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Production is set to begin this month on Chasing Red, a young-adult romance starring Riverdale’s Madelaine Petsch and The Summer I Turned Pretty’s Gavin Casalegno — the first feature to shoot at Saudi Arabia’s newly opened AlUla Studios under a partnership between Film AlUla and Stampede Ventures. Located in the country’s northwest, AlUla is a desert region famed for its dramatic sandstone canyons, ancient Nabataean tombs and Unesco World Heritage sites, which the country has ambitious plans to leverage as a magnet for film and television production.

The collaboration between Film AlUla — the film agency of the Royal Commission for AlUla — and Stampede Ventures (along with its regional arm, Stampede Arabia) will eventually produce a slate of four films suited for production in the desert region’s new state-of-the-art facilities. The deal also includes a training and mentorship initiative in partnership with Gateway Entertainment, providing hands-on experience...

Riverdale’s Madelaine Petsch and The Summer I Turned Pretty star Gavin Casalegno are officially starring as the leads for Isabelle Ronin’s viral Wattpad novel Chasing Red. The beloved young adult romance blew up on Wattpad, making it the second-most read English webnovel, with 261 million online reads.

The story follows a guarded college girl whose life gets completely upended when she crosses paths with a charming, dangerously magnetic guy. Their chemistry pulls them into a messy, slow-burning love story, and now it is finally hitting the screens.

The movie will be directed by Mackenzie Munro, working from a script by Lauren Schacher. On the producing side, Greg Silverman and...

Riverdale and The Summer I Turned Pretty stars are uniting for your next romance movie obsession, Chasing Red. Isabelle Ronin's young adult romance became a huge hit on the online platform Wattpad, and now, the film adaptation is moving forward with its two leads cast and production planned for next year.

Per Variety, Riverdale's Madelaine Petsch and The Summer I Turned Pretty's Gavin Casalegno have been cast in the film adaptation of Chasing Red. Lauren Schacher (Hooking Up) is writing the script for director Mackenzie Munro, who previously helmed Wattpad's first independently financed rom-com, Boot Camp, based on the fan-favorite story.

Filming is slated to begin in early 2026 in Saudi Arabia.

Madelaine Petsch and Gavin Casalegno are starring in a new project together.

The 31-year-old The Strangers actress and the 26-year-old The Summer I Turned Pretty actor will be appearing in the upcoming Mackenzie Munro-directed YA (Young Adult) romance Chasing Red, based on the Wattpad story by Isabelle Ronin.

Keep reading to find out more…

The screenplay is being written by Lauren Schacher.

Madeline will play Veronica, while Gavin will play Caleb, per THR.

Chasing Red is the second most-read English-language title on Wattpad, boasting 261 million reads. Click here to read it now!

Here’s a synopsis from Wattpad: “College heartthrob Caleb Lockhart is the last person a girl like...

Madelaine Petsch (The Strangers) and Gavin Casalegno (The Summer I Turned Pretty) have signed on to star in the young adult romance Chasing Red. Production will begin in AlUla, Saudi Arabia, next month.

The film is based on the Wattpad webnovel by Isabelle Ronin. Mackenzie Munro will direct Chasing Red from a screenplay by Lauren Schacher (Hooking Up). The film is produced by Greg Silverman and Grant Torre of Stampede Ventures (Motor City) and David Madden and Jason Goldberg of Webtoon Productions (After franchise).

The story follows straight-a student Veronica (Petsch), who refuses to be college heartthrob Caleb’s (Casalegno) next “conquest,” even after a chance encounter sparks an undeniable attraction between them. On the run from a painful past and with nowhere to go, Veronica ends up under Caleb’s roof. As their chemistry turns electric and secrets unravel, love and betrayal collide in this addictive, slow-burn romance.

Mister Smith Entertainment...

The movie adaptation of Isabelle Ronin’s young adult romance “Chasing Red,” which became major hit on online platform Wattpad, is taking shape, with its two central lovebirds now found and a shoot set for next year.

Madelaine Petsch (“The Strangers”) and Gavin Casalegno (“The Summer I Turned Pretty”) will star in the feature, with Mackenzie Munro directing from a screenplay by Lauren Schacher (“Hooking Up”). Munro directed Wattpad’s first independently financed romantic comedy feature based on its popular story “Boot Camp.”

“Chasing Red” follows straight-a student Veronica (Petsch), who refuses to be college heartthrob Caleb’s (Casalegno) next “conquest,” even after a chance encounter sparks an undeniable attraction between them. On the run from a painful past and with nowhere to go, Veronica ends up under Caleb’s roof. As their chemistry turns electric and secrets unravel, love and betrayal collide in this addictive, slow-burn romance.

The film...

Madelaine Petsch and Gavin Casalegno will star in the upcoming young adult romance Chasing Red, based on the Wattpad webnovel by Isabelle Ronin.

Mackenzie Munro will direct from a screenplay by Lauren Schacher, with Greg Silverman and Grant Torre of Stampede Ventures producing together with David Madden and Jason Goldberg of Webtoon Productions.

Petsch will play Veronica, a straight-a student determined not to fall for college heartthrob Caleb (Casalegno) and become his next conquest, even after a chance encounter sparks an undeniable attraction between the two of them. But on the run from a painful past and with nowhere to go, Veronica ends up moving into Caleb’s home. As the two grow closer, secrets begin to unravel, in the words of the promotional blurb, “love and betrayal collide in this addictive, slow-burn romance.”

Mister Smith Entertainment is handling international sales for the project and has closed deals for much of the world,...

Exclusive: Stampede Ventures and Wattpad Webtoon Studios will team for a feature adaptation of Chasing Red, the YA romance webnovel by Isabelle Ronin that has garnered huge attention on the digital publishing platform, Wattpad.

Jessika Borsiczky (Sex/Life) has been set to direct from a screenplay by Lauren Schacher (Hooking Up), and casting is now underway.

Chasing Red tells the story of straight-a student Veronica, who refuses to be college heartthrob Caleb’s next “conquest,” even after a chance encounter sparks an undeniable attraction between them. But with nowhere to stay and on the run from a recent tragedy, Veronica finds herself in need of Caleb’s help, despite the secrets of their pasts threatening to tear them apart. Wattpad’s #2 English-language property, following the massively popular After series from Anna Todd, the webnovel has garnered over 260 million reads since its publication in 2017. It’s been published in print in seven languages,...

An elementary school classroom may seem an odd place to launch a romantic comedy that soon finds its protagonists coupling with abandon in a slew of quasi-public spaces. But in the rom-com “Hooking Up” — available digitally and on demand — that’s precisely where magazine writer Darla emerges from, having had an afterschool special with a stranger on a teeny desk.

Then again, a school proves perhaps too apt a location. There’s a rudimentary feel to “Hooking Up,” which stars Brittany Snow and Sam Richardson as a twosome who embark on a road trip with benefits. Genres often provide refuge to first-time feature filmmakers. Director Nico Raineau and co-writer Lauren Schacher hug the familiar beats of the form while rubbing up against its conventions with some naughty, sometimes endearing tweaks.

That school turns out to be a busy one. There’s a sex addiction group in one room and a cancer survivors’ gathering in another.

Even in trying times, a great movie can do wonders for you. The prospect of watching Sam Richardson and Brittany Snow in a romantic comedy already offered up some glowing potential, but nothing will prepare you for how wonderful this film is. A charming, funny, and sexy rom-com, Hooking Up even manages to get serious at times in a way that never betrays its core entertainment value. With terrific performances by Richardson and Snow, who display absolutely phenomenal chemistry, this is one of the year’s most pleasant surprises. Coming to VOD on Friday (an initially theatrical run is obviously out of the question right now), it deserves to find a place in your hearts. The film is a romantic comedy couched around a road trip. When Bailey (Richardson) and Darla (Snow) first meet, they’re in a school entering very different support groups. He’s a survivor of testicular...

More premieres and more acquisitions were the name of the game at the Cannes Film Festival on Friday, with Amazon Studios and Paramount making big movie deals and Pedro Almodóvar‘s “Pain & Glory” showing to acclaim.

Plus, a surprise performance from Mariah Carey!

See below for the highlights of Cannes, day four:

Les Miserables 2019

Amazon Acquires ‘Les Miserables’ for $1.5 Million

Amazon Studios on Friday acquired U.S. rights to writer and director Ladj Ly’s French-language “Les Misérables,” following the film’s world premiere at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival.

“Les Misérables” is Ly’s first feature and the only debut in the competition section at the festival. The film premiered Wednesday evening to great fanfare. An individual with knowledge of the deal said it was likely around $1.5 million.

Inspired by the 2005 Paris riots, and Ly’s César-nominated short film of the same name, “Les Misérables” takes a provocative look into...

Exclusive: Alita: Battle Angel star Rosa Salazar has been set to star in and executive produce The Bang Bang Girls, a dramedy written and to be directed by Lauren Schacher in her feature helming debut. The pic is being produced by Bronwyn Cornelius and Stefan Nowicki, and Paradigm is repping world rights at the Cannes film market.

The plot follows a high school valedictorian and her two best friends who recruit their new chemistry teacher (Salazar) to form a secret after-school sex-ed club. A fall production start is in the works.

Salazar most recently starred in Alita, the sweeping sci-fi pic from Robert Rodriguez and James Cameron that has grossed $404.8 million worldwide since its February bow. She’s also voicing the lead in Amazon Studios’ upcoming Undone, the streaming service’s first adult animation series which hails from BoJack Horseman‘s Raphael Bob-Waksberg and Kate Purdy. Her previous film credits...

Rosa Salazar, who was most recently seen in Alita: Battle Angel, will star in and executive produce dramedy The Bang Bang Girls.

Lauren Schacher wrote the script and will make her feature directorial debut with the project, which follows a high-school valedictorian and her two best friends, who recruit their new chemistry teacher (Salazar) to form a secret after-school sex-ed club.

Bronwyn Cornelius (Clemency) and Stefan Nowicki (Obvious Child) will produce, and Paradigm is handling sales for the film in Cannes. A fall production start is being eyed.

Salazar is best known for starring in Bird Box, The Maze Runner franchise and ...

Rosa Salazar, who was most recently seen in Alita: Battle Angel, will star in and executive produce dramedy The Bang Bang Girls.

Lauren Schacher wrote the script and will make her feature directorial debut with the project, which follows a high-school valedictorian and her two best friends, who recruit their new chemistry teacher (Salazar) to form a secret after-school sex-ed club.

Bronwyn Cornelius (Clemency) and Stefan Nowicki (Obvious Child) will produce, and Paradigm is handling sales for the film in Cannes. A fall production start is being eyed.

Salazar is best known for starring in Bird Box, The Maze Runner franchise and ...

Exclusive: Jordana Brewster, Vivica A. Fox, and Anna Akana are set for supporting roles in the indie film Bailey and Darla, which stars Brittany Snow and Sam Richardson. First-time feature helmer Nico Raineau directed the pic from a screenplay he wrote with Lauren Schacher.

The plot centers on Darla (Snow), a cynical reporter whose sex addiction is getting in the way of her sex column, and her evolving relationship with Bailey, a well-meaning sweetheart who’s been dumped by his fiancé Elizabeth (Akana) and learns he has testicular cancer (again). Together they embark on an impromptu cross country road trip, recreating Darla’s myriad trysts from state to state. She’s looking for a story and he’s looking for a last hurrah; what they find is something neither expected.

Exclusive: Pitch Perfect alum Brittany Snow and Veep actor Sam Richardson have been tapped to lead the cast of Bailey and Darla, an indie film which is being directed by first-time helmer Nico Raineau. Raineau co-wrote the screenplay with Lauren Schacher. Snow will also produce the project alongside Yale Productions’ Jordan Yale Levine and Jordan Beckerman, and Highland Myst’s Jon Keeyes.

The film, which is currently in production, follows Darla (Snow), a cynical reporter whose sex addiction is getting in the way of her sex column, and her evolving relationship with Bailey, a well-meaning sweetheart who’s been dumped by his fiancé and learns he has testicular cancer (again). Together they embark on an impromptu cross country road trip, recreating Darla’s myriad trysts from state to state. She’s looking for a story and he’s looking for a last hurrah; what they find is something neither expected.

Here’s your daily dose of an indie film, web series, TV pilot, what-have-you in progress, as presented by the creators themselves. At the end of the week, you’ll have the chance to vote for your favorite.

In the meantime: Is this a project you’d want to see? Tell us in the comments.

F*ck Yes

Logline: “F*ck Yes” is a modern sex ed series focused on improving communication (and sex) between consenting adults.

Elevator Pitch:

If you’re like us, you feel like modern sex ed leaves a lot to be desired. That’s why we created the series “F*ck Yes.” Our fictional scenarios share options for how people can communicate not only their consent, but their wants and needs before, during, and after sex. We released 4 episodes in the spring of 2016 (which was lauded by Bustle, Refinery29, and Mashable), and now we’re planning 10 more,...

Sneak Peek all the footage released to date from the upcoming 'neo-noir' thriller "The Canyons", directed by Paul Schrader ("American Gigolo") starring Lindsay Lohan.

Cast also includes Nolan Gerard Funk, Nik Tyler, Lauren Schacher, Amanda Brooks, Tenille Houston and director Gus Van Sant :

"...'The Canyons' is a contemporary L.A. noir about the dangers of sexual obsession and ambition, both personally and professionally, among a group of young people in their 20's and how one chance meeting connected to the past unravels all of their lives, resulting in deceit, paranoia, cruel mind games and ultimately violence..."

It was reported that Lohan would not perform  nude unless all of the crew on set stripped down as well.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "The Canyons"...

How far would you go to get ahead in the City of Angels? On behalf of IFC, we are pleased to share the new poster for their provocative and highly anticipated film The Canyons, starring Lindsay Lohan and James Deen.

Lindsay Lohan brings Tara (a character carefully crafted by Bret Easton Ellis) to life a with a great level of authenticity. When speaking with MTV News, the legendary writer stated:

"She was probably going through something close to Tara, which was kind of like being trapped. I think she related that to Tara, and that's why that performance feels very lived in, it feels very real."

The Canyons comes to theaters August 2nd, 2013 and stars Lindsay Lohan, Nolan Gerard Funk, James Deen, Gus Van Sant, Amanda Brooks, Tenille Repinski, Lauren Schacher, Michelle Larue. The film is directed by Paul Schrader.

With an amazing schlock pedigree, The Canyons has become an instant cult classic without much of the movie even being seen by the public yet. Directed by Paul Schrader, written by Bret Easton Ellis, and starring couple of the decade Lindsay Lohan and James Deen, this tumultuous production has become legend. After three previous trailers that refused to offer a real hint at the madness that lies within, today we get our first real glimpse at what we can expect when this story of Los Angeles' disenfranchised trust fund community collapses into theaters August 2, on its way to generations of future midnight screenings.

The Canyons comes to theaters August 2nd, 2013 and stars Lindsay Lohan, Gus Van Sant, Nolan Gerard Funk, James Deen, Amanda Brooks, Victor Fischbarg, Tenille Repinski, Lauren Schacher. The film is directed by Paul Schrader.

Director Paul Schrader and writer Bret Easton Ellis have teamed up to bring the world the most notorious movie of the year, The Canyons, starring perpetually troubled actress Lindsay Lohan, porn star James Deen, and a knockout turn by Portland's king of perverse, Gus Van Sant. The story follows a group of disenchanted 20-somethings struggling to live through the post-Empire era of Los Angeles, California. Check out the two latest photos from the movie, followed by the filmmaker's comments.

Paul Schrader had this to say regarding the much talked about drama, which is in theaters this August.

"To be honest, it's something we created. We stirred the pot, simply with the casting of Lindsay Lohan and James Deen. And Lindsay brings with her, her drama and then Bret Easton Ellis, he has a very promiscuous Twitter finger, and he can always be relied on to upset somebody with some tweet.

IFC Films announced today that the company is acquiring North American rights to director Paul Schrader's neo-noir thriller The Canyons. The modern-day Los Angeles-set film stars Lindsay Lohan and adult film star James Deen. Producer Braxton Pope led the Diy film's extensive new media strategies which included crowdfunding and online casting. The Canyons has been described by Schrader as "cinema for the post-theatrical era."

The film will premiere day-and-date and on digital platforms in early summer in conjunction with a Special Presentation at the Film Society of Lincoln Center where The Canyons will be screened and followed by a conversation with Schrader and Kent Jones, Director of Programming of the New York Film Festival. Schrader presented a Master Class on crowdsourcing and Diy production at last year's New York Film Festival and will return to expand upon the process of making the film in a post-screening discussion.

Here's what Kent Jones,...

Sneak Peek new footage from the upcoming 'neo-noir' thriller "The Canyons", directed by Paul Schrader ("American Gigolo") starring Lindsay Lohan and James Deen, focusing on youth, glamour, sex and surveillance, or as director Schrader explains it, "...beautiful people doing bad things in nice rooms."

Cast also includes Nolan Gerard Funk, Nik Tyler, Lauren Schacher, Amanda Brooks, Tenille Houston and director Gus Van Sant :

"...'The Canyons' is a contemporary L.A. noir about the dangers of sexual obsession and ambition, both personally and professionally, among a group of young people in their 20's and how one chance meeting connected to the past unravels all of their lives, resulting in deceit, paranoia, cruel mind games and ultimately violence..."

It was reported that Lohan would not perform  nude unless all of the crew on set stripped down as well.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "The Canyons"...

Director Paul Schrader (American Gigolo) and writer Bret Easton Ellis (American Psycho) have teamed up for The Canyons, a dark thriller about youth, glamour, and sex in Los Angeles circa 2012. The movie hasn't been given an official release date just yet, but a third trailer has dropped, this time spoofing the black & white comedies of the 1930s. Watch as Lindsay Lohan tries her hand at screwball comedy, which isn't quite the tone we'll see on screen when this hits later in the year.

The Canyons - 1930's Trailer

The official Facebook page for The Canyons offers this explanation for of the trailer.

"Last of the trailers (parody, that is). Nikolai Mentin, the editing intern who helped us out in NY, was kind enough to put together one last teaser, this is the style of the Thirities. It was fun teasing with these. People wanted images from the film and I...

There’s a new 1950s Hollywood trailer for The Canyons, the gritty story of a sensuous woman (Lindsay Lohan) torn between two men, one of whom is played by porn star James Deen.

The other love is played by Nolan Funk in the 50s melodrama which first teaser, released last month, was described as a ‘70s grindhouse-style’ trailer and 60s sex-comedy style trailer is reportedly expected next.

Canyons producer Braxton Pope recently told MTV News, revealing how he thinks tabloid queen Lohan is perfect for bad-girl Tara:

What’s kind of lost in a lot of the Lindsay discussions is the fact that Lindsay is a very talented actress. She’s very charismatic and she has a lot of acting skills. So her lifestyle and some of the things that she’s gone through have tended to kind of overwhelm the fact, but Lindsay has kind of real talent. So for this part,...

Following the teaser trailer last month, a new "1950s Teaser Trailer" for The Canyons has come online and can be watched below. The Canyons is a contemporary L.A. noir from director Paul Schrader, writer Bret Easton Ellis, and producer Braxton Pope about the dangers of sexual obsession and ambition, both personally and professionally, among a group of young people in their 20's and how one chance meeting connected to the past unravels all of their lives, resulting in deceit, paranoia, cruel mind games and ultimately violence. The film stars Lindsay Lohan, James Deen, Nolan Funk, Amanda Brooks and Lauren Schacher.

Sneak Peek the upcoming 'neo-noir' thriller "The Canyons", directed by Paul Schrader ("American Gigolo") starring Lindsay Lohan and James Deen, focusing on youth, glamour, sex and surveillance, or as director Schrader explains it, "...beautiful people doing bad things in nice rooms."

Cast also includes Nolan Gerard Funk, Nik Tyler, Lauren Schacher, Amanda Brooks, Tenille Houston and director Gus Van Sant :

"...'The Canyons' is a contemporary L.A. noir about the dangers of sexual obsession and ambition, both personally and professionally, among a group of young people in their 20's and how one chance meeting connected to the past unravels all of their lives, resulting in deceit, paranoia, cruel mind games and ultimately violence..."

It was reported that Lohan would not perform  nude unless all of the crew on set stripped down as well.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "The Canyons"...

A new teaser trailer for the upcoming The Canyons is now online at the film's official Facebook page and you can check it out in the player below. James Deen and Lindsay Lohan star in the Hollywood contemporary thriller from author and screenwriter Bret Easton Ellis ( Less Than Zero , American Psycho ) and director Paul Schrader ( Auto-Focus , Affliction ). The film follows five twenty-somethings' quest for power, love, sex and success in 2012 Hollywood. Nolan Funk, Amanda Brooks and Lauren Schacher also star.

Following up her overlooked drama Please Give, Nicole Holofcener is now at Fox Searchlight, where she’s wrangling together a cast for her still untitled next drama. The film is already starring Armando Iannucci collaborators Julia Louis-Dreyfus and James Gandolfini, but now Paranormal Activity 3 lead and star of Mira Nair‘s upcming Venice opener The Reluctant Fundamentalist, Christopher Smith has joined the lead. [Variety]

The project follows “a masseuse (Louis-Dreyfus) who falls in love with the husband (Gandolfini) of a new friend.” Smith is joining the cast as a younger man that Louis-Dreyfus meets before falling head over heals for said husband. Production starts within the next month, so hopefully we’ll see this pop up in the first half of next year.

In other casting news, Paul Schrader is deep into production on his Bret Easton Ellis-scripted sex drama The Canyons, but more actors are already being added to the ensemble.