Disney owned production companies

Disney CEO Bob Chapek has gotten a new long term contract as the the board meets this week. Directors voted unanimously to replace his current deal, which expires in Feb. of 2023, with a new three-year agreement starting July 1. “Disney was dealt a tough hand by the pandemic, yet with Bob at the helm, our businesses—from parks to streaming—not only weathered the storm, but emerged in a position of strength,” said Susan Arnold, Chairman of the Board. “In this important time of growth and transformation, the Board is committed to keeping Disney on the successful path it is on today, and Bob’s leadership is key to achieving that goal. Bob is the right leader at the right time for The Walt Disney Company, and the Board has full confidence in him and his leadership team,” the board said. Chapek has been having a rough ride and some wondered whether a longer term future for him atop the media giant was in the cards. Board chairman Susan Arnold came out in support of Chapek … [Read more...] about Disney’s CEO Bob Chapek Gets New Long-Term Contract

Former Walt Disney CEO Bob Iger is at work on a new book about decision-making in business, entertainment and politics, with a tentative 2024 publication date by Random House . Iger previously authored the 2019 New York Times bestseller T he Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company . This still unnamed tome draws a wider net, billed as “an essential new playbook on leading in times of crisis and disruption” as Iger discusses how Disney and other organizations faced an unprecedented health and economic crisis, a global reckoning over racial justice and rapidly changing technology. “Drawing on decades of experience managing crises and adapting to disruption, Iger shares insights into how leaders across the country and around the world rose to the challenge – or failed to do so – when it mattered most. Among other things, Iger will explore the importance of leading with empathy in a crisis, acting decisively and … [Read more...] about Former Disney CEO Bob Iger Penning Book On Leadership In Times Of Crisis; 2024 Publish Date Eyed

An expanded and reimagined cut of Baz Luhrmann ’s Australia is set to premiere on Disney streaming platforms as a six-part limited series. Titled Faraway Downs , the six-episode installment will be comprised of footage that was captured for the 2008 film, along with an expanded, serialized version of the story with a new ending and updated soundtrack. The limited series will be released exclusively as a Hulu Original in the U.S., a Star Original on Disney+ and on Star+ in international markets this winter. “I originally set out to take the notion of the sweeping Gone With the Wind style epic and turn it on its head,” said Luhrmann. “A way of using romance and epic drama to shine a light on the roles of First Nations people and the painful scar in Australian history of the ‘Stolen Generations.’ While Australia the film has its own life, there was another telling of this story; one with different layers, nuances and even alternative plot twists that an episodic format … [Read more...] about ‘Faraway Downs’: Baz Luhrmann Expands ‘Australia’ Film Into Limited Series

EXCLUSIVE : Cara Santana ( Vida ) has signed on to star alongside Marcia Gay Harden, Halston Sage, Andrew Richardson and Aidan Quinn in Annette Haywood-Carter’s indie comedy Daughter of the Bride (w/t) for MarVista Entertainment and Particular Crowd. The film currently in production centers on Diane (Harden) and Kate (Sage) — mother and daughter and inseparable friends, whose lives are turned upside down when mom announces her engagement to a mystery man (Quinn) that she’s been dating for only a few weeks. In a series of comical events, Kate must come to terms with letting her mother be happy with someone else while she navigates her own love life and career aspirations. Kate subconsciously tries to sabotage the wedding plans, despite officiating the ceremony, and unexpectedly meets a mystery man (Richardson) of her own that seems too good to be true. Karen Bloch Morse wrote the script. The film is being co-produced by MarVista and Particular Crowd, with … [Read more...] about Cara Santana Joins Annette Haywood-Carter’s Indie ‘Daughter Of The Bride’; Asif Akbar’s Spy Thriller ‘MR-9’ Adds James Moses Black

EXCLUSIVE : Greg Lauritano ( Big Gold Brick ) today announced the launch of his Brooklyn-based production company, Black Magic , at the same time offering details as to its upcoming slate. Lauritano is an indie producer who was behind Brian Petsos’ directorial debut, Big Gold Brick , starring Andy Garcia, Emory Cohen, Megan Fox, Lucy Hale and Oscar Isaac, which was released via Samuel Goldwyn Films and Arclight Films earlier this year. The producer’s new company is developing projects including stage and film adaptations of Englund’s book The Way It’s Never Been Done Before , in which he reminisces on his friendship with Marlon Brando. Black Magic has also optioned Kelly Gardiner’s Goddess —a gender-bending novel about a swashbuckling female opera singer and fencer in France, which is to be adapted into a limited series with Vera Bulder and Clara McGregor’s Deux Dames Entertainment. “After almost a decade in the industry, I am pleased to be launching my own … [Read more...] about ‘Big Gold Brick’ Producer Greg Lauritano Launches Black Magic Banner

TMZ.com One thing ya know about Wendy Williams , she doesn't tiptoe around anything ... which is why she told us -- as only Wendy could -- about her ongoing medical struggles, and starting her new career. Wendy joined us Tuesday on "TMZ Live" to tell us more about why she's turning her back on TV, for now, and instead, choosing to produce her own podcast -- and, for her, it comes down to time and money. Sounds like she's been doing some homework, because she told us ... "When you're famous, podcasts will make more money for me, being famous, than doing the Wendy Williams Show." She made it clear, she's "100 percent retired" from the grind of her daily TV show. Wendy's still in the planning stages when it comes to exactly what she's going to dig into during the podcast -- although, as we first reported, she has some celeb guests in mind already. But, the biggest revelation she dropped on us was about her battle with lymphedema. She had … [Read more...] about Wendy Williams Says She’s Winning Battle with Lymphedema, Ready for Podcast

EXCLUSIVE: Alessandro Nivola is set to co-star alongside André  Holland in Apple TV+’s The Big Cigar , a six-episode limited series that will chronicle the story of Black Panther leader Huey P. Newton’s escape to Cuba. The series will be showrun and executive produced by NAACP Image Award winner Janine Sherman Barrois, with Holland starring as Newton and Don Cheadle on board to direct and executive produce the first two episodes. The growing ensemble cast also includes Tiffany Boone. 2022 Apple TV+ Pilots & Series Orders With the first episode written and executive produced by Jim Hecht and based on the eponymous Playboy article from Joshuah Bearman, The Big Cigar tells the extraordinary, hilarious, almost-too-good-to-be-true story of how Newton relied on his best friend, Bert Schneider (Nivola), the Hollywood producer behind Easy Rider , to elude a nationwide manhunt and escape to Cuba while being pursued into exile by the FBI. The series hails from … [Read more...] about Alessandro Nivola To Co-Star With André Holland in The Apple Original Limited Series ‘The Big Cigar’

The creator of the critically acclaimed BBC natural history series Walking with Dinosaurs has landed a new eight-part docuseries at NBC . The broadcast network has ordered Surviving Earth that explores the bizarre and amazing creatures and breathtaking landscapes of a vibrant lost world. The series is a co-production between Loud Minds, the UK production company founded by Walking with Dinosaurs creator Tim Haines, and Universal Television Alternative Studio. It marks another interesting move in the world of high-end factual programming; the U.S. broadcast networks have generally shied away from big docuseries or natural history programming, leaving the genre to the likes of Discovery Channel and PBS, or more recently streamers such as Netflix and Apple. However, it comes after NBC ordered ten-part documentary series from the BBC Studios Natural History Unit, the division behind Planet Earth and Blue Planet. The, as-yet-untitled series, which will … [Read more...] about NBC Digs Up Dino Docuseries ‘Surviving Earth’ From ‘Walking With Dinosaurs’ Creator

EXCLUSIVE: Rain Management has hired Matt Rosen as a Talent Manager, effective immediately. Most recently, Rosen was a manager at Mazo Partners with David Clark where he signed and developed writers and filmmakers such as Kryzz Gautier, Chris Grillot, Brendan McHugh, Sarah Gambles and Crystal Bass. Last year, he had four writers on the 2021 Blacklist including scripts Wheels Come Off and Whittier. Prior to Mazo Partners, Rosen served as development exec at the independent production company Armory Films where he worked on multiple projects, including the critically acclaimed The Peanut Butter Falcon. Before that, he worked for film producer Andrew Panay at Panay Films. Rosen began his career at UTA. Said Rosen, “I am so excited to bring my clients and join the great team at Rain. As a premiere company specializing in film and tv writers and directors, they are the perfect platform for me and my artists to grow”. “Matt has a voracious appetite for film and … [Read more...] about Matt Rosen Joins Rain As Talent Manager

Taylor Sheridan is taking on showrunning duties on his Paramount+ series Lioness , Deadline has confirmed. He’s taking over for Thomas Brady ( NOS4A2, Colony ), who was present throughout the show’s writers room, but the room is now up, and Sheridan, who created the series, will now serve as showrunner, we hear. Based on a real-life CIA program, Lioness follows a young Marine recruited to befriend the daughter of a terrorist to bring the organization down from within. Zoe Saldaña stars as Joe, a strong-willed, hard-nosed station chief of the CIA’s Lioness Program who is tasked with training, managing and leading her female undercover operatives working to assassinate the world’s most dangerous terrorists. Laysla De Oliveira also stars. Lioness is produced by Paramount Network and 101 Studios. It will be exec produced by Sheridan, David C. Glasser, Ron Burkle, Bob Yari and David Hutkin, alongside Nicole Kidman via her production company Blossom Films, Saldaña, … [Read more...] about Taylor Sheridan Taking Over As Showrunner On His Paramount+ Series ‘Lioness’