Male cheerleaders are taking to the court at Disney, which has picked up the spec script "The Matadors" by Mike Bender.
Choreographer-turned-director Anne Fletcher is on board to helm the dance comedy inspired by the professional male cheerleading squad that performs at every Chicago Bulls home game. Adam Shankman and Jennifer Gibgot are producing via their Disney-based Offspring Entertainment.
Although the title may change, "Matadors" will follow two pro basketball superfans whose devotion to their home team led them to form a professional male cheerleading squad.
Fletcher played basketball growing up and was a Laker girl, exposing her to die-hard fans for whom she grew to have an affinity.
"These guys who are the ultimate fans, the biggest deed they can do is dance and cheerlead for their team," she said. "I wanted to do an all-out comedy, and having the dance elements, that was icing on the cake."
No actors are on board, but she is looking forward to the casting process.
"It's an array of guys, with all sorts of shapes and sizes," Fletcher said. We'll be able to have fun with the casting."
The studio is talking to the NBA about partnering on the project and using the league's teams.
The project was brought to Offspring by producer Alison Rosenzweig ("Windtalkers"), Michael Gaeta and Suzan Hagan, all of whom are negotiating their producing deals.
Offspring's Matthew Mizel will co-produce.
Kristin Burr will oversee the project for Disney.
The project continues the long association between Fletcher and Shankman. Fletcher worked as a choreographer on numerous films for Shankman, himself a choreographer-turned-director. She made her directorial debut on "Step Up," produced by Shankman and Gibgot.
Fletcher, repped by UTA, most recently directed the Katherine Heigl hit "27 Dresses" and is in post on Disney's "The Proposal," starring Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock.
Shankman and Offspring are in post on the Adam Sandler fantasy comedy "Bedtime Stories," which also is being produced by Gunn Films and Happy Madison.
Bender, repped by Endeavor and Benderspink, was a writer on several MTV Movie Awards and on "Not Another Teen Movie," which Fletcher choreographed. He has "Bob the Musical" set up at Disney.
Choreographer-turned-director Anne Fletcher is on board to helm the dance comedy inspired by the professional male cheerleading squad that performs at every Chicago Bulls home game. Adam Shankman and Jennifer Gibgot are producing via their Disney-based Offspring Entertainment.
Although the title may change, "Matadors" will follow two pro basketball superfans whose devotion to their home team led them to form a professional male cheerleading squad.
Fletcher played basketball growing up and was a Laker girl, exposing her to die-hard fans for whom she grew to have an affinity.
"These guys who are the ultimate fans, the biggest deed they can do is dance and cheerlead for their team," she said. "I wanted to do an all-out comedy, and having the dance elements, that was icing on the cake."
No actors are on board, but she is looking forward to the casting process.
"It's an array of guys, with all sorts of shapes and sizes," Fletcher said. We'll be able to have fun with the casting."
The studio is talking to the NBA about partnering on the project and using the league's teams.
The project was brought to Offspring by producer Alison Rosenzweig ("Windtalkers"), Michael Gaeta and Suzan Hagan, all of whom are negotiating their producing deals.
Offspring's Matthew Mizel will co-produce.
Kristin Burr will oversee the project for Disney.
The project continues the long association between Fletcher and Shankman. Fletcher worked as a choreographer on numerous films for Shankman, himself a choreographer-turned-director. She made her directorial debut on "Step Up," produced by Shankman and Gibgot.
Fletcher, repped by UTA, most recently directed the Katherine Heigl hit "27 Dresses" and is in post on Disney's "The Proposal," starring Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock.
Shankman and Offspring are in post on the Adam Sandler fantasy comedy "Bedtime Stories," which also is being produced by Gunn Films and Happy Madison.
Bender, repped by Endeavor and Benderspink, was a writer on several MTV Movie Awards and on "Not Another Teen Movie," which Fletcher choreographed. He has "Bob the Musical" set up at Disney.
- 7/10/2008
- by By Borys Kit
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Rogue has picked up "Drill Team", a spec from Gregory Anderson, for Adam Shankman's Offspring Entertainment to produce.
A female-driven teen dance movie set in the competitive world of high school drill teams, the film revolves around two rival sisters who lead their competing high schools to the national championships.
Shankman is producing with Offspring partner Jennifer Gibgot. The company's Matthew Mizel brought in the project. Anderson's Tri Destined Films also is involved in a producer capacity.
The deal was in the low-six figures.
Alex Heineman and Paul Getto will oversee.
Offspring and Anderson have street cred in the dance-movie genre, which are made with low overhead and offer big yields.
Anderson wrote the original draft of "Stomp the Yard", which focused on the world of step-dancing. The movie was made for $14 million and grossed more than $74 million worldwide.
Offspring is behind the "Step Up" series, whose most recent film, "Step Up 2 the Streets", grossed $150 million worldwide and cost about $20 million.
A female-driven teen dance movie set in the competitive world of high school drill teams, the film revolves around two rival sisters who lead their competing high schools to the national championships.
Shankman is producing with Offspring partner Jennifer Gibgot. The company's Matthew Mizel brought in the project. Anderson's Tri Destined Films also is involved in a producer capacity.
The deal was in the low-six figures.
Alex Heineman and Paul Getto will oversee.
Offspring and Anderson have street cred in the dance-movie genre, which are made with low overhead and offer big yields.
Anderson wrote the original draft of "Stomp the Yard", which focused on the world of step-dancing. The movie was made for $14 million and grossed more than $74 million worldwide.
Offspring is behind the "Step Up" series, whose most recent film, "Step Up 2 the Streets", grossed $150 million worldwide and cost about $20 million.
- 4/24/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Walt Disney Pictures has bought an untitled adult treasure hunt spec script by Amy Pocha and Seth Cohen. Chris Bender and JC Spink's Benderspink, Adam Shankman and Jennifer Gibgot's Offspring as well as Mason Novick are attached to produce.
The story follows a group of childhood friends who reunite in their early 30s to seek out a treasure that they tried and failed to find as kids. The script is based on an original idea by Novick.
Offspring's Matthew Mizel brought the treasure hunt project to Kristin Burr at Disney. Mizel will act as a co-producer and oversee for Offspring. Burr is shepherding for Disney.
Langley Perer is overseeing for Benderspink.
Disney-based Offspring is prepping Bedtime Stories, which Shankman will direct with Adam Sandler starring, and Step Up 2.
Benderspink is developing Bob the Musical at Disney. The company has the comedies Mancation at New Line and The Guy Not Taken at DreamWorks.
Pocha and Cohen are relative newcomers to the screenwriting scene. Pocha was on the production staff on ABC's Complete Savages, while Cohen was a story editor on WB Network's High School Reunion.
The duo are repped by Benderspink and attorney Sean Marks.
The story follows a group of childhood friends who reunite in their early 30s to seek out a treasure that they tried and failed to find as kids. The script is based on an original idea by Novick.
Offspring's Matthew Mizel brought the treasure hunt project to Kristin Burr at Disney. Mizel will act as a co-producer and oversee for Offspring. Burr is shepherding for Disney.
Langley Perer is overseeing for Benderspink.
Disney-based Offspring is prepping Bedtime Stories, which Shankman will direct with Adam Sandler starring, and Step Up 2.
Benderspink is developing Bob the Musical at Disney. The company has the comedies Mancation at New Line and The Guy Not Taken at DreamWorks.
Pocha and Cohen are relative newcomers to the screenwriting scene. Pocha was on the production staff on ABC's Complete Savages, while Cohen was a story editor on WB Network's High School Reunion.
The duo are repped by Benderspink and attorney Sean Marks.
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