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Tessa Thompson (Westworld) and Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Super Pumped) are attached to star in the sci-fi thriller Ash, which the Grammy-winning musician and filmmaker Flying Lotus — otherwise known as Steven Ellison — will direct as his sophomore feature, as we first reported in January. Neill Blomkamp (District 9) has since then come aboard to exec produce the pic, which its financier XYZ Films will rep for worldwide sales at the upcoming Toronto Film Festival.

While at TIFF to meet with key buyers for Ash, Flying Lotus will appear in support of his segment of V/H/S/99, which is having its world premiere in the Midnight section of the festival.

The new film, for which the multi-hyphenate will also compose an original score, watches as a woman (Thompson) wakes up on a distant planet and finds the crew of her space station viciously killed, and must then decide if she can trust...

Tessa Thompson and Joseph Gordon-Levitt will headline the sci-fi thriller “Ash,” directed by Flying Lotus.

Thompson plays a space station worker who wakes up on a distant planet to find her colleagues viciously killed, and then forced to work together with the man (Gordon-Levitt) sent to rescue her. But as their investigation into what happened sets in motion a terrifying chain of events, the rescuer begins to wonder how innocent she really is.

Executive produced by Neill Blomkamp (“District 9”), “Ash” is based on an original screenplay written by Jonni Remmler. XYZ Films and Gfc Films will produce, with Echo Lake also onboard as an executive producer. XYZ Films is financing and handling worldwide sales at next week’s Toronto International Film Festival.

Flying Lotus will also compose an original score, with a production aiming to shoot in New Zealand next year. The multihyphenate will be attending TIFF to support...

“Mosquito Coast” producer Veritas Entertainment Group is shopping TV adaptations of two high-profile novels — Tom Wolfe’s “I Am Charlotte Simmons” and John Irving’s “The Hotel New Hampshire” — among other projects in the works from the boutique outfit that specializes in adaptations of books and other existing IP.

“13 Reasons Why” writer Thomas Higgins is on board to adapt “Charlotte Simmons” with “13 Reasons” showrunner Brian Yorkey and Paramount TV. “Better Call Saul” producer is attached to develop “New Hampshire” for TV with MGM Television.

Veritas is also preparing to take out a series package for the upcoming novel “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck” from author Mark Manson. Writer Aaron Zelman is tackling that project which is set at Sony Pictures TV.

Veritas is headed by two longtime literary agents — Bob Bookman and Alan Gasmer — and producer Peter Jaysen. Gasmer and Jaysen joined forces seven years ago to create Veritas Entertainment.

Actor Will Smith has a few things he wants to get off his chest. So he’s joining with self-help author Mark Manson on a book that will be shopped to major publishers.

Smith announced the new venture in an Instagram video post featuring himself and collaborator Manson, who is the author of The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A F–K, a best-seller that has moved three million copies.

“I’m writing a book! I got years and years of stuff I want to say, and I’m finally going to write a book for y’all,” Smith said in the video.

Smith asked Manson in the video, “Are you feeling confident? Are you feeling like we’ll be able to do transcendent art with this book?”

Manson said, “I spent the last six months with crippling anxiety, but today I feel great.”

Smith added in the video that...