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Happy Gilmore director Dennis Dugan is returning in front of the camera for the Adam Sandler-led Netflix sequel, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

Dugan, who is an executive producer on Happy Gilmore 2, will reprise his role of pro golf tour commissioner Doug Thompson that he originated in the 1996 comedy. Kyle Newacheck is helming the new film that is currently in production and has not yet announced a release date.

Sandler is back as lead character Happy Gilmore, introduced in the original as an unsuccessful hockey player who becomes an unlikely golf sensation, due to his mammoth drives. Christopher McDonald, Julie Bowen and Ben Stiller are among the returning faces from the first movie, while new additions to the cast include Benny Safdie, Bad Bunny, Margaret Qualley and Scott Mescudi, along with cameos from Travis Kelce and golfer John Daly.

Returning to produce the sequel are Sandler, Tim Herlihy,...

Captain Liam Shaw, played by Todd Stashwick on the third season of "Star Trek: Picard," has rapidly become a favorite of Trekkies everywhere. Unlike the aloof-yet-diplomatic Captain Picard, the no-nonsense Captain Sisko, or the family-friendly authoritarian Captain Janeway, Shaw is brusque, unfriendly, and even a bit of a jerk, more willing to adhere to protocol than listen to his crew. He's the kind of boss you hope you never have to work under. He's also not necessarily an incompetent starship captain and will follow whatever course of action that keeps his crew safe. Naturally, Trekkies have been quick to suggest that Captain Shaw and his crew be given their own spin-off TV series. Whether or not "Star Trek: Titan" ever appears remains to be seen, but the current season of "Picard" has not yet concluded, so many viewers are holding their breath, hoping that Shaw and his crew survive to the end.

Exclusive: Maggie Grace, who currently stars in The Walking Dead spinoff Fear the Walking Dead, has signed with Gersh for representation.

Grace joined the series in its fourth season as journalist Althea Szewczyk-Przygocki. She’ll reprise her role when the seventh season premieres later this year on AMC. Grace is also known for her role in ABC’s hit supernatural drama Lost, created by Jeffrey Lieber, J. J. Abrams and Damon Lindelof. Other credits include Californication, The Following and Masters of Sex.

On the film side, she starred opposite Liam Neeson in the Taken film trilogy, appeared in Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 and Part 2, and was most recently seen in Dennis Dugan’s Love, Weddings & Other Disasters alongside Jeremy Irons and Diane Keaton.

Grace continues to be repped by Mosaic and attorney Karl Austen.

Exclusive: Here’s an independent romantic comedy we hear is coming together: Oscar winner Diane Keaton and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom star Taylour Paige are set to star in Mack and Rita which will be produced by Alex Saks. Katie Aselton Duplass is directing, we hear.

The comedy is billed as being in the spirit of Big. Mackenzie Martin is tired of doing all the things she has to do to keep up and get ahead in her 30’s. Since she was a little girl, raised by her Grammie Martin, her deepest wish has been to be just like her Grammie, comfortable in her own skin, great at saying “no” and largely unburdened by what other people think of her. Not to mention Mack has always loved a good chunky sweater and being in bed by 8 pm. While at her best friend’s bachelorette in Palm Springs, Mack stumbles...

With the Oscar winner’s romcom Love, Weddings & Other Disasters out next month in the UK, we run through her greatest roles

Some of the jokes in Sleeper are as dated as the special effects (and they looked creaky enough nearly 50 years ago). But Keaton is ethereally lovely as Luna, a socialite from the future. As always, there is an intelligence to her performance that lifts her above the weaker material, such as Woody Allen’s character floating around a field in a hydrovac suit.

Even as Covid-19 reduces travel, the public is in a holiday mood. Along with anecdotal reports of near-record Christmas tree sales and an increase of home-lighting displays, we say 11 Christmas-related films flourish this week on VOD and streaming charts. This includes some overlap between home viewing and theaters, as well as some oddball trends that suggest the platforms increasingly bleed into one another.

Our four charts each have a different film at #1; another two titles made all four charts. Apple TV has “The Grinch” on top even after weeks of Netflix play. GooglePlay still ranks “The New Mutants” as #1. Premium VOD entry “Let Him Go” leads at Spectrum, which counts by transactions; with a $19.99 price, that’s impressive. Revenue-based FandangoNow leads with “Honest Thief,” one of the top theatrical releases this fall. It has a mid-level PVOD price of $14.99, but as a new release this week it outpaced three more-expensive films.

Stars of the movie Love, Weddings & Other Disasters Maggie Grace and Andrew Bachelor, along with writer-director Dennis Dugan, revealed their favorite secrets from set in a new uInterview. The romantic comedy features several intertwining stories about love and relationships. “It’s a beautiful autumn in Boston with these interlocking love stories and my character sort of lands haphazardly […]

The post Video Exclusive: Maggie Grace & Andrew Bachelor Say ‘Love, Weddings & Other Disasters’ Characters Not ‘On Tinder, Bumble, Grindr For Dates’ appeared first on uInterview.

The centerpiece of “Love, Weddings & Other Disasters” is a sweetly engaging story about the improbable autumnal romance between an impossibly demanding celebrity caterer, played by a perfectly cast Jeremy Irons, and the age-appropriate, sight-impaired free spirit (a very winning Diane Keaton) who manages to locate a warm heart beneath his frosty demeanor. Unfortunately — indeed, tragically — this appealing narrative is paid only sporadic attention during the run of writer-director Dennis Dugan’s haphazard amalgamation of loosely interconnected storylines that, save for the scenes involving Keaton and Irons, run the gamut from blandly predictable to overbearingly unfunny.

To put it another way: If “Love, Actually” had actually been as bad as its most vociferous detractors have long insisted, it would have looked and sounded a lot like this misfire.

Most of the events are driven in various ways by the upcoming wedding of a Boston mayoral candidate (Dennis Staroselsky) who frets...

Chicago – Dennis Dugan, in directing Adam Sandler (“Happy Gilmore”), Chris Farley (“Beverly Hills Ninja”) and John Ritter (“Problem Child”), can rightly be considered a comedy director icon. He also for his latest film, “Love, Weddings & Other Disasters,” developed the story and wrote the screenplay for the first time.

An impending wedding is the backdrop for the film, as it weaves multiple storylines regarding the search for love by a colorful group of characters. They include an inexperienced wedding planner nicknamed “The Wedding Trasher” (Maggie Grace), a fussy celebrity caterer (Jeremy Irons) negotiating a “blind date” (Diane Keaton) and a Duck Boat tour guide (Andrew “King Bach” Bachelor) looking for his Cinderella. It all comes together, connecting the love encounters and the nuptials. The film also features Melinda Hill, Jesse McCartney and even director Dugan takes a role.

Andrew “King Bach” Bachelor in ‘Love, Weddings & Other Disasters, Directed by Dennis...

Chicago – When we last talked to Melinda Hill, it was for her stand-up comedy special “Inappropriate.” It also turns out that she acts in a new film, the ensemble comedy “Love, Weddings & Other Disasters,” directed by Dennis Dugan and featuring Diane Keaton, Jeremy Irons, and Maggie Grace, among others.

An impending wedding is the backdrop for the film, as it weaves multiple storylines regarding the search for love by a colorful group of characters. They include an inexperienced wedding planner nicknamed “The Wedding Trasher” (Maggie Grace), a fussy celebrity caterer (Jeremy Irons) going on a “blind date” (Diane Keaton) and a Russian exotic dancer (Melinda Hill) participating in a reality show that literally chains her to Jimmy (Andy Goldenberg). It all comes together, connecting the love encounters and the nuptials. The film also features Andrew Bachelor, Jesse McCartney and director Dennis Dugan talking on a role.

Melinda Hill During the Wedding Scenes of ‘Love,...

The title promises disaster, and the movie delivers: “Love, Weddings & Other Disasters” is a witless, charmless, barely-written, indifferently acted, hideously shot, and generally odious waste of 90 minutes.

In stringing together various overlapping love stories, all of them thoroughly irritating and utterly lacking in human insight, writer-director Dennis Dugan seems to be auditioning to take over the painfully inane ensemble pieces of late-period Garry Marshall. I once joked that Marshall’s “Valentine’s Day” made “Love Actually” look like “Nashville,” but “Love, Weddings & Other Disasters” makes “Valentine’s Day” look like “The Shop Around the Corner.”

Dugan has spent the last quarter-century as one of the main co-conspirators of the Happy Madison Death-of-Cinema Fun Factory, but his terrible Adam Sandler movies (including “I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry” and “Grown Ups 2”) at least offer the allure of big names collecting a paycheck in movies that might not be funny...

Chicago – Combine the hilarity of prime observational comedy with the zen of inner peace, and you have Melinda Hill’s downloadable stand up special “Inappropriate.” This sharp master of laughs delivers an hour of riffs on her life and loves, including her viral tweet on fellow comedian Louis Ck (#MeTooSoon).

Melinda Hill was born in Kansas and raised in Colorado Springs, and fortified her performance career with a theatre scholarship at Wichita State University. She moved to Los Angeles and performed at the famous Groundlings troupe of improv comedy. Her foray into stand-up (described in the Podtalk below) led her to the legendary Comedy Store in L.A., and from there has appeared on stages everywhere. As an actor, she had roles on “Lady Dynamite,” “Reno 911!,” “The Sarah Silverman Program” and as a voice actor in the animated “Adventure Time.” She is appearing in the upcoming film “Love, Weddings & Other Disasters,...

Saban Films has acquired rights to the U.S. and Canada on Jaume Balagueró’s “The Vault” (F.K.A. “Way Down”), starring Famke Janssen of “X-Men” franchise fame, Sam Riley, and Golden Globe nominee Freddie Highmore.

Also starring are Astrid Bergès-Frisbey (“King Arthur: Legend of the Sword”) and Liam Cunningham (“Game of Thrones”).

Produced by Álvaro Augustin, Ghislain Barrois, Highmore, Eneko Lizarraga and Francisco Sánchez, “The Vault” will be released by Saban Films in theaters, on demand and digitally on Jan. 22.

The U.S deal was negotiated by Saban Films’s Jonathan Saba with CAA Media Finance on behalf of the filmmakers and TF1 Studio, the cinema division of top French broadcast group TF1, which is handling international sales.

Saban Films’s acquisition comes as TF1 Studio closed further key territories on “The Vault,” with Eagle Pictures snagging Italy, and U.K. rights taken by Signature Entertainment.

India (Lionsgate India...

Radiant Films International handles sales outside US on Scythia Films drama.

Saban Films has acquired US rights to the anti-gmo drama Percy Vs Goliath starring Christopher Walken and Christina Ricci and Zach Braff.

Radiant Films International is handling international sales at the AFM on the story of a small-town Saskatchewan farmer who takes on a major conglomerate when the company’s genetically modified canola is discovered in the 70-year-old farmer’s crop.

Clark Johnson directed the drama from a screenplay by Garfield Lindsay Miller and Hilary Pryor.

Scythia Films’ Daniel Bekerman, Ian Dimerman, Brendon Sawatzky, Hilary Pryor, Garfield Lindsay Miller and Ethan Lazar produced,...

Saban Films has acquired the rights to two titles from Munich-based “Resident Evil” producer Constantin Film.

The deals include North American and U.K. rights to the adventure thriller “Tides,” directed by Tim Fehlbaum, and North American rights to director Mike P. Nelson’s anticipated horror reboot, “Wrong Turn.”

Mister Smith Entertainment is handling worldwide sales on both Constantin titles this week at the virtual American Film Market, where the titles will be screening for buyers.

“Tides” marks the second film from Swiss-born director Fehlbaum, who burst to attention with his debut feature “Hell,” another sci-fi thriller.

Set in a not-too-distant future, “Tides” follows an elite female astronaut from Space Colony Kepler who is shipwrecked on a decimated Earth after a global catastrophe has wiped out nearly all of humanity. She must make a decision that will seal the fate of the Earth’s populace.

“Tides” stars Nora Arnezeder (“Mozart In The Jungle...

Exclusive: Saban Films has acquired U.S., Canada, UK and Ireland rights to BenDavid Grabinski’s Happily, which was set to make its world premiere at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival before the pandemic shutdown.

The dark comedy stars Emmy nominee Joel McHale (Community), Kerry Bishé (Argo), and Emmy nominee Stephen Root (Barry).

The film follows Tom (McHale) and Janet (Bishé) who have been happily married for years. But a visit from a mysterious stranger (Root) leads to a dead body, a lot of questions, and a tense couples’ trip with friends who may not actually be friends at all.

The ensemble’s supporting cast includes Natalie Morales (Parks And Recreation), Paul Scheer (The League), Natalie Zea (Justified), Charlyne Yi (Knocked Up), Breckin Meyer (Designated Survivor), Shannon Woodward (Westworld), Jon Daly (Curb Your Enthusiasm), Kirby Howell-Baptiste (Barry), and Al Madrigal (I’m Dying Up Here).

Pic was financed by Chuckie Duff...

"If you're Cinderella, come meet your Prince Charming..." Saban Films has unveiled the official trailer for a lovable romantic comedy titled Love, Weddings & Other Disasters, the latest ensemble movie from actor / director Dennis Dugan since he last made Grown Ups 2 in 2013. With a couple's impending wedding as the backdrop, Love, Weddings & Other Disasters weaves multiple storylines as it follows the search for love by a colorful group of characters including: an inexperienced wedding planner nicknamed “The Wedding Trasher”; a fussy celebrity caterer; his blind date; and a tour-bus guide looking for his Cinderella. How their lives and loves intersect is half the fun in this film that proves romance is alive and well... and as crazy as ever! Of course it is. The movie stars Diane Keaton, Jeremy Irons, Maggie Grace, Jesse McCartney, Chandra West, Diego Boneta, & Andrew Bachelor. This should look better than it ...

How does romance survive in an increasingly chaotic world? The interconnected stories of “Love, Weddings & Other Disasters” examine the question with differing results. Led by a star-studded lineup, the Dennis Dugan project uses a roadmap laid out by previous titles like the ubiquitous Christmas classic “Love Actually.” In the process, it packs in as many possibilities as it can during a short ninety-minute runtime.

Continue reading ‘Love, Weddings & Other Disasters’ Trailer: Diane Keaton, Jeremy Irons & An Ensemble Cast Fumble Through Relationships at The Playlist.

Exclusive: Saban Films has acquired North American rights to conspiracy thriller Wander starring Aaron Eckhart (Midway), Katheryn Winnick (Vikings), Heather Graham (Desperados) and Oscar-winner winner Tommy Lee Jones (No Country For Old Men).

The completed film follows Arthur Bretnik (Eckhart), a mentally unstable private investigator who, after being hired to probe a suspicious death in the town of Wander, becomes convinced the case is linked to the same ‘conspiracy cover up’ that caused the death of his daughter.

April Mullen (Below Her Mouth) directed the feature from a script by Tim Doiron (88). Mullen and Doiron also produced with Vmi Worldwide’s Andre Relis, Verdi Productions’ Chad A. Verdi, Don Kee Productions’ Jason Allison, Aloe Entertainment’s Mary Aloe, Falconer Picture’s Douglas Falconer and James Van Der Woerd.

Bill Bromiley negotiated the deal for Saban Films with Steve Break along with Vmi Worldwide’s J.D. Beaufils.

Executive producers are Vmi Worldwide’s J.

Saban Films is closing a deal to acquire the North American distribution rights to “Pixie,” which stars Olivia Cooke, Alec Baldwin and Ben Hardy, the distributor announced Friday.

“Pixie” also stars Daryl McCormack and Colm Meaney. Barnaby Thompson directed and produced the comedic thriller based on a script by Preston Thompson. James Clayton also produced alongside Ingenious Media’s Peter Touche and Samantha Allwinton serving as executive producers.

The film follows Pixie (Cooke), who seeks to avenge her mother’s death by masterminding a heist. However, she soon finds herself on the run across the Irish countryside with two young men who are being chased by a psychotic hitman.

Jonathan Saba and Bill Bromiley negotiated the deal for Saban Films along with Endeavor Content on behalf of the filmmakers. Endeavor is also handling the film’s international sales.

Saban Films’ successes have included Hilary Swank’s “Homesman” as well as...

Defining a successful movie release has been a fraught task lately due to the coronavirus pandemic, as premium theatrical films shift to digital debuts and massive blockbusters get kicked down the calendar.

Thanks to a few transparent scoreboards like the iTunes store, however, the industry can see plainly when a hit is a hit. Last weekend, the Saban Films release “The Silencing” made a lot of noise as the top rental in the country, at the attractive price point of $6.99. The film has amassed roughly $5 million in PVOD sales, insiders familiar with the tally told Variety.

The Nikolaj Coster-Waldau thriller also opened on 79 screens, taking in $53,205 according to box office data, making it the top grossing new film release with the highest per-screen average in the U.S. The modestly-budgeted action film follows a string of other Cinderella stories surrounding low-cost genre fare with popcorn appeal and a bold name...

Saban Films is closing a deal for North American distribution rights to Love, Weddings & Other Disasters, a romantic comedy starring Oscar winners Diane Keaton and Jeremy Irons. Dennis Dugan wrote and directed the film, which is about the people who work on weddings to create the perfect day for a loving couple – while their own relationships are outlandish, odd, crazy, and far from perfect.

Maggie Grace, Jesse McCartney, Chandra West, Diego Boneta, Andrew Bachelor, and Veronica Ferres round out the cast.

Dugan produced the film along with Align’s Adrian Politowski and Martin Metz, and Fortitude International’s Nadine de Barros. Executive Producer is SquareOne Entertainment’s Al Munteanu.

Bill Bromiley and Jonathan Saba negotiated the deal for Saban along with The Gersh Agency and Endeavor Content on behalf of the filmmakers. Fortitude International is handling foreign rights.

In addition to Love, Weddings & Other Disasters, Saban’s upcoming...

Saban Films has bought North American distribution rights to Dennis Dugan’s “Love, Weddings & Other Disasters,” starring Diane Keaton and Jeremy Irons.

The romantic comedy also stars Maggie Grace, Jesse McCartney, Chandra West, Diego Boneta, Andrew Bachelor and Veronica Ferres. Dugan, who penned the script, also served as a producer along with Align’s Adrian Politowski and Martin Metz, and Fortitude International’s Nadine de Barros.

“Love, Weddings & Other Disasters” centers on wedding worker who work create the perfect day for a loving couple — while their own relationships are outlandish, odd, crazy and far from perfect.

“Love” is Dugan’s first independent feature. His directing credits include “Happy Gilmore,” “Just Go With It,” “Big Daddy’ and the two “Grown Ups” titles with combined worldwide box office revenues topping $2 billion.

“Dennis Dugan is one of the most successful comedy directors of our time and we have been huge fans of his work,...

Rocket Science to handle international sales.

Independent financier Align has joined AGC Studios, Aloe Entertainment, and Marquee Entertainment to provide financing and co-produce high-stakes comedy caper Queenpins as Vince Vaughn and Paul Walter Hauser join the cast.

Pre-production has been scheduled to start in Los Angeles in late summer on the project starring previously announced Kristen Bell and Leslie Jones. Rocket Science handles international sales.

Husband-and-wife team Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly will direct from their screenplay inspired by the true story of the largest counterfeit coupon caper in Us history.

Bell and Jones will play suburban housewives and best...

Exclusive: Sliding Doors director Peter Howitt has been set to direct Lock Down, a feature set during the Covid-19 pandemic and the national shutdown in the U.S.

Howitt is directing from an original screenplay that he wrote with Gary Preisler (Kill Chain) who will produce alongside Nadine de Barros of Fortitude International and Sophie Seifried.

Fortitude is financing and representing international sales rights. The firm will be shopping the project in the run up to, and during, the Cannes virtual market next month. This will be one of multiple pandemic-themed projects at the market.

Producers are currently casting and eyeing a September 2020 start date in Los Angeles.

The story begins on March 14th, 2020 – the same day of the real California shutdown – in Santa Monica, California. It follows seven characters over 60 days whose lives intersect as they navigate the new normal that has suddenly been thrust upon the entire world.

Exclusive: Comedian Melinda Hill has joined the cast of Dennis Dugan’s Love, Weddings & Other Disasters starring Oscar winners Diane Keaton and Jeremy Irons in the role of Svetlana.

The female-driven romantic comedy, which also stars Maggie Grace, follows the people who work on weddings to create the perfect day for the loving couple. However, their own relationships are outlandish, odd, crazy and far, far from perfect. Pic is currently in production in Boston.

Hill created, wrote and starred in the award-winning digital series Romantic Encounters with Melinda Hill and, along with comedian Maria Bamford, co-created, wrote and starred in The Program. This year she directed, wrote and performed her first stand-up comedy special Inappropriate which addresses moving from trauma bonding to trauma mending in the wake of the #MeToo movement. Other credits include the JJ Abrams and Cameron Crowe series Roadies for Showtime and Comedy Central shows Reno...

Exclusive: Maggie Grace is going from killing zombies on Fear the Walking Dead to navigating the world of wedding planning. The Lost alum is has joined the cast of Dennis Dugan’s Love, Weddings & Other Disasters.

Grace will star opposite Diane Keaton and Jeremy Irons in the female-driven romantic comedy about the people who work on weddings to create the perfect day for the loving couple – while their own relationships are outlandish, odd, crazy and far, far from perfect.

Grace will play Jessie, an aspiring event planner who gets an unexpected opportunity to plan the high profile wedding of an influential gubernatorial candidate and his finance. Though Jessie’s methods are slapdash and unorthodox, she puts together a very warm and eclectic wedding, befriends Liz, impresses her professional idol Lawrence (Irons), and even finds a little romance for herself. Production is currently underway in Boston.

The movie features Todd Stashwick...