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Paddingtonis one of the most beloved characters in all of cinema, but even the talking bear has enemies. As Paddington in Perufinally hits theaters in the United States, after spending a few months in U.K. cinemas, a hacker group has decided to set their sights on the titular bear. A new report now claims that the original Paddington Bear is being held for ransom, because the current state of the world could not get more worrying, it seems.

As reported by The Sun, the hacker group known as Rhysida has apparently held sensitive information for ransom from The Agency, a firm that represents the Paddington Bear property and the estate of creator Michael Bond. Now, it's unclear what kind of "sensitive" data is being held for a price, but it seems the firm quickly decided they did not intend to pay up and instead called the police. In a statement to its employees,...

Studiocanal has appointed Alex Hamilton as the company’s Chief International Officer and Katheryn Needham has been promoted to UK CEO.

As chief international officer, Hamilton will oversee direct distribution and operations across the company’s nine European territories as well as Studiocanal’s kids and family business.

Hamilton was previously appointed CEO of Studiocanal UK in 2020. Before joining StudioCanal, he was President of International Film and Managing Director of Entertainment One UK. He also led the company’s film operations outside of North America as President of International Film. He was in that role from 2016 to 2019.

Needham replaces Hamilton as CEO. She has previously held the position of Managing Director at Studiocanal UK and was previously the Interim CEO of the company’s Kids & Family business.

“l am delighted to announce the promotions of Alex Hamilton as Studiocanal’s Chief International Officer and Katheryn Needham as CEO Studiocanal UK,...

Studiocanal has appointed Alex Hamilton as chief international officer and Katheryn Needham as CEO of Studiocanal UK in a reshuffle of its senior team.

The appointments will take effect from March 1, 2025. Hamilton, who has been CEO of Studiocanal UK since 2020, will oversee distribution and international operations across all of Studiocanal’s direct distribution territories: France, UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and Poland, plus Australia and New Zealand.

He will also oversee the Studiocanal Kids and Family business, including the Paddington IP.

Needham will take on Hamilton’s current role as UK CEO, having been managing director of Studiocanal...

Paddington in Peru, the third film in the Paddington series due for release on February 14th, won't be the last adventure for the lovable bear. As revealed in a new piece published by Deadline, StudioCanal has plans to continue to expand the world based on the series of popular children's books written by Michael Bond. The franchise has found plenty of success with it's first two movies, and with a whole host of positive reviews for the newest film, it's no surprise that the studio is looking to continue Paddington's story on the big screen, while also making the transition to other forms of media.

In this new interview with Studiocanal CEO Anna Marsh, the executive talked about the various strides that the production company and distributor has made this past year with its feature films. When the topic of the Paddington franchise was brought up, Marsh dropped exciting...

Paddington fans are in for a treat with another sequel getting the green light. StudioCanal's CEO confirmed even bigger plans with more projects in development.

"There will be a fourth film," Anna Marsh told Deadline. That's great news for fans of the movie series, but Marsh teased more Paddington sequels ahead. The franchise is also expanding to theater and TV. "We're thinking about the next movies, and we're working on a new TV series as well as the stage show musical with [producers] Sonia Friedman and Eliza Lumley," she added. The first two Paddington films were massive hits, while Paddington in Peru performed beyond expectations, especially in the U.K. box office.

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Paddington Bear is a beloved British icon,...

Undeniably, Paddington is everyone’s favorite bear. The British franchise has given us some amazing adventures, love for marmalade, some iconic pop-culture moments, and a universally loved talking bear. Movie after movie, the franchise is getting more and more ambitious. In a new interview with Deadline, Studiocanal CEO and Canal+ Deputy CEO Anna Marsh confirmed another film in the franchise along with a few more plans for the bear.

Studiocanal is heading into a new era. Not only is the Paddington producer coming off the back of a banner year, with its titles having grossed close to $300M at the global box office in 2024 (up 94% year-on-year), but in December its parent company Canal+ made a headline-grabbing debut on the London Stock Exchange after it was spun off from Vincent Bolloré’s French media conglomerate Vivendi.

While the launch was well below the €6.851Bn (£5.71Bn) valuation Vivendi had hoped for – Canal+ floated on the Lse with an initial market value of £2.5Bn ($3.1Bn) – internally, the IPO (which marked the largest debut on the Lse since 2022) is viewed as a promising next step for the company as it continues the growth trajectory it has been on across the last two decades.

In addition to navigating controversial local shifts in media windowing on its home turf, the French film industry’s biggest...

Sony has moved back the US release of Paddington In Peru from January 17 to February 14, 2025, pitching Studiocanal’s family film against Captain America: Brave New World.

While opening on the same day as a Marvel Studios release sounds daunting, it is likely Sony executives were more eager to avoid clashing with holdover business from Wicked, Sonic The Hedgehog 3, and Mufasa: The Lion King.

Paddington In Peru has already earned more than $30m after three weekends in the UK.Studiocanal developed and fully financed the family adventure and distributes directly in the UK, France, Germany, Benelux, Poland, Australia and New Zealand,...

Exclusive: Focus Features has snapped up U.S. rights to Working Title and Studiocanal’s WWII drama-thriller Pressure, about the build-up to the historic Normandy Landings.

The multi-million dollar deal includes a strong theatrical commitment, we understand, with Studiocanal continuing sales this week at the AFM. The European studio will handle the movie’s release in its territories.

The deal was closed by Anne Cherel and Sophie Leuthreau for Studiocanal with Howard Meyers and Marin Babb for Focus Features, which previously had big box office and awards success with Working Title’s WWII film Darkest Hour.

Cameras are still rolling in the UK on Pressure, which stars Andrew Scott, Brendan Fraser, Kerry Condon, Chris Messina and Damian Lewis.

The true story will see All of Us Strangers and Ripley star Scott play Britain’s Chief Meteorological Officer James Stagg, whose job it was to inform Supreme Allied Commander Dwight Eisenhower...

French media company Vivendi’s plan to separate into four businesses is moving a step closer after receiving approval from its supervisory board on Tuesday.

The proposal, which was first revealed back in December 2023, will be put to a vote by the company’s shareholders on Dec. 9 on whether to spin off pay TV giant Canal+, advertising giant Havas and publisher Louis Hachette Group. The split of Canal+ and Louis Hatchette Group will require approval by a two-thirds majority, while the separation of Havas will require a simple majority of votes.

“Should the spin-off project be approved by the Shareholders’ Meeting, the first listing of the shares of the three companies would take place on December 16, 2024, allowing for trading on the stock exchange from this date,” the company said in a statement. “It is reminded that the last day to acquire Vivendi shares for investors wishing to be allocated shares...

Vivendi’s plan to split into three separate businesses has moved a step closer to realisation, with the supervisory board now having given the move its approval.

Led by chairman Yannick Bolloré and CEO Arnaud de Puyfontaine, the Vivendi board has approved a proposal that would see the separation of pay-tv giant Canal+, advertising powerhouse Havas and publishing firm Louis Hachette Group. The plan, first revealed in December 2023, aims to address Vivendi’s conglomerate discount (in which a diversified group is valued at less than the sum of its parts) and unlock value for its subsidiaries. A shareholder vote will now take place on Dec. 9.

“Should the spin-off project be approved by the shareholders’ meeting, the first listing of the shares of the three companies would take place on December 16, 2024, allowing for trading on the stock exchange from this date,” Vivendi said in a statement on Tuesday.

Alongside announcing the approval,...

Vivendi’s plan to split its business in three has gotten board approval and will be taken to a shareholder vote on December 9. Should it go ahead, former Paramount Global CEO Bob Bakish will take a seat on the Canal+ board.

The board has approved the resolutions that will be submitted to shareholders to vote on whether Canal+, ad business Havas and publishing house Louis Hachette Group should separate.

Should the demerger go ahead, Canal+ will begin trading with debts of €400M ($433M) and have a corporate team led by Yannick Bolloré, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, and Maxime Saada, Chairman of the Management Board and CEO. Jacques du Puy and Anna Marsh will both be Deputy CEO, and Amandine Ferré will be CFO.

Board members will include Bolloré, Arnaud de Puyfontaine and, intriguingly, U.S. entertainment veteran Bakish, who has been lying low since his exit as CEO of...

Correction: An early version of this article indicated that Studiocanal had acquired global rights to 11 River Road Entertainment, but Searchlight holds domestic U.S. and Canada rights to “12 Years a Slave” and U.S. and U.K. rights to “The Tree of Life.”

Studiocanal and River Road Entertainment have announced an exclusive international distribution deal for 11 celebrated films, including Steve McQueen’s Oscar-winning “12 Years a Slave,” Terrence Malick’s Palme d’Or-winning “The Tree of Life” and Sean Penn’s critically acclaimed “Into the Wild.”

The partnership brings together Europe’s leading production and distribution house, Studiocanal, and the American independent film production giant, River Road Entertainment, in a multi-territory arrangement covering TV, SVOD, theatrical and other media platforms.

Under the agreement, Studiocanal will distribute nine feature films and two documentaries, a roster of prestigious titles that have collectively earned over $440 million at the global box office.

Juliette Hochart,...

French production-distribution-sales powerhouse Studiocanal, which holds one of the largest film libraries in the world with some 9,000 titles, has completed its Jean-Pierre Melville collection with the acquisition of his 1950 classic “The Terrible Children” (“Les Enfants Terribles”).

This latest high-profile addition joins the ranks of the studio’s Melville lineup, which includes “Army of Shadows,” “Le Cercle Rouge,” “Bob le Flambeur,” and “Le Doulos.” This acquisition solidifies Studiocanal’s position as a leading player in both the French and international film markets

A subsidiary of the Canal+ Group, Studiocanal’s acquisition policy focuses not just on contemporary film rights, but on the preservation and restoration of cinematic treasures. By securing rights from other studios and investing in the preservation of older titles, the company not only controls distribution and remake rights but also breathes new life into some of cinema’s most revered works.

Ahead of the International Classic Film Market...

StudioCanal has released the new international trailer for Paddington in Peru, which will open in the UK and Ireland on November 8. Sony Pictures will release the sequel in US theaters on January 17, 2025.

Get ready for the journey of a lifetime as Paddington in Peru brings the world’s most beloved bear back to his roots, his homeland Peru. Following the adventures of Paddington and Paddington 2, Paddington is still living happily with the Brown family in Windsor Gardens.

When he receives a letter from the Reverend Mother, the blithe guitar-strumming nun who runs the Home for Retired Bears, informing him that Aunt Lucy misses him dearly, he knows he simply must visit her as soon as possible.

With his shiny new British passport in hand, Paddington is joined by the Browns, including the ever-resourceful Mrs. Bird, on an epic journey that none of them will ever forget. Along the way,...

Exclusive: French screenwriter and director Simon Moutaïrou spent summers as a teenager in his father’s native country of Benin in West Africa.

Etched on his memory from this time are the trips to its so-called slave coast and port city of Ouidah, through which more than one million Africans passed in the 18th and early 19th centuries ahead of being transported overseas for a life of slavery.

“There is an enormous red brick arch commemorating these deportations, ‘The Door of No Return’,” says Moutaïrou.

“I couldn’t get my head around this idea of such inequality between people, or human beings being treated like animals. When my father or uncles talked to me about what had happened, my adolescent spirit couldn’t fathom it … but it always stayed in the back of my mind.”

Some 20 years on, Moutaïrou’s feature directorial debut No Chains, No Masters is making waves...

Gaumont CEO Sidonie Dumas To Receive Int’l Emmy Directorate Award

Gaumont CEO Sidonie Dumas is set to be honored with the 2024 International Emmy Directorate Award, the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences has announced. Dumas has been head of the 129-year-old French film and TV company since 2010. The French exec has been credited with moving with the times to expand the company into TV. Early series coming to fruition under her watch included Netflix hits Narcos and Lupin, while more recent high profile productions span Karl Lagerfeld biographic series Becoming Karl; German historical drama The Interpreter of Silence for Disney and the recently announced series about the Gucci family saga. “Sidonie Dumas has strategically and successfully pivoted Gaumont’s main business from theatrical to television with major international expansion and key deals from Europe and Latin America to Hollywood,” said Iatas President CEO Bruce L. Paisner. “We look forward...

Filming for the World War II film, Pressure, has gone underway in the U.K. Pressure comes from the production studios Working Title and StudioCanal and will depict the build-up to the historic Normandy Landings. Ripley and All of Us Strangers star Andrew Scott is set to star in the film alongside Kerry Condon, known for her work in The Banshees of Inisherin and In the Land of Saints and Sinners. Deadline now reports that Chris Messina of Sharp Objects, joins the film as U.S. meteorologist Irving P. Krick and Golden Globe and Emmy winner Damian Lewis, of Billions, has been cast as legendary British Field Marshall Bernard Montgomery.

The official synopsis reads,

“In the seventy two hours leading up to D-Day, all the pieces are in place except for one key element – the British weather. Britain’s chief meteorological officer James Stagg (Andrew Scott) is called upon to...

Glen Powell's rise in Hollywood is unstoppable, with exciting projects like Top Gun: Maverick and Hit Man showcasing his talent and versatility. The Running Man remake with Powell under director Edgar Wright promises to captivate modern audiences with a fresh take on the classic story. Powell's potential collaboration with J.J. Abrams for an upcoming film has fans eagerly anticipating what this dynamic duo will bring to the screen next.

Glen Powell has fast become one of the most sought-after actors working in Hollywood today, and with plenty of exciting upcoming films, the hype around him does not look set to slow down anytime soon. Although Powell had small roles in film and television since the early 2000s, it was not until his breakout performance in Top Gun: Maverick that he gained widespread recognition. Following this, Powell continued to gain acclaim in works like the Sydney Sweeney rom-com Anyone But You,...

Studiocanal is moving into the Big Apple.

The Paris-based production-distribution house will launch an office New York City, with Anne Chérel promoted to Chief Commercial Officer to oversee the base.

Studiocanal, which is in throws of making Paddington in Peru, already has an office in LA and a stake in Andrew Rona and Alex Heineman’s U.S.-based The Picture Company. The NYC office will focus on work with American distribution partners.

According to the Canal+-owned company, the plans form part of a strategy to “systematically” combine distribution and global sales of all of its film projects, working with third-party distributors. Besides the third Paddington movie, which is being released in partnership with Sony Pictures, Back to Black is being released with Focus Features, We Live in Time and Huntington with A24 and Wicked Little Letters with Sony Pictures Classics. “Advanced discussions” with an American partner around Paris Has Fallen are happening.

Studiocanal has promoted EVP global sales and distribution Anne Chérel to chief commercial officer, effective from September 1, 2024.

In her new role, Chérel will continue to supervise global distribution and will also help develop Studiocanal’s business in the US where the company is opening a new office in New York. She will report to Anna Marsh, Canal+ group deputy CEO and Studiocanal CEO.

Studiocanal already has a US presence with an office in Los Angeles led by Shana Eddy Grouf. It also has a stake in Andrew Rona and Alex Heineman’s US-based The Picture Company.

According to the company,...

A24 has revealed the official trailer for We Live in Time, a decade-spanning romance from the director of Brooklyn starring Academy Award nominees Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh.

Rated R for language, sexuality, and nudity, We Live in Time will open in theaters on October 11, 2024.

Almut (Florence Pugh) and Tobias (Andrew Garfield) are brought together in a surprise encounter that changes their lives. As they embark on a path challenged by the limits of time, they learn to cherish each moment of the unconventional route their love story has taken, in filmmaker John Crowley’s decade-spanning, deeply moving romance.

Shot in London, the film was directed by BAFTA-winning director John Crowley (Brooklyn), with a screenplay by Olivier award-winning playwright and screenwriter Nick Payne (Constellations).

The film stars two-time Academy Award nominee and BAFTA-winning Andrew Garfield alongside BAFTA and Academy Award nominee Florence Pugh.

Crowley previously worked with Andrew Garfield on Garfield’s break-out role,...

Here’s our first look at Paddington In Peru, the long-awaited threequel in the popular franchise.

The film is set to hit U.S. cinemas on January 17, 2025, MLK Weekend, but will debut in the UK about two months prior on November 8, 2024.

In the Dougal Wilson-directed picture, Paddington heads to Peru to visit his beloved Aunt Lucy, who now resides at the Home for Retired Bears. With the Brown family in tow, adventure ensues when a mystery plunges them into an unexpected journey through the Amazon rainforest and to the mountain peaks of Peru. The screenplay is by Mark Burton, Jon Foster, and James Lamont. The story is by Paul King, Simon Farnaby, and Mark Burton, and it is based on children’s stories by British author Michael Bond.

Paddington is produced by David Heyman and Rosie Alison. EPs are Paul King, Anna Marsh, Ron Halpern, Dan MacRae, Tim Wellspring,...

Everyone’s favorite marmalade-loving British bear, Paddington, is back in the first trailer for “Paddington in Peru.”

The third installment in the series — which lands some seven years after “Paddington 2” — is set to release on Jan. 17, 2025, in the U.S. by Sony under its Columbia Pictures label, about two months after it releases in the United Kingdom on Nov. 8, 2024, with StudioCanal. The logline reads, “Paddington returns to Peru to visit his beloved Aunt Lucy, who now resides at the Home for Retired Bears. With the Brown Family in tow, a thrilling adventure ensues when a mystery plunges them into an unexpected journey through the Amazon rainforest and up to the mountain peaks of Peru.”

The trailer, unveiled at a special event in London on Wednesday morning (where marmalade sandwiches were served), sees Paddington — voiced by Ben Whishaw — head back to the South American country of his birth alongside his adoptive London family,...

Just last month, we learned that Glen Powell (Top Gun: Maverick), Margaret Qualley (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood), and Ed Harris (The Truman Show) had signed on to star in the revenge thriller Huntington for A24 and writer/director John Patton Ford. Now Huntington has gone into production, and Deadline has revealed that the cast also includes Jessica Henwick (Glass Onion), Topher Grace (That 70s Show), Zach Woods (Silicon Valley), and Raff Law (Masters of the Air). Details on the characters they’ll be playing have not been revealed.

Drawing inspiration from the 1949 crime comedy Kind Hearts and Coronets, Huntington will see Powell taking on the role of Becket Redfellow, the heir to a multi-billion-dollar fortune who will stop at nothing to get what he deserves… Or what he thinks he deserves. Kind Hearts and Coronets told the following story: When Louis D’Ascoyne Mazzini, who hails from a royal family,...

Studiocanal has appointed former Netflix France exec Isabelle Pain as Head of Global Acquisitions & Analytics in a new position created in response to the company’s international expansion.

Pain will be responsible for the company’s overall film acquisition strategy, overseeing multi-regional acquisitions and ensuring pan-regional acquisitions are aligned.

Based in Paris, Pain will report to Ron Halpern, EVP Global Production & Talent Management.

Studiocanal said Pain would work with all its subsidiaries, as well as with all Canal+ Group’s entities, its myCANAL platform and its channels in France and abroad.

Recent high-profile acquisitions by Studiocanal have included Past Lives, Wrath of Man, Saw X, Orphan: First Kill, John Wick, Parallel Mothers, Pain and Glory (Germany), and Miraculous Ladybug.

Studiocanal said the creation of the Global Acquisitions & Analytics role...

Isabelle Pain, content and strategy lead at Netflix France, is joining Studiocanal as head of global acquisitions & analytics, based in Paris.

Pain will be responsible for setting the overall strategy for Studiocanal’s film acquisitions, working with Studiocanal’s subsidiaries to run acquisitions across multiple regions through markets and festivals.

She will report to Ron Halpern, EVP global production & talent management.

“The international expansion of Studiocanal… plus the growth of our cinema releases across an increasing number of countries, means we need to further strengthen our strategy around film acquisitions,” said Studiocanal CEO Anna Marsh.

Pain joins from Netflix France,...

Exclusive deal inked for sixth live-action Asterix and Obelix film debuting in 2023. Studiocanal brings global success dealing with literary works like Paddington franchise. Excitement expressed about partnership to develop and produce new Asterix adventure for cinema.

Studiocanal and ditions Albert Ren have recently inked an exclusive deal to produce the sixth live-action film featuring the iconic characters Asterix and Obelix.

This move celebrates 65 years since the comic Gaulish warrior, Asterix, first appeared in the comic strips crafted by Ren Goscinny and Albert Uderzo in 1959. Asterix's mass appeal is evident in the impressive sales figures: over 400 million copies of the Asterix books have been sold across 100+ languages.

Astrix and Oblix Animation CastGuillaume Canet, Gilles Lellouche, Marion Cotillard, Vincent CasselSeasons1StudioArtmis Productions, Gialla Productions, Les Editions Albert Ren

Studiocanal, a seasoned player in adapting literary works to the screen, brings a wealth of experience and a track record of global success,...

Glen Powell (Top Gun: Maverick), Margaret Qualley (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood), and Ed Harris (The Truman Show) are set to star in the revenge thriller Huntington for writer/director John Patton Ford, and Deadline reports that A24 has just boarded the project to handle its domestic distribution.

Drawing inspiration from the 1949 crime comedy Kind Hearts and Coronets, Huntington will see Powell taking on the role of Becket Redfellow, the heir to a multi-billion-dollar fortune who will stop at nothing to get what he deserves… Or what he thinks he deserves. Kind Hearts and Coronets told the following story: When Louis D’Ascoyne Mazzini, who hails from a royal family, is denied dukedom, he plans to kill all the potential threats in his way.

Kind Hearts and Coronets is in the Studiocanal library, and the company is fully financing this take on the concept. Studiocanal’s EVP Global Production...

A24 has officially signed on to John Patton Ford’s “Huntington” (working title) for U.S. distribution. Also joining are new cast members Ed Harris and Margaret Qualley, who will star alongside the previously announced Glen Powell.

“Huntington” is a revenge thriller that follows Becket Redfellow (Powell), the “heir to a multi-billion-dollar fortune who will stop at nothing to get what he deserves… Or what he thinks he deserves.”

Ford will direct “Huntington” (or whatever it is titled by then). He already wrote the original screenplay, which was inspired by the film’s financier Studiocanal’s “Kind Hearts and Coronets,” the classic 1949 crime film starring Alec Guinness, who famously played eight different roles in the film.

Enjoy the new casting choices? Credit casting director Lucy Bevan of “Barbie. EVP of Global Production Ron Halpern and SVP of Global Production Joe Naftalin will oversee “Huntington” for Studiocanal, with Pete Czernin and...

Exclusive: A24 has come aboard as domestic distributor of John Patton Ford’s Huntington, with the revenge thriller also adding Ed Harris and Margaret Qualley to a cast that already features Glen Powell. The film follows Becket Redfellow (Powell), the heir to a multibillion-dollar fortune who will stop at nothing to get what he deserves … or what he thinks he deserves.

Ford will direct from his original screenplay inspired by Studiocanal’s Comedy library title Kind Hearts and Coronets.

Studiocanal is fully financing the film with casting director Lucy Bevan handling all casting.

EVP Global Production Ron Halpern and SVP Global Production Joe Naftalin will oversee for Studiocanal, along with Pete Czernin and Graham Broadbent at Blueprint Pictures.

CEO Anna Marsh, with Halpern and Naftalin, said in a statement: “We are thrilled to be working closely again with our friends at A24 and Blueprint in bringing this incredibly special project to life.

Update 8 Am Pt: Studiocanal has now unveiled Sara Reese Geffroy as SVP of its nascent Studiocanal Stories label and TV series development.

She will run the French major’s new literary adaptations division, which was unveiled earlier today, while also supervising the development of Studiocanal TV series. She has held the VP Development TV series role for the past three years.

Geffroy will start on May 1 and report into new Studiocanal TV boss M-k Kennedy and Ron Halpern, EVP Global Production and Talent Management.

Studiocanal CEO Anna Marsh said Geffroy’s “knowledge of the sales and production roles, as well as her trusted relationships with the production companies which form part of the Studiocanal ecosystem, are major assets to achieve our ambitions in the franchise and adaptations market.”

Previous: Studiocanal is pushing further into TV and film adaptations of literary IP.

The Canal+-owned company has launched Studiocanal Stories, two...

Studiocanal and Editions Albert René have signed an exclusive development agreement for the fifth live action movie inspired by the adventures of French comic strip hero Asterix.

The deal comes as French publishing house Éditions Albert René marks the 65th anniversary of the creation of the plucky Gaul warrior Asterix and his sidekick Obelix by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo in 1959.

Since then, 400 million Asterix books in 130 languages and dialects have sold worldwide, with 40 albums of Asterix adventures published since 1961.

The Asterix & Obelix comic books are embedded in French culture and have inspired five live-action films to date: Claude Zidi’s Asterix & Obelix Take On Caesar (1999), Alain Chabat’s Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra (2002), Frédéric Forestier and Thomas Langmann’s Asterix At The Olympic Games (2008), Laurent Tirard’s Asterix & Obelix: God Save Britannia (2012) and Guillaume Canet’s Asterix & Obelix: The Middle Kingdom (2023).

They have had mixed fortunes...

Studiocanal and Editions Albert René have signed an exclusive development agreement for the sixth live-action film of the adventures of beloved French comic book character Asterix.

Created in 1959 by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo, Asterix is celebrating its 65th anniversary in 2024. The series follows the adventures of Asterix and Obelix and their friends who live in a small village in Gaul, the only outpost of resistance against Julius Caesar’s mighty Roman empire. Since the characters were launched, they have become a cultural phenomenon, both in France and internationally.

Some 400 million Asterix books in 130 languages and dialects have been sold. Since 1961, 40 albums of Asterix adventures have been published and five live-action films have been produced.

The Asterix live-action films are “Asterix and Obelix take on Caesar” (1999), “Asterix and Obelix: Mission Cleopatra” (2002), “Asterix at the Olympic Games” (2008) “Asterix and Obelix: God Save Britannia” (2012) and Asterix and Obelix : The Middle Kingdom...

After announcing a whopping number of English-language films in competition, Cannes Film Festival has added some international titles: Michel Hazanavicius’ animated feature “The Most Precious of Cargoes” and Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof’s “The Seed of the Sacred Fig,” Variety has learned.

An auteur-driven allegorical feature, “The Most Precious of Cargoes” (first-look still below) is adapted from Jean-Claude Grumberg’s bestselling novel of the same name, set during World War II against the backdrop of the Holocaust. It will be the first animated feature to compete in more than a decade, since Ari Folman’s “Waltz With Bashir” in 2008.

The film is co-produced and represented internationally by Studiocanal, which also has Gilles Lellouche’s “Beating Hearts” in competition. “The Most Precious of Cargoes” is a passion project for Hazanavicius, the Oscar-winning filmmaker behind “The Artist,” who has been developing the project for years. Hazanavicius penned the script with Grumberg and created the drawings,...

“Beating Hearts” (“L’amour ouf”), an epic crime romance directed by Gilles Lellouche and slated to compete at the Cannes Film Festival, has lured major distributors in key markets ahead of its world premiere.

The sprawling movie, which is budgeted in the $30 million range, is financed, co-produced represented in international markets by Studiocanal. One of the most anticipated and ambitious French movies set for a theatrical release in 2024, “Beating Hearts” was produced by Hugo Selignac at Chi-Fou-Mi, a Mediawan company, and Alain Attal’s Les Films du Tresor.

Studiocanal will distribute the film in Germany and Australia, as well as France, with a release set for Oct. 16. The company has sold it to Cineart in Benelux, Filmcoopi in Switzerland, Feelgood in Greece, Lucky Red in Italy, Lusomundo in Portugal, Kinoswiat in Poland, Greenlight Films in Ukraine, Capella in Russia and Pinema in Turkey. Studiocanal will be closing more deals at the Cannes Film Festival.

M-k Kennedy, formerly Netflix’s Europe vice-president of production, is joining Studiocanal as the London-based executive managing director of TV series, taking over from Françoise Guyonnet.

Kennedy joins the production and distribution giant in a role that involves overseeing Studiocanal’s network of 14 production companies. They include UK outfits Red Production Company, Urban Myth Films and Benedict Cumberbatch’s SunnyMarch, as well as Bambú Producciones in Spain and Dutch Filmworks in the Netherlands.

Kennedy will report into Anna Marsh, Studiocanal chief and group deputy chief exec of parent Canal+.

Studiocanal has series in 16 languages in the market including James Norton...

Studiocanal has tapped former Netflix exec M-k Kennedy as its new head of TV.

Kennedy, whose new title is executive managing director of TV series, will report to Studiocanal CEO Anna Marsh. She will be based in London.

Kennedy was previously located in Amsterdam where she was VP of production for Europe at Netflix, responsible for building the production teams for local-language series across France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and the Nordics. Among the shows she worked on were “Lupin,” “Berlin” and “Machos Alfa” and films included “Society of the Snow” and “All Quiet on the Western Front.”

Prior to Netflix Kennedy was at UCP and Universal Television.

“I am truly delighted to welcome the immensely talented M-k Kennedy to Studiocanal to oversee our TV business, succeeding Francoise Guyonnet, whom I sincerely thank for her contribution in building such a strong, prosperous activity,” Marsh said in a statement. “M-k’s in-depth...

Studiocanal has signed the person responsible for setting up Netflix production hubs around Europe as its new TV boss.

M-k Kennedy, who has spent the past few years as the streamer’s VP Production, Europe, has joined the Paris Has Fallen outfit as Executive Managing Director of TV Series, reporting to CEO Anna Marsh and based in London. She succeeds Françoise Guyonnet, who has become EVP of Kids Brands at the Paddington outfit as it pushes further into the space.

She will oversee a team that currently has series in 16 languages including the likes of the TV version of the Has Fallen franchise starring Gerard Butler and Thomas Vinterberg’s Families Like Ours. Past shows including Russell T Davies’ It’s a Sin.

Kennedy takes on the lucrative gig after spending the past seven years as Netflix’s Vice President of Production for Europe, based in Amsterdam. There, she built the...

Studiocanal is launching a genre label and has brought back former acquisitions, development, and production executive Jed Benedict to run it.

The as-yet-unnamed genre division will encompass film and TV series development, production, and distribution with the opportunity to dig deeper into Studiocanal’s catalogue of 9,000 titles spanning 100 years of film history.

Benedict is based in the UK and will also work with Studiocanal’s French production team. He reports to EVP global production Ron Halpern.

Benedict served at Studiocanal UK from 2012-20. He joined as senior acquisitions manger and acquired titles like David Mackenzie’s Hell Or High Water,...

The UK company Studiocanal is looking to dive further into the genre space, with Variety reporting that they’ve minted a new label specifically for horror and science fiction projects.

According to Variety’s report, the new label is “dedicated to the development, production and distribution of horror, thriller, sci fi and action films and TV series.”

Jed Benedict (Elysian Film Group) has been appointed to run the label. Of note, Jed Benedict had previously acquired Rose Glass’s horror movie Saint Maud for Studiocanal.

Variety notes, “He’ll be spearheading the editorial line in genre content, and will also work with the French production team at Studiocanal.”

“Benedict’s knowledge of content, his international network and his expertise in acquisitions, development and production make him the ideal profile to develop Studiocanal’s genre content,” said Studiocanal’s CEO Anna Marsh. “This new label will increase our presence in the...

Studiocanal, the European powerhouse behind “Paddington,” has created a genre label dedicated to the development, production and distribution of horror, thriller, sci fi and action films and TV series.

The company has hired Jed Benedict, a well-known executive who previously worked for the U.K. distribution banner Elysian Film Group, to run the new label.

Benedict will be based in the U.K. and will be reporting to Ron Halpern, the EVP of global production. He’ll be spearheading the editorial line in genre content, and will also work with the French production team at Studiocanal.

Benedict’s “knowledge of content, his international network and his expertise in acquisitions, development and production make him the ideal profile to develop Studiocanal’s genre content,” said Studiocanal’s CEO Anna Marsh. “This new label will increase our presence in the market which has many dedicated genre enthusiasts we want to cater for,...

European production powerhouse StudioCanal has announced the launch of its first-ever genre label and has appointed former Studiocanal UK exec Jed Benedict to run it.

Benedict held various positions at Studiocanal from 2012 through 2020 including as senior acquisitions manager in the U.K., picking up such titles as David Mackenzie’s Hell or High Water, Yeon Sang-ho’s Train to Busan, S. Craig Zahler’s Dragged Across Concrete, and Thomas Vinterberg’s Oscar winner Another Round. In 2020, Benedict shifted to Danny Perkins’ CAA-backed U.K. distributor Elysian Film Group, becoming its head of acquisitions and development.

Benedict will be based in the U.K. and report to StudioCanal’s executive vp, global production Ron Halpern. The new, as-yet-unnamed genre label will encompass film and TV series development, production, and distribution, focusing on exploiting StudioCanal’s catalog of some 9,000 titles across a century of movie history. In a statement, Benedict said...

StudioCanal said today that it has set plans to launch a new film and TV genre label led by Jed Benedict, who will rejoin the company to lead the brand.

Benedict will be based in the UK and report to EVP, of Global Production Ron Halpern. The company said he will be responsible for “ensuring StudioCanal’s editorial line in genre content as Head of StudioCanal new genre label.” He will also work with the StudioCanal French production team.

The company has said the new label will “encompass film and TV series development, production, and distribution.”

“I am so delighted to return to StudioCanal, who have fully embraced the opportunity to create a destination for talented artists – established and new – with bold and daring visionary ambition,” Benedict said.

Benedict added that the new genre label will have the “freedom of working in the shadows where we believe the genre film...

Sam Taylor-Johnson’s upcoming Amy Winehouse biopic “Back to Black” may have access to the late singer’s globally recognized back catalog, but another legendary musician is lending his talents to the project.

Nick Cave, alongside his long-time collaborator Warren Ellis, is scoring the StudioCanal and Focus Features film, which sees “Industry” star Marisa Abela play Winehouse. Abela is joined by a cast including Jack O’Connell (playing Blake Fielder-Civil), Eddie Marsan (Mitch Winehouse), Juliet Cowan (Janis Winehouse) and Lesley Manville.

Variety has been given an exclusive photo taken of Cave, Ellis and Taylor-Johnson recording in the studio earlier this week.

While Winehouse’s own songs, such as “Back to Black” (which featured in the recent trailer), “Valerie” and “Rehab” will undoubtedly take center stage in the film (with most recorded and performed by Abela), Cave and Ellis are understood to have composed about 20-30 minutes of music.

“Nick and Warren...

“I want people to hear my voice and just forget their troubles for five minutes,” says Marisa Abela as Amy Winehouse in the official trailer for Back to Black. After promising the film will show the love story behind one of the greatest albums of all times, the trailer ends with Abela as Amy saying, “I don’t write songs to be famous. I write songs ’cause I’ve got to make something good outta something bad.”

In addition to Marisa Abela (Industry), the cast includes Jack O’Connell (Ferrari), Eddie Marsan (Fair Play), and Lesley Manville (Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris). Sam Taylor-Johnson (Fifty Shades of Grey) directs from a screenplay by Matt Greenhalgh.

Back to Black was made with the full cooperation of Amy Winehouse’s estate. Alison Owen, Debra Hayward, and Nicky Kentish-Barnes served as producers, with Sam Taylor-Johnson, Anna Marsh, Ron Halpern, and Joe Naftalin executive producing.

Amy Winehouse had a quick rise to fame and unfortunately, it lasted just as quickly when her addictions would take a toll on her tumultuous life. Her talent would not go unnoticed as the singer gained a huge following, and her fans celebrate her music to this day. Focus Features has now released the official trailer for the biopic about Winehouse as it chronicles her meteoric celebrity and how the dark forces of it all would become too much for her. Marisa Abela, of the TV series Industry and Barbie, plays the singer. The film also stars Jack O’Connell, Eddie Marsan and Lesley Manville. The biopic comes from filmmaker Sam Taylor-Johnson.

The official plot synopsis from Focus Features reads,

“The extraordinary story of Amy Winehouse’s early rise to fame from her early days in Camden through the making of her groundbreaking album, Back to Black that catapulted Winehouse to global fame.

Amy Winehouse’s legacy is getting the big screen treatment.

Following the acclaimed A24 documentary “Amy,” Winehouse’s life now lands a narrative feature with biopic “Back to Black” directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson. “Industry” breakout star Marisa Abela portrays the ill-fated British crooner who died at age 27.

The official synopsis reads: “The extraordinary story of Amy Winehouse’s early rise to fame from her early days in Camden through the making of her groundbreaking 2006 album, ‘Back to Black,’ that catapulted Winehouse to global fame. Told through Amy’s eyes and inspired by her deeply personal lyrics, the film explores and embraces the many layers of the iconic artist and the tumultuous love story at the center of one of the most legendary albums of all time.”

The film is written by “Nowhere Boy” scribe Matt Greenhalgh, and co-stars Jack O’Connell as Winehouse’s ex-husband Blake Fielder-Civil, Eddie Marsan as Winehouse’s father Mitch Winehouse,...

Exclusive: With Anyone But You having just crossed $100M at the global box office and Top Gun 3 chatter lighting up the internet, Hollywood man of the moment Glen Powell has found his next project in the shape of thriller Huntington from Emily The Criminal writer-director John Patton Ford.

As we revealed last year, Euro studio Studiocanal and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri producer Blueprint are behind the project, which has now attracted Green Book and Spotlight outfit Participant as co-financier with Studiocanal.

We understand A24 is close to finalizing a domestic deal, though none of the parties could confirm at time of going to press.

The partners are aiming for an early summer shoot on the movie, which is described to us as “raucous revenge thriller” about Becket Redfellow (Powell), the heir to a multi-billion-dollar fortune who will stop at nothing to get what he deserves…Or what he thinks he deserves.

Because the fall festivals had fewer actors and writers on hand due to the strikes, more independent movies came into the season looking for buyers. And even with AMPTP buyers getting cold feet on some with interim agreements, many titles have already found homes, making it one of the busiest fall festival seasons across Venice, Toronto, and Telluride in recent memory.

Below is the running list of movies that have found buyers.

Movies Acquired After the Festivals

“Ezra”

Section: TIFF Gala Presentations

Distributor: Bleecker Street

Date Acquired: Nov. 6

Bleecker Street’s second TIFF acquisition is “Ezra,” the family dramedy from director Tony Goldwyn that stars Bobby Cannavale, Rose Byrne, and Robert De Niro. The distributor is planning a 2024 theatrical release.

“Ezra” follows a once successful late-night comedy writer turned less-successful stand-up comic also struggling through the failure of his career and marriage. After moving in with his father, Stan (De Niro...