Books to encourage speech development

EXCLUSIVE : Amazon Studios has secured rights to Aaron Foley ’s debut novel Boys Come First , with plans to develop the property for television, tapping Chuck Hayward ( Ted Lasso ) to pen the pilot and exec produce the series. Field Trip will produce the show, developed under their overall deal with Amazon Studios , with the company’s co-founders Will Graham and Hailey Wierengo also set to exec produce alongside their VP of Development, Stephanie Dietz. And Deadline understands that Hayward is also in discussions to serve as showrunner. Boys Come First tells the humorously heartfelt story of three gay millennial Black men looking for love, navigating friendships and pursuing professional success against the rapidly evolving backdrop of contemporary Detroit. The Cleveland-based Belt Publishing published the novel in May of last year. A 2x Emmy and WGA Award nom perhaps best known as a co-executive producer on Apple TV+’s international smash hit Ted … [Read more...] about Amazon Developing ‘Boys Come First’ Series Based On Aaron Foley’s Debut Novel; Chuck Hayward To Pen The Pilot, Serve As EP

EXCLUSIVE: Actor Laurence Fishburne will present a workshop of his new solo stage show Like They Do In The Movies this July as part of the New York Stage and Film Summer Season at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York. Directed by Leonard Foglia ( Thurgood , starring Fishburne), Like They Do In The Movies , written and performed by Fishburne, will makes its world premiere with a NYSAF staging on July 28 and 29. The Matrix Trilogy star Fishburne describes the solo show as “the stories and lies people have told me. And that I have told myself.” Fishburne won a Tony Award in 1992 for his portrayal of Sterling Johnson in the Broadway production of August Wilson’s Two Trains Running . The 38-year-old NYSAF is considered to be among the preeminent theater incubators in the country. Among the theater works with developmental roots there are Hamilton, Hadestown, Side Man, The Humans, American Idiot, Doubt and Taylor Mac’s A 24-Decade History of Popular … [Read more...] about Laurence Fishburne Developing New Solo Play ‘Like They Do In The Movies’ With Summer Workshop

Netflix yesterday gave The Night Agent a quick Season 2 pickup only six days after the action-thriller from creator Shawn Ryan and Sony Pictures TV launched with the third-best premiere week of viewing for a new series — only behind Wednesday and Dahmer — putting the series starring Gabriel Basso on track to potentially land in the Top 5 of Netflix’s all-time most popular series. “I’m still getting my head around it,” Ryan, creator of The Shield and showrunner of S.W.A.T. , said. “I’ve had a long career and certainly some success stories, but nothing quite like this in terms of intense, immediate fan reaction. Almost doesn’t feel real.” The renewal comes exactly two years after The Night Agent , inspired by Matthew Quirk’s novel, was pitched to the streamer, which initially was not very impressed. A few things from that original pitch changed before the series reached the air, mainly, taking out the Secret Service storyline from the pilot script and delaying … [Read more...] about ‘The Night Agent’: How Thriller Almost Didn’t End Up At Netflix & Underwent Story Tweaks Before Becoming Streamer’s Next Big Hit

EXCLUSIVE : In a highly competitive situation, Picturestart has acquired the rights to Carrie Soto Is Back , the 2022 novel by Daisy Jones & The Six author Taylor Jenkins Reid . Carrie Soto is a top tennis player whose determination to win at all costs has left her not winning any popularity contests. By the time she hangs up her racquet and retires, she is regarded as the best player the world has ever seen. Six years later, her world record might be taken from her by a brutal, stunning player named Nicki Chan. So at the tennis-ancient age of 37, Carrie makes the monumental decision to come out of retirement and be coached by her father for one last year, during which she hopes to reclaim her record. Tagging along to add to the complications in her life is her on-again, off-again boyfriend. The novel was published in August by Ballantine Books and debuted atop the The New York Times bestseller list. It won the 2022 Goodreads Choice Award for Historical Fiction. … [Read more...] about Picturestart Wins Tennis Tale ‘Carrie Soto Is Back’ By ‘Daisy Jones & The Six’ Author Taylor Jenkins Reid

Amazon Studios has signed an exclusive first-look deal with former Marvel Editor-In-Chief Joe Quesada . Under the deal, Quesada will be developing series and films for Prime Video, focusing on adapting existing and new comic book IP. “I can’t begin to express just how thrilled I am to be joining the Amazon Studios family. From the moment Nick Pepper, Matt King, and the team approached me, it was clear we spoke the same language and shared the same creative goals. What was also clear is that they’re creating a collaborative environment and unique methodology that I’m surprised no one has yet thought to implement, but I’m certain will be quickly imitated,” said Quesada in a statement. Quesada worked at Marvel Comics for 24 years. During his tenure as EIC, he helped produce many of the company’s most popular storylines before they were adapted for the big screen—including Civil War , Age of Ultron , and Guardians of the Galaxy . Quesada, the bilingual son of … [Read more...] about Amazon Studios Signs Marvel’s Former EIC Joe Quesada To Exclusive First-Look Deal

ABC News underwent a round of staff reductions on Thursday, with about 50 positions impacted as part of parent Walt Disney Co.’s companywide cuts. ABC News President Kim Godwin also announced a realignment of her leadership team, with Katie den Daas serving as vice president of newsgathering, overseeing the domestic and international teams, as well as NewsOne; Derek Medina, executive vice president, will oversee an expanded business and operations team; and Stacia Deshishku, executive editor and senior vice president of news, who will oversee the investigative and enterprise reporting units, as well as linear shows and special events. According to a network source, among the employees who were impacted by the layoffs were Wendy Fisher, senior vice president, newsgathering; Galen Gordon, senior VP of talent strategy and development; Mary Noonan, vice president of talent strategy and development; Alison Rudnick, vice president of corporate communications, Chris Vlasto, … [Read more...] about ABC News Undergoes Round Of Layoffs And Realignment Of Leadership Team

Paramount+ has given a green light to a new chapter in the Star Trek universe. The streamer has handed a series order to Star Trek: Starfleet Academy , a project that we exclusively reported had been in development since last year, from Alex Kurtzman ’s Secret Hideout, Roddenberry Entertainment and CBS Studios. The series will follow the adventures of a new class of Starfleet cadets as they come of age in one of the most legendary places in the galaxy. Produced by CBS Studios, the series will begin production in 2024. Star Trek: Starfleet Academy will introduce us to a young group of cadets who come together to pursue a common dream of hope and optimism. Under the watchful and demanding eyes of their instructors, they will discover what it takes to become Starfleet officers as they navigate blossoming friendships, explosive rivalries, first loves and a new enemy that threatens both the Academy and the Federation itself. RELATED: 2023 Paramount+ Pilots & … [Read more...] about ‘Star Trek: Starfleet Academy’ Gets Series Greenlight At Paramount+