Searchlight

After snapping up the critically acclaimed Jonathan Majors movie Magazine Dreams out of Sundance, Searchlight has set a Dec. 8 theatrical release for the Elijah Bynum directed title; a date that’s right in line with the classics’ label previous awards season launches. Searchlight beat out Neon, Sony Pictures Classics and HBO for this fierce drama in which Majors portrays a disturbed amateur bodybuilder. The pic, which Bynum also scripted, follows Killian Maddox (Majors), who struggles to find human connection in this exploration of celebrity and violence. Nothing deters him from his fiercely protected dream of superstardom in the bodybuilding world, not even the doctors who warn him of the permanent damage he causes to himself with his quest. Taylour Paige and Haley Bennett also star in the movie along with Mike O’Hearn, Harrison Page and Harriet Sansom Harris. Jennifer Fox, Dan Gilroy, Jeffrey Soros and Simon Horsman produced. EPs are Majors, under his production banner … [Read more...] about Searchlight Sets December Release For Jonathan Majors Sundance Title ‘Magazine Dreams’

EXCLUSIVE: Following the end of her Saturday Night Live tenure, Kate McKinnon continues to build out that feature slate and sources tell Deadline the Emmy-winner is now set to star in Searchlight’s In The Blink of An Eye . Oscar-winner Andrew Stanton is directing with Colby Day penning the script. Jared Ian Goldman is producing with Day exec producing. The film follows three storylines, spanning thousands of years, intersect and reflect on hope, connection and the circle of life. SVP f Production Taylor Friedman and Creative Executive Apolline Berty are overseeing for Searchlight Pictures, reporting to Heads of Production and Development Katie Goodson-Thomas and DanTram Nguyen. McKinnon is coming off one of the more historic runs on Saturday Night Live, which recently ended at the end of last season but not before she took home multiple Emmy’s for her scene-stealing work. Since then she has gotten busy on the film front starting with the highly-anticipated … [Read more...] about Kate McKinnon To Star In Searchlight And Andrew Stanton’s ‘In The Blink Of An Eye’

EXCLUSIVE: Following the movie’s world premiere at SXSW , Searchlight Pictures’ Eva Longoria feature directorial debut, Flamin’ Hot , will stream on both Hulu and Disney + on June 9. It’s the first time that a new movie has been made available on both of the Disney-owned OTT services stateside. The pic will stream on Disney+ overseas. The pic is based on the true story of Richard Montañez (Jesse Garcia), a Frito-Lay janitor who disrupted the food industry by channeling his Mexican-American heritage to turn Flamin’ Hot Cheetos from a snack into an iconic global pop culture phenomenon. “I’m so excited for the world to see Flamin’ Hot on these two streaming platforms making this universal, inspirational story accessible to an even wider audience,” director Longoria said. “Now everyone can celebrate the joy, power and heart of this film that also happens to uplift Latinos both in front of and behind the camera.” Added Searchlight Presidents David Greenbaum … [Read more...] about Eva Longoria’s ‘Flamin’ Hot’ Is First Feature To Hit Both Hulu & Disney+ In Streaming Debut

CBS talent relations executive Ian Metrose is leaving at the end of March, the company has confirmed. “Ian decided to leave CBS at the end of his contract this month,” said a company statement. “We thank him for his 20 years leading network and studio events and wish him much success in his next role.” Metrose exits as a SVP, Talent Relations & Special Events, CBS Communications , reporting to Chris Ender, EVP Communications, CBS Corp. Metrose joined CBS in December 2003 as Director of Talent Relations & Special Events. Prior to CBS, he was Director of Special Events & Promotions at Fox Searchlight. … [Read more...] about Ian Metrose Exiting CBS Communications Role After 20-Year Stint

The Eva Longoria-directed Flamin’ Hot , Imran J. Khan’s Mustache and the upcoming ESPN bio-doc about NBA icon Bill Walton were among the audience award winners revealed Monday for the 31st SXSW Film & TV Festival. Flamin’ Hot , which stars Jesse Garcia in the sometimes true tale of the man behind the “flamin’ hot”-branded chip revolution, was named the Audience Award winner in the festival’s Headliners section. The pic, from Searchlight Pictures, will debut June 9 on both Hulu and Disney+ . Mustache , written and directed by Khan, won the Narrative Feature Competition honor, and Julio Quintana’s The Long Game won for Narrative Spotlight. The Documentary Feature Competition winner was Dan Covert’s Geoff McFetridge: Drawing a Life , while Documentary Spotlight honors went to Olivia Kuan’s The Herricanes . RELATED: ‘Flamin’ Hot’ Review: Eva Longoria’s Directorial Debut Is An Inspiring Latino Rags-To-Riches Story – SXSW The fest’s Midnighters … [Read more...] about ‘Flamin’ Hot’, ‘Mustache’, ‘The Luckiest Guy In The World’ Among SXSW Audience Award Winners

Sunday AM Update/writethru: Following Saturday 7:28AM post, with final : Warner Bros./Legendary’s Pokémon Detective Pikachu is coming in ahead of its $50M-$55M domestic tracking with a $58M No. 2 opening being called by the studio. They excelled with the first Pokemon movie back in 1999 with a $31M launch, and they’ve done even better with this updated live-action hybrid comedy close to 20 years later. It’s a great comeback for Legendary on the Burbank lot after its five-year deal at Universal. When Detective Pikachu jumped to Warner Bros. last July , it was a sign that Legendary, which was behind such Warner Bros. successes as the Dark Knight and Godzilla franchises, was coming back. Smart dating here on behalf of Warner Bros.: They waited for Disney/Marvel’s Avengers: Endgame to calm down, going two weekends after the summer juggernaut, which, as of this morning, continued to top the box office with its third No. 1 in a row, an estimated $63.1M . … [Read more...] about ‘Pokemon Detective Pikachu’ Grabs $58M In ‘Endgame’ Dominated Universe; Marvel Pic 3rd Highest Domestic With $723M+ – Sunday Update

EXCLUSIVE : Actor-filmmaker Zach Braff has signed with Range Media Partners ahead of the MGM theatrical release of his newest directorial effort A Good Person , starring Florence Pugh and Morgan Freeman. The film hitting screens this Friday, March 24th, which Braff also wrote and produced, tells the story of Allison (Pugh), whose life falls apart after her involvement in a fatal accident. In the following years, it is the unlikely relationship she forms with her would-be father-in-law (Freeman) that helps her inevitably live a life worth living. Braff landed Emmy and DGA Award nominations for his directing on Ted Lasso Season 1 and also recently reteamed with that series’ co-creator Bill Lawrence as a director on his Apple series Shrinking , with Jason Segel and Harrison Ford, which has been renewed for a second season . He kicked off his career behind the camera with 2004’s Garden State — a drama that had him starring opposite Natalie Portman which … [Read more...] about ‘A Good Person’ Filmmaker Zach Braff Inks With Range Media Partners

Could Hercule Poirot be headed to this year’s Venice Film Festival ? We hear there’s a chance that 20th Century and Ken Branagh’s A Haunting In Venice could get a fairytale launch on the Lido. Nothing is set but the prospect has been discussed and we understand the film is likely to be submitted to the festival for consideration once it is complete in coming months. The movie currently has a September 14 release date, which would seemingly fit well with a Venice debut given the festival runs August 30 – September 9. The film’s backdrop would also make it a fun choice. Set in an eerie, post-World War II Venice on All Hallows’ Eve, the murder mystery opens with celebrated sleuth Poirot now retired and living in self-imposed exile in the famous city. Poirot reluctantly attends a séance at a decaying, haunted palazzo and when one of the guests is murdered, the detective is thrust into a sinister world of shadows and secrets. Branagh pulled in another A-list ensemble … [Read more...] about Could Kenneth Branagh’s Starry Agatha Christie Murder Mystery ‘A Haunting In Venice’ Debut On The Lido?

Jonathan Majors was arrested in New York City on Saturday, March 25 for allegedly assaulting a woman. “A preliminary investigation determined that a 33-year-old male was involved in a domestic dispute with a 30-year-old female,” read a statement from the Deputy Commissioner Public Information. “The victim informed police she was assaulted. Officers placed the 33-year-old male into custody without incident. The victim sustained minor injuries to her head and neck and was removed to an area hospital in stable condition.” The charges against the Creed III star included strangulation and harassment. A representative for Majors told Deadline in a statement, “He has done nothing wrong. We look forward to clearing his name and clearing this up.” Majors is one of the most sought-out actors in the business today. Marvel Studios has big plans for the actor to continue reprising his role as the villain Kang in the upcoming Avengers: The Kang Dynasty , which is set for … [Read more...] about Jonathan Majors Arrested In New York For Allegedly Assaulting A Woman; Actor Looks “Forward To Clearing His Name”