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Harry Potter franchise alum Jason Isaacs will be joining Vanessa Redgrave and Freida Pinto in The Boy at the Back of the Class, the family feature based on the bestselling children’s book written by Onjali Q. Rauf. Stephen Herek is directing.

The story kicks off when a mysterious new boy called Ahmet enrolls at nine-year-old Alexa’s school and the two become friends. As Alexa learns that he is a refugee, separated from his family, she will do anything she can to help. With the grown-ups out of the way, Alexa and her school friends come up with a daring plan to reunite Ahmet with his family – marking the start of an extraordinary adventure that will take them all the way to Buckingham Palace.

The Boy at the Back of the Class has sold over a half a million copies in the UK.

Vanessa Redgrave and Freida Pinto have boarded the family feature “The Boy at the Back of the Class,” based on the acclaimed children’s book.

Directed by Stephen Herek (“101 Dalmations”), the film centers on a mysterious new boy called Ahmet who joins nine-year-old Alexa’s school. As Alexa learns that he is a refugee, separated from his family, she will do anything she can to help. With the adults out of the way, Alexa and her school friends come up with a daring plan to reunite Ahmet with his family – the start of an adventure that will take them all the way to Buckingham Palace.

The film is penned by “A Street Cat Named Bob” screenwriter Tim John. Adam Rolston and David Braithwaite at Studio Pictures are producing. Nicola Pearcey of Picnik Entertainment and Paul Grindey are executive producing. Casting director is BAFTA nominee Carolyn McLeod.

“The Boy at the Back of the Class,...

Stephen Herek is to direct, with Laura Haddock starring.

The UK’s WestEnd Films has come on board to launch worldwide sales at AFM on family feature The Boy At The Back Of The Class, based on Onjali Q Rauf’s 2018 children’s book of the same name. Stephen Herek – the US filmmaker behind 101 Dalmatians and Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure – is to direct.

The screenplay will be penned by A Streetcat Named Bob screenwriter Tim John. Guardians Of The Galaxy actor Laura Haddock is attached to star.

When a mysterious new boy called Ahmet joins nine-year-old Alexa’s school,...

Stephen Herek is to direct, with Laura Haddock starring.

UK sales outfit WestEnd Films has boarded worldwide sales for family feature The Boy At The Back Of The Class, based on Onjali Q Rauf’s 2018 children’s book of the same name. Stephen Herek – the US filmmaker behind 101 Dalmatians and Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure – is to direct.

The screenplay will be penned by A Streetcat Named Bob screenwriter Tim John. Guardians Of The Galaxy actor Laura Haddock is attached to star.

When a mysterious new boy called Ahmet joins nine-year-old Alexa’s school, Alexa and her group of classmates befriend him.

Just when it feels like things can't get any worse, we have gotten word that celebrity feline Bob the Cat has sadly passed away on June 15 at 14 years old. Credited for saving the life of author and former addict James Bowen, Bob was featured in the A Street Cat Named Bob book series and movie adaptation, making the cat one of the planet's most beloved animals. "As James and Bob continued to find fans all over the world, Bob led an incredible life meeting well-wishers at book signings, travelling the world and coping with feline fame," the publisher Hodder & Stoughton said in a statement.

Heartbroken, Bowen has also spoken about the passing of his longtime companion. "Bob saved my life. It's as simple as that," Bowen stated. "He gave me so much more than companionship. With him at my side, I found a direction and purpose that I'd been missing.

“I’m ready. I’ve got Bob. He’ll look after me.”

A true feel-good story based on the best-selling book of the same name, which sold over 5 million copies worldwide. Cleopatra Entertainment LLC, the movie division of famed indie record label Cleopatra Records, has acquired all domestic rights to the feel-good true story A Street Cat Named Bob, directed by Roger Spottiswoode (Turner and Hooch, Tomorrow Never Dies) and starring Luke Treadaway (Unbroken), Ruta Gedmintas (The Strain) and Joanne Froggatt (Downtown Abbey). The film, written by Tim John and Maria Nation, is based on the international bestseller by James Bowen and Garry Jenkins. Produced by Adam Rolston for Shooting Script Films, the uplifting story will be released domestically in theaters on November 18th, 2016. Check out the trailer for A Street Cat Named Bob:

Synopsis:

When James Bowen found an injured, ginger street cat curled up in the hallway of his sheltered accommodation,...

Keep up with the wild and wooly world of indie film acquisitions with our weekly Rundown of everything that’s been picked up around the globe. Check out last week’s Rundown here.

– Rlj Entertainment has acquired all North American rights to the thriller “I.T.,” directed by John Moore and written by Dan Kay and William Wisher, Jr.

The film stars Pierce Brosnan, Anna Friel, Stefanie Scott and James Frecheville. The film “tells the story of Mike Regan (Brosnan), a successful, self-made man who has it all: a gorgeous wife, a beautiful teenage daughter and a sleek, state-of-the-art “smart home.” But he soon finds himself in a deadly, high-stakes game of cat-and-mouse when his I.T. consultant, Ed (Frecheville), starts using his skills to stalk Mike’s daughter and endanger his family, his business, and his life. In a world where there is no privacy, and personal secrets can go viral...

Adaptation of James Bowen’s novel stars Luke Treadaway; set for release through Sony in 2016.

A Street Cat Named Bob, the film adaptation of James Bowen’s bestselling novel, wrapped principal photography on Sunday (Dec 6).

Starring Luke Treadaway (Unbroken, Clash of the Titans), A Street Cat Named Bob tells the true story of the unlikely friendship between a young homeless busker and a stray ginger cat named Bob who changed his life.

Treadaway previously won an Olivier Award for Best Actor for his performance in the National Theatre’s production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.

Also starring Ruta Gedmintas (The Strain, The Incident) Joanne Froggatt (Downton Abbey, Filth) Anthony Head (Buffy The Vampire Slayer) and Bob the cat, filming took place over six weeks in London, mainly in Covent Garden where the two used to busk.

The film is directed by Roger Spottiswoode (Tomorrow Never Dies, Turner & Hooch...

With the cameras about to start rolling in Covent Garden on the heart-warming tale of one man and his moggie, the cast of A Street Cat Named Bob is swelling by two names: Anthony Head and Joanne Froggatt. Roger Spottiswoode is on to direct, working from Tim John’s adaptation of James Bowen’s best-seller. The book chronicled his life on the street as a busker and recovering drug addict whose life is transformed when he met a stray ginger cat he named, as the title might hint, Bob. Luke Treadaway is set as Bowen, with Ruta Gedmintas as Belle, an animal loving woman who lives nearby.Head is playing Bowen’s father, Nigel, while Froggatt is our main man’s drug support worker, Val. Shooting Script Films is behind this one, figuring that people will flock to see the story of a man who starts to turn his life...

Joanne Froggatt and Anthony Head join Luke Treadaway and Ruta Gedmintas in the film’s cast.

A Street Cat Named Bob, the adaptation of James Bowen’s best-selling novel, is set to start shooting in the UK this month.

Production will take place at Twickenham Studios and on location in London, primarily Covent Garden, from Sunday October 25 and will last for six weeks in total.

The true story centres on how Bowen, a busker and recovering drug addict, had his life transformed when he met a stray ginger cat.

As previously announced by Screen, Luke Treadaway (Unbroken, Clash Of The Titans) will play James Bowen, starring alongside Ruta Gedmintas (Prowl, Help Point), who will play Belle, an animal loving neighbour.

Joanne Froggatt (Filth, Downton Abbey) has now joined the cast as Bowen’s drug support worker Val, as has Anthony Head (Buffy The Vampire Slayer), who will play Bowen’s father Nigel.

Rogert Spottiswoode...

Joanne Froggatt and Anthony Head join Luke Treadaway in the cast.

A Street Cat Named Bob, the adaptation of James Bowen’s best-selling novel, has revealed its shooting dates.

Production will take place in the UK from Sunday October 25 and will last for six weeks in total.

The true story centres on how Bowen, a busker and recovering drug addict, had his life transformed when he met a stray ginger cat.

As previously announced by Screen, Luke Treadaway (Unbroken, Clash Of The Titans) will play the James Bowen, starring alongside Ruta Gedmintas (Prowl, Help Point), who will play Belle, an animal loving neighbour.

Joanne Froggatt (Filth, Downton Abbet) has now joined the cast as Bowen’s drug support worker Val, as has Anthony Head (Buffy The Vampire Slayer), who will play Bowen’s father Nigel.

Rogert Spottiswoode is directing (Tomorrow Never Dies), with a script from Tim John (Dr. Jekyll And Ms. Hyde).

The film is produced...

Doubt

Katherine Heigl and her former "Grey's Anatomy" executive producers Tony Phelan and Joan Rater are teaming for the re-tooled CBS drama pilot "Doubt". Heigl replaces KaDee Strickland in the role.

Heigl will play a smart, chic, successful defense lawyer at a boutique firm who shockingly gets romantically involved with one of her clients who may or may not be guilty of a brutal crime. Dule Hill, Laverne Cox, Kobi Libii, Elliott Gould and Dreama Walker also star. [Source: THR]

Happy Valley

Matthew Lewis ("Harry Potter"), Shirley Henderson ("Filth"), Kevin Doyle ("Downton Abbey"), Katherine Kelly ("Mr. Selfridge"), Julie Hesmondhalgh ("Coronation Street") and Amelia Bullmore ("Scott & Bailey") have joined the cast of the second season of the BBC's acclaimed drama "Happy Valley" which begins shooting this week.

Sarah Lancashire and James Norton return for the follow-up to the dark West Yorkshire-set cop drama in which Catherine suspects there might be another serial killer...

It’s the sort of uplifting true that filmmakers flock to, so we can imagine how quickly attempts were being made to nab the rights to James Bowen’s book A Street Cat Named Bob. The film version now has Luke Treadaway and Ruta Gedmintas attached to star. Roger Spottiswoode is on to direct, working from Tim John’s adaptation of Bowen’s best-seller. The book chronicled his life on the street as a busker and recovering drug addict whose life is transformed when he met a stray ginger cat he named… Well, we won’t spoil that bit.Shooting Script Films is behind this one, figuring that people will flock to see the story of a man who starts to turn his life around with the help of a cute kitty. As for who will play the cat, there is an offer out to Michael Sheen a suitably adorable feline (or three,...

Treadaway to appear alongside Ruta Gedmintas in the adaptation of James Bowen’s best-selling novel.

Luke Treadaway (Unbroken, Clash Of The Titans) is to star alongside Ruta Gedmintas (Prowl, Help Point) in A Street Cat Named Bob, an adaptation of the James Bowen novel of the same name.

The true story centres on how Bowen, a busker and recovering drug addict, had his life transformed when he met a stray ginger cat.

The production is set to begin a seven-week shoot in the UK from late October.

Director is Roger Spottiswoode (Tomorrow Never Dies) and the script was written by Tim John (Dr. Jekyll And Ms. Hyde).

Producer is Adam Rolston for his new venture Shooting Script Films in what will be the company’s debut release.

Tim Smith and Paul Brett of Prescience (The King’s Speech, Song For Marion, The Guard) are executive producers and financiers on the project.

The Exchange...