Exclusive: The shocking success of Squid Game has created an appetite for survival projects. Tristar Pictures just preemptively acquired Ultra, a survival thriller spec script by Colin Bannon. Sugar 23’s Sukee Chew is producing.
They are keeping the details under wraps, and Bannon wrote this well before Squid Game. But sources tell me that the protagonist is an ultra marathon runner involved in a deadly race. Bannon is fast becoming the go-to writer for survival thriller/horror projects, having previously sold his Black List script First Ascent to Netflix in a frenzied bidding war. Jake Scott is directing. The plan is to put Ultra into production by the middle of next year.
Chew most recently joined Sugar23 and before that she founded Hopscotch Pictures. Her other projects include the Helen Keller drama Helen & Teacher written by Laetitia Mikles and Wash Westmoreland with Millie Simmonds and Rachel Brosnahan starring, and Westmoreland set to direct.
They are keeping the details under wraps, and Bannon wrote this well before Squid Game. But sources tell me that the protagonist is an ultra marathon runner involved in a deadly race. Bannon is fast becoming the go-to writer for survival thriller/horror projects, having previously sold his Black List script First Ascent to Netflix in a frenzied bidding war. Jake Scott is directing. The plan is to put Ultra into production by the middle of next year.
Chew most recently joined Sugar23 and before that she founded Hopscotch Pictures. Her other projects include the Helen Keller drama Helen & Teacher written by Laetitia Mikles and Wash Westmoreland with Millie Simmonds and Rachel Brosnahan starring, and Westmoreland set to direct.
- 11/18/2021
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Director Wash Westmoreland (Still Alice) has tapped rising star Millicent Simmonds (A Quiet Place) and Rachel Brosnahan (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), to star in Helen & Teacher about famous Deafblind activist Hellen Keller and Anne Sullivan, her committed yet controlling translator and companion.
Simmonds, who will star as Keller, is in fact a distant cousin of the author and disability rights advocate.
Set during the early 1900’s, the movie will follow Keller’s tumultuous time at Radcliffe College of Harvard University when her rapidly expanding worldview and sexual awakening brings her into direct conflict with the more conservative Sullivan. When Ms. Sullivan is courted by the young and brilliant publisher, John Macy, tensions escalate between the two women threatening the bonds of their friendship.
Cornerstone will handle international sales and distribution and will commence sales at next month’s American Film Market. UTA Independent Film Group and WME are overseeing the U.
Simmonds, who will star as Keller, is in fact a distant cousin of the author and disability rights advocate.
Set during the early 1900’s, the movie will follow Keller’s tumultuous time at Radcliffe College of Harvard University when her rapidly expanding worldview and sexual awakening brings her into direct conflict with the more conservative Sullivan. When Ms. Sullivan is courted by the young and brilliant publisher, John Macy, tensions escalate between the two women threatening the bonds of their friendship.
Cornerstone will handle international sales and distribution and will commence sales at next month’s American Film Market. UTA Independent Film Group and WME are overseeing the U.
- 10/14/2021
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
“A Quiet Place” breakout Millicent Simmonds and “Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” star Rachel Brosnahan will play Helen Keller and her teacher Anne Sullivan in the forthcoming feature film “Helen & Teacher.”
Simmonds, who is deaf, is a distant cousin of Deafblind activist Keller, and her casting marks a significant turning point for deaf representation on screen. Most adaptations of Keller’s story over the years have generally featured non-deaf actors.
Simmonds will star opposite Brosnahan, who will portray her committed yet controlling translator and companion Sullivan. Cornerstone will handle international sales and distribution, and is set to kick off sales at the American Film Market next month. UTA Independent Film Group and WME are overseeing the U.S. sale.
“Helen & Teacher” is based on the original screenplay by Laetitia Mikles and Westmoreland, in consultation with a team at the Helen Keller National Center for Youth and Adults.
Set during the early 1900s,...
Simmonds, who is deaf, is a distant cousin of Deafblind activist Keller, and her casting marks a significant turning point for deaf representation on screen. Most adaptations of Keller’s story over the years have generally featured non-deaf actors.
Simmonds will star opposite Brosnahan, who will portray her committed yet controlling translator and companion Sullivan. Cornerstone will handle international sales and distribution, and is set to kick off sales at the American Film Market next month. UTA Independent Film Group and WME are overseeing the U.S. sale.
“Helen & Teacher” is based on the original screenplay by Laetitia Mikles and Westmoreland, in consultation with a team at the Helen Keller National Center for Youth and Adults.
Set during the early 1900s,...
- 10/14/2021
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
Michael Sugar’s Sugar23 continues to grow as the management firm has hired Sukee Chew, Anna Weinstein and Alex Creasia.
Chew comes to Sugar23 a seasoned industry veteran with 20 years of experience as a producer and an arsenal of talented screenwriters and filmmakers on her roster. She had previously set up three projects with Sugar23, and due to their camaraderie, and her admiration for the team, she jumped at the opportunity to join the company, which is growing in all forms of media.
“Having already been in business with Sukee on a number of projects, bringing her in-house felt like the right and natural next step for both of us,” Sugar said. “Her impeccable eye for talent, taste in material and overall humanity makes her the perfect fit and we are absolutely thrilled to welcome Sukee to our team.”
Chew, Weinstein and Creasia join recent manager hires Katrina Escudero, Jake Fleischman and David Jimenez-Katsman,...
Chew comes to Sugar23 a seasoned industry veteran with 20 years of experience as a producer and an arsenal of talented screenwriters and filmmakers on her roster. She had previously set up three projects with Sugar23, and due to their camaraderie, and her admiration for the team, she jumped at the opportunity to join the company, which is growing in all forms of media.
“Having already been in business with Sukee on a number of projects, bringing her in-house felt like the right and natural next step for both of us,” Sugar said. “Her impeccable eye for talent, taste in material and overall humanity makes her the perfect fit and we are absolutely thrilled to welcome Sukee to our team.”
Chew, Weinstein and Creasia join recent manager hires Katrina Escudero, Jake Fleischman and David Jimenez-Katsman,...
- 6/15/2021
- by Justin Kroll
- Deadline Film + TV
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.