Month: May 2021

Kevin Costner is joining Taraji P. Henson and Octavia Spencer in the drama “Hidden Figures,” TheWrap has learned.

The Fox 2000 film is directed and produced by “St. Vincent” director Theodore Melfi, who is producing alongside Chernin Entertainment and Donna Gigliotti of Levantine Films.“St. Vincent” director Theodore Melfi is directing and producing the Fox 2000 film.

Kevin Costner is joining Taraji P. Henson and Octavia Spencer in the drama “Hidden Figures,” The Fox 2000 film is directed and produced by “St. Vincent” director Theodore Melfi, who is producing alongside Chernin Entertainment and Donna Gigliotti of Levantine Films.

Costner is set to play the head of the space program in the film that follows an African-American mathematician (Henson) who, along with two female colleagues, was the brains behind astronaut John Glenn’s first trip into space and back. Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth in 1962.

#ZeroGravityManagement #KevinCostner #Taraji #Melfi

The series starring the ‘Arrested Development’ alum hails from Media Rights Capital — producers of the streaming giant’s ‘House of Cards.’

Netflix is expanding its relationship with Jason Bateman and Media Rights Capital.

The streaming service is near a deal to pick up Bateman’s drama Ozark, which hails from the producers of House of Cards, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

Netflix declined to comment.

From MRC and Bateman’s Aggregate, Ozark is set in the world of drug-money laundering and takes its name from the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri. Bateman will direct, exec produce and star as a family man who moves from the city to the Lake of the Ozarks to begin repaying the money-laundering debt he owes to a ruthless drug lord.

The series was created by Bill Dubuque (The Judge), who is onboard as writer and exec producer alongside Bateman and Mark Williams. Bateman will also direct on the series, following his two big-screen directorial efforts, Bad Words and The Family Fang, in addition to his TV experience behind the camera. Chris Mundy (Low Winter Sun) will serve as showrunner.

Ozark follows MRC’s model of going straight to series and shopping the project as a completed package. The company’s credits include House of Cards — which put Netflix on the map with scripted originals — and Starz’s Patrick Stewart-Seth MacFarlane comedy Blunt Talk as well as the premium cabler’s upcoming The One Percent and Counterpart.

The pact also serves as a reunion for Bateman and Netflix, where he recently reprised his leading role on Arrested Development. Ozark marks a return to the small screen for the actor-producer, who has been more focused on feature films for the past decade. Dubuque’s star is on the rise with the forthcoming Ben Affleck thriller The Accountant and the Chris Pratt vehicle The Real McCoy.

For Netflix, the series comes as the streaming giant is concentrating on investing an impressive $5 billion on original programming in the coming year. Ozark joins a roster of originals at Netflix that include the Gilmore Girls revival, upcoming dramas Mind Hunter, Gypsy, Black Mirror, The Get Down, The OA, Stranger Calls and The Crown as well as returning series House of Cards, Marco Polo, Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Narcos and more.

Production on Ozark is expected to begin in the spring in New York and Vancouver.

#ZeroGravityManagement #BillDubuque #JasonBateman #MarkWilliams #OzarkNetflix

The directing duo of Jen and Sylvia Soska has come on board to direct a remake of David Cronenberg’s zombie thriller “Rabid,” Variety has learned.

John Vidette’s Somerville House Releasing has entered into a joint venture with Paul Lalonde and Michael Walker to produce a feature film and original TV series based on the 1977 Canadian horror film.

“Rabid” starred Marilyn Chambers, who was attempting to move from her successful career as a pornographic actress into the mainstream. The film explored the world of experimental plastic surgery with Chambers playing a woman injured in a motorcycle accident who underwent a surgical operation and developed a stinger that she used to feed on people’s blood — triggering an outbreak of a rabies-like epidemic that turned its victims into bloodthirsty zombies…

Filming has wrapped on the largest ever Chinese-Australian co-production at Village Roadshow Studios on the Gold Coast.

The 3-D Movie, Nest, stars Chinese megastar Li Bingbing, Kellan Lutz (The Twilight Saga, Expendables 3), Kelsey Grammer (Transformers), Stef Dawson (The Hunger Games: Mockingjay), Chinese popstar and actor Wu Chun and Shane Jacobson (The Dressmaker, Oddball, Kenny).

‘Vital Signs,’ the technology giant’s inaugural original, is described as a dark semi-autobiographical drama (featuring at least one orgy scene).

Apple is making its first original television show.The Hollywood Reporter has learned that the technology giant is backing a top-secret scripted series starring one of its own executives, Beats co-founder and rap legend Dr. Dre.

Multiple sources say the 50-year-old mogul is starring in and executive producing his own six-episode vehicle, dubbed Vital Signs, and the production is being bankrolled by Apple. The series likely will be distributed via Apple Music, the company’s subscription streaming site, but it’s not clear if Apple TV, the iTunes store or other Apple platforms (or even a traditional television distributor) will be involved. Apple and a rep for Dre declined to comment.

Those who have seen descriptions of the Dr. Dre show say it is billed as semi-autobiographical, with each episode focusing on a different emotion and how Dre’s character deals with it. Sources say that Sam Rockwell and Mo McRae (Murder in the First) are among the additional cast.

While technically a half-hour, the show is not a comedy. Instead, it is described as a dark drama with no shortage of violence and sex. In fact, an episode filming Monday and Tuesday this week featured an extended orgy scene. Sources tell THR that naked extras simulated sex in a mansion in the Bird Streets neighborhood of Los Angeles’ Hollywood Hills. (Dre’s wife Nicole Young was on set to witness the shenanigans, one insider says.)

Veteran music video director Paul Hunter is helming Vital Signs, which is also being produced under his Eye Candy banner alongside producers Aaron Ginsburg and William Green. Empire co-exec producer-writer Robert Munic was hand-picked by Dre to write all six episodes and exec produce. The first season will roll out all at once, regardless of venue, a la Netflix. Apple is said to be very bullish on the project.

“Taken” star to play wife of Scoot McNairy in thriller from producer Darren Aronofsky

Maggie Grace has booked a lead in Lionsgate’s “478,” the revenge thriller starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Scoot McNairy.

The film, directed by Elliott Lester and produced byDarren Aronofsky‘s Protozoa Pictures, follows a man (Schwarzenegger) who loses his wife and children in a plane crash. The air traffic controller (McNairy) responsible for the disaster becomes the grieving man’s target. Grace will play the controller’s wife.

The American Film Market title is currently in production in Ohio. Scott Franklin and Eric Watson join Aronofsky as producers. Emmett Furla Oasis Films is on board as financier.

Starz is looking to boost its profile with Latino viewers. The premium cabler has set three development prospects revolving around Hispanic themes and creative auspices that include Televisa USA and “The Blair Witch Project’s” Haxan Films.

The focus on Hispanic audiences comes after Starz has found broad success with shows rooted in African-American experiences, including the drama “Power,” which ranks as Starz’s most-watched original series, and comedy “Survivor’s Remorse.”

Voltage Pictures has cast Alison Brie and Gretchen Mol opposite Gerard Butler, Willem Dafoe and Alfred Molina in workplace drama “The Headhunter’s Calling.”

Principal photography started Tuesday on the film, with Mark Williams directing from Bill Dubuque’s script. The story centers on a ruthless headhunter who’s on his way to taking over the company when his 10-year-old son falls ill and his personal and professional priorities clash.

Mol is playing the spouse of Butler’s character and Brie will play his workplace rival.

Producers are Nicolas Chartier, Craig Flores, Gerard Butler, Alan Siegel, Mark Williams and Patrick Newall. Danielle Robinson, Jonathan Deckter and Dan Bekerman will serve as executive producers.

Dubuque wrote the screenplays for “The Judge,” “The Accountant” and the upcoming “The Real McCoy,” starring Chris Pratt.

Voltage launched sales on the film in Toronto, selling it to Square One in Germany, Eagle Pictures in Italy, California Films in Latin America, Innopia in Spain, Gulf in the Middle East, Ascot Elite in Switzerland, EIM for Airlines, Star TV for Pan Asia PTV, Tanweer for Turkey and Greece, Shoval for Israel, IPA for Thailand and Pioneer in the Phillipines.

Voltage will continue to actively sell international rights at the American Film Market next month. CAA will be handling the U.S. sales.

Mol recently wrapped “Manchester-By-the-Sea” alongside Michelle Williams and Casey Affleck, and “Anesthia” with Kristen Stewart and Glenn Close. She is represented by ICM Partners and John Carrabino Management.

Brie will next star in Warner Bros.’ “How to Be Single” opposite Rebel Wilson, Dakota Johnson and Leslie Mann. She recently starred in “Sleeping with Other People.” She is represented by WME Entertainment.

#ZeroGravityManagement #BillDubuque #HeadhuntersCalling #MarkWilliams #GerardButler #AlfredMolina #GretchenMol

EXCLUSIVE: Company will also launch new films from Lee Tamahori, Bouli Lanners and Sylvie Verheyde at AFM.