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Known for her soulful performance in Past Lives and her sharp edge in The Morning Show, Greta Lee is now stepping into an entirely new role: debut director. In an exciting turn, she will helm and write her feature directorial debut for Searchlight Pictures—a psychological horror adaptation of Monika Kim’s acclaimed novel The Eyes Are the Best Part.

The upcoming film is anything but conventional. Billed as a “terrifying tale of misogyny, Asian fetishization and cannibalism,” the story follows Ji-won, a lonely and struggling college freshman who spirals into obsession—specifically, with eating human eyes. Described by The New York Times as “a delightfully gory tale” that is “as emotional as it is brutal,” Kim’s novel has become something of a cult hit in horror literature circles, making it prime material for a bold cinematic vision.

Backing Lee’s haunting new chapter are top-tier producers: Matt Jackson...

Exclusive: Mariana di Girolamo, Oscar nominee Tom Waits, Ailín Salas and Paola Giannini are boarding Martin McDonagh’s massive ensemble for Wild Horse Nine, opposite previously announced Sam Rockwell, John Malkovich, Parker Posey and Steve Buscemi.

The dark comedic drama, which we first told you about, reunites McDonagh with Searchlight Pictures, Blueprint Pictures, and Film4, following their recent collaboration on 9x Academy Award nominated The Banshees of Inisherin, with Graham Broadbent, Pete Czernin and Anita Overland producing.

Chilean film, theatre and television actress di Girolamo starred in Pablo Larraín’s critically acclaimed Ema opposite Gael García Bernal, which gained her international recognition, as well as Kill The Jockey which premiered in Official Competition at the Venice Film Festival. She previously appeared in television series such as La Jauría and El Reino.

Waits reteams with McDonagh and Rockwell following their collaboration on Seven Psychopaths. His previous film credits also include Licorice Pizza,...

Steve Buscemi joins Sam Rockwell in the cast of Martin McDonagh's upcoming movie Wild Horse Nine. One of the most prominent character actors in Hollywood, Buscemi has an impressive filmography, first shooting to fame with a supporting role in Quentin Tarantino's debut Reservoir Dogs. He later appeared in several hit movies, including Pulp Fiction, Con Air, The Big Lebowski, and Ghost World. With a strong body of work on television too, including a supporting role in The Sopranos and the lead role in Boardwalk Empire, Buscemi remains one of the most recognizable and iconic stars of film and TV.

Per The Hollywood Reporter, Buscemi will replace Mark Ruffalo in Wild Horse Nine, and is also joined by Parker Posey and John Malkovich. The movie, which McDonagh will write and direct, is described as a darkly comedic drama, and will begin shooting later this month in Rapa Nui, aka Easter Island.

Steve Buscemi has joined the high-flying cast of Wild Horse Nine, a Searchlight feature being directed by Martin McDonagh. It is the filmmaker’s first feature since his acclaimed The Banshees of Inisherin.

Sam Rockwell, who starred in McDonagh’s Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, as well as John Malkovich and Parker Posey are already in the saddle for the dark comedic drama that begins shooting later this month in Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island.

Plot and character details are being kept under wraps, but it is extremely rare that a production, let alone an American or British one, shoots on the island, which lies 3,700 kilometers off the coast of Chile and is one of the most remote, inhabited islands on Earth. It is also one of the rare areas not overrun by modern conveniences, as it is run by the Rapa Nui National Park.

Buscemi is stepping...

Mari Yamamoto will star opposite Brendan Fraser in Hikari’s “Rental Family.” The film follows a down and out actor living in Tokyo, who is hired as the token American guy for a Japanese rental family company providing professional stand-in services. The Searchlight Pictures’ release will commence principal photography next week in Japan.

Yamamoto was most recently seen in the Apple TV+ series “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters,” a sci-fi epic in which she appeared with Kurt Russell, Wyatt Russell and Kiersey Clemmons. Prior to that series, she was seen in another Apple production, “Pachinko” opposite Youn Yuh-Jung and Jin Ha.

Fraser recently won an Oscar for his work in “The Whale.” His credits include “Gods and Monsters,” “The Mummy,” Crash” and “No Sudden Move.” He most recently appeared in “Killers of the Flower Moon.” Hikari directed episodes of the Netflix series “Beef,” which won Emmys and Golden Globe Awards, as...

After saying that he’d be very picky about his next role after winning an Oscar, Brendan Fraser has found it. He will star in “Rental Family” for Searchlight Pictures and from filmmaker Hikari, best known for her work on “Beef.”

Fraser in “Rental Family” will star as a down-and-out actor living in Tokyo who is hired as a token American guy for a Japanese rental family company providing professional stand-in services.

Hikari has been developing “Rental Family” since 2019, and she also co-wrote the film with Stephen Blahut. The film will begin principal photography this spring in Japan. No release date has been announced.

Eddie Vaisman and Julia Lebedev of Sight Unseen, which produced this year’s Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner “A Thousand and One,” are producing “Rental Family.” Hikari and Shin Yamaguchi, who produced her prior feature “37 Seconds” in 2019, will also produce. Blahut and Tomo Koizumi will executive produce.

Brendan Fraser, a newly minted Academy Award winner, is set to star in the Searchlight Pictures comedic drama “Rental Family.”

Japanese filmmaker Mitsuyo Miyazaki, who goes by Hikari and worked on Netflix’s “Beef,” is directing and producing the film. She’s also co-writing the script with Stephen Blahut, whom she collaborated with on the docudrama “37 Seconds.” Principal photography will begin this spring in Japan, with release plans to be announced at a later date.

“Rental Family” follows a down-and-out actor living in Tokyo who is hired as a token American guy for a Japanese rental family company providing professional stand-in services. Fraser is the only person cast in the movie so far.

This project marks Fraser’s first major role since he took home the lead actor Oscar for Darren Aronofsky’s downbeat drama “The Whale.” The arthouse movie doubled as a career resurgence for Fraser, who spent...

Exclusive: After taking his time in finding his next big role after winning this year’s Best Actor Oscar, Brendan Fraser looks to have zeroed in on that role as sources tell Deadline he is set to star in Searchlight’s Rental Family. Beef helmer Hikari will direct from a script she co-wrote with Stephen Blahut.

Hikari has been developing the project since 2019 and will produce along with Shin Yamaguchi as well as Eddie Vaisman and Julia Lebedev of Sight Unseen Productions.

The story follows follows a down-and-out actor living in Tokyo who is hired as a token American guy for a Japanese rental-family company, leading him on an unexpected journey of self-discovery through the roles he plays in other people’s lives.

Production is set to start this spring in Japan. Blahut and Tomo Koizumi will exec produce. SVP Production Taylor Friedman and Manager of Creative Affairs Daniel Yu...

Monica Barbaro, who was part of Tom Cruise’s flight team in Top Gun: Maverick, is in final negotiations to join Timothée Chalamet in Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown.

James Mangold is directing the drama for Searchlight Pictures, with production to begin this summer in New York.

With a script by Jay Cocks (Gangs of New York) and Mangold, Unknown focuses on a transformative moment for Dylan, the legendary singer-songwriter who made his mark during the civil rights and counter-culture upheaval of the 1960s.

Set at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965, the story sees a young Dylan, played by Chalamet, shaking up his act on the folk music scene by going electric. The move divided his fans and the music scene but set him on the path to record some of this greatest albums and songs.

Barbaro will portray Joan Baez, the folk singer and activist who performed “Blowin...

Exclusive: Regina Hall (Honk for Jesus. Save your Soul.) has closed a deal to star alongside Sadie Sink, Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Murray Bartlett in O’Dessa, Searchlight Pictures‘ original rock opera from writer-director Geremy Jasper (Patti Cake$), which commences production in Croatia in May.

Set in a post-apocalyptic future, O’Dessa follows Sink’s same-name farm girl on an epic quest to recover a cherished family heirloom. Her journey leads her to a strange and dangerous city where she meets her one true love (Harrison) – but in order to save his soul, she must put the power of destiny and song to the ultimate test.

Hall’s role is under wraps, though we know the project will feature original songs penned and produced by Jasper and Jason Binnick. Michael Gottwald will produce for the Department of Motion Pictures, along with Noah Stahl, and Rodrigo Teixeira for Rt Features. Executive producers include Jonathan Montepare,...

Exclusive: Kelvin Harrison Jr. (Chevalier) and Murray Bartlett (The White Lotus) have closed deals to star opposite Stranger Things breakout Sadie Sink in Searchlight Pictures’ original rock opera O’Dessa from Patti Cake$ filmmaker Geremy Jasper. It is heading into production in Croatia in May.

Set in a post-apocalyptic future, O’Dessa follows Sink’s farm girl of the same name on an epic quest to recover a cherished family heirloom. Her journey leads her to a strange and dangerous city where she meets her one true love – but in order to save his soul, she must put the power of destiny and song to the ultimate test.

While no details as to Bartlett’s role have been disclosed, sources tell Deadline that Harrison will play O’Dessa’s love interest, Euri Dervish — a punk performer described as an “unholy mix of Iggy Pop, Marlene Dietrich and Prince.”

Written and to be directed by Jasper,...

Laura Chinn has written for projects like "The Mick," "Children's Hospital," and "Florida Girls," which she created and starred in. She's also acted in projects like "Happy Endings," and "Warrior." If that wasn't enough, Chinn had a script selected for 2020's The Black List, a grouping of all the unproduced scripts of note from that year. That script is set to become the upcoming drama film "Suncoast," which will serve as Chinn's directorial debut, according to The Hollywood Reporter. 

Production for the new film will begin in September through Searchlight Pictures, with a number of big-name actors signing on for roles, including Woody Harrelson and Laura Linney. Laura Chinn recently published her memoir entitled "Acne" through Hachette Books, which scored a review blurb from Tina Fey ("30 Rock") on the cover.

Here is everything we know so far about the film "Suncoast."

What We Think Suncoast Will Be About

The script for "Suncoast" is,...

Searchlight has boarded Suncoast — a new film marking the feature directorial debut of Laura Chinn (Florida Girls) that will star Laura Linney (Ozark), Woody Harrelson (Triangle of Sadness) and Nico Parker (The Last of Us) — Deadline can confirm.

The film going into production next month is a drama based on Chinn’s life experience from the early 2000s. It follows a teenager (Parker) living with her strong-willed mother (Linney) who must take her brother to live at a specialized facility. There, she strikes up an unlikely friendship with an eccentric activist (Harrelson) amid protests surrounding controversial medical cases.

Jeremy Plager, Francesca Silvestri, Kevin Chinoy and Oly Obst are producing the pic, based on Chinn’s 2020 Black List script. SVP Production Taylor Friedman and Manager of Creative Affairs Daniel Yu will oversee the project for Searchlight, reporting to Heads of Production and Development DanTram Nguyen and Katie Goodson-Thomas.

Linney is a...

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Academy Award nominees Laura Linney and Woody Harrelson and rising actress Nico Parker, who appeared in the live-action remake of Dumbo, are set to star in Suncoast, a drama written and set to be directed by Laura Chinn, in what will be her directorial debut.

Searchlight has boarded the project, which made the 2020 Black List, with production scheduled to begin in September.

Jeremy Plager, Francesca Silvestri, Kevin Chinoy and Oly Obst are producing the feature.

Suncoast is inspired by Chinn’s own life experience from the early 2000s and follows a teenager (Parker) living with her strong-willed mother (Linney), who must take her brother to live at a specialized facility. There, she strikes up an unlikely friendship with an eccentric activist (Harrelson) amid protests surrounding controversial medical cases.

The project will be overseen by Searchlight senior vp production Taylor Friedman and manager of creative affairs Daniel Yu,...

Searchlight Pictures has acquired worldwide rights to Annapurna’s “Nightbitch,” with six-time Oscar-nominee Amy Adams set to star. Marielle Heller wrote and will direct the film adaptation of Rachel Yoder’s acclaimed debut novel.

The movie, described as a “darkly comic neo-horror,” is currently in pre-production, with a scheduled production start this September in Los Angeles. “Nightbitch” will stream as a Hulu Original in the U.S., with additional release plans to be announced.

According to the official logline, Adams stars in the project as a woman “thrown into the stay-at-home routine of raising a toddler in the suburbs, who slowly embraces the feral power deeply rooted in motherhood, as she becomes increasingly aware of the bizarre and undeniable signs that she may be turning into a canine.”

In addition to starring in the project, Adams — who will next be seen in “Disenchanted,” the long-awaited follow-up to Disney’s smash...

Searchlight Pictures has acquired from Annapurna the worldwide rights to “Nightbitch,” a neo-horror film and dark comedy that will star Amy Adams and be written and directed by Marielle Heller (“A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood”).

“Nightbitch” is based on the debut novel by Rachel Yoder that was released last year, and the film, which is now in pre-production, aims to begin shooting in Los Angeles this September.

Searchlight in acquiring the film will stream the film as a Hulu Original in the U.S. and on Disney’s Dtc platforms. Additional release plans are to be announced.

“Nightbitch” tells the story of a woman thrown into the stay-at-home routine of raising a toddler in the suburbs, who slowly embraces the feral power deeply rooted in motherhood when she becomes increasingly aware of the bizarre and undeniable signs that she may be turning into a canine.

Also Read:

‘Disenchanted’:...

Alma Har’el is set to direct her passion project, the feature adaptation of Walter Tevis’ seminal science fiction novel Mockingbird, for Searchlight Pictures. Nightmare Alley producer J. Miles Dale and Iron Will producer Robert Schwartz are producing along with Har’el and her partner Christopher Leggett. Alejandro Laguette and Rafael Marmor are executive producing.

The novel was nominated for the prestigious Nebula Award, paints a perilous future of a declining human population, fueled by drugs and electronic bliss. A world without art, children, or books where humanity’s future hinges on a love triangle between an android, a man and a woman.

“I’ll never forget the first time I read Mockingbird on the shore of the Sinai peninsula in Egypt when I was 24 years old. This book has changed my life and I’ve been pursuing it for over a decade. I knew that Searchlight was the perfect home...

Alma Har’el, the acclaimed filmmaker behind “Honey Boy,” will direct a feature adaptation of Walter Tevis’ science fiction novel, “Mockingbird,” for Searchlight Pictures. The film is a passion project for the director.

“Mockingbird” unfolds in future of a declining human population, which has turned to drugs and electronics for distraction. It’s also a world without art, children or books and one in which humanity’s future hinges on a love triangle between an android, a man and a woman.

“I’ll never forget the first time I read ‘Mockingbird’ on the shore of the Sinai peninsula in Egypt when I was 24 years old,” said Har’el. “This book has changed my life and I’ve been pursuing it for over a decade. I knew that Searchlight was the perfect home for it and I’m thrilled they are partnering with me to bring this to the big screen. Walter Tevis...

Alma Har’el, the director of “Honey Boy,” is set to direct her passion project, a feature adaptation of the Walter Tevis science fiction novel “Mockingbird” at Searchlight Pictures.

Tevis’ seminal novel from 1980, paints a perilous future of a declining human population all fueled by drugs and electronic bliss. “Mockingbird” will depict a world without art, children or books where humanity’s future hinges on a love triangle between an android, a man and a woman.

J. Miles Dale and Robert Schwartz are producing along with Har’el and her partner Christopher Leggett. Alejandro Laguette and Rafael Marmor are executive producing.

Taylor Friedman and Cornelia Burleigh are overseeing for Searchlight Pictures, reporting to heads of production and development DanTram Nguyen and Katie Goodson-Thomas. Searchlight is planning a theatrical release for the film.

“Mockingbird” is Har’el’s feature follow-up to her 2019 film “Honey Boy,” which made her the first woman to...

Studio planning theatrical release.

Honey Boy director Alma Har’el will make her passion project Mockingbird, the adaptation of the Walter Tevis sci-fi novel, at Searchlight Pictures.

Tevis’s novel takes place in a future of declining human population where drugs and electronic bliss hold sway and there is no art or children. The only thing that can save humanity is the love triangle between an android, a man and a woman.

J. Miles Dale and Robert Schwartz are producing with Har’el and her partner Christopher Leggett, with Alejandro Laguette and Rafael Marmor on board as executive producers.

“I’ll...

Searchlight Pictures announced that Seth Rogen has joined the cast of Aziz Ansari’s feature directorial debut ‘Being Mortal.’

Based on Atul Gawande’s non-fiction book ‘Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End’, the book addresses end-of-life care, hospice care, and also contains Gawande’s reflections and personal stories. He suggests that medical care should focus on well-being rather than survival.

Also in news – Alex Wolff joins growing cast of Christopher Nolan’s ‘Oppenheimer’

The film stars Academy Award® Nominee Bill Murray along with Ansari (“Master of None”), who also wrote the script and is producing with Youree Henley. Taylor Friedman and Cameron Chidsey are overseeing for Searchlight Pictures.

Rogen can currently be seen in Disney+’s highly acclaimed ‘Pam & Tommy’ starring Lily James and Sebastian Stan. He recently starred in HBO Max’s ‘An American Pickle’ and in ‘Long Shot’ alongside Charlize Theron for Lionsgate. Rogen...

Hollywood actor Seth Rogen has been roped in for Aziz Ansari’s directorial debut ‘Being Mortal’, which also stars Bill Murray. Not only does Ansari direct and appear in the film, he also wrote the script and is producing with Youree Henley. Taylor Friedman and Cameron Chidsey are overseeing for Searchlight Pictures, reports ‘Variety’. The film […]...

Searchlight Pictures announced today that Seth Rogen has joined the cast of Aziz Ansari’s feature directorial debut Being Mortal. The film stars Academy Award® Nominee Bill Murray along with Ansari (“Master of None”), who also wrote the script and is producing with Youree Henley. Taylor Friedman and Cameron Chidsey are overseeing for Searchlight Pictures.

The film is based on Atul Gawande’s non-fiction book Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End. Principal photography will start this April, with Searchlight Pictures set to release the film theatrically in 2023.

Rogen can currently be seen in Hulu’s highly acclaimed “Pam & Tommy” starring Lily James and Sebastian Stan. He recently starred in HBO Max’s An American Pickle and in Long Shot alongside Charlize Theron for Lionsgate. Rogen was nominated for two Primetime Emmy awards for Outstanding Drama Series for Amazon Prime’s “The Boys” and for Outstanding Writing for a Variety,...

What do you get when you combine a couple of comedy legends?

“Being Mortal” will soon provide the answer to that particular equation. The film, which marks the directorial debut of Aziz Ansari, has added Seth Rogen to its cast. He joins the previously announced Bill Murray, who will star alongside Ansari.

Not only does the “Master of None” maestro direct and appear in the film, he also wrote the script and is producing with Youree Henley. Taylor Friedman and Cameron Chidsey are overseeing for Searchlight Pictures.

The film is based on Atul Gawande’s non-fiction book, “Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End,” which admittedly doesn’t sound like a laugh riot. Principal photography will start this April, with Searchlight Pictures set to release the film theatrically in 2023.

Rogen can currently be seen in Hulu’s “Pam & Tommy” starring Lily James and Sebastian Stan. He recently...

Exclusive: In what is turning into a cast of comedic hall-of-famers, sources tell Deadline that Seth Rogen is set to join Bill Murray in Aziz Ansari’s feature directorial debut Being Mortal. Ansari is also on board to co-star from a script he wrote. He is also producing with Youree Henley. Taylor Friedman and Cameron Chidsey are overseeing for Searchlight Pictures.

The film is based on Atul Gawande’s nonfiction book Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End. Principal photography will start in April, with Searchlight Pictures set to release the film theatrically in 2023. While Ansari and Rogen have worked together on a number of things over the years, this will mark the first feature film teaming Rogen and Murray, which is sure to give fans a lot to get excited for.

As for Rogen, he has a busy 2022 ahead of him that began with Hulu’s hit series Pam & Tommy,...

‘Master of None’ comedian Aziz Ansari has been set to make his directorial debut on a currently untitled Searchlight Pictures project.

Teaming with veteran actor Bill Murray, the project is based on Atul Gawande’s non-fiction book Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End.

Ansari who also wrote the script plays a role in the film, and is producing with Youree Henley. Taylor Friedman and Cameron Chidsey are overseeing for Searchlight Pictures.

Also in news – Channing Tatum to star in remake of ‘System Crasher’

“Aziz Ansari is an incredible talent and, with this script, he brings a singular combination of insightful humour and pathos,” said Searchlight Presidents David Greenbaum and Matthew Greenfield. “We’re thrilled to be partnering with him on his feature directorial debut which is long overdue, and of course working with the genius Bill Murray once again.”

Ansari is a two-time Primetime Emmy ‘Award winner...

More Bill Murray is always a good thing for cinema, and today we have the news that Searchlight Pictures will bring us more of him. Emmy Award winner Aziz Ansari will make his feature film debut with an untitled picture starring Academy Award nominee Murray. Ansari wrote the script and will play a role in the film. He will also produce with Youree Henley, Taylor Friedman, and Cameron Chidsey for Searchlight. 

The untitled film will reportedly be based on Atul Gawande's non-fiction book "Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End." The film has a release window of 2023. Gawande is a...

The post Aziz Ansari to Make his Feature Directorial Debut With Comedy-Drama Starring Bill Murray appeared first on /Film.

Bill Murray and Aziz Ansari are teaming up for an untitled comedy drama at Searchlight Pictures, according to an individual with knowledge of the project.

Ansari is also making his feature directorial debut on the project, which is based on the Atul Gawande nonfiction book “Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End.” Searchlight is developing the project and will release the film theatrically in 2023.

In addition to directing, Ansari wrote the screenplay, will play a role in the film, and is also producing the project with Youree Henley.

“Aziz Ansari is an incredible talent and, with this script, he brings a singular combination of insightful humor and pathos,” Searchlight presidents David Greenbaum and Matthew Greenfield said in a statement. “We’re thrilled to be partnering with him on his feature directorial debut which is long overdue, and of course working with the genius Bill Murray once again.”

Taylor Friedman...

Aziz Ansari has been appointed to direct an untitled comedic drama for Searchlight Pictures. He will co-star in the movie with Bill Murrary.

In addition to directing the film in his feature debut, Ansari, who created the Netflix series “Master of None,” will also write the screenplay and produce the movie. Searchlight will release the film theatrically in 2023.

The project is being adapted from Atul Gawande’s 2014 nonfiction book “Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End.” Gawande, a practicing surgeon, describes his book — about aging, patients’ anxieties regarding death and doctor’s tendencies to fall back on false hope — as having the potential to “change medicine — and lives.” Through reflections and personal stories, the book takes a look at the limitations and failures of modern medicine at the end of a person’s life.

Author Malcolm Gladwell called “Being Mortal” Gawande’s “most powerful — and moving” book. “American medicine,...

Aziz Ansari is making his feature directorial debut with an untitled dramedy for Searchlight, based on the 2014 non-fiction book Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by surgeon Atul Gawande, in which he’ll star alongside Oscar nominee Bill Murray, Deadline has confirmed.

Gawande’s #1 New York Times bestseller tackles the hardest challenge of his profession: how medicine can not only improve life but also the process of its ending. Details with regard to the film’s plot and the characters to be played by Ansari and Murray have not been disclosed.

Ansari wrote the script and will produce alongside Youree Henley, with Taylor Friedman and Cameron Chidsey overseeing the project for Searchlight. The film is slated for theatrical release in 2023.

“Aziz Ansari is an incredible talent and, with this script, he brings a singular combination of insightful humor and pathos,...

Searchlight Pictures has promoted Taylor Friedman to senior vice president of production and elevated Richard Ruiz to vice president of production.

Friedman, who has been with Searchlight since 2009, previously served as vice president of production, and Ruiz, who joined the indie label in 2015, previously served as director of production. Both executives will continue reporting into Katie Goodson-Thomas and DanTram Nguyen, heads of film production at Searchlight

During her time at Searchlight, Friedman has overseen films such as Chloé Zhao’s “Nomadland,” Taika Waititi’s “Jojo Rabbit,” Martin McDonagh’s “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” and Marielle Heller’s “Can You Ever Forgive Me?,” all of which were nominated for or won Oscars. Friedman is currently working on Waititi’s upcoming film “Next Goal Wins,” Eva Longoria’s feature directorial debut “Flamin’ Hot” and McDonagh’s next film “The Banshees of Inisherin.” Prior to Searchlight, she worked at Paramount Vantage and...

Keira Knightley is in talks to star in Searchlight Pictures’ “Conception,” a sci-fi and drama film that will reunite the actress with Camille Griffin, her director on the upcoming film “Silent Night.”

Griffin will direct and write the screenplay for “Conception,” which is set in the near future when an authoritarian government in Britain has taken control over parenting. Knightley will play a License Officer who strictly enforces the controversial rules until her own parenting status is called into question.

Celine Rattray and Trudie Styler are producing “Conception” via Maven Screen Media. SVP of production Taylor Friedman and director of development and production Pete Spencer will oversee for Searchlight.

Griffin and Knightley recently worked together on “Silent Night,” which is being presented to buyers at the Cannes Virtual Market this week. The Christmas family comedy also stars Griffin’s son, Roman Griffin Davis, best known for his role in “Jojo Rabbit.

Exclusive: Keira Knightley is in talks to star in the new Searchlight sci-fi drama Conception, reuniting with her Silent Night director Camille Griffin. Griffin will write and direct, with Celine Rattray and Trudie Styler producing through their Maven Screen Media banner.

The story is set in the near future, when the British government takes authoritarian rule over parenting. It follows a vigorous License Officer (Knightley), who is a firm believer in the controversial system she upholds until an unexpected event imperils her own parental status in the very administration she enforces.

Searchlight SVP Production Taylor Friedman and Director of Development & Production Pete Spencer will oversee for the studio.

Knightley, Griffin and Maven are coming off their upcoming Christmas-themed pic Silent Night, which Endeavor Content is selling at the Cannes virtual market and also stars Griffin’s son Roman, who starred in the Searchlight’s Oscar-nominated satire Jojo Rabbit.

Griffin is...

Eva Longoria’s prestige project “Flamin’ Hot,” about the inventor of the spicy Cheetos snack, has found its stars in actors Jesse Garcia and Annie Gonzalez.

An award-winning actor and prolific TV director, Longoria is ramping up to a feature directorial era with the Searchlight project, which tells the inspirational story of Richard Montañez. A janitor at Frito Lay, Montañez took inspiration from his Mexican American heritage to create the wildly popular snack Flamin’ Hot Cheetos.

Garcia will play Montañez and Gonzalez will portray his wife Judy. Additionally, Linda Yvette Chavez has taken a pass on the script from writer Lewis Colick (“October Sky”). Chavez is the acclaimed creator of the Netflix original series “Gentefied,” and also adapted the upcoming directorial debut from America Ferrera, the Netflix original “I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter.”

Longoria said it has been “my biggest priority to make sure we are telling Richard Montañez’s story authentically.

Jesse Garcia from Quinceañera will play Richard Montanez, the architect of the Flamin’ Hot Cheeto, and Annie Gonzalez of Gentefied will portray his wife, Judy, in Eva Longoria feature directorial debut Flamin’ Hot from Searchlight Pictures and Franklin Entertainment.

As Deadline first told you about the movie, Flamin’ Hot tells the true life story of Richard Montanez, the Frito Lay janitor who took inspiration from his Mexican American heritage to create Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, the snack that disrupted the food industry and became a pop culture phenomenon. Desperate Housewives actress and Telenovela, Grand Hotel, and Devious Maids EP Longoria beat out several directors for the job after impressing Franklin and Searchlight with her authentic approach to the project.

Said Longoria in a statement, “It has been my biggest priority to make sure we are telling Richard Montañez’s story authentically. I am so happy to have two extremely talented and...

Searchlight Pictures is developing a drama based on a book about playwright Tennessee Williams called “Leading Men,” and the studio has set Matthew Lopez, the writer behind the Olivier Award-winning play “The Inheritance,” to write the screenplay.

Luca Guadagnino and “Nomadland” producer Peter Spears will produce “Leading Men,” though no director has been attached.

“Leading Men” is about the passionate and often tumultuous relationship between Tennessee Williams and his longtime partner Frank Merlo. The film is set amidst the glamorous literary circles of 1950s Italy and New York and explores the burden of fame and the complex negotiations of life in the shadows of greatness and ambition, all through the eyes of the muse who inspired one of America’s foremost playwrights.

“Leading Men” is based on a novel of historical fiction of the same name by Christopher Castellani, and the book was originally published in 2019.

Overseeing the project for...

Matthew López, the acclaimed playwright behind “The Inheritance,” will bring the story of legendary dramatist Tennessee Williams to the big screen for Searchlight Pictures.

López will pen a feature film adaptation of the novel “Leading Men,” which centers on the “A Streetcar Named Desire” and “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” scribe and his longtime partner Frank Merlo. The film is produced by Luca Guadagnino and Peter Spears, who previously teamed for “Call Me By Your Name.” This is Spears’ second Searchlight project, after Chloe Zhao’s “Nomadland,” which won the Venice Golden Lion and TIFF’s people’s choice award. There is currently no director attached to the project.

The novel by Christopher Castellani tells the tale of the romantic partnership between Williams and Merlo, touted in a synopsis of the film as “one of the most creatively inspiring love stories of the twentieth century.”

Already famous for penning “The Glass Menagerie,...

Well, it looks like the fall film festival season is really hoping it can still go on. The New York Film Festival, in some form or another, is especially pressing ahead, revealing the first of their big three movies for 2020, which will be Chloé Zhao’s road trip tale Nomadland, starring Frances McDormand. Read on below for the press release, which also details something special happening with all of the festivals still to come this year. Believe it or not, at least with Nomadland, the fests are teaming up, as this title will also screen at the 77th Venice International Film Festival as well as the 45th Toronto International Film Festival and a drive-in version of the Telluride Film Festival. Here’s the official press release: New York, NY – Film at Lincoln Center announced today that Chloé Zhao’s Nomadland will be featured as the Centerpiece film at the 58th New York Film Festival.

Exclusive: Taika Waititi’s Next Goal Wins which is currently in production in Hawaii has added to the cast Flight of the Conchords’ Rhys Darby, Mad Max: Fury Road‘s Angus Sampson, Fighting Season‘s Chris Alosio and Smilf‘s Sisa Grey.

The foursome join previously announced cast members, Michael Fassbender, Elizabeth Moss, Oscar Kightley, David Fane, Beulah Koale, Lehi Falepapalangi, Semu Filipo, Uli Latukefu, Rachel House and Kaimana in the Fox Searchlight production, which is Waititi’s second for the specialty label after Tiff festival winner Jojo Rabbit. That movie recently climbed to a running total of $16.1M in its 6th weekend at the domestic B.O. in 787 theaters.

Next Goal Wins tells the story of the American Samoa soccer team, who suffered the worst loss in World Cup history, losing to Australia 31-0 in 2001. With the 2014 World Cup approaching, the team recruits a down on his luck, maverick...

Fox Searchlight Pictures recently announced that it has acquired Worldwide rights to Next Goal Wins, the new feature from director Taika Waititi (JoJo Rabbit and Thor: Ragnarok). The film began production last week in Honolulu, Hawaii and is written by Waititi and Iain Morris, and stars Michael Fassbender and Elisabeth Moss.

Waititi is producing the film alongside Jonathan Cavendish and Garrett Basch, with Andy Serkis, Will Tennant, and Kathryn Dean serving as executive producers. Additional producers include Mike Brett and Steve Jamison, who directed the 2014 documentary from which the film is based. The film will be overseen by Presidents of Production for Film and Television David Greenbaum and Matthew Greenfield, Svp of Production DanTram Nguyen, and VP Production Taylor Friedman.

Next Goal Wins tells the story of the American Samoa soccer team, who suffered the worst loss in World Cup history, losing to Australia 31-0 in 2001. With the 2014 World Cup approaching,...

Fox Searchlight Pictures announced on Thursday that it has acquired Worldwide rights to Next Goal Wins, the new feature from director Taika Waititi. The film began production last week in Honolulu, Hawaii. Next Goal Wins is written by Waititi and Iain Morris, and stars Michael Fassbender and Elisabeth Moss.

Waititi is producing alongside Jonathan Cavendish and Garrett Basch, with Andy Serkis, Will Tennant, and Kathryn Dean serving as executive producers. Additional producers include Mike Brett and Steve Jamison, who directed the 2014 documentary from which the film is based.

The film will be overseen by Presidents of Production for Film and Television David Greenbaum and Matthew Greenfield, Svp of Production DanTram Nguyen, and VP Production Taylor Friedman.

Next Goal Wins tells the story of the American Samoa soccer team, who suffered the worst loss in World Cup history, losing to Australia 31-0 in 2001. With the 2014 World Cup approaching, the team recruits a down on his luck,...

Fox Searchlight Pictures announced today that it has acquired Worldwide rights to Next Goal Wins, the new feature from director Taika Waititi. The film began production last week in Honolulu, Hawaii. Next Goal Wins is written by Waititi and Iain Morris, and stars Michael Fassbender and Elisabeth Moss.

Taika Waititi is producing alongside Jonathan Cavendish and Garrett Basch, with Andy Serkis, Will Tennant, and Kathryn Dean serving as executive producers. Additional producers include Mike Brett and Steve Jamison, who directed the 2014 documentary from which the film is based. The film will be overseen by Presidents of Production for Film and Television David Greenbaum and Matthew Greenfield, Svp of Production DanTram Nguyen, and VP Production Taylor Friedman.

Next Goal Wins tells the story of the American Samoa soccer team, who suffered the worst loss in World Cup history, losing to Australia 31-0 in 2001. With the 2014 World Cup approaching, the team recruits a down on his luck,...

Taika Waititi’s next movie Next Goal Wins for Fox Searchlight has added to its cast Oscar Kightley, David Fane, Beulah Koale (Hawaii Five-0), Lehi Falepapalangi, Semu Filipo (Harry), Uli Latukefu (Alien: Covenant), Rachel House (Thor: Ragnarok) are joining the cast with Kaimana in her debut role.

Searchlight has global rights to the pic, which is their second with Waititi following this fall’s Jojo Rabbit which has racked up north of $10M in its specialty release stateside. Production began last week in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Pic tells the story of the American Samoa soccer team, who suffered the worst loss in World Cup history, losing to Australia 31-0 in 2001. With the 2014 World Cup approaching, the team recruits a down on his luck, maverick coach (Michael Fassbender) to help turn their fate around. Waititi and Iain Morris wrote the script.

Eva Longoria will direct Fox Searchlight’s “Flamin’ Hot,” a biopic about the man who created the spicy Flamin’ Hot Cheetos.

Variety first reported in February, 2018, that Searchlight and DeVon Franklin were set to produce the film “Flamin’ Hot,” which will tell the true story of Richard Montanez, who rose from humble beginnings to being a wildly successful businessman when he created a food phenomenon — Flamin’ Hot Cheetos.

The film will follow Montanez, the son of an immigrant, who grew up as a migrant farm worker picking grapes in the fields of Southern California before becoming a janitor at Frito-Lay. While working at the company, Montanez came up with the idea to create Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, transforming the Frito-Lay brand into a pop culture phenomenon and creating a wildly popular category of crunchy snacks.

Longoria will direct from a script by Charlie St. Cloud and “October Sky” writer Lewis Colick.

Exclusive: Multi-hyphenate Eva Longoria has landed the directing job for Flamin’ Hot, the Fox Searchlight biopic about Richard Montanez, who created the spicy Flamin’ Hot Cheetos snack. DeVon Franklin will produce the pic under his Franklin Entertainment label, which is currently under a production deal at Fox.

Longoria reportedly beat out multiple directors for the job after impressing Franklin and Fox with her authentic approach to portraying the inspiring story of Richard and Judy Montanez. Richard rose from humble beginnings to achieve the American Dream: The son of a Mexican immigrant, Richard was a janitor at Frito-Lay when he came up with the idea for Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. His creation, inspired by the flavors of his community, revitalized the company and disrupted the food industry, creating a pop culture phenomenon that continues today.

Charlie St. Cloud and October Sky scribe Lewis Colick penned the script. Zahra Phillips is overseeing the project for Franklin Entertainment,...

Scarlett Johansson, Sam Rockwell, Rebel Wilson, Thomasin McKenzie, newcomer Roman Griffin Davis star.

Fox Searchlight executives said on Thursday that production has begun in and around Prague in the Czech Republic on the Second World War satire Jojo Rabbit, Taika Waititi’s feature follow-up to global hit Thor: Ragnarok.

Scarlett Johansson stars with Sam Rockwell, Rebel Wilson, Thomasin McKenzie from Leave No Trace, newcomer Roman Griffin Davis in the lead role, and Waititi himself as Adolf Hitler.

Jojo Rabbit centres on a young German boy living with his single mother and his imaginary friend Hitler. The youngster’s views are...

Fox Searchlight has emerged victorious in a bidding war for a tasty new biopic, centering on the man who created the Flamin' Hot Cheetos, Richard Montanez. The studio reportedly beat out multiple studio bidders for the project in what was described as a "highly-competitive sale." While no director is attached at this time, Lewis Collick has been set to write the script, based on the pitch he developed with producer DeVon Franklin and Montanez.

Richard Montanez was born the son of an immigrant who grew up as a migrant farm worker in the grape fields of Southern California. He ended up getting a job as a janitor at the Frito-Lay plant in Rancho Cucamonga in 1976, after dropping out of high school. One day he watched a video from the Frito-Lay president that asked Montanez and all his fellow employees to, "act like an owner," which he saw as an opportunity to do something different.