Exclusive: Ben Stiller and Oscar nominee Colin Farrell have been confirmed to star in Andrew Haigh’s true crime story Belly of the Beast as mk2 films, UTA Independent Film Group, CAA Media Finance and Village Roadshow Pictures board sales for a Cannes launch.
Rumors of their involvement in the project surfaced at the beginning of the year and now the sales partners have unveiled the full details ahead of rolling out it to buyers in the South of France next week.
Bafta nominee Haigh will direct the film, which he and Alexis Jolly adapted from Jerome Loving’s nonfiction book, Jack and Norman: A State-Raised Convict and the Legacy of Norman Mailer’s ‘The Executioner’s Song.’
Per the official synopsis the feature will tell the timely and true story of the unlikely friendship between notorious literary titan Norman Mailer (Stiller) and his protégé, Jack Henry Abbott (Farrell).
Bolstered by Mailer’s mentorship,...
Rumors of their involvement in the project surfaced at the beginning of the year and now the sales partners have unveiled the full details ahead of rolling out it to buyers in the South of France next week.
Bafta nominee Haigh will direct the film, which he and Alexis Jolly adapted from Jerome Loving’s nonfiction book, Jack and Norman: A State-Raised Convict and the Legacy of Norman Mailer’s ‘The Executioner’s Song.’
Per the official synopsis the feature will tell the timely and true story of the unlikely friendship between notorious literary titan Norman Mailer (Stiller) and his protégé, Jack Henry Abbott (Farrell).
Bolstered by Mailer’s mentorship,...
- 5/9/2024
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Film icon Pam Grier has teamed with Village Roadshow Pictures to develop a project based on her bestselling 2010 memoir, “Foxy: My Life in Three Acts.”
Known as the queen of 1970s Blaxploitation classics like “Coffy” and “Foxy Brown,” plus Quentin Tarantino’s Oscar-nominated film “Jackie Brown,” Grier is enjoying her latest act thanks to movies like 2023’s “Cinnamon.” That film kicked off her relationship with Village Roadshow Pictures, which produced the title under the company’s Black Noir Cinema banner for Tubi.
“Foxy: My Life in Three Acts” details Grier’s legendary screen career; her relationships with Richard Pryor, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Freddie Prinze, among others; her experience as a Black female star in an era with rampant racism and sexism; and her battle with stage-four cervical cancer, diagnosed in 1988, when she was told she had 18 months to live.
The production is in the early stages of development, so fans...
Known as the queen of 1970s Blaxploitation classics like “Coffy” and “Foxy Brown,” plus Quentin Tarantino’s Oscar-nominated film “Jackie Brown,” Grier is enjoying her latest act thanks to movies like 2023’s “Cinnamon.” That film kicked off her relationship with Village Roadshow Pictures, which produced the title under the company’s Black Noir Cinema banner for Tubi.
“Foxy: My Life in Three Acts” details Grier’s legendary screen career; her relationships with Richard Pryor, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Freddie Prinze, among others; her experience as a Black female star in an era with rampant racism and sexism; and her battle with stage-four cervical cancer, diagnosed in 1988, when she was told she had 18 months to live.
The production is in the early stages of development, so fans...
- 4/4/2024
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
“Aladdin” and “Charlie’s Angels” breakout Naomi Scott will star alongside “Game of Thrones” alum Kit Harrington and Oscar winner Jeremy Irons in the epic romance “Eternal Return,” Variety can report exclusively. Village Roadshow Pictures is producing the project and will introduce the film to buyers at next week’s Cannes Film Festival.
“Eternal Return” follows Cass (Scott), a young woman who has resigned herself to a life of emotional invulnerability until she meets Virgil (Harington), a cartographer who makes maps to imaginary places. Along with his partner Malcolm (Irons), a vibrant renaissance man, the pair relentlessly attempts to travel back in time to awaken Cass to love again. The original feature is written and directed by Yaniv Raz (“Dr. Bird’s Advice for Sad Poets”).
Jillian Apfelbaum, Tristen Tuckfield, and Nic Gordon are overseeing the project for Village Roadshow. They will produce alongside Scott and Jordan Spence’s New Name Entertainment.
“Eternal Return” follows Cass (Scott), a young woman who has resigned herself to a life of emotional invulnerability until she meets Virgil (Harington), a cartographer who makes maps to imaginary places. Along with his partner Malcolm (Irons), a vibrant renaissance man, the pair relentlessly attempts to travel back in time to awaken Cass to love again. The original feature is written and directed by Yaniv Raz (“Dr. Bird’s Advice for Sad Poets”).
Jillian Apfelbaum, Tristen Tuckfield, and Nic Gordon are overseeing the project for Village Roadshow. They will produce alongside Scott and Jordan Spence’s New Name Entertainment.
- 5/10/2023
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
The title "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" has been attached to several pieces of media over the decades. The best-known version is the Cyndi Lauper song, which came close to topping the pop charts when it came out in 1983. Lauper's tune, however, was a feminist remake of a 1979 song by Robert Hazard.
Lauper's single was so popular in the 1980s that it spawned dozens of other professional artists to record or sing their own versions. And in 1985, it also inspired New World Pictures to put out a romantic comedy of the same name that starred Sarah Jessica Parker and Helen Hunt. The film did a modest $6.3 million at the box office relative to its cost. It arguably could have done better if Lauper allowed her song to be used in the film — she refused, however, and Hazard's original version was used instead. Despite that, the feature has left enough...
Lauper's single was so popular in the 1980s that it spawned dozens of other professional artists to record or sing their own versions. And in 1985, it also inspired New World Pictures to put out a romantic comedy of the same name that starred Sarah Jessica Parker and Helen Hunt. The film did a modest $6.3 million at the box office relative to its cost. It arguably could have done better if Lauper allowed her song to be used in the film — she refused, however, and Hazard's original version was used instead. Despite that, the feature has left enough...
- 4/22/2023
- by Vanessa Armstrong
- Slash Film
Girls just wanna have fun, no matter what decade it is.
Village Roadshow is producing a modern-day remake of Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, the cult 1985 romantic comedy dance movie that starred Sarah Jessica Parker and Helen Hunt.
Marja-Lewis Ryan, who acted as showrunner of The L Word: Generation Q, is co-writing the script with Allie Romano, who was a staff writer and executive story editor on Generation Q.
Elizabeth Banks is producing with Max Handelman via the duo’s Brownstone Productions.
Girls, made by now-defunct New World Pictures, centered on an army brat (Parker) who settles in Chicago, attends a strict Catholic high school and contends with an even stricter father at home. The girl decides to follow her passion of dance and, with the encouragement of her new best friend (Hunt), auditions for the local TV dance show. Hiding from dad, dealing with competition from a spoiled country...
Village Roadshow is producing a modern-day remake of Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, the cult 1985 romantic comedy dance movie that starred Sarah Jessica Parker and Helen Hunt.
Marja-Lewis Ryan, who acted as showrunner of The L Word: Generation Q, is co-writing the script with Allie Romano, who was a staff writer and executive story editor on Generation Q.
Elizabeth Banks is producing with Max Handelman via the duo’s Brownstone Productions.
Girls, made by now-defunct New World Pictures, centered on an army brat (Parker) who settles in Chicago, attends a strict Catholic high school and contends with an even stricter father at home. The girl decides to follow her passion of dance and, with the encouragement of her new best friend (Hunt), auditions for the local TV dance show. Hiding from dad, dealing with competition from a spoiled country...
- 4/20/2023
- by Borys Kit
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Village Roadshow Entertainment has made a wave of additions and promotions with Nic Gordon being elevated to Vice President of Feature Film for Village Roadshow Pictures (Vrp), and Anne MacKay is being named as a Creative Executive at Vrp. Elizabeth Elliott joins Vreg as Executive Vice President of Business Affairs. Gordon and MacKay will report to Jillian Apfelbaum and Tristen Tuckfield, Vrp’s Executive Vice Presidents of Feature Film. Elliot will report to Louis Santor, COO, Vreg.
“We are extremely pleased that Vrp homegrown executives Nic and Anne continue to demonstrate the creative thinking and initiative that allows us to generate a diverse slate of feature films based both on our deep library as well as original IP. Their contributions to the department have been incredible and we will continue to greatly benefit from their work across all of our projects as we bring them to fruition,” said Apfelbaum and Tuckfield.
“We are extremely pleased that Vrp homegrown executives Nic and Anne continue to demonstrate the creative thinking and initiative that allows us to generate a diverse slate of feature films based both on our deep library as well as original IP. Their contributions to the department have been incredible and we will continue to greatly benefit from their work across all of our projects as we bring them to fruition,” said Apfelbaum and Tuckfield.
- 3/6/2023
- by Justin Kroll
- Deadline Film + TV
Amazon’s MGM division is in final negotiations for worldwide distribution rights to a “Night of the Living Dead” sequel from director Nikyatu Jusu. The follow-up to George Romero’s horror classic will come courtesy of Village Roadshow Pictures, Vertigo Entertainment, Westbrook, Origin Story and the late Romero’s Sanibel Films.
Presuming the distribution deal comes to pass, the film, penned by “The Walking Dead” scribe Latoya Morgan, will be distributed by MGM as a theatrical release.
Released in 1968, “Night of the Living Dead” is considered one of the most influential and profitable theatrical films ever made. It essentially birthed the modern zombie movie (and the modern MPA ratings system) upon its release and led to decades of rip-offs, homages and zombie-specific media such as “The Walking Dead,” “Resident Evil” and Romero’s own ongoing zombie series like “Dawn of the Dead” in 1978 and “Survival of the Dead” in 2009.
Also...
Presuming the distribution deal comes to pass, the film, penned by “The Walking Dead” scribe Latoya Morgan, will be distributed by MGM as a theatrical release.
Released in 1968, “Night of the Living Dead” is considered one of the most influential and profitable theatrical films ever made. It essentially birthed the modern zombie movie (and the modern MPA ratings system) upon its release and led to decades of rip-offs, homages and zombie-specific media such as “The Walking Dead,” “Resident Evil” and Romero’s own ongoing zombie series like “Dawn of the Dead” in 1978 and “Survival of the Dead” in 2009.
Also...
- 12/15/2022
- by Scott Mendelson
- The Wrap
While Greg Nicotero gears up to make a movie about the making of George A. Romero’s 1968 classic Night of the Living Dead (watch it Here), Nikyatu Jusu – who recently made her feature directorial debut with the horror film Nanny, which reaches Amazon Prime this Friday (December 16th) – is gearing up to make a sequel to Romero’s film. And now Deadline reports that MGM is in final negotiations to acquire the worldwide distribution rights to Jusu’s Night of the Living Dead sequel. MGM is planning to give the film a theatrical release.
This Night of the Living Dead sequel is coming to us from Romero’s ex-wife Christine Romero, the late George A. Romero’s Sanibel Films, Origin Story, Vertigo, and Westbrook Studios. Romero is the creative overseer on the project, producing alongside Village Roadshow’s Jillian Apfelbaum, Nic Gordon, and Tristen Tuckfeld, Origin Story’s Ryan Silbert,...
This Night of the Living Dead sequel is coming to us from Romero’s ex-wife Christine Romero, the late George A. Romero’s Sanibel Films, Origin Story, Vertigo, and Westbrook Studios. Romero is the creative overseer on the project, producing alongside Village Roadshow’s Jillian Apfelbaum, Nic Gordon, and Tristen Tuckfeld, Origin Story’s Ryan Silbert,...
- 12/15/2022
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Exclusive: Amazon’s MGM division is in final negotiations to acquire worldwide rights to the Night of the Living Dead sequel that Nikyatu Jusu (Nanny) is directing for Village Roadshow Pictures, Vertigo Entertainment, Westbrook, Origin Story and the late George A. Romero’s Sanibel Films.
While specifics as to the financials haven’t been disclosed, we understand that the deal has emerged from a highly competitive situation. The Walking Dead‘s Latoya Morgan scripted the film we were first to report on, which will be released by MGM theatrically.
Credited with launching the zombie subgenre, as well as the career of horror icon George A. Romero, the original 1968 indie Night of the Living Dead is considered to be one of the most influential and profitable films ever made. While spurring countless other projects over the years in the flesh-eating arena, Romero’s film launched a franchise of its own that...
While specifics as to the financials haven’t been disclosed, we understand that the deal has emerged from a highly competitive situation. The Walking Dead‘s Latoya Morgan scripted the film we were first to report on, which will be released by MGM theatrically.
Credited with launching the zombie subgenre, as well as the career of horror icon George A. Romero, the original 1968 indie Night of the Living Dead is considered to be one of the most influential and profitable films ever made. While spurring countless other projects over the years in the flesh-eating arena, Romero’s film launched a franchise of its own that...
- 12/15/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Brillstein Entertainment Partners and Village Roadshow Pictures (Vrp) today announced the 14th annual BloodList, which features the best unproduced horror and dark genre screenplays, highlighting Fresh Blood selections from new unrepresented voices.
In addition to highlighting the below 10 feature and pilot scripts, Vrp and Brillstein have selected Sophia Baratti’s My House for the ultimate prize of immediately moving forward with development, in accordance with their commitment to produce one Fresh Blood honoree per year. Vrp’s Nic Gordon will supervise development of Baratti’s project.
Kailey Marsh, creator of the BloodList and literary manager and producer at Brillstein, said, “The quality of this year’s list absolutely blows me away. We’re so incredibly happy and proud to elevate a new generation of horror voices using the BloodList platform.”
Jillian Apfelbaum and Tristen Tuckfield, EVPs of Feature Film at Village Roadshow, added, “The BloodList is exceptionally valuable for its...
In addition to highlighting the below 10 feature and pilot scripts, Vrp and Brillstein have selected Sophia Baratti’s My House for the ultimate prize of immediately moving forward with development, in accordance with their commitment to produce one Fresh Blood honoree per year. Vrp’s Nic Gordon will supervise development of Baratti’s project.
Kailey Marsh, creator of the BloodList and literary manager and producer at Brillstein, said, “The quality of this year’s list absolutely blows me away. We’re so incredibly happy and proud to elevate a new generation of horror voices using the BloodList platform.”
Jillian Apfelbaum and Tristen Tuckfield, EVPs of Feature Film at Village Roadshow, added, “The BloodList is exceptionally valuable for its...
- 11/3/2022
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Altitude has boarded sales on the Village Roadshow Pictures thriller The Prize, starring Jason Clarke (Zero Dark Thirty) and Haley Bennett (Till). The London-based company will present the project to buyers this week at the American Film Market, with additional support and review from Village Roadshow Pictures’ international sales team.
Written by Chris Sparling (Greenland) with Espen Sandberg (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales) attached to direct, the pic is billed as a “taut Hitchcockian thriller” about an unwitting American who makes a last-minute trip to Sweden to attend the funeral of an old friend — a ranking member of the Nobel Prize selection committee — only to find himself entangled in the complex web of corruption and murder that exists beneath the surface of this rarified world.
Clarke is attached to play the role of Dan, and Bennett is set to play the role of Ida. Further casting is yet to be announced.
Written by Chris Sparling (Greenland) with Espen Sandberg (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales) attached to direct, the pic is billed as a “taut Hitchcockian thriller” about an unwitting American who makes a last-minute trip to Sweden to attend the funeral of an old friend — a ranking member of the Nobel Prize selection committee — only to find himself entangled in the complex web of corruption and murder that exists beneath the surface of this rarified world.
Clarke is attached to play the role of Dan, and Bennett is set to play the role of Ida. Further casting is yet to be announced.
- 10/31/2022
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
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