Exclusive: The Essential Film Group, under the chairmanship of former Sf Studios exec Rasmus Ramstad, is launching in Cannes with a newly minted international sales division Essential Films International and the Essential Film Fund.
In addition, the group has unveiled the expansion of Sarke Studios, its Tbilisi-based production facility, which it hopes will make the group a one stop shop for finance, production, post and sales.
Appointed to lead the newly formed sales agency, Essential Films International, are veteran sales executives James Norrie and Nina Kolokouri. Norrie has held leadership roles at Icon, Capitol Films and together with Kolokouri at Salt and most recently Amp. Kolokouri, in addition to her sales experience has spearheaded all business operations and financial closings for close to a decade.
Essential Film Group is also expanding its in-house production slate, together with plans for more co- production partnerships. Notable projects in development include an Ashley Miller-penned script as well as [In]Fusion, a sci-fi thriller about the future of AI; the self-funded production is currently out for casting and is due to shoot at the company’s Tbilisi studios.
Under the leadership of Irakli Chikvaidze, Head of Production at Sarke Studios, the company’s production wing has had significant upgrades to production facilities and its backlot space.
“It’s an exciting operation we’re building at Essential and a pleasure to have the experience of a sales team that includes James Norrie at the helm,” said Ramstad, Chairman at Essential Film Group. Norwegian vet Ramstad is the former Sf Studios CEO.
“With our investment board, we’ve structured a 3-5 year plan that includes establishing the Essential Film Fund, and developing our sales strategy,” said Andy Thompson, Partner & Senior Executive at Essential Film Group. “I have been consistently impressed with James and Nina’s work since our collaboration during their tenure at Salt. This partnership, together with our established production business, enables us to create additional opportunities for collaborating with talented and experienced producers at all levels of production.”
“We are thrilled to be joining the Essential family,” said Norrie. “It’s extremely rare for a sales agency to have the weight of a robust film fund, an established production company and its own studio/production base. This, together with a team with so much ambition and experience under one roof makes it feel like the sky is the limit”.
In addition, the group has unveiled the expansion of Sarke Studios, its Tbilisi-based production facility, which it hopes will make the group a one stop shop for finance, production, post and sales.
Appointed to lead the newly formed sales agency, Essential Films International, are veteran sales executives James Norrie and Nina Kolokouri. Norrie has held leadership roles at Icon, Capitol Films and together with Kolokouri at Salt and most recently Amp. Kolokouri, in addition to her sales experience has spearheaded all business operations and financial closings for close to a decade.
Essential Film Group is also expanding its in-house production slate, together with plans for more co- production partnerships. Notable projects in development include an Ashley Miller-penned script as well as [In]Fusion, a sci-fi thriller about the future of AI; the self-funded production is currently out for casting and is due to shoot at the company’s Tbilisi studios.
Under the leadership of Irakli Chikvaidze, Head of Production at Sarke Studios, the company’s production wing has had significant upgrades to production facilities and its backlot space.
“It’s an exciting operation we’re building at Essential and a pleasure to have the experience of a sales team that includes James Norrie at the helm,” said Ramstad, Chairman at Essential Film Group. Norwegian vet Ramstad is the former Sf Studios CEO.
“With our investment board, we’ve structured a 3-5 year plan that includes establishing the Essential Film Fund, and developing our sales strategy,” said Andy Thompson, Partner & Senior Executive at Essential Film Group. “I have been consistently impressed with James and Nina’s work since our collaboration during their tenure at Salt. This partnership, together with our established production business, enables us to create additional opportunities for collaborating with talented and experienced producers at all levels of production.”
“We are thrilled to be joining the Essential family,” said Norrie. “It’s extremely rare for a sales agency to have the weight of a robust film fund, an established production company and its own studio/production base. This, together with a team with so much ambition and experience under one roof makes it feel like the sky is the limit”.
- 5/14/2024
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
The "X-Men" film franchise was one of the superhero genre's first bonafide success stories. After debuting in 2000 to decent reviews and solid gold box office, Marvel's mutants added a new level of legitimacy to comic book adaptations on film and provided a runway for other characters to make it to the silver screen. It's a shame, then, that a franchise once emblematic of its genre's greatest potential has since succumbed to its worst qualities: overcomplicated canon, problematic players behind the scenes (his name rhymes with Shmyan Shminger), and corporate interests milking spin-offs for all they could be worth, even as the udders run dry. If it weren't for the Disney-Fox merger and Marvel Studios' plan for mutant integration into the MCU, the "X-Men" franchise would be as close to dead-in-the-water as you can be.
In fairness, the X-Men became friendly with development hell long before its first film. There's just...
In fairness, the X-Men became friendly with development hell long before its first film. There's just...
- 5/4/2024
- by Larry Fried
- Slash Film
Before Marvel Studios had the rights to the X-Men, Deadpool, Daredevil and The Fantastic Four, 20th Century Fox was secretly working on a film with all these characters. Given that at the time, Marvel Studios was only in its first Phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the audience could have been greeted with 2 parallel superhero franchises with multiple IPs sharing the same universe, both stemming from characters in the Marvel Universe.
Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, Ioan Gruffudd, and Michael Chiklis in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer
It has come to light that Fox while working on X-Men: First Class was secretly working on an ‘X-Men vs Fantastic Four’ film, based on the the Civil War storyline from the comics. Civil War served as the basis of the third Captain America film for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The basics of the plot of the film had been revealed,...
Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, Ioan Gruffudd, and Michael Chiklis in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer
It has come to light that Fox while working on X-Men: First Class was secretly working on an ‘X-Men vs Fantastic Four’ film, based on the the Civil War storyline from the comics. Civil War served as the basis of the third Captain America film for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The basics of the plot of the film had been revealed,...
- 3/20/2024
- by Anuraag Chatterjee
- FandomWire
(Welcome to Tales from the Box Office, our column that examines box office miracles, disasters, and everything in between, as well as what we can learn from them.)
"Mighty Morphin Power Rangers" first hit the airwaves in 1993, and even though that original iteration of Rangers didn't last all that long, the series has remained remarkably enduring. 30 years later, the series has aired nearly 1,000 episodes through its various iterations, has inspired hundreds of issues of comics books, millions in toy sales, and is truly a globally recognized brand with huge staying power. Still, the franchise has never managed to fully crack the code in making the jump to movies.
Two films, the "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers" movie in 1995 and "Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie," did fine enough by '90s "kids movies based on a show" standards, which were ultimately more about selling toys and copies of the films on VHS.
"Mighty Morphin Power Rangers" first hit the airwaves in 1993, and even though that original iteration of Rangers didn't last all that long, the series has remained remarkably enduring. 30 years later, the series has aired nearly 1,000 episodes through its various iterations, has inspired hundreds of issues of comics books, millions in toy sales, and is truly a globally recognized brand with huge staying power. Still, the franchise has never managed to fully crack the code in making the jump to movies.
Two films, the "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers" movie in 1995 and "Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie," did fine enough by '90s "kids movies based on a show" standards, which were ultimately more about selling toys and copies of the films on VHS.
- 4/22/2023
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
This year marks 25 years since the release of Paul Verhoeven’s movie adaptation of the Robert A. Heinlein novel, Starship Troopers. It’s a great movie, although not one that hues tightly to its source material. You could even be forgiven for thinking the director had never read the book or that this was a completely unrelated film which has had the Starship Troopers title slapped on it to sell more tickets.
Because, as it turns out, both of those things are true. Verhoeven is on record as saying he tried to read Starship Troopers but stopped after two chapters “because it was so boring;” meanwhile the movie began as a script called “Bug Hunt at Outpost 7.” Scriptwriter Ed Neumeier even described the original idea for the film as being “a big, silly, jingoistic, xenophobic, let’s-go-out-and-kill-the-enemy movie, and I had settled on the idea that it should be against insects…...
Because, as it turns out, both of those things are true. Verhoeven is on record as saying he tried to read Starship Troopers but stopped after two chapters “because it was so boring;” meanwhile the movie began as a script called “Bug Hunt at Outpost 7.” Scriptwriter Ed Neumeier even described the original idea for the film as being “a big, silly, jingoistic, xenophobic, let’s-go-out-and-kill-the-enemy movie, and I had settled on the idea that it should be against insects…...
- 9/3/2022
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
Actress Anne Heche was declared legally dead at 53 this week after suffering severe burns following a collision in Los Angeles. Among her recent roles was “Catfight,” in which she starred alongside Sandra Oh as two women in a series of physical altercations over the course of many years. The film’s director, Onur Tukel, sent this reminiscence to IndieWire.
If anyone deserves to write a tribute to Anne Heche, it certainly isn’t me. I don’t have the depth or talent to capture her essence. If Shakespeare were alive, maybe he could do it. Her life was certainly Shakespearean. I could recount the tragedies and dramas that have plagued her life but you can learn that on your own. She wrote a memoir about it. And certainly, you’ve heard the stories: how her father sexually abused her and later succumbed to AIDS, how she was raised in a cult,...
If anyone deserves to write a tribute to Anne Heche, it certainly isn’t me. I don’t have the depth or talent to capture her essence. If Shakespeare were alive, maybe he could do it. Her life was certainly Shakespearean. I could recount the tragedies and dramas that have plagued her life but you can learn that on your own. She wrote a memoir about it. And certainly, you’ve heard the stories: how her father sexually abused her and later succumbed to AIDS, how she was raised in a cult,...
- 8/13/2022
- by Onur Tukel
- Indiewire
"Dota: Dragon's Blood" didn't seem to rake significant traction upon its release. Yet another Netflix video game-adapted cartoon riding the fantasy adult animation steam trail left by the "Castlevania" animated adaptation, "Dota: Dragon's Blood" (created by Ashley Edward Miller) pitifully does not duel well against the agile contemporary canon of video game cartoons like the groundbreaking "Arcane." But although its shortcomings have been conspicuous, it isn't necessarily an undeserving production.
Whether or not you're versed with the source material, the "Dota 2" Moba video game (don't consult me on that lore), "Dota: Dragon's Blood" may intrigue a general follower of...
The post Dota: Dragon's Blood Book 3 Review: Despite Shortcomings, This Video Game Adaptation is Full of Existential Tension appeared first on /Film.
Whether or not you're versed with the source material, the "Dota 2" Moba video game (don't consult me on that lore), "Dota: Dragon's Blood" may intrigue a general follower of...
The post Dota: Dragon's Blood Book 3 Review: Despite Shortcomings, This Video Game Adaptation is Full of Existential Tension appeared first on /Film.
- 8/10/2022
- by Caroline Cao
- Slash Film
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Den of Geek, the leading entertainment media company, is proud to announce its return to San Diego with a seismic footprint at the epicenter of pop culture fandom, Comic-Con International, and the reveal of the brand’s highest-profile magazine cover star to date: Dwayne Johnson. The star of Black Adam, produced by New Line Cinema, DC Films, Seven Bucks Productions, and FlynnPictureCo, and set for distribution by Warner Bros. Pictures, revealed the magazine cover to his social media followers on Thursday, marking an exciting kick-off to the Den of Geek Comic-Con activations for 2022.
“Situated perfectly on the calendar and the map to make even the crushingly long hours and hard work that go into it feel like part of summer vacation, Sdcc is more than just the biggest, most storied, and most beautiful of fan events, it’s the one that reminds me...
Den of Geek, the leading entertainment media company, is proud to announce its return to San Diego with a seismic footprint at the epicenter of pop culture fandom, Comic-Con International, and the reveal of the brand’s highest-profile magazine cover star to date: Dwayne Johnson. The star of Black Adam, produced by New Line Cinema, DC Films, Seven Bucks Productions, and FlynnPictureCo, and set for distribution by Warner Bros. Pictures, revealed the magazine cover to his social media followers on Thursday, marking an exciting kick-off to the Den of Geek Comic-Con activations for 2022.
“Situated perfectly on the calendar and the map to make even the crushingly long hours and hard work that go into it feel like part of summer vacation, Sdcc is more than just the biggest, most storied, and most beautiful of fan events, it’s the one that reminds me...
- 7/14/2022
- by Mike Cecchini
- Den of Geek
Exclusive: Circle Of Confusion is almost doubling its number of partners with the promotion of Josh Adler, Charles Mastropietro and Susan Solomon-Shapiro. This is the first time in more than five years that the management/production company is expanding its partner ranks following the elevation of Brad Mendelsohn in 2015.
Adler, Mastropietro and Solomon-Shapiro’s client list span both the lit and talent side of the business. It includes such actors, writers/showrunners and filmmakers as Natalie Chaidez (Queen Of The South), Emma Corrin (The Crown), Willem Dafoe (The Lighthouse), Neil Goldman, Derek Kolstad (Creator of the John Wick franchise), Ben Lustig & Jake Thornton, Mike Makowsky (Bad Education), Ashley Miller, Rachel Morrison, Richard Naing, Molly Parker (Lost in Space), Noah Reid (Schitt’s Creek), David Schwimmer (Friends), Kit Steinkellner (Sorry for Your Loss...
Adler, Mastropietro and Solomon-Shapiro’s client list span both the lit and talent side of the business. It includes such actors, writers/showrunners and filmmakers as Natalie Chaidez (Queen Of The South), Emma Corrin (The Crown), Willem Dafoe (The Lighthouse), Neil Goldman, Derek Kolstad (Creator of the John Wick franchise), Ben Lustig & Jake Thornton, Mike Makowsky (Bad Education), Ashley Miller, Rachel Morrison, Richard Naing, Molly Parker (Lost in Space), Noah Reid (Schitt’s Creek), David Schwimmer (Friends), Kit Steinkellner (Sorry for Your Loss...
- 12/9/2020
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Former Wme motion picture literary agent Mike Fera has joined Kaplan/Perrone Entertainment as a manager. He starts today.
Fera was among a number of seasoned Wme agents in play amid the recent cuts at the Hollywood agency. He met with multiple agencies and management companies before making a deal with Kaplan/Perrone. Fera is the latest Wme agent to transition to management. Over the past couple of weeks, Wme talent agent and partner Duncan Millership joined Anonymous Content, and TV lit agent and partner Matt Solo joined 3 Arts Entertainment.
Fera spent the past decade at Wme representing writers and directors. Some of the clients he worked with there include Rafael Kasal, Timo Tjahjanto, Mark Mylod, Jennifer Yuh Nelson, Wes Tooke, Jay Karas, Emily Cohn and Ashley Miller.
Kaplan/Perrone, which marked its 20-year anniversary this year, also hired ICM Partners agent Andrew Murphy in March. Additionally, the...
Fera was among a number of seasoned Wme agents in play amid the recent cuts at the Hollywood agency. He met with multiple agencies and management companies before making a deal with Kaplan/Perrone. Fera is the latest Wme agent to transition to management. Over the past couple of weeks, Wme talent agent and partner Duncan Millership joined Anonymous Content, and TV lit agent and partner Matt Solo joined 3 Arts Entertainment.
Fera spent the past decade at Wme representing writers and directors. Some of the clients he worked with there include Rafael Kasal, Timo Tjahjanto, Mark Mylod, Jennifer Yuh Nelson, Wes Tooke, Jay Karas, Emily Cohn and Ashley Miller.
Kaplan/Perrone, which marked its 20-year anniversary this year, also hired ICM Partners agent Andrew Murphy in March. Additionally, the...
- 5/18/2020
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
In 2015, 20th Century Fox released Fantastic Four, allegedly both a reboot and a brand new take on the popular Marvel Comics superhero team that, back in 1961, launched the modern Marvel Universe as we know it and changed the course of pop culture history.
Despite the Four’s importance and success on the page, the property had yet to land a definitive screen incarnation despite several attempts. The 2015 film was not necessarily meant to be that version: instead, it was conceived and positioned as a dark, almost horror-like approach to the material — not unprecedented but also not quite the tone most fans envisioned when they thought of the comic-book Four and their colorful, often cosmic and wildly fun adventures.
Fantastic Four was directed by Josh Trank, at the time a 31-year-old filmmaker who had scored an instant hit three years earlier with Chronicle, a found-footage tale of three teen friends who...
Despite the Four’s importance and success on the page, the property had yet to land a definitive screen incarnation despite several attempts. The 2015 film was not necessarily meant to be that version: instead, it was conceived and positioned as a dark, almost horror-like approach to the material — not unprecedented but also not quite the tone most fans envisioned when they thought of the comic-book Four and their colorful, often cosmic and wildly fun adventures.
Fantastic Four was directed by Josh Trank, at the time a 31-year-old filmmaker who had scored an instant hit three years earlier with Chronicle, a found-footage tale of three teen friends who...
- 5/13/2020
- by Don Kaye
- Den of Geek
The Rock has gone from being one of the biggest names in WWE to one of the hardest working men in Hollywood. As he continues to announce new projects via social media, TheWrap lists Dwayne Johnson‘s insane schedule for the upcoming years. Disclaimer: Some of these projects are in script phase or have just been announced, so are subject to changes.
“Jumanji: The Next Level”
After the success of 2017’s “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle,” which grossed almost a billion dollars, Sony has set its sequel, also starring Nick Jonas, Jack Black, Karen Gillan and Kevin Hart, for December 13.
“Jungle Cruise”
Johnson will star in Disney’s live-action “Jungle Cruise,” which is based on its popular theme-park ride. “Jungle Cruise” will also star Emily Blunt, Jack Whitehall and Jesse Plemons, and Jaume Collet-Serra is directing. It is set to hit theaters July 24, 2020.
“Black Adam”
In 2016, it was announced Johnson...
“Jumanji: The Next Level”
After the success of 2017’s “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle,” which grossed almost a billion dollars, Sony has set its sequel, also starring Nick Jonas, Jack Black, Karen Gillan and Kevin Hart, for December 13.
“Jungle Cruise”
Johnson will star in Disney’s live-action “Jungle Cruise,” which is based on its popular theme-park ride. “Jungle Cruise” will also star Emily Blunt, Jack Whitehall and Jesse Plemons, and Jaume Collet-Serra is directing. It is set to hit theaters July 24, 2020.
“Black Adam”
In 2016, it was announced Johnson...
- 12/9/2019
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Wrap
John Wells has endorsed the dissident candidates the Writers Guild of America West, which is embroiled in a bitter dispute with Hollywood agents.
Wells, a prominent showrunner and two-time WGA West president, issued the statement of support in an email Sunday to members. He urged members to vote for the Writers Forward Together slate, which is running on a platform that highlights the need for the WGA to resume negotiations with the major agencies after staying away from talks since early June. Ballots went out Aug. 29 to about 10,000 members with results announced Sept. 16.
The dissidents have asserted that the WGA will be at a disadvantage should it go into negotiations next year with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers without an agency franchise deal. Phyllis Nagy is heading the slate and challenging current WGA West president David Goodman.
“Let me be clear, I am an admirer of our...
Wells, a prominent showrunner and two-time WGA West president, issued the statement of support in an email Sunday to members. He urged members to vote for the Writers Forward Together slate, which is running on a platform that highlights the need for the WGA to resume negotiations with the major agencies after staying away from talks since early June. Ballots went out Aug. 29 to about 10,000 members with results announced Sept. 16.
The dissidents have asserted that the WGA will be at a disadvantage should it go into negotiations next year with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers without an agency franchise deal. Phyllis Nagy is heading the slate and challenging current WGA West president David Goodman.
“Let me be clear, I am an admirer of our...
- 9/1/2019
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Calling on the WGA to return to the bargaining table with the Association of Talent Agents, former WGA West president John Wells announced today that he’s supporting Phyllis Nagy for president of the guild, as well as her entire slate of running mates. Nagy is seeking to unseat WGA West president David A. Goodman. Election ballots went out last Thursday and will be counted on Sept. 16.
“It’s time to return to the negotiating table with the Ata, pound out full disclosure and transparency for our members involved in packaging and demand the agencies fully divest themselves of their affiliated content companies,” he said in a message to the guild’s members today. “The candidates I’m supporting are committed to this approach. That’s why I’m supporting them. This isn’t caving, this is defining clear, and achievable goals in a negotiation.”
Wells, who was president of...
“It’s time to return to the negotiating table with the Ata, pound out full disclosure and transparency for our members involved in packaging and demand the agencies fully divest themselves of their affiliated content companies,” he said in a message to the guild’s members today. “The candidates I’m supporting are committed to this approach. That’s why I’m supporting them. This isn’t caving, this is defining clear, and achievable goals in a negotiation.”
Wells, who was president of...
- 9/1/2019
- by David Robb
- Deadline Film + TV
Oscar-nominated screenwriter Nicholas Kazan has warned that the leaders of the Writers Guild of America may tear apart the union.
Kazan, who is running for the WGA West board, issued the prediction in an email Monday to members following the Aug. 16 that the announcement that the WGA would start holding tribunals to punish writers who are not following the guild directive to fire agents if the agents have not agreed to follow the WGA’s Code of Conduct — which bans packaging fees and affiliate productions.
“This disaster was both inevitable and avoidable,” Kazan said. “Inevitable once the Guild embarked on its present course…and avoidable if the same legitimate issues had been dealt with in a different, less confrontational and more reasoned, manner. If trials are held and hundreds of writers are punished…or they abandon the Guild to avoid a nasty trial…the WGA will be defanged, its power diminished,...
Kazan, who is running for the WGA West board, issued the prediction in an email Monday to members following the Aug. 16 that the announcement that the WGA would start holding tribunals to punish writers who are not following the guild directive to fire agents if the agents have not agreed to follow the WGA’s Code of Conduct — which bans packaging fees and affiliate productions.
“This disaster was both inevitable and avoidable,” Kazan said. “Inevitable once the Guild embarked on its present course…and avoidable if the same legitimate issues had been dealt with in a different, less confrontational and more reasoned, manner. If trials are held and hundreds of writers are punished…or they abandon the Guild to avoid a nasty trial…the WGA will be defanged, its power diminished,...
- 8/26/2019
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Oscar-nominated screenwriter Nicholas Kazan has attacked leaders of the Writers Guild of America for “vitriol” in their hardline stance on Hollywood agents.
“This Guild is in crisis,” he said in an email sent Monday to members. “It’s not the crisis you think…it’s not whether or how to negotiate with the Ata or the individual talent agencies. The crisis is internal. The agency campaign has divided membership in a dangerous and unprecedented way, turning writer against writer, friend against friend…in an atmosphere dominated by distrust and vitriol.”
Kazan, who is the father of actress and writer Zoe Kazan and the son of Oscar-winning director Elia Kazan, is part of the WGA Forward Together slate. His group is contending that the WGA needs to get back to the bargaining table after two months of staying away from bargaining. WGA West president David Goodman declared on June 20 that the...
“This Guild is in crisis,” he said in an email sent Monday to members. “It’s not the crisis you think…it’s not whether or how to negotiate with the Ata or the individual talent agencies. The crisis is internal. The agency campaign has divided membership in a dangerous and unprecedented way, turning writer against writer, friend against friend…in an atmosphere dominated by distrust and vitriol.”
Kazan, who is the father of actress and writer Zoe Kazan and the son of Oscar-winning director Elia Kazan, is part of the WGA Forward Together slate. His group is contending that the WGA needs to get back to the bargaining table after two months of staying away from bargaining. WGA West president David Goodman declared on June 20 that the...
- 8/12/2019
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
More than 100 WGA members attended a meet-and-greet today with opposition leader Phyllis Nagy and members of her slate of candidates in the guild’s officer and board elections. The meeting, which was held at the London West Hollywood hotel, was the first in a series of Sunday meetings Nagy’s slate – Writers for Negotiation – has scheduled through August. Joining Nagy at the event were running mates Nick Jones, Jr., running for secretary-treasurer, and board candidates Rasheed Newson, Jason Fuchs, Sarah Treem and Ashley Miller.
“Our first meet-and-greet was a success because we did what we set out to do: answer questions from WGA members,” Nagy told Deadline. “Nick, Sarah, Jason, Rasheed, Ashley, and I met with a range of people – feature film writers, television writers, those who are at the very beginning of their careers, and others who have decades of experience. I was especially pleased that the majority of...
“Our first meet-and-greet was a success because we did what we set out to do: answer questions from WGA members,” Nagy told Deadline. “Nick, Sarah, Jason, Rasheed, Ashley, and I met with a range of people – feature film writers, television writers, those who are at the very beginning of their careers, and others who have decades of experience. I was especially pleased that the majority of...
- 8/12/2019
- by David Robb
- Deadline Film + TV
The election for the Writers Guild of America West remains heated with dissidents attacking the guild’s hardline stance on Hollywood agents.
The latest salvo came Sunday from “Wonder Woman” writer Jason Fuchs, who’s part of the WGA Forward Together slate. His group is contending that the WGA needs to get back to the bargaining table after two months of staying away from bargaining. Fuchs, who is seeking a seat on the WGA West board, hasa story credit on “Wonder Woman,” a shared screenplay credit for “Ice Age: Continental Drift” and is a co-producer for “It: Chapter 2.”
“The current approach of our WGA-w leadership is a failing strategy,” Fuchs said. “Negotiating with small and mid-size agencies — most of which don’t even package — does nothing to put pressure on the Big 4, and this strategy is exactly the reason for this long and pointless stalemate. It does nothing to raise writers’ incomes,...
The latest salvo came Sunday from “Wonder Woman” writer Jason Fuchs, who’s part of the WGA Forward Together slate. His group is contending that the WGA needs to get back to the bargaining table after two months of staying away from bargaining. Fuchs, who is seeking a seat on the WGA West board, hasa story credit on “Wonder Woman,” a shared screenplay credit for “Ice Age: Continental Drift” and is a co-producer for “It: Chapter 2.”
“The current approach of our WGA-w leadership is a failing strategy,” Fuchs said. “Negotiating with small and mid-size agencies — most of which don’t even package — does nothing to put pressure on the Big 4, and this strategy is exactly the reason for this long and pointless stalemate. It does nothing to raise writers’ incomes,...
- 8/11/2019
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
WGA West vice president candidate Craig Mazin has said that the guild needs a strategy shift and new leadership to resolve its ongoing feud with the talent agencies, but on his latest Scriptnotes podcast, he said there’s not much “daylight” between him and the guild’s current leadership on the issue.
“I wish I weren’t running for vice president, but I am,” said Mazin, the Emmy-nominated writer-creator of HBO’s Chernobyl. “So I guess the big deal is that I actually agree with everything the union is doing in terms of its fight with the agencies. I support that fight. I just don’t love the way they’re going about prosecuting the fight, and I want more of a voice to see if we can get it resolved quicker. That’s basically what I’m going after. But there’s less daylight between me and those folks than people might think.
“I wish I weren’t running for vice president, but I am,” said Mazin, the Emmy-nominated writer-creator of HBO’s Chernobyl. “So I guess the big deal is that I actually agree with everything the union is doing in terms of its fight with the agencies. I support that fight. I just don’t love the way they’re going about prosecuting the fight, and I want more of a voice to see if we can get it resolved quicker. That’s basically what I’m going after. But there’s less daylight between me and those folks than people might think.
- 7/30/2019
- by David Robb
- Deadline Film + TV
The WGA West’s opposition slate, led by presidential candidate Phyllis Nagy, is making its case for taking the guild in a new direction in the WGA’s battle with talent agents. One of their shared beliefs is that the standoff — now in its 105th day — threatens to undermine the guild’s solidarity going into next year’s negotiations with management’s AMPTP for a new film and TV contract. They also agree that the current fight stands to benefit the guild’s wealthiest and most powerful members, while the guild’s “most vulnerable” members are bearing most of the hardships.
The slate includes Craig Mazin running for vice president; Nick Jones, Jr., running for secretary-treasurer; and board candidates Marc Guggenheim, Nick Kazan, Ashley Miller, Courtney Kemp, Rasheed Newson, Ayelet Waldman, Sarah Treem and Jason Fuchs. The slate has received the support of more than 300 writers, from up-and-comers to superstar showrunners,...
The slate includes Craig Mazin running for vice president; Nick Jones, Jr., running for secretary-treasurer; and board candidates Marc Guggenheim, Nick Kazan, Ashley Miller, Courtney Kemp, Rasheed Newson, Ayelet Waldman, Sarah Treem and Jason Fuchs. The slate has received the support of more than 300 writers, from up-and-comers to superstar showrunners,...
- 7/26/2019
- by David Robb
- Deadline Film + TV
The slate of Phyllis Nagy is getting a massive showing of support from some of the biggest names in film and television. More than 300 writers of all levels in the film and TV business, from up-and-comers to superstars, have signed an open letter endorsing Nagy, who is running for president of WGA West, as well as her slate of Craig Mazin, who’s running for vice president, and Nick Jones Jr., up for secretary-treasurer.
Those who have signed the letter include heavyweights Shonda Rhimes, Greg Berlanti, Ryan Murphy, Ava DuVernay, Dan Fogelman, Kenya Barris, Steve Levitan, Damien Chazelle, Courtney Kemp, Aaron Sorkin, David E. Kelley, Akiva Goldsman, Lena Waithe, Phil Lord, Chris Miller, Allan Heinberg, David Benioff, Db Weiss, Alex Kurtzman, Sarah Treem,, Darren Star, Nic Pizzolatto, Scott Frank, Eric Kripke and Alex Gibney.
The list also includes top showrunner John Wells, one of the most respected leaders in the...
Those who have signed the letter include heavyweights Shonda Rhimes, Greg Berlanti, Ryan Murphy, Ava DuVernay, Dan Fogelman, Kenya Barris, Steve Levitan, Damien Chazelle, Courtney Kemp, Aaron Sorkin, David E. Kelley, Akiva Goldsman, Lena Waithe, Phil Lord, Chris Miller, Allan Heinberg, David Benioff, Db Weiss, Alex Kurtzman, Sarah Treem,, Darren Star, Nic Pizzolatto, Scott Frank, Eric Kripke and Alex Gibney.
The list also includes top showrunner John Wells, one of the most respected leaders in the...
- 7/26/2019
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Embattled producer and filmmaker Bryan Singer will get another shot in Hollywood as the director of another comic book adaptation, “Red Sonja.”
Singer, who was fired from “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Fox, is in talks to direct “Red Sonja” for Millennium. The Hollywood Reporter first had the news.
Millennium’s Avi Lerner and Joe Gatta are producing, and Ashley Miller (“X-Men: First Class”) is expected to pen the screenplay.
Also Read: Bryan Singer Steps Down as FX's 'Legion' Executive Producer After Sexual Misconduct Accusations
Representatives for Millennium did not respond to TheWrap’s multiple requests for comment. Nor did Singer’s attorney and publicist.
A Red Sonja film has been in the works at Millennium for more than a decade. Red Sonja is a sword-and-sorcery comic-book heroine from “Conan the Barbarian.” She was created in 1973 created by writer Roy Thomas and artist Barry Smith for Marvel Comics.
The...
Singer, who was fired from “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Fox, is in talks to direct “Red Sonja” for Millennium. The Hollywood Reporter first had the news.
Millennium’s Avi Lerner and Joe Gatta are producing, and Ashley Miller (“X-Men: First Class”) is expected to pen the screenplay.
Also Read: Bryan Singer Steps Down as FX's 'Legion' Executive Producer After Sexual Misconduct Accusations
Representatives for Millennium did not respond to TheWrap’s multiple requests for comment. Nor did Singer’s attorney and publicist.
A Red Sonja film has been in the works at Millennium for more than a decade. Red Sonja is a sword-and-sorcery comic-book heroine from “Conan the Barbarian.” She was created in 1973 created by writer Roy Thomas and artist Barry Smith for Marvel Comics.
The...
- 9/17/2018
- by Trey Williams
- The Wrap
Bryan Singer is in negotiations to direct Millennium's Red Sonja.
The X-Men: Apocalypse helmer, who has battled bad PR, lawsuits and continued scrutiny in the post-#MeToo era — none of which seems to have stuck — would take the reins on a big-screen adaptation of the 1970s sword-and-sorcery Conan the Barbarian comic book spinoff. Ashley Miller, who wrote X-Men: First Class (which Singer produced), is writing the screenplay.
Millennium is financing and producing the new version of Red Sonja and is hoping to start a franchise and capture the audience that turned out for Warner Bros.' Wonder Woman. Millennium’s Avi Lerner and Joe ...
The X-Men: Apocalypse helmer, who has battled bad PR, lawsuits and continued scrutiny in the post-#MeToo era — none of which seems to have stuck — would take the reins on a big-screen adaptation of the 1970s sword-and-sorcery Conan the Barbarian comic book spinoff. Ashley Miller, who wrote X-Men: First Class (which Singer produced), is writing the screenplay.
Millennium is financing and producing the new version of Red Sonja and is hoping to start a franchise and capture the audience that turned out for Warner Bros.' Wonder Woman. Millennium’s Avi Lerner and Joe ...
- 9/17/2018
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Bryan Singer is in negotiations to direct Millennium's Red Sonja.
The X-Men: Apocalypse helmer, who has battled bad PR, lawsuits and continued scrutiny in the post-#MeToo era — none of which seems to have stuck — would take the reins on a big-screen adaptation of the 1970s sword-and-sorcery Conan the Barbarian comic book spinoff. Ashley Miller, who wrote X-Men: First Class (which Singer produced), is writing the screenplay.
Millennium is financing and producing the new version of Red Sonja and is hoping to start a franchise and capture the audience that turned out for Warner Bros.' Wonder Woman. Millennium’s Avi Lerner and Joe ...
The X-Men: Apocalypse helmer, who has battled bad PR, lawsuits and continued scrutiny in the post-#MeToo era — none of which seems to have stuck — would take the reins on a big-screen adaptation of the 1970s sword-and-sorcery Conan the Barbarian comic book spinoff. Ashley Miller, who wrote X-Men: First Class (which Singer produced), is writing the screenplay.
Millennium is financing and producing the new version of Red Sonja and is hoping to start a franchise and capture the audience that turned out for Warner Bros.' Wonder Woman. Millennium’s Avi Lerner and Joe ...
- 9/17/2018
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
It’s Morphin’ Time. The new, action-packed trailer for Saban’S Power Rangers is here.
Read the latest issue of Angel Grove High School’s Newspaper The Roar!
Saban’s Power Rangers follows five ordinary high school kids who must become something extraordinary when they learn that their small town of Angel Grove – and the world – is on the verge of being obliterated by an alien threat.
Chosen by destiny, our heroes quickly discover that they are the only ones who can save the planet. But to do so they will have to overcome their real-life issues and band together as the Power Rangers before it is too late.
The film stars Dacre Montgomery (A Few Less Men) as Jason the Red Ranger, Rj Cyler (Me and Earl and the Dying Girl) as Billy the Blue Ranger, Naomi Scott (The 33) as Kimberly the Pink Ranger, Becky G (Empire) as Trini the Yellow Ranger,...
Read the latest issue of Angel Grove High School’s Newspaper The Roar!
Saban’s Power Rangers follows five ordinary high school kids who must become something extraordinary when they learn that their small town of Angel Grove – and the world – is on the verge of being obliterated by an alien threat.
Chosen by destiny, our heroes quickly discover that they are the only ones who can save the planet. But to do so they will have to overcome their real-life issues and band together as the Power Rangers before it is too late.
The film stars Dacre Montgomery (A Few Less Men) as Jason the Red Ranger, Rj Cyler (Me and Earl and the Dying Girl) as Billy the Blue Ranger, Naomi Scott (The 33) as Kimberly the Pink Ranger, Becky G (Empire) as Trini the Yellow Ranger,...
- 1/19/2017
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Author: Jon Lyus
We are in the age of the cinematic reinvention of nostalgia soaked TV reboots. We have Baywatch coming out in a few months and today we have our first good look at director Dean Israelite’s Power Rangers reboot. A big screen re-imagining has been on the cards for a while. In early 2015 Detention director Joseph Kahn surprised us with a realistic, yet ultraviolent take on Saban’s treasured property. Quickly jumped upon and taken down across the internet the news quickly came out that Power Rangers was indeed coming to the big screen.
The team writing the story for this reboot includes Kong: Skull Island’s John Gatins Burk Sharpless and Matt Sazama from Dracula Untold, X-Men: First Class’s Zack Stentz and Ashley Miller, and, intriguingly, Max Landis. The film needs a director with a solid vision and a good head to pull all the...
We are in the age of the cinematic reinvention of nostalgia soaked TV reboots. We have Baywatch coming out in a few months and today we have our first good look at director Dean Israelite’s Power Rangers reboot. A big screen re-imagining has been on the cards for a while. In early 2015 Detention director Joseph Kahn surprised us with a realistic, yet ultraviolent take on Saban’s treasured property. Quickly jumped upon and taken down across the internet the news quickly came out that Power Rangers was indeed coming to the big screen.
The team writing the story for this reboot includes Kong: Skull Island’s John Gatins Burk Sharpless and Matt Sazama from Dracula Untold, X-Men: First Class’s Zack Stentz and Ashley Miller, and, intriguingly, Max Landis. The film needs a director with a solid vision and a good head to pull all the...
- 1/19/2017
- by Jon Lyus
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
On Story – Screenwriters and Filmakers on Their Iconic Films
Edited by Barbara Morgan and Maya Perez
247 pages, $20, University of Texas Press
The Austin Film Festival is a great place to watch films and hear from filmmakers as co-founder and Executive Director Barbara Morgan assembles a winning lineup of producers, directors, screenwriters, and performers to come talk about their craft.
Thankfully, Morgan and Maya Perez, producer of the Emmy-winning PBS series Austin Film Festival’s On-Story, have collected an assortment in a too-short collection, On Story – Screenwriters and Filmakers on Their Iconic Films. After a James Franco introduction, we get the best from the last 20 years’ worth of conversations in transcript form.
Among the highlights is the Conversation with Shane Black, David Milch, and Sydney Pollack, where the diverse filmmakers talk character, plot, structure, theme and favorite moments from across their careers.
Similarly, genre devotees will appreciate the focus on comic...
Edited by Barbara Morgan and Maya Perez
247 pages, $20, University of Texas Press
The Austin Film Festival is a great place to watch films and hear from filmmakers as co-founder and Executive Director Barbara Morgan assembles a winning lineup of producers, directors, screenwriters, and performers to come talk about their craft.
Thankfully, Morgan and Maya Perez, producer of the Emmy-winning PBS series Austin Film Festival’s On-Story, have collected an assortment in a too-short collection, On Story – Screenwriters and Filmakers on Their Iconic Films. After a James Franco introduction, we get the best from the last 20 years’ worth of conversations in transcript form.
Among the highlights is the Conversation with Shane Black, David Milch, and Sydney Pollack, where the diverse filmmakers talk character, plot, structure, theme and favorite moments from across their careers.
Similarly, genre devotees will appreciate the focus on comic...
- 11/9/2016
- by Robert Greenberger
- Comicmix.com
Five years ago almost to the day we reported on the approach of a Starship Troopers reboot coming from Ashley Miller and Zack Stentz. With no further announcements the project languished and Miller and Stentz jumped on board to write Top Gun 2. Don’t fret though – Variety have announced that Columbia are digging deep […]
The post Starship Troopers reboot announced from the Baywatch movie team, franchise sighted appeared first on HeyUGuys.
The post Starship Troopers reboot announced from the Baywatch movie team, franchise sighted appeared first on HeyUGuys.
- 11/4/2016
- by Jon Lyus
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Who are the 50 best villains from the DC Comics TV series? What’s the one thing Thor screenwriter Ashley Miller wishes he could change from the first movie? Did you see the ice sculpture Hugh Jackman showed off to Ryan Reynolds for the Deadpool star’s birthday? How much longer is Thor: Ragnarok shooting? All that […]
The post Superhero Bits: Thor: Ragnarok Production Almost Over, Wolverine Ice Sculpture & More appeared first on /Film.
The post Superhero Bits: Thor: Ragnarok Production Almost Over, Wolverine Ice Sculpture & More appeared first on /Film.
- 10/27/2016
- by Ethan Anderton
- Slash Film
Image via Marvel Studios
It’s difficult to look at things as they were back even a few years ago. Back before 2011, the prospect of a Thor film wasn’t something that necessarily filled fans with a lot of hope. They’d spent decades watching good, easily-adaptable superheroes flounder on the big screen, and here Marvel Studios was looking to turn Thor — a character with the greatest potential to get messed up — into a live-action feature film.
It had its work cut out for it, for sure. This was a name that not very many moviegoers outside of the comic book fans knew a whole lot about. With his locks of hair and buff physique, he could’ve been a character that was more at home in a 1980s Arnold Schwarzenegger film than a modern movie. It could have been dumb and ridiculous. Luckily for us, that wasn’t the case.
It’s difficult to look at things as they were back even a few years ago. Back before 2011, the prospect of a Thor film wasn’t something that necessarily filled fans with a lot of hope. They’d spent decades watching good, easily-adaptable superheroes flounder on the big screen, and here Marvel Studios was looking to turn Thor — a character with the greatest potential to get messed up — into a live-action feature film.
It had its work cut out for it, for sure. This was a name that not very many moviegoers outside of the comic book fans knew a whole lot about. With his locks of hair and buff physique, he could’ve been a character that was more at home in a 1980s Arnold Schwarzenegger film than a modern movie. It could have been dumb and ridiculous. Luckily for us, that wasn’t the case.
- 10/26/2016
- by Joseph Medina
- LRMonline.com
Susan Solomon-Shapiro, who has spent the last seven years at Principato-Young, has just left to join management and production firm Circle of Confusion where she will work with directors and writers. All clients will come with her. They include: Rebecca Thomas (Little Mermaid), Deiderik van Rooijen (Cadaver), Amy Berg (Deliver Us From Evil, West Of Memphis), Natalie Chaidez, (Twelve Monkeys, Hunters), Ashley Miller (Thor, Black Sails), Zack Stentz (The Flash, Booster Gold…...
- 7/20/2016
- Deadline
Fandango recently interviewed Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson for his recent film, "Central Intelligence", co-starring Kevin Hart. During the interview, Johnson gave a status update on the perpetual "Big Trouble In Little China" remake from 20th Century Fox. The 1986 original film was directed by John Carpenter and starred actor Kurt Russell as blue collar truck driver Jack Burton who must rescue his friends fiancé from an evil sorcerer in an underground world that only a few people have seen before.
Johnson assured that the "Big Trouble In Little China" remake is still on the way saying:
"That's happening, man!. That's happening, that's happening. And again, that's one of those things where you gotta take really good care of it."
When the film was announced it was revealed that "X-men: First Class" writers Ashley Miller and Zack Stentz were writing the script. Johnson is also signed on to star opposite Kevin Hart...
Johnson assured that the "Big Trouble In Little China" remake is still on the way saying:
"That's happening, man!. That's happening, that's happening. And again, that's one of those things where you gotta take really good care of it."
When the film was announced it was revealed that "X-men: First Class" writers Ashley Miller and Zack Stentz were writing the script. Johnson is also signed on to star opposite Kevin Hart...
- 5/25/2016
- by J.B. Casas
- LRMonline.com
Roughly one year ago, it was announced that Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson was in talks to star in a remake of John Carpenter's classic, Big Trouble in Little China, for 20th Century Fox. At the time it was announced that X-Men: First Class writers Ashley Miller and Zack Stentz were writing the script, and that Johnson was going to play the Jack Burton role made famous by Kurt Russell in the 1986 original. In that film Russell plays a blue-collar truck driver who finds himself roped into a centuries-old battle with an evil sorcerer. The divisive remake -- Big Trouble is one of those properties fans hold near and dear to their hearts -- will likely update that story and contemporize it with a more modern-day spin, utilizing all the latest special effects. That's...
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- 5/25/2016
- by Erik Davis
- Movies.com
Roughly one year ago, it was announced that Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson was in talks to star in a remake of John Carpenter's classic Big Trouble in Little China for 20th Century Fox. At the time it was announced that X-Men: First Class writers Ashley Miller and Zack Stentz were writing the script, and that Johnson was going to play the Jack Burton role made famous by Kurt Russell in the 1986 original. In that film Russell plays a blue-collar truck driver who finds...
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- 5/24/2016
- by affiliates@fandango.com
- Fandango
Elizabeth Banks was spotted on the set of the upcoming Power Rangers movie which is currently shooting in Richmond, Canada. We have a couple of set videos and a few photos of the actress as the film’s villain, Rita Repulsa.
The video footage shows her walking through the street dragging her staff, and you even get to hear her yelling something at some people running to get away from her. This set is made to look like the fictional hometown of the Power Rangers team, Angel Grove, California.
I think the look of Rita Repulsa is pretty cool. It’s a fun character design and I can’t wait to see what the costumes of the actual Power Ranger characters look like. I’m even more excited to see what the giant Megazord robot looks like!
Saban's Power Rangers is being directed by Dean Israelite, from a script written...
The video footage shows her walking through the street dragging her staff, and you even get to hear her yelling something at some people running to get away from her. This set is made to look like the fictional hometown of the Power Rangers team, Angel Grove, California.
I think the look of Rita Repulsa is pretty cool. It’s a fun character design and I can’t wait to see what the costumes of the actual Power Ranger characters look like. I’m even more excited to see what the giant Megazord robot looks like!
Saban's Power Rangers is being directed by Dean Israelite, from a script written...
- 4/26/2016
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
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A new image from the upcoming Power Rangers reboot, with Elizabeth Banks as Rita Repulsa...
Currently filming in Vancouver is the brand new Power Rangers, that's set to reboot the movie series and potentially kick off a new collection of films. Dean Israelite, of Project Almanac vintage, is directing this one, from a screenplay by John Gatins, Buck Sharpless, Matt Sazama, Zack Stentz, Max Landis and Ashley Miller.
Arguably the highest profile piece of casting for the new movie was the inclusions of Elizabeth Banks, who is playing villain Rita Repulsa. And the first image of Banks in the part has now been released. She also revealed that "it's definitely a modern and edgy reimagining of the original Rita Repulsa. We wanted to give her a backstory that connects her to the new Rangers".
The new Power Rangers movie lands on March 24th 2017, and you can see...
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A new image from the upcoming Power Rangers reboot, with Elizabeth Banks as Rita Repulsa...
Currently filming in Vancouver is the brand new Power Rangers, that's set to reboot the movie series and potentially kick off a new collection of films. Dean Israelite, of Project Almanac vintage, is directing this one, from a screenplay by John Gatins, Buck Sharpless, Matt Sazama, Zack Stentz, Max Landis and Ashley Miller.
Arguably the highest profile piece of casting for the new movie was the inclusions of Elizabeth Banks, who is playing villain Rita Repulsa. And the first image of Banks in the part has now been released. She also revealed that "it's definitely a modern and edgy reimagining of the original Rita Repulsa. We wanted to give her a backstory that connects her to the new Rangers".
The new Power Rangers movie lands on March 24th 2017, and you can see...
- 4/20/2016
- Den of Geek
Lionsgate has just released an official plot synopsis for their upcoming Power Rangers movie. The movie, which is being directed by Dean Israelite (Project Almanac) has started production, and it seems like fans of the franchise are really curious to see what he plans on doing with the property.
I’m not getting excited about this just yet, but as long as the film manages to keep the spirit of the original series, then I think fans will be happy with whatever is thrown at them. I really hope that they actually develop an unexpectedly kick ass Power Rangers movie.
Here’s the synopsis with details on the plot as well as a listing of the full cast of the film:
Saban's Power Rangers follows five ordinary high school kids who must become something extraordinary when they learn that their small town of Angel Grove - and the world -...
I’m not getting excited about this just yet, but as long as the film manages to keep the spirit of the original series, then I think fans will be happy with whatever is thrown at them. I really hope that they actually develop an unexpectedly kick ass Power Rangers movie.
Here’s the synopsis with details on the plot as well as a listing of the full cast of the film:
Saban's Power Rangers follows five ordinary high school kids who must become something extraordinary when they learn that their small town of Angel Grove - and the world -...
- 3/1/2016
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
With a little over a year to go before it's release, the Power Rangers movie reboot has officially started filming, Lionsgate has revealed. Coming with the announcement is our first official synopsis for the movie. Come inside to learn more!
Saban's Power Rangers began shooting today in Vancouver. Helmed by director Dean Isrealite with a cast of (relatively) newcomers: Dacre Montgomery as Jason, Naomi Scott as Kimberly, Rj Cyler as Billy, Ludi Li as Zack and Becky Gomez as Trini. Of course Elizabeth Banks is playing the villian Rita Repulsa with no other cast members announced as of yet. The official synopsis realeased by Lionsgate says:
"Saban’s Power Rangers follows five ordinary high school kids who must become something extraordinary when they learn that their small town of Angel Grove – and the world – is on the verge of being obliterated by an alien threat. Chosen by destiny, our heroes...
Saban's Power Rangers began shooting today in Vancouver. Helmed by director Dean Isrealite with a cast of (relatively) newcomers: Dacre Montgomery as Jason, Naomi Scott as Kimberly, Rj Cyler as Billy, Ludi Li as Zack and Becky Gomez as Trini. Of course Elizabeth Banks is playing the villian Rita Repulsa with no other cast members announced as of yet. The official synopsis realeased by Lionsgate says:
"Saban’s Power Rangers follows five ordinary high school kids who must become something extraordinary when they learn that their small town of Angel Grove – and the world – is on the verge of being obliterated by an alien threat. Chosen by destiny, our heroes...
- 2/29/2016
- by feeds@cinelinx.com (Jason The X)
- Cinelinx
Hollywood certainly does a great job of banking of our nostalgia. From comic book movies to reboots of beloved film franchises, they certainly know how to tap into our emotional core as human beings, like it or not. The next group to get catered to will be the many generations of Power Rangers fans, a long-running TV series that's been on the small screen since the early 1990s.
Sure, there have been a few movies in the series' long run, but none of them set the world on fire. The first film--which featured Ivan Ooze as the main villain--while a solid attempt to adapt something to the big screen, failed to succeed on many levels, and after that one, the movies only went downhill from there. With this Lionsgate production, the studio hopes to revitalize the brand for a modern audience.
The film is set for a March 24, 2017 release, and with that in mind,...
Sure, there have been a few movies in the series' long run, but none of them set the world on fire. The first film--which featured Ivan Ooze as the main villain--while a solid attempt to adapt something to the big screen, failed to succeed on many levels, and after that one, the movies only went downhill from there. With this Lionsgate production, the studio hopes to revitalize the brand for a modern audience.
The film is set for a March 24, 2017 release, and with that in mind,...
- 2/29/2016
- by Joseph Medina
- LRMonline.com
Production is officially underway in Vancouver on Saban’s all-new Power Rangers film reboot, whose title was recently confirmed as the admittedly succinct: Saban’s Power Rangers. The movie will follow the established Power Rangers format, introducing five ordinary high school kids who rise to the occasion when they discover their small town of Angel Grove is under the evil eye of an alien menace.
Recently, it was announced that that very menace will be Rita Repulsa, played by Elizabeth Banks (The Hunger Games, Pitch Perfect). Banks isn’t afraid to step into the role of an over-the-top personality, but her role in Saban’s Power Rangers marks the first time she’ll be playing a straight-up Big Bad villain, so that’s reason enough to be excited.
Banks will be joined by an army of newcomers taking over the suit of the Rangers: Rj Cyler (Billy the Blue Ranger...
Recently, it was announced that that very menace will be Rita Repulsa, played by Elizabeth Banks (The Hunger Games, Pitch Perfect). Banks isn’t afraid to step into the role of an over-the-top personality, but her role in Saban’s Power Rangers marks the first time she’ll be playing a straight-up Big Bad villain, so that’s reason enough to be excited.
Banks will be joined by an army of newcomers taking over the suit of the Rangers: Rj Cyler (Billy the Blue Ranger...
- 2/29/2016
- by Mitchel Broussard
- We Got This Covered
Lionsgate has announced that production has officially begun on Saban Brands' "Power Rangers" film reboot in Vancouver.
The story follows five ordinary high school kids who must become something extraordinary when they learn that their small town of Angel Grove – and the world – is on the verge of being obliterated by an alien threat.
To save the planet, they will have to overcome their real-life issues and band together as the Power Rangers before it is too late. Dacre Montgomery, Rj Cyler, Naomi Scott, Becky G and Ludi Lin play the five teens while Elizabeth Banks is the villain Rita Repulsa.
Dean Israelite directs from a script by John Gatins, Burk Sharpless, Matt Sazama, Zack Stentz, Ashley Miller and Max Landis. Haim Saban, Brian Casentini, Wyck Godfrey, and Marty Bowen will produce the film which opens March 24th next year.
Source: Lionsgate...
The story follows five ordinary high school kids who must become something extraordinary when they learn that their small town of Angel Grove – and the world – is on the verge of being obliterated by an alien threat.
To save the planet, they will have to overcome their real-life issues and band together as the Power Rangers before it is too late. Dacre Montgomery, Rj Cyler, Naomi Scott, Becky G and Ludi Lin play the five teens while Elizabeth Banks is the villain Rita Repulsa.
Dean Israelite directs from a script by John Gatins, Burk Sharpless, Matt Sazama, Zack Stentz, Ashley Miller and Max Landis. Haim Saban, Brian Casentini, Wyck Godfrey, and Marty Bowen will produce the film which opens March 24th next year.
Source: Lionsgate...
- 2/29/2016
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Elizabeth Banks will play the main villain Rita Repulsa in director Dean Israelite's upcoming Power Rangers movie. My first reaction to hearing the news was that she is perfect for the part! It's not hard to imagine her taking on this crazy villainous role. Banks has the talent to bring the insanity of this character to life on the big screen.
So far she is the biggest actor to sign onto the project. She will join relative newcomers Rj Cyler, Becky G, Ludi Lin, Naomi Scott, and Dacre Montgomery. They are playing the teens that become infused with extraterrestrial powers and end up forming the Power Rangers team, who must stop the world from being conquered by Rita Repulsa.
The script for the film was written by X-Men: First Class writers Ashley Miller and Zack Stentz so that gives me hope that the movie will be decent. The movie hits theaters on January 13th,...
So far she is the biggest actor to sign onto the project. She will join relative newcomers Rj Cyler, Becky G, Ludi Lin, Naomi Scott, and Dacre Montgomery. They are playing the teens that become infused with extraterrestrial powers and end up forming the Power Rangers team, who must stop the world from being conquered by Rita Repulsa.
The script for the film was written by X-Men: First Class writers Ashley Miller and Zack Stentz so that gives me hope that the movie will be decent. The movie hits theaters on January 13th,...
- 2/2/2016
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
In a fairly surprising bit of casting, THR has revealed that Elizabeth Banks (The Hunger Games movies) will play a villain in director Dean Israelite’s new big-screen take on the ’90s kids’ TV series, Power Rangers.
According to the trade, she’ll be playing one of the classic series baddies known as Rita Repulsa, who is described as “an alien who has designs on the planet.” This will be Banks’ first villainous role (unless you count her initially ambiguous turn as Effie Trinket in The Hunger Games), as the actress is generally known for her more comedic characters – although, it does remain to be seen how seriously this movie winds up taking itself.
Banks will join a cast of newcomers that includes Rj Cyler, Becky G, Ludy Lin, Naomi Scott and Dacre Montgomery, who will star as the team of extra terrestrial bashing teens themselves.
Power Rangers was written...
According to the trade, she’ll be playing one of the classic series baddies known as Rita Repulsa, who is described as “an alien who has designs on the planet.” This will be Banks’ first villainous role (unless you count her initially ambiguous turn as Effie Trinket in The Hunger Games), as the actress is generally known for her more comedic characters – although, it does remain to be seen how seriously this movie winds up taking itself.
Banks will join a cast of newcomers that includes Rj Cyler, Becky G, Ludy Lin, Naomi Scott and Dacre Montgomery, who will star as the team of extra terrestrial bashing teens themselves.
Power Rangers was written...
- 2/2/2016
- by Mark Cassidy
- We Got This Covered
The Power Rangers reboot has so far assembled a cast of relative unknowns (Rj Cyler, Becky G, Ludy Lin, Naomi Scott, and Dacre Montgomery) to play the iconic team of heroes, but The Hollywood Reporter confirms that Elizabeth Banks (The Hunger Games) has signed up to play the lead villain! That will be classic baddie Rita Repulsa, "an alien witch who has designs on the planet." Not much is known about the plot right now, but this character's involvement certainly gives us a rough idea of what we should expect and the trade mentions that the movie features the formation of, "a colorful team who must stop the world from being conquered." Dean Israelite (Project Almanac) is directing from a script by Ashley Miller and Zack Stentz (Thor). Tell us, what do you guys think of his casting addition to Power Rangers? Big news! @ElizabethBanks joins the cast of @PowerRangersMovie as the villainous #RitaRepulsa.
- 2/2/2016
- ComicBookMovie.com
"The Hunger Games" and "Pitch Perfect" actress Elizabeth Banks has been cast in the role of the villainous Rita Repulsa in the upcoming "Power Rangers" reboot at Saban and Liongate.
Dacre Montgomery, Rj Cyler, Ludy Lin, Becky G and Naomi Scott star as the new incarnations of the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers in the Dean Israelite-directed fil which boasts a script by "X-Men: First Class" scribes Ashley Miller and Zack Stentz.
In the franchise, Rita Repulsa is an evil humanoid alien sorceress bent on galactic domination. Several actresses have taken on the role in the various films and TV shows to date.
The film is slated to hit theaters on March 24th 2017.
Big news! @ElizabethBanks joins the cast of @PowerRangersMovie as the villainous #RitaRepulsa. Let the countdown to 2017 begin!
A photo posted by Power Rangers (@powerrangersmovie) on Feb 2, 2016 at 9:09am Pst...
Dacre Montgomery, Rj Cyler, Ludy Lin, Becky G and Naomi Scott star as the new incarnations of the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers in the Dean Israelite-directed fil which boasts a script by "X-Men: First Class" scribes Ashley Miller and Zack Stentz.
In the franchise, Rita Repulsa is an evil humanoid alien sorceress bent on galactic domination. Several actresses have taken on the role in the various films and TV shows to date.
The film is slated to hit theaters on March 24th 2017.
Big news! @ElizabethBanks joins the cast of @PowerRangersMovie as the villainous #RitaRepulsa. Let the countdown to 2017 begin!
A photo posted by Power Rangers (@powerrangersmovie) on Feb 2, 2016 at 9:09am Pst...
- 2/2/2016
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
The live-action Mighty Morphin Power Rangers movie at Lionsgate was in development for quite a while before the studio selected Dean Israelite (Project Almanac) to direct. However, Lionsgate apparently listened to a pitch from an unnamed director before giving Israelite the job who hired Alex Ruiz and Gregory Semkow to produce some concept art. Here's what the vision for the live-action reboot from the 'mystery' director looks like. Whether Israelite will deliver something similar remains to be seen. The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers reboot from Lionsgate will be directed by Israelite from a script penned by Ashley Miller and Zack Stentz (Thor, X-Men: First Class, Star Trek Beyond). The film will star Dacre Montgomery, Ludi Lin, R.J.Cyler, Naomi Scott and Becky Gomez. The reboot is currently scheduled to hit theaters on March 24, 2017.
- 1/1/2016
- ComicBookMovie.com
As you know, Lionsgate has been developing a new Power Rangers movie with Saban Entertainment. The studio spent some time looking for a director before they settled on Dean Israelite (Project Almanac).
One of the other directors up for the gig had conceptual artists Alex Ruiz and Gregory Semkow whip up some designs for his film pitch. There’s no information given on who the director was, but the artwork includes Zordon, Rita Repulsa, The Control Room, Alpha, T-Rex Zord, and Megazord.
Regarding the art, Ruiz said:
"This is some concept art I made for a director who was pitching his film version of Power Rangers. If you guys remember someone made an amazing PR fan film this year, which lit the fire under many asses to get a full on Hollywood film made. So, many a director jumped at the opportunity. Unfortunately our guy didn't get it, it went to another director.
One of the other directors up for the gig had conceptual artists Alex Ruiz and Gregory Semkow whip up some designs for his film pitch. There’s no information given on who the director was, but the artwork includes Zordon, Rita Repulsa, The Control Room, Alpha, T-Rex Zord, and Megazord.
Regarding the art, Ruiz said:
"This is some concept art I made for a director who was pitching his film version of Power Rangers. If you guys remember someone made an amazing PR fan film this year, which lit the fire under many asses to get a full on Hollywood film made. So, many a director jumped at the opportunity. Unfortunately our guy didn't get it, it went to another director.
- 12/29/2015
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
More often than not, a blockbuster being released in January is never a good sign. However, Power Rangers fans may want to put their worries about the upcoming reboot aside, as Lionsgate have announced that it’s been moved from its original release date of January 13th, 2017 to March 24th of the same year. That new date means it will square off against Universal’s new take on The Mummy, a possible mistake seeing as Tom Cruise is said to be circling the leading role in that movie.
This new take on Power Rangers will star newcomer Dacre Montgomery as the Red Ranger, Rj Cyler (Me and Earl and The Dying Girl) as the Blue Ranger, Naomi Scott (The Martian) as the Pink Ranger, unknown talent Ludi Lin as the Black Ranger and musician Becky G. as the Yellow Ranger. The plan apparently is to have better known actors take...
This new take on Power Rangers will star newcomer Dacre Montgomery as the Red Ranger, Rj Cyler (Me and Earl and The Dying Girl) as the Blue Ranger, Naomi Scott (The Martian) as the Pink Ranger, unknown talent Ludi Lin as the Black Ranger and musician Becky G. as the Yellow Ranger. The plan apparently is to have better known actors take...
- 12/18/2015
- by Josh Wilding
- We Got This Covered
Becky Gomez is the latest actress to be cast in the upcoming Power Rangers film, and she will kick ass as the Yellow Ranger. This completes the core team of the five rangers. She joins Dacre Montogomery (Betrand The Terrible) as the Red Ranger, Naomi Scott (The Martian) as the Pink Ranger, Ludi Lin (Marco Polo) as the Black Ranger, and Rj Cyler (Me And Earl And The Dying Girl) as the Blue Ranger. I've included previously released descriptions of each of these characters below.
I really don't know much about Becky Gomez, but she's a singer/songwriter that also goes by the name Becky G. The biggest thing that she's done so far is a two-episode guest arc on Fox's Empire.
For more news on the Power Ranger reboot, click here. The movie is being directed by Dean Israelite (Almanac) from a script by Ashley Miller and Zack Stentz.
I really don't know much about Becky Gomez, but she's a singer/songwriter that also goes by the name Becky G. The biggest thing that she's done so far is a two-episode guest arc on Fox's Empire.
For more news on the Power Ranger reboot, click here. The movie is being directed by Dean Israelite (Almanac) from a script by Ashley Miller and Zack Stentz.
- 11/1/2015
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
The Power Rangers have found their final member! The official Instagram account for the movie has confirmed that Becky Gomez (Empire) is set to take on the role of the Yellow Ranger in the movie, and she now joins a cast which includes Naomi Scott as the Pink Ranger, Dacre Montgomery as the Red Ranger, Ludi Lin as the Black Ranger, and Rj Cyler as the Blue Ranger.
The names of the actors listed above probably don’t ring a bell, but past reports have claimed that the studio was always planning on choosing unknowns to play the Power Rangers, with bigger stars chosen to appear as the villain/s. They’ll no doubt the the ones who are cast next, and it’s going to be very interesting to see what kind of stars the project is able to attract.
Ashley Miller and Zack Stentz (X-Men: First Class) wrote...
The names of the actors listed above probably don’t ring a bell, but past reports have claimed that the studio was always planning on choosing unknowns to play the Power Rangers, with bigger stars chosen to appear as the villain/s. They’ll no doubt the the ones who are cast next, and it’s going to be very interesting to see what kind of stars the project is able to attract.
Ashley Miller and Zack Stentz (X-Men: First Class) wrote...
- 10/31/2015
- by Josh Wilding
- We Got This Covered
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