News

Indian studio Applause Entertainment is gearing up for an ambitious slate of projects as it enters its eighth year of operations.

The company, led by managing director Sameer Nair, a pioneer of Indian television with previous stints at Star TV, Ndtv Imagine, Turner General Entertainment and Balaji Telefilms, has its sights set on expanding into new genres and formats while building on its established successes.

Leading the charge is “Nyaya,” a courtroom drama produced in association with Mangata Films. Directed by Nitya Mehra, Karan Kapadia and Heeraz Marfatia, the fictionalized series based on real events follows a 17-year-old girl seeking justice against a powerful ‘godman,’ or leader of a religious cult, who raped her. The project boasts a strong cast including Fatima Sana Sheikh, Aneet Padda, Arjun Mathur, Mohd. Zeeshan Ayyub and Raghubir Yadav.

“When this opportunity came up, we really pounced on it,” Nair told Variety. “They’ve shot it really well.

Broadcasters in France, Germany and Italy have joined forces on family adventure series “The Emperor’s Stone: The Search of La Buse’s Treasure,” which will be produced under the Alliance, a partnership formed in 2018 by leading European pubcasters to finance ambitious, internationally-driven series.

Commissioned by France Télévisions, Zdf and Rai, “The Emperor’s Stone: The Search of La Buse’s Treasure” won the call for projects launched in 2022 by the Alliance. So far, as many as 10 shows have been produced via the Alliance, including “Mirage,” “Germinal,” “Around the World in 80 Days” (pictured), “Leonardo,” “Survivors,” “The Swarm” and “The Reunion,” among others.

“The Emperor’s Stone: The Search of La Buse’s Treasure” is being produced by Mathieu Ageron, Maxime Delauney and Romain Rousseau for Paris-based Nolita; Andrew Rosen and Anthony Leo for Canadian outfit Aircraft Pictures (“Circuit Breakers”); and David Wicht for Film Afrika in South Africa (“One Piece,...

Directed by Remy Grillo, The Resurrection of Charles Manson has recently been released by XYZ Films and we have an exclusive clip just for Daily Dead readers!

The story surrounds a young couple hoping to create an aesthetically pleasing audition tape for an up-and-coming Charles Manson film. But when the couple chooses an eclectic desert Airbnb as the perfect backdrop, the dark events of the audition material slowly slip into their reality... Eventually, they find themselves intertwined in an occult leader (Grillo)’s sinister plot.

Dare Angel produced in partnership with Mi Nene. Producers include Josh Plasse, Shakira Barrera, Conor Allyn, Johnny James Fiore, Benjamin Anderson, Jake Allyn and Fabio Lo Fria. Nidal Kahl, Bobby McMichael, Chido Nwokocha, and Dennis Echelberger Executive Produced.

It was announced last year that XYZ Films had acquired all North American rights to the film. The rights for the domestic distribution deal were brokered by...

We’ve been following the progress of the cult horror film The Resurrection of Charles Manson for a while now, ever since it was first announced under the title Man’s Son. Now the film – which counts Frank Grillo (Boss Level) as a cast member and marks the feature directorial debut of Remy Grillo, who happens to be Frank Grillo’s son – is set to receive a digital release on March 16th, and with that date just a week away a trailer has arrived online. You can watch it in the embed above.

Scripted by Josh Plasse and Brev Moss, The Resurrection of Charles Manson was “inspired by modern occult activity in the California desert”. The story goes like this: A couple goes to the desert for a romantic weekend and shoot an audition for a role in an upcoming film. Their holiday quickly turns deadly as they are the target...

Earlier this year, we followed the progress of a cult horror film called Man’s Son, which counts Frank Grillo (Boss Level) as a cast member and marks the feature directorial debut of Remy Grillo. Who happens to be Frank Grillo’s son. XYZ Films picked up the North American distribution rights to the film back in April, with the plan being to release it later this year or sometime in early 2023. And now our friends at Bloody Disgusting have found out exactly when XYZ Films plans to give the film an On Demand and Digital release: February 16th. When the movie makes its way out into the world, it won’t be going by the title Man’s Son any longer. It’s now called The Resurrection of Charles Manson.

Scripted by Josh Plasse and Brev Moss, The Resurrection of Charles Manson was “inspired by modern occult activity in...

Exclusive: Criminal Minds showrunner Simon Mirren and his production partner Benjamin Anderson are currently in Mumbai working on a procedural drama series with Indian firms Applause Entertainment and Locomotive Global, Deadline can reveal.

Mirren — also known for series such as Spooks, Versailles and Without a Trace — and Anderson are involved in the precinct-based crime ‘pro-serial’ through their new company, Case Closed Entertainment.

Applause, which takes a feature film financing approach to streaming series, has greenlit the series working alongside Case Closed and Locomotive, which is based in Mumbai and California, and will look to sell it to an SVoD service once produced. The Aditya Birla Group-owned Applause was behind the Indian remake of Peter Moffat’s BBC drama Criminal Justice and several other Western scripted format adaptations such as The Office.

“The reason I had initially done remakes was for speed to market, allowing us to take a framework and reimagine it,...

Exclusive: Will Peltz (Unfriended), Sarah Dumont (Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse) and Sydelle Noel (Glow) have signed on to star alongside Frank Grillo, Jaime King, Katherine Hughes and Josh Plasse in the horror-thriller Man’s Son, with Voltage Pictures coming aboard to launch international sales ahead of the upcoming Marché du Film.

The XYZ Films title from director Remy Grillo centers on a young couple (Hughes and Plasse) hoping to create an aesthetically pleasing audition tape for an up-and-coming Charles Manson film. When they choose an eclectic desert Airbnb as the perfect backdrop, the dark events of the audition material slowly slip into their reality, until they find themselves intertwined in an occult, sinister plot led by King and Grillo’s characters.

Plasse and Brev Moss wrote the script, which is inspired by modern occult activity in the California desert, with production to kick off in Yucca Valley, California this month.

Exclusive: Katherine Hughes (Echo 3) and Josh Plasse (iCarly) have signed on to star alongside Frank Grillo and Jaime King in the horror-thriller Man’s Son, which Remy Grillo is directing for XYZ Films.

The story surrounds a young couple (Hughes and Plasse) hoping to create an aesthetically pleasing audition tape for an up-and-coming Charles Manson film. But when they choose an eclectic desert Airbnb as the perfect backdrop, the dark events of the audition material slowly slip into their reality… Eventually, they find themselves intertwined in an occult, sinister plot led by King and Grillo’s characters.

Plasse and Brev Moss wrote the script, which is inspired by modern occult activity in the California Desrt. King’s Hooligan Dreamers Productions is producing in partnership with Dare Angel, Mi Nene and Margate House Films. Plasse, Shakira Barrera, Conor Allyn, Johnny James Fiore, Benjamin Anderson, Jake Allyn, Fabio Lo Fria, King and Emma Comley are producing,...

Exclusive: Jaime King (Black Summer) has signed on to star alongside Frank Grillo in the thriller Man’s Son, which his son Remy Grillo is directing for XYZ Films.

The story surrounds a young couple hoping to create an aesthetically pleasing audition tape for an up-and-coming Charles Manson film. But when the couple chooses an eclectic desert Airbnb as the perfect backdrop, the dark events of the audition material slowly slip into their reality… Eventually, they find themselves intertwined in an occult, sinister plot led by King and Grillo’s characters.

Josh Plasse and Brev Moss penned the script for the pic, which is going before cameras in Yucca Valley, California this month. King’s Hooligan Dreamers Productions will produce in partnership with Dare Angel, Mi Nene and Margate House Films. Plasse, Shakira Barrera, Conor Allyn, Johnny James Fiore, Benjamin Anderson, Jake Allyn, Fabio Lo Fria, King and Emma Comley are producing,...

Exclusive: XYZ Films has acquired North American rights to the upcoming horror-thriller Man’s Son, starring Frank Grillo and to be directed by his son, Remy Grillo, with plans for a domestic release either later this year or early next year.

The story surrounds a young couple hoping to create an aesthetically pleasing audition tape for an up-and-coming Charles Manson film. But when the couple chooses an eclectic desert Airbnb as the perfect backdrop, the dark events of the audition material slowly slip into their reality… Eventually, they find themselves intertwined in an occult leader (Grillo)’s sinister plot.

Josh Plasse and Brev Moss wrote the script for the project that Dare Angel is producing in partnership with Mi Nene, which will go before cameras in Yucca Valley, California this month. Plasse, Shakira Barrera, Conor Allyn, Johnny James Fiore, Benjamin Anderson, Jake Allyn and Fabio Lo Fria are producing, with Nidal Kahl,...

Exclusive: Netflix has acquired the John Poliquin-directed short film, Selfie, to be made into a feature-length that will explore the horrors of body image in the age of social media. Poliquin and Colin Minihan, who wrote the short, will also pen the film adaptation. The short was set to premiere at SXSW in March before the annual Austin gathering was canceled due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

Benjamin Anderson and Minihan are producing the pic. The two are also working together on the Screen Gems thriller, Urban Legend, which Anderson producing alongside Mike Medavoy with Minihan writing and directing.

In addition, Poliquin and Minihan are the creators behind the Shudder original LGBTQ thriller, Spiral, which debuted last month. It follows a same-sex couple raising a 16-year-old girl in a small town where nothing is as it seems.

CAA reps Minihan as a producer. Both Poliquin and Minihan are repped by...

The Urban Legend Reboot is well underway as casting has begun for the upcoming horror movie. Katherine McNamara, Sydney Chandler and Keith Powers are being eyed for possible roles in the reboot, which is being produced by Screen Gems. The studio is seemingly eager to get this one underway, with initial reports suggesting it is being fast-tracked by the studio. The aim is to provide a fresh take on the slasher for the digital age.

According to a new report, Sydney Chandler and Katherine McNamara are both in talks for roles in the new Urban Legend. Keith Powers is also being looked at for a possible role but it's not clear where he and the studio are in the process. Chandler is set to play the protagonist, assuming the deal closes. There is no word on who McNamara will be playing, should things pan out. While specific details are largely...

Rising stars Sydney Chandler and Katherine McNamara are in talks to star in the Urban Legend reboot that's heating up at Screen Gems, Collider has exclusively learned. Colin Minihan (What Keeps You Alive) is writing and directing the horror-thriller, which Mike Medavoy and Benjamin Anderson will produce for Phoenix Pictures. Screen Gems executives Eric Paquette and Michael Bitar will oversee the project for the studio. The Urban Legend reboot will move to the franchise into the digital age, where urban legends are often born on the internet, where they spread like wildfire. The movie will center on a …...

Exclusive: Lifetime has set its summer Ripped from the Headlines slate, which kicks off with an Ann Rule movie weekend, starting with Sleeping With Danger on August 1. A Murder to Remember will air August 2, followed by companion documentary special Elizabeth Smart: Finding Justice (new title) hosted by kidnapping survivor and advocate Elizabeth Smart, with a behind-the-headlines look at the real-life case that inspired the movie.

The network also unveiled casting for the films, which were shot earlier this year and executive produced by Kim Raver, Manu Boyer, Conor Allyn and Benjamin Anderson. Sleeping with Danger stars Elisabeth Röhm and Antonio Cupo; and A Murder to Remember stars Carolyn McCormick (Law & Order), Maddie Nichols (The Outsider) and Tc Matherne (Godzilla: King of the Monsters). Leslie Hendrix (Law & Order) stars in both films. A Murder to Remember also...

Lifetime has greenlit five new movies for its “Ripped from the Headlines” slate, all from best-selling true crime author Ann Rule, Variety has learned exclusively. Additionally, Ashley Williams and Robin Givens will make their small-screen directorial debuts with two of these films.

These five films come from Rule’s books “Danger in the Dorm,” “Mortan Danger,” “Practice to Deceive,” “Bitter Harvest” and “Empty Promises” and are being prepped for a summer launch. As part of Lifetime’s Broader Focus Initiative, four out of the five directors of these films are women, and three out of the five films were written by women.

“Bitter Harvest” tells the story of a brilliant doctor and mother who had the epitome of a picture perfect life with three children, an adoring husband and a beautiful house in an opulent neighborhood — but behind the curtain was a rocky marriage that takes a terrible turn and leaves her family in ruin.

Urban Legend is the next horror movie to get the reboot treatment as an updated version is now in development at Screen Gems. Colin Minihan has been tapped to write and direct a new take on the 1998 movie. Reportedly, the studio has set the project on the fast track and is currently casting its key roles. Mike Medavoy and Benjamin Anderson are also on board to produce for Phoenix Pictures, with Screen Gems' Eric Paquette and Michael Bitar overseeing the project.

Full details are not yet known about the plot of the Urban Legend Reboot, but the modernized reboot will "introduce an iconic new slasher for the digital age in a world where internet urban legends are born and move at a terrifying pace." Similar to the original, Minihan's reboot will also focus on a diverse group of college students, now investigating a series of murders that "resemble urban legends...

In today’s film news roundup, “Guest of Honour” and “Skin Deep: The Battle Over Morgellons” have found distribution and Screen Gems is developing “Urban Legend.”

Acquisitions

Kino Lorber has acquired U.S. rights to Atom Egoyan’s drama, “Guest of Honour,” starring David Thewlis, Laysla De Oliveira and Luke Wilson.

The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2019 and was an official selection at the Toronto, Vancouver, London, and Busan International Film Festivals. The film will have its U.S. premiere on Feb. 13 as the opening night selection of the Canada Now 2020 event at IFC Center in New York.

Thewlis portrays a health inspector in Hamilton, Ontario and De Oliveria plays a high school music teacher who has been incarcerated for inappropriate behavior with students. She rebuffs his efforts to secure an early release, convinced she needs to be punished for crimes she committed earlier. The daughter also...

Exclusive: Screen Gems has set Colin Minihan to write and direct the thriller Urban Legend. Pic is on a fast track, and the studio is currently casting the key roles.

Minihan will introduce an iconic new slasher for the digital age in a world where internet urban legends are born and move at a terrifying pace. The movie will center on a diverse cast of college students as they navigate a series of bizarre deaths that resemble urban legends linked to the darkest corners of social media.

Mike Medavoy and Benjamin Anderson will produce for Phoenix Pictures. Eric Paquette and Michael Bitar will oversee for Screen Gems.

Minihan’s micro budget feature What Keeps You Alive premiered to strong reviews at SXSW, landing on Rolling Stone’s 10 Best Horror Movies of the Year (2018) as well as becoming a NY Times Critics’ Pick.

Minihan is repped by Marc Manus at Zero Gravity,...

Anime maniacs have been waiting for this day: Eight years ago, Hiroyuki Imaishi co-founded Studio Trigger with the goal of one day hatching a feature as wild and innovative as his TV series “Gurren Lagann” and “Kill la Kill.” Now he has. Every bit as loud and ambitious as one might expect from a visual artist with such a hyperactive imagination, .

With “Promare,” which has already earned $10 million in its native Japan, the payoff is the seamless mix of 2D elements in 3D environments with a rock ‘n’ roll soundtrack that seeps in at the right times. Best seen with a rowdy audience — like those who came out for dubbed and subtitled versions shown via nationwide Fathom Events screenings on Sept. 17 and 19 — this cult-ready Gkids release will get a more traditional rollout in larger U.S. markets starting Sept. 20.

“Promare” opens as the people of Promepolis are taken over by...

Phoenix Pictures and Renaissance Literary & Talent are teaming to develop a television anthology based on a series of short stories by prolific mystery writer Cornell Woolrich.

Some of the titles to be included in the potential anthology series are A Death Is Caused, After-Dinner Story, Death Sits In The Dentist’s Chair, For The Rest Of Her Life, The Moon Of Montezuma, Mystery In Room 913, The Murder Room, The Dancing Detective and The Death Rose.

Phoenix Pictures’ Chairman/CEO Mike Medavoy and Benjamin Anderson will executive produce the potential series, with Alan Nevins also attached to executive produce.

As a fan of the author, Medavoy had been tracking the Woolrich material for years. The Woolrich library has been a complicated rights issue with more than five owners controlling the nearly 300 properties in the Estate. Renaissance has spent years untangling the web of rights issues and, additionally, now represents all five proprietors.

“One Giant Leap” is set for blast-off with veteran producer and industry luminary Mike Medavoy coming on to produce the moon landing series for Atrium, the drama-commissioning club of telcos and pay-tv platforms created by former Sony boss Howard Stringer and veteran producer and distributor Jeremy Fox.

The show, from Stephen Kronish (“24”), will go behind the scenes of the lunar landing. It is to be delivered in 2019, to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the historic event. Benjamin Anderson (“The Long Road Home”) has signed on to exec produce.

The six-part project is the first to be taken to series by Atrium TV, whose member telco and pay-tv companies get presented with a slate and jointly fund shows. The membership list includes some major players: BT in the U.K., Orange in France, Movistar+ in Spain, and Deutsche Telekom in Germany.

“Jeremy and Howard have created a fascinating new business with Atrium TV,...

National Geographic Channel has greenlit The Long Road Home scripted miniseries, based on Martha Raddatz’s New York Times bestseller. It was announced today ahead of Nat Geo’s session at TCA. The eight-hour event series is executive produced by Mike Medavoy, Jason Clark, Benjamin Anderson and Edward McGurn. The 33 screenwriter Mikko Alanne is penning the adaptation and also executive producing. Production will begin in early 2017 for a premiere later in the year. First ann…...

As U.S.-Cuba relations continue to improve following President Barack Obama’s historic visit, Showtime will examine a period when they were at the lowest: during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. The pay cable network has put in development a four-hour limited series based on the book The Armageddon Letters, by James Blight and Janet M. Lang. It will be produced by two-time Oscar winner Albert S. Ruddy and Oscar nominee Mike Medavoy.

The book is based on the actual 43 documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act that chronicle the buildup to the Cuban Missile Crisis when the world teetered on the edge of nuclear destruction. The book is organized around the letters exchanged during the crisis between President John F. Kennedy, Soviet leader Nikita Krushchev, and Cuban leader Fidel Castro.

Phil Alden Robinson is set to write the adaptation and direct the potential limited series. Ruddy and Medavoy executive produce with Benjamin Anderson, and Todd Martens, with Alexandra Ruddy for Ruddy Productions.

Showtime recently filmed the Season 5 finale of its comedy House Of Lies in Cuba, marking the first time an American scripted series has shot in the country since the U.S. and Cuba restored diplomatic relations last summer.

Oscar-winning Gladiator co-writer/producer David Franzoni has come on board to write and produce Red Flag, a Chinese history-themed adventure series starring Maggie Q, from Steven Jensen's Independent Television Group, Mike Medavoy & Benjamin Anderson of Phoenix Pictures, and Fred Fuchs. Maggie Q’s Stalker co-star and real-life fiancé Dylan McDermott may reunite with her onscreen, possibly taking on a recurring role in the series. Set in the early 1800s, Red Flag centers…...

Exclusive: Warner Bros. has purchased life rights to the story of DJ Tatiana, an electronic dance DJ who disguised herself as a man and took on the name of DJ Musikillz for a year to break into the business. The studio bought the rights to DJ Tatiana in a pre-emptive bid for producers Mike Medavoy, Brian Medavoy and Erwin More. It will be executive produced by Benjamin Anderson and Mike Medavoy’s Phoenix Pictures (who are also casting now for their Itg series Red Flag). The execs handling the project at the studio are Jesse Ehrman and Julia Spiro. DJ Tatiana, now a successful figure in the domestic and international Edm world, will act as music supervisor on the film. She is managed by More/Medavoy.

This is More/Medavoy’s first project since they reunited after a 13-year stint of being apart. They were a powerhouse management/producing team...

Francois Arnaud (The Borgias) is set as a male lead opposite Maggie Q in Red Flag, a limited series from Steven Jensen’s Independent Television Group, Mike Medavoy & Benjamin Anderson of Phoenix Pictures (Black Swan), and Fred Fuchs (Transporter). It is set in the early 1800s and centers on Ching Shih (Maggie Q), a beautiful young Chinese prostitute who goes on to become one of history’s most powerful pirates and head one of the most successful crime syndicates in China. With over 100,000 sailors and 1500-plus vessels, Ching controlled the South China Sea while taking on the Imperial Chinese navy, the Portuguese navy, and the all-powerful British navy to eventually conquer them all. Arnaud, repped by Apa and Management 360, will play Carlito, the Portuguese sailor and bounty hunter engaged to hunt down and capture Ching Shih. He has no loyalty and takes from everybody to kill Ching Shih, and soon becomes her lover.

Exclusive: Nikita star Maggie Q is taking on another iconic character, this time from Chinese history. The Mission: Impossible III alumna is set to headline a limited series from Steven Jensen’s Independent Television Group, Mike Medavoy & Benjamin Anderson of Phoenix Pictures (Black Swan), and Fred Fuchs (Transporter). Titled Red Flag, the series is set in the early 1800s and centers on Ching Shih (Maggie Q), a beautiful young Chinese prostitute who goes on to become one of history’s most powerful pirates and head of the most successful crime syndicate in China. With over 100,000 sailors and 1500-plus vessels, Ching controlled the South China Sea while taking on the Imperial Chinese navy, the Portuguese navy, and the all-powerful British navy to eventually conquer them all. “It’s exciting to have the opportunity to share Ching Shih’s real-life story with audiences that are both familiar and unfamiliar with her prominent history,...