Exclusive: Ahead of the July 26 release of The Fabulous Four, the first feature co-produced through new multimedia production company Ivy Lion Productions, 3x Tony-nominated producer Lamar Richardson has offered a window into his development slate moving forward on the television front.
First on the slate is Freeman Ranch, a project created by Queen Sugar scribe Yves Beneche, who also penned the pilot. Set in the present day, the show chronicles the riveting saga of the Reeves family, who run the first Black-owned ranch in Texas, as they navigate family feuds, personal struggles, and fight to preserve their legacy against outside forces trying to strip it away.
The second project, TV drama pilot The Queen of Magic from Roxanne Beck Raye, is based on the true story of the most successful woman magician of the 20th century, Dell O’Dell.
Third up is Dead Hero, a black epic fantasy penned by Charles II...
First on the slate is Freeman Ranch, a project created by Queen Sugar scribe Yves Beneche, who also penned the pilot. Set in the present day, the show chronicles the riveting saga of the Reeves family, who run the first Black-owned ranch in Texas, as they navigate family feuds, personal struggles, and fight to preserve their legacy against outside forces trying to strip it away.
The second project, TV drama pilot The Queen of Magic from Roxanne Beck Raye, is based on the true story of the most successful woman magician of the 20th century, Dell O’Dell.
Third up is Dead Hero, a black epic fantasy penned by Charles II...
- 5/31/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Susan Sarandon (Maybe I Do), William H. Macy (Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes) and Marcia Cross (You) have signed on to star in Exit Right, a new indie that veteran documentary filmmaker Thomas A. Morgan will direct from his own script for the London-based Garrick Street Productions and Square Zero Films.
Marking Morgan’s narrative debut, the film centers on Jan Randall (Sarandon), whose brain — affected with inoperable cancer — makes her deeply afraid of being trapped inside. Refusing to take medications that would reduce her final days to a hospital bed, she moves into a tent in her backyard. Determined to give her one last gift, her husband John courageously takes her on a trip around the world — on foot, in their own hometown, for what is truly the trip of a lifetime.
Sarandon’s Jan Randall is adventurous, confident and strong-willed. She retired after a successful career as a journalist,...
Marking Morgan’s narrative debut, the film centers on Jan Randall (Sarandon), whose brain — affected with inoperable cancer — makes her deeply afraid of being trapped inside. Refusing to take medications that would reduce her final days to a hospital bed, she moves into a tent in her backyard. Determined to give her one last gift, her husband John courageously takes her on a trip around the world — on foot, in their own hometown, for what is truly the trip of a lifetime.
Sarandon’s Jan Randall is adventurous, confident and strong-willed. She retired after a successful career as a journalist,...
- 5/30/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
When Andrew Karpen wants to convince a filmmaker to let him release their movie, he doesn’t blow them away by offering more and more money. For one thing, Bleecker Street, the indie studio he founded in 2014, doesn’t have the financial firepower of an Apple or a Netflix.
“Our pitch is always centered around the kind of experience that they will have with us, knowing that we will be collaborative and transparent,” Karpen says. “I always say, ‘This is not a campaign where you will just be emailed the final poster and trailer and given two tickets to the premiere.’”
And over nearly 70 films, that openness has kept Karpen and his small but mighty staff in the game. While Bleecker is celebrating its 10th anniversary, many of its competitors haven’t managed to survive in a business that’s only become more treacherous to navigate. Several of Bleecker’s contemporaries,...
“Our pitch is always centered around the kind of experience that they will have with us, knowing that we will be collaborative and transparent,” Karpen says. “I always say, ‘This is not a campaign where you will just be emailed the final poster and trailer and given two tickets to the premiere.’”
And over nearly 70 films, that openness has kept Karpen and his small but mighty staff in the game. While Bleecker is celebrating its 10th anniversary, many of its competitors haven’t managed to survive in a business that’s only become more treacherous to navigate. Several of Bleecker’s contemporaries,...
- 5/15/2024
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: On April 18th of this year, at a parole board hearing in New Hampshire, convicted murderer James Parker was granted parole for his role in the brutal 2001 stabbing murders of Half and Suzanne Zantop, a pair of married Dartmouth professors. After acquiring rights to Judgment Ridge, a work of nonfiction detailing the chilly story of those murders, producers Randy and Steven Toll have enlisted Matthew Gentile (American Murderer) to direct a feature adaptation from his own script.
Written by Dick Lehr and Mitchell Zuckoff, Judgment Ridge evokes clear memories of Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood, as it delves deeply into the inexplicable behavior that led to these ruthless murders. It was at age 16 that Parker conspired with his best friend to commit the murders of the Zantrops. He and co-conspirator Robert Tulloch came to commit the crime after plotting to put together the $10,000 they needed to move to...
Written by Dick Lehr and Mitchell Zuckoff, Judgment Ridge evokes clear memories of Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood, as it delves deeply into the inexplicable behavior that led to these ruthless murders. It was at age 16 that Parker conspired with his best friend to commit the murders of the Zantrops. He and co-conspirator Robert Tulloch came to commit the crime after plotting to put together the $10,000 they needed to move to...
- 5/9/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Kent Sanderson has been promoted to president of Bleecker Street, the indie studio behind “Logan Lucky” and “Captain Fantastic.” The veteran executive previously served as the company’s head of acquisitions and ancillary distribution. Sanderson has been with Bleecker Street, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary, since its inception in 2014.
In his previous role, he led both the curation of Bleecker’s film slate and the company’s home entertainment strategy, including co-founding and co-running home entertainment label Decal, which Bleecker operates as a joint-venture with Neon. In his new post, Sanderson will continue to report to Bleecker Street CEO Andrew Karpen.
Sanderson’s elevation is one of several key promotions across the company. Vikki Hart has been elevated to vice president, distribution and sales. She previously had been director of sales, distribution. At the same time, Miranda King has been promoted to vice president, acquisitions and co-productions. She previously served as director,...
In his previous role, he led both the curation of Bleecker’s film slate and the company’s home entertainment strategy, including co-founding and co-running home entertainment label Decal, which Bleecker operates as a joint-venture with Neon. In his new post, Sanderson will continue to report to Bleecker Street CEO Andrew Karpen.
Sanderson’s elevation is one of several key promotions across the company. Vikki Hart has been elevated to vice president, distribution and sales. She previously had been director of sales, distribution. At the same time, Miranda King has been promoted to vice president, acquisitions and co-productions. She previously served as director,...
- 4/24/2024
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Cate Blanchett is taking on the U.N. by way of Hillary Clinton meets Margaret Thatcher garb in a first look at upcoming comedy “Rumours.”
The film is written and directed by Guy Maddin, Evan Johnson, and Galen Johnson, with Bleecker Street distributing. While no release date has been announced yet, the feature is expected to be released in 2024, and debuted first look footage as part of Bleecker Street’s 10-year anniversary reel.
Oscar winner Blanchett co-stars alongside fellow Academy Award winner Alicia Vikander, Roy Dupuis, Charles Dance, Denis Ménochet, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Rolando Ravello, Takehiro Hira, and Zlatko Burić. “Rumours” follows the seven leaders of the world’s wealthiest liberal democracies at the annual G7 summit after they become lost in the woods and face increasing peril while attempting to draft a provisional statement regarding a global crisis.
Ari Aster executive produces through his and Lars Knudsen’s Square Peg production company,...
The film is written and directed by Guy Maddin, Evan Johnson, and Galen Johnson, with Bleecker Street distributing. While no release date has been announced yet, the feature is expected to be released in 2024, and debuted first look footage as part of Bleecker Street’s 10-year anniversary reel.
Oscar winner Blanchett co-stars alongside fellow Academy Award winner Alicia Vikander, Roy Dupuis, Charles Dance, Denis Ménochet, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Rolando Ravello, Takehiro Hira, and Zlatko Burić. “Rumours” follows the seven leaders of the world’s wealthiest liberal democracies at the annual G7 summit after they become lost in the woods and face increasing peril while attempting to draft a provisional statement regarding a global crisis.
Ari Aster executive produces through his and Lars Knudsen’s Square Peg production company,...
- 4/10/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Exclusive: In celebration of its 10th anniversary, Bleecker Street has unveiled a reel showcasing both where the company has been and where it’s headed, unveiling never-before-seen footage from numerous upcoming titles.
Titles nearest on the horizon that are teased include Nathan and David Zellner’s acclaimed Sundance pic Sasquatch Sunset, starring Jesse Eisenberg and Riley Keough, which opens in select theaters April 12, and Tony Goldwyn’s family dramedy Ezra, out May 31. Others include Julia von Heinz’s Treasure (June 14), starring Lena Dunham and Stephen Fry; Jocelyn Moorhouse’s comedy The Fabulous Four (July 26), starring Susan Sarandon, Bette Midler, Megan Mullally and Sheryl Lee Ralph; Mikael Håfström’s sci-fi pic Slingshot (August 23), starring Casey Affleck, Laurence Fishbourne and Emily Beecham; and Mike Leigh’s Hard Truths (October 18), starring Marianne Jean-Baptiste.
Then, there’s Uberto Pasolini’s The Return, starring Ralph Fiennes, Juliette Binoche and Charlie Plummer, and the film Rumours with Cate Blanchett,...
Titles nearest on the horizon that are teased include Nathan and David Zellner’s acclaimed Sundance pic Sasquatch Sunset, starring Jesse Eisenberg and Riley Keough, which opens in select theaters April 12, and Tony Goldwyn’s family dramedy Ezra, out May 31. Others include Julia von Heinz’s Treasure (June 14), starring Lena Dunham and Stephen Fry; Jocelyn Moorhouse’s comedy The Fabulous Four (July 26), starring Susan Sarandon, Bette Midler, Megan Mullally and Sheryl Lee Ralph; Mikael Håfström’s sci-fi pic Slingshot (August 23), starring Casey Affleck, Laurence Fishbourne and Emily Beecham; and Mike Leigh’s Hard Truths (October 18), starring Marianne Jean-Baptiste.
Then, there’s Uberto Pasolini’s The Return, starring Ralph Fiennes, Juliette Binoche and Charlie Plummer, and the film Rumours with Cate Blanchett,...
- 4/10/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Bette Midler might have been channel surfing Saturday when she tweeted out a query: “Is it too late for me to become a Real Housewife of Beverly Hills? I’ve never watched it, but I am in the mood to talk some s–t. And to get paid for it? A dream!”
The legendary entertainer even got the cosign from “Real Housewives” network Bravo and producer Andy Cohen.
“Talk about a glorious crossover,” the official @BravoTV X account tweeted.
“It’s time!” Cohen added.
Responding to Cohen with a retweet, Midler shared what she thinks her “Housewives” tagline would be: “I think my tagline should be, ‘Those Beaches don’t know what’s about to hit ’em!!'”
Is it too late for me to become a Real Housewife of Beverly Hills? I’ve never watched it, but I am in the mood to talk some shit. And to get paid for it?...
The legendary entertainer even got the cosign from “Real Housewives” network Bravo and producer Andy Cohen.
“Talk about a glorious crossover,” the official @BravoTV X account tweeted.
“It’s time!” Cohen added.
Responding to Cohen with a retweet, Midler shared what she thinks her “Housewives” tagline would be: “I think my tagline should be, ‘Those Beaches don’t know what’s about to hit ’em!!'”
Is it too late for me to become a Real Housewife of Beverly Hills? I’ve never watched it, but I am in the mood to talk some shit. And to get paid for it?...
- 3/31/2024
- by Stephanie Kaloi
- The Wrap
“May December” breakout Charles Melton has lined up another major feature and is set to star alongside Elizabeth Olsen in Todd Solondz’s next film, the darkly comic “Love Child.”
Killer Films, 2Am (“Past Lives”) Volition Media and Gramercy Park Media are teaming with Rocket Science to bring the project to this week’s European Film Market.
“Love Child” follows Misty, who is stuck in a loveless marriage to a brutish husband. Junior, her precocious 11-year-old is her only consolation. When Easy, a handsome vagabond stranger, appears, Junior hatches a plan to get rid of his father so that his mother can marry him instead. But things end up backfiring, so Junior comes up with yet another plan, this one even more devious, and with more disastrous—and unexpected—consequences.
Cindy Bru of Volition Media, Christine Vachon of Killer Films, David Hinojosa of 2Am and Ford Corbett of Gramercy Park Media will produce.
Killer Films, 2Am (“Past Lives”) Volition Media and Gramercy Park Media are teaming with Rocket Science to bring the project to this week’s European Film Market.
“Love Child” follows Misty, who is stuck in a loveless marriage to a brutish husband. Junior, her precocious 11-year-old is her only consolation. When Easy, a handsome vagabond stranger, appears, Junior hatches a plan to get rid of his father so that his mother can marry him instead. But things end up backfiring, so Junior comes up with yet another plan, this one even more devious, and with more disastrous—and unexpected—consequences.
Cindy Bru of Volition Media, Christine Vachon of Killer Films, David Hinojosa of 2Am and Ford Corbett of Gramercy Park Media will produce.
- 2/13/2024
- by Alex Ritman
- Variety Film + TV
Vampires of the Velvet Lounge cast includes Mena Suvari, Dichen Lachman, Stephen Dorff, Rosa Salazar
Adam Sherman has directed the horror comedy Dead Doll, the drama Happiness Runs, the comedy Crazy Eyes, the thriller She’s Just a Shadow, and the adventure comedy This Game’s Called Murder. With his next film, he’s returning to horror comedy territory – and Deadline reports that he has assembled an impressive cast for it. The movie is called Vampires of the Velvet Lounge, and the leads are played by Mena Suvari (American Beauty) and Dichen Lachman (Severance). Their co-stars include Stephen Dorff (Blade), Rosa Salazar (Alita: Battle Angel), Lochlyn Munro (Freddy vs. Jason), India Eisley (I Am the Night), Sarah Dumont (Scout’s Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse), Mark Boone Jr. (Sons of Anarchy), Tom Berenger (Platoon), Timothy V. Murphy (The Fabulous Four), Sherman Augustus (Stranger Things), and Tyrese Gibson of the Fast & Furious franchise.
Said to be inspired by the likes of Shaun of the Dead and From Dusk Till Dawn,...
Said to be inspired by the likes of Shaun of the Dead and From Dusk Till Dawn,...
- 12/15/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Up next from This Game’s Called Murder writer/director Adam Sherman is Vampires of the Velvet Lounge. Deadline reports today that the cast for the upcoming horror-comedy includes a slew of stars including Blade‘s Stephen Dorff and Mena Suvari.
The horror-comedy is currently filming in Georgia and is said to be in the vein of Shaun of the Dead and From Dusk Till Dawn.
The plot follows “as a coven of the blood-suckers struggles to come to terms with the modern world and their own mortality as they are locked in a battle with a deadly foe.”
Joining Dorff and Suvari are Dichen Lachman (“Severance”), Rosa Salazar (Alita: Battle Angel), Lochlyn Munro (“Peacemaker“), India Eisley (I Am the Night), Sarah Dumont (Scout’s Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse), Mark Boone Jr. (“Sons of Anarchy“), Tom Berenger (Platoon), Timothy V. Murphy (The Fabulous Four), Sherman Augustus (“Stranger Things”) and...
The horror-comedy is currently filming in Georgia and is said to be in the vein of Shaun of the Dead and From Dusk Till Dawn.
The plot follows “as a coven of the blood-suckers struggles to come to terms with the modern world and their own mortality as they are locked in a battle with a deadly foe.”
Joining Dorff and Suvari are Dichen Lachman (“Severance”), Rosa Salazar (Alita: Battle Angel), Lochlyn Munro (“Peacemaker“), India Eisley (I Am the Night), Sarah Dumont (Scout’s Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse), Mark Boone Jr. (“Sons of Anarchy“), Tom Berenger (Platoon), Timothy V. Murphy (The Fabulous Four), Sherman Augustus (“Stranger Things”) and...
- 12/14/2023
- by Meagan Navarro
- bloody-disgusting.com
Exclusive: Writer-director Adam Sherman (This Game’s Called Murder) has set the cast for his newest indie feature, the horror comedy Vampires of the Velvet Lounge. Mena Suvari (American Beauty) and Dichen Lachman (Severance) lead the ensemble, which also includes Stephen Dorff (Blade), Rosa Salazar (Alita: Battle Angel), Lochlyn Munro (Peacemaker), India Eisley (I Am the Night), Sarah Dumont (Scout’s Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse), Mark Boone Jr. (Sons of Anarchy), Tom Berenger (Platoon), Timothy V. Murphy (The Fabulous Four), Sherman Augustus (Strangers Things) and Tyrese Gibson (Fast & Furious franchise).
Drawing inspiration from titles like Shaun of the Dead and From Dusk Till Dawn, the film currently shooting in Georgia watches as a coven of the blood-suckers struggles to come to terms with the modern world and their own mortality as they are locked in a battle with a deadly foe.
In addition to Sherman, producers on the project...
Drawing inspiration from titles like Shaun of the Dead and From Dusk Till Dawn, the film currently shooting in Georgia watches as a coven of the blood-suckers struggles to come to terms with the modern world and their own mortality as they are locked in a battle with a deadly foe.
In addition to Sherman, producers on the project...
- 12/14/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Married actors Lena Headey (Game of Thrones) and Mark Menchaca (Ozark) have been set to star in Long Pork, a revenge thriller short helmed by up-and-comer Iris Dukatt, who also wrote the screenplay.
Produced by Madhouse Films, the rising female led-production company founded by Katherine Romans and Charlie Sarah Traisman, as well as Elizabeth Valenti, the film takes place in a future post-Roe America where all reproductive rights have been banned. Headey plays Lily Williams, master chef at the renowned Foal’s Steakhouse, who lost her only daughter to forced birth under the federal ban. When Lily learns that Philip Anderson (Menchaca), the judge responsible for denying her daughter’s abortion request, is coming to dine at Foal’s, she enlists her team of cooks to exact bloody revenge, setting the stage for revolution.
Also starring in the pic, intended as a proof of concept for a feature, include Catherine Curtin,...
Produced by Madhouse Films, the rising female led-production company founded by Katherine Romans and Charlie Sarah Traisman, as well as Elizabeth Valenti, the film takes place in a future post-Roe America where all reproductive rights have been banned. Headey plays Lily Williams, master chef at the renowned Foal’s Steakhouse, who lost her only daughter to forced birth under the federal ban. When Lily learns that Philip Anderson (Menchaca), the judge responsible for denying her daughter’s abortion request, is coming to dine at Foal’s, she enlists her team of cooks to exact bloody revenge, setting the stage for revolution.
Also starring in the pic, intended as a proof of concept for a feature, include Catherine Curtin,...
- 12/1/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Bleecker Street’s survival horror thriller The Origin, which debuted at Fantastic Fest in September, is getting a title change. Now known as Out of Darkness, it will hit theaters on February 9.
Directed by Scottish helmer Andrew Cumming and written by Ruth Greenberg (The Spark) in both of their feature debuts, Out of Darkness follows a group of six who have struggled across the narrow sea to find a new home. They are starving, desperate and living 45,000 years ago. First they must find shelter, and they strike out across the tundra wastes toward the distant mountains that promise the abundant caves they need to survive. But when night falls, anticipation turns to fear and doubt as they realize they are not alone. As relationships in the group fracture, the determination of one young woman reveals the terrible actions taken to survive.
The movie was shot on location...
Directed by Scottish helmer Andrew Cumming and written by Ruth Greenberg (The Spark) in both of their feature debuts, Out of Darkness follows a group of six who have struggled across the narrow sea to find a new home. They are starving, desperate and living 45,000 years ago. First they must find shelter, and they strike out across the tundra wastes toward the distant mountains that promise the abundant caves they need to survive. But when night falls, anticipation turns to fear and doubt as they realize they are not alone. As relationships in the group fracture, the determination of one young woman reveals the terrible actions taken to survive.
The movie was shot on location...
- 10/31/2023
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Sheryl Lee Ralph (Abbott Elementary), Timothy V. Murphy (Appaloosa) and Bruce Greenwood (The Fall of the House of Usher) have boarded The Fabulous Four, a new comedy from Bleecker Street, which has entered production in Georgia under an Interim Agreement from SAG-AFTRA.
Timothy V. Murphy and Bruce Greenwood
The actors join an ensemble that also includes Susan Sarandon, Bette Midler, and Megan Mullally, as previously announced. Ralph takes over the role of Sissy Spacek, who was attached as of last fall but was forced to drop out due to scheduling conflicts. Bleecker Street nabbed North American rights to the pic last October and will release the film in U.S. theaters in 2024. UTA Independent Film Group and CAA Media Finance arranged the financing and brokered the deal for U.S. rights, with Sierra/Affinity repping international sales.
Written and directed by Jocelyn Moorhouse, the Cannes prize-winner best known for...
Timothy V. Murphy and Bruce Greenwood
The actors join an ensemble that also includes Susan Sarandon, Bette Midler, and Megan Mullally, as previously announced. Ralph takes over the role of Sissy Spacek, who was attached as of last fall but was forced to drop out due to scheduling conflicts. Bleecker Street nabbed North American rights to the pic last October and will release the film in U.S. theaters in 2024. UTA Independent Film Group and CAA Media Finance arranged the financing and brokered the deal for U.S. rights, with Sierra/Affinity repping international sales.
Written and directed by Jocelyn Moorhouse, the Cannes prize-winner best known for...
- 10/25/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Not every TV and film production will stop amid dual strikes by SAG-AFTRA and the Writers Guild of America. A host of projects stopped work after writers went on strike against media companies for better pay, streaming data transparency and protections against artificial intelligence (among other issues), and many more have paused since actors walked out on July 14.
There are exceptions, however. SAG-AFTRA’s strike rules allow for work on productions covered under different agreements, and the union can grant waivers or sign interim agreements with independent productions. Below is a list of TV shows and films that fall under those designations; this story will be updated as more productions earn waivers.
Interim Agreements
SAG-AFTRA has reached interim agreements with numerous independent productions, including movies from A24 (Death of a Unicorn, starring Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega, and Mother Mary with Anne Hathaway and Michaela Coel) — which is not part...
There are exceptions, however. SAG-AFTRA’s strike rules allow for work on productions covered under different agreements, and the union can grant waivers or sign interim agreements with independent productions. Below is a list of TV shows and films that fall under those designations; this story will be updated as more productions earn waivers.
Interim Agreements
SAG-AFTRA has reached interim agreements with numerous independent productions, including movies from A24 (Death of a Unicorn, starring Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega, and Mother Mary with Anne Hathaway and Michaela Coel) — which is not part...
- 7/19/2023
- by Rick Porter
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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