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We're in the thick of March Madness, where everyone bets on college basketball teams. We here at WinterIsComing are getting in on the fun with Fandom Madness, where we pit dozens of characters from the worlds of sci-fi, fantasy, movies, books and TV against each other until there's only one left standing!

We already went through the first round of our tournament the other week. Heroes rose and heroes fell. Paul Atreides of Dune fame struck down the mighty Godzilla. Superman bested his contemporary Snow White. Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings felled the Predator. Both of our big book heroes — Kaladin Stormblessed from The Stormlight Archive and Kvothe from The Kingkiller Chronicle were taken out in the first round. But such is the way of Fandom Madness.

Behold the latest bracket below. Who advances next? That's entirely up to you:

Fandom Madness 2025 Round 2 bracket | Fandom Madness 2025 Round 2 bracket...

Right now, everyone is tending for brackets for March Madness, hoping their team makes it all the way to the end. For those not into college basketball, we offer an alternative: Fandom Madness! 64 characters from the worlds sci-fi, fantasy, movies, TV and books enter. They'll do battle over six grueling rounds, and in the end, only one will walk away the victor. Who will it be? That is up to you.

We've been running this tournament for a few years now. Last year, Aang from Avatar: The Last Airbender took the whole thing, and naturally he's back to compete again. But will he able to secure a back-to-back victory, or will his lunch be stolen by one of the 63 other characters hungry for a win?

Check out our full bracket below, and then scroll down to start voting.

Fandom Madness 2025 bracket | Fandom Madness 2025 bracket

We're running our polls on Twitter/X.

Welcome back to WiC Weekly, where we go over all the news worth knowing from the last seven days from the worlds of sci-fi, fantasy, movies and TV. Sit back, dig in, and enjoy.

First up, Severance is still burning things up at Apple TV+. If you can't get enough, and we wouldn't blame you, check out these suggestions:

10 shows (and 5 movies) to watch if you're loving Severance: https://t.co/b5qWWwFXFJ https://t.co/b5qWWwFXFJ

— Winter is Coming (@WiCnet) March 2, 2025

The third season of The Wheel of Time is right around the corner, and we were lucky enough to get to talk to the cast members:

The Wheel of Time's Rosamund Pike and Josha Stradowski tell us about filming iconic Rhuidean scenes: https://t.co/1aUXAEchf7 https://t.co/1aUXAEchf7

— Winter is Coming (@WiCnet) March 2, 2025

Could the third season of The Wheel of Time be...

Whether he's getting banned from the Archives, having sex with fairy gods, or making us wait a billion years to see what happens in the third book of his story, Kvothe is always on his grind. You might argue that I’m conflating Patrick Rothfuss, the author of The Kingkiller Chronicle, with his lead character. To that I’d say that characters have unique agency in authors’ minds and hearts, and it’s my firm belief that if Kvothe was easier to write, Rothfuss would have long since moved on by now.

But he’s not. In The Name of the Wind and The Wise Man’s Fear, the first two books in Rothfuss' trilogy, Kvothe appears to be at once witless and genius, tactless and adaptable, weak and powerful, impotent and controlling. It’s one thing to have to figure out how a story featuring such a challenging protagonist...

There are tons of fantasy projects in development in Hollywood, and many that were previously reported on have gone dark, lacking updates in recent years. The process of getting a fantasy book adapted into film or television is an immense challenge with numerous hurdles to overcome. However, with the vast popularity of Game of Thrones, the early 2020s saw a period where various streaming services all wanted to replicate this success, resulting in shows like The Wheel of Time and House of the Dragon and new titles expanding on The Lord of the Rings movies.

Despite some beloved fantasy series being adapted, none of the recent shows have reached the same level of critical or cultural acclaim as Game of Thrones. Because of this, Hollywood has quickly grown more hesitant regarding what fantasy they're willing to invest in. Warner Bros. is still developing its Harry Potter reboot series and new Lotr films,...

Picking a fantasy book series to start is an investment, so it's worth planning around one that can promise a strong ending. Due to the vast influence of Game of Thrones, the lateness of The Winds of Winter has become a common discussion among fantasy readers, leading many fans of the A Song of Ice & Fire books to turn elsewhere, looking for fantasy that has an ending. Fans of The Kingkiller Chronicle by Patrick Rothfuss will likely have a similar dilemma, as both reader bases have been waiting for the next volume since 2011.

Good fantasy endings can come in many different forms, be they happy and fulfilling, bittersweet, or downright depressing. Without spoiling what exactly happens in various books, it's worth mentioning the tone of these stories and how that reflects in the way they stick their landing. From Brandon Sanderson to Fonda Lee to R. F. Kuang, there are...

Each week, we recap the biggest and best stories from the worlds of sci-fi, fantasy, movies, books and TV. This week is a special week, because it has one foot in 2024 and the other in 2025. What happened during this magical gap week? Let's see!

The new year is here and it's full of TV. Here are the fantasy shows we're most looking forward to seeing back on our screens in 2025

6 returning fantasy shows that we're most excited to watch in 2025: https://t.co/ab4wFFmaI2 https://t.co/ab4wFFmaI2

— Winter is Coming (@WiCnet) January 5, 2025

And here are some of the brand new ones coming down the pike:

7 new fantasy shows we're most excited about in 2025: https://t.co/zTGK2uHBHL https://t.co/zTGK2uHBHL

— Winter is Coming (@WiCnet) January 5, 2025

And why stop at fantasy? There's a lot of genre TV coming in 2025. Here's a giant list...

The story of Kvothe — infamous magic user, king-slayer, and...barkeep — has enthralled multiple generations of readers without reaching its end. Author Patrick Rothfuss has been vocal about his struggles to complete The Doors of Stone, the third and final full-length entry into his Kingkiller Chronicle series. The situation can’t help but remind fantasy enthusiasts of George R.R. Martin’s struggle to finish the purportedly penultimate entry in his A Song of Ice and Fire series: The Winds of Winter.

Still, there’s proof that Rothfuss has been working on The Doors of Stone. And in spite of it still lacking a release date, there is sound reason to be cautiously optimistic about it coming out before another 13 years have passed. That may have to be solace enough for Kingkiller fans for now.

At a time when fantasy authors like Brandon Sanderson are having huge success and new fantasy series are cropping up every day,...

The Kingkiller Chronicle book series by Patrick Rothfuss is propelled by one essential question: who is the king that Kvothe killed? Told through the frame narrative of the retired Kvothe, now Kote, explaining his adventures and legacy, The Kingkiller Chronicle has been one of the most popular recent additions to the high fantasy genre, with audiences highly anticipating the return of the story with the long-awaited third installment, The Doors of Stone. Since there's so much left for readers to uncover about Kvothe's past, many theories have cropped up about where Kvothe's path will lead.

One of the most terrible villains in The Kingkiller Chronicle is Cinder, one of the Chandrians who killed Kvothe's parents. While Kvothe goes on his many journeys, learning about the world and becoming something of a folk hero, he is secretly fueled by the desire to track down the Chandrian and avenge his family. Throughout the story,...

Let’s make one thing very clear. I’m going to list the 14 best fantasy series of all time. There are some operative words in this statement that it will be worth underlining before I dive in.

Fantasy: I will be interpreting this genre as I see fit, but the key distinction here is that I’ve chosen to leave sci-fi for another piece. So all you Vorkosigan stans and Asimov junkies, I see you. Yours is coming soon.

Series: This means that I will only focus on chronicles that span more than one volume. While there are some absolutely whip-smart, flooring fantasy standalone novels out there, I won’t be highlighting them here.

Best: The word that’s always the bane of interrogating any kind of popular art form. There are so many ways to get at “best” that it has nearly lost its meaning. All I want it...

To be a fan of The Gentleman Bastards is to know a longing that few other fandoms outside of George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire or Patrick Rothfuss' The Kingkiller Chronicle understand. Back in 2006, author Scott Lynch took the fantasy world by storm with the release of his novel The Lies of Locke Lamora, which was the first installment in a projected seven-book series called The Gentlemen Bastards Sequence. The following year, Lynch released Red Seas Under Red Skies, carrying on the tale of con man extraordinaire Locke Lamora as he headed to the marine city-state of Tal Verrar. The wait was quite a bit longer for the third book, The Republic of Thieves, which came out six years later in 2013.

It's been over a decade since then. The forthcoming fourth novel in The Gentlemen Bastards, titled The Thorn of Emberlain, has been in the works a long time,...

Despite delays and setbacks, Patrick Rothfuss remains committed to finishing "The Doors of Stone" to satisfy eager fans. Personal tragedy and unexpected success have contributed to the prolonged wait for the final book in the Kingkiller Chronicle trilogy. While fans have endured a long wait for "The Doors of Stone," a new novella in the series offers hope and additional content to enjoy.

The wait for The Doors of Stone, the third and final book in Patrick Rothfuss' The Kingkiller Chronicle trilogy, has been ongoing for over a decade with fans still waiting for news of its release. Rothfuss has always planned the main Kingkiller Chronicle story - i.e. the one of how Kvothe became a "Kingkiller" and then an innkeeper - to be comprised of three books. However, with the first, The Name of the Wind, released all the way back in 2007 and the second, The Wise Man's Fear,...

The best long fantasy book series may have planned or open-ended narratives. The Shadowhunters Chronicles and A Song of Ice and Fire are equally thrilling but distinguish how different stories evolve. Some fantasy series are not yet complete, like From Blood and Ash and The Bone Season, making now the perfect time to start reading.

Most lengthy fantasy book series are a significant commitment if one plans to read it all the way through, but many are completely worth the investment. Several highly anticipated fantasy book series coming out in 2024 demonstrate that the taste for epic sci-fi and fantasy sagas has endured. Very few series will reach the level of success of the biggest fantasy franchises that defined the genre. However, the slim odds of massive success have not stopped talented writers from creating riveting new worlds in which to tell extensive stories.

The best long-running fantasy novel series convey...

Book 3 in The Kingkiller Chronicle series, titled The Doors of Stone, is coming, it is just a matter of when. 

Written by American author Patrick Rothfuss, the Kingkiller novels take readers on an adventure in an original fantasy world, following an adventurer and musician named Kvothe. 

The first two books (The Name of the Wind and The Wise Man's Fear) were released in 2007 and 2011, respectively. It has been more than a decade since the last book in the series hit store shelves. 

Read full article on The Direct.

Warning! Spoilers ahead for both books in The Kingkiller Chronicles series by Patrick Rothfuss!

Fans eagerly anticipate The Doors of Stone, the long-awaited conclusion to The Kingkiller Chronicle series by Rothfuss. Speculations on characters like Ambrose, Denna, and Kvothe himself fuel intense theories about the series' future. Many unanswered questions about Kvothe's identity, powers, and past await resolution in the final book, set to reveal crucial truths.

The Kingkiller Chronicle books by Patrick Rothfuss have taken the world by storm, and the long-awaited conclusion to the series, The Doors of Stone, has many questions to answer. After book one, The Name of the Wind was published in 2007, fans were already clamoring for the sequel, The Wise Man's Fear, which arrived in 2011. Since then, Rothfuss has released several novellas within the world of the novels, but nothing definitive about The Doors of Stone. Many fans have wondered why The Doors of...

Speculation on the eponymous king in The Kingkiller Chronicle includes theories about King Roderic Calanthis and Ambrose Jakis. Some believe Kvothe will kill a Chandrian member, possibly Cyphus or Cinder, adding intrigue to the storyline of the epic fantasy series. Theories also point to Maer Alveron and Simmon as potential candidates for the king Kvothe will controversially kill in the books.

The Kingkiller Chronicle by Patrick Rothfuss may be the next big fantasy series to get a screen-adaptation, prompting speculation as to who the eponymous king is in the story. The Kingkiller books follow the story of a young orphan named Kvothe, who seeks to make a name for himself in the world of Temerant's arcane University while silently hunting for information on the mysterious group that killed his parents. The unfinished trilogy has become an international hit, selling millions of copies worldwide.

Before casting a potential Kingkiller Chronicle screen-adaptation,...

The release and chronological order of The Kingkiller Chronicle series differs, but it's best to read it chronologically to best comprehend the story. The third upcoming novel, The Doors of Stone, has an unknown release date, displeasing eager fans. Film and television adaptations of The Kingkiller Chronicle series have been in development hell since 2013.

The Kingkiller Chronicle series depicts the past and present life of Kvothe, an adventurer, musician, and wizard, and there are a couple of orders to consume his story and read the books (and short stories and novellas). Patrick Rothfuss wrote the fantasy trilogy and subsequent works, which received instant acclaim following the first book's release. Even George R. R. Martin, the author of the A Song of Ice and Fire series, was open about his love for the second novel after it was published, calling it one of his favorite fantasy books that year.

Plans for...

Tom Hiddleston would be a compelling choice to play Kvothe in the live-action adaptation of The Kingkiller Chronicle, bringing his cleverness and quick temper to the role. Kj Apa's musical talents and fiery red hair make him an ideal fit to play the younger version of Kvothe, showcasing his quick-witted and sharp-tongued nature as he grows and learns. Asa Butterfield's acting experience and ability to portray both kindhearted and dark aspects of a character make him an intriguing choice for the role of Bast, the assistant to Kvothe and prince of the Fae.

The beloved fantasy series The Kingkiller Chronicle has been in talks to have a live-action adaptation, leading to speculation about the ideal cast to bring this captivating story to the screen. The Kingkiller Chronicle is a trilogy series by Patrick Rothfuss. While its first two novels were released in 2007 and 2011, the final novel, The Doors of Stone,...

The unfinished nature of The Kingkiller Chronicle books presents a major challenge for any potential adaptation, as there is still a significant amount of story left to cover. Game of Thrones season 8 suffered from a rushed ending due to the show overtaking the books. A Kingkiller Chronicle adaptation without a clear blueprint may face similar issues. The delays to The Kingkiller Chronicle adaptation could actually be beneficial, as waiting for the books to be finished would allow for a full adaptation of the trilogy with the entire story in clear view.

If and when a movie or TV show adaptation of The Kingkiller Chronicle books does happen, it faces the same problem that hurt Game of Thrones season 8. There’s been talk of an adaptation of Patrick Rothfuss’ fantasy book series since 2013, with both a movie and TV show mooted at various points. It’s even had high profile names...

The Kingkiller Chronicle combines elements of both Game of Thrones and Harry Potter, making it an ideal replacement for fans of both fantasy franchises. The adaptation of The Kingkiller Chronicle has faced multiple setbacks and struggles since being optioned in 2013. There are currently no firm updates on its progress. One potential problem with adapting The Kingkiller Chronicle is that the story remains unfinished, with the third and final book yet to be released.

There's one fantasy book that would be an ideal movie or TV show replacement for both Game of Thrones and Harry Potter, but it's been stuck in development since 2013. The popularity of Game of Thrones and Harry Potter has led to a slew of movies and shows aiming to capitalize on that success, though few have quite managed to reach the same heights they did. Both have even launched their own prequels - House of the Dragon...

Horror fans, get ready for a new trip to the pet cemetery. Paramount+ has revealed the first look at the upcoming prequel to Stephen King’s Pet Sematary, titled Pet Sematary: Bloodlines. The prequel will explore the origins of the cursed burial ground that brings back the dead, but not as they were before.

The first look image shows a brown dog walking on a dirt path in front of a sign that reads “Ludlow”. The dog is presumably one of the pets that will be buried and resurrected in the prequel, and the sign indicates that the story will take place in the same town as the original novel and its adaptations. The image has a vintage feel to it, suggesting that the prequel will be set in an earlier time period than the 2019 film.

First Look Source : Paramount+

Pet Sematary: Bloodlines is directed by Lindsey Beer, who is making her directorial debut.

Today sees the launch of The Literary Tarot campaign on Kickstarter, pairing some of the world's best authors and artists for a great cause: the Brink Literacy Project!

This project tasked authors with pairing a tarot card with a seminal book that embodies the meaning of the arcana and we are exclusively revealing horror authors that are taking part in this project, along with the novel and card they have chosen:

Guggenheim Fellowship recipient Victor Lavalle (The Changeling) pairs The Tower with H.P. Lovecraft's "The Outsider"

Bestselling horror writer Stephen Graham Jones (The Only Good Indians) pairs Three of Quills (Swords) with W. W. Jacobs’s seminal, supernatural short story Monkey's Paw

Isaac Marion (the author of the bestselling Warm Bodies series) pairs The Hermit with Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein

Bestselling Mexican Gothic novelist Silvia Moreno-Garcia pairs The Lovers with Edith Wharton’s The Age of Innocence

Brink Literacy...

Sam Raimi has lined up another interesting horror project, as he has set out to turn the short Bedtime Story into a feature-length movie. He will produce the thriller, which was picked up by Js Entertainment and Starlight Media. The original was directed by Lucas Paulino and &#193ngel Torres.

Lucas Paulino and &#193ngel Torres will return to direct the feature-length version of Bedtime Story. The pair wrote the short, which follows two young boys who are terrorized when their mother's haunting late night tale springs to scary life. Sam Raimi will produce alongside Rob Tapert for their Ghost House genre banner. The production is being made under Ghost House's deal with Starlight.

Craig Flores has also joined the thriller as a producer through his Bread & Circuses Entertainment label. Romel Adam is responsible for bringing Bedtime Story to the table, and will continue to oversee everything, working with Zainab Azizi.

The Kingkiller Chronicle TV show is dead at Showtime, but it’s hoping to live long enough to sing another day elsewhere. The fantasy TV series, set a generation before the events of the first book in Patrick Rothfuss’s acclaimed novels, has been in development for years with the multi-talented Lin-Manuel Miranda on […]

The post ‘The Kingkiller Chronicle’ TV Show Won’t Happen at Showtime, Is Searching for a New Home appeared first on /Film.

The series adaptation of “The Kingkiller Chronicle” is not moving forward at Showtime as planned.

Variety has confirmed with sources that Showtime will no longer develop the series, which has been in the works at the premium cabler since October 2017, for financial reasons. Lionsgate Television, which is producing the show, will now shop the series to other outlets. Lionsgate announced in 2015 that it was developing a movie, TV show, and video game based on the fantasy book series. The TV series is an origin story set a generation before the events of the first novel.

Lionsgate and Showtime declined to comment.

The series is centered on the wizard Kvothe, who survives a tragic childhood to become a notorious household name. “The Kingkiller Chronicle” book trilogy by Patrick Rothfuss and novellas have sold 10 million copies, and the first two books — “The Name of the Wind” and “The Wise Man’s Fear” — were New York Times bestsellers.

Showtime has passed on proceeding with its television series prequel to The Kingkiller Chronicle, the bestselling Patrick Rothfuss book franchise produced by Lionsgate, with Lin-Manuel Miranda executive producing.

The project, which landed at Showtime in October 2017 in a competitive situation with multiple bidders, has been released back to Lionsgate TV, which has begun shopping the project, which has multiple produced scripts.

The proposed prequel series, written by John Rogers, was to launch in conjunction with The Kingkiller Chronicle movie adaptation by Lionsgate.

Rogers wrote the pilot and is set to serve as showrunner and Miranda is expected to compose music for the series, which is based on Rothfuss’ global bestselling contemporary fantasy trilogy.

Apple has been bandied about as a potential buyer because of the property, the auspices and the company’s relationship with Lionsgate on Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet though I hear that the streamer...

It looks like fans of Patrick Rothfuss' fantasy series The Kingkiller Chronicle will have to keep on waiting for that TV prequel from Lin-Manuel Miranda and John Rogers. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Showtime has passed on the fantasy drama series, releasing it back to producers so that they

...

Read More >

Other Links From TVGuide.com The Kingkiller ChronicleLin-Manuel MirandaJohn Rodgers...

Exclusive: Universal Pictures has hired Jeyun Choi Munford to be Senior Vice President, Production Development. Munford is a rising star who spent the last decade at Lionsgate, most recently overseeing films that included the Paul Feig-directed A Simple Favor, and the Seth Rogen-Charlize Theron-starrer Long Shot. Munford will report to Universal Pictures president Peter Cramer.

“Jeyun has shown immense strength shepherding a wide array of projects, with a keen eye for taking literary hits and developing them for the big screen,” Cramer said in confirming the hire to Deadline. “She’s going to be a great addition to our team as we continue to identify compelling material for our slate.”

Munford starts right away overseeing production for the studio on the Simon Kinberg-directed 355. The spy thriller begins production in two weeks, with Jessica Chastain, Lupita Nyong’o, Penelope Cruz, Fan Bingbing and Diane Kruger starring...

Millions of people’s Sunday night routines are ruined now that “Game of Thrones” is over, and there are holes in their hearts as big as the hole in The Wall that are aching for a new fantasy series to fill them. Several prequel series are on their way, but as there’s no word on just how long it will be until they hit the small screen, here are a few TV shows filled with magic, monsters and mighty heroes in the works that might have a shot at filling the “Game of Thrones” void.

“His Dark Materials” – HBO/BBC One

The HBO adaptation of Philip Pullman’s book series full of daemons and parallel universes will premiere in late 2019, and a second season has already been ordered. “Logan” breakout star Dafne Keen plays Lyra Belacqua, who travels the multiverse with Lord Asriel (James McAvoy) and Pantalaimon, her personal daemon,...

After reporting mixed results for its fiscal third quarter, Lionsgate executives offered Wall Street analysts an update on Starz as the premium network’s longtime chief, Chris Albrecht, gets set to exit the company in the coming weeks.

Albrecht did not appear on today’s conference call with analysts, but earned a shout-out from Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer for his nine-year tenure. The former CEO of Starz, Feltheimer said, was central to “transforming Starz from a legacy media network to a forward-looking streaming platform. He worked closely with me to position Starz for the next phase of its growth and he leaves behind a strong programming slate and a talented leadership team. I’m confident we will maintained our momentum without missing a beat.”

The quarterly numbers continued to show the value of Starz, which Lionsgate bought for $4.4 billion in 2016. The Media Networks unit posted 10% higher profit in the quarter and Starz subscriber numbers,...

It’s awhile since we’ve seen a Sam Raimi movie! He hasn’t directed a feature film since Oz The Great and Powerful, but he’s currently attached to direct a couple of films that will hopefully get off the ground. I miss Sam Raimi movies! But he’s set to produce a new horror movie called Behind, which is based on a creepy short film.

The short film was directed by Angel Gomez, who is also attached to direct the feature, with Zak Olkewicz on board to write the script. Raimi will produce through his Ghost House Pictures banner alongside Robert Tapert. Lionsgate will distribute the film.

The story centers on “a woman going through a divorce who comes to fear that she will lose her baby daughter. When a mysterious lady at a party tells her that she is being followed, what seems at first like a...

There’s no denying this one: Lionsgate’s film division had a dismal year at the box office, topping out at $388 million — the company’s worst domestic box office performance since 2011.

The brightest spots on Lionsgate’s slate were two modestly budgeted films with female leads: Paul Feig’s thriller “A Simple Favor,” which earned $53.5 million domestically, and Anna Faris’s remake of “Overboard,” released under the Pantelion Films banner to just $50.3 million.

The Sundance acquisition “Blindspotting” garnered some major critical acclaim, but little else. And the company took big losses on the Mila Kunis-Kate McKinnon comedy “The Spy Who Dumped Me” and the sci-fi film “Kin.”

Lionsgate also missed the bullseye with one of its priciest bets: the $100 million-budgeted “Robin Hood,” which has managed just over $30 million so far at the domestic box office. The fantasy adventure starring Taron Egerton has also underperformed overseas, though it still awaits a release in China.

Lionsgate has renewed its longstanding partnership with Idc for the theatrical distribution of Lionsgate and Summit Entertainment films across Latin America. This is a collaboration that began under Summit in 2005. Since then, Idc has generated over $1.3B at the Latin American box office, propelled by such franchises as the Hunger Games, Twilight Saga, Now You See Me and John Wick; as well as La La Land.

Led by President Pedro Rodriguez, Idc has unique distribution relationships with leading indies across 23 Latin American countries, giving it the flexibility to release both day-and-date with the U.S. as well as opportunistically on a market-by-market basis. The Idc structure also allows it to create marketing, release and promotional strategies in each.

Other successful titles have included Wonder, The Impossible and The Shack; along with acquisitions such as Sinister, Last Vegas, Winchester and Non Stop.

Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer says, “Pedro Rodriguez and his...

Lionsgate and Idc have renewed their longstanding distribution partnership for Latin American releases of Lionsgate and Summit Entertainment films.

Since the partnership’s formation with predecessor company Summit Entertainment in 2005, Idc has generated over $1.3 billion at the Latin American box office, propelled by the Hunger Games, Twilight Saga, Now You See Me, and John Wick franchises along with “La La Land,” “Wonder,” and “The Impossible.” Idc has also strong performances from acquisitions such as “Sinister,” “Last Vegas,” “Winchester” and “Non Stop.”

Idc has distribution relationships with independents across 23 Latin American countries with the flexibility to release both day-and-date with the U.S. The companies said the Idc structure also allows it to create the marketing, release and promotional strategies in each territory.

“Pedro Rodriguez and his Idc team have done a great job of mining the full potential of the Latin American box office,” said Lionsgate chief executive officer Jon Feltheimer.

La La Land, Hunger Games, Wonder among key successes.

Lionsgate has renewed its partnership with Idc for theatrical distribution of Lionsgate and Summit Entertainment films across Latin America.

Since the partnership’s formation with predecessor company Summit Entertainment in 2005, Idc has generated more than $1.3bn at the Latin American box office, propelled by the blockbuster Hunger Games, Twilight, Now You See Me, and John Wick franchises.

Drivers have included La La Land, last year’s breakout Wonder, The Impossible, and The Shack. Idc has also has success with acquisitions such as Sinister, Last Vegas, Winchester, and Non Stop.

Idc’s...

Lionsgate has renewed its multiyear Latin America movie output deal with Idc, led by president Pedro Rodriguez, as the Hollywood studio strengthens its global distribution network.

Idc will continue releasing Lionsgate and Summit Entertainment titles across 23 markets in Latin America, starting with Robin Hood, the next installment of the John Wick action franchise, Chaos Walking, The Kingkiller Chronicle, Life Itself and 47 Meters Down: The Next Chapter.

Lionsgate first inked a movie output deal with Idc in 2005, and its Latin American partner has generated around $1.3 billion at the regional box office during that period.

"Pedro Rodriguez and his ...

Lionsgate has renewed its multiyear Latin America movie output deal with Idc, led by president Pedro Rodriguez, as the Hollywood studio strengthens its global distribution network.

Idc will continue releasing Lionsgate and Summit Entertainment titles across 23 markets in Latin America, starting with Robin Hood, the next installment of the John Wick action franchise, Chaos Walking, The Kingkiller Chronicle, Life Itself and 47 Meters Down: The Next Chapter.

Lionsgate first inked a movie output deal with Idc in 2005, and its Latin American partner has generated around $1.3 billion at the regional box office during that period.

"Pedro Rodriguez and his ...

Each year Variety’s New Leaders feature profiles the most prominent up-and-comers in the entertainment business. To determine this year’s worthies, Variety looked across disciplines, from television, digital, music and film, to law and finance, as well as content creators. They were proposed by their bosses and peers who have worked with them and seen their rise. All are age 40 or under, and Variety has measured them by the progress of their career trajectories: do they take calculated risks? How fast have they risen in their companies? Are they innovative and employ solutions to problems that are creative? As part of the salute to the qualities that keep the town humming, filmmaker/producer Travis Knight, who founded Laika Studios and is finishing up the anticipated “Bumblebee” for Paramount, as well as Variety‘s 10 Assistants to Watch along with the New Leaders will be recognized Oct. 17, at the Jeremy Hotel rooftop in West Hollywood.

Lionsgate promoted television executive Nannette Diacovo to executive vice president of legal affairs.

In her new role, Diacovo will manage the day-to-day operation of the Lionsgate Television’s legal affairs department, which she formed when joining the company in 2013 as Svp and head of legal affairs. Her responsibilities include drafting and executing agreements for scripted series across broadcast, cable and streaming platforms, overseeing all development and production legal affairs matters and assisting with corporate television issues.

“Nan is a legal expert, consummate dealmaker and an integral member of our television group,” Lionsgate Television Group President Sandra Stern said in a statement. “She helped build our legal affairs department from the ground up, and we’re very proud to have her lead that team as we continue to grow our business.”

Lionsgate’s independent television studio behind such shows as Orange is the New Black, Greenleaf, the critically-acclaimed Dear White People...

“Hamilton” mastermind Lin-Manuel Miranda may currently be the hardest-working and in-demand man in Hollywood. How many TV and film projects does he currently have in the works? Let’s see:

1) On Friday Miranda was announced as part of the cast, along with James McAvoy and Ruth Wilson, in the BBC’s upcoming series “His Dark Materials,” based on the bestselling fantasy novels by British author Philip Pullman.

2) Just three days before, it was announced Miranda would be executive producing an FX limited series based on the life of Bob Fosse and Gwen Verdon with Sam Rockwell and Michelle Williams attached as the leads.

3) Last week, Variety reported he would be making his feature directorial debut with “Tick, Tick… Boom,” based on the 2014 stage production about “Rent” playwright Jonathan Larson.

4) Audiences will see him star opposite Emily Blunt in another Disney feature, the upcoming “Mary Poppins Returns,” bowing just in time for Christmas on Dec.

Fox Networks Asia has picked up a slew of rights to film titles that were the hottest earlier this month in Cannes. They include Sam Raimi’s “The Kingkiller Chronicle,” female actioner “355” to be produced by and star Jessica Chastain, and Benedict Cumberbatch-starring Cold War thriller “Ironbark.”

The networks group operates some 150 channels in Asia across 10 countries and territories. The titles acquired will air on Fox Movies Asia in South East Asia, including Hong Kong and Taiwan. They will also be available for VoD screening on Fox+, which is now functional in Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and The Philippines.

“By acquiring blockbuster epics, laugh-out-loud comedies and thoughtful independent products at Cannes this year, Fox Movies Asia is maintaining the title of top movie channel in the region,” said Keertan Adyanthaya, Fng’s executive VP, content & marketing, in the Apac region.

“355” which during Cannes was the subject of bid battles...

Former Disney exec Erin Westerman is also joining the company.

Nathan Kahane has been named president of the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, reuniting him with group chairman Joe Drake, with whom Kahane co-founded Good Universe.

Also joining the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, as executive vice-president of production, is former Good Universe and Disney executive Erin Westerman.

Lionsgate acquired Good Universe last October.

Kahane, who was also partnered with Drake at Mandate Pictures, has served as a producer or executive producer on over 30 films, among them Juno, the Harold & Kumar series, This Is The End, Neighbors, The Grudge and Evil Dead.

Nathan Kahane has been named president of the Motion Picture Proup for Lionsgate. The producer of Juno and Blockers co-founded Good Universe with Joe Drake who is chairman of the Motion Picture Group. Lionsgate had acquired Good Universe last year.

Other moves includes Good Universe’s Erin Westerman coming in as executive VP of production. Lionsgate has been in the throes of changes with the motion picture division for some time when Erik Feig and Patrick Wachsberger exited the ranks. That followed Rob Friedman’s exit from the Motion Picture unit in August. Both Wachsberger and Friedman had come into Lionsgate about six years earlier after Lionsgate acquired Summit Entertainment.

Feig has since been raising money to launch a new company focused on youth-oriented entertainment properties, one that may include Lionsgate as an investor. Wachsberger said he will build another business while Friedman took a post as Chairman/CEO of...

Lionsgate has signed new deals and extended output agreements with six media companies in Europe and Asia for the distribution of its Lionsgate and Summit Entertainment label films.

The studio made the announcement on Tuesday, the opening day of the Cannes Film Festival. Lionsgate makes extensive use of output deals as a risk-mitigation strategy in order to limit its exposure on movies that underperform.

The company has formed new output deals with Eagle Films for the distribution of Lionsgate label films in the Middle East, and Jaguar Films for the distribution of Summit titles in the territory. It also signed a new output agreement with Encore Films and Golden Village in Singapore.

Lionsgate also extended its existing partnerships with eOne in Spain and Vertical in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria, as well as its relationship with iQiyi online entertainment service in China. The company will continue to...

New deals with Eagle, Jaguar, Encore Films, Golden Village.

Lionsgate has expanded its output deals across Europe and Asia for its Lionsgate and Summit labels, the company announced on Tuesday.

In a handful of new deals, Eagle Films will distribute Lionsgate films in the Middle East and Jaguar Films will handle Summit titles in the territory, while Lionsgate fare will go through Encore Films and Golden Village in Singapore.

Lionsgate has extended existing partnerships with eOne in Spain and Vertical in The Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria, as well as its relationship with online entertainment service iQIYI in China.

Exclusive: Lionsgate is kicking off the Cannes Film Festival with a bevy of new and extended output agreements as it continues to grow its worldwide distribution footprint. The deals include six leading media companies across Europe and Asia for Lionsgate and Summit Entertainment titles.

Among the fresh pacts are with Eagle Films for the distribution of Lionsgate pics in the Middle East and with Jaguar Films for Summit titles in the growing market. In Singapore, there are new output arrangements with Encore Films and Golden Village.

Lionsgate also extended its existing partnerships with theatrical distributors including eOne in Spain, and Vertical in Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria. In China, the relationship with online entertainment giant iQiyi has further been extended. Lionsgate will continue to distribute films from both the Lionsgate and Summit labels in each of the markets under the enhanced pacts.

Exiting Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Co-Chairman Patrick Wachsberger,...

Jamie Foxx had a clear message for the nation’s theater owners Thursday: his upcoming “Robin Hood” movie is plenty serious.

“There are no tights,” he asserted to the crowd at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. “This is grown-man business.”

“Robin Hood” was the final movie footage to be shown at the four-day CinemaCon as the final title of the 11th studio presentation. The trailer showed Taron Egerton as Robin Hood, a war-hardened crusader, and Foxx portraying Little John, a Moorish commander mounting an audacious revolt against the corrupt English crown — along with stealing from the rich to give to the poor.

Eve Hewson stars as Maid Marian. “Fifty Shades of Grey” star Jamie Dornan will portray Will Scarlett, the half-brother of Robin Hood, and Ben Mendelsohn portrays the Sheriff of Nottingham.

Egerton called Mendelsohn “everyone’s favorite villain,” adding that this particular portrayal is “reptilian.”

“Robin Hood” is opening...

Entertainment Earth – a popular worldwide toys and collectibles destination – announces the signing of a license with TeeRico by Lin-Manuel Miranda (the Hamilton creator’s merchandise brand) to create a toy and collectible product line.

Lin-Manuel and Tobi Pin Mates Wooden Collectibles

The first product announced is Lin-Manuel Miranda and his beloved dog Tobi adorably designed in the highly popular Pin Mates brand of wooden figures.

A portion of every sale in this collection will be donated to charity.

“We are extremely happy to partner with such an inspirational talent,” commented Jason Labowitz, Entertainment Earth co-founder and president. “The birth of this extension to our Pin Mates line was a passion project for our staff, and we couldn’t be more excited about working on an innovative product line with Lin-Manuel.”

Set to hit shelves in July 2018, the Lin-Manuel and Tobi Pin Mates recently debuted at the TeeRico by Lin-Manuel Miranda...

Could Sam Raimi make a return to the Spider-Man franchise? Thomas Haden Church seems to think so. Church played Sandman in the notoriously disappointing Spider-Man 3, which ended Raimi's tenure with the Marvel superhero, even though he had plans to make Spider-Man 4, which didn't pan out. Instead, Sony opted to make The Amazing Spider-Man reboot, which didn't turn out so great, as we know. Though, it did lead to Spidey making his way to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In any case, Church seems to think that Raimi could take another crack at the franchise in the future.

The actor is currently promoting the new season of Divorce on HBO. During a recent interview, the subject of Spider-Man 3 came up. Thomas Haden Church admits that he's proud of the movie, but that they were trying to cram way too much into it, which ultimately led to it being a problematic sequel.

On this episode of Collider Movie Talk, Mark Ellis, Mark Reilly, Brianne Chandler, and Jon Schnepp discuss the following: Variety is reporting that Sam Raimi is in negotiations to direct Lionsgate's adaptation of The Kingkiller Chronicle based on the Pat Rothfuss’ book series. Lin-Manuel Miranda is rumored to be involved. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Tom Hanks is set to play late TV personality Fred Rogers in the biopic, You Are My Friend. Marielle Heller will direct from a screenplay by Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harpster. Opening This Week: Winchester - After the sudden death of her family, …...