Sam Rockwell is easily one of my favourite actors; I love the dude and will check out anything he does. Deadline has reported that the actor is now circling a biopic about legendary country musician Merle Haggard which is slated to be directed by Robin Bissell. Should Rockwell take on the role, it's said that he'll be doing his own singing of Haggard's classic songs…...
- 7/27/2020
- by Kevin Fraser
- JoBlo.com
Exclusive: Amazon Studios has acquired a package for a film biopic of iconic C&W singer Merle Haggard. Oscar-winning actor Sam Rockwell is circling to play Haggard, and he will do his own singing of Haggard’s standards, recorded during the ‘60s when the picture is set.
Robin Bissell will direct the film, and he will write the script with Merle’s widow, Theresa Haggard, based on the Haggard memoir Sing Me Back Home. Bissell and Haggard will produce the film together.
Pic will be a reunion for Bissell and Rockwell, latter of whom starred with Taraji P. Henson in the 2019 Bissell-directed drama The Best of Enemies, about the face off between civil rights activist Ann Atwater against C.P. Ellis, Exalted Cyclops of the Ku Klux Klan, in 1971 Durham, North Carolina over the issue of school integration.
Haggard had a long and storied career, but the film will focus on...
Robin Bissell will direct the film, and he will write the script with Merle’s widow, Theresa Haggard, based on the Haggard memoir Sing Me Back Home. Bissell and Haggard will produce the film together.
Pic will be a reunion for Bissell and Rockwell, latter of whom starred with Taraji P. Henson in the 2019 Bissell-directed drama The Best of Enemies, about the face off between civil rights activist Ann Atwater against C.P. Ellis, Exalted Cyclops of the Ku Klux Klan, in 1971 Durham, North Carolina over the issue of school integration.
Haggard had a long and storied career, but the film will focus on...
- 7/27/2020
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Stars: Taraji P. Henson, Sam Rockwell, Babou Ceesay, Nick Searcy, Wes Bentley, Anne Heche, Bruce McGill, John Gallagher Jr., Nicholas Logan, Gilbert Glenn Brown, Caitlin Mehner | Written and Directed by Robin Bissell
The Best of Enemies is directed by Robin Bissell and follows the intense relationship between Ku Klux Klan president C.P. Ellis and Black Rights activist Ann Atwater played by Academy Award Winner Sam Rockwell and Taraji P. Henson, respectively. Bissell’s film doesn’t necessarily tread new ground in this now saturated genre, albeit much-needed conversation of cultural acceptance. However, The Best of Enemies is a gripping and deeply astonishingly poignant tale that showcases a truly outstanding performance from Taraji P. Henson, who is an absolute powerhouse and steals the entire show with a phenomenal in both a visual and verbal performance.
If you’re going into The Best of Enemies wanting a fresh take on racial tension in America,...
The Best of Enemies is directed by Robin Bissell and follows the intense relationship between Ku Klux Klan president C.P. Ellis and Black Rights activist Ann Atwater played by Academy Award Winner Sam Rockwell and Taraji P. Henson, respectively. Bissell’s film doesn’t necessarily tread new ground in this now saturated genre, albeit much-needed conversation of cultural acceptance. However, The Best of Enemies is a gripping and deeply astonishingly poignant tale that showcases a truly outstanding performance from Taraji P. Henson, who is an absolute powerhouse and steals the entire show with a phenomenal in both a visual and verbal performance.
If you’re going into The Best of Enemies wanting a fresh take on racial tension in America,...
- 4/15/2019
- by Jak-Luke Sharp
- Nerdly
Throughout the countless years, Hollywood has always embraced social-conscious, race-related dramas in a revealing effort to recreate the turbulent and/or triumphant sensibilities of America's complicated past, present, and possible future. For the most part, cinematic showcases involving racial/cultural strife in the areas of romance, history, politics, friendship, unlikely partnerships, the workplace, and other topical considerations had made satisfying strides in portraying the complexity of the human condition on the big screen. Naturally, some considerable Tinseltown racial dramas elicit an assortment of emotions that convey uplifting, self-reflective, and sometimes disheartening sentiments. Recent examples of heralded conflicted black/white cinema included last year's Academy Award-winning Green Book, the powerfully poignant If Beale Street Could Talk, and the explosive BlacKkKlansmen. Writer-director Robin Bissell makes his directorial debut with the affecting but flatly received desegregation drama The...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 4/9/2019
- Screen Anarchy
Chicago - According to my YouTube history, unlikely animal friendships would likely be in my top 10 most watched videos, alongside Diy home projects and finding out if that sharp pain means I’m dying. Something as simple as a cat and dog being bffs is adorable, but unlike what “The Best of Enemies” would have you believe, two naturally opposing forces don’t always need to play nice.
Rating: 1.5/5.0
“Based on a true story” is one of those terms that is thrown around pretty casually when it comes to film. It could mean anything from, “Hey, we’re giving you most of these real events that happened!” to “These real people existed, but we basically made everything else up!” Usually, if the story sounds too good to be true, it likely isn’t. In the case of activist Ann Atwater and former Klan leader C.P. Ellis, the real story is stranger than fiction.
Rating: 1.5/5.0
“Based on a true story” is one of those terms that is thrown around pretty casually when it comes to film. It could mean anything from, “Hey, we’re giving you most of these real events that happened!” to “These real people existed, but we basically made everything else up!” Usually, if the story sounds too good to be true, it likely isn’t. In the case of activist Ann Atwater and former Klan leader C.P. Ellis, the real story is stranger than fiction.
- 4/7/2019
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Friday Midday: New Line/DC’s Shazam! is currently at this point in time looking at a $18.9M Friday, a 3-day of $49M and including previews a running total of $52.3M. Note late night business yesterday pushed its Thursday higher, so we might see the same again tonight, plus Saturday matinees, natch.
Paramount’s Pet Sematary is drawing in $9.5M today and a 3-day opening of $23.1M.
All Friday figures above include last night’s previews.
Disney’s Dumbo is looking at a $4.6M second Friday, -70% for a second weekend of $17M, -63%, steep for a family film. 10-day by Eod Sunday will be $75M.
Universal’s Us owns fourth with a third Friday of $4.75M, -53%, a third 3-day of $15.6M, -53% –a solid hold– and a running total of $154.1M.
Disney’s Captain Marvel takes 5th with $14.2M, -31% in weekend 5, for a running total by end of Sunday of $375.6M.
Paramount’s Pet Sematary is drawing in $9.5M today and a 3-day opening of $23.1M.
All Friday figures above include last night’s previews.
Disney’s Dumbo is looking at a $4.6M second Friday, -70% for a second weekend of $17M, -63%, steep for a family film. 10-day by Eod Sunday will be $75M.
Universal’s Us owns fourth with a third Friday of $4.75M, -53%, a third 3-day of $15.6M, -53% –a solid hold– and a running total of $154.1M.
Disney’s Captain Marvel takes 5th with $14.2M, -31% in weekend 5, for a running total by end of Sunday of $375.6M.
- 4/5/2019
- by Anthony D'Alessandro and Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
The filmmakers behind The Best of Enemies — the true story of how Ann Atwater (Taraji P. Henson), a black civil rights activist, and C.P. Ellis (Sam Rockwell), a local Ku Klux Klan leader, came together during a 10-day community forum on the integration of schools in Durham, N.C., in the 1970s — were always aware of potential comparisons to Green Book or Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. But, as writer-director-producer Robin Bissell said at the film's New York City premiere Thursday, simply dismissing it as a feel-good movie about race does a disservice to the real-life story.
“I ...
“I ...
The filmmakers behind The Best of Enemies — the true story of how Ann Atwater (Taraji P. Henson), a black civil rights activist, and C.P. Ellis (Sam Rockwell), a local Ku Klux Klan leader, came together during a 10-day community forum on the integration of schools in Durham, N.C., in the 1970s — were always aware of potential comparisons to Green Book or Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. But, as writer-director-producer Robin Bissell said at the film's New York City premiere Thursday, simply dismissing it as a feel-good movie about race does a disservice to the real-life story.
“I ...
“I ...
Robin Bissell’s “The Best of Enemies” may not be some kind of game-changing corrective to all the retrograde films about race in America (we’re talking about an uplifting historical biopic directed by the executive producer of “Seabiscuit”), but this sturdy drama has the good sense to recognize that allyship is only valuable when it’s hard. When it’s a sacrifice. When it forces white people to put some of their own skin in the game.
Feel-good Hollywood movies about race in America — specifically the ones that are meant to assuage white audiences of the latent guilt they feel about the historical and ongoing treatment of black people in this country — tend to hinge on the concept of friendship. And not just any friendship, but true friendship. The clumsy Eddie Murphy vehicle “Mr. Church” was “inspired by a true friendship.” So was “Green Book,” even if the truth...
Feel-good Hollywood movies about race in America — specifically the ones that are meant to assuage white audiences of the latent guilt they feel about the historical and ongoing treatment of black people in this country — tend to hinge on the concept of friendship. And not just any friendship, but true friendship. The clumsy Eddie Murphy vehicle “Mr. Church” was “inspired by a true friendship.” So was “Green Book,” even if the truth...
- 4/4/2019
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
For the last several years, Hollywood films have been trying to convince us that race relations in the United States can be resolved if 1) a black man goes on a road trip with a racist white man, 2) a white Nazi falls in love with a black German girl, or 3) a black domestic worker bakes a pie made out of feces for her racist employer. And that’s just the shortlist of basic solutions Hollywood has concocted. So it should come as no surprise that we have yet another film that simplifies the issue by asking the question: Have we just tried talking to each other?
That’s exactly where writer-director Robin Bissell goes in “The Best of Enemies,” which urges audiences to see the value of a brutally honest debate between two very opposing sides in 1971 North Carolina. Based on actual events (and the book by Osha Gray Davidson), the...
That’s exactly where writer-director Robin Bissell goes in “The Best of Enemies,” which urges audiences to see the value of a brutally honest debate between two very opposing sides in 1971 North Carolina. Based on actual events (and the book by Osha Gray Davidson), the...
- 4/4/2019
- by Candice Frederick
- The Wrap
In a world where a movie like “Green Book” can be raked over the coals for the (alleged) crime of being a quaintly retrograde, patronizing-to-the-point-of-seeming-racist film, “The Best of Enemies,” another middlebrow inspirational drama about a black person and a white person who start off as sniping adversaries, only to work their way toward a redemptive glow of mutual understanding, feels like a film that a number of people could have the knives out for. And maybe they will. It’s based on a true story, but when you hear the premise the movie almost sounds like it could be a “Saturday Night Live” parody of an odd-couple drama of racial healing.
Set in Durham, North Carolina, in 1971, “The Best of Enemies” centers around a two-week-long meeting/discussion/powwow of ordinary citizens on the subject of school integration that brought together members of the black and white communities — and, most dramatically,...
Set in Durham, North Carolina, in 1971, “The Best of Enemies” centers around a two-week-long meeting/discussion/powwow of ordinary citizens on the subject of school integration that brought together members of the black and white communities — and, most dramatically,...
- 4/4/2019
- by Owen Gleiberman
- Variety Film + TV
Golden Globe-winning Empire star Taraji P. Henson and Ed Helms, most recently seen in WB’s ensemble comedy Tag, are attached to star in Coffee & Kareem, a Netflix film which Helms is producing with Mike Falbo under their banner, Pacific Electric Pictures Co.. Michael Dowse, the director behind Fox’s forthcoming Dave Bautista-led comedy Stuber, is directing the film based on the 2014 Blacklist script by Shane McCarthy.
The plot follows a Detroit cop who reluctantly teams with his girlfriend’s 11-year-old son to clear his name and take down the city’s most ruthless criminal.
Executive producers are Sanford Nelson, Jordon Foss, Linden Nelson, and Don Foss.
Henson can currently be seen starring in Paramount’s What Men Want and next stars opposite Sam Rockwell in Robin Bissell’s Best Of Enemies from STXfilms. She’s repped by UTA and Ziffren Brittenham.
The plot follows a Detroit cop who reluctantly teams with his girlfriend’s 11-year-old son to clear his name and take down the city’s most ruthless criminal.
Executive producers are Sanford Nelson, Jordon Foss, Linden Nelson, and Don Foss.
Henson can currently be seen starring in Paramount’s What Men Want and next stars opposite Sam Rockwell in Robin Bissell’s Best Of Enemies from STXfilms. She’s repped by UTA and Ziffren Brittenham.
- 3/7/2019
- by Amanda N'Duka
- Deadline Film + TV
You probably have left-overs lingering from your Oscar-watch party, and your jaw hasn’t quite left the floor after Glenn Close failed to receive Best Actress. But let’s put that all behind us for now and look the array of candidates that might await us for next year.
Here are 20 films that could make their way to the 2020 Academy Awards, given their directors, casts and subject matter. They include new offerings from the likes of Quentin Tarantino, Martin Scorsese, Greta Gerwig and Jordan Peele. See what might make the cut on the ballot when awards season comes around again later this year.
“Gloria Bell” (March 8)
Chilean writer and director Sebastian Lelio (“A Fantastic Women”) remakes his acclaimed 2013 Spanish-language movie, “Gloria,” transplanting his story about a lonely middle-aged divorcee (Julianne Moore) to Los Angeles. Seeking romance, she connects to a recently divorced man (John Turturro) who can’t detach himself...
Here are 20 films that could make their way to the 2020 Academy Awards, given their directors, casts and subject matter. They include new offerings from the likes of Quentin Tarantino, Martin Scorsese, Greta Gerwig and Jordan Peele. See what might make the cut on the ballot when awards season comes around again later this year.
“Gloria Bell” (March 8)
Chilean writer and director Sebastian Lelio (“A Fantastic Women”) remakes his acclaimed 2013 Spanish-language movie, “Gloria,” transplanting his story about a lonely middle-aged divorcee (Julianne Moore) to Los Angeles. Seeking romance, she connects to a recently divorced man (John Turturro) who can’t detach himself...
- 2/28/2019
- by Susan Wloszczyna
- Gold Derby
An executive producer on Free State of Jones and The Hunger Games, Robin Bissell doesn’t appear to be the usual Park City suspect, but there are always a debut title … or two, that are larger in scope, and from those not wet behind the ears. The Best of Enemies fits that bill. The project dates back to June of 2015, when Taraji P. Henson and Sam Rockwell were attached and would only begin filming two years later in Georgia. Stx Entertainment liked what they saw and last month they released the first trailer. Anne Heche, Wes Bentley, Bruce McGill, John Gallagher Jr., and Nick Searcy make up the supporting cast.…...
- 11/20/2018
- by Eric Lavallée
- IONCINEMA.com
The Best of Enemies Trailer Robin Bissell’s The Best of Enemies (2019) movie trailer stars Taraji P. Henson, Sam Rockwell, Babou Ceesay, Anne Heche, and Bruce McGill. The Best of Enemies’ plot synopsis: based on the book by Osha Gray Davidson, “Based on a true story, The Best Of Enemies centers on the unlikely relationship between [...]
Continue reading: The Best Of Enemies (2019) Movie Trailer: Civil Rights Activist Taraji P. Henson vs Klan Leader Sam Rockwell...
Continue reading: The Best Of Enemies (2019) Movie Trailer: Civil Rights Activist Taraji P. Henson vs Klan Leader Sam Rockwell...
- 10/12/2018
- by Rollo Tomasi
- Film-Book
A trailer has been released for a new film called The Best of Enemies, which is based on the true story of the unlikely relationship between Ann Atwater (Taraji P. Henson), an outspoken civil rights activist, and C.P. Ellis (Sam Rockwell), a local Ku Klux Klan leader who reluctantly co-chaired a community summit, battling over the desegregation of schools in Durham, North Carolina during the racially-charged summer of 1971.
This looks like a great film that tells an incredible and power story. I’m also a big fan of Sam Rockwell and Taraji P. Henson and it’s good to see them take on great roles like this. Here’s the synopsis:
C. P. Ellis grew up in the poor white section of Durham, North Carolina, and as a young man joined the Ku Klux Klan. Ann Atwater, a single mother from the poor black part of town, quit her job...
This looks like a great film that tells an incredible and power story. I’m also a big fan of Sam Rockwell and Taraji P. Henson and it’s good to see them take on great roles like this. Here’s the synopsis:
C. P. Ellis grew up in the poor white section of Durham, North Carolina, and as a young man joined the Ku Klux Klan. Ann Atwater, a single mother from the poor black part of town, quit her job...
- 10/12/2018
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
"They say you represent a great many people in this town..." Stx has debuted the first trailer for a drama titled The Best of Enemies, marking the feature directorial debut of producer Robin Bissell. Not to be confused with the excellent documentary also titled The Best of Enemies about Gore vs Vidal, this film is about two other different friends from America's history. The film tells the story of a rivalry, and friendship, between the local Ku Klux Klan leader in Durham, North Carolina played by Sam Rockwell, and a civil rights activist named Ann Atwater, played by Taraji P. Henson. The full cast includes Wes Bentley, Anne Heche, Sope Aluko, John Gallagher Jr., Nick Searcy, and Caitlin Mehner. This looks much better than expected, some fire & passion in these folks and I'm looking forward to seeing how it plays out. Here's the first official trailer (+ poster) for Robin Bissell's The Best of Enemies,...
- 10/11/2018
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
“Sometimes there are necessary evils for the greater good.” That inherently creepy comment fairly describes one side’s stance on race relations in The Best of Enemies, a timely drama starring Taraji P. Henson and Sam Rockwell. Check out the first trailer above and the poster below.
Based on a true story, the film centers on the unlikely relationship between Ann Atwater (Oscar nominee Henson), an outspoken civil rights activist, and C.P. Ellis (Oscar winner Rockwell), a local Ku Klux Klan leader who reluctantly co-chaired a community summit after a local grade school for black kids burns down. They battle over the desegregation of schools in Durham, Nc, during the racially charged summer of 1971. The improbable bond they forge would change their lives forever.
Waving a Bible at Ellis, Atwater says, “This here does the talking for me.” He responds, “I have a Bible.” She fires back, “Well, then, you...
Based on a true story, the film centers on the unlikely relationship between Ann Atwater (Oscar nominee Henson), an outspoken civil rights activist, and C.P. Ellis (Oscar winner Rockwell), a local Ku Klux Klan leader who reluctantly co-chaired a community summit after a local grade school for black kids burns down. They battle over the desegregation of schools in Durham, Nc, during the racially charged summer of 1971. The improbable bond they forge would change their lives forever.
Waving a Bible at Ellis, Atwater says, “This here does the talking for me.” He responds, “I have a Bible.” She fires back, “Well, then, you...
- 10/11/2018
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
STXfilms has set an April 5, 2019 release date for The Best of Enemies, the drama starring Taraji P Henson and Sam Rockwell based on the real-life unlikely relationship between an outspoken civil rights activist and a local Ku Klux Klan leader in 1971 North Carolina. Hunger Games producer Robin Bissell directed the pic and penned the original screenplay inspired by Osha Gray Davidson’s book.
Stx Entertainment acquired rights to the film in July.
Henson plays Ann Atwater and Rockwell is C.P. Ellis, who in 1971 reluctantly co-chaired a community summit in Durham, Nc, during the battle over the desegregation of schools in the city. The events that unfolded would change Durham and the lives of Atwater and Ellis forever. Babou Ceesay, Anne Heche, Wes Bentley, Nick Searcy, John Gallagher Jr. and Bruce McGill co-star.
Producers are Danny Strong, Fred Bernstein, Matt Berenson, Bissell, Dominique Telson, Tobey Maguire and Matthew Plouffe.
The pic...
Stx Entertainment acquired rights to the film in July.
Henson plays Ann Atwater and Rockwell is C.P. Ellis, who in 1971 reluctantly co-chaired a community summit in Durham, Nc, during the battle over the desegregation of schools in the city. The events that unfolded would change Durham and the lives of Atwater and Ellis forever. Babou Ceesay, Anne Heche, Wes Bentley, Nick Searcy, John Gallagher Jr. and Bruce McGill co-star.
Producers are Danny Strong, Fred Bernstein, Matt Berenson, Bissell, Dominique Telson, Tobey Maguire and Matthew Plouffe.
The pic...
- 10/9/2018
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
STXfilms has set an April 5 release for civil rights drama “The Best of Enemies,” starring Taraji P. Henson and Sam Rockwell.
Henson portrays Ann Atwater, a civil rights activist in Durham, N.C., who battled Kkk leader C.P. Ellis (Rockwell) for a decade until 1971, when the two agreed to co-chair a two-week community meeting to deal with a court-ordered school desegregation decree. That event changed both of their lives. Babou Ceesay portrays Bill Riddick, who reluctantly persuaded Ellis and Atwater to head the community summit to try and reach a compromise. The cast also includes Anne Heche, Wes Bentley, Bruce McGill, John Gallagher Jr., and Nick Searcy.
Robin Bissell, an executive producer on “The Hunger Games” and “Seabiscuit,” is making his directorial debut from his own script, inspired by Osha Gray Davidson’s book “The Best of Enemies: Race and Redemption in the New South.” Producers include Danny Strong, Fred Bernstein,...
Henson portrays Ann Atwater, a civil rights activist in Durham, N.C., who battled Kkk leader C.P. Ellis (Rockwell) for a decade until 1971, when the two agreed to co-chair a two-week community meeting to deal with a court-ordered school desegregation decree. That event changed both of their lives. Babou Ceesay portrays Bill Riddick, who reluctantly persuaded Ellis and Atwater to head the community summit to try and reach a compromise. The cast also includes Anne Heche, Wes Bentley, Bruce McGill, John Gallagher Jr., and Nick Searcy.
Robin Bissell, an executive producer on “The Hunger Games” and “Seabiscuit,” is making his directorial debut from his own script, inspired by Osha Gray Davidson’s book “The Best of Enemies: Race and Redemption in the New South.” Producers include Danny Strong, Fred Bernstein,...
- 10/9/2018
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
STXfilms announced Monday it has acquired domestic distribution rights to Astute Films’ “The Best of Enemies,” a fact-based story starring Taraji P. Henson and Sam Rockwell as a civil rights activist and Ku Klux Klan leader who reluctantly worked together on a North Carolina community summit in 1971.
First-time director Robin Bissell also wrote the screenplay, which was inspired by the true events chronicled in Osha Gray Davidson’s nonfiction book “The Best of Enemies: Race and Redemption in the New South.”
Henson plays Ann Atwater (Henson), an outspoken civil rights activist who encounters C.P. Ellis (Rockwell), a local KKK leader battling over the desegregation of schools in Durham, North Carolina during the racially charged summer of 1971.
The incredible events that unfolded would change Durham and the lives of Atwater and Ellis forever.
First-time director Robin Bissell also wrote the screenplay, which was inspired by the true events chronicled in Osha Gray Davidson’s nonfiction book “The Best of Enemies: Race and Redemption in the New South.”
Henson plays Ann Atwater (Henson), an outspoken civil rights activist who encounters C.P. Ellis (Rockwell), a local KKK leader battling over the desegregation of schools in Durham, North Carolina during the racially charged summer of 1971.
The incredible events that unfolded would change Durham and the lives of Atwater and Ellis forever.
- 7/16/2018
- by Thom Geier
- The Wrap
STXfilms has secured domestic distribution rights to The Best of Enemies, a based-on-true-events drama from first-time director Robin Bissell. Starring Taraji P. Henson and recent Oscar winner Sam Rockwell, the film is inspired by Osha Gray Davidson’s book The Best of Enemies: Race and Redemption in the New South.
It centers on the unlikely relationship between Ann Atwater (Henson), an outspoken civil rights activist, and C.P. Ellis (Rockwell), a local Ku Klux Klan leader who reluctantly co-chaired a community summit, as they battle over the desegregation of schools in Durham, Nc, during the racially charged summer of 1971.
No word on the film’s release date.
Danny Strong, Fred Bernstein, Matt Berenson, Bissell, Dominique Telson and Material Pictures’ Tobey Maguire and Matthew Plouffe produced the period piece while Rick Jackson and Jeremiah Samuels served as executive producers.
The deal was brokered by UTA Independent Film Group.
It centers on the unlikely relationship between Ann Atwater (Henson), an outspoken civil rights activist, and C.P. Ellis (Rockwell), a local Ku Klux Klan leader who reluctantly co-chaired a community summit, as they battle over the desegregation of schools in Durham, Nc, during the racially charged summer of 1971.
No word on the film’s release date.
Danny Strong, Fred Bernstein, Matt Berenson, Bissell, Dominique Telson and Material Pictures’ Tobey Maguire and Matthew Plouffe produced the period piece while Rick Jackson and Jeremiah Samuels served as executive producers.
The deal was brokered by UTA Independent Film Group.
- 7/16/2018
- by Amanda N'Duka
- Deadline Film + TV
STXfilms has acquired domestic distribution rights to Astute Films’ civil rights drama “The Best of Enemies,” starring Taraji P. Henson and Sam Rockwell.
Babou Ceesay (“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”), Anne Heche, Wes Bentley, Bruce McGill, Tony Award-winner John Gallagher Jr., and Nick Searcy (“The Shape of Water”) lead the supporting cast.
“Empire” star Henson portrays Ann Atwater, a civil rights activist in Durham, N.C., who battled Kkk leader C.P. Ellis (played by Rockwell) for a decade until 1971, when the two agreed to co-chair a two-week community meeting to deal with a court-ordered school desegregation decree. That event changed both of their lives. Ceesay portrays Bill Riddick, who reluctantly persuaded Ellis and Atwater to head the community summit to try and reach a compromise.
Robin Bissell, an exec producer on “The Hunger Games” and “Seabiscuit,” is making his directorial debut from his own script, inspired by Osha Gray Davidson...
Babou Ceesay (“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”), Anne Heche, Wes Bentley, Bruce McGill, Tony Award-winner John Gallagher Jr., and Nick Searcy (“The Shape of Water”) lead the supporting cast.
“Empire” star Henson portrays Ann Atwater, a civil rights activist in Durham, N.C., who battled Kkk leader C.P. Ellis (played by Rockwell) for a decade until 1971, when the two agreed to co-chair a two-week community meeting to deal with a court-ordered school desegregation decree. That event changed both of their lives. Ceesay portrays Bill Riddick, who reluctantly persuaded Ellis and Atwater to head the community summit to try and reach a compromise.
Robin Bissell, an exec producer on “The Hunger Games” and “Seabiscuit,” is making his directorial debut from his own script, inspired by Osha Gray Davidson...
- 7/16/2018
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Tobey Maguire among producers on project, currently in post.
STXfilms has acquired Us rights to Astute Films’ The Best Of Enemies, a race drama starring nominee Taraji P. Henson and Sam Rockwell that is in post.
Tobey Maguire is among the producers and Robin Bissell makes his feature directorial debut and adapted the screenplay inspired by true events chronicled in Osha Gray Davidson’s book The Best Of Enemies: Race And Redemption In The New South.
The story takes place in North Carolina in the early 1970s and centres on a relationship between Civil Rights activist Ann Atwater and C.P. Ellis,...
STXfilms has acquired Us rights to Astute Films’ The Best Of Enemies, a race drama starring nominee Taraji P. Henson and Sam Rockwell that is in post.
Tobey Maguire is among the producers and Robin Bissell makes his feature directorial debut and adapted the screenplay inspired by true events chronicled in Osha Gray Davidson’s book The Best Of Enemies: Race And Redemption In The New South.
The story takes place in North Carolina in the early 1970s and centres on a relationship between Civil Rights activist Ann Atwater and C.P. Ellis,...
- 7/16/2018
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
STXfilms has picked up the domestic rights to drama The Best of Enemies, starring Taraji P. Henson and Sam Rockwell.
The movie, which is based on the book The Best of Enemies: Race and Redemption in the New South by Osha Gray Davidson, centers on the unlikely relationship between Ann Atwater (Henson), an outspoken civil rights activist, and C.P. Ellis (Rockwell), a local Ku Klux Klan leader. The duo reluctantly co-chaired a community summit, battling over the desegregation of schools in Durham, North Carolina, during the summer of 1971.
Producer Robin Bissell (Hunger Games) directed the film from a ...
The movie, which is based on the book The Best of Enemies: Race and Redemption in the New South by Osha Gray Davidson, centers on the unlikely relationship between Ann Atwater (Henson), an outspoken civil rights activist, and C.P. Ellis (Rockwell), a local Ku Klux Klan leader. The duo reluctantly co-chaired a community summit, battling over the desegregation of schools in Durham, North Carolina, during the summer of 1971.
Producer Robin Bissell (Hunger Games) directed the film from a ...
- 7/16/2018
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
STXfilms has picked up the domestic rights to drama The Best of Enemies, starring Taraji P. Henson and Sam Rockwell.
The movie, which is based on the book The Best of Enemies: Race and Redemption in the New South by Osha Gray Davidson, centers on the unlikely relationship between Ann Atwater (Henson), an outspoken civil rights activist, and C.P. Ellis (Rockwell), a local Ku Klux Klan leader. The duo reluctantly co-chaired a community summit, battling over the desegregation of schools in Durham, North Carolina, during the summer of 1971.
Producer Robin Bissell (Hunger Games) directed the film from a ...
The movie, which is based on the book The Best of Enemies: Race and Redemption in the New South by Osha Gray Davidson, centers on the unlikely relationship between Ann Atwater (Henson), an outspoken civil rights activist, and C.P. Ellis (Rockwell), a local Ku Klux Klan leader. The duo reluctantly co-chaired a community summit, battling over the desegregation of schools in Durham, North Carolina, during the summer of 1971.
Producer Robin Bissell (Hunger Games) directed the film from a ...
- 7/16/2018
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Actress Caitlin Mehner has landed a supporting role in Robin Bissell written-directed civil rights biopic The Best Of Enemies, based on the novel The Best of Enemies: Race and Redemption in the New South by Osha Gray Davidson. The film stars Taraji P Henson as Ann Atwater, a civil rights activist who battles Kkk Leader Cp Ellis( Sam Rockwell), after they agree to co-chair a two-week community council to deal with a segregation decree in 1970's Durham, Nc. Mehner will…...
- 6/15/2017
- Deadline
Sam Rockwell is teaming with Taraji P. Henson to star in The Best of Enemies, a true-life race drama from Astute Films.
Anne Heche, Wes Bentley, Bruce McGill, Nick Searcy and John Gallagher Jr. have also joined the cast, as has 2017 BAFTA nominee Babou Ceesay (Guerilla).
The indie is being helmed by Robin Bissell — the longtime partner of filmmaker Gary Ross — who is making his directorial debut and comes with a slew of producers including Tobey Maguire and Danny Strong, the latter of whom showruns Henson’s Fox TV hit Empire. Also producing are Matt Berenson, Fred Bernstein, Dominique ...
Anne Heche, Wes Bentley, Bruce McGill, Nick Searcy and John Gallagher Jr. have also joined the cast, as has 2017 BAFTA nominee Babou Ceesay (Guerilla).
The indie is being helmed by Robin Bissell — the longtime partner of filmmaker Gary Ross — who is making his directorial debut and comes with a slew of producers including Tobey Maguire and Danny Strong, the latter of whom showruns Henson’s Fox TV hit Empire. Also producing are Matt Berenson, Fred Bernstein, Dominique ...
- 5/17/2017
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Sam Rockwell is teaming with Taraji P. Henson to star in The Best of Enemies, a true-life race drama from Astute Films.
Anne Heche, Wes Bentley, Bruce McGill, Nick Searcy and John Gallagher Jr. have also joined the cast, as has 2017 BAFTA nominee Babou Ceesay (Guerilla).
The indie is being helmed by Robin Bissell — the longtime partner of filmmaker Gary Ross — who is making his directorial debut and comes with a slew of producers including Tobey Maguire and Danny Strong, the latter of whom showruns Henson’s Fox TV hit Empire. Also producing are Matt Berenson, Fred Bernstein, Dominique ...
Anne Heche, Wes Bentley, Bruce McGill, Nick Searcy and John Gallagher Jr. have also joined the cast, as has 2017 BAFTA nominee Babou Ceesay (Guerilla).
The indie is being helmed by Robin Bissell — the longtime partner of filmmaker Gary Ross — who is making his directorial debut and comes with a slew of producers including Tobey Maguire and Danny Strong, the latter of whom showruns Henson’s Fox TV hit Empire. Also producing are Matt Berenson, Fred Bernstein, Dominique ...
- 5/17/2017
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Sam Rockwell is teaming with Taraji P. Henson to star in The Best of Enemies, a true-life race drama from Astute Films.
Anne Heche, Wes Bentley, Bruce McGill, Nick Searcy and John Gallagher Jr. have also joined the cast, as has 2017 BAFTA nominee Babou Ceesay (Guerilla).
The indie is being helmed by Robin Bissell — the longtime partner of filmmaker Gary Ross — who is making his directorial debut and comes with a slew of producers including Tobey Maguire and Danny Strong, the latter of whom showruns Henson’s Fox TV hit Empire. Also producing are Matt Berenson, Fred Bernstein, Dominique Telson,...
Anne Heche, Wes Bentley, Bruce McGill, Nick Searcy and John Gallagher Jr. have also joined the cast, as has 2017 BAFTA nominee Babou Ceesay (Guerilla).
The indie is being helmed by Robin Bissell — the longtime partner of filmmaker Gary Ross — who is making his directorial debut and comes with a slew of producers including Tobey Maguire and Danny Strong, the latter of whom showruns Henson’s Fox TV hit Empire. Also producing are Matt Berenson, Fred Bernstein, Dominique Telson,...
- 5/16/2017
- by Borys Kit
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Live
Aaron Eckhart has been set to star in Darrin Prescott and Wade Allen's real time action film "Live!" for Solution Entertainment. Filming begins in October.
Jeremy Drysdale's script follows disgraced cop Kyle Penny (Eckhart) on his hunt to rescue the police commissioner’s kidnapped daughter, trapped somewhere in the city with only eighty minutes to live. With a deranged killer on his heels, his only hope is teaming with a young online reporter who films the wild chase live. [Source: Deadline]
The Last Race
Joseph Fiennes, Xiao 'Shawn' Dou and Elizabeth Arends are set to star in Stephen Shin and Michael Parker's "The Last Race". Fiennes will play Scottish runner and devout Christian Eric Liddell in the project which is being dubbed an unofficial sequel to the Oscar-winning "Chariots of Fire".
'Race' portrays Liddell's life after the events depicted in 'Chariots', a time when he worked as a teacher and missionary in China.
Aaron Eckhart has been set to star in Darrin Prescott and Wade Allen's real time action film "Live!" for Solution Entertainment. Filming begins in October.
Jeremy Drysdale's script follows disgraced cop Kyle Penny (Eckhart) on his hunt to rescue the police commissioner’s kidnapped daughter, trapped somewhere in the city with only eighty minutes to live. With a deranged killer on his heels, his only hope is teaming with a young online reporter who films the wild chase live. [Source: Deadline]
The Last Race
Joseph Fiennes, Xiao 'Shawn' Dou and Elizabeth Arends are set to star in Stephen Shin and Michael Parker's "The Last Race". Fiennes will play Scottish runner and devout Christian Eric Liddell in the project which is being dubbed an unofficial sequel to the Oscar-winning "Chariots of Fire".
'Race' portrays Liddell's life after the events depicted in 'Chariots', a time when he worked as a teacher and missionary in China.
- 6/25/2015
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Exclusive: Empire star Taraji P. Henson is poised to reunite with that hit Fox show’s creator Danny Strong by playing the lead in The Best Of Enemies. That film will mark the directorial debut for Hunger Games producer Robin Bissell, who wrote the script. Strong will produce the film with Material’s Tobey Maguire and Matthew Plouffe. The film is based on the incredible true story of Ann Atwater and C.P. Ellis. Henson, hot from a freshman performance as the irrepressible…...
- 6/24/2015
- Deadline
According to The Tracking Board, Scarlett Johansson is Universal’s top choice to star in the Creature From The Black Lagoon remake, and is apparently being "courted for the lead role". That wouldn't be the prehistoric man-fish of the title, but the lady (played by Julia Adams in the original movie) he takes a shine to. This remake of the incredibly influential 1954 classic will be produced by Gary Ross, Robin Bissell, Marc Abraham and Eric Newman, with a screenplay by Jeff Blitz, Gary Ross, Tedi Sarafian and Paul Schering. It's reportedly being lined up to be a part of Universal's shared monster universe, which would also include their planned remake of The Mummy and last year's Dracula Untold. Of course, even if Johansson is Universal's pick, there's no indication that she'll be interested so we'll have to wait and see how this shakes out. The highly in-demand actress will next...
- 4/9/2015
- ComicBookMovie.com
As Universal attempts to breathe life back into its classic movie monsters, The Tracking Board reports that Avengers: Age of Ultron star Scarlett Johansson is the studio’s top choice to star in a Creature from the Black Lagoon remake.
No details yet on which role Johansson, one of Hollywood’s most in-demand actresses, would take on, but Jack Arnold’s 1954 original starred Julia Adams as the imperiled female lead, so it’s possible that she could be enlisted for a similar ‘scream queen’ role. The first Creature from the Black Lagoon focused on a group of scientists who, while exploring the Amazon, discovered a dangerous prehistoric creature that was part human and part fish.
The new pic will be part of Univeral’s inchoate Universal Monsters brand, which kicked off last fall with Dracula Untold. Though that Luke Evans historical epic was weakly reviewed, it proved a box office success,...
No details yet on which role Johansson, one of Hollywood’s most in-demand actresses, would take on, but Jack Arnold’s 1954 original starred Julia Adams as the imperiled female lead, so it’s possible that she could be enlisted for a similar ‘scream queen’ role. The first Creature from the Black Lagoon focused on a group of scientists who, while exploring the Amazon, discovered a dangerous prehistoric creature that was part human and part fish.
The new pic will be part of Univeral’s inchoate Universal Monsters brand, which kicked off last fall with Dracula Untold. Though that Luke Evans historical epic was weakly reviewed, it proved a box office success,...
- 4/9/2015
- by Isaac Feldberg
- We Got This Covered
Jennifer Lawrence in exclusive image from The Hunger Games! Thanks to IMDb, there's a new image from Gary Ross' eagerly anticipated Lionsgate release which opens on March 23rd. Ross co-scripts alongside Billy Ray and novel writer Suzanne Collins, with a cast including Liam Hemsworth, Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Banks, Woody Harrelson, Aelxander Ludwig, Stanley Tucci, Amandla Stenberg, Willow Shields, Isabelle Fuhrman, Donald Sutherland and Toby Jones. Shot in North Carolina, The Hunger Games is produced by Nina Jacobson and Jon Kilik, while Robin Bissell, Louise Rosner and Suzanne Collins serve as executive producers. Also in the cast are Leven Ramin, Wes Bentley, Lenny Kravitz and Jacqueline Emerson. Every year in the ruins of what was once North America, the nation of Panem forces each of its twelve districts to send a teenage boy and girl to compete in the Hunger Games. Part twisted entertainment, part government intimidation tactic...
- 1/20/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Jennifer Lawrence in exclusive image from The Hunger Games! Thanks to IMDb, there's a new image from Gary Ross' eagerly anticipated Lionsgate release which opens on March 23rd. Ross co-scripts alongside Billy Ray and novel writer Suzanne Collins, with a cast including Liam Hemsworth, Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Banks, Woody Harrelson, Aelxander Ludwig, Stanley Tucci, Amandla Stenberg, Willow Shields, Isabelle Fuhrman, Donald Sutherland and Toby Jones. Shot in North Carolina, The Hunger Games is produced by Nina Jacobson and Jon Kilik, while Robin Bissell, Louise Rosner and Suzanne Collins serve as executive producers. Also in the cast are Leven Ramin, Wes Bentley, Lenny Kravitz and Jacqueline Emerson. Every year in the ruins of what was once North America, the nation of Panem forces each of its twelve districts to send a teenage boy and girl to compete in the Hunger Games. Part twisted entertainment, part government intimidation tactic...
- 1/20/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Jennifer Lawrence in exclusive image from The Hunger Games! Thanks to IMDb, there's a new image from Gary Ross' eagerly anticipated Lionsgate release which opens on March 23rd. Ross co-scripts alongside Billy Ray and novel writer Suzanne Collins, with a cast including Liam Hemsworth, Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Banks, Woody Harrelson, Aelxander Ludwig, Stanley Tucci, Amandla Stenberg, Willow Shields, Isabelle Fuhrman, Donald Sutherland and Toby Jones. Shot in North Carolina, The Hunger Games is produced by Nina Jacobson and Jon Kilik, while Robin Bissell, Louise Rosner and Suzanne Collins serve as executive producers. Also in the cast are Leven Ramin, Wes Bentley, Lenny Kravitz and Jacqueline Emerson. Every year in the ruins of what was once North America, the nation of Panem forces each of its twelve districts to send a teenage boy and girl to compete in the Hunger Games. Part twisted entertainment, part government intimidation tactic...
- 1/20/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
As Summer is coming to an end and Fall is fast approaching, Universal Pictures have let out their complete Fall Preview Line Up. The list contains a diverse selection of movies from based-on-true story drama "Flash of Genius" to children fantasy book adaptation "The Tale of Despereaux".
All of the information of those six films can be viewed below.
Flash of Genius
Based on The New Yorker Article Flash of Genius by: John Seabrook
Release date: October 3, 2008
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama
Cast: Greg Kinnear, Lauren Graham, Dermot Mulroney, Alan Alda
Directed by: Marc Abraham
Written by: Philip Railsback
Produced by: Roger Birnbaum, Gary Barber, Michael Lieber
Executive Producers: Jon Glickman, J. Miles Dale, Eric Newman, Tom Bliss
Official Site: www.flashofgenius.net
Synopsis:
Based on the true story of college professor and part-time inventor Robert Kearns' (Greg Kinnear) long battle with the U.S. automobile industry, Flash of Genius...
All of the information of those six films can be viewed below.
Flash of Genius
Based on The New Yorker Article Flash of Genius by: John Seabrook
Release date: October 3, 2008
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama
Cast: Greg Kinnear, Lauren Graham, Dermot Mulroney, Alan Alda
Directed by: Marc Abraham
Written by: Philip Railsback
Produced by: Roger Birnbaum, Gary Barber, Michael Lieber
Executive Producers: Jon Glickman, J. Miles Dale, Eric Newman, Tom Bliss
Official Site: www.flashofgenius.net
Synopsis:
Based on the true story of college professor and part-time inventor Robert Kearns' (Greg Kinnear) long battle with the U.S. automobile industry, Flash of Genius...
- 8/29/2008
- by AceShowbiz.com
- Aceshowbiz
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