Universal studios recreation group

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

EXCLUSIVE: MTV Entertainment Studios has greenlit the docuseries De La Calle from creator and host Nick Barili in partnership with Zero Point Zero Productions. The project will take viewers on a journey into the Latino diaspora to explore (and map) the evolution of Urbano music and cultures that ignited the musical revolution of Hip Hop, Reggaeton, Bachata, Latin trap, Cumbia, and other sounds that are influencing music and culture worldwide. Featured artists include Ivy Queen, Residente, Snow Tha Product, Nicky Jam, Youtel of Orishas, Goyo of Chocquibtown, Sech, Arcangel, Renato, Dimelo Flow, Vico C, El Aleman, and Duki. The partnership builds on MTV Entertainment Group’s key strategy and commitment to diverse storytelling and fostering global connections and communities. The series connects the dots of a global movement that has never been told before in this magnitude. Uniting Latino urban music from the US to Panama, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Mexico, … [Read more...] about MTV Entertainment Studios Greenlights Music & Culture Docuseries ‘De La Calle’ From Nick Barili

Universal Pictures has acquired the action-comedy spec Shots! Shots! Shots ! penned by Matt Mider and Kevin Burrows ( The Package ), with Jason Momoa ( Dune ) coming aboard to star. The film’s plot is being kept under wraps. A director has not yet been set. Momoa and producing partner Jeff Fierson will produce alongside Rideback’s Dan Lin and Jonathan Eirich, with Mider, Burrows and Ridebacks’ Ryan Halprin exec producing. Universal Pictures’ Executive Vice President Matt Reilly and Creative Development Executive, Jacqueline Garrell will oversee the project on behalf of the studio. Momoa leads Apple TV+’s sci-fi drama series See and has also recently been seen in Denis Villeneuve’s Oscar-winning adaptation of Dune , as well as James Gunn’s HBO Max series, Peacemaker . He’s perhaps best known for his turn as Aquaman in Warner Bros.’ franchise—with sequel Aquaman and the Last Kingdom on the way—as well as his turn as Dothraki chieftain Khal Drogo on HBO’s … [Read more...] about Universal Acquires Action-Comedy ‘Shots! Shots! Shots!’; Jason Momoa To Star

EXCLUSIVE : Award-winning screenwriter Brock Norman Brock ( Bronson , The Mustang ) has signed with Artist International Group for management. Brock most recently co-wrote the script for Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre’s acclaimed drama The Mustang , starring Matthias Schoenaerts. That title, about a convict who trains wild mustangs as part of a rehabilitation program, was released by Focus Features in 2019. Brock is perhaps best known for co-writing Nicolas Winding Refn’s critically acclaimed 2009 feature, Bronson , starring Tom Hardy, which told the story of the notorious British criminal of the same name. That Vertigo Films title premiered at the BFI London Film Festival and was in competition at Sundance, as well as the Sydney Film Festival, where it won Best Film. Brock began his career in theater, seeing his play Here is Monster , directed by Mark Ravenhill, secure a nomination for the Verity Bargate Award, celebrating emerging playwrights. He also … [Read more...] about ‘Bronson’ And ‘The Mustang’ Scribe Brock Norman Brock Signs With Artist International Group

EXCLUSIVE : Paramount Pictures has made its most significant long-term alliance in China since Viacom chief Shari Redstone nixed a 49% stake sale to Dalian Wanda for $4.9 billion last year. The studio has closed deals with Shanghai Film Group Corp and Beijing-based Huahua Media for those companies to fund 25% or more of the studio’s entire film slate for the next three years, with an option for a fourth. The deal is worth a potential $1 billion in slate funds, which is retroactive to Par’s fourth-quarter films. It extends a relationship between the studio and Chinese companies that already was growing. The deal also will help Paramount with the release and marketing of its films in China. Shanghai United, the country’s second-largest distributor, will be very involved in assisting Paramount with the dating and distribution of its movies in China going forward. The prospect of a team-up in co-productions of Chinese films also is being eyed. This is the most … [Read more...] about Paramount Gets China Infusion: $1 Billion, 3-Year Slate Co-Financing Deal With Shanghai Film Group & Huahua Media

Peter Bart and Mike Fleming Jr. worked together for two decades a t Daily Variety. In this occasional column, two old friends get together and grind their axes, mostly on the movie business. FLEMING : Could President Trump really be this tone deaf? After antagonizing the paranoid Sony-hacking North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, he starts the battle that shook up football Sunday throughout the National Football League. It’s hard to imagine the president could be this blissfully reckless without an endgame, lecturing the league and its athletes about a lack of patriotism when players (mostly black) kneel during the National Anthem to protest inequality and police brutality. Then he says that policing illegal hits is softening the game and hurting the ratings, with that rant closely following the revelation that the late convicted murder and ex-player Aaron Hernandez exhibited at 27 the extreme effects of CTE usually seen in former players in their 60s. The Obama White House was a … [Read more...] about Bart & Fleming: How Donald Trump’s Football Fumbles Killed USFL; Why The Movie Star Is Dying; Studio Marketing Moves

In its biggest contraction ever, the CW ’s DC Universe lost three series heading into next season with the cancellation of veteran Legends of Tomorrow as well as Batwoman, currently in Season 3, and freshman Naomi . It now consists of veteran The Flash , Superman & Lois and new entry Gotham Knights — all for midseason — as well as Stargirl (shared with HBO Max), which is the sole DC representative on the fall schedule. The downsizing comes as the CW is in the process of being sold to station owner Nexstar, and its current co-parent Warner Bros., which owns the DC brand and has been supplying the CW’s superhero shows, also just went through a merger. New Warner Bros. Discovery leadership have made revamping DC a priority with are looking to build a Marvel-like cohesive cinematic universe. Where does the CW’s DC Universe fit into that? During the network’s pre-upfront press call, the CW chairman and CEO Mark Pedowitz would not comment on WBD’s plans … [Read more...] about CW Boss On Future Of Net’s DC Universe Amid Ownership Changes: “We Are Staying In the Superhero Business”

Comedy is back on NBC ’s fall schedule with an hourlong Friday block — comprised by Dwayne Johnson’s Young Rock and new George Lopez series Lopez vs. Lopez — but The Blacklist is not, put on the bench until midseason only for the second time in its 10-season run. As expected , the Quantum Leap reboot, starring Raymond Lee, landed the post- Voice Monday slot while La Brea is back in the Tuesday 9 PM slot where it launched with a bang last fall. Here is NBC’s fall schedule, which includes two new series in Quantum Leap and Lopez vs. Lopez , followed by additional information and analysis as well as descriptions of NBC’s new series for next season. NBC FALL 2022-23 SCHEDULE MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY As expected, NBC is keeping the bulk of its schedule intact, with Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday largely unchanged next fall, including One Chicago Wednesday, Law & Order … [Read more...] about NBC Fall 2022-23 Schedule: Friday Comedy Block Sends ‘Blacklist’ To Midseason, ‘La Brea’ Returns To Tuesday

Abhijay Prakash is joining Blumhouse as President—succeeding eight-year Blumhouse veteran Charles Layton , who has long been a close advisor to founder Jason Blum. Layton will segue to Vice-Chairman, staying on in a strategic and advisory role for the next two years, with Prakash now overseeing all business aspects of the company. Prakash was formerly the President of Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, where he was responsible for driving the studio’s strategic and long-range planning, also overseeing the business operations of UFEG including finance, business development and administrative functions. Prior to UFEG, he served as Chief Operating Officer for DreamWorks Animation, overseeing the animation studio’s strategic planning and primary business operations including finance, business development, technology and administrative functions, while working closely with other Universal leaders on release planning, franchise management and brand development. Prior to … [Read more...] about Abhijay Prakash Joins Blumhouse As President As Charles Layton Segues To Vice-Chairman

EXCLUSIVE: Hulu’s WeWork director Jed Rothstein is forging landmark Sky documentary Once Upon a Time in Londongrad, exploring 14 mysterious deaths in the UK with alleged connections to Russia over two decades. Scroll down for the trailer. Oscar-winning production outfit Rise Films is behind the show in association with Universal International Studios, a division of Universal Studio Group, BuzzFeed Studios and Concordia Studio. Helmed by investigative reporter Heidi Blake, the doc series is incredibly timely and will examine how Vladimir Putin’s two decades in power have made the UK reliant on Russian money and thereby led to missed opportunities to contain the Kremlin. The deaths, which include high-profiles such as Alexander Litvinenko, will be explored in connection with the hidden underworld of Russian exiles in London, coming as high-profile Russians living in the UK such as former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich face sanctions. The issue has been a hot … [Read more...] about ‘Once Upon A Time In Londongrad’: Sky Greenlights Landmark Doc Series From Hulu’s ‘WeWork’ Director Jed Rothstein