Editorial Staff
David Goyer (“Blade Trinity”) won’t be directing the long-gestating “Masters of the Universe” movie. Goyer, who simply had a scheduling clash making it unable for him to wear the director’s cap on the He-Man movie, will remain on as an executive producer and writer. (Heat Vision)
Jake Gyllenhaal, “Baby Driver” star Ansel Elgort, and singer and “Spider-Man: Homecoming” actress Zendaya have been cast in the upcoming crime thriller “Finest Kind” at Krasnoff/Foster Entertainment, 30WEST and STXinternational. Brian Helgeland (“A Knight’s Tale”) is penning and directing the film about two brothers (Gyllenhaal and Elgort) who strike a dangerous deal with a crime syndicate that draws them into the Boston underworld. As pressures mount, sacrifices must be made and bonds are put to the test. Producer Gary Foster says in a statement: “Brian and I have dreamed about making this film together for a long time. Brian’s directorial vision and powerful screenplay which draws on his experiences growing up in the tough town of New Bedfrod, Mass., has attracted a stellar cast lead by Jake, Ansel and Zendaya. I couldn’t be more thrilled!”
A new trilogy of films based on the classic ’80s TV series “V” is in the works with the original’s creator Kenneth Johnson writing and directing. “We are delighted to team up with Desilu to bring the timeless – and timely – story of resistance against tyranny into the 21st century. V will be the first of a cinematic trilogy which will tell the full epic tale in the manner I always envisioned.”
“V is a multi-billion dollar film franchise and merchandising juggernaut,” said Desilu Studios, Inc Exec VP Steven Posen. We couldn’t be more excited and honoured to bring this film to the millions of devoted fans worldwide.”
A TV series based on the “Bad Moms” movie series is in the works only it’ll “take the films’ premise of imperfect parents and shift the focus to real-life moms”. (THR)
Ron Howard tells EW that he got the job on “Solo” not because Phil Lord & Chris Miller were incapable of making a good movie but simply because their filmmaking sensibilities differed from Lucasfilm. “I think these guys are hilarious, but they come from a background of animation and sketch comedy and when you are making these movies you can do that and there’s plenty of room for improvisation, we do that all the time, but it has to be inside of a highly structured process or you can’t get the work done and you can’t move the armies of people to anticipate and have things ready. So, it literally came down to process. Just getting it done… These are really great guys and you know, nobody wanted this to happen. It was just one of those unfortunate things.”
Facebook has greenlit a ten-episode female-driven dramedy, starring and executive produced by Elizabeth Olsen (“The Avengers”). The untited show features a superb behind-the-scenes crew including James Ponsoldt (”Master of None”) who is set to executive produce and direct multiple episodes, including the pilot. (Deadline)
“Transformers” director Michael Bay is being sought to direct the long-gestating “Lobo” movie at Warner Bros and DC. Entertainment. (The Wrap)
Elisabeth Moss (“The Handmaid’s Tale”) will star in Ritesh Batra’s upcoming feature, “A Letter From Rosemary Kennedy.” “The little-known but haunting story of the eldest sister of President John F. Kennedy, who spent a lifetime hidden from public view because of the political ambitions of her father, Joseph Kennedy, is based on a Black List spec script by first-timer Nick Yarborough.” “The movies about the Kennedy family are deservedly stormy affairs, but here’s a story about the storms within all of us,” said Batra. (Variety)
Doug Jones and Beanie Feldstein are joining the cast of Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement’s “What We Do in the Shadows” television series for FX. The series, a mockumentary about vampires that get about in New Zealand, also stars Jake McDorman, Matt Berry, comedian Mark Proksch, Kayvan Novak, Natasia Demetriou, and Harvey Guillen.(Variety)
Former “Alias” star Jennifer Garner is returning to TV for “Camping”, a new HBO comedy based on the UK series of the same name. Lena Dunham and Jenni Konner are spearheading the eight-episode series, about Walt, “whose 45th birthday was supposed to be a delightful weekend back to nature, at least according to his obsessively organized and aggressively controlling wife Kathryn (Garner). But when the camping trip gathers Kathryn’s meek sister, holier than thou ex-best friend and a free-spirited Tagalong in one place, it becomes a weekend of tested marriages and woman-on-woman crime that won’t soon be forgotten. (Deadline)
