Lily Collins is in early discussions for the lead role in FilmDistrict’s remake of Sam Raimi’s The Evil Dead. Collins’ character Mia would be the main character that corresponds to Ash, who was played by Bruce Campbell in the original 1981 movie, according to the Bloody Disgusting blog. Mia is one of five young people who head to the remote cabin where evil awaits. Recovering from a recent overdose, Mia is particularly vulnerable. Collins plays Snow White in the upcoming Mirror Mirror directed by Tarsem Singh and previously was seen in The Blind Side and Priest. Raimi, Campbell and Rob Tapert are producing with Ghost House Pictures and Mandate Pictures. Fede Alvarez is directing and co-wrote the script with Rodo Sayagues. Diablo Cody (Juno, Young Adult) is revising the latest draft. The movie is targeted to open April 12, 2013.
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Lily Collins In Talks For ‘Evil Dead’ Remake
Jerry Garcia Back From The Grateful Dead
Renowned music documentary filmmaker Malcolm Leo and veteran personal manager John Hartmann have secured an agreement to produce a feature length documentary on music icon Jerry Garcia. After a lengthy pursuit of the rights, Leo will direct and also produce with Hartmann. The Leo/Hartmann Productions pic will be built around a 3-hour conversation that Leo conducted with Garcia in 1987. The historic interview was shot on negative film with studio quality sound and lighting. The footage presents a compelling portrait of the cult hero at the height of his success. Leo intends to blend an unprecedented amount of never-before-seen performances, documentary footage, and rare home movies.
The project has great bonafides: Leo’s previous work includes films on Elvis Presley, Crosby Stills & Nash, and The Beach Boys. Hartmann, the brother of the late comedian Phil Hartmann, was formerly personal manager of Peter Paul & Mary, Crosby Stills & Nash, The Eagles, America, Poco, and others. The pair want a completed docu will be ready for release in the spring of 2012 and currently are finalizing financing and distribution with the help of Jeff Silberman of Century City law firm King Holmes Paterno & Berliner.
Leo/Hartmann provided a short film clip to the San Francisco Giants for Jerry Garcia Day last summer seen by 42,000 fans. The entire celebration was captured on film by co-producer Justin Kreutzmann and will be included in the Leo/Hartmann movie. The producers were given full access to film Annabelle Garcia, Jerry’s eldest daughter, throwing out the … Read More
ABC Family’s ‘Pretty Little Liars’ Down In Return, ‘The Lying Game’ Posts Series Highs
ABC Family’s drama Pretty Little Liars opened the winter portion of its second season on Monday with 3.3 million viewers. That was down from the 4.2 million who tuned in for the launch of Season 1B last January and the 3.7 million who watched the Season 2 debut in the summer. On the bright side, the audience was larger than that for the series’ summer finale, which averaged 2.5 million viewers. Pretty Little Liars boosted The Lying Game, which drew a series high audience of 1.8 million for the premiere of the winter portion of its first season. That was up 29% from The Lying Game‘s series premiere in August, but the freshman had a softer lead-in then, The Secret Life Of The American Teenager (2.4 million) vs. Pretty Little Liars this time. The Lying Game also posted highs in all key female demos.
ABC’s Shawn Ryan Drama On Verge Of Pilot Order, Martin Campbell Set To Direct
Last Resort, the large-scope drama from The Shield creator Shawn Ryan and feature writer Karl Gajdusek, is staffing up while waiting a formal pilot green light from ABC. The Sony TV-produced project, which already has a hefty pilot production commitment, has tapped Casino Royale helmer Martin Campbell to direct the pilot and has also hired a line producer and a casting director. Last Resort is a thriller set in the near future when the country is very fractured and revolves around the crew of a U.S. nuclear submarine who become hunted after ignoring an order to shoot nuclear missiles. They escape to a NATO listening outpost where they publicly declare themselves to be the world’
TiVO Is Pay TV’s “Trusted Partner” CEO Says: Citigroup Confab
It’s hard to begrudge TiVo CEO Tom Rogers for sounding cocky on a day when his company’s stock shot up 10.1%. That was the result of last night’s announcement that AT&T agreed to pay $215M to resolve the DVR pioneer’s patent infringement law suit. The victory, following a similar one last year with Dish Network, means “we won’t hesitate to be as aggressive as we need to be” with other challenges including one against Verizon, Rogers told bankers and analysts at Citigroup’s Global Entertainment, Media and Telecommunications Conference. The news helped to support his larger theme that TiVo has finally turned the corner after years of declining subscriptions and financial losses. “We are getting much, much closer to our goal of EBITDA (cash flow) profitability,” Rogers says. TiVo subscriptions will rise as the company establishes itself as an ally for cable and satellite providers who feel threatened by Google and Apple’s efforts to break into the TV business. Earlier Wednesday Charter CEO Mike Lovett told the Citigroup audience that his company’s plan to offer TiVo DVRs is “a game changer” and “a way to take it to the competition and win back (market) share.” DirecTV is preparing to widely offer a TiVo service to its customers, and Comcast isn’t far behind. ”Google has been a source of fear in the cable marketplace,” Rogers said — especially after the Internet giant agreed to buy Motorola Mobility, the leading supplier … Read More
Goldman Sachs To Sell Alliance Films Stake
Goldman Sachs is seeking to offload its two-thirds stake in movie financing and distribution company Alliance Films, the Financial Times reported today. Canadian-based Alliance has a sizable library and is the north-of-the-border distributor for Lionsgate, CBS Films, Weinstein Company, Focus Features and Relativity Media. The remaining third of Alliance is owned by an arm of the provincial government, Investissement Quebec. Alliance financed last year’
ION Renews ‘Flashpoint’ For Fifth Season
EXCLUSIVE: I hear that ION Television has renewed Canadian-produced cop drama Flashpoint for a fifth season. The broadcast network is picking up all 13 episodes of the series’ fifth season, set to begin production in February 2012. Flashpoint, Canada’
OSCARS: Epic Battle In Banner Year For Lead Actresses
OSCARS: Best Actor Race Pits Veterans Vs. ‘
‘Lovelace’ Adds Adam Brody, Demi Moore
Eric Roberts, Adam Brody and Demi Moore have joined the cast of Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman’s Lovelace. Brody will play Deep Throat co-star Harry Reems, Roberts is coming aboard as lie detector expert Nat Laurendi and Moore will do a turn as play feminist author-activist Gloria Steinem. Amanda Seyfried and Peter Sarsgaard head the continually expanding cast as former porn star Linda Lovelace her husband Chuck Traynor.
NBC Futuristic Pilot Casts First 2 Regulars
EXCLUSIVE: James Murray (Chaos) and Patrick Heusinger (Royal Pains) are set to co-star in the NBC drama pilot Beautiful People. The project, written by Michael McDonald, is set in the near future in a society where humans co-exist with mechanical androids that look like people but are treated like second-class citizens. It centers on the very wealthy Lydia whose late husband founded the firm that makes Mechanicals. Murray will play her son, a handsome and very successful attorney who’s lived a rich and privileged life but makes a name for himself by publicly suggesting that Mechanicals might have civil rights — a notion that’s largely scoffed at. Heusinger will play a family man employed as a servant in Lydia’s home who is in fact a Mechanical, but after one of his daughters is killed in a car accident, he proves to be “defective” as he’s plagued with forbidden emotions like grief and loss. The pilot, co-produced by ABC Studios and Universal TV, will be directed by Stephen Hopkins.
OSCARS: Best Actor Race Pits Veterans Vs. “Sexiest Men Alive”
Call it the battle of the superstars.
Rarely has the Best Actor Oscar race contained so many likely big movie stars. From Clooney and Pitt to
DiCaprio and Gosling, the possibilities of a red-carpet smackdown among People Magazine’s Sexiest Men Alive has tabloid media salivating and Academy Award show producers hoping for a hearttrob lineup that could conceivably boost ratings. Of course, now only the voters in the actors branch have to do is vote for the current golden boys of cinema. In addition to the best-known contenders, you also have the distinct possibility of a French superstar, a Mexican superstar and an Irish stud who stars in a controversial NC-17 sex drama. Here’s a look at the most likely contenders.
FRONTRUNNERS
GEORGE CLOONEY, THE DESCENDANTS
Already an Oscar winner for Best Supporting Actor for 2005′s Syriana, Clooney is a frontrunner to make the leap to the leading category, where he twice competed and lost in the past (for Michael Clayton and Up In The Air). In a complex role that allows him to go against type and walk a thin line between comedy and drama, Clooney shows he can do it all. With another 2011 high-profile film on his resume in The Ides Of March — in which he co-wrote, co-produced, directed and played a key supporting role — it’s been a great year for George, … Read More
‘Tree Of Life’ Tops Online Film Critics List
Terrence Malick’s The Tree Of Life scored five wins at the 15th annual Online Film Critics Society Awards, which were announced today. Cannes’ Palme d’Or champion took the top prize of best picture as well as wins for director, supporting actress (Jessica Chastain), editing and cinematography; no other film won more than one award. Michael Fassbender took best actor for Shame and Tilda Swinton was best actress for We Need To Talk About Kevin. Best supporting actor went to Christopher Plummer for Beginners. Here’s the full list of winners:
Best Picture
The Tree of Life
Best Animated Feature
Rango
Best Director
Terrence Malick, The Tree Of Life
Best Lead Actor
Michael Fassbender, Shame
Best Lead Actress
Tilda Swinton, We Need To Talk About Kevin
Best Supporting Actor
Christopher Plummer, Beginners
Best Supporting Actress
Jessica Chastain, The Tree Of Life
Best Original Screenplay
Midnight In Paris
Best Adapted Screenplay
Tinker Tailor Solider Spy
Best Editing
The Tree Of Life
Best Cinematography
The Tree Of Life
Best Film Not in the English Language
A Separation
Best Documentary
Cave of Forgotten Dreams
Special Awards (previously announced)
To Jessica Chastain, the breakout performer of the year
To Martin Scorsese, in honor of his work and dedication to the pursuit of film preservation
RATINGS RAT RACE: Series High Overnight Rating For NBC’s ‘Sunday Night Football’
Last night’s Cowboys-Giants game on NBC posted a 17.1, the highest overnight rating in the six-year history of Sunday Night Football. That was also the best overnight for any Sunday or Monday primetime NFL game in 13 years (since Broncos-Dolphins, which drew a 17.4 on December 21, 1998 on ABC), edging the previous SNF overnight record holder, this season’s Week 1 Cowboys-Jets game, by 1%. Versus last season’s Week 17 “win-and-in” game, the Cowboys-Giants face-off was up 36%. Still, last night’s game trailed the two Thursday night NFL openers of the last two seasons: the 2010 one (17.7) and the 2011 one (17.2). NBC dominated Sunday primetime riddled with repeats on the other nets.
Paramount Topples Warner Bros For #1 In 2011 Market Share With Record $5.17B Worldwide
Major Hollywood Studios Market Share: 2011
TOLDJA! As I reported first back on December 18th, with the holiday 
round of movie openings, it became clear who was on top and who was not as far as North American market share for the year 2011. Now the global figures are in as well. Officially the period ends today, and the major Hollywood studios already know who has bragging rights. Paramount Pictures ended 2011 in the No. 1 position among all studios, earning a record $5.17 billion worldwide. The studio released a total of 16 new movies domestically last year and placed first in the North American market share with $1.96 billion, while also amassing record grosses at the international box office with $3.21 billion. That puts the studio about $100 million ahead of Warner Bros which usually takes the coveted title. And WB released about half a dozen more movies than Paramount did in 2011. Granted, Paramount mostly distributed rather than owned most of the film fare that put it in first place. But No. 1 is still No. 1. Warner Bros loses the domestic market share title for the first time in three straight years. On the other hand Warner Bros has ranked either one or two domestically for eight of the last 11 years. Here’s the Paramount announcement:
HOLLYWOOD, CA (January 2, 2012) ‘
FIRST BOX OFFICE: #1 ‘Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol’ Passes $300M Global
FRIDAY PM: I’m back with the end-of-holiday box office for end-of-year 2011. The Christmas and New Years topper is still Paramount’s Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol which passed $100M domestic on Thursday and $200M internationally Friday — which makes for $300+M global so far. Lots of analysis coming because sources tell me this final weekend will definitely be up over last year. North American Top 10:
1. Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (Paramount) Week 3 [3,455 Runs]
Friday $10.7M (+8% from last Fri), Est 3-Day Weekend $28.2M
Est 4-Day Holiday $40M, Est Cume $141M
2. Sherlock Holmes: Game Of Shadows (Warner Bros) Week 3 [3.703 Runs]
Friday $7.4M (+10%), Est 3-Day Weekend $20.8M
Est 4-Day Holiday $27M, Est Cume $137M
3. Alvin & The Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (Fox) Week 3 [3,724 Runs]
Friday $7M (+29%), Est 3-Day Weekend $18M
Est 4-Day Holiday $23M, Est Cume $99.3M
4. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (Sony) Week 2 [2,914 Runs]
Friday $5.3M (+15%), Est 3-Day Weekend $13.9M
Est 4-Day Holiday $20M, Est Cume $60.8M
5. We Bought A Zoo (Fox) Week 2 [3,163 Runs]
Friday $4.7M (+56%), Est 3-Day Weekend $13M
Est 4-Day Holiday $17M, Est Cume $44.5M
6. War Horse (DreamWorks/Disney) Week 2 [2,547 Runs]
Friday $4.6M, Est 3-Day Weekend $13.1M
Est 4-Day Holiday $17.6M, Est Cume $42.8M
7. The Adventures Of Tintin (Paramount) Week 2 [3,087 Runs]
Friday $4.4M, Est 3-Day Weekend $11.4M
Est 4-Day Holiday $15.5M, Est Cume $50M
8. New Year’s Eve (Warner Bros) Week 4 [2,585 Runs]
Friday $2.3M, Est 3-Day Weekend $6.5M
Est 4-Day Holiday $8M, Cume $47.7M
9. The Darkest Hour (Summit) Week 2 [2,327 Runs]
Friday $1.6M, Est 3-Day Weekend $3.5M
Est 4-Day Holiday $5.2M, Est Cume $14.2M
10. The Muppets … Read More
MSG Network Vs Time Warner Cable Vs Fans
Another year’s end and another carriage feud — this one focusing on sports. With less than 36 hours to go, Madison Square Garden Network and Time Warner Cable have yet to reach an agreement on carriage of the regional sports channel in the greater New York City area. MSG’
2011 Big Media: Recalling Moguls’ Lost Year
YEARENDER: We’
2011 Earnings: Media Stocks Beat The Dow
YEARENDER: Wall Street throughout 2011 became starry eyed when they talked about tech stocks. But they still had a soft spot in their hearts for traditional media companies all year long. Five of the seven companies in the Big Media group beat the Dow Jones Industrial Average’s 5.5% increase (through December 30th) — four of them by a lot. And they weren’t outliers: The Standard & Poor’s broadcasting index was +15.2% while the S&P movies and entertainment index was +10.2%. Many of the stocks were bolstered by the industry-wide improvement in ad sales. In addition, there was a general sense of relief — perhaps a pipe dream — that digital companies don’t yet pose a clear and present danger to the way traditional movie and TV companies do business. We’ll see how long that lasts.
Here’s how each of the Big Media companies fared in 2011, in order of how well the stock performed. Next to the company name is the percentage increase or decrease in the stock price this year as well as the price-earnings ratio (the stock price divided by the expected earnings per share) which is a rough measure to compare how cheap or expensive the stock is compared to its industry peers.
CBS (Stock: +41.3%, PE: 15.4) Once it became clear that U.S. advertising would continue to recover, … Read More
Watch Deadline Hollywood ‘The Contenders’ – 12 Studios, 29 Films, 10 Moguls, 1 Event
Deadline Hollywood’s ‘THE CONTENDERS event was held in Los Angeles at The Landmark theatre on Saturday and Sunday, December 10th and 11th. Click here to watch the Moguls Panels in full and excerpts from the Studio Presentations.
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New ‘Ghost Hunters’ Lawsuit Filed Against NBCUniversal
There is a new chapter in the five-year legal battle between two producers and NBCUniversal over the hit Syfy franchise Ghost Hunters, which went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. The producers, parapsychologist Larry Montz and publicist Daena Smoller, have filed a new breach of implied contract lawsuit against NBCUniversal claiming that Ghost Hunters is based on a concept they originally pitched to the company between 1996 and 2003. Along with NBCU and its cable networks division that includes Syfy, the complaint also names Ghost Hunters executive producer Craig Piligian and star/producer Jason Hawes. (Copy of the lawsuit can be found here.)
The new lawsuit, filed yesterday in Los Angeles Superior Court, comes less than 2 months after the U.S. Supreme Court denied an appeal by NBUniversal to review a lower court ruling that reinstated a complaint by Montz and Smoller alleging that Syfy stole the idea for Ghost Hunters. Montz and Smoller first filed a lawsuit against NBC Universal in 2006. They lost in district court on the issue of copyright, but the case was reinstated after appeal on grounds of implied breach of contract. NBCUniversal, with the backing of the MPAA, argued to the Supreme Court that federal copyright law trumped state contract law. The high court declined to review the appeals court ruling, which allows the suit by Montz against NBCUniversal, Piligian’s Pilgrim Films & Television … Read More