Studio & Project Development Briefs for Feb 9-10, 2015

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9 Feb 2015 1:33 PM PT

Studiobriefs03

NON-SPECIFIC (NOT SPECIFIC TO A GIVEN ENTITY)

 

ABC/DISNEY/AMC FAMILY/LIFETIME

  • Variety Exclusive – Inside Rosie O’Donnell’s Dramatic Exit from The View
  • ABC Family have cancelled Melissa & Joey.  They will continue to play out this season, but Season 4 will be the final season for the show.   Melissa & Joey has been ABC Family’s highest rated sitcom and have reached 100 episodes, the 100th which will air as the mid-season finale on March 18.We are proud of the milestones ‘Melissa & Joey’ has achieved, being the network’s first sitcom to reach 100 episodes and the network’s first comedy to win a People’s Choice Award,” said Karey Burke, Programming and Development Executive Vice President. Burke continued, “Now that the kids are grown and Mel and Joe have married and are looking towards starting a family, it seemed like a natural time to bring the series to a close. We are grateful to Melissa Joan Hart and Joey Lawrence, and the whole cast and crew who worked so hard on this successful show.”
  • Sony Pictures is partnering with Disney’s Marvel to revamp Spider-Man.   He will first appear in a Marvel film, although details have not been revealed as to which film.  However, Spider-man was a major player in the comic storyline that Captain America:  Civil War is based on so many suspect it may be the targeted film to unveil Spidey.   It is currently not expected that Andrew Garfield will reprise the role under the new partnership.  Following the introduction of Spider-man in another Marvel film, Sony will then release a new Spider-man movie that is slated to release July 28, 2017.   Sony’s Amy Pascal and Marvel’s Kevin Feige will produce the new film with previous Spider-man movie producers, Ari Arad and Matt Tolmach will executive produce the new film.  Under the new agreement Sony will retain final creative control and continue to finance, distribute and own the films. “Marvel’s involvement will hopefully deliver the creative continuity and authenticity that fans demand from the MCU. I am equally excited for the opportunity to have    Spider-Man appear in the MCU, something which both we at Marvel, and fans alike, have been looking forward to for years,”  Feige said in a statement.  “This is the right decision for the franchise, for our business, for Marvel, and for the fans,” said SPE chairman and CEO Michael Lynton.
  • Jennifer Esposito is set to star alongside Jes Mcallan, Rochelle Aytes and Yunjin Kim in ABC‘s summer series Mistresses.   Mistresses is written and executive produced by KJ Steinberg and Rina Mimoun.   Robert Sertner and Douglas Rae also executive produce.   Mistresses is based on the British series (with same name).  Esposito will play Calista Raines, a larger-than-life, fabulous creative director of a luxury fashion brand.  She has the high-class socialite lifestyle that goes with the title.   Beneath the surface however, we will see her loneliness and we will see her fun eccentricities mask a darker and more devious nature.   Calista will be Joss’ friend, mentor and surrogate sister which draws him into a deeper and deeper world of secrets and betrayal.
  • Karina Smirnoff will not be returning to Dancing With The Stars for their 20th Season.   On her Instagram she wrote: “Many of you have been asking if I will be back for season 20 of DWTS and I wanted all of my incredible family to hear it directly from me,” she wrote in the caption of a super glam headshot of herself. “After a lot of thought and prayer, I’ve decided to focus my energies on some other exciting endeavors including adding author to my resume. I have absolutely loved dancing for all of you for all these years and feel blessed to have been given a platform to put my passion for dance, choreography, and creativity on display,” she continued. “DWTS has been a huge part of my life for the last 10 years and I will always have a special place in my heart for it.”  Talking about her new book that is now available, “I look forward to hearing from you as you read it! I love all of you so very much and couldn’t feel more grateful for your support in all that I do!”  Smirnoff had been with Dancing With The Stars for 16 years.

 

 

AMC NETWORKS/AMC ENTERTAINMENT/A&E

 

 

CBS/CW/CBSFILMS/SHOWTIME

  •  Showtime‘s half-hour comedy pilot that had musical elements, Crazy Ex-Girfriend has been nixed from further development.   The project was created by Rachel Bloom and directed by Marc Webb and co-written by Bloom and Aline Brosh McKenna.   It was to star Bloom as a woman who gave up her partnership at a Manhattan law firm in order to find happiness in West Covina, a suburb of Los Angeles.   Others that starred in the pilot were Michael McDonald, Santino Fontana, Donna Lynn Champlin and Vincent Rodriguez, III, which was filmed at CBS TV Studios.   Crazy Ex-Girlfriend was an experiment that had some standout music and strong moments, but was rather risky to pull off.

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

  • Netflix has expanded into Cuba.   The company will be offering a “curated selection of popular movies and TV shows” to the country for $7.99 per month and it could grow as Internet access improves and the country’s population begin to have credit and debit cards become more widely available.   Neflix will likely be including shows such as House of Cards, Orange is the New Black, and Marco Polo to the package.   Currently, Neflix has more than 5 Mil Latin American customers since it began offering the service in Latin American countries in 2011.   International expansion is a top priority for Netflix.  “We are delighted to finally be able to offer Netflix to the people of Cuba, connecting them with stories they will love from all over the world,” says CEO Reed Hastings. “Cuba has great filmmakers and a robust arts culture and one day we hope to be able to bring their work to our global audience of over 57 million members.”  Netflix also are exploring a limited offering for China.
  • Netflix Chief Content Officer, Ted Sarandos touted Sense8, the Wachowski’s new series.   Even with the poor box office reception of Jupiter Ascending, the Wachowski’s have brought many successes with  projects such as The Matrix and V for Vendetta.   Sarandos talked said of Sense8 “It’s the best four hours of anything we’ve done. Their film reviews have been brutal, and everything after The Matrix didn’t go well, but if you look at the earlier cuts of their films before they had to jam them down to 120 minutes, it’s amazing. There’s a four-hour cut of Cloud Atlas that will blow you away.”  So far they are staying well within budget and are on time with their 10-episode project with Netflix.   Sense8 is about eight people around the world who, following a tragic death, are connected mentally and emotionally.   As they connect to one another to learn what happened, they are hunted by an evil organization.   The series will take place on four continents spanning the cities of Chicago, San Franscico, London, Seoul, Mumbai, Berlin, Mexico City, Nairobi, and the the country of Iceland.  There is a transgender character in Sense8.   “The goal wasn’t to be diverse but to be great and different and diversity would follow” according to Sarandos.
  • Netflix Pumps Virunga for Oscar with Behind-The-Scenes Speical Airing on L.A. TV

 

DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS (DISCOVERY CHANNEL)

 

DREAMWORKS

 

DREAMWORKS ANIMATION

 

 

FOX ENTERTAINMENT GROUP/FOX SEARCHLIGHT

  • Gail Berman’s production company, Jackal Group has just signed a first-look film deal with Fox 2000, coming seven months following Berman’s wide-ranging partnership with Fox Networks Group, part of launching Jackal Group, to develop digital and TV projects for outlets across 21st Century Fox TV and digital spectrum.  The Jackal Group has development projects already in progress including a biopic on Jessee Owens and another untitled feature based on the life of Elvis Presley.

 

HBO

  • HBO just renewed for a third season their comedy ‘Getting On’ starring Laurie Metcalf, Alex Borenstein, Niecy Nash and Mel Rodriguez.   It will be the final season for the series and will be a six-episode season like the first two seasons.   Getting On is created by Mark V Olsen and Wil Sheffer (Anima Sola Productions) with BBC Worldwide Productions’ Jane Tranter and Julie Gardner also Executive Producing the show along with producers Geoff Atkinson, Joe brand, Joanna Scanlan and Vicki Pepperdine.
  • Deadline:  The Jinx Review:  Jeremy Gerard on HBO’s Harrowing Con Man Doc

 

NBC/UNIVERSAL STUDIOS/USA NETWORK

  • NBC Nightly News dipped only slightly on Friday, with Brian Williams still at the desk.   Williams announced on Saturday he would be stepping away from the desk for a period of time while the investigation by NBC was taking place and his future with the network was being considered.  The previous two weeks had seen 8.1 Mil viewers and last night 8.0 Mil viewers, which still beats the season average of 7.7 viewers indicating that most viewers are not as hung-up on the William’s issue as the media seems to be.   In the coveted 25-54 age bracket (advertisers seek) Friday  was at 1.7 Mil viewers compared to the past four Friday’s at 1.9, yet still even with the season average in that demo.   However in the younger 18-49 bracket Friday saw a 40% decrease.   More data, of course, would need to be collected to determine if it was related to the Williams controversy or were other factors coming into play for the drop.   If it was related to Williams controversy, social media likely played a big factor.
  • After NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams cancelled his interview on The Late Show with David Letterman, Stars and Stripes has decided to move forward and publish an interview they held with Williams. “The reason we decided to publish it now is because Williams backed out of this appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman,” Travis Tritten, who did the interview, explained this afternoon to CNN. “We felt there was a lot of interest out there to hear him, in his own words, really address these questions and hear his response, unfiltered — so everybody can listen for themselves and judge,” Tritten added. “We are five days [later] and Williams has not come forward and answered questions. He has made statements on his own but he hasn’t sat and answered questions about it.”
  • Universal Cable Productions and Gale Anne Hurd, chief of Valhalla Entertainment  are bringing to the US, Brothers in Crime based on the Swedish crime drama Tusenbröder.   Nick Cassavetes is set to direct and executive produce the series with Cliff Dorfman adapting the screenplay and executive producing.   Tusenbröder writer Lars Lundström will co-executive produce Brothers in Crime, as will Viking Brothers Entertainment’s Peter Stormare and Glenn Lund.   Brothers in Crime is about three old friends who own a construction business who turn to criminal activity to keep their business financially from collapsing. “The show explores some real issues going on in this country today: the difficulty of attaining the modern American dream and the complexity of marriage, family, and friendship,” Cassavetes said about the series.  He continued with “It takes a close look into the forbidden fruit — how much we’re allowed to take without crossing the line, both morally and legally. There are some really great parts and characters; it’s going to be a helluva ride!”
  • NBC‘s new Chicago Fire Spin-off Chicago Med has just cast Yaya DaCosta  as Maggie Seaver, an attractive nurse who begins to date Chicago Fire’s Kelly (Taylor Kinney) with whom she has a history dating back to high school.   DaCosta had previously played Whitney Houston in Lifetime’s biopic of the famous musical celebrity.  She will be introduced in Episode 19 of Chicago Fire this season, as well as other cast members of Chicago Med.  Episode 19 of Chicago Fire is conceived and written by creators and executive producers Derek Haas and Michael Brandt, executive producer Matt Olmstead and executive producer Dick Wolf.  “There will be an event that brings Chicago Med within Chicago Fire,” said NBC chairman Bob Greenblatt during NBC’s TCA tour last month.
  • Deadline:  Jon Stwart Leads Late-Night Charge at Brian Williams’ Credibility Crisis
  • Deadline:  Bill O’Reilly Defends Brian Williams to Jimmy Kimmel
  • Deadline:  Brian Williams Wins Ratings Race As He Relinquishes Anchor Desk For Now
  • THR:  NBCUniversal Execs Mull Lengthy Suspension for Brian Williams
  • Variety:  Brian Williams comeback Begins?  NBC Touts Nightly News Ratings Milestone
  • THR:  SNL:  Inside the Show’s 40 Most Defining Moments (Photos)
  • Brian Williams has been suspended without pay for 6 months by NBC.  Lester Holt will continue as interim anchor of the Nightly News. “We have decided today to suspend Brian Williams as Managing Editor and Anchor of NBC Nightly News for six months. The suspension will be without pay and is effective immediately,” NBC News President Deborah Turness said in a memo, adding that “this was a very hard decision. Certainly there will be those who disagree. But we believe this suspension is the appropriate and proportionate action.”  Williams became the center of controversy after admitting he had given a false account of a downed helicopter incident in Iraq, as first reported by Stars and Stripes on a Facebook post.   Williams publicly apologized and also apologized to the staff of NBC News.    An internal investigation is underway at NBC News, announced last Saturday.   See full memo:

    All,

    We have decided today to suspend Brian Williams as Managing Editor and Anchor of NBC Nightly News for six months. The suspension will be without pay and is effective immediately. We let Brian know of our decision earlier today. Lester Holt will continue to substitute Anchor the NBC Nightly News.

    Our review, which is being led by Richard Esposito working closely with NBCUniversal General Counsel Kim Harris, is ongoing, but I think it is important to take you through our thought process in coming to this decision.

    While on Nightly News on Friday, January 30, 2015, Brian misrepresented events which occurred while he was covering the Iraq War in 2003. It then became clear that on other occasions Brian had done the same while telling that story in other venues. This was wrong and completely inappropriate for someone in Brian’s position.

    In addition, we have concerns about comments that occurred outside NBC News while Brian was talking about his experiences in the field.

    As Managing Editor and Anchor of Nightly News, Brian has a responsibility to be truthful and to uphold the high standards of the news division at all times.

    Steve Burke, Pat Fili and I came to this decision together. We felt it would have been wrong to disregard the good work Brian has done and the special relationship he has forged with our viewers over 22 years. Millions of Americans have turned to him every day, and he has been an important and well-respected part of our organization.

    As I’m sure you understand, this was a very hard decision. Certainly there will be those who disagree. But we believe this suspension is the appropriate and proportionate action.

    This has been a difficult time. But NBC News is bigger than this moment. You work so hard and dedicate yourselves each and every day to the important work of bringing trusted, credible news to our audience. Because of you, your loyalty, your dedication, NBC News is an organization we can – and should – all be proud of. We will get through this together.

    Steve Burke asked me to share the following message.

    “This has been a painful period for all concerned and we appreciate your patience while we gathered the available facts. By his actions, Brian has jeopardized the trust millions of Americans place in NBC News. His actions are inexcusable and this suspension is severe and appropriate. Brian’s life’s work is delivering the news. I know Brian loves his country, NBC News and his colleagues. He deserves a second chance and we are rooting for him. Brian has shared his deep remorse with me and he is committed to winning back everyone’s trust.”

    Deborah

  • Deadline:  The Slap Review:  Dominic Patten on NBC’s Hard-Hitting Drama

 

LIONSGATE

  • While Lionsgate is attempting to get the four-month old lawsuit from interns of the Wendy Williams Show, it appears that instead the potential class action complaint is growing.  Last week another intern sought to join the legal action originally filed by Anthony Tart last October.  Read More from Deadline Hollywood’s Exclusive.
  • Lionsgate landed Lee Toland Krieger to re-write and direct Denison Hetch spec script Vanish Man.   See Deadline’s Exclusive

 

PARAMOUNT STUDIOS/VIACOM

 

SONY/TRISTAR

 

TURNER BROADCASTING & ENTERTAINMENT/ TNT/ TBS

  • Billy Eichner, Emmy nominated for his Billy on the Street, has just signed a multi-layered deal with Turner Broadcasting which would include a fourth season renewal of Billy on the Street for Turner’s TruTV.   The fourth season will be 10 episodes of all new shows on TruTV.   Production will begin in New York this spring. Turner’s comedy-network TBS will encore each of the Billy on the Street episodes, and Turner also secured rights to all of the previously produced 32-episodes of Billy on the Street from Funny or Die and previously aired on-music themed network Fuse.   Also in the deal is a development deal for Eichner to create pilots for potential TruTV and AdultSwim series, hal-hour specials featuring Eichner for TBS and TruTV.”I am beyond excited about this new era for Billy on the Street,” said Eichner, who is currently reprising his role as Craig on the final season of NBC’s Parks and Recreation.“I’m thrilled to be working with truTV and the Turner family and I’m very ready to hit the streets for a new season of making dreams come true and changing lives for the better.”  Added TBS president David Levy: “This deal is a great opportunity to tap into and expand the Billy phenomenon using the power of the Turner portfolio. No other media company has the assets and the reach — especially among Generation X, Millennials and Generation Edge viewers — to pull off this kind of multilayered deal. The Turner networks are going to be the perfect home for Billy’s brilliant comedic talents and his growing legion of young fans.”
  • Variety:  Sony Pictures TV Chief Knocks Media Coverage of Studio Hack

 

WARNER BROS.

  • Deadline:  The Wachowskis’ Expensive Jupiter Ascending:  What the Hell Happened?
  • Warner Bros. is in talks with Bradley Cooper over movie rights for Cooper to produce and possibly star in Oprhan X, an upcoming book by Gregg Hurwitz.  Along with Cooper, Todd Phillips, Cooper’s partner in their untitlted Warner-based shingle would also produce.   Hurwitz would write the adaptation of his book which is due out in February 2016, published by MacMillan.   Jesse Ehrman and Julia Spiro from Warner would oversee the project.   The premise is a thriller based on Evan Smoak called a “Nowhere Man” who helps others, sometimes via violent means.   He is drawn into the underworld of human slavery through a job he takes on, engineered by a detective of the Los Angeles Police Department.

 

VIACOM/COMEDY CENTRAL

  • Comedy Central’s Jon Stewart will be leaving The Daily Show after 17 years on air.  It is believed he will complete his current contract which ends in Fall 2015.   Read More

 

 

INDIE

  • Studio Canal has been in discussions with Anton Capital Entertainment to raise its slate financing in a deal that could exceed the original $194 Mil agreed to in 2011 while in Berlin this week.   Studio Canal’s current deal with Anton Capital Entertainment is a three-year deal (until early 2016) allowing Studio Canal to expand to become one of Europe’s largest film studios and a global film player with distribution in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Australia and New Zealand.  Read More
  • IFC has renewed Portlandia for two more seasons, taking it through seven seasons through 2017.   Each season will have 10, half-hour episodes.   The show will continue to be filmed in Portland with director Jonathan Krisel, who co-created the comedy with Carrie Brownstein and Fred Armisen will continue helm the series.   Krisel, Brownstein and Artmisen, along with Karey Dornetto and Graham Wagner will serve as writers.  The show is produce by Lorne Michaels. “We are so excited to get to do more Portlandia with IFC,” Armisen and Brownstein said in a joint statement. “Getting to work with Jon and our talented writers and crew, it really is our favorite thing in the world. Also, we get to spend more time in Portland!” “Portland may be a place where young people go to retire, but IFC is not retiring Portlandia,” IFC president Jennifer Caserta said. “And if you order a book from Toni and Candace at the Feminist Bookstore right now, it might even arrive by the time season seven rolls around.”
  • THR:  Bill Stiller Plots ‘Super Sad True Love Story‘ TV Series:  From Independent Studio Media Rights Capital, the Drama is Base don the Best Seller by Gary Shteyngart
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