Universal pictures international

Sky has unveiled a second series of I Hate Suzie and an adaptation of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, while confirming Universal Pictures ’ Wicked will be one of the first projects to be filmed at Elstree Studios, relocating from the U.S. The Comcast -owned outfit is to present the news at a glitzy London event taking place this evening, led by the announcements about Wicked, the new TV dramas, and comedies featuring Sheridan Smith, Katherine Ryan and Suranne Jones. Sky is upping its original commissioning by 60% to 200 shows this year, revealed by CEO Dana Strong last week. Meanwhile, a host of Sky Original films including Letitia Wright-starring Aisha, Colin Farrell’s After Yang, political thriller The Independent (Brian Cox, Jodie Turner-Smith, John Cena, Ann Dowd) and Liam Hemsworth/Russell Crowe-featuring Poker Face are all coming to the UK platform, according to Sky. Sky Studios Elstree, the brand spanking new studio that Sky says will … [Read more...] about Sky Unveils ‘I Hate Suzie’ Season Two & ‘Tattooist Of Auschwitz’ Adaptation, Confirms ‘Wicked’ Will Film At Sky Studios Elstree

In a shocking development, it saddens me to report that Brad Grey has died at age 59. His death, from cancer, comes months after his exit as chairman/CEO of Paramount Pictures , a job he held for 12 years. He died last night in Holmby Hills, CA, with friends and family at his side. Grey is survived by his wife, Cassandra Grey, their son Jules, his three grown children Sam, Max and Emily from his marriage to Jill (nee Gutterson) Grey, his mother Barbara Schumsky, his brother Michael Grey and his sister Robin Grey. The family said that there will be a small private funeral service later this week. A memorial service will be scheduled in the coming weeks. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Lawrence J. Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine of USC. Grey was integral in raising money for alternative life-saving cancer research at USC’s Westside Cancer Center: In one night, they collected $4.5M at the Rebels with a Cause event when Oracle founder … [Read more...] about Brad Grey Dies At Age 59 From Cancer

Marvin Josephson , who helped grow a small management company that could not afford a secretary into an international entertainment agency with multiple offices, died May 17 in New York. He was 95. Josephson was born March 6, 1927 in Atlantic City, N.J. to immigrant parents. Upon graduation from Atlantic City High School, he entered the US Navy just before the end of World War II. After the Navy, he attended Cornell University, where he received a B.A. degree. He went on to night law school at New York University School of Law and received his law degree in 1952. That same year, Josephson got a job in the CBS legal department. He left CBS to start his own company and was the only employee, since he could not afford a secretary. The new company started April 1, 1955 as a personal management company. The first important client was Bob Keeshan, who produced and starred in “Captain Kangaroo,” the children’s program that ran for 29 years on CBS. That … [Read more...] about Marvin Josephson Dies: Founder Of ICM, Powerhouse International Agency, Was 95

Highly anticipated Downton Abbey: A New Era made $1.050 million in Thursday previews that began at 7 p.m. at more than 3,300 theaters. It is Focus Features ’ widest ever U.S. release and one that comes with a weight of responsibility as the film to finally catapult older demos back into theaters. Focus Features distribution chief Lisa Bunnell recently promised cinema owners it would . “We have our own superheroes,” she said at CinemaCon. Based on the smash series created by Julian Fellowes , it’s grossed over $30 million internationally. It premiered in the U.K. and Ireland April 29, launching into the top spot across 746 locations (second-widest release after No Time To Die) . It’s certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with a 98% Audience score and 83% Critics score. Tracking to a mid-to-low teens opening. This is the second cinematic outing of the phenomenon that aired for six seasons Stateside on PBS (2011-2020) and reunites the full cast. Some set off on a … [Read more...] about ‘Downton Abbey: A New Era’ Debuts With $1M In Thursday Previews

Miranda Otto, Jesse Spence and Guy Pearce are among the high-profile stars featuring on Disney+’s debut slate in Australia and New Zealand. Announced at an event at Sydney’s Museum of Contemporary Art, the 2022/23 slate comprises three dramas, four documentaries and two lifestyle/general factual entertainment series. Several are for Disney+’s adult vertical Star. On the scripted drama front, The Clearing is adapted from JP Pomare’s novel ‘In the Clearing’ and is inspired by Australian cult The Family and its founder Anne Hamilton-Byrne, one of the few female cult leaders in history. Teresa Palmer ( A Discovery of Witches ), Miranda Otto ( The Usual Suspects ) and Guy Pearce ( Jack Irish ) lead the cast, alongside the lies of Hazem Shammas ( Safe Harbour ), Mark Coles-Smith ( Mystery Road ), Tom Budge ( Bloom ). Written and created by Matt Cameron ( Jack Irish ) and Elise McCredie ( Stateless ) alongside co-writer Osamah Sami ( Ali’s Wedding … [Read more...] about Disney+ Unveils Debut Australia And New Zealand Slate: Miranda Otto, Jesse Spencer, Guy Pearce Set For Dramas

EXCLUSIVE : Rumors are racing around Hollywood that Paramount Pictures chairman and CEO Brad Grey is on his way out after a 12-year run. The most widely rumored version is that Grey has packed up his office and canceled a bunch of meetings. The packing up the office rumor isn’t the case — he is not there, but the lot closed early today because of the Presidents Day holiday weekend. But it certainly seems that something is happening and that Grey’s run as chief is ending. It has been almost impossible to get a straight answer, but I’m told that conversations are going on right now between Grey and Viacom to figure out the future. Does Grey continue? That looks unlikely. Does he move to some emeritus post or one where he puts together projects of his own? That seems more on the mark. Neither Viacom, Paramount or Grey would comment. I’ve heard that Viacom chief Bob Bakish will come to Los Angeles and meet with Grey, probably on Tuesday, so this cloud will hover over … [Read more...] about As Rumors Swirl, Is Brad Grey Long For Paramount?

Twenty-four hours before his win for Best Documentary Feature would result in one of the most powerful speeches of this year’s Oscar night, Ahmir ‘Questlove’ Thompson and his Summer of Soul team gathered at an intimate brunch in the picturesque gardens of Dana Walden’s Brentwood estate. Walden was there, along with Peter Rice, Matthew Greenfield, David Greenbaum and other high-level Disney executives. Even Disney CEO Bob Chapek put in an appearance. They were present to toast the early success of a small Hulu imprint, Onyx Collective , which is run by Tara Duncan and is dedicated to flying the flag for creators of color, bringing diverse, authentic stories right to the heart of the studio better known for its noisemaking franchise brands like Marvel and Star Wars. As Disney continues to reign supreme as Hollywood’s biggest studio, Duncan’s ambitions for Onyx Collective are no less than to create a brand that can compete for that same mainstream attention, making it a … [Read more...] about Onyx Collective Continues Mission To Bring Representation To Disney After ‘Summer Of Soul’ Oscar Triumph — Deadline Disruptors

SAG Award-nominee Alexandra Billings ( Transparent ) will star in, and executive produce the upcoming trans revolutionary indie feature, Queen Tut . Fae Pictures is financing and producing the film in association with Hawkeye Pictures with the participation of Telefilm Canada and Ontario Creates. The producing team will be attending the Cannes Market meeting with international sales prospects. Queen Tut will be directed by Egyptian-Canadian up-and-coming filmmaker Reem Morsi ( The Last Mark ), and is based on a script from Bryan Mark, Kaveh Mohebbi, and Abdul Malik. The story follows a shy Egyptian teenager who is discovering a new life in Toronto after his seamstress mother passes away in Cairo. He befriends a trans mother, played by Billings, who inspires him to resurrect his mother’s soul in himself by sewing and donning the magnum opus dress that she never completed making. Production is expected to begin in August at and in partnership with … [Read more...] about ‘Transparent’ Actress Alexandra Billings To Star And Executive Produce Trans Revolutionary Indie Feature ‘Queen Tut’

Archewell has named public relations vet Ashley Momtaheni as EVP of Global Communications. She starts May 30. Momtaheni will oversee all communications efforts for the various divisions of the organization which was founded by Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex in 2020. Momtaheni joins Archewell from Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, where she currently serves as VP of Global Communications and Media Relations. Prior to Universal, Momtaheni held positions at United Talent Agency and Annapurna Pictures. As Director of Corporate Communications at UTA, Momtaheni heightened the profile of the company and its agents and led internal and external communications strategies for the firm. At Annapurna, she served as Head of Communications and handled press for their film, interactive, television and theatre divisions. Momtaheni began her career at Warner Bros. and was also previously a producer for ABC’s Good Morning America . The company … [Read more...] about Ashley Momtaheni To Lead Global Communications At Prince Harry & Meghan Markle’s Archewell

Martin Shkreli so completely embodies the idea of a troll that he calls to mind a time when the term referred to grotesque monsters that actually lived under bridges. In the latest in his series of repugnant antics, the universally-loathed former hedge-fund manager with a permanent douche smirk was suspended from Twitter on Sunday for harassing Lauren Duca, the freelance journalist who recently wrote a viral op-ed for Teen Vogue titled, “ Donald Trump Is Gaslighting America .” The piece caused a stir across the perpetually polarized Internet. It exposed the internalized sexism of liberals, shocked to discover that a publication aimed at teen girls might produce insightful, politically-aware content. It also made Duca a target for countless Twitter trolls with “deplorable” in their handles – and, apparently, for Shkreli. On January 5th, Duca tweeted a screenshot of a direct message from Shkreli asking if she wanted to be his plus-one to Trump’s inauguration, along with the … [Read more...] about Despicable ‘Pharma Bro’ Martin Shkreli’s Terrible Deeds: A Timeline