Motion Picture: Henry Golding To Star In 'Daniela Forever' and Keke Palmer Joins 'Super Toys'
Action/Fantasy/Sci-Fi: Crazy Rich Asians’ Henry Golding will star in Daniela Forever, a sci-fi romance directed by Nacho Vigalondo. The film will follow a man’s journey through grief as he mourns the death of his girlfriend six months earlier—he then decides to sign up for a sleep trial that allows him to lucid dream and reconstruct his life with her. Daniela Forever will shoot in Madrid this spring and summer, but its release date is currently unknown. Vigalondo comments that the film “is built around a deeply human character trapped in a twisted plot, something Henry Golding is so perfect for this almost feels unreal.”
Daniel Fajemisin-Duncan and Marlon Smith will write Michael B. Jordan’s action-thriller Rainbow Six. Based on the Tom Clancy novel of the same name, the film will take place after its prequel, Without Remorse, and will follow Jordan’s John Clark, a Navy SEAL and CIA operative. Jordan will star, produce, and co-direct alongside Chad Stahelski. Rainbow Six’s release date has not yet been announced.
The first trailer for Fast X, which was screened at a fan event in L.A., has given viewers a first look at Jason Momoa as the franchise’s new villain. Fast X will see the return of the previous cast, including Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, and Sung Kang, and will star newcomers Momoa, Brie Larson, and Rita Moreno. Diesel comments that Fast “go back to the streets of L.A.” and will give fans a “return to racing and what that feels like.” The Universal film will hit theatres on May 19th, 2023.
Severance’s Dichen Lachman has signed on to star in 20th Century’s upcoming Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. Set years after the end of War for the Planet of the Apes, the new installment will follow the growth of Caesar’s new ape colonies and the human’s descent into a “feral-like existence.” Although it is unclear what role Lachman will play, her costars include Freya Allan, Owen Teague, William H. Macy, and Kevin Durand. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes has started filming, but a release date is currently unknown.
Alexandra Shipp - Kevin Winter
Comedy: Code 3, a buddy-action comedy with leads Rainn Wilson and Lil Rel Howery, has expanded its cast. Disenchanted’s Yvette Nicole Brown, The Upshaws’ Page Kennedy, and Zatima’s Cameron Fuller will star. The film follows Randy (Wilson) and Mike (Howery) on their last day on the job as paramedics. Brown will play Shanice, a controlling EMS supervisor; Kennedy will play Officer Tagert, a police officer colleague of Mike and Randy; finally, Fuller will play Jimmy, an easy-going firefighter. Production on the Wayfarer Studios film has begun. Code 3 will be directed by Christopher Leone and co-written by former paramedic Patrick Pianezza.
Impossible Dream Entertainment and Double G Films have announced the cast for their upcoming drama-comedy Lost & Found in Cleveland, including Dennis Haysbert, Yvette Yates Redick, Martin Sheen, June Squibb, Stacy Keach, and Santino Fontana. The film will follow the stories of five different people in the industrial Midwestern U.S. over a 24-hour period, whose stories collide as an antique appraisal show visits their city. Lost & Found in Cleveland will be directed by Keith Gerchak and Marisa Guterman, who comments that “dressed in a palette of pastels, nostalgia, and hope, Lost & Found in Cleveland is an Americana portrait that will feel both familiar and magical to audiences.” The film is currently in production in Cleveland.
Tick, Tick…BOOM!’s Alexandra Shipp has been cast in Sony’s untitled comedy directed by Will Gluck. Shipp will join a cast including Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell. Although the plot is currently under wraps, we do know that the film is based on Ilana Wolper’s script, rewritten by Gluck.
Justice Smith - David M. Benett
Drama: The cast members of Ava DuVernay’s Caste continue to grow—this time, with Audra McDonald and Myles Frost. These two join a previously announced cast of Aujanue Ellis, who will play the lead, Niecy Nash, Vera Farmiga, Nick Offerman, Connie Nielson, Jon Bernthal, and Jasmine Cephas-Jones. The film will be based on Isabel Wilkerson’s book, Caste: The Origins of Our Discontent, and will tell the story of real-life Americans that are shaped by the caste system. Caste’s release date is still unknown.
Justice Smith, along with Ben Foster, Katherine Waterston, and Maria Bakalova is set to star in Topic Studios’ Floodplain. Directed by Tim Sutton, the thriller will “[explore] themes of family trauma, environmental justice, and race via the story of a man (Foster) who must return to his hometown to help prevent a catastrophic flood and confront the mistakes from his past.” It is currently unknown what role Smith will be playing.
Keke Palmer is set to star in Super Toys alongside Sacha Baron Cohen. The film, written and directed by David O Russel, takes place in the ‘70s and follows toy salesmen Baren Cohen and Palmer as they depart on a life-and-death mission to keep themselves, their marriage, and their 12-year-old daughter alive. Super Toys will be presented to buyers at the European Film Market from February 16th to February 22nd.
Dreamworks Theatricals, oriah Kwamé, and Veronica Mansour
Industry Updates: The participants for DreamWorks Theatricals’ emerging writers program have been announced as Joriah Kwamé, Veronica Mansour, Krista Knight, and Kate Thomas. As part of the program, the selected candidates will help develop new DreamWorks Animation musical films for Music Theatre International’s catalog. The program, which will begin this month, is sponsored by DreamWorks Theatricals, MTI, and in partnership with NBCUniversal’s Global Talent Development & Inclusion team. To view the bios of these selected writers, check out this link.
