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Author: Zehra Phelan

Cannes Film Festival yesterday saw another unveiling. Independence Day director, Roland Emmerich, has officially been confirmed to take the helm of the World War II project, Midway, which he will also co-produce.

The Battle of Midway in the South Pacific was a decisive naval battle in June 1942, six months after Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor. The U.S. Navy defeated an attacking fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy near Midway Atoll after U.S. codebreakers were able to pinpoint the time and place of the attack. The damage to the Japanese fleet was so extensive that it never recovered and military historians regard the battle as a turning point in the war.

This won’t be the first time The Battle of Midway has been covered on film, back in 1976, Universal’s epic “Midway,” starring Charlton Heston, Henry Fonda, James Coburn, Glenn Ford, Hal Holbrook, Toshiro Mifune,...

The Chinese-based Bona Film Group finalized the biggest deal to come out of the Cannes Film Festival, shelling out $80 million for a new World War II thriller Midway, which has Roland Emmerich set to direct. Bona Film Group has acquired worldwide film distribution rights for every market except the U.S., with CAA brokering the deal and representing the U.S. rights. It isn't clear if there is a domestic distributor being lined up quite yet, but this project is said to be Roland Emmerich's next film.

Deadline reports that Wes Tooke (Colony) wrote the script, with Bona Film Group's Yu Dong producing alongside Mark Gordon for The Mark Gordon Company, Matt Jackson and Harald Kloser. The film is an epic telling of the Battle of Midway, a turning point in the Pacific theater of World War II. The story follows the real soldiers and aviators who pulled...

Author: Zehra Phelan

We are pleased to launch an exclusive first look at Timothy Spall and Colm Meaney in the UK poster for The Journey – the story of two of Northern Ireland’s political forces, loyalist Ian Paisley and former Ira Commander Martin McGuinness, forced together over the final peace agreement, who reluctantly begin to form a bond.

Related: Timothy Spall on playing David Irving in Denial

The poster in which Spall looks uncannily like how Ben Stiller would look in his dotage depicts both men in their stature of power yet divided by the title, a reference to the division of Ireland as it stands, in both its political and religious beliefs.

The Hole and Killing Bono director, Nick Hamm, takes the helm to bring to life a script from screenwriter and former journalist, Colin Bateman. Joining Meaney and Spall is somewhat of a stellar cast with Toby Stephens (Believe,...

Exclusive: Expanding Swen Group strikes deal with Im Global for Northern Ireland ‘Troubles’ drama starring Timothy Spall.

The Swen Group has acquired UK and Ireland rights to Venice and Toronto drama The Journey from Im Global.

The acquisition will mark the first UK release for the growing distributor, which recently expanded into Us distribution.

The company, known for its acquisitions in Latin America, is understood to be finalising deals for The Journey in other major European territories and is eyeing further acquisitions for the UK and Us.

Swen will partner with Shear Entertainment on the UK theatrical release, which is earmarked for June 30.

The deal was brokered by Michael Rothstein on behalf of Im Global and Swen Group founder Murray Lipnik.

The Journey, starring Timothy Spall and Colm Meaney, charts a fictional meeting between adversarial Northern Ireland politicians Ian Paisley, leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, and Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness.

The film was...

Exclusive: Narcos helmer José Padilha is at the center of a deal by The Mark Gordon Company to give feature treatment to Arc of Justice: A Saga of Race, Civil Rights, and Murder in the Jazz Age, the 2004 nonfiction National Book Award winner by historian Kevin Boyle. The Mark Gordon Company will finance an adaptation that Padilha will direct, with a script completed by Max Borenstein and Rodney Barnes. Gordon, Hawk Koch, Borenstein and Matt Jackson will produce and Josh…...

Plus: Ddi bulks up cast on Elliot: The Littlest Reindeer; Jack Reacher: Never Go Back crosses $100m worldwide

Tannaz Anisi, selling Extortion to worldwide buyers at Afm, has closed a North American deal on the thriller with Grindstone Entertainment Group.

Extortion stars Barkhad Abdi, Eion Baily, Bethany Joy Lenz and Danny Glover in the tale of a family that falls victim to kidnappers while on holiday in the Bahamas.

Phil Volken directed the film, which Lionsgate Home Entertainment will distribute.

13 Films recently completed international sales for France (Fip), Italy (Eagle), South Africa (Ster-Kinekor), Poland (Kinoswiat), Middle East (Eagle Films), Brazil (TV Globo), Bulgaria (Bulgaria) Film Vision, Czech Republic (Foxx New Media), former Yugoslavia (Star Media), and pan-Asian pay TV (Fox TV).

Deals closed earlier in the year with Signature for the UK, Ascot Elite Entertainment for Germany, and Interfilm Co for Japan.

Double Dutch International president Jason Moring said on Thursday Samantha Bee and Martin Short are attached...

Exclusive: Film producers Lauren Avinoam and Jed Mellick have partnered with talent management team Matt Jackson and Molly Shah to launch new production-management banner Moving Pictures Artists. The company is currently in development on dramatic comedy All These Small Moments, with writer-director Melissa B. Miller, which is being packaged by UTA Independent Film Group. Film is set to start production at the end of the year in New York City. Mpa's production arm has…...

Thanks to TorontoFilm.Net here is the Toronto Film Production Update for November 2016, including "Designated Survivor", "12 Monkeys" "The Handmaid's Tale" and a whole lot more:

Register As An Extra For Toronto Film Productions Here

12 Monkeys Season 3

TV Series

Gep 12 Monkeys B Inc.

Prod.: Michael Wray

Exec. Prod.: David Grossman, Terry Matalas

Oct 17 - Feb 17/17

Alias Grace

Mini Series

Halfire Entertainment

Prod.: Sarah Polley, DJ Carson

Dir.: Mary Harron

Aug 15 - Nov 15/16

Anne

TV Series

CBC/Netflix

Prod.: Susan Murdoch

Exec. Prod.: Miranda de Pencier, Moira Walley-Beckett

Sep 22/16 - Feb 03/17

Anne Of Green Gables

TV Movie

Gables 23 Productions Inc.

Prod.: Jim Corston

Exec. Prod.: Joan Lambur, Peter Williamson

Dir.: John Kent Harrison

Sep 12 - Nov 4/16

Black Mirror

TV Series (one episode)

T5 Mirror Productions Inc.

Exec. Prod.: Annabelle Jones, Charlie Brooker

Dir.: Jodie Foster

Nov 7 – Nov 30/16

Business Ethics

Feature

Business Ethic Film Inc.

Two more Toronto deals emerged on Friday in a traditional late-festival acquisitions surge.

IFC Films took North American rights to Nick Hamm’s The Journey, which launched in Venice and received its North American premiere in Special Presentations in Toronto and screens again on Saturday.

Timothy Spall, Colm Meaney, John Hurt, Toby Stephens and Freddie Highmore star in the story about the growing friendship between former political enemies, loyalist firebrand Ian Paisley and former Ira commander Martin McGuinness, over the course of the Irish peace process.

Colin Bateman wrote the screenplay. Piers Tempest, Mark Huffam, Matt Jackson, Im Global CEO Stuart Ford and Hamm produced, while the executive producers are Jo Bamford, Norman Merry, Janine Modder, and Miguel Palos Jr.

Im Global financed the film with support from North Ireland Screen and Lipsynch Post and handled international sales. IFC Films brokered the deal with CAA and Im Global and plans a mid-2017 theatrical release.

Meanwhile, Cohen...

Two more Toronto deals emerged on Friday in a traditional late-festival acquisitions surge.

IFC Films took North American rights to Nick Hamm’s The Journey, which launched in Venice and received its North American premiere in Special Presentations in Toronto and screens again on Saturday.

Timothy Spall, Colm Meaney, John Hurt, Toby Stephens and Freddie Highmore star in the story about the growing friendship between former political enemies, loyalist firebrand Ian Paisley and former Ira commander Martin McGuinness, over the course of the Irish peace process.

Colin Bateman wrote the screenplay. Piers Tempest, Mark Huffam, Matt Jackson, Im Global CEO Stuart Ford and Hamm produced, while the executive producers are Jo Bamford, Norman Merry, Janine Modder, and Miguel Palos Jr.

Im Global financed the film with support from North Ireland Screen and Lipsynch Post and handled international sales. IFC Films brokered the deal with CAA and Im Global and plans a mid-2017 theatrical release.

Katell Quillévéré’s Heal...

The Toronto-based company has acquired André Øvredal’s supernatural horror, which receives its world premiere in Toronto Midnight Madness on Thursday night.

Emile Hirsh, Brian Cox, and Ophelia Lovibond star in the tale of father-and-son coroners who uncover terrifying secrets when they examine the corpse of a mysterious homicide victim.

Im Global fully financed the film and handled international sales. IFC Films holds Us rights.

Ian B. Goldberg and Richard Naing wrote the screenplay Fred Berger, Eric Garcia, Ben Pugh and Rory Aitken of 42 produced and Im Global founder and CEO Stuart Ford is executive producer with Matt Jackson and Steven Squillante.

Raven Banner will release the film day-and-date with IFC Films.

Raven Banner will release Tiff selections The Happiest Day In The Life of Olli Maki, Mimosas, and Hello Destroyer under its specialty Northern Banner Label.

The Oscar-nominated director of Precious and The Butler is preparing his first foray into non-fiction features with White Horse Pictures and Piper Cub Productions on board to produce.

The Apollo Theater Film Project will be an authorised account of the Harlem venue that famously started the careers of Jimi Hendrix, Ella Fitzgerald and The Jackson Five.

Daniels and Apollo Theater president Jonelle Procope issued on Thursday a public request for film footage, home movies, photographs or other memorabilia.

“We will, of course, respect everybody’s ownership of their property,” said Daniels, who said he attended the theater in his youth, and Procope. Members of the public can click here for further information.

Impact Partners, StudioCanal, Universal Music Group and Chicago Media Project are jointly financing the film, while StudioCanal, Impact Partners and White Horse Pictures represent Us rights.

StudioCanal will distribute directly in the UK, Australia, France and Germany and is looking to commence sales on remaining...

What is winning streak over? Matt Jackson, the 23-year-old paralegal from Washington, D.C., relinquished his crown after losing his 14th round on ABC's iconic game show, Jeopardy! Tuesday night against competitor Michael Baker from New York City. While it may be somewhat of a disappointment, Jackson's wallet won't be too sad. He accumulated $411,612 during his 13-round-winning streak and landed him in fourth place in the show's overall "all-time regular season money winnings" ranking.  Still, he won't be running to the bank with all that cash. Instead, he said he will donate 10 percent to charity.  Jackson quickly became an audience...

It’s over for Matt Jackson, but don’t feel too badly. The 23-year-old paralegal from Washington ended his 13-game Jeopardy! winning streak today, losing to New York City’s Michael Baker. But in the process, he amassed over $400,000 in total winnings ($411,612 to be exact), landing him in fourth place on the all-time regular-season (non-tournament) money winnings list. Only three players in the show's history – Ken Jennings ($2.5M), Dave Madden ($432,400) and Julia Collins…...

As an avid Jeopardy! viewer, one gets to see all kinds of odd ducks from the farthest corners of these United States. We have grown accustomed to Alex Trebek's beautifully stilted intros — "Darlene from Akron, Ohio, I hear you have an unusual collection of old keys?" — and untraditional trivia geniuses. But there's something deeply fascinating about the show's newest phenomenon, Matt Jackson. A paralegal based in Washington, D.C, the 23-year-old Jackson (he auditioned when he was 22) has won just over $230,000 in eight appearances on the show, virtually destroying the competition each time. Nobody else comes close. The contestant has also provided the show with its most slow-building smile, which begins in a frown at the top of his introduction and crawls into a grin. He has repeated this, without fail, at the opening of each episode. As each smile concludes its journey, Jackson holds up the number of...

Want to be in the Matt Jackson fan club? Well, better get in line, you jerk. No cuts, no buts, no coconuts! Yeah, you haven't heard that since the late '80s, huh? Oh, you've never heard that phrase? Damn, we're old. Anyway, let's talk about Jeopardy! contestant Matthew "Badass" Jackson. The 23-year-old paralegal from Washington D.C. is on a winning streak right now, which is super impressive. However, it was his quirky introduction that got people talking in the first place. Basically, his intro was a little…off-putting to say the least. You know the producers told all the contestants beforehand to act natural when they introduced them and just smile for the camera. This is...

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance: The latest classic to be resurrected by Hollywood is John Ford's 1962 Western The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, which stars Jimmy Stewart and John Wayne as a pair who once banded together against the titular outlaw, played by Lee Marvin. The new version, which will be produced by Matt Jackson (End of Watch) for Paramount, might be set in the steel industry in the 1980s. [Variety]   Death Note: The next movie from director Adam Wingard (You're Next, The Guest) has found its lead. Nat Wolff (Paper Towns, The Intern) will star in Death Note, based on the popular Japanese comic (already very successfully turned into a movie franchise there), as a teenager who finds a magic notebook allowing him to kill...

Read More...

John Ford's classic 1962 western is to be turned into an 'urban crime/thriller' set in 1980s Pennsylvania...

It really is at the stage now where we appear to be covering at least one reboot or remake story a week. We thought this week had been quite light on them, in truth, but then comes the news that The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance is getting a modern makeover. This story might not cheer too many people up.

Paramount is developing a new take on the film, which originally starred John Wayne and James Stewart. John Ford directed the 1962 original.

The new version is going to take the core narrative of the original film, and relocate it to modern day Pennsylvania. The flashback will be set in the 1980s, and rather than being overtly a western, the plan this time - don't shoot the messenger, folks - is to transform...

White Horse Pictures and Lionsgate are teaming to produce "Emperor," the first film in a proposed trilogy adaptation of Conn Iggulden's series of novels about a young Julius Caesar and his best friend Brutus.

William Broyles Jr., Stephen Harrigan, Burr Steers and Ian Mackenzie Jeffers are penning the script which will be based on the first two books in the series. Nigel Sinclair, Gianni Nunnari, Mark Canton and Matt Jackson will produce the project which is currently seeking a director. Nunnari says in an official statement:

"Combining the sweep of '300' with the intrigue of 'Game of Thrones,' this is the part of the story of the mighty Julius Caesar that nobody knows - his emergence alongside Brutus as young powerhouses in Rome, a fresh and contemporary retelling of their rivalries, passions and jealousies, captured in a movie with breath-taking action, spectacular visual effects and epic scope.

Im Global and leading label Republic Records have signed a multi-film co-financing and co-production deal that kicks off with the Atlanta-set urban comedy Rollin’ Thunder.

David Schulhof, president of recently launch Im Global Music, brokered the deal whereby the parties will produce music-driven features supported by soundtracks, music videos and fan-driven social media.

Hip-hop star Nelly will co-produce Rollin’ Thunder, about an ex-con who uses his bowling expertise to prove his innocence to the tycoon who owns Atlanta’s biggest bowling alley and reconnect with his estranged daughter.

Bille Woodruff, whose credits include Addicted, Honey and Beauty Shop, will direct. Producers are Schulhof, Lipman and Im Global’s Matt Jackson, while actor-comedian Nick Cannon joins Nelly on the co-producer roster.

The production is set for summer and will include a major musical component.

Republic Records stable includes Lorde, Florence + The Machine, Ariana Grande, Enrique Iglesias, James Bay and The Weeknd as well as soundtrack albums from The Hunger Games...

Current Njpw and former Tna tag team the Young Bucks have made a big splash outside of major American promotions, and continue to play on the emotions of their fans with their recent tweets.

Formerly known as Generation Me, Nick and Matt Jackson have been posting tweets over the past several days, hinting at a possible WWE signing.

The tweets read as follows:

“Pretty ironic that these coke bottles were sitting near tag team championship belts.”

“It’s pretty ironic we’ve lost the Pwg, Roh, and Iwgp Tag championships in a matter of a month…..”

“I wonder where our careers will take us nxt?”

The team also appeared to have made amends with WWE Hall of Famer Booker T. The team was in the news in August 2011 following a WWE tryout prior to a Raw taping, when Booker T had mentioned that the team rubbed him the wrong way...

Star Trek star attached to crime thriller, being sold by Im Global.

Chris Pine has been attached to star in The Line, directed by David Gordon Green, the filmmaker behind Pineapple Express, Prince Avalanche and the upcoming Manglehorn.

The thriller has been penned by The Walking Dead producer-writer Sang Kyu Kim.

Im Global is fully financing the film and selling international rights.

Ben Pugh and Rory Aitken of 42 are producing whike Im Global’s Stuart Ford and Matt Jackson are executive producing.

CAA, which represents Pine and Green, packaged and arranged financing for the project, and will represent the film’s domestic distribution rights.

Pine, most recently seen in Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, will play border patrol agent Cade Clossin who finds himself in a downward spiral after losing his wife and young son.

After unexpectedly becoming the caretaker of a ten-year-old child - who is orphaned after a violent shootout with a criminal cartel - Clossin...

It takes a special sort of actor to successfully step into the leading role of an already-established action franchise. Chris Pine has managed to do this not once, but twice in recent years, proving that he’s definitely got a future as a leading man in Hollywood. That’s a sentiment that many people seem to share, including David Gordon Green, who has just cast Pine in the lead role in his upcoming thriller The Line.

Penned by Sang Kyu Kim (The Walking Dead), The Line will tell the story of a patrol agent who is in a downward spiral after losing his wife and his son. In an unexpected turn of events, he ends up becoming the caretaker for a 10-year-old boy who was orphaned after a shootout with a criminal cartel. As the pair goes on the run, the agent finds that he has enemies on both sides...

Chris Pine is set to headline the upcoming thriller The Line for director David Gordon Green.

The story follows a patrol agent who finds his life spiraling out of control after he loses his wife and son. He unwillingly becomes the caretaker for a young child that was orphaned after a criminal cartel killed his parents. He goes on the run to protect the boy and discovers he has enemies on both sides of the law. Chris Pine will be playing the agent.

David Gordon Green is directing from a script by The Walking Dead writer/producer Sang-kyung Kim. Rory Aitken, Ben Pugh, Stuart Ford and Matt Jackson are producing.

Chris Pine is currently starring in Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit and will next be seen in Disney's musical Into the Woods. He is also part of Sean Anders' upcoming comedy sequel Horrible Bosses 2.

Leading man Chris Pine is teaming with director David Gordon Green for a new thriller titled The Line , says a story today at The Hollywood Report . Scripted by Sang Kyu Kim ("The Walking Dead"), The Line will see Pine play a patrol agent who loses his family and winds up going on the run with a young boy whose own family was killed by a drug cartel. Rory Aitken and Ben Pugh will produce with Stuart Ford and Matt Jackson executive producing. Im Global is handling funding and will look for buyers for the project at the upcoming European Film Market in Berlin. (Photo Credit: WENN.com)...