Motion Picture: Quentin Lee To Produce RomCom 'Love Bait', Nia Long Signed With Artists First
Rene-Jean Pafe - Daniele Venturelli
Action/Horror/Fantasy/Sci-Fi: Former NFL star Vernon Davis, Malcolm Goodwin, David Anders, Olivia Grace Applegate, Andrea Sixtos, and Tommy Wiseau are set to star in Lake Vernon, a psychological horror film directed by Aaron Jay Rome. The story, co-written by Davis and Tiffany Toney, follows a fractured group of friends whose weekend retreat turns sinister as the mysterious lake seems to grant miracles at an unknown cost. Davis is producing under his Real 85 Productions banner, with Oscar-winning Rocky editor Scott Conrad handling post-production. Lake Vernon is currently filming in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
The Walking Dead star Seth Gilliam, is set to star in Stakeout, a paranormal crime thriller, and is being adapted into a feature film after its success as a short. Directed by Micah Khan, the movie follows two detectives tracking a brutal serial killer in a world secretly plagued by a vampire epidemic. The film also stars Emmy-nominee Sonja O’Hara. The film is produced by Khan, Natalie Stavola, and others, with Khan aiming to shoot this year. The project marks the beginning of a series set in a crime-ridden world. Khan hopes to explore new stories within familiar genres, blending supernatural elements with real-world issues.
Regé-Jean Page is set to star and produce a new adaptation of The Count of Monte Cristo through Department M, an independent production studio led by Mike Larocca and Michael Schaefer. Page will make the screenplay alongside his partner, Emily Brown, and Patrick Ness will write the script. The classic novel by Alexandre Dumas follows a young sailor who seeks revenge after being wrongfully imprisoned. This project adds to Page's growing slate of high-profile roles following his success in Bridgerton, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, and The Gray Man.
Christine Ko - Rodin Eckenroth/Stringer
Comedy/Dramady/Musical: Lynn Chen, Vivica A. Fox, and Dwayne Perkins have joined Romell Foster-Owens' sophomore feature Love Bait, produced by Quentin Lee of Margin Films. The romantic comedy follows a young Asian American woman (Chen) who hires a “bad boyfriend” (Perkins) to make her real partner seem ideal, only to develop unexpected feelings for the imposter. Fox, also an executive producer, plays the mother of Perkins’ character. Love Bait, co-written by Perkins and Koji Steven Sakai, begins production this fall. Lee also presented his TV series Morning, Paris! At Series Mania, spotlighting diverse storytelling.
Raine Allen-Miller, the British filmmaker behind the acclaimed 2023 debut Rye Lane, is set to direct her sophomore film, The Roots Manœuvre. Shifting from rom-com to heist comedy, the film follows a young woman who pulls off a daring heist while managing a luxury wedding. Backed by Amazon MGM Studios’ Orion Pictures, the project will get a theatrical release, with producers including Plan B’s Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, and Damian Jones of DJ Films. BBC Film, which supported Rye Lane, is also on board. Rye Lane debuted at Sundance, earned critical praise, and secured multiple BAFTA and BIFA nominations.
Christine Ko is set to star in the thriller-comedy Drag; production is led by Jersey Films 2nd Avenue, led by Danny DeVito, Lucy DeVito, and Jake DeVito.The film also stars Lizzy Caplan, Lucy DeVito, and John Stamos, with Raviv Ullman and Greg Yagolnitzer making their directorial debuts. The story follows two amateur burglars whose routine robbery turns into a nightmare when one injures themselves, leading to chaos as they try to escape before the homeowner returns. Produced by the DeVito family’s company, Drag marks their first film since their projects Little Demon and Game 7.
Sam Morelos - SXSW Conference & Festivals
Drama: Ethan Samuel Costanilla and Sam Morelos have joined the cast of Regretting You, Paramount Pictures’ adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel. Costanilla is known for his role in Oh. What. Fun and Morelos, who starred in That ‘90s Show and Summer of 69, will play pivotal roles alongside Allison Williams, Dave Franco, and Mckenna Grace. The film, directed by Josh Boone, explores the aftermath of a tragic car accident that unravels deep family secrets and emotional turmoil. With the film set to hit theaters on October 24, Costanilla and Morelos' performances are expected to stand out in this emotional drama.
Filmmaker Joshua Coates secured the rights to Abraham Bolden’s life story for the film The Unseen Shield. Bolden, the first Black U.S. Secret Service agent assigned to the White House, played a pivotal role in thwarting an assassination attempt on President John F. Kennedy. Coates, who has written the screenplay and will direct, is currently in pre-production with his producing partner Fetteroff Colen. The film will highlight Bolden’s unjust conviction and subsequent pardon by President Joe Biden in 2022, shedding light on the efforts to silence him and his role in U.S. history.
Lena Waithe has joined the cast of Kornél Mundruczó's drama Place to Be alongside Ellen Burstyn, Taika Waititi, Pamela Anderson, and Edgar Ramirez. The film, written by Kata Wéber, follows the unlikely friendship between Brooke (Burstyn) and Nelson (Waititi) as they embark on a journey to return a lost racing pigeon. Waithe plays Shy, who assists Brooke on her quest. The film is produced by Jomon Thomas, Megan Wynn, and Alexander Rodnyansky, and production is underway in Sydney. Waithe is known for her work on Master of None, The Chi, and Queen & Slim.
Raymond Tambe - Variety
Industry Update: Higher Ground, the production company founded by former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, has promoted Ethan Lewis to Head of Non-Fiction Sports. Lewis will oversee the development and production of sports-related documentaries and series, aiming to expand the company's footprint in the sports entertainment industry. This move reflects Higher Ground's commitment to diversifying its content portfolio and engaging audiences with compelling sports narratives.
Christine Lemchi has been promoted to senior VP of digital and national PR at Fons PR as the agency celebrates its 15th anniversary. Having started as an intern and spent a decade at the company, Lemchi has led digital and national campaigns for major clients like A24, Amazon MGM Studios, and IFC. She has played a key role in launching independent films at festivals such as SXSW, Tribeca, and Fantastic Fest and helped organize 30 red carpets and photo calls this year alone. In her new role, Lemchi will continue overseeing Fons PR’s teams and working on business affairs with the agency’s founders.
Jonathan Majors, once Hollywood’s fastest-rising star, saw his career collapse after a domestic violence conviction. Marvel dropped him, and multiple film projects fell apart. His film Magazine Dreams, shelved after Sundance 2023, is finally being released by Briarcliff Entertainment. Majors maintains his innocence but acknowledges personal growth since his trial. He now speaks of "rebirth," reflecting on masculinity, loneliness, and redemption. While some audiences remain skeptical, Majors is focused on reconnecting through family, faith, and his craft. However, newly surfaced audio from Rolling Stone casts further doubt on his public narrative, complicating his comeback attempt.
The upcoming "Community" film has secured a $3.3 million tax credit from the California Film Commission, facilitating its production in the state. This financial incentive is part of a broader effort to attract film productions back to California, with Governor Gavin Newsom proposing an increase in the state's annual film and television production tax credit to $750 million. The "Community" film, penned by creator Dan Harmon, aims to reunite the original NBC series cast to fulfill the show's "six seasons and a movie" promise. While a production start date hasn't been set, Harmon has diligently worked on the screenplay.
SZA, after making her film debut alongside Keke Palmer in One of Them Days, revealed on The Jennifer Hudson Show that she dreams of playing Storm, the iconic mutant from X-Men. The artist admired the character’s origin story and power, stating, “I love to bring the range.” SZA, who grew up loving both Marvel and DC comics, shared her connection to Storm’s African roots and her ability to control the weather. She also mentioned her dad’s comic collection, which includes early Thor and Silver Surfer editions, though she acknowledged that the latter character is male. Storm was first portrayed by Halle Berry in the X-Men films and later by Alexandra Shipp.
Nia Long has signed with Artists First for representation. She will next portray Katherine Jackson in the upcoming Michael Jackson biopic Michael, directed by Antoine Fuqua. Long's recent roles include starring in You People alongside Eddie Murphy and reprising her role in The Best Man: The Final Chapters, which earned her a 2023 NAACP Image Award. Long also appeared in Missing and The Banker, among other notable projects. A four-time NAACP Image Award winner, Long is set to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and recently released a memoir.
Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole (JSSK) has named Raymond Tambe to its partnership group alongside Tiffany Graddick and Stephanie Myer. Tambe, who represents clients like Josh O'Connor, Riz Ahmed, Noah Oppenheim, and Sarah Bremner, is also active in supporting JSSK's philanthropic efforts, particularly with Adam McKay’s nonprofit Yellow Dot, focused on climate change awareness. Before joining JSSK, Tambe worked as an entertainment attorney at Ziffren Brittenham. His promotion is part of JSSK’s acknowledgment of its new partners' significant contributions and legal expertise.
Wavelength has announced the 2025 recipients of its WAVE Grant, awarding $5,000 each to Pratima Mani, Shanice Brette, Ana Chavez, Erika Yang, and Lauryn Darden & Ragan Henderson. The grant supports first-time filmmakers of color, providing mentorship in production, development, and post-production. Mani is a writer and performer. Brette focuses on Afro-Caribbean immigrant stories, Chavez explores identity and sexuality, Yang tells small, impactful life stories, and Darden & Henderson craft narratives highlighting marginalized voices. Now in its fifth year, the WAVE Grant has already distributed nearly $100,000 in funding, supporting 19 short films.
Lina Esco, best known for her role as Officer Christina Alonso in S.W.A.T., has signed with Buchwald for representation in all areas. Esco will next be seen in Joe Carnahan’s upcoming Netflix film RIP, starring alongside Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. In RIP, Esco portrays Captain Jackie Velez, a Miami cop caught in a web of distrust after millions in cash are discovered. Esco's past work includes television roles in Cane, LOL, and Flaked and starring in Free the Nipple, a film she wrote, directed, and starred in, sparking discussions on gender equality. She is also focused on expanding her career behind the camera.
