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Rustin is a biographical drama film directed by George C. Wolfe, from a screenplay by Julian Breece and Dustin Lance Black. The Netflix film is based on the life of civil rights activist Bayard Rustin, who helped Martin Luther King Jr. and others organize the 1963 March on Washington. The film shows us how history erased him from the civil rights movement he helped build just because an openly gay Black man. Rustin stars Colman Domingo in the lead role of Bayard Rustin, with Chris Rock, Jeffrey Wright, Aml Ameen, Lilli Kay, and Johnny Ramey starring in supporting roles. So, if you loved the Netflix film here are some similar movies you could watch next.

Selma Credit – Paramount Pictures

Synopsis: Selma is the story of a movement. The film chronicles the tumultuous three-month period in 1965, when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. led a dangerous campaign to secure equal voting rights in the face of violent opposition.

Another long-time executive from Oprah Winfrey’s inner circle is out. After a 18-year stint as president of Harpo Films, Kate Forte was let go today. While the company continues to have a couple of projects in development at HBO where the company has been under a deal since 2008, Harpo Films has little to show for its efforts in the past 5 years as its last projects to reach fruition were the 2007 movie The Great Debaters, one of only two features produced by the unit, and 2007 ABC telefilm Mitch Albom’s For One More Day. Harpo Films is a vestige of old times — it was active in the broadcast movie business, doing six films for ABC between 1997 and 2007. But the demand for long-form projects, especially on the broadcast side, has dried out. And now the Los Angeles-based Harpo Films will de facto fold. As part of a restructuring, its larger sibling production company,...

HBO and Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Films are developing an hour-long drama, based on a wealthy academic who becomes the "first black president of a prestigious liberal arts college," THR reports.

The trade says the drama's plot centers on the man's "idyllic public facade," as he and his family face dark personal secrets.

Winfrey will executive produce the as yet untitled project, along with Kate Forte. Playwright and professor, Thomas Bradshaw will write and co-executive produce.

Harpo Films has been in partnership with HBO since 2008, but as of yet none of the pairing's series projects have made it to the network's lineup.

HBO is developing a new untitled drama series with Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Films says The Live Feed.

The hourlong will center on a wealthy academic who has become the first black president of a prestigious liberal arts college.

He and his family are thrust into national headlines, forcing them to present an idyllic public façade, all while engaging in agonizing personal battles and struggling with dark obsessions.

Playwright Thomas Bradshaw will write and co-executive produce, while Winfrey and Kate Forte are also attached as executive producers.

Oprah Winfrey is set to make her stamp on HBO.

HBO is developing a drama from Oprah's Harpo Films, which centers on the first black president of a prestigious liberal arts college who has been thrust into the national headlines while also engaging in "agonizing personal battles" and "dark obsessions" away from the public eye, The Hollywood Reporter is reporting.

Related: Tyler Perry Signs TV Deal with Oprah's Own

Playwright Thomas Bradshaw will write and co-executive produce the still untitled project alongside Oprah and Harpo's Kate Forte. Besides the basic premise of the family drama, not much else is known about the new show except that it will be an hour-long effort.

Related: Oprah Announces Return of 'Favorite Things' Show

Harpo Films inked a deal with HBO in 2008 to develop miniseries, movies, documentaries and scripted series for the cable network.

HBO and Oprah Winfrey are teaming up to produce an original drama series that will center on "a wealthy academic who has become the first black president of a prestigious liberal arts college. He and his family are thrust into national headlines, forcing them to present an idyllic public façade, all while engaging in agonizing personal battles and struggling with dark obsessions," says THR. The series will be penned by playwright Thomas Bradshaw, who will also co-executive produce with Winfrey and Harpo Studios' Kate Forte. This is part of a long-term deal Harpo has with HBO to develop miniseries, films, documentaries and scripted series for the network. ...

HBO is back in the Oprah Winfrey business. The premium cable network is developing a drama from Winfrey's Harpo Films. The untitled project centers on a wealthy academic who has become the first black president of a prestigious liberal arts college. He and his family are thrust into national headlines, forcing them to present an idyllic public façade, all while engaging in agonizing personal battles and struggling with dark obsessions. Photos: Oprah Through the Years Playwright Thomas Bradshaw is on board to write and co-executive produce the hourlong effort, with Winfrey and Harpo's Kate Forte attached as executive producers. Harpo

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Actor Wentworth Miller has a new project in the works, and it might surprise you.

The Prison Break star is in negotiations with Universal to adapt the novel The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. If hired, Miller would be the second name attached to the screenplay – William Broyles Jr. (Apollo 13) wrote a first draft. The choice is interesting when you consider some of the heavy hitters backing the film, the likes of which include Oprah Winfrey – who cited Edgar Sawtelle in her book club – and Kate Forte of Harpo Films, as well as Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman under their banner, Playtone. [THR]

Written by David Wroblewski, the book follows the title character, a mute Midwestern farm boy who’s forced to flee into the wilderness after the murder of his father. He comes of age in the wild, fighting for his survival and that of the three dogs that followed him,...

When Oprah Winfrey likes a book, she definitely likes a book. An avid reader, some 8 or so books from her famous Book Club have been adapted to film; so if you're an author with a novel, and it somehow grabs Oprah's attention, there's a good chance it will become a film. Meaning, dump those scripts and start penning novels! Joking... somewhat... One of those Book Club titles that's on its way to the big screen is The Story of Edgar Sawtelle - a Book Club selection in 2008.  Ms Winfrey, with Harpo Films producing partner Kate Forte, have teamed up with Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman, via their Playtone production company, to bring Sawtelle to...

Wentworth Miller is picking up the keyboard again. The actor, best known as the star of Fox's Prison Break, is in negotiations to tackle of adaptation of The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. The David Wroblewski novel is set up at Universal with Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman producing via their Playtone banner, and Oprah Winfrey and Kate Forte producing via Harpo Films. Photos: 11 Biggest Book-to-Big Screen Adaptations of the Last 25 Years Chosen as one of Winfrey’s book club selections in 2008, the Hamlet-like story centers on a mute boy who is the son of dog

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Universal Pictures signed Paul Greengrass to direct “Memphis,” a film on the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The script is also being written by Greengrass and the film will begin production in June. A few other Mlk-related films are also in production this year. It includes a DreamWorks project “Selma,” which has the backing of King’s heirs. There is also an independent film “Selma,” which has Lee Daniels (“Precious”) attached to it with the backing of The Weinstein Co. And finally Harpo’s Oprah Winfrey and Kate Forte have an HBO 7-hour miniseries deal with “America: In The King Years.”Source: Deadline...

Exclusive: Universal Pictures will make Memphis, the drama about the assassination of Martin Luther King written and directed by Paul Greengrass. The picture is being produced by Scott Rudin, the Oscar-nominated producer of Best Picture candidates The Social Network and True Grit. Production on the film is slated to begin in June. It reunites the studio with Greengrass, who last made The Green Zone for Uni and who withdrew from making a fourth installment of The Bourne Identity. Even though that last picture came in at a high budget and didn't succeed at the box office, Greengrass turned in two hit Bourne sequels and the Oscar-nominated United 93. Memphis steps in front of several pictures that were being mobilized about Dr. King. There is a Ronald Harwood-scripted DreamWorks project that has the backing of King's heirs, and Selma, an indie that Lee Daniels was working on with funding from...

Oprah Winfrey is in talks to star in an adaptation of Lynn Nottage's Pulitzer Prize-winning 2009 play "Ruined" for HBO Films reports Deadline.

The off-Broadway show focuses on a brothel in war-torn Congo and the struggles of its madam, Mama Nadi, to keep herself and the women working for her from getting caught between the government and rebel armies.

Nottage is adapting the script while Winfrey and Kate Forte will serve as executive producers. Winfrey, currently in Australia shooting several episodes of her show, hasn't had a major film role since 1998's "Beloved".

Winfrey would play madam at a brothel in war-torn Congo.

By Jocelyn Vena

Oprah Winfrey

Photo: Soul Brother/ FilmMagic

According to a new report, talk-show maven and pop culture tour de force Oprah Winfrey is considering a dramatic acting role. Deadline Hollywood reports that Winfrey is in talks to star in an HBO Films adaptation of Lynn Nottage's Pulitzer Prize-winning play, "Ruined."

Winfrey and Kate Forte will act as executive producers for the film, with the playwright adapting the script. The story follows Mama Nadi, a madam at a brothel in war-torn Congo. Nadi tries to keep herself and her women from getting into trouble with the government and rebel armies.

Winfrey recently made a cameo on "30 Rock." She has taken on dramatic roles in the past, including 1998's "Beloved," directed by Jonathan Demme, and Steven Spielberg's 1985 drama "The Color Purple." Winfrey is also attached to show her more...

Winfrey would play madam at a brothel in war-torn Congo.

By Jocelyn Vena

Oprah Winfrey

Photo: Soul Brother/ FilmMagic

According to a new report, talk-show maven and pop culture tour de force Oprah Winfrey is considering a dramatic acting role. Deadline Hollywood reports that Winfrey is in talks to star in an HBO Films adaptation of Lynn Nottage's Pulitzer Prize-winning play, "Ruined."

Winfrey and Kate Forte will act as executive producers for the film, with the playwright adapting the script. The story follows Mama Nadi, a madam at a brothel in war-torn Congo. Nadi tries to keep herself and her women from getting into trouble with the government and rebel armies.

Winfrey recently made a cameo on "30 Rock." She has taken on dramatic roles in the past, including 1998's "Beloved," directed by Jonathan Demme, and Steven Spielberg's 1985 drama "The Color Purple." Winfrey is also attached to show her more...

Oprah Winfrey has been the executive producer of Oscar winner "Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire", the voice in "The Princess and the Frog" and the guest star on "30 Rock". She is now to take a more prominent role in front of the camera in "Ruined", her first oncreen starring role since 1998 "Beloved".

The TV movie is adapted from Lynn Nottage's Pulitzer Prize-winning play which has won several awards including Drama Desk Awards during its 2009 off-Broadway run. The play involves the plight of women in the civil war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo.

Madam Mama Nadi struggles to keep herself and the women working for her brothel from getting caught between the government and rebel armies. Nottage herself would write the movie's script.

The project is being developed for HBO Films. Deadline says it has been one of Harpo's top priorities since Winfrey and Kate Forte, who...

Oprah Winfrey may be making a return to acting. HBO confirms to EW that Winfrey and Kate Forte will exec produce an adaptation of Lynn Nottage’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play Ruined for HBO Films. Nottage will write the script, set in a brothel in war-torn Congo. The project is being developed as a potential starring role for Winfrey. It centers on Madam Mama Nadi, the women who work for her, and her struggles to avoid getting caught between the government and rebel armies. The off-Broadway production of Ruined, inspired by Bertolt Brecht’s classic Mother Courage, received an A when reviewed by EW last year.

Oprah Winfrey is set to star in HBO Films' adaptation of Lynn Nottage's Pulitzer Prize-winning play "Ruined," the Oscar-nominated actress' representation at CAA has confirmed to TheWrap. Set in a brothel in war-torn Congo, the play follows the struggles of its madam, Mama Nadi, to keep herself and the women working for her from getting caught between the government and rebel armies. Nottage is writing the script and Winfrey will executive produce with her Harpo Films president Kate Forte. While Winfrey has lent her voice to several movies in recent years, including "Charlotte's...

Exclusive: Oprah Winfrey is in talks to star for HBO Films in Ruined, an adaptation of Lynn Nottage's Pulitzer Prize-winning play. Ruined, which won an array of awards during its 2009 off-Broadway run, focuses on a brothel in war-torn Congo and the struggles of its madam, Mama Nadi, to keep herself and the women working for her from getting caught between the government and rebel armies. Nottage is writing the script and Oprah Winfrey and Kate Forte will be executive producers. Ruined has been a top priority project for Harpo since Winfrey and Forte moved the company over from ABC to HBO. They have set up several projects so far, including a 7-hour miniseries adaptation of America: In the King Years, based on the Taylor Branch book trilogy. Winfrey, who last played an onscreen starring role in the 1998 Jonathan Demme-directed Beloved, attached herself earlier this fall to an untitled feature...

Oprah Winfrey and "True Blood" creator Alan Ball are developing a telefilm based on Rebecca Skloot's "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks." The non-fiction bestseller has been optioned by HBO Films, with Winfrey, Kate Forte, Ball and Peter Macdissi attached as executive producers for Your Face Goes Here Entertainment and Harpo Films. HBO offered no additional information regarding the adaptation, including production timetable or attached writers or directors. The premium cable giant says that "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" "tells the true story of Henrietta Lacks, a poor black mother in Baltimore, whose cancerous cells – taken...

Oprah Winfrey and Alan Ball are teaming for an HBO movie. HBO Films has acquired the rights to Rebecca Skloot’s non-fiction best seller The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks to develop a feature-length adaptation executive produced by Winfrey, Ball, Kate Forte and Peter Macdissi. The book tells the true story of Henrietta Lacks, a poor black mother in Baltimore, whose cancerous cells – taken without her knowledge – enabled some of the most significant advances in 20th century medicine, but with devastating, and later liberating, effects on her family. Ball’s Your Face Goes Here Entertainment and Harpo Films will produce. [...]...

Exclusive: In their first substantial project since moving from ABC to HBO, Harpo Films' Oprah Winfrey and Kate Forte are teaming with HBO to mount America: In the King Years, a 7-hour miniseries about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr based on Taylor Branch's celebrated book trilogy. Robert Schenkkan, the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright of The Kentucky Cycle who most recently wrote four episodes of HBO’s 10-part mini The Pacific, will write seven hour-long episodes. HBO acquired rights to Branch's Pulitzer Prize-winning Parting The Waters, as well as Pillar of Fire and At Canaan’s Edge. The HBO-Harpo mini means that, 42 years after his [...]...

Lionsgate is in talks with screenwriter Steve Koren to adapt the magazine article "Will You Be My Black Friend?"According to Variety, the film is set up at Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Films and is being developed for Chris Rock to star in.Lionsgate acquired the feature rights last fall to the 2008 GQ magazine article "Will You Be My Black Friend?" written by Devin Friedman about his humorous and frequently clumsy attempts to make friends with people of color.Winfrey will produce with her Harpo Films president Kate Forte. Koren was a producer and writer on "Bruce Almighty" and "Click."...

William Broyles Jr. has been hired to adapt David Wroblewski.s novel "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle" for Universal Pictures.According to Variety, Tom Hanks and Oprah Winfrey are producing the film through their Playtone and Harpo production companies, respectively. Playtone's Gary Goetzman and Harpo's Kate Forte are also producing.Broyles previously wrote the Hanks films "Cast Away" and "Apollo 13." His recent credits include "Flags of Our Fathers" and "Jarhead."The novel is a retelling of Shakespeare's Hamlet. The titular character is a mute boy who, after his father is killed, runs away but then returns to his home in rural Wisconsin, hoping to prove his suspicions that his uncle murdered his father.

William Broyles Jr. ("Cast Away") will pen an adaptation of David Wroblewski's acclaimed novel "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle" for Universal Pictures, Playtone and Harpo reports Variety.

The story centers on the titular teenage mute who, caught in a long-standing intense family conflict, flees into the Wisconsin woods with three of the extraordinary dogs that his family raises and trains.

Tom Hanks, Oprah Winfrey, Gary Goetzman and Kate Forte are producing.

William Broyles Jr. ("Jarhead," "Flags of Our Fathers") will adapt "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle" for Universal Pictures. Tom Hanks and Oprah Winfrey are producing through Playtone and Harpo. Project reteams Broyles with Hanks as Broyles also wrote both "Cast Away" and "Apollo 13." Universal picked up the rights to the David Wroblewski novel last year. The story tells of a teen mute who, after being in a family conflict for quite some time, flees to the woods in Wisconsin with three extraordinary dogs that his family raises and trains. Gary Goetzman of Playtone and Harpo's Kate Forte are also producing.

Universal has tapped William Broyles Jr. to adapt "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle," a drama being produced by Playtone and Harpo Films.

Based on the novel by David Wroblewski, the story centers on a mute teenager named Edgar Sawtelle, who, after the mysterious death of his father, runs away into the Northwoods of Wisconsin with three of the extraordinary dogs his family raises and trains.

Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman produce via Playtone, while Oprah Winfrey and Kate Forte produce via Harpo.

Universal picked up the rights to the novel last year.

CAA-repped Broyles worked with Playtone when he penned "Cast Away," "Apollo 13" (which earned him an Oscar nomination) and "The Polar Express." Other credits include "Flags of our Fathers," "Jarhead" and "Unfaithful."

Universal vp production Erik Baiers and director of development Maradith Frenkel are overseeing the project for the studio.

William Broyles Jr. is set to write the screenplay for Universal's The Story of Edgar Sawtelle . Tom Hanks and Oprah Winfrey are producing through their Playtone and Harpo companies, respectively. The project reteams Broyles with Hanks; Broyles wrote the Cast Away and Apollo 13 . The film will be based on the David Wroblewski novel, which centers on the titular teenage mute who, caught in a long-standing intense family conflict, flees into the Wisconsin woods with three of the extraordinary dogs that his family raises and trains. Playtone's Gary Goetzman and Harpo's Kate Forte are also producing.

It looks like Oprah is trading in her Angel Network for something a bit more seedy. The media mogul is teaming with HBO to executive produce the pilot for a series described by Variety as “a sexually charged hour-long series pilot about a woman who leaves her seemingly perfect marriage and children in Santa Monica for the underbelly of L.A., where she indulges her secret fantasies and desires.”

The pilot will be written by Erin Cressida Wilson, the genius behind 2002’s Secretary, in which Maggie Gyllenhaal was hired on as James Spader's sexually submissive office worker. For those of you who haven’t seen it, rent it. Of course, be forewarned that anything starring James Spader within the last 10 to 15 years will most certainly be twisted.

Erin Cressida Wilson

Erin has also written for Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus and Chloe.

Oprah’s right-hand woman over at Harpo Films,...

Welcome to your Monday morning television briefing. Bad news for Tim Riggins fans. Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello is reporting that Friday Night Lights executive producer Jason Katims has confirmed that Taylor Kitsch will "will miss part" of the production of Season Five of Friday Night Lights, due to his role in Disney's feature film adaptation of Edgar Rice Burrough's "John Carter of Mars." But there's still hope that they can work around Kitsch's schedule. "We are communicating with the [John Carter] production to work out the schedule so that Taylor can be in as much of season 5 as possible," said Katims. Production begins on the fifth season in March. (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files) HBO has given a pilot order to Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Films for an untitled drama about a woman who walks out on her perfect marriage and children in order to fulfill her secret fantasies in the seedy underbelly of Los Angeles.

Oprah Winfrey has signed up for a new HBO pilot, according to Variety. The untitled project will see Winfrey's Harpo Films team up with Secretary writer Erin Cressida Wilson. The pilot will reportedly revolve around a woman who leaves her seemingly perfect marriage and home for a self-indulgent life in La. Harpo Films president Kate Forte said: "It is unsentimental and pretty shocking, and there is something complicated and (more)...

Oprah knows that sex sells, and we hear she’s focusing on developing a “sexually-charged” series for HBO! According to Variety Oprah’s production company Harpo is currently in negotiations with the premium cable channel for the pilot. The hour-long drama is reportedly about a woman who leaves her seemingly perfect marriage and children in Santa Monica for the underbelly of L.A., where she indulges her secret fantasies and desires. Secretary writer Erin Cressida Wilson is writing the pilot, so can definitely expect this to be dark! Harpo Films president Kate Forte has signed on as executive...

Lionsgate and Harpo Films have partnered to develop the film, Will You Be My Black Friend? starring Chris Rock. The project is based on a magazine article of the same name written by GQ senior correspondent Devin Friedman.Published in the magazine's November 2008 edition, "Will You Be My Black Friend?" chronicles Friedman's unorthodox and admittedly self-conscious quest to make "black friends." The producers of the movie are Oprah Winfrey, Harpo Films president Kate Forte, Harpo Films senior vice president, production Carla Gardini. Lionsgate will ...

Lionsgate has joined forces with Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Films to acquire the rights to the November 2008 GQ magazine article "Will You Be My Black Friend?"The article, a humorous account by senior correspondent Devin Friedman about his awkward attempt to make friends with people of color, will be developed as a star vehicle for Chris Rock.According to Variety, the film will be produced by Winfrey, her Harpo Films president Kate Forte and senior vice president Carla Gardini.Lionsgate holds worldwide distribution on "Will You Be My Black Friend?"...

Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Films and Lionsgate have recently acquired the rights to a November 2008 GQ article entitled “Will You Be My Black Friend?” and Chris Rick has been hired to headline the film, reports Variety.

In the article, senior correspondent Devin Friedman discusses his clumsy attempt to befriend people of other races. If the fact that Chris Rock will star in the film adaptation hasn’t tipped you off yet, this will definitely be a comedy.

This project is still in the early stages but producers Winfrey and Harpo executives Kate Forte and Carla Gardini have their work cut out for them. The article provides the basic premise that they can build around Chris Rock and his style of humor. In fact, they should probably get Rock to help with the writing, if they haven’t already put that in works.

Pretty much everything Oprah touches turns to gold...

We just discovered from our spies over at Lionsgate Films (and our friends at Variety)that Lionsgate plans to partner with Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Films to acquire rights to the GQ Magazine article that was titled “Will You Be My Black Friend?”

For those of us who have no idea what the article was about, it was a very funny account by writer Devin Friedman (senior correspondent at GQ) about his stupid attempt to make friends with people of color.

It turns out that this film is going to be developed as a star vehicle for comedian and actor Chris Rock.

After a cocktail party, the writer has an epiphany that his entire social circle is the same color, and the white writer tries to make an attempt to make black friends, down to soliciting prospective pals in a Craigslist ad.

He later discovers that race aside, it is...

Chris Rock is going to star in a movie that Oprah Winfrey is producing called Will You Be My Black Friend? Oprah's Harpo Films is developing the project which is based on an article appearing in the November 2008 issue of GQ.

Written by Devin Friedman, the GQ piece told the story of how the white journalist used Facebook to expand his social circle of buddies by friending as many black Fb users as he could find. I haven't read the piece myself but The Hollywood Reporter claims that Friedman's experience had "unexpected results," whatever that may mean.

Along with Oprah, two of her Harpo employees are onboard as producers, they being Kate Forte and Carla Gardini, the latter being the lady that brought in the issue to the office and the attention of her boss. Lionsgate will distribute the film.

Devin Friedman is just a guy trying to make some black friends on Craigslist. Chris Rock is just an extremely funny comedian, probably past his prime, who's trying to become relevant again. Together with Oprah, these two men just might end up ruling the world of white-on-black Platonic friendships. In November 2008, a very white Devin Friedman wrote a GQ article about trying to make friends with black people. Did he succeed? We don't know, we can't read. But we also can't wait for the movie. Variety has reported that Harpo Films and Lionsgate have teamed up to acquire the film rights. The film, will be produced by Oprah Winfrey herself, along with Kate Forte and Carla Cardini -- both also of Harpo Films. It will be a starring role for Chris Rock, who we assume will play a black person. Lionsgate holds the distribution rights. If the movie is anything like the article, I'm...

Lionsgate and Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Films are partnering to develop the comedy "Will You Be My Black Friend?" with Chris Rock starring.

The project stems from a November GQ magazine article written by senior correspondent Devin Friedman, who began a self-conscious search for black friends on Craigslist. The white, married Manhattan journalist then pursued his quixotic quest to expand his social circle, with unexpected results.

Winfrey, Kate Forte and Carla Gardini of Harpo are producing. Gardini brought the project to Harpo, and will supervise the production alongside Lionsgate's Mike Paseornek and Charisse Nesbit. Lionsgate will distribute the film worldwide.

"This is a story that takes on themes of race and friendship in a very modern and unexpected way," Forte said.

Winfrey is also a co-presenter and executive producer on the festival hit "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' By Sapphire," which Lionsgate is releasing in November.

The Icm-repped Rock most recently co-wrote,...

Lionsgate and Harpo Films, Inc. announced today that they will partner to develop the film Will You Be My Black Friend? , starring Chris Rock (the upcoming Good Hair , I Think I Love My Wife , "The Chris Rock Show"). The project is based on a magazine article of the same name written by GQ senior correspondent Devin Friedman. Published in the magazine's November 2008 edition, "Will You Be My Black Friend?" chronicles Friedman's unorthodox and admittedly self-conscious quest to make "black friends." The producers of Will You Be My Black Friend? are Oprah Winfrey, Kate Forte, President of Harpo Films, and Carla Gardini, Senior Vice President, Production of Harpo Films. Lionsgate will distribute worldwide. The announcement was jointly made today by...

Oprah Winfrey’s movie company Harpo Films is going to produce Netherland with Sam Mendes’ Neal Streat Productions.

Netherland is based on Joseph O’Neill’s novel and will be adapted by Oscar winner Chrstopher Hampton

Here’s the offical news release …

Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Films and Sam Mendes’ Neal Street Productions are partnering to produce the feature film based on Joseph O’Neill’s novel Netherland for Focus Features. Mr. Mendes and partner Pippa Harris are producers for Neal Street, and Ms. Winfrey and company president Kate Forte are producers for Harpo, which optioned the novel last year upon publication. Focus will hold worldwide rights to Netherland. Focus CEO James Schamus made the announcement today.

Academy Award-winning screenwriter Christopher Hampton (Dangerous Liaisons) is scripting the adaptation, which is being developed with Mr. Mendes as a potential director. Mr. Mendes won the Best Director Oscar for American Beauty.

Neal...

Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Films and Sam Mendes’ Neal Street Productions are partnering to produce the feature film based on Joseph O’Neill’s novel Netherland for Focus Features. Mr. Mendes and partner Pippa Harris are producers for Neal Street , and Ms. Winfrey and company president Kate Forte are producers for Harpo, which optioned the novel last year upon publication. Focus will hold worldwide rights to Netherland. Focus CEO James Schamus made the announcement today. Academy Award-winning screenwriter Christopher Hampton (Dangerous Liaisons) is scripting the adaptation, which is being developed with Mr. Mendes as a potential director. Mr. Mendes won the Best Director [...]...

“Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Films and Sam Mendes’ Neal Street Productions are partnering to produce the feature film based on Joseph O’Neill’s novel Netherland for Focus Features.

Mr. Mendes and partner Pippa Harris are producers for Neal Street, and Ms. Winfrey and company president Kate Forte are producers for Harpo, which optioned the novel last year upon publication. Focus will hold worldwide rights to Netherland. Focus CEO James Schamus made the announcement today.

Academy Award-winning screenwriter Christopher Hampton (Dangerous Liaisons) is scripting the adaptation, which is being developed with Mr. Mendes as a potential director. Mr. Mendes won the Best Director Oscar for American Beauty.

Neal Street recently signed a two-year first-look deal with Focus Features. Focus president of production John Lyons and senior vice president, international production Teresa Moneo are overseeing all Neal Street projects, including Netherland.”

Twitter Worthy? Related posts:Mila Kunis joins Darren Aronofsky’s...

Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Productions and Sam Mendes' Neal Street Productions will team up with Focus Features to mount a feature adaptation of "Netherland," the Joseph O'Neill novel that Harpo optioned last year when it was published.According to Variety, Christopher Hampton will write the script for a film that Mendes could possibly direct.Mendes and his Neal Street partner Pippa Harris will produce with Harpo's Winfrey and Kate Forte. Neal Street has a first-look deal with Focus."Netherland" won O'Neill the 2009 Pen/Faulkner Award for Fiction. The novel is set in New York City, where a lonely Dutch expatriate becomes infatuated with the sport of cricket and forms a bond to immigrant culture.Hampton previously worked with Focus Features on "Atonement," earning an Oscar...

Focus Features has teamed with Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Productions and Sam Mendes' Neal Street Productions to develop an adaptation of Joseph O'Neill's novel "Netherland." Christopher Hampton ( Atonement ) will write the script for a film that Mendes may direct, says Variety . Mendes and his Neal Street partner Pippa Harris will produce with Harpo's Winfrey and Kate Forte. "Netherland" won O'Neill the 2009 Pen/Faulkner Award for Fiction. The novel is set in New York City, where a lonely Dutch expatriate becomes drawn to the sport of cricket and forms an unlikely bond to immigrant culture.

"Netherland", the novel that won author Joseph O'Neill the 2009 Pen/Faulkner Award for Fiction, is getting a big screen treatment. Focus Features, Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Productions and Sam Mendes' Neal Street Productions have come together to develop the feature adaptation for the critically acclaimed novel.

Academy Award-winning director Mendes will serve as producer alongside his Neal Street partner Pippa Harris as well as Harpo's Winfrey and Kate Forte. The 44-year-old husband of actress Kate Winslet reportedly eyes the project as a potential directing vehicle as well. His production house has a first-look deal with Focus.

Christopher Hampton, the screenwriter for "Atonement", joins to write the script. Of Hampton's involvement, Focus Features CEO James Schamus said, "We're so glad to have Christopher join our creative partnership with Harpo and Neal Street. This project's emotional power has resonated with us all."

Published on January 5 by Harper Perennial, "Netherland" revolves...

Universal Pictures has acquired the David Wroblewski novel "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle" to adapt into a feature to be produced by Playtone's Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman and Harpo Films partners Oprah Winfrey and Kate Forte, reports Variety . Published in September by Ecco, the book has been at or near the top of the bestseller lists for 30 weeks. It got a boost when it was selected as a title for Oprah's Book Club. The novel revolves around a mute teenager who lives on a farm in Wisconsin with a family that's raised a coveted breed of dog for generations. Sawtelle's father dies mysteriously after his uncle comes to stay with the family, which sends the youth fleeing into the woods with three of his dogs. "Edgar Sawtelle" marks the first collaboration for...

Universal Pictures has acquired the screen rights to David Wroblewski’s novel, The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. The film is being developed by Playtone’s Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman and Harpo Films partners Oprah Winfrey and Kate Forte. The story revolves around a mute teenager who lives on a farm in Wisconsin with a family that’s raised a coveted breed of dog for generations. Sawtelle’s father dies mysteriously after his uncle comes to stay with the family, which sends the youth fleeing into the woods with three of his dogs. Edgar Sawtelle marks the first film collaboration for Hanks and Winfrey. According to Variety, the pairing was facilitated by the relationship developed when Goetzman was a producer with Forte on Winfrey’s 1998 film Beloved. Published in September by Ecco, the book has been at or near the top of the bestseller lists for 30 weeks. It got a...

First Tom and Katie, then Heidi and Spencer, and now another union between two great entertainment mogul machines--Oprah Winfrey and HBO. Oprah's production company and HBO have entered into a three-year "exclusive relationship" to develop scripted programs for the network. Sounds intimate! While we never really thought of Oprah as a guru of innovative scripted programming, everything she farts on turns to gold, so HBO can't lose.Oprah's company, Harpo Films, will begin producing series, films and documentaries for HBO starting in 2009. Kate Forte, the president of Harpo Films says that the two companies have a "shared sensibility." We ...

Los Angeles, California (X17online) - Oprah Winfrey is moving her production company to HBO in a three-year deal to make movies, documentaries and TV Series. Winfrey's Harpo Films had been with ABC for the last 15 years. Kate Forte, head of Harpo films, said Tuesday the company wanted to make a more eclectic mix of programming than was available on broadcast TV. ABC wanted to extend the deal, but Harpo Films believed HBO was a better fit, Forte said. "This is really a dream come true for us," she said. The premium cable network doesn't usually make such individual deals with production companies, but network co-president Richard Plepler said that "Oprah personifies excellence and quality in everything she does." No financial terms of the deal were disclosed and there was no immediate announcement of any upcoming projects.