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EXCLUSIVE : Howard Swartz , who has overseen hundreds of hours of Shark Week programming, is exiting Warner Bros Discovery to take up a new role at Banijay Americas -owned Stephen David Entertainment . Swartz, who was SVP of Documentaries and Specials for WBD’s Factual Networks and Streaming, becomes EVP Development at the company known for series including Men Who Built America and American Playboy. He will oversee development of SDE’s documentary, nonfiction series and specials and report to founder and CEO Stephen David. In addition to Shark Week, Swartz also worked on WBD’s natural history slate including Serengeti as well as the Donald Trump documentary Unprecedented, Viagra: The Little Blue Pill That Changed the World , and anthology strand Undiscovered . Prior to his latest stint at Discovery, Swartz was EVP Production and Development at British production company Arrow Media. Before that he was VP Production and Development at Discovery … [Read more...] about Shark Week Chief Howard Swartz Leaves Warner Bros Discovery To Join Stephen David Entertainment

Smash is finally heading to Broadway . In an announcement long awaited by fans of the 2012 NBC series, a stage musical adaptation is planned to arrive on Broadway during the 2024-25 season, with a lead producing team of Robert Greenblatt, Neil Meron and Steven Spielberg . A top flight creative team is attached, including director Susan Stroman, composers Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman , book writers Rick Elice and Bob Martin, and the TV series’ choreographer Joshua Bergasse. Spielberg, whose original idea led to the NBC series, said in a statement, “ Smash is near and dear to my heart, and it was always my hope that a musical inspired by the show would eventually come to the stage. We now have an incredible creative team, and I’m looking forward to completing the Smash journey which began with my producing partners over ten years ago.” In addition to new music, the stage version will include many of the Shaiman-Wittman songs from the TV series, including the … [Read more...] about ‘Smash’ Musical Heading To Broadway With Steven Spielberg, Neil Meron & Robert Greenblatt Producing

EXCLUSIVE : Smithsonian Channel has landed itself a top gun. Jay Ellis , who plays Lieutenant Reuben Fitch in the Tom Cruise hit Top Gun: Maverick , has signed on to host the second season of the Paramount Global-owned network’s unscripted series How Did They Build That? The ten-part series explores some of the most incredible feats of engineering from around the world. It will be fronted by Ellis, who also starred in HBO’s Insecure . The move marks a step up for the docuseries, which did not have a host in its first season. Season two will continue to cover architectural wonders from all over the world but will have an emphasis on American stories and deconstruct some of the United States’ most amazing structures, including Hearst Tower, Little Island, National Museum of African American History and Culture, Denver Art Museum, Evergreen Point 520 Floating Bridge International stories include La Tete Carree (France) the Guggenheim (Spain) and The … [Read more...] about ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ Star Jay Ellis To Host Smithsonian Channel’s ‘How Did They Build That?’

EXCLUSIVE : Lion Forge Animation, the company behind the Oscar-winning Hair Love , has been rebranded as Lion Forge Entertainment as it is expanding its slate to include live-action in addition to animation. It has named veteran family entertainment executive Stephanie Sperber its President and chief Content Officer. Sperber is joining Lion Forge after recently leaving Imagine , where she was president of Imagine Kids+Family, a division she helped launch. She will report to CEO David Steward II, who founded Lion Forge Animation in 2019, and COO Edward Hamati. “Stephanie’s unparalleled experience, creative instincts, industry relationships, business acumen and work ethos will be a driving force for Lion Forge and pave the way for us to enter exciting new frontiers,” Steward said. “The Lion Forge brand has stood for diversity and representation in animation for the past four years, and I’m thrilled to take that brand and that mission into the live action series and feature … [Read more...] about Stephanie Sperber Named President & CCO Of Lion Forge As Animation Company Expands Into Live-Action

EXCLUSIVE : Aditya Sood has been promoted to President of Lord Miller — the production company of Academy Award-winning filmmakers Phil Lord and Chris Miller ( Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse ) — with Dan Shear joining as EVP and head of Television. These strategic moves are described as a natural evolution for Lord Miller, which has continued to expand in both film and television over the past several years — recently seeing Universal release their Elizabeth Banks -directed comedy Cocaine Bear , with four other projects coming up for release this year. Regarded as having a strong eye for standout original material, Sood has been with Lord Miller as President of Film since 2019, and will now expand his oversight to include all aspects of the company including television, adding to his existing responsibilities for overseeing their film efforts. Shear comes to Lord Miller from Peacock , where he served as EVP of Comedy Development, and will now be … [Read more...] about Lord Miller Ups Aditya Sood To President, Names Dan Shear EVP Of TV

A wily old pro teams up with one of the most exciting young actresses of the day in the emotionally loaded drama A Good Person . Zach Braff ’s third feature excels at taking the measure of how people cope with personal tragedy and does so in a vital and engaging way that’s far more invigorating than depressing. Braff essentially makes one feature film every 10 years ( Garden State and Wish I Was Here came before), and while he otherwise busies himself with music, television and other pursuits, his talent is such that you’d like to see him wade more frequently and deeper into film work than he so far has. This may be melodrama, but it’s melodrama of a pretty high order, one that benefits from a first-rate cast led by Florence Pugh and Morgan Freeman , and shifts tones and moods that startle with their bluntness and honesty; that raucous laughs emerge from such an upsetting story is a testament to the filmmaker’s daring and dexterity. The film wrestles bravely … [Read more...] about ‘A Good Person’ Review: Florence Pugh In Zach Braff’s Blunt And Honest Drama

Extremely devastating news: MGM and United Artists Releasing distribution boss Erik Lomis died suddenly Wednesday at his home in Santa Monica, we have learned from sources. No details were provided in regards to his death. He was 64. Lomis was a towering figure behind many filmmakers’ hits including those from Quentin Tarantino, Paul Thomas Anderson, Adam McKay, Sylvester Stallone, Ryan Coogler, David O. Russell, Lee Daniels and Tom Hooper to name a few, and most recently Michael B. Jordan with Creed III . In the wake of Amazon’s purchase of MGM, Lomis, who made the jump, becoming an entrusted consigliere to Amazon Studios head Jennifer Salke as the streamer looks to capitalize on more big-screen hits. Lomis gave Amazon a big taste of the box office with its first theatrical hit Creed III, which opened to more than $100 million worldwide and is currently grossing to $225M-plus at the global box office. It was Lomis’ bold decision to move Creed III out of … [Read more...] about Erik Lomis Dies: Veteran MGM Distribution Chief Was 64

EXCLUSIVE: Adventure Media , the artist-driven management and production company launched last summer by ICM Partners veterans Chris von Goetz and James Robins Early and producer Aaliyah Williams, has made its first manager hire. Matt Klasco is joining the company, reuniting with former ICM colleagues von Goetz and Robins Early. Klasco began his career in 2016 in the ICM mailroom, working his way to the Agent Trainee program, before transitioning into management as a Literary Coordinator at Odenkirk Provissiero Entertainment. For the past three years, he ran his own boutique literary management and production company, Klasco Entertainment. In joining Adventure Media, Klasco brings his roster of clients, including Dan Brier ( Sweethearts, Heathers ), Shawn Parikh ( Night Court , Just for Laughs), and Sam Blakesberg ( The Long Shot ). Additionally, he serves as a producer on multiple projects in development. ‘On behalf of Aaliyah, James, and myself, we are … [Read more...] about Matt Klasco Joins Adventure Media As Manager

EXCLUSIVE: 1091 Pictures has acquired the U.S. rights to the new romantic drama Under My Skin . The film marks the feature debut of Australian writer-director David O’Donnell and is produced by Raynen O’Keefe and Alex Russell. 1091 Pictures is planning a June 6 on-demand release. The story follows Denny, a free spirit and artist who falls for Ryan, a strait-laced lawyer. When Denny questions gender, their love is tested. The lead character, Denny, is played by four different actors who identify as non-binary, or trans non-binary: Liv Hewson, Bobbi Salvör Menuez, Kylo Freeman and Lex Ryan. Producer Alex Russell and Alexis Denisof also star. “ Under My Skin follows four wonderfully gender diverse humans, all rolled into one – they inhabit the same role,” said O’Keefe, who also identifies as trans non-binary. “Where it is still an uphill battle and obstacle to argue for the sake of actors to be able to play characters who, at least in part, represent them, casting … [Read more...] about 1091 Pictures Acquires Romantic Drama ‘Under My Skin’, Sets Release Date

EXCLUSIVE : Paramount Pictures ‘ new Mean Girls film, based on the Tony-nominated Broadway show and the classic film comedy that inspired it, has found its Kevin G. in up-and-comer Mahi Alam ( American Born Chinese ), with veteran comedic actor Connor Ratliff ( Search Party ) also coming on for a role. Alam’s character Kevin, portrayed in the original movie by Rajiv Surendra, is the Mathlete friend of protagonist Cady, who harbors a crush on her new friend Janis at North Shore High. Ratliff will play teacher Mr. Rapp. The pair join an ensemble that also includes Angourie Rice, Reneé Rapp, Auli’i Cravalho, Jaquel Spivey, Tina Fey, Tim Meadows, Jenna Fischer, Busy Philipps, Avantika, Christopher Briney, Ashley Park and Bebe Wood, as previously announced. The 2004 Mean Girls film, adapted by Fey from the Rosalind Wiseman book Queen Bees and Wannabes , follows high school new girl Cady (Lindsay Lohan) in her attempt to fit in with A-list girl clique, The … [Read more...] about ‘Mean Girls’ Movie Musical From Paramount Finds Its Kevin G. In Mahi Alam; Connor Ratliff Also Set