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Exclusive: Jasper Polish (Animal Kingdom), Audie Rick (1883), Zak Steiner (The Ghost Trap) and Alice Barrett (Billions) are leading the indie drama Cup of Jo: The Patron Saint of Desperate Cases, which wrapped principal photography in Northern California.

Written and directed by Nick Martinez, the film centers on Jo (Polish), a single mother who begs, borrows, and steals to provide her son, Nick (Rick), with a better life than she had, with little help from her ex-husband Matt (Steiner) or her mother Ruth (Barrett).

The film’s producers are Kali Ruth, Barnaby Dallas, Jessica Olthof (Surrender), and Darren Haruo Rae (Nisei). Larry Schapiro (One Fast Move) executive produces the Roann Films project.

Polish is known for her recurring role of ‘Julia’ on TNT’s Animal Kingdom, and the series Bring on the Dancing Horses opposite Kate Bosworth. Her feature work includes American Traitor: The Trial of Axis Sally, opposite Al Pacino,...

Bill Bryson bestseller A Short History of Nearly Everything is being reimagined as an animated TV series by former The Simpsons showrunner Josh Weinstein and Paddington scribe Jason Hazeley, with Richard Ayoade narrating.

Altitude and Brouhaha Entertainment are forging the series version of a book that has sold 15 million copies worldwide and been translated into 50 languages, with a view to turning it into a long-running entertainment franchise.

Published two decades ago, the book sees celebrated writer Bryson take on popular science by tackling issues such as the size of the universe and the development of the human race, and setting them out in layman’s terms. A large part of the book is devoted to relating humorous stories about the scientists behind the research and their sometimes eccentric behaviours. Narrated by Ayoade, the animation will tell these stories spanning centuries and continents, time and space, and the abstract and the real,...

Matt Groening's and David X. Cohen's animated sci-fi comedy series "Futurama" debuted on March 28, 1999. Only a few months earlier, on January 31, Seth McFarlane's animated sitcom "Family Guy" also premiered. They were both primetime animated sitcoms on the same network, and both were part of a wave of "Simpsons"-adjacent shows that tangled the airwaves for years. "Futurama" had the advantage over all the others, however, as it was co-developed by "Simpsons" creator Groening himself. 1999 also saw the release of the "Dilbert" animated series, "Home Movies" on the Upn, "Mission Hill" on the WB, and the stop-motion series "The PJs," as well as "SpongeBob SquarePants," "Batman Beyond," and "Ed, Edd n Eddy." It was a banner year.

As such, "Futurama" and "Family Guy" were often mentioned as a unit in conversations. Many fans of one watched the other, even though one was a sci-fi slapstick program and the other was a crass,...

Exclusive: While still in post with Compelling Pictures on the Warhol-Basquiat film The Collaboration, based on the play he directed in both its debut London run and its Broadway transfer, Kwame Kwei-Armah has closed a deal to direct Mission Hill, a Boston-set crime thriller that will mark a reteam with the producer-financier.

Based on an original screenplay by Michael McGrale (The Following), developed by Compelling, Mission Hill is based on a real-life homicide case that brought Boston to its knees in 1989. It follows an up-and-coming police officer and a seasoned detective racing against time to bring a suspect in before the city implodes over racial tensions.

Compelling Pictures will finance and produce the film which is aiming for a late 2023 start date, pending the ongoing WGA strike and potential other labor actions from SAG-AFTRA and the DGA.

Producing alongside Compelling is Peter Craig — who’s coming off his first Oscar nomination for his contributions to the screenplay of Top Gun: Maverick — as well as Jay Giannone. Exec producers are Kwei-Armah and McGrale, Steven Garcia for Compelling, Max Goldfarb for Redefine Entertainment, Marina Cappi for Marina Studios Productions, Ori Allon and Sal Monaco for White Lodge Productions, Tanner Beard, Lexie Beard, Janice Beard, Dennis Casali and Joshua Kushner. Two-time Emmy nominee Kim Coleman (Lovecraft Country) is handling the film’s casting.

“I’m overjoyed to be working with Compelling Pictures again on this amazing project,” said Kwei-Armah. “I couldn’t put it down when I began to read it. Overjoyed.”

“Mission Hill is a passion project for Jeff, Peter, and myself. Having just had the great pleasure of working with Kwame, we couldn’t be more excited to help bring his vision to life,” stated Compelling Pictures principal Denis O’Sullivan. “It all began with Mike’s riveting script, which has been waiting patiently since 2021 for a great director to take the reins. We’re honored to tell this story of a city that has been seen in movies we love, but rarely from this perspective, and we can’t wait for a global audience to experience this epic, propulsive ride.”

Added producer Craig, “Mike Mcgrale’s script is among the best I’ve ever read – and I’m so happy to see it now in the hands of a talented director like Kwame.”

Kwei-Armah teamed with actors Paul Bettany and Jeremy Pope on both the stage and screen versions of the Anthony McCarten-penned The Collaboration, which revolves around the relationship between the iconic artists Warhol and Basquiat, starting in the summer of 1984. Otherwise known for stage productions like The Visitor and One Love: The Bob Marley Musical, he also notably co-wrote and exec produced the veteran thriller Breaking starring John Boyega, which world premiered at Sundance and was released in theaters by Bleecker Street.

Headed by O’Sullivan (Bohemian Rhapsody) and and Jeff Kalligheri (I Wanna Dance with Somebody), Compelling Pictures most recently released the McCarten-scripted Whitney Houston biopic I Wanna Dance with Somebody, starring BAFTA winner Naomi Ackie, which Sony Pictures took worldwide this past Christmas. Helmed by Kasi Lemmons, the film currently streaming on Netflix landed the #1 spot on the U.S. film chart in its first two weeks on the platform.

Kwei-Armah is repped by CAA, United Agents in the UK, Redefine and attorney Linda Lichter; McGrale by APA, Heroes and Villains, and attorney Will Jacobson; Craig by CAA and Grandview; and Compelling by Evan Krauss of Eisner Llp.

Cult animated series Mission Hill could return for a reboot with creators Bill Oakley and Josh Weinstein twenty years after originally airing.

The pair, former exec producers on The Simpsons, are working on bringing the show back with a focus on supporting characters Gus Duncz and Wally Langford.

Oakley posted on a social media that the series is tentatively titled Gus & Wally and the pair are “taking it out to buyers soon”.

The show originally aired on The WB between September 1999 and July 2000 and on Adult Swim in the summer of 2002. It only ran for 13 episodes and was initially cancelled after two episodes due to poor ratings but became a cult classic after repeat airings. Warner Bros Animation is expected to be the studio on the reboot, although Deadline understands that the deal has not closed.

The show followed two brothers Andy French and Kevin French, who did not get...

David N. Weiss, a past WGA West VP and writer of Shrek 2 and The Smurfs and Rugrats movie and TV franchises, has been chosen to receive the WGA West’s 2019 Animation Writers Caucus Animation Writing Award. The honor will be bestowed tonight at the annual Awc awards ceremony and member meeting at the guild’s Los Angeles headquarters.

Weiss’ credits on the film side also include Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, The Rugrats Movie and Rugrats in Paris: The Movie and The Smurfs and Smurfs 2. To date, the box office cume for Weiss’ combined work exceeds $2.3 billion worldwide.

Working with his writing partner J. David Stem, Weiss served as head writer on Nickelodeon’s Rugrats TV series. The duo’s other credits include Cybill, Mission Hill and The Downtowners, along with the features Daddy Day Care, Are We There Yet? and Clockstoppers.

They are writing a remake of Jimmy Stewart...

In today’s film news roundup, David N. Weiss is honored, Rin Tin Tin is getting a modern movie and “The Shasta Triangle” finds a home.

Weiss Honored

David N. Weiss will receive the animation writing award from the Animation Writers Caucus of the Writers Guild of America West.

The award will be presented by Weiss’ writing partner J. David Stem on Thursday at WGA West’s headquarters at the caucus’ annual meeting.

Weiss has credits on “Shrek 2,” “Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius,” the first two “Rugrats” movies, “Smurfs” and “Smurfs 2.” Stem and Weiss served as head writers on the “Rugrats” TV series, “Cybill,” “Mission Hill,” “Are We There Yet?,” “Clockstoppers” and the upcoming remake of “Harvey” for Netflix.

Project Launch

Warner Bros. is developing a modernized version of the German Shepherd Rin Tin Tin, who appeared as a heroic dog in more than two dozen films for the studio in the 1920s.

I’m actually quite shocked it has taken me as long as it has to write an article regarding the possible future of the Star Wars franchise. Close friends of mine know how big of a Star Wars geek I am and have even heard some of my excuses for the recent prequels (granted, not everything in those films is excusable). At the same time, I’m still trying to gather my thoughts and restrain my excitement regarding Disney’s recent purchase of the franchise. Keep in mind, this business deal includes everything Lucasfilms Ltd. had the rights to which means the Indiana Jones property is now a Disney title as well; everyone fails to talk about. But the real announcement that has the internet – fans and haters alike – buzzing is that ‘Episode VII’ will officially be released sometime in 2015! Since the announcement late Tuesday afternoon, no details have been...

Work is hell, unless it’s providing voices for a fun animated feature, and it was just announced that comedic actors Rob Riggle, Brian Posehn, and Kumail Nanjiani have signed on to star in the stop-motion animated flick Hell and Back. The three funny men join current cast members T.J. Miller and Nick Swardson, both of whom have done animated work in the past — Miller for, among others, How To Train Your Dragon, and Swardson for Disney’s Bolt.

Written and directed by Tom Gianas and Ross Shuman, the story revolves around two guys who must rescue their friend after he’s dragged into hell. Though specific details on the plot are scant, Variety reports that Riggle will voice a 20-year-old who’s easing into adulthood, to the disappointment of his pals Augie and Remy.

The deal is the latest animated role for the former Daily Show correspondent, whose beautiful...

Filed under: TV Replay

Most of the fun of 'Storage Wars' (Wednesdays, 10Pm on A&E) is the detective work pf figuring out what a storage unit might be worth without being able to dig in and look around. Dave Hester is one of the best at that, and on Wednesday's episode, he saw something about a particular unit at Mission Hill Self Storage that he couldn't resist.

Hester saw a locker full of what looked like unopened boxes marked "Made In China," all with one company's imprint on them. "I know what it costs to ship merchandise from overseas," said Hester. "This would be four to five thousand bucks. So whatever is in here has to have value." Hester had to fight off Mark Balelo, a bidder who had been running up prices all day, to win the locker for $9,000.

 

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From the creators of the hit animated show Avatar: The Last Airbender

Nickelodeon announced this morning that it has given the green light to "The Legend of Korra," from "Avatar: The Last Airbender" series creators Michael Dimartino and Bryan Konietzko:

Nickelodeon, the number one producer of television animation in the world, has greenlit a new series from the creators of the hit animated TV show Avatar: The Last Airbender, it was announced today by Brown Johnson, President, Animation, Nickelodeon and Mtvn Kids and Family Group. The new series The Legend of Korra (working title), from creators Michael Dimartino and Bryan Konietzko, will premiere on Nickelodeon in 2011, continuing the evolution of the animated franchise and its mythology. The original series was the inspiration for the Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies live-action epic adventure, The Last Airbender, which has already grossed more than $115 million at the box office to date.

"Mike...

With public tributes having poured in since Tuesday's announcement that Senator Edward Kennedy had died, 15 months after he was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor, Saturday brought his burial at Arlington National Cemetery after a private funeral Mass at Boston's Our Lady of Perpetual Help Basilica in Boston's Mission Hill section. Former Presidents Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush attended the funeral, with Kennedy's friend, President Barack Obama. A spokesman for former President George H.W. Bush said that the 85-year-old was not able to attend the service had earlier extended his condolences over the phone to Kennedy's widow,...

A private mass was held for the late Senator Edward Kennedy today in his Cape Cod home, with family and relatives paying final respects to the Massachusetts democrat. "The Insider" has video of the senator's casket being loaded onto a hearse headed for Boston, draped in an American flag and handled by a uniformed honor guard of Armed Forces body bearers representing all branches of service. Kennedy's family, including Caroline Kennedy and California first lady Maria Shriver, stood by as the body of their beloved was secured, a nearby flag flying at half mast. They then got into a funeral motorcade headed to Boston, the first leg of the senator's journey to his final resting place at Washington's Arlington National Cemetery near his assassinated brothers, John F. Kennedy and Bobby Kennedy. The procession will head to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum in Boston, where the senator's closed casket...

Machinima.com, flush with cash after recently raising $3.85 million in capital, has announced the Machinima Comedy Lab, where the site is bringing on fifteen traditional TV writers, each to develop a comedy web series pilots. The series will be greenlit for up to four episodes each before they decide whether to further produce the series. Amongst the list veteran writers selected are Writers Guild of America West president Patric M. Verrone, Family Guy scribe Mike Rowe and a number of former staffers on The Simpsons. The full list: * Chris Cluess: Mad TV, The Simpsons, Cheers * Bill Freiberger: Drawn Together, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, The Simpsons * Eric Horsted: Boondocks, Knights of Prosperity, Futurama * Ken Keeler: Futurama, The Simpsons, Wings * Stacie Lipp: King of Queens, Roseanne, Married With Children * Christina Lynch: Wildfire, The Dead Zone, Unhappily Ever After * Peggy Nicoll: WordGirl, Daria * Bill Oakley: Mission Hill,...