects he will produce for the studio.  For more on De Luca’s journey to this point – read here.

 

SCRIPPS NETWORK

 

 

SONY/TRISTAR/COLUMBIA

 

 

TIME WARNER/WARNER BROS./HBO/ CNN/TURNER/TNT/TBS/NEWLINE

 

TRIBUNE/WGN AMERICA

 

 

VIACOM/COMEDY CENTRAL/PARAMOUNT/MTV

  • Paramount’s Star Trek 3 has found their lead.   Sofia Boutella, who played the sexy assassin in Kingsman:  The Secret Service, has been cast in the lead role of the outer space mega hit franchise.   Simon Pegg and Doug Jung are penning the script to be directed by Justin Lin.  (First reported by Deadline.)

 

INDIE

  • Participant Media’s CEO James Berk resigned on Friday after leading the multimedia company for more than eight years.  Berk’s sudden departure caught many off-guard and surprised employees even though tension had been mounting between Jeff Skoll, founder of the company and Berk, Skoll seeking for more expedient expansion into foreign markets, as well as looking for further advances in the television and digital operations of Participant.   Skoll made the announcement that he would temporarily act as CEO and will pursue social change and profits within Participant.  Skoll along with the other executives within Participant will begin searching for a new chief executive for the company.Berk released this statement: “It has been a tremendous privilege to lead Participant Media. I am incredibly proud of our collective work to drive change through entertainment, but after more than eight years at Participant, it is the right time for someone else to take the helm. I look forward to the company’s continued success.”Participant has been impressive in its social consciousness in pursuing clean water, education reform, income equality and nuclear non-proliferation, while continuing to pursue double bottom line goals of profitability.  Skoll wishes to continue to look a the opportunities that lie ahead saying he is “more energized and excited” about what lies ahead for Participant and continued with “we remain committed to inspiring and compelling social change to the world’s most pressing problems through the power of great stories and engaging our audiences to take meaningful action.”
  • Freestyle Releasing will distribute the faith-based film Beyond the Mask beginning June 5 for week-long runs.   Beyond the Mask stars John Rhys-Davies (Lord of the Rings, Killing Jesus)  and is co-written by Stephen Kendrick (Fireproof, Courageous) and Paul McCusker. Directed by Chad Burns, the film is produced by Aaron Burns and co-produced by Burns.   Tracey Burns associate produces.  Co-stars include Kara Kilmer (Chicago Fire) and Andrew Cheney (Seasons of Grey).  Beyond the Mask is about a leading mercenary for the British East India Company who was double-crossed and is on the run in the American colonies. Working to redeem his name and win back the affections of the woman with whom he’s never been fully truthful, he hides behind a new mask in hopes of thwarting his former employer. As his past life closes in on him, he must somehow gain the trust and the help of his beloved Charlotte — as well as Ben Franklin — while he races against time to defuse a plot of historical proportions. It is being marketed as “a faith-based adventure celebrating grace, liberty and the true freedom that can only be found in Christ.“About a year ago, they sent us the picture and they told us that their plan was to go out on a Gathr distribution plan to play it for one night in selected theaters around the country. They said if it did well, they would be looking for larger distribution,” Freestyle Releasing president Mark Borde said in a statement. “We looked at the picture and it had a lot of production value. We thought, let’s see what happens with Gathr. To be frank, the grosses have been phenomenal. So we let them know we were on board. We’re still hammering out the fine points and are finalizing plans now but have great faith in the picture.”
  • Deadline Exclusive:  Dylan O’Brien In Talks To Board Deepwater Horizon Opposite Mark Wahlberg
  • TWC-Dimension’s new reality series, If I Wasn’t A Rock Star, will be executive produced by Rock Star Bon Jovi along with Bob Weinstein and Patrick Reardon of TWC-Dimension.   The series will follow rockers who return to their hometowns without their armies of agents and publicists, forcing them to consider how their lives would differ out of the spotlight.  Prototype’s Frank Rainone and Teresa Sorkin are developign the series for Prototype also with exeuctive producers from 3Ball Entertainment,  Todd A Nelson and Brant Pinvidic.   No specific air date has been set for release.
  • Variety:  Global Launch of Air-Crash Drama Starfighter Delayed Following Germwings Tragedy
Posted in: Film, News, Stage, Televsion ⋅ Tagged: abctag, , cbsany, , , foxtag, nbctag, stage-news,

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