Motion Picture: Marlon Wayans and Tyriq Withers Join ‘Goat,’ Jason Blum and James Wan Merge Companies
Simone ashley - imdb
Action/Horror/Fantasy/Sci-Fi: Magnet Releasing has acquired the North American rights to the suspense-horror film What You Wish For. The film, which is scheduled to be released this summer, follows a chef (Nick Stahl) who, upon fleeing to Latin America due to gambling problems, is taken into the home of a friend (Briah Groh). After the chef assumes the life of his friend, he discovers the secrets to his lavish life. The tale also stars Tamsin Topolski and Randy Vasquez. Writer-director Nicholas Tomnay said, “I’m thrilled to be partnering with Magnet on ‘What You Wish For.’ They have great taste and really understand the film. I can’t wait to share this wicked tale with you all very soon.”
Marlon Wayans is set to star in Universal Pictures and Monkeypaw’s psychological horror sports film Goat. Wayans, who recently starred in Prime Video’s Air and Netflix’s The Curse of Bridge Hollow, will play a star athlete in Goat, which is set to follow a young athlete training with Wayans’ character. Monkeypaw’s Jordan Peele, Win Rosenfeld, Ian Cooper, and Jamal Watson will produce the film, with Justin Tipping as the director. In addition to Goat, Universal and Monkeypaw are also working together on an upcoming Jordan Peele-directed film.
Paramount is moving forward on a new Star Trek feature, which will take place decades before J.J. Abrams’ 2009 Star Trek. Toby Haynes, a director of Star Wars: Andor, and writer Seth Grahame-Smith, will work together on the new feature that comes after the company’s multitude of plans to continue the franchise. Previous attempts to create Star Trek features - including Matt Shakman’s helming of a fourth installment to the series that began with the 2009 entry, and Quentin Tarantino and Noah Hawley’s ideas of stand-alone projects - have all proven unsuccessful. Abrams’ Bad Robot will produce Haynes’ feature. Deadline first reported the news.
Bridgerton’s Simone Ashley will star in the indie psychological thriller This Tempting Madness, which has just wrapped production. The feature directorial debut of Jennifer E. Montgomery, This Tempting Madness focuses on a woman (Ashley) attempting to uncover her past - in doing so, her perceptions of her actions and reality come into question. Inspired by a true story, the film is written by Montgomery with her husband Andrew M. Davis, who will also serve as the film’s cinematographer.
After rumors of his involvement in the film last year by Deadline, Steven Yeun has left Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts film due to scheduling conflicts and production delays due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. With Jake Schreier directing and Eric Pearson writing, the film is set to star returning Marvel Cinematic Universe actors Florence Pugh, David Harbour, Sebastian Stan, and Wyatt Russell. While the film’s plot is not well-known, the comics’ lore involves a group of villains undertaking government-sanctioned missions. Thunderbolts is scheduled for release in July 2025.
Being Mary Jane’s Stephen Bishop, Greenleaf’s LeToya Luckett and This is Us’s Iyana Halley led the film One Night Stay, a thriller for BET+. Additionally, first-look images for the feature were released. Directed by Rick S. Mordecon and written by Curtis Cardwell, One Night Stay follows a woman (Halley) who decides to stay and live in the mansion of a couple (Bishop and Luckett) unbeknownst to them, instead of leaving after a one-night stand. The feature was released on BET+ on January 4.
The science-fiction film The Mothership, which starred Halle Berry, has been scrapped by Netflix after post-production delays prevented the film from being finished. Despite the occurrence, Netflix and Berry are set to work together on The Union, an action film. TheInsneider was first to report the news.
After the casting of Marlon Wayans as a retiring sports star, Tyriq Withers has been cast as the young athlete in Goat. Withers has been seen in FX’s Atlanta, Netflix’s Senior Year, and Hulu’s Tell Me Lies, among other projects. In addition to Goat, upcoming projects for the actor include the Apple series Houston.
Joel Kim Booster - Bravo
Comedy/Dramedy/Musical: Searchlight Pictures has acquired Joel Kim Booster’s film Again Again Again. The film, which was acquired by the company before 2023’s WGA strike, follows a man, Gus, attempting to oversee his best friend’s wedding. With the arrival of Gus’ boyfriend, the future of the wedding and the two’s relationship hangs in the balance. The film marks the next collaboration between Booster and Searchlight after the company released the creative’s Fire Island on Hulu in 2022. Being written and produced by Booster, Again Again Again will also be produced by Lulu Wang and Daniele Tate Melia of Local Time and The Farewell.
A new stand-up special from Ramy Youssef is coming through HBO. The special, titled Ramy Youssef: More Feelings, will be taped at White Eagle Hall in Jersey City, New Jersey on February 2 and 3. The special will be released in March, debuting on HBO and streaming on Max. Youssef will write, perform and executive produce the special; in addition to A24, Youssef’s own production company, Cairo Cowboy, will produce. Cairo Cowboy has a first-look deal with Amazon.
Juliano Krue Valdi - imbd
Drama: Holy Spider’s Zar Amir and Top Boy’s Adwoa Aboah will star in the psychological drama film Satisfaction. The film, a narrative feature debut of director Alex Burunova, focuses on an act of revenge against a sexual partner being interrupted by the mysterious Elena (Amir). In addition to starring in the film, Amir will executive produce the feature. According to Burunova, Satisfaction will confront perceptions regarding gender and relationships, among other topics. The film has wrapped principal photography.
Jonathan Majors has been dropped from playing Dennis Rodman in the feature 48 Hours in Vegas following a guilty verdict regarding assault and harassment involving his ex-girlfriend Grace Jabbari. Additionally, Lionsgate has left the project. Set during the 1998 NBA finals, the film follows Rodman taking a trip to Las Vegas. Majors has also been dropped from his role as Kang the Conqueror by Marvel Studios. As Deadline understands, a different actor will portray Rodman in 48 Hours in Vegas if the film is shopped again. CNN first had the news. Furthermore, Majors’ Magazine Dreams has lost its distributor, Searchlight, with the company’s exit coming one week after Majors’ conviction. The Hollywood Reporter was first to report the news.
The North American rights to the queer genre-bending film Playland have been acquired by Juno Films. The debut feature from writer-director Georden West, Playland showcases an ensemble of queer performers (including Lady Bunny and Danielle Cooper) and focuses on the now-demolished oldest gay bar in Boston, the Playland Café. Having embarked on a festival run after a premiere in Rotterdam, the film is scheduled for a theatrical release in the spring and a digital release in June.
After its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, Laura Chinn’s coming-of-age drama film Suncoast will premiere on Hulu on February 9. From a script Chinn wrote that made it onto the 2020 Black List, her feature directorial debut follows a teenager (Nico Parker) forming a friendship with an activist (Woody Harrelson) amidst the backdrop of a landmark medical case. In addition to Parker and Harrelson, the film features Laura Linney, Matt Walsh, and Keyla Monterosso Mejia among its cast. The feature premiered at the festival on Jan. 21.
Nine-year-old Juliano Krue Valdi will play a young Michael Jackson in Lionsgate and UIP’s film Michael. The film, directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by John Logan, will focus on both the singer’s childhood and adult life; Valdi will portray Jackson as a part of the Jackson 5 when the band rises to fame. As an adult, Jackson will be played by the singer’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson. Michael is scheduled for a day and date release of April 18, 2025.
Colman Domingo will direct a film about Nat King Cole, in which he will also portray the singer. The film, which was co-written by Domingo, will mark the creative’s feature directorial debut. While an earlier project about the singer - the play “Lights Out: Nat ‘King’ Cole,” which Domingo co-wrote - focused on a 1957 Christmas special of “The Nat King Cole Show,” it is unclear what this film will focus on.
Domingo will also portray Michael Jackson’s father, Joe Jackson, in Michael. The news comes after Domingo’s numerous award nominations for his role as Bayard Rustin in Rustin; for his performance, Domingo has been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor, among other awards.
Kerry Washington - Anna Pocaro
Documentary: Kerry Washington executive produced the Sundance documentary Daughters. Directed by Angela Patton and Natalie Rae, Daughters follows four girls preparing for a “Daddy Daughter Dance” with their Washington, D.C.-incarcerated fathers as part of a special program. In addition to Washington, the documentary was executive produced by Joel Edgerton and Jessica Seinfeld, among others. Daughters premiered at Sundance on January 22.
George Clinton will be the subject of a documentary helmed by Alan Elliott, Christopher Harris, and Ishmael Reed. The documentary, Mommy, What’s a Funkadelic?, is, according to Deadline, “...a somewhat absurdist take on the history of Parliament-Funkadelic featuring never-before-granted access to his (Clinton’s) archive.” The doc will be written by Reed and directed by Elliott and Harris. The announcement comes as Amazon eyes Eddie Murphy to play the musician in a biopic and as Clinton prepares to receive a Hollywood Walk of Fame star.
Bruno Mourral - Neilson Barnard
Industry Update: Haitian filmmaker Bruno Mourral has signed with talent agency WME. The Muska Films co-founder, who previously created the mid-length feature Kafou, debuted his first feature, Kidnapping Inc., at the Sundance Film Festival. Kidnapping Inc. follows two kidnappers in Haiti who find themselves engulfed in a political conspiracy while trying to enact an abduction. According to Mourral, the film is intended to be a tribute to Haitians who have encountered violence and turmoil within their country. Kidnapping Inc. had its world premiere at the festival on January 22.
In celebration of its 30th anniversary, Turner Classic Movies has announced a multitude of events, podcasts, and tributes across the coming year. As part of the company’s 15th Classic Film Festival in April, the Robert Osborne Award will be given to Jeanine Basinger, while tributes will be given to Billy Dee Williams and Lois Burwell. Also in April, the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood will begin offering the “WB/TCM Classic Movie Tour.” New podcasts for the company include “The Plot Thickens” and “Talking Pictures: A Movie Memories Podcast.” Regarding programming, the company will be releasing “Two for One,” in which filmmakers will co-host double features. Amongst other industry professionals, Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, Paul Thomas Anderson, and Spike Lee will participate.
Dave A. Liu has joined Utopia as a strategic advisor to the company’s CEO and board of directors. With experience in film production, investment banking, and entrepreneurship, Utopia hopes that Liu can help strengthen the company’s business and improve its diversity and inclusion efforts, with a specific focus on projects from Asian and Pacific Islander filmmakers. Liu said, “I am honored to be part of Utopia and contribute to the company’s explosive growth and vision. Utopia’s commitment to independent film and its dedication to amplifying diverse voices resonate with me deeply. I look forward to working alongside Robert (Coppola Schwartzman), Cole (Harper), and the entire Utopia team to make a lasting impact on the independent film industry.”
Emmy-nominated producers Ron Ames and Jesse Kobayashi have been brought on as in-house filmmakers at DNEG. Most recently working on The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, the producers have over 50 years of combined industry experience and will work to improve the company’s services and offer its teams advice and solutions regarding filmmaking and technology.
Adobe and the Adobe Foundation are committing $6 million to start the Adobe Film & TV Fund, a fund designed to help up-and-coming underrepresented creators. The first program receiving support from the fund will be the NAACP Editing Fellowship, with nonprofits including Easterseals, Gold House, Latinx House, NAACP, Sundance Institute, and Yuvaa serving as the fund’s “inaugural cohort of guarantees,” according to The Hollywood Reporter. These organizations are not the first examples of support from Adobe; the company began the Sundance Ignite x Adobe Fellowship and the Sundance Women to Watch x Adobe Fellowship in 2015 and 2020, respectively, and has funded MFA acting program short films at USC and engaged in the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative’s Inclusion List there.
Jason Blum and James Wan’s companies (Blumhouse and Atomic Monster, respectively) are merging after announcing such plans over a year ago. The horror partnership recently released the horror film Night Swim, with Blum and Wan having also worked together on 2023’s M3GAN and the Insidious franchise. Ownership of the combination will be split between Blum, Wan, and Comcast, and the studios will retain their independence. According to Blum and Wan, however, it is hoped that the studios will collaborate more and possibly increase the amount of features released per year. The company combination has a first-look deal with Universal.
Talent agent Trey Cannon has joined agency WME. With previous work experience at CAA and Gersh, the agent, who has repped talent including Taraji P. Henson, Olivia Munn, and Laurence Fishburne, will work under WME’s talent department. During his time at Gersh, Cannon became the company’s youngest agent at 24.
Documentary editor and filmmaker Carla Gutiérrez has signed with Cinetic Media. Gutiérrez’s feature directorial debut, Frida, premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. As an editor, she has worked on RBG, Pray Away, La Corona, and Julia, which focuses on Julia Child. Cinetic Media will represent Gutiérrez across all media. Frida, which focuses on Frida Kahlo, will be released later this year by Amazon Studios.
Tessa Thompson’s production company, Viva Maude, has signed a first-look deal with Amazon MGM Studios. The actor is currently in production on Nia DaCosta’s Hedda for Amazon MGM’s Orion Pictures. Upcoming projects for Viva Maude include Max’s The Secret Lives of Church Ladies and HBO’s Luster.
Nicholas Pinnock has signed with Independent Artist Group. Having recently starred in Jeymes Samuel’s The Book of Clarence, upcoming projects for Pinnock include Steven Knight’s This Town, Robert Zemeckis’ Here, and Nia DaCosta’s Hedda. Pinnock also recently starred in Heavyweight, a boxing thriller from his production company Silver Milk Productions. Heavyweight recently wrapped filming.
Jon M. Chu and Electric Somewhere Co. have signed a first-look feature film deal at Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group. Some of Chu’s previous projects with the studio include Crazy Rich Asians and In the Heights. Upcoming projects from Chu and the studio include a feature focusing on Dr. Seuss’ Oh, the Places You’ll Go! for Warner Bros. Pictures Animation and a musical stage adaptation of Crazy Rich Asians with Warner Bros. Theater Ventures. With Universal, Chu is set to release a two-part feature adaptation of Wicked in 2024 and 2025.
Grandave Capital’s Broken English Productions is partnering with Women in Film to create an initiative focusing on supporting women filmmakers. Under the initiative, the companies will choose three first-time women filmmakers to produce original short films that will then be sent to film festivals and screened for the industry. The three finalists will each receive $30,000 to produce their shorts, as well as networking opportunities and mentorship.
A new feature from Ryan Coogler has sparked a bidding war between Warner Bros., Universal, and Sony. According to Deadline, the film is a period genre film and a star vehicle for Coogler-collaborator Michael B. Jordan, who has collaborated with the filmmaker on Fruitvale Station and in the worlds of Creed and Black Panther. A completed deal would allow Coogler to begin the film’s production this summer.
