Exclusive: Skydance has taken on the challenge of turning the bestselling YA fantasy novel series Ranger’s Apprentice into a live action film, with the hope it can become a franchise. Skydance has gotten control of the John Flanagan book series, and has closed a big deal with Hidden Figures helmer Ted Melfi to adapt, direct, and produce the film. Kim Quinn will also be producer.
Skydance’s David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Don Granger will produce alongside Melfi and Quinn. Flanagan will be executive producer, and Matt Grimm will oversee for Skydance.
I’ve heard that Melfi has made a deal worth high 7-figures if the movie gets made. His task will be to take the first two volumes – The Ruins of Gorlan & The Burning Bridge – and get a franchise off the ground that focuses on an orphan named Will who becomes an apprentice to a group of mysterious protectors known as the Rangers.
Skydance’s David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Don Granger will produce alongside Melfi and Quinn. Flanagan will be executive producer, and Matt Grimm will oversee for Skydance.
I’ve heard that Melfi has made a deal worth high 7-figures if the movie gets made. His task will be to take the first two volumes – The Ruins of Gorlan & The Burning Bridge – and get a franchise off the ground that focuses on an orphan named Will who becomes an apprentice to a group of mysterious protectors known as the Rangers.
- 1/5/2024
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Lion Forge Entertainment and Penguin Young Readers have struck a new TV and film development pact to produce adaptations of several children’s books.
The deal will allow the entertainment company to develop and adapt a slate of titles from the division of Penguin Random House — and one of the industry’s leading children’s book publishers — into animated and/or live action properties. Titles currently selected for development span readership ages three to 12 and come from Penguin Workshop, Grosset & Dunlap and Viking.
“The creative team at Penguin Young Readers are as passionate about storytelling and world-building as we are at Lion Forge,” said Lion Forge Entertainment president and chief content officer Stephanie Sperber. “Their publishing list aligns perfectly with the content we bring to market, and we are eager to develop these books for kids and family audiences globally.”
That list initially includes Brian McCann’s Wannabe Farms, Tyler Knott Gregson...
The deal will allow the entertainment company to develop and adapt a slate of titles from the division of Penguin Random House — and one of the industry’s leading children’s book publishers — into animated and/or live action properties. Titles currently selected for development span readership ages three to 12 and come from Penguin Workshop, Grosset & Dunlap and Viking.
“The creative team at Penguin Young Readers are as passionate about storytelling and world-building as we are at Lion Forge,” said Lion Forge Entertainment president and chief content officer Stephanie Sperber. “Their publishing list aligns perfectly with the content we bring to market, and we are eager to develop these books for kids and family audiences globally.”
That list initially includes Brian McCann’s Wannabe Farms, Tyler Knott Gregson...
- 9/14/2023
- by Abbey White
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
A+E Networks has rejigged its structure in Asia, with its regional chief leaving as a result.
The new structure will see Youngsun Soh promoted to Senior Vice President and Managing Director of A+E Korea and John Flanagan to Senior Vice President and Managing Director of A+E Japan & Southeast Asia.
A+E Asia Managing Director Saugato “Shoggy” Banerjee will leave the business on September 30 following the restructure.
“We are extremely grateful for Shoggy’s entrepreneurial efforts over the years, which helped create so many achievements in our linear businesses in Southeast Asia,” said Steve MacDonald, President, Global Licensing & International. “He was integral to the launch of our multi-faceted media business in Korea and the re-invention of our business in Japan. His many accomplishments at A+E leave us in great stead to pursue our vision to expand A+E Networks’ footprint even further throughout the region.”
Seoul-based Soh is...
The new structure will see Youngsun Soh promoted to Senior Vice President and Managing Director of A+E Korea and John Flanagan to Senior Vice President and Managing Director of A+E Japan & Southeast Asia.
A+E Asia Managing Director Saugato “Shoggy” Banerjee will leave the business on September 30 following the restructure.
“We are extremely grateful for Shoggy’s entrepreneurial efforts over the years, which helped create so many achievements in our linear businesses in Southeast Asia,” said Steve MacDonald, President, Global Licensing & International. “He was integral to the launch of our multi-faceted media business in Korea and the re-invention of our business in Japan. His many accomplishments at A+E leave us in great stead to pursue our vision to expand A+E Networks’ footprint even further throughout the region.”
Seoul-based Soh is...
- 7/17/2023
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
A+E Networks has promoted Youngsun Soh to senior VP and MD of A+E Korea, and John Flanagan to senior VP and MD of A+E Japan & Southeast Asia.
Saugato “Shoggy” Banerjee, who currently serves as MD of A+E Asia, is leaving the company from Sept. 30.
The moves, intended to bolster operations in Asia, were announced Monday by Patrick Vien, group MD, A+E International and Steve MacDonald, president, global licensing & international.
Based in Seoul, and reporting to Vien, Soh will continue to lead the growth of A+E’s business in Korea. She has led the unit since joining the company in 2017 as Gm and oversaw the launch of History and Lifetime linear channels.
A+E Korea has since expanded as a producer of unscripted and scripted content in Korea across formats and media. Titles have included scripted shows Backstreet Rookie, Dramaworld, and Woori the Virgin, and digital hit,...
Saugato “Shoggy” Banerjee, who currently serves as MD of A+E Asia, is leaving the company from Sept. 30.
The moves, intended to bolster operations in Asia, were announced Monday by Patrick Vien, group MD, A+E International and Steve MacDonald, president, global licensing & international.
Based in Seoul, and reporting to Vien, Soh will continue to lead the growth of A+E’s business in Korea. She has led the unit since joining the company in 2017 as Gm and oversaw the launch of History and Lifetime linear channels.
A+E Korea has since expanded as a producer of unscripted and scripted content in Korea across formats and media. Titles have included scripted shows Backstreet Rookie, Dramaworld, and Woori the Virgin, and digital hit,...
- 7/17/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
The Hollywood studios and other international producers that were hoping to take advantage of the Federal Government’s $140 million Location Incentive Program over the next few years may well be disappointed.
The fund runs until June 30 2023 – but only $18 million remains to be allocated. The figure was revealed by Dr Stephen Arnott, First Assistant Secretary, Arts, at a Senate Estimates hearing in Canberra earlier this week.
Dr Arnott told Greens Senator Hanson-Young: “As of now, $122 million has been committed, so that leaves $18 million uncommitted.”
The Senator then asked: “Just to be clear, unless we put some more money in, we’ve got $18 million to spend until 2022-23?”
Dr Arnott: “Yes.”
Last week the Government announced it’s allocating $30 million from the program to Dick Cook Studios Australia’s planned fantasy features Ranger’s Apprentice and The Alchemyst.
American Bruce Hendricks will produce Ranger’s Apprentice, based on the series of novels by Australian John Flanagan,...
The fund runs until June 30 2023 – but only $18 million remains to be allocated. The figure was revealed by Dr Stephen Arnott, First Assistant Secretary, Arts, at a Senate Estimates hearing in Canberra earlier this week.
Dr Arnott told Greens Senator Hanson-Young: “As of now, $122 million has been committed, so that leaves $18 million uncommitted.”
The Senator then asked: “Just to be clear, unless we put some more money in, we’ve got $18 million to spend until 2022-23?”
Dr Arnott: “Yes.”
Last week the Government announced it’s allocating $30 million from the program to Dick Cook Studios Australia’s planned fantasy features Ranger’s Apprentice and The Alchemyst.
American Bruce Hendricks will produce Ranger’s Apprentice, based on the series of novels by Australian John Flanagan,...
- 10/24/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Artist sketch of Dockland Studios’ new sound stage.
In a dual boost for the Victorian screen industry, Dick Cook Studios (Dcs) will shoot two big budgeted movies at Docklands Studios as the facility unveiled plans to build a sixth sound stage costing $46 million.
The production company founded by the former chairman of Walt Disney Studios will set up its Australian base at the lot, headed by Melbourne-born Kate McLean.
A former vice president, office of the CEO to Bob Iger and senior director of the business development group at the Walt Disney Company, McLean will oversee creative content, production, business strategy and operational plans for Dcs Australia. She will start recruiting full-time staff early next year with the aim to build towards 25 personnel.
In Melbourne for the announcement with Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and Paul Fletcher, Federal Minister for the Communications, Cyber Safety and Arts, Cook said Dcs Australia is...
In a dual boost for the Victorian screen industry, Dick Cook Studios (Dcs) will shoot two big budgeted movies at Docklands Studios as the facility unveiled plans to build a sixth sound stage costing $46 million.
The production company founded by the former chairman of Walt Disney Studios will set up its Australian base at the lot, headed by Melbourne-born Kate McLean.
A former vice president, office of the CEO to Bob Iger and senior director of the business development group at the Walt Disney Company, McLean will oversee creative content, production, business strategy and operational plans for Dcs Australia. She will start recruiting full-time staff early next year with the aim to build towards 25 personnel.
In Melbourne for the announcement with Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and Paul Fletcher, Federal Minister for the Communications, Cyber Safety and Arts, Cook said Dcs Australia is...
- 10/20/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Ranger’s Apprentice, The Alchemyst based on books.
Dick Cook, the former chairman of Walt Disney Studios, has struck a deal to establish the Asia Pacific headquarters of Dick Cook Studios at Melbourne and announced two projects that authorities said would inject A$200m (Usd $137m) into the state of Victoria.
At the same time it emerged that Docklands Studios Melbourne is to build a new “super stage” at its facility that is expected to be ready by late 2021. Construction will not affect work at the other five sound stages and filming will continue into 2020 on Apple TV+ show Shantaram,...
Dick Cook, the former chairman of Walt Disney Studios, has struck a deal to establish the Asia Pacific headquarters of Dick Cook Studios at Melbourne and announced two projects that authorities said would inject A$200m (Usd $137m) into the state of Victoria.
At the same time it emerged that Docklands Studios Melbourne is to build a new “super stage” at its facility that is expected to be ready by late 2021. Construction will not affect work at the other five sound stages and filming will continue into 2020 on Apple TV+ show Shantaram,...
- 10/20/2019
- by 36¦Jeremy Kay¦54¦
- ScreenDaily
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