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It's been over 20 years since One Tree Hill made its television premiere on The WB and over 10 years since the beloved series came to an end on The CW. Time has only made fans adore the show more and more, and there's finally some good news on the potential future of the series: Sophia Bush and Hilarie Burton Morgan are working on a sequel series at Netflix!

Before we get too excited about the prospect of returning to Tree Hill two decades later, it's the perfect time to look back at original cast members and celebrate their generation-defining series. One Tree Hill helped launch the careers of Chad Michael Murray, Hilarie Burton Morgan, Sophia Bush, James Lafferty, and Bethany Joy Lenz, and they're all still beloved today.

If you're diving back into your millionth rewatch of One Tree Hill (no judgment!), you're probably wondering how old the actors were compared to their teen characters.

Magnolia Pictures is giving the action thriller Red Right Hand a theatrical and VOD release today, February 23rd, and to mark the occasion we have been given an Exclusive clip from the film! Giving a preview of more than a minute of the film, this clip involves a “house shootout scene”, and you can check it out in the embed above.

Directed by Eshom Nelms and Ian Nelms from a screenplay by first-time feature writer Jonathan Easley, Red Right Hand stars Orlando Bloom (Lord of the Rings), Chapel Oaks (Will Trent), Garret Dillahunt (Fear the Walking Dead), Brian Geraghty (The Hurt Locker), James Lafferty (One Tree Hill), Jeremy Ratchford (Cold Case), Alexandra Park (12 Feet Deep), Scott Haze (Jurassic World Dominion), and Andie MacDowell (Groundhog Day). Here’s the synopsis: Cash (Orlando Bloom) is trying to live an honest and quiet life taking care of his recently orphaned niece Savannah...

Exclusive: Orlando Bloom (Carnival Row) and Andie MacDowell (Maid) have signed on to star in Red Right Hand, an upcoming action-thriller from directors Ian and Eshom Nelms (Fatman).

The film written by Jonathan Easley centers on Cash (Bloom), who is trying to live an honest and quiet life, taking care of his niece Savannah in the Appalachian hills of Odim County. When the sadistic Queenpin Big Cat (MacDowell) who runs the town forces him back into her services, Cash learns he’s capable of anything—even killing—to protect the town and the only family he has left. As the journey gets harder, Cash is drawn into a nightmare that blurs the lines between good and evil.

Asbury Park Pictures is serving as the project’s financier and producing alongside Traction. Individual producers on board include John Wick‘s Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee, Asbury Park Pictures’ Mike Gabrawy, Traction...

It’s safe to say that the Covid content drought is just about over. Netflix prides itself on being the most, let’s say, prolific streaming service in the game. With its list of new releases for May 2021 it’s once again revealing why.

There is a lot going on for Netflix this month and it all starts with some high profile original films. Zack Snyder’s latest zombie effort Army of the Dead premieres on May 21. That will be preceded by Monster, the adaptation of Walter Dean Myers’ classic YA book, on May 7 and Amy Adams Rear Window-esque The Woman in the Window on May 14.

Read more Games Castlevania Season 3: Infinite Corridor Explained By John Saavedra TV Lucifer Season 5: Devilish First Footage From Musical Episode Revealed By Kirsten Howard

Netflix’s TV offerings in May 2021 are just as packed. The adaptation of Millarworld superhero comic Jupiter’s Legacy...

It’s almost a certainty that you’ve never seen a Christmas movie like Fatman. You know how they wanted to make all superhero films in that “gritty, realistic” style that Christopher Nolan turned into billions of dollars with the Dark Knight trilogy? In Fatman, writers/directors Ian and Eshom Nelms (Small Town Crime) take the greatest superhero of them all, Santa Claus, and transform him into a struggling, borderline alcoholic curmudgeon who may lose his business, and has a killer after him to boot.

That’s right: As played by a more grizzled than usual Mel Gibson, whose voice emanates from somewhere deep within the considerable beard he’s sporting, Chris Kringle is bitter and depressed over the state of the world. More and more kids are making bad choices, leaving him no option but to deliver them hunks of coal instead of toys. But that also creates a...

In the years since Mel Gibson fell from the grace of his celebrity, we’ve been through the Mel Gibson-is-canceled stage (which happened but didn’t take), the Mel Gibson-gets-a-cameo-as-found-object-of-infamy stage, the Mel Gibson-crawls-back-to-nail-a-nutzoid-lead-role stage (remember “The Beaver”?), the Mel Gibson-has-become-the-hero-of-z-thrillers-that-exploit-his-disreputability stage, the Mel Gibson-has-a-real-deal-comeback-with-“Hacksaw Ridge” stage, the Hollywood-still-won’t-accept-him-as-an-actor stage, and (at last) the Mel Gibson-barely-even-has-to-be-an-actor-because-he’s-now-a-meme stage.

How else do you explain the fact that he’s now playing Santa Claus?

In “Fatman,” Gibson is Chris (as in Cringle), and the joke of his performance is that with his spooky-sensitive blue-eyed stare, the crinkles-within-wrinkles that now frame those eyes, a beard of the most formidable bushiness that’s white on the bottom but with a dark mustache that curls upward, and a voice that scrapes the booming canyon depths to the point that he sounds like John Wayne with elocution lessons, he could pass for a real-world...

Black Coal, Thin Gag: The Nelms Bros. Stalk Santa in Middling Comedic Thriller

Santa Claus is apparently a federal employee in Fatman, a novel idea which posits Mel Gibson as the vaunted Christmas icon, Chris Kringle. However, the inspired casting married to adult themes straight out of a Coen Bros. escapade is unfortunately neither naughty nor nice, hiding its most interesting elements within the clutches of a throwaway side plot.

Directed by brothers Eshom and Ian Nelms, it lacks both the necessary smarts and gravitas to walk a fine balance between fantasy and reality, sordidness and poignancy.…...

There’s an interesting idea for a movie in “Fatman,” which seeks to spin a bleak and wintry hitman tale into a deadpan dark Christmas comedy by making Santa Claus the target of that hired killer. It never makes it past the idea stage, unfortunately, since mixing these disparate genres together would require an absolute mastery of tone that the film can’t quite muster.

Writers-directors Ian Nelms and Eshom Nelms (“Small Town Crime”) certainly can’t be faulted for ambition, but their big idea doesn’t make it all the way down the chimney.

Despicable rich child Billy already has a working relationship with the assassin known as the Skinny Man (Walton Goggins), having recently hired him to kidnap a classmate to force her to give Billy a science-fair prize he thought was rightfully his. When Billy’s wicked ways earn him coal from Santa Claus (Mel Gibson), the...

Hitman Walton Goggins is going to try to kill Santa Claus, played by Mel Gibson, in Fatman, which has just been picked up by Saban Films. The dark comedy comes from writers-directors Eshom and Ian Nelms, and follows a hitman who decides to bump off Old St. Nick. You can see […]

The post ‘Fatman’ First Look: Mel Gibson is Santa Claus and Walton Goggins Wants to Kill Him appeared first on /Film.

Saban Films has acquired the U.S. rights to “Fatman,” a dark comedy and action film that stars Mel Gibson as Santa Claus and Walton Goggins as an assassin sent to kill him, the distributor announced Wednesday.

“Fatman” comes from writers and directors Eshom and Ian Nelms and centers on an unorthodox hitman who is hired by a precocious 12-year-old to assassinate Santa Claus after he received a lump of coal in his Christmas stocking. The film also stars Marianne Jean-Baptiste.

Saban Films will announce release plans for “Fatman” at a later date.

Fortitude International’s Nadine de Barros and Mammoth Entertainment’s Todd Courtney produced “Fatman” along with Rbl Studios’ Michelle Lang, Zed Filmworks’ Robert Menzies and Skywolf Media’s Lisa Wolofsky. The film marks Saban Films’ second collaboration with the Nelms brothers following their film “Small Town Crime.”

“This is our second collaboration with the Nelms brothers, and...

Saban Films has bought U.S. rights to the dark comedy “Fatman,” starring Mel Gibson, Walton Goggins and Marianne Jean-Baptiste, for release at the end of this year.

“Fatman” centers on a neglected and precocious 12-year-old who hires a hitman to kill Santa Claus after receiving a lump of coal in his stocking. Gibson portrays a rowdy Santa who’s facing a decline in business.

“Fatman” is written and directed by the siblings Eshom and Ian Nelms, and produced by Fortitude International’s Nadine de Barros and Mammoth Entertainment’s Todd Courtney, with Rbl Studios’ Michelle Lang, Zed Filmworks’ Robert Menzies and Skywolf Media’s Lisa Wolofsky. The pic marks Saban Films’ second collaboration with the Nelms brothers following “Small Town Crime.”

Gibson was recently seen in “Daddy’s Home 2” and “Dragged Across Concrete.” He received a directing Academy Award nomination in 2017 for “Hacksaw Ridge,” and won Oscars for producing...

Saban Films has acquired U.S. rights to Fatman, the dark action comedy starring Mel Gibson as Santa Claus. The deal reunites the company with writer-directors Eshom and Ian Nelms after Saban released the brothers’ noir Small Town Crime in 2017. A 2020 release is in the works for Fatman.

Walton Goggins and Marianne Jean-Baptiste star alongside Gibson in the film, in which a neglected and precocious 12-year-old hires an unorthodox hitman (Goggins) to kill Santa (Gibson) after getting a lump of coal in his stocking.

A first-look photo of Gibson has also emerged (see below). He plays a rowdy, unorthodox Santa who is fighting his business decline.

Fortitude International’s Nadine de Barros, Mammoth Entertainment’s Todd Courtney, Rbl Studios’ Michelle Lang, Zed Filmworks’ Robert Menzies and Skywolf Media’s Lisa Wolofsky are producers on the pic, which launched sales at Cannes in 2019 when Gibson came on board. Executive producers are...

Fortitude International handles international sales.

Saban Films has acquired US rights to the dark comedy Fatman starring Mel Gibson, Walton Goggins and Marianne Jean-Baptiste

Eshom and Ian Nelms wrote and directed the story about a precocious 12-year-old who hires an unorthodox hitman to kill Santa Claus after receiving a lump of coal in his stocking.

The film’s international sales agent Fortitude International’s Nadine de Barros and Mammoth Entertainment’s Todd Courtney produced with Rbl Studios’ Michelle Lang, Zed Filmworks’ Robert Menzies, and Skywolf Media’s Lisa Wolofsky.

Saban Films’ Bill Bromiley said, “This is our second collaboration with...

Christmas has arrived early for Mel Gibson.

Saban Films has picked up the U.S. rights to Fatman, which sees Gibson star as a rowdy Santa Claus.

The story centers on a neglected and precocious 12-year-old who hires an unorthodox hitman to kill Santa Claus after receiving a lump of coal in his stocking. Walton Goggins and Marianne Jean-Baptiste also star.

Written and directed by Eshom and Ian Nelms, who worked with Saban on Small Town Crime, Fatman is produced by Fortitude International’s Nadine de Barros and Mammoth Entertainment’s Todd Courtney, along with Rbl Studios’ Michelle Lang, Zed Filmworks’ Robert Menzies and Skywolf Media’s ...

Christmas has arrived early for Mel Gibson.

Saban Films has picked up the U.S. rights to Fatman, which sees Gibson star as a rowdy Santa Claus.

The story centers on a neglected and precocious 12-year-old who hires an unorthodox hitman to kill Santa Claus after receiving a lump of coal in his stocking. Walton Goggins and Marianne Jean-Baptiste also star.

Written and directed by Eshom and Ian Nelms, who worked with Saban on Small Town Crime, Fatman is produced by Fortitude International’s Nadine de Barros and Mammoth Entertainment’s Todd Courtney, along with Rbl Studios’ Michelle Lang, Zed Filmworks’ Robert Menzies and Skywolf Media’s ...

The Right Stuff will no longer take flight on National Geographic.

The series has been moved to streamer Disney+ ahead of a fall debut.

Eight episodes have been ordered of the scripted adaptation of Tom Wolfe’s bestselling nonfiction account of the early days of the U.S. space program.

The show takes clear-eyed look at what would become America's first "reality show," as ambitious astronauts and their families become instant celebrities in a competition that could kill them or make them immortal.

The two men at the center of the story are Major John Glenn, a revered test pilot and committed family man with unwavering principles, portrayed by Patrick J. Adams (Suits), and Lieutenant Commander Alan Shepard, one of the best test pilots in Navy history, portrayed by Jake McDorman.

At the height of the Cold War in 1959, the Soviet Union dominates the space race. To combat a national sentiment of fear and decline,...

Exclusive: Walton Goggins has been cast as a lead in Fatman, the dark action comedy that stars Mel Gibson, who is playing Santa Claus. The casting reunites Goggins again with Rough House Pictures, which produced HBO’s Vice Principals, produces the current The Righteous Gemstones, and which is producing Fatman.

The film, originally launched at the Cannes market last spring, has also added Todd Courtney of Mammoth Entertainment to the producing team, with Mammoth now set to finance alongside Ingenious Media. The Nelm Brothers (Small Town Crime) are directing based on their original screenplay. Production is underway in Canada.

Fatman centers on a neglected and precocious 12-year-old who hires an unorthodox hitman to kill Santa Claus after receiving a lump of coal in his stocking. Goggins will star as Skinnyman, the eccentric, sharp-shooting hitman who works at a toy store.

Brandon James of Rough House, Fortitude’s Nadine de Barros,...

Mel Gibson is set to play Santa Claus in a new action comedy feature film called Fatman. When I think about an actor to play Santa, Gibson isn’t one that pops into my head, but it’s happening and I’m sure he’s going to be great in the role!

Fatman will tell the story of “a rowdy, unorthodox Santa Claus who is fighting his business decline.” There’s an interesting and amusing twist to the story, though, as “a neglected and precocious 12-year-old hires a hitman to kill Santa after receiving a lump of coal in his stocking.”

Yep, this movie sounds like it could be a lot of fun! It will be directed by the team of Ian and Eshom Nelms from a script that they wrote. Their previous film credits include Small Town Crime, Waffle Street and Lost on Purpose. They had this to say...

Mel Gibson is attached to play Santa Claus in a brand new independent comedy ‘Fatman’ for Fortitude.

The film will be directed by Ian and Eshom Nelms from their own script, it tells the story of a rowdy, unorthodox Santa Claus who is fighting his business decline — while a neglected and precocious 12-year-old hires a hitman to kill Santa after receiving a lump of coal in his stocking.

Brandon James of Rough House, Nadine de Barros of Fortitude and Lisa Wolofsky of Skywolf will produce while James’ Rough House partners David Gordon Green, Danny McBride and Jody Hill will serve as executive producers.

“This rowdy Santa tale is a film we’ve been excited to make for some time and we’re thrilled to have equally passionate partners in Rough House and Fortitude who carry the same fire!” said Eshom and Ian Nelms.

Also in news – Haddish to team up...

Mel Gibson is attached to play Santa Claus in the independent action comedy feature “Fatman.”

Fortitude is handling international sales rights and will introduce the project to international buyers at the Cannes Film Festival, which opens May 14. CAA is handling U.S. sales rights.

Scheduled to film in early 2020 in Canada, “Fatman” is the story of a rowdy, unorthodox Santa Claus who is fighting his business decline — while a neglected and precocious 12-year-old hires a hitman to kill Santa after receiving a lump of coal in his stocking.

“Fatman” will be directed by the team of Ian and Eshom Nelms from their own script. Their credits include “Small Town Crime,” “Waffle Street” and “Lost on Purpose.”

The film will be produced by Brandon James of Rough House, Nadine de Barros of Fortitude and Lisa Wolofsky of Skywolf. Executive producers include James’ Rough House partners David Gordon Green, Danny McBride and Jody Hill.

David Gordon Green, Danny McBride, Jody Hill on board as executive producers.

Mel Gibson is attached to play Santa Claus in the action comedy Fatman, which Fortitude will introduce to buyers in Cannes next week.

Ian and Eshom Nelms (Small Town Crime) will direct the story about a rowdy, unorthodox Santa Claus whose business is in decline. Meanwhile, Billy, a neglected and precocious 12-year-old hires a hitman to kill Santa after receiving a lump of coal in his stocking.

Brandon James of Rough House, Nadine de Barros of Fortitude and Lisa Wolofsky of Skywolf will produce. The Nelmses wrote the...

David Gordon Green, Danny McBride, Jody Hill on board as executive producers.

Mel Gibson is attached to play Santa Claus in the action comedy Fatman, which Fortitude will introduce to buyers in Cannes next week.

Ian and Eshom Nelms (Small Town Crime) will direct the story about a rowdy, unorthodox Santa Claus whose business is in decline. Meanwhile, Billy, a neglected and precocious 12-year-old hires a hitman to kill Santa after receiving a lump of coal in his stocking.

Brandon James of Rough House, Nadine de Barros of Fortitude and Lisa Wolofsky of Skywolf will produce. The Nelmses wrote the...

Carol Burnett’s bestseller “Carrie and Me: A Mother-Daughter Love Story” is in the works as a movie at Focus Features with Burnett, Tina Fey, Eric Gurian, and Steven Rogers producing.

Burnett will produce through her Mabel Cat Productions with Fey and Gurian under their production banner Little Stranger along with Rogers. The sibling team of Ian and Eshom Nelms (“Small Town Crime”) is tackling the screenplay. Little Stranger’s Jeff Richmond will executive produce. A director and cast have yet to be attached.

The film will follow the highs and lows of her life as a working mother, actress, and producer — all told through her relationship with her daughter Carrie Hamilton. Carrie overcame a public struggle with drug addiction as a teenager, but achieved sobriety as an adult before dying of cancer at the age of 38 in 2002. Burnett’s book was published in 2013.

Burnett is represented by Gersh, Media Four,...

Exclusive: Focus Features is giving the film treatment to New York Times bestseller Carrie and Me, the memoir from multi-hyphenate Hollywood icon Carol Burnett written as a tribute to her late daughter Carrie Hamilton. Brothers Ian and Eshom Nelms have been brought on to adapt the screenplay. Burnett is producing the project via her Mabel Cat Productions company along with Tina Fey and Eric Gurian under their production company banner Little Stranger, and I, Tonya screenwriter and producer Steven Rogers.

Published in 2013, the novel shares intimate details of Carrie’s life as the daughter of one of the most beloved figures on television and in film. Burnett opens up about her daughter’s journey from teenage drug addiction to her sober adult life where she found happiness and success as an actress and a writer before her untimely passing from cancer at age 38.

The film will follow the highs and...

Ahead of its premiere at SXSW later this month, Saban Films announced that they've acquired North American rights to Tone-Deaf, from Excision, Suburban Gothic, and Trash Fire director Richard Bates Jr.

Los Angeles – Saban Films announced today that they have acquired North American rights to Richard Bates Jr.’s horror thriller Tone-Deaf. The film stars Robert Patrick and Amanda Crew, and is produced by Circle of Confusion’s Lawrence Mattis, Brad Mendelsohn and Matt Smith, and Best Medicine Productions’ Brion Hambel and Paul Jensen. Tone-Deaf will make its World Premiere at this year’s SXSW Film Festival.

Tone-Deaf follows millennial Olive (Crew) who, after losing her job and imploding her latest dysfunctional relationship, leaves the city for a weekend of peace in the country, only to discover the shockingly dark underbelly of rural America. She rents an eccentric, ornate country house from Harvey (Patrick), an old-fashioned widower who's struggling to hide his psychopathic tendencies.

Saban Films has acquired U.S. distribution rights to David Raymond’s directorial debut “Nomis,” starring Henry Cavill, Ben Kingsley, and Alexandra Daddario.

The L.A. Film Festival selected “Nomis” as its closing night film on Sept. 28 at the ArcLight Hollywood Cinerama Dome. The showing was the world premiere for “Nomis,” which follows American police trapping an online predator, only to realize the depth of his crimes goes far beyond anything they had anticipated. As new leads emerge and the case unravels, Cavill’s character teams with a local vigilante (Kingsley) in pursuit of vengeance.

The thriller also stars Stanley Tucci, Minka Kelly, and Nathan Fillion. Raymond wrote the script, and also produced alongside Robert Ogden Barnum, Arise Pictures’ Chris Pettit, Buffalo Gals’ Jeff Beesley, and Rick Dugdale.

Saban Films’ Bill Bromiley said, “This is a beautifully crafted tension-filled thriller with a cast that, undeniably, our audiences will love. ‘Nomis...

Olivia Wilde’s “A Vigilante” has sold to Saban Films, along with DirecTV, at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Sarah Daggar-Nickson wrote and directed the crime drama. “A Vigilante” follows a once abused woman, Sadie (Wilde), who devotes herself to ridding victims of their domestic abusers. Morgan Spector, Kyle Catlett, C.J. Wilson, Tonye Patano, Chuck Cooper, Betsy Aidem, Judy Marte also star.

The film first premiered at the SXSW Film Festival in March, and was nominated for a SXSW Gamechanger Award.

Also Read: Netflix Acquires Genevieve Nnaji's 'Lionheart' in Worldwide Deal

“Olivia plays a badass vigilante which is refreshing and relevant while also shining a much-deserved light on domestic abuse,” Saban Films CEO Bill Bromiley said in a statement. “This role shows a side of Olivia that we haven’t seen before and audiences will love.”

“A Vigilante” will be released theatrically by Saban in the first...

Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has been selected as a speaker for the 10th Annual Produced By Conference at Paramount Studios on June 9-10.

The Producers Guild of America announced Thursday the headlining sessions, which include “Conversation With: Samantha Bee & Jason Jones,” “Conversation With: Kevin Feige,” “Conversation With: Jim Gianopulos,” “Larry Gordon: Uncensored,” and the previously announced “360 Profile: The Handmaid’s Tale.”

“Conversation With: Kevin Feige” features an in-depth discussion with the president of Marvel Studios and creative force behind some of the biggest blockbusters of the past decade, including the recent box-office juggernaut “Black Panther.”

“Conversation With: Jim Gianopulos” is an open talk with the Chairman and CEO of Paramount Pictures and industry leader who has overseen the production of “Avatar,” “Titanic,” “Deadpool,” and “Hidden Figures.”

“Larry Gordon: Uncensored” features a candid discussion with the prolific producer behind “Field of Dreams,” “Die Hard,” and “Hellboy” about the hard, ground-level realities of getting movies made.

"We do this - there is no half way." Lionsgate has unveiled the first trailer for an indie dark comedy titled Small Town Crime, which played at the SXSW and London Film Festivals. The "small town" crime film stars John Hawkes as an alcoholic ex-cop who finds the body of a young woman and, through an act of self-redemption, becomes hell-bent on finding the killer but unwittingly puts his family in danger and gets caught up with several dark characters along the way. Sounds fun, no? The ensemble cast includes Octavia Spencer, Anthony Anderson, Robert Forster, Clifton Collins, Jr., Michael Vartan, James Lafferty, Daniel Sunjata, Caity Lotz, Jeremy Ratchford, Don Harvey, Stefanie Scott, and Dale Dickey. This looks pretty much exactly as it sounds, but at least it's nice to see Hawkes in another lead role. Here's the first trailer (+ posters) for Eshom Nelms & Ian Nelms's Small Town Crime,...

Mongrel Media is set to release Saban Films’ 2018 North American slate in Canada following a new partnership announced Friday.

The deal includes Roland Joffe’s The Forgiven, starring Forest Whitaker and Eric Bana, Alexandros Avranas’ True Crimes, starring Jim Carrey and Charlotte Gainsbourg; and Eshom Nelms and Ian Nelms;’ Small Town Crime, starring John Hawkes and Octavia Spencer.

“We have developed a close partnership with Mongrel over the past couple years, having released 14 films with Andrew Frank and the rest of the team, and delivering strong numbers across the board,” said Saban’s Bill Bromiley. “We look forward to continuing...

Principal photography underway in Savannah, Georgia.

Armory Films has announced that John Hawkes, Jon Bernthal, Thomas Haden Church, and Yelawolf will join the cast of The Peanut Butter Falcon.

The film directed by Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz centres on Zak, a young man with Down Syndrome who has been confined to live in a retirement home for most of his life.

One day he breaks out and takes to the road to try to find his hero, a retired wrestler named The Salt Water Redneck. Along the way Zak experiences adventure and danger, and joins forces with a desperado crab fisherman and a kind nurse.

The cast also includes newcomer Zachary Gottsagen, Shia Labeouf, Dakota Johnson, and Bruce Dern.

Armory Films’ Tim Zajaros and Christopher Lemole are producing and financing the film, alongside Bona Fide Productions’ Albert Berger and Ron Yerxa, T Bone Burnett, Lije Sarki, and David Thies. Burnett will also...

President Bill Bromiley announces two key promotions.

Jonathan Saba and Ness Saban have been promoted at Saban Films.

Saba (pictured at centre) is named senior vice-president of distribution, sales and marketing, while Saban (pictured at right) becomes vice-president of business development.

Saba previously served as vice-president of sales, marketing and distribution since the company’s launch in May 2014.

He has supervised release strategy and marketing campaigns for the entire slate, including Rob Zombie’s 31. Prior to Saban Films, Saba held executive positions in acquisitions, distribution and marketing at Anchor Bay Films, Image Entertainment, Criterion Collection, and Rilean Pictures.

Saban began his career at Los Angeles-based Saban Films, where he has served as director of business development, spearheading the acquisition of close to 50 films in less than three years including Tommy Lee Jones’ The Homesman, and the upcoming 24 Hours To Live with Ethan Hawke and Small Town Crime with John Hawkes.

“Both Jonathan...

Exclusive: John Hawkes stars in SXSW premiere as alcoholic ex-cop on trail of killer.

Netflix has picked up exclusive worldwide streaming rights outside North America to Small Town Crime.

The license deal, which will not be branded as a Netflix film and is characterised by sources at the online platform as a regular programming acquisition, follows the world premiere at SXSW last spring.

John Hawkes plays an alcoholic former police officer who endangers his family when he investigates the case of a murdered woman.

Rounding out the key cast are Octavia Spencer, Robert Forster, Anthony Anderson, Clifton Collins Jr, and Caity Lotz.

Separately, Chiller Films unveils release strategy for Camera Obscura.

Saban Films has picked up North American rights to Shot Caller by Bold Films and Participant Media starring Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Lake Bell, and Jon Bernthal.

Ric Roman Waugh directed the crime drama about an ex-con forced by gang leaders to orchestrate a major crime with a rival gang in Southern California. Emory Cohen, Omari Hardwick and Benjamin Bratt round out the key cast.

Waugh produced through his Cadre Filmworks alongside Jonathan King of Participant Media, and Bold Films’ Michel Litvak and Gary Michael Walters.

Bold Films’ Jeffrey Stott and Lisa Zambri, Rhodes Entertainment’s Matthew Rhodes, and Participant Media’s Jeff Skol serve as executive producers.

“Shot Caller is raw, gritty, expertly crafted and perfectly cast,” Saban Films’ Bill Bromiley, who brokered the deal with Wme Global, said. “We could not be more proud to partner with Bold Films and Participant Media to bring this important film to...

Take a look at the totally killer party in the first trailer for Drew Marvick's Pool Party Massacre. Also in today's Highlights: production details for WWE Studios' and Saban Films' Armed Response, a cool Q&A with Stefanie Estes from Bethany, and details on Jenna Coleman's upcoming attendance at Wizard World Minneapolis 2017.

Check Out the Trailer for Pool Party Massacre: Press Release: "Los Angeles, CA - Floating Eye Films has released the first trailer and stills for the old school splatterfest Pool Party Massacre. The debut feature from horror fanatic Drew Marvick, Pool Party Massacre is an ultra low-budget 80's-inspired slasher that cuts to the flesh and bone of a group of young friends. With a pounding synth score and a heavy metal soundtrack, Marvick has crafted a loving homage to the body count of 80s B-movies.

Blair Winthorpe, a high-maintenance young socialite, is having...

Keep up with the wild and wooly world of indie film acquisitions with our weekly Rundown of everything that’s been picked up around the globe. Check out last week’s Rundown here.

– Kino Lorber has acquired the North American rights to Bill Morrison’s “Dawson City: Frozen Time,” about the true history of a collection of 533 reels of film (representing 372 titles) dating from the 1910s to 1920s, which were lost for over 50 years until being discovered buried in a sub-arctic swimming pool deep in the Yukon Territory. The film tells the unique history of a Canadian gold rush town and how cinema, capitalism and history intersect.

“Dawson City” had its world premiere at the 73rd Venice Film Festival and North American premiere at 2016 New York Film Festival. The film also played at the BFI/London Film Festival and the 2017 Rotterdam International Film Festival, and screened Thursday at the TCM...

Keep up with the wild and wooly world of indie film acquisitions with our weekly Rundown of everything that’s been picked up around the globe. Check out last week’s Rundown here.

– Fox Searchlight will acquire the U.S., Canada and U.K. rights to to “The Old Man And The Gun,” Deadline reports. Director David Lowery’s drama stars Robert Redford, Casey Affleck, Sissy Spacek and Danny Glover and begins shooting on April 3.

Based on a true story, the film centers on bank robber and 17-time prison escapee Forrest Tucker (Redford). Affleck plays a detective obsessed with bringing Tucker to justice while Spacek plays Tucker’s love interest. The film is produced by Conde Nast Entertainment Wildwood Enterprises and Identity Films.

Read More: Film Acquisition Rundown: Neon Picks Up Errol Morris’ ‘The B-Side,’ FilmRise Gets Two Sundance Premieres and More

– Grasshopper Film has acquired the U.S. rights...

Octavia Spencer and John Hawkes star as brother and sister in the upcoming film Small Town Crime, due out in theaters later this year, but at SXSW, they were happy to talk about other roles that might suit them. Having both been typecast throughout early parts of their careers, Spencer and Hawkes sat down with The A.V. Club to play a round of un-typecasting, in which we gave them a series of film roles, and they got to decide which person should play what. They had some great ideas for expanding the parts—though, as Hawkes wryly notes, they’re both actors, so they want to do all the roles themselves, first.

Bloody Disgusting learned that Saban Films and Directv have acquired the North American rights to Small Town Crime, financed and developed by Avva pictures, which was written and directed by Eshom and Ian Nelms (Waffle Street, Night of the Dog, Lost on Purpose). Small Town Crime follows ex-cop Mike Kendall (John Hawkes) who discovers the body of a young woman and, in […]...

Snatched director Jonathan Levine will direct.

Lionsgate has picked up worldwide rights to the comedy Flarsky starring Charlize Theron and Seth Rogen.

Jonathan Levine, whose credits include the upcoming Snatched starring Amy Schumer and Goldie Hawn, will direct the Point Grey Pictures, Denver And Delilah Films and Good Universe comedy from a screenplay by Dan Sterling.

Flarsky is set to begin production in August and centres on an unemployed journalist who pursues his childhood crush, now one of the most powerful and unattainable women on earth.

Lionsgate brokered the deal with Good Universe on behalf of producers.

Other distribution news:

Lionsgate has set CIA action-adventure American Assassin starring Michael Keaton for September 15. Dylan O’Brien, Taylor Kitsch, Sanaa Lathan and Shiva Negar also star, while Michael Cuesta directs and Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Nick Wechsler produce.Saban Films and Directv have taken North American rights from Preferred Content to Avva Pictures’ recent SXSW premiere Small Town Crime. Saban...

Following the world premiere at SXSW, Saban Films and Directv have acquired the North American rights to “Small Town Crime,” financed and developed by Avva pictures, which was written and directed by Eshom and Ian Nelms. The film stars John… Continue Reading →...

Saban Films and DirectTV have secured the North American distribution rights to Small Town Crime following the film’s world premiere at SXSW. The crime thriller, written and directed by Eshom and Ian Nelms, is slated for a theatrical and multi-platform release this year. John Hawkes, Anthony Anderson, Robert Forster and Octavia Spencer star in the film about ex-cop Mike Kendall (Hawkes), who discovers the body of a young woman and, in an act of self-redemption, becomes…...

In an alternate, less uptight version of our reality, 1980s TV detective series knew no censors. They were seedier in their homage to pulp novels, and more willing to show the deadly consequences of their action. In that universe, Ian and Eshom Nelms' Small Town Crime is the special, feature-length premiere of a series worth watching every Friday night. Starring John Hawkes as a booze-addicted former cop who stumbles across a mystery he can't stand to leave unsolved, the scuzzy-looking pic is a boon to the actor's fans even if it lacks qualities that might broaden its commercial appeal in...

Check out a clip from an indie thriller titled “Small Town Crime” – featuring Anthony Anderson and Octavia Spencer – which is making its world premiere at the SXSW Film Festival (March 10-19) in Austin, TX. Written and directed by… Continue Reading →...

"You shouldn't be fiddling around with some dead girl's phone," says Octavia Spencer to John Hawkes in The Hollywood Reporter's exclusive clip of Small Town Crime, premiering at SXSW.

Written and directed by brothers Eshom Nelms and Ian Nelms, the gritty thriller sees Hawkes as Mike, an alcoholic ex-cop who finds the body of a young woman. Through an act of self-redemption, he becomes hell-bent on finding the killer but unwittingly puts his family in danger and gets caught up with several dark characters along the way.

The clip shows the moment after Mike finds the dead girl's phone. He pays...

Terrence Malick (The Tree of Life) shot his latest effort, Song to Song, in the heart of Austin, Texas, and it’s also where the filmmaker lives. As such, it makes sense, then, that the notoriously media-shy auteur will bring his new film back to the City of the Violent Crown later this spring to have its world premiere at the 2017 South by Southwest Film Festival, where it’ll kick off the festivities.

In addition to hosting a film festival, SXSW is also notorious for their music, which means many of the film’s musical acts, including Iggy Pop, Patti Smith, Arcade Fire and St. Vincent, will get a chance to stop by and celebrate the world premiere. It’s a win-win scenario, one that will also bring some of the film’s biggest stars, including Ryan Gosling, Michael Fassbender, Rooney Mara, Cate Blanchett, Natalie Portman, Christian Bale and Haley Bennett,...

The Starz series American Gods, directed by David Slade and based on Neil Gaiman's novel of the same name, will have its world premiere at South by Southwest (SXSW) 2017. Also in today's Highlights: She Rises Us premiere details and three images from Duncan Jones' Mute.

American Gods to Make World Premiere at SXSW 2017: Press Release: "Austin, Texas, January 5, 2017 - South by Southwest® (SXSW®) Conference and Festivals (March 10-19, 2017) announced the World Premiere of celebrated director Terrence Malick’s Song To Song as its Opening Night Film to screen on Friday, March 10th, 2017.

SXSW also divulged select titles to premiere at the 2017 event, showcasing the diverse range of styles that together embody the unique spirit of SXSW culture. Festival highlights announced today include Eshom and Ian Nelms’ hybrid action thriller with dark humor, Small Town Crime, Jeff Malmberg and Chris Shellen’s lyrical portrait of a tiny hill town in Tuscany,...

Credit: Van Redin / Broad Green Pictures

South by Southwest (SXSW) Conference and Festivals (March 10-19, 2017) announced the World Premiere of celebrated director Terrence Malick’s Song To Song as its Opening Night Film to screen on Friday March 10th, 2017.

SXSW also divulged select titles to premiere at the 2017 event, showcasing the diverse range of styles that together embody the unique spirit of SXSW culture. Festival highlights announced today include Eshom and Ian Nelms’ hybrid action thriller with dark humor, Small Town Crime, Jeff Malmberg and Chris Shellen’s lyrical portrait of a tiny hill town in Tuscany, Spettacolo, second feature after their award-winning Marwencol; first time filmmaker Jennifer Reeder’s coming-of-age Muslim melodrama Signature Move starring Fawzia Mirza, and Latin American phenomenon René Pérez Joglar’s chronicle of his global exploration of his genetic roots in Residente.

“Terrence Malick is a world class revered cinematic poet. His work is a...

Terrence Malick's Song to SongThe titles for SXSW 2017 are being announced in anticipation of the event running March 10th - March 19th, 2017. We will update the program as new films are revealed.–American Gods (David Slade, Us): Adapted from Neil Gaiman’s award-winning novel, American Gods follows Shadow Moon (Ricky Whittle) and Mr. Wednesday (Ian McShane) in a magical world where a battle is brewing between the Old Gods and the New Gods.The Melody of Dust (Viacom Next, Us): A musical journey for the Htc Vive. Explore a mysterious world where every object contains a unique melody. Featuring original musical compositions by Hot Sugar, this experience brings you inside the tortured mind of a musician.Residente (René Pérez Joglar, Us): After taking a DNA test, Latin America’s most decorated artist – Rene Perez (Aka Residente), embarks on a global adventure, to trace the footsteps of...

The world premiere of the Us auteur’s latest film starring Rooney Mara, Natalie Portman, Ryan Gosling and Michael Fassbender will kick off events in Austin, Texas, on March 10.

SXSW top brass revealed on Thursday a selection of anticipated highlights including a documentary by Puerto Rican rap superstar Residente, Jeff Malmberg and Chris Shellen’s Marwencol follow-up, Spettacolo, and the world premiere of Neil Gaiman’s American Gods among Episodic selections.

“Terrence Malick is a world class revered cinematic poet. His work is a treasure trove of talented actors and vision. Set in the Austin music scene, Song to Song couldn’t be a more perfect Opening Night film for SXSW,” said SXSW director of film Janet Pierson.

“While these titles are just a taste of what SXSW 2017 will offer, they reflect the range of work we are known for, from newcomers and auteurs to pop entertainment in traditional cinema, episodics and now...