Warner Bros.’ Barbie is an unabashed phenomenon, both as a movie and a pop culture movement. It is only days away from hitting the $1 billion dollar mark at the worldwide box office after crossing $900 million Thursday.
In any normal circumstances, the studio behind such a hit would be touting that a sequel is in development. Paramount Pictures, for example, announced a sequel to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem a week before it hit theaters.
However, Barbie is not like other movies. It was released in unusual circumstances, with the double whammy of a writers and an actors strike, complicating any announcement of a returning creative team or stars.
And in a rare circumstance for a movie based on a major piece of intellectual property, the talent that made the movie a success do not have deals in place for a sequel. That runs counter the thinking behind big franchise...
In any normal circumstances, the studio behind such a hit would be touting that a sequel is in development. Paramount Pictures, for example, announced a sequel to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem a week before it hit theaters.
However, Barbie is not like other movies. It was released in unusual circumstances, with the double whammy of a writers and an actors strike, complicating any announcement of a returning creative team or stars.
And in a rare circumstance for a movie based on a major piece of intellectual property, the talent that made the movie a success do not have deals in place for a sequel. That runs counter the thinking behind big franchise...
- 8/4/2023
- by Borys Kit
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Filmmakers tasked with building out DC Universe to match success of arch-rival Marvel Studios.
Warner Bros Discovery (Wbd) CEO David Zaslav has appointed Guardians Of The Galaxy franchise director James Gunn and veteran executive Peter Safran co-heads of DC Studios as he seeks to replicate the phenomenal cultural and commercial success of arch-rival Marvel Studios.
As co-chairmen and chief executive officers of DC Studios, which replaces DC Films, the pair will be responsible for a long-term strategy to exploit the DC Universe, which has had its hits but overall has produced a patchy record of adaptations.
Gunn and Safran officially...
Warner Bros Discovery (Wbd) CEO David Zaslav has appointed Guardians Of The Galaxy franchise director James Gunn and veteran executive Peter Safran co-heads of DC Studios as he seeks to replicate the phenomenal cultural and commercial success of arch-rival Marvel Studios.
As co-chairmen and chief executive officers of DC Studios, which replaces DC Films, the pair will be responsible for a long-term strategy to exploit the DC Universe, which has had its hits but overall has produced a patchy record of adaptations.
Gunn and Safran officially...
- 10/25/2022
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
In what has been heavily buzzed around town, Jesse Ehrman has been named President, Production and Development at Warner Bros Pictures.
The studio has also upped Cate Adams, Peter Dodd and Sheila Walcott to SVP Production, Warner Bros Pictures.
Related Story DC Films Boss Walter Hamada Has Departed Studio As Warner Bros Discovery Finalizes Exit: The Dish Related Story DC Films & 'Conjuring' Universe Producer Peter Safran Re-Ups Warner Bros Production Pact Related Story 'Joker: Folie à Deax' Adds 'Industry's Harry Lawtey
Additionally, studio veteran Kevin McCormick will continue in his role as EVP Production, working closely with Ehrman.
The announcements were made Thursday by Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy, Co-Chairs and CEOs, Warner Bros. Pictures Group.
As the new David Zaslav regime has taken over the studio in the newly minted merger of WarnerMedia and Discovery, the motion picture division saw a string of exits including Motion Picture Group chairman Toby Emmerich,...
The studio has also upped Cate Adams, Peter Dodd and Sheila Walcott to SVP Production, Warner Bros Pictures.
Related Story DC Films Boss Walter Hamada Has Departed Studio As Warner Bros Discovery Finalizes Exit: The Dish Related Story DC Films & 'Conjuring' Universe Producer Peter Safran Re-Ups Warner Bros Production Pact Related Story 'Joker: Folie à Deax' Adds 'Industry's Harry Lawtey
Additionally, studio veteran Kevin McCormick will continue in his role as EVP Production, working closely with Ehrman.
The announcements were made Thursday by Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy, Co-Chairs and CEOs, Warner Bros. Pictures Group.
As the new David Zaslav regime has taken over the studio in the newly minted merger of WarnerMedia and Discovery, the motion picture division saw a string of exits including Motion Picture Group chairman Toby Emmerich,...
- 10/20/2022
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
After 15 years at Warner Bros, and four as the President of DC Films, Walter Hamada has finally left the Burbank, CA lot as sources tell Deadline the exec waits for the senior Warner Discovery brass to finalize his exit payout. Hamada has run DC since 2018, and re-upped in January 2021 with a contract that was supposed to take him through 2023.
All of this occurs as New Line’s DC movie Black Adam — on which Hamada is an EP — is tracking to open to a projected 135M at the global box office this weekend despite some harsh reviews. The writing has been on the wall for Hamada’s DC exit for quite some time, and sources said he has packed up his office and hasn’t been part of recent creative meetings.
Hamada will be the fifth Warner Bros. motion picture studio executive to leave since David Zaslav took the reigns of...
All of this occurs as New Line’s DC movie Black Adam — on which Hamada is an EP — is tracking to open to a projected 135M at the global box office this weekend despite some harsh reviews. The writing has been on the wall for Hamada’s DC exit for quite some time, and sources said he has packed up his office and hasn’t been part of recent creative meetings.
Hamada will be the fifth Warner Bros. motion picture studio executive to leave since David Zaslav took the reigns of...
- 10/19/2022
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
The HBO hit show, His Dark Materials, is set to return later this year with an eight-episode run for season 3, which will conclude the series. The show will premiere on December 5 with the first two episodes back-to-back on HBO, then will be available to stream on HBO Max. The show will then, be premiering two episodes each week, culminating in the series finale, which will premiere on December 26.
HBO has released the latest trailer for the show as well as a new poster and images.
The official synopsis from HBO:
“Based on The Amber Spyglass, the final novel in Philip Pullman’s award-winning trilogy, in the final chapter of this epic fantasy series, Lyra (Dafne Keen), the prophesied child, and Will (Amir Wilson), the bearer of The Subtle Knife, must journey to a dark place from which no one has ever returned. As her father’s great war against the Authority edges closer,...
HBO has released the latest trailer for the show as well as a new poster and images.
The official synopsis from HBO:
“Based on The Amber Spyglass, the final novel in Philip Pullman’s award-winning trilogy, in the final chapter of this epic fantasy series, Lyra (Dafne Keen), the prophesied child, and Will (Amir Wilson), the bearer of The Subtle Knife, must journey to a dark place from which no one has ever returned. As her father’s great war against the Authority edges closer,...
- 10/10/2022
- by EJ Tangonan
- JoBlo.com
The end of His Dark Materials is almost here.
HBO announced Friday that the third and final season of the fantasy drama is set to premiere Monday, December 5, at 9 p.m.
Two episodes will be available on premiere night, and two episodes will air each week until the series finale on Monday, December 2.
The final season is based on The Amber Spyglass, the final novel in Philip Pullman’s award-winning trilogy.
"In the final chapter of this epic fantasy series, Lyra (Dafne Keen), the prophesied child, and Will (Amir Wilson), the bearer of The Subtle Knife, must journey to a dark place from which no one has ever returned," the logline reads.
"As her father’s great war against the Authority edges closer, they will learn that saving the worlds comes at a terrible price."
The series stars Dafne Keen as Lyra, Amir Wilson as Will, Ruth Wilson as Mrs.
HBO announced Friday that the third and final season of the fantasy drama is set to premiere Monday, December 5, at 9 p.m.
Two episodes will be available on premiere night, and two episodes will air each week until the series finale on Monday, December 2.
The final season is based on The Amber Spyglass, the final novel in Philip Pullman’s award-winning trilogy.
"In the final chapter of this epic fantasy series, Lyra (Dafne Keen), the prophesied child, and Will (Amir Wilson), the bearer of The Subtle Knife, must journey to a dark place from which no one has ever returned," the logline reads.
"As her father’s great war against the Authority edges closer, they will learn that saving the worlds comes at a terrible price."
The series stars Dafne Keen as Lyra, Amir Wilson as Will, Ruth Wilson as Mrs.
- 10/7/2022
- by Paul Dailly
- TVfanatic
Warners’ first original feature of the Warner Bros. Discovery era is here … and it’s a period mobster drama fronted by two Hollywood veterans.
Returning to the genre that made him a household name, Robert De Niro will star in Wise Guys, a feature intended for theatrical distribution that will be directed by Barry Levinson, the filmmaker known for 1980s classic Rain Man and movies such as Wag the Dog.
Nicholas Pileggi, who coincidentally authored Wiseguy, the 1985 book that was the basis for the 1990 De Niro-Martin Scorsese crime classic, Goodfellas, wrote the script. Irwin Winkler, best known for producing the Rocky movies as well as being a producer on Goodfellas, is a producer.
The project is centered on Vito Genovese and Frank Costello, two Italian-American crime bosses that ran their respective families in the middle of the 20th century. In 1957, Genovese...
Returning to the genre that made him a household name, Robert De Niro will star in Wise Guys, a feature intended for theatrical distribution that will be directed by Barry Levinson, the filmmaker known for 1980s classic Rain Man and movies such as Wag the Dog.
Nicholas Pileggi, who coincidentally authored Wiseguy, the 1985 book that was the basis for the 1990 De Niro-Martin Scorsese crime classic, Goodfellas, wrote the script. Irwin Winkler, best known for producing the Rocky movies as well as being a producer on Goodfellas, is a producer.
The project is centered on Vito Genovese and Frank Costello, two Italian-American crime bosses that ran their respective families in the middle of the 20th century. In 1957, Genovese...
- 8/16/2022
- by Borys Kit
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Click here to read the full article.
Months after its April 8 deal close, the 3 billion in synergies that the new leadership at Warner Bros. Discovery had pledged to find are beginning to come into focus. Senior U.S. leaders in the advertising division were informed that buyouts will be coming, but they haven’t been offered yet, a source confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter.
CEO David Zaslav and CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels have in the past repeatedly pointed to the successful integration of Scripps Networks Interactive — which Discovery acquired in 2018 — as a sign of their team’s readiness to bring together the two companies, take out management layers and cut cost. But they have also emphasized that content is not part of the cost savings game, with the goal being to spend more on content and to spend smarter.
The newly combined firm is “moving rapidly to capture synergies,” Cowen analyst...
Months after its April 8 deal close, the 3 billion in synergies that the new leadership at Warner Bros. Discovery had pledged to find are beginning to come into focus. Senior U.S. leaders in the advertising division were informed that buyouts will be coming, but they haven’t been offered yet, a source confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter.
CEO David Zaslav and CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels have in the past repeatedly pointed to the successful integration of Scripps Networks Interactive — which Discovery acquired in 2018 — as a sign of their team’s readiness to bring together the two companies, take out management layers and cut cost. But they have also emphasized that content is not part of the cost savings game, with the goal being to spend more on content and to spend smarter.
The newly combined firm is “moving rapidly to capture synergies,” Cowen analyst...
- 6/15/2022
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Following the departure of Toby Emmerich as Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group Boss, his fellow associate, Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group COO Carolyn Blackwood is leaving. This is all ahead of Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy coming in to run the motion picture group under Warner Discovery CEO David Zaslav.
“New Line and Warner Bros have been my home for the past 23 years and i will always my treasure my time there. I have great respect for David, Mike and Pam and wish the studio and all my beloved and talented colleagues all the luck in the world,” said Blackwood in a statement to Deadline.
Toby Emmerich On Stepping Down As Warner Bros Chairman After “Soul-Searching” Convo With David Zaslav
Warners is losing a prized executive with a two decades industry knowledge. She cut her teeth in business affairs and legal at Mdp Worldwide before her arrival at New Line.
“New Line and Warner Bros have been my home for the past 23 years and i will always my treasure my time there. I have great respect for David, Mike and Pam and wish the studio and all my beloved and talented colleagues all the luck in the world,” said Blackwood in a statement to Deadline.
Toby Emmerich On Stepping Down As Warner Bros Chairman After “Soul-Searching” Convo With David Zaslav
Warners is losing a prized executive with a two decades industry knowledge. She cut her teeth in business affairs and legal at Mdp Worldwide before her arrival at New Line.
- 6/8/2022
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
A week after Warner Bros. announced that studio chairman Toby Emmerich would step down from his position, one of his closest lieutenants, chief operating officer Carolyn Blackwood, is also making her exit.
Blackwood’s departure was an expected step in the ongoing leadership shift at the studio under Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav, who is installing his own leaders and organizational structure. Outgoing MGM chiefs Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy are taking over Emmerich’s position as studio heads, while new leadership is being considered for Warner Animation Group and DC Films as well.
Blackwood was promoted to COO in 2019, having worked closely with Emmerich since their days at New Line Cinema. Blackwood had been the president and chief content officer of New Line prior to her promotion and continued that role as COO alongside Richard Brener while overseeing physical production, business affairs, film acquisitions and live stage...
Blackwood’s departure was an expected step in the ongoing leadership shift at the studio under Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav, who is installing his own leaders and organizational structure. Outgoing MGM chiefs Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy are taking over Emmerich’s position as studio heads, while new leadership is being considered for Warner Animation Group and DC Films as well.
Blackwood was promoted to COO in 2019, having worked closely with Emmerich since their days at New Line Cinema. Blackwood had been the president and chief content officer of New Line prior to her promotion and continued that role as COO alongside Richard Brener while overseeing physical production, business affairs, film acquisitions and live stage...
- 6/8/2022
- by Jeremy Fuster
- The Wrap
Click here to read the full article.
Warner Bros. Motion Pictures Group COO Carolyn Blackwood is exiting her post.
Blackwood’s departure was widely expected after new owner Warner Bros. Discovery announced last week that movie studio chief Toby Emmerich, her boss and longtime confidante, would be stepping down.
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav wants a new start, and has tapped Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy to run Warners and New Line as soon as Amazon releases them from their contracts at MGM.
Emmerich, who has been leading Warners since 2017 after a long run at New Line, will segue to a producing deal with Warner Bros. Discovery.
Blackwood has been with Warners and worked with Emmerich for 23 years, starting at New Line. When Emmerich was promoted to head of production, she was working in legal and business affairs. Their professional partnership developed from there.
She rose to the...
Warner Bros. Motion Pictures Group COO Carolyn Blackwood is exiting her post.
Blackwood’s departure was widely expected after new owner Warner Bros. Discovery announced last week that movie studio chief Toby Emmerich, her boss and longtime confidante, would be stepping down.
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav wants a new start, and has tapped Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy to run Warners and New Line as soon as Amazon releases them from their contracts at MGM.
Emmerich, who has been leading Warners since 2017 after a long run at New Line, will segue to a producing deal with Warner Bros. Discovery.
Blackwood has been with Warners and worked with Emmerich for 23 years, starting at New Line. When Emmerich was promoted to head of production, she was working in legal and business affairs. Their professional partnership developed from there.
She rose to the...
- 6/8/2022
- by Borys Kit and Pamela McClintock
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Veteran Warner Bros. executive and film division chief operating officer Carolyn Blackwood is parting ways with the studio, sources told Variety.
Her resignation follows a week after word that her boss Toby Emmerich, chairman of the motion picture group, will transition to lot producer later this year. The regime changes come as Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav continues to shape a new world order for his movie business — one that has already tapped producers Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy to head up Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema. Streamlining will also come for the Warner Animation Group and DC Films, Zaslav promised in a staff memo last week.
De Luca and Abdy did not feel a COO role was necessary in the emerging structure, other insiders familiar with the company noted, despite the critical role Blackwood represents. As sturdy and dynamic as movie executives come, her job...
Her resignation follows a week after word that her boss Toby Emmerich, chairman of the motion picture group, will transition to lot producer later this year. The regime changes come as Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav continues to shape a new world order for his movie business — one that has already tapped producers Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy to head up Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema. Streamlining will also come for the Warner Animation Group and DC Films, Zaslav promised in a staff memo last week.
De Luca and Abdy did not feel a COO role was necessary in the emerging structure, other insiders familiar with the company noted, despite the critical role Blackwood represents. As sturdy and dynamic as movie executives come, her job...
- 6/8/2022
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
Below is Toby Emmerich’s departure note to staff at Warner Bros on Wednesday. As we reported this morning, the chairman of Warner Bros. Pictures Group is segueing to a lucrative five-year production deal on the lot, so he’s not going far. He apparently was offered to stay, but would have had to cede oversee on Warner Bros. Animation and DC, an option the former New Line President didn’t want.
Word is that former MGM film bosses Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy will arrive at Warners on August 1. As Emmerich points out here, in the interim, DC features head Walter Hamada, COO Carolyn Blackwood, Warner President of Production Courtenay Valenti and New Line head Richard Brener will continue to report to Emmerich.
Even with De Luca coming in, should Brener and Blackwood opt to stay, it’s the New Line gang back together. It’s an interesting...
Word is that former MGM film bosses Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy will arrive at Warners on August 1. As Emmerich points out here, in the interim, DC features head Walter Hamada, COO Carolyn Blackwood, Warner President of Production Courtenay Valenti and New Line head Richard Brener will continue to report to Emmerich.
Even with De Luca coming in, should Brener and Blackwood opt to stay, it’s the New Line gang back together. It’s an interesting...
- 6/1/2022
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Warner Bros Discovery is restructuring its film division, starting with outgoing MGM heads Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy replacing Toby Emmerich as head of Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema, and with DC and Animation divisions expected to have new leaders reporting directly to Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav.
De Luca and Abdy will not start until they’ve officially exited MGM, which Amazon acquired earlier this year. As for Emmerich, he will start a new production venture that will have a five-year financing and distribution deal with Warner Bros.
DC Films President Walter Hamada is also expected to exit after a new leader is found for his division, according to an insider. As part of the reorganization, Warner will have a three separate film silos: a Warner/New Line division led by DeLuca and Abdy; a DC division; and an animated unit led by another executive...
De Luca and Abdy will not start until they’ve officially exited MGM, which Amazon acquired earlier this year. As for Emmerich, he will start a new production venture that will have a five-year financing and distribution deal with Warner Bros.
DC Films President Walter Hamada is also expected to exit after a new leader is found for his division, according to an insider. As part of the reorganization, Warner will have a three separate film silos: a Warner/New Line division led by DeLuca and Abdy; a DC division; and an animated unit led by another executive...
- 6/1/2022
- by Umberto Gonzalez and Jeremy Fuster
- The Wrap
Updated: Toby Emmerich is out as the head of Warner Bros. motion picture studio. Replacing him are Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy, who recently exited the helm of MGM. This had been rumored since before they exited that studio (they’ll stay into the summer until their contracts expire). This is part of Warner Discovery CEO David Zaslav’s grand plan to split Warner Bros into multiple labels, with Warner Bros proper/New Line, DC Entertainment and Animation.
Facing a new construct where he would have given up oversight of DC and Animation, Emmerich instead chose to step down and right into a lucrative production deal at Warner Bros, given him by Zaslav, so even though Warner Discovery is the home of Game of Thrones, this wasn’t nearly as ruthless. The fates of DC Boss Walter Hamada and the other executives who’ve been loyal to Emmerich, i.
Facing a new construct where he would have given up oversight of DC and Animation, Emmerich instead chose to step down and right into a lucrative production deal at Warner Bros, given him by Zaslav, so even though Warner Discovery is the home of Game of Thrones, this wasn’t nearly as ruthless. The fates of DC Boss Walter Hamada and the other executives who’ve been loyal to Emmerich, i.
- 6/1/2022
- by Anthony D'Alessandro and Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: (Updated With More Details) Less than 24 hours after CEO Jason Kilar, HBO Max boss Andy Forssell and Studio chief Ann Sarnoff were pink slipped from the about to disappear WarnerMedia, more executives were shown the door today.
This includes: CFO Jennifer Biry, Jason Kilar’s right hand corp comm person Christy Haubegger who is also the Chief Inclusion Officer, EVP Chief Human Resources Officer Jim Cummings, EVP Chief Revenue Officer Tony Goncalves, EVP General Counsel Jim Meza, and Chief Technology Officer Richard Tom.
This latest series of exits comes about 48 hours before the newly minted Discovery-WarnerMedia merger with Discovery Boss David Zaslav as CEO. Zaslav is a guy who doesn’t like a lot of fat in his corporate structure, and this morning’s massive firing underscores that. The newly merged company looks to debut on Monday on Wall Street, sources tell us.
Staying on for the short-term...
This includes: CFO Jennifer Biry, Jason Kilar’s right hand corp comm person Christy Haubegger who is also the Chief Inclusion Officer, EVP Chief Human Resources Officer Jim Cummings, EVP Chief Revenue Officer Tony Goncalves, EVP General Counsel Jim Meza, and Chief Technology Officer Richard Tom.
This latest series of exits comes about 48 hours before the newly minted Discovery-WarnerMedia merger with Discovery Boss David Zaslav as CEO. Zaslav is a guy who doesn’t like a lot of fat in his corporate structure, and this morning’s massive firing underscores that. The newly merged company looks to debut on Monday on Wall Street, sources tell us.
Staying on for the short-term...
- 4/6/2022
- by Anthony D'Alessandro and Dominic Patten
- Deadline Film + TV
In a bloodbath Tuesday at WarnerMedia ahead of the closing of the Discovery merger, add HBO Max head Andy Forssell to the list of exiting executives. Deadline has confirmed that he joins WarnerMedia studios and networks group chairman and CEO Ann Sarnoff and WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar who will also depart.
It’s been buzzed that Discovery CEO David Zaslav does not like layers. Well, three layers just got depleted. Indications are that the 43 billion merger is likely to officially close Friday.
Jb Perrette, president and CEO of Discovery Streaming & International, had been widely speculated to be taking over the newly merged company’s combined direct-to-consumer streaming operation even before Forssell’s exit became official.
HBO Max and HBO programming chief Casey Bloys is expected to continue in a key role, likely similar to his current position, in Zaslav’s post-merger plans. We’re hearing that Warner Bros Motion Picture...
It’s been buzzed that Discovery CEO David Zaslav does not like layers. Well, three layers just got depleted. Indications are that the 43 billion merger is likely to officially close Friday.
Jb Perrette, president and CEO of Discovery Streaming & International, had been widely speculated to be taking over the newly merged company’s combined direct-to-consumer streaming operation even before Forssell’s exit became official.
HBO Max and HBO programming chief Casey Bloys is expected to continue in a key role, likely similar to his current position, in Zaslav’s post-merger plans. We’re hearing that Warner Bros Motion Picture...
- 4/5/2022
- by Anthony D'Alessandro and Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
After concluding his sixth Middle-earth film, “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies,” Ian McKellen praised Peter Jackson, telling Variety, “He’s invented technology to match his imagination.”
Jackson’s first “Lord of the Rings” film, “The Fellowship of the Ring,” premiered in December, 2001, and celebrates its 20th anniversary this month.
Jackson oversees five companies in Wellington, New Zealand, that were each started to fill the films’ needs:
— Weta Workshop was born for the 1989 “Meet the Feebles.” Jackson and Fran Walsh collaborated with husband-and-wife team Richard Taylor and Tania Rodger and their 5-year-old Rt Effects, who worked on models and puppets.
Weta Workshop has five divisions: Makeup and prosthetics, armor, weapons, creatures and miniature environments.
During a Variety visit a few years ago, the WW’ers were working on film and TV projects as well as museum installations, a sculpture garden, film projects and books. Richard Taylor told Variety,...
Jackson’s first “Lord of the Rings” film, “The Fellowship of the Ring,” premiered in December, 2001, and celebrates its 20th anniversary this month.
Jackson oversees five companies in Wellington, New Zealand, that were each started to fill the films’ needs:
— Weta Workshop was born for the 1989 “Meet the Feebles.” Jackson and Fran Walsh collaborated with husband-and-wife team Richard Taylor and Tania Rodger and their 5-year-old Rt Effects, who worked on models and puppets.
Weta Workshop has five divisions: Makeup and prosthetics, armor, weapons, creatures and miniature environments.
During a Variety visit a few years ago, the WW’ers were working on film and TV projects as well as museum installations, a sculpture garden, film projects and books. Richard Taylor told Variety,...
- 12/16/2021
- by Tim Gray
- Variety Film + TV
Warner Bros. has acquired rights to South by Southwest award-winner “The Fallout” and plans to debut the film on HBO Max.
Written and directed by Megan Park in her feature filmmaking debut, “The Fallout” premiered at SXSW and took home the grand jury and audience awards at this year’s annual film festival. The story follows a high schooler who navigates the emotional fallout in the wake of a school tragedy. The cast includes Jenna Ortega, “Dance Moms” alum Maddie Ziegler, Julie Bowen and Shailene Woodley.
In markets where HBO Max is not available, Warner Bros. will distribute the film in theaters.
“Making ‘The Fallout’ was a journey I never expected to take and one that has changed me forever,” said Park, best known for portraying Grace Bowman on ABC Family’s teen drama “The Secret Life of the American Teenager.” “If by seeing this film just one teen feels less alone,...
Written and directed by Megan Park in her feature filmmaking debut, “The Fallout” premiered at SXSW and took home the grand jury and audience awards at this year’s annual film festival. The story follows a high schooler who navigates the emotional fallout in the wake of a school tragedy. The cast includes Jenna Ortega, “Dance Moms” alum Maddie Ziegler, Julie Bowen and Shailene Woodley.
In markets where HBO Max is not available, Warner Bros. will distribute the film in theaters.
“Making ‘The Fallout’ was a journey I never expected to take and one that has changed me forever,” said Park, best known for portraying Grace Bowman on ABC Family’s teen drama “The Secret Life of the American Teenager.” “If by seeing this film just one teen feels less alone,...
- 7/27/2021
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
Warner Bros. Pictures has picked up global rights to Megan Park’s SXSW multi-award-winning feature The Fallout.
The pic will be released exclusively on HBO Max where the service is available globally, and be distributed by Warner Bros in the balance of international markets.
The Fallout follows high schooler Vada (Jenna Ortega) as she navigates the emotional fallout she experiences in the wake of a school tragedy. Relationships with her family and friends, as well as her view of the world, are forever altered.
The cast also includes Maddie Ziegler, Niles Fitch, Will Ropp, Lumi Pollack, John Ortiz, Julie Bowen and Shailene Woodley.
Park, an actress who starred in ABC Family’s The Secret Life of the American Teenager and made the music video “Watch” for Billie Eilish, made her feature directorial debut here with Fallout which won the Grand Jury and Audience Awards for Narrative Feature at SXSW as...
The pic will be released exclusively on HBO Max where the service is available globally, and be distributed by Warner Bros in the balance of international markets.
The Fallout follows high schooler Vada (Jenna Ortega) as she navigates the emotional fallout she experiences in the wake of a school tragedy. Relationships with her family and friends, as well as her view of the world, are forever altered.
The cast also includes Maddie Ziegler, Niles Fitch, Will Ropp, Lumi Pollack, John Ortiz, Julie Bowen and Shailene Woodley.
Park, an actress who starred in ABC Family’s The Secret Life of the American Teenager and made the music video “Watch” for Billie Eilish, made her feature directorial debut here with Fallout which won the Grand Jury and Audience Awards for Narrative Feature at SXSW as...
- 7/27/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Warner Bros. Pictures has acquired the worldwide rights to “The Fallout,” a teen drama starring Jenna Ortega that swept the top prizes at the SXSW Film Festival this year.
“The Fallout” is director Megan Park’s debut film and follows a high school girl’s journey after the emotional fallout of a school shooting forever alters her worldview and her relationships with family and friends.
The film will be released exclusively through HBO Max where available globally, and distributed by Warner Bros. internationally. No release date has been set.
Ortega leads a cast that also includes Maddie Ziegler, Niles Fitch, Will Ropp, Lumi Pollack, John Ortiz, Julie Bowen and Shailene Woodley. “The Fallout” won both the Grand Jury Award and the Audience Award for Narrative Feature at SXSW, and Park won the Brightcove Illumination Award honoring a filmmaker on the rise.
“Making ‘The Fallout’ was a journey I never expected...
“The Fallout” is director Megan Park’s debut film and follows a high school girl’s journey after the emotional fallout of a school shooting forever alters her worldview and her relationships with family and friends.
The film will be released exclusively through HBO Max where available globally, and distributed by Warner Bros. internationally. No release date has been set.
Ortega leads a cast that also includes Maddie Ziegler, Niles Fitch, Will Ropp, Lumi Pollack, John Ortiz, Julie Bowen and Shailene Woodley. “The Fallout” won both the Grand Jury Award and the Audience Award for Narrative Feature at SXSW, and Park won the Brightcove Illumination Award honoring a filmmaker on the rise.
“Making ‘The Fallout’ was a journey I never expected...
- 7/27/2021
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Jamie Ward, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, Simon Harrison, Chipo Chung and Amber Fitzgerald-Woolfe have joined the third and final season of “His Dark Materials,” directed by Amit Gupta, Charles Martin and Weronika Tofilska.
The eight-episode season, which is currently in production, is based on “The Amber Spyglass,” the final novel in Philip Pullman’s bestselling trilogy.
Season 3 of “His Dark Materials” follows Lyra (Dafne Keen) and Will (Amir Wilson), the bearer of The Subtle Knife, as they travel through multiple worlds to find and protect each other.
Also starring Ruth Wilson, Simone Kirby, Will Keen, Jade Anouka, Ruta Gedminstas and James McAvoy, “His Dark Materials” is produced by Bad Wolf in association with New Line Cinema for BBC One and HBO. Executive producers include Jane Tranter, Dan McCulloch, Joel Collins and Julie Gardner for Bad Wolf; Philip Pullman, Jack Thorne, Tom Hooper; Deborah Forte, Toby Emmerich and Carolyn Blackwood for...
The eight-episode season, which is currently in production, is based on “The Amber Spyglass,” the final novel in Philip Pullman’s bestselling trilogy.
Season 3 of “His Dark Materials” follows Lyra (Dafne Keen) and Will (Amir Wilson), the bearer of The Subtle Knife, as they travel through multiple worlds to find and protect each other.
Also starring Ruth Wilson, Simone Kirby, Will Keen, Jade Anouka, Ruta Gedminstas and James McAvoy, “His Dark Materials” is produced by Bad Wolf in association with New Line Cinema for BBC One and HBO. Executive producers include Jane Tranter, Dan McCulloch, Joel Collins and Julie Gardner for Bad Wolf; Philip Pullman, Jack Thorne, Tom Hooper; Deborah Forte, Toby Emmerich and Carolyn Blackwood for...
- 6/22/2021
- by Ethan Shanfeld
- Variety Film + TV
Filming is underway on the third and final season of His Dark Materials, the BBC and HBO’s adaptation of Philip Pullman’s beloved fantasy adventure novels.
Season 3 will be based on The Amber Spyglass, the most complex and ambitious of Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy of novels, as Lyra and Will travel through different worlds to find each other.
Bad Wolf, in association with New Line Cinema, cracked open the clapperboards on May 24, according to a picture of Dafne Keen (Lyra) and Amir Wilson (Will) released to celebrate the shoot.
Production is taking place at Wolf Studios Wales stages and on location throughout Wales and England. Directors are Amit Gupta, Charles Martin, and Weronika Tofilska.
Returning cast includes Ruth Wilson (Mrs. Coulter), Simone Kirby (Mary Malone), Will Keen (Father McPhail), Jade Anouka (Ruta Skadi), Ruta Gedminstas (Serafina Pekkala), and James McAvoy (Lord Asriel).
New cast includes Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje...
Season 3 will be based on The Amber Spyglass, the most complex and ambitious of Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy of novels, as Lyra and Will travel through different worlds to find each other.
Bad Wolf, in association with New Line Cinema, cracked open the clapperboards on May 24, according to a picture of Dafne Keen (Lyra) and Amir Wilson (Will) released to celebrate the shoot.
Production is taking place at Wolf Studios Wales stages and on location throughout Wales and England. Directors are Amit Gupta, Charles Martin, and Weronika Tofilska.
Returning cast includes Ruth Wilson (Mrs. Coulter), Simone Kirby (Mary Malone), Will Keen (Father McPhail), Jade Anouka (Ruta Skadi), Ruta Gedminstas (Serafina Pekkala), and James McAvoy (Lord Asriel).
New cast includes Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje...
- 6/22/2021
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
The J.R.R. Tolkien franchise is heading back to the big screen in a fresh New Line and Warner Animation anime title The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim. I’m told that the Oscar-winning feature architects Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh are not involved with the project as we speak, but that will be determined down the road. Oscar-winning Lord of the Rings: Return of the King scribe Philippa Boyens will be a consultant on the new project directed by Kenji Kamiyama. The pic is being fast-tracked with animation work done by Sola Entertainment. Voice casting is currently underway. Pic will be distributed around the globe by Warner Bros. Pictures.
The War of the Rohirrim focuses on a character from the book’s appendix, the mighty King of Rohan, Helm Hammerhand, and a legendary battle which helped shaped Middle-earth heading into Lotr. The anime pic will expand...
The War of the Rohirrim focuses on a character from the book’s appendix, the mighty King of Rohan, Helm Hammerhand, and a legendary battle which helped shaped Middle-earth heading into Lotr. The anime pic will expand...
- 6/10/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
A new “Lord of the Rings” movie is in the works. “The War of the Rohirrim” will be an animated prequel film set before the events of the main trilogy.
New Line Cinema, the studio behind Peter Jackson’s Middle-earth-shattering “Lord of the Rings” films, is returning to J.R.R. Tolkien’s source material for the first time since “The Hobbit” movies, and teaming up with Warner Bros. Animation on the new project. The studio is even recruiting Philippa Boyens, who was on the original trilogy’s screenwriting team, to serve as a consultant on “The War of the Rohirrim.”
Kenji Kamiyama, known for “Blade Runner: Black Lotus” and “Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex,” will direct. Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews (“The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance”) are writing the screenplay. Joseph Chou is producing the film.
While the project is still in its early days, New Line is...
New Line Cinema, the studio behind Peter Jackson’s Middle-earth-shattering “Lord of the Rings” films, is returning to J.R.R. Tolkien’s source material for the first time since “The Hobbit” movies, and teaming up with Warner Bros. Animation on the new project. The studio is even recruiting Philippa Boyens, who was on the original trilogy’s screenwriting team, to serve as a consultant on “The War of the Rohirrim.”
Kenji Kamiyama, known for “Blade Runner: Black Lotus” and “Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex,” will direct. Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews (“The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance”) are writing the screenplay. Joseph Chou is producing the film.
While the project is still in its early days, New Line is...
- 6/10/2021
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
New Line Cinema is returning to Middle Earth.
The studio behind the feature film trilogies “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” is partnering with Warner Bros. Animation on the original anime theatrical feature “The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim.”
The stand-alone feature will depict the bloody saga behind Helm’s Deep, the fortress depicted in “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers,” and the man in whose honor it’s named: Helm Hammerhand, the legendary King of Rohan who spent much of his reign locked in a prolonged and costly war.
Veteran anime filmmaker Kenji Kamiyama, who helmed Netflix’s “Ultraman” anime series, will direct the film from a screenplay by Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews (“The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance”). Joseph Chou (the “Blade Runner: Black Lotus” TV series) is producing.
While the filmmaking team is new to the “Lord of the Rings” movie franchise,...
The studio behind the feature film trilogies “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” is partnering with Warner Bros. Animation on the original anime theatrical feature “The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim.”
The stand-alone feature will depict the bloody saga behind Helm’s Deep, the fortress depicted in “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers,” and the man in whose honor it’s named: Helm Hammerhand, the legendary King of Rohan who spent much of his reign locked in a prolonged and costly war.
Veteran anime filmmaker Kenji Kamiyama, who helmed Netflix’s “Ultraman” anime series, will direct the film from a screenplay by Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews (“The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance”). Joseph Chou (the “Blade Runner: Black Lotus” TV series) is producing.
While the filmmaking team is new to the “Lord of the Rings” movie franchise,...
- 6/10/2021
- by Adam B. Vary
- Variety Film + TV
Sunday Am Writethru: It use to be that the studios would space their horror movies apart on the schedule. It’s not usual that one would open up immediately after the other for fear of cannibalizing the same audience. That didn’t happen this weekend as New Line’s The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It opened to $24M, while Paramount’s second weekend of A Quiet Place Part II took in $19.5M. All of this just speaks to audiences’ urge to return to the cinema after being cooped up for a year-plus during Covid. We saw a slightly similar clash of demos when two fanboy IPs, Mortal Kombat and Demon Slayer, went at it over the April 23-25 weekend, each posting respective solid results of $23.3M and $21.1M.
Conjuring 3 is the largest opening for an R-rated movie, and the third largest overall during the Pandemic. It’s the...
Conjuring 3 is the largest opening for an R-rated movie, and the third largest overall during the Pandemic. It’s the...
- 6/6/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Burbank, CA – Embark on an incredible adventure into a parallel world when Warner Bros. Home Entertainment releases His Dark Materials: The Complete Second Season, the critically-acclaimed original fantasy series from HBO, on Blu-rayTM and DVD June 29, 2021. Adapted from the second book of Philip Pullman’s epic trilogy, which has sold over 22 million copies worldwide, His Dark Materials: The Complete Second Season features all seven episodes from the exciting second season plus over an hour of special features including an all-new never-before-seen featurette. The release will be priced at $29.98 Srp ($39.99 in Canada) for the Blu-ray, which includes Digital Copy (US Only) and $24.98 Srp ($29.98 Srp in Canada) for the DVD. His Dark Materials: The Complete Second Seasonis also available to own on Digital via purchase from digital retailers.
His Dark Materials follows young orphan Lyra (Dafne Keen) on a journey through a parallel world where a human’s soul exists outside one...
His Dark Materials follows young orphan Lyra (Dafne Keen) on a journey through a parallel world where a human’s soul exists outside one...
- 5/5/2021
- by ComicMix Staff
- Comicmix.com
His Dark Materials is officially coming back for a third and final season.
HBO and BBC One have renewed the drama for a third run with the eight-episode season set to close the story. The latest season, which is based on Philip Pullman’s novels, begins production in Cardiff, Wales in 2021.
This comes as the second season of the Bad Wolf-produced drama concludes on Monday, December 28 on HBO.
Last month, Bad Wolf co-founder Jane Tranter told Deadline that Jack Thorne and a team of writers were working on scripts and that the series will be based on The Amber Spyglass. In January, HBO programming chief Casey Bloys told Deadline that he was particularly pleased that the drama had been a co-viewing hit with families.
The second season, which consisted of seven episodes due to Covid-19, follows Lyra, played by Dafne Keen, a seemingly ordinary but brave young woman from another world.
HBO and BBC One have renewed the drama for a third run with the eight-episode season set to close the story. The latest season, which is based on Philip Pullman’s novels, begins production in Cardiff, Wales in 2021.
This comes as the second season of the Bad Wolf-produced drama concludes on Monday, December 28 on HBO.
Last month, Bad Wolf co-founder Jane Tranter told Deadline that Jack Thorne and a team of writers were working on scripts and that the series will be based on The Amber Spyglass. In January, HBO programming chief Casey Bloys told Deadline that he was particularly pleased that the drama had been a co-viewing hit with families.
The second season, which consisted of seven episodes due to Covid-19, follows Lyra, played by Dafne Keen, a seemingly ordinary but brave young woman from another world.
- 12/22/2020
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
“His Dark Materials” has been renewed by HBO and BBC One for a third and final season, Francesca Orsi, executive vice president of HBO programming, announced Tuesday.
Based on author Philip Pullman’s award-winning trilogy of the same name, “His Dark Materials” was renewed for a second season before the first one debuted in November 2019 on HBO. Season 2 premiered on Nov. 16 and will conclude Dec. 28 at 9/8c.
Production on the eight-episode third season of “His Dark Materials” is slated to begin in Cardiff in 2021.
The drama follows Lyra (Dafne Keen), a seemingly ordinary but brave young woman from another world. Season 2 began as Lyra, distraught over the death of her best friend, embarks upon a journey in a strange and mysterious abandoned city. There she meets Will (Amir Wilson), a boy from our world who is also running from a troubled past. Lyra and Will learn their destinies are tied...
Based on author Philip Pullman’s award-winning trilogy of the same name, “His Dark Materials” was renewed for a second season before the first one debuted in November 2019 on HBO. Season 2 premiered on Nov. 16 and will conclude Dec. 28 at 9/8c.
Production on the eight-episode third season of “His Dark Materials” is slated to begin in Cardiff in 2021.
The drama follows Lyra (Dafne Keen), a seemingly ordinary but brave young woman from another world. Season 2 began as Lyra, distraught over the death of her best friend, embarks upon a journey in a strange and mysterious abandoned city. There she meets Will (Amir Wilson), a boy from our world who is also running from a troubled past. Lyra and Will learn their destinies are tied...
- 12/22/2020
- by Jennifer Maas
- The Wrap
Lyra Belacqua’s story is getting a closing chapter.
HBO and the BBC have renewed “His Dark Materials,” the series adaptation of Philip Pullman’s classic novels, for a third and final season. The first two seasons have mirrored the books relatively closely, so it’s no huge surprise the show is being given one last outing to take a crack at “The Amber Spyglass,” the final book in Pullman’s trilogy.
News of the renewal comes less than a week after the season 2 finale is set to drop HBO, and only two days after the curtain call aired in the U.K. Production on the eight-episode third season is slated to begin in Cardiff in 2021.
In its second season, “His Dark Materials” continues to follow the adventures of Lyra Belacqua (Dafne Keen), her daemon Pan and her terrifying mother Mrs. Coulter (Ruth Wilson). Lyra’s path has become deeply...
HBO and the BBC have renewed “His Dark Materials,” the series adaptation of Philip Pullman’s classic novels, for a third and final season. The first two seasons have mirrored the books relatively closely, so it’s no huge surprise the show is being given one last outing to take a crack at “The Amber Spyglass,” the final book in Pullman’s trilogy.
News of the renewal comes less than a week after the season 2 finale is set to drop HBO, and only two days after the curtain call aired in the U.K. Production on the eight-episode third season is slated to begin in Cardiff in 2021.
In its second season, “His Dark Materials” continues to follow the adventures of Lyra Belacqua (Dafne Keen), her daemon Pan and her terrifying mother Mrs. Coulter (Ruth Wilson). Lyra’s path has become deeply...
- 12/22/2020
- by Will Thorne
- Variety Film + TV
For many in the movie business — producers, directors, stars and their representatives — Dec. 3, 2020, is a day that will live in infamy.
“Some of our industry’s biggest filmmakers and most important movie stars went to bed the night before thinking they were working for the greatest movie studio and woke up to find out they were working for the worst streaming service,” filmmaker Christopher Nolan, whose relationship with Warners dates back to Insomnia in 2002, said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter.
Added Nolan: “Warner Bros. had an incredible machine for getting a filmmaker’s work out everywhere, both in theaters and in the home, and they are dismantling it as we speak. They don’t even understand what they’re losing. Their decision makes no economic sense, and even the most casual Wall Street investor can see the difference between disruption and dysfunction.”
On that now-infamous morning, Ann Sarnoff...
“Some of our industry’s biggest filmmakers and most important movie stars went to bed the night before thinking they were working for the greatest movie studio and woke up to find out they were working for the worst streaming service,” filmmaker Christopher Nolan, whose relationship with Warners dates back to Insomnia in 2002, said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter.
Added Nolan: “Warner Bros. had an incredible machine for getting a filmmaker’s work out everywhere, both in theaters and in the home, and they are dismantling it as we speak. They don’t even understand what they’re losing. Their decision makes no economic sense, and even the most casual Wall Street investor can see the difference between disruption and dysfunction.”
On that now-infamous morning, Ann Sarnoff...
- 12/8/2020
- by Kim Masters
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
WarnerMedia didn’t have to wait until Wonder Woman 1984 debuted both on HBO Max and in theaters: The Burbank, CA-based Warner Bros is putting its entire 2021 theatrical slate on HBO Max for the films’ respective first month of release, concurrent with a global cinema release.
Following the one-month HBO Max access period domestically, each film will leave the platform and continue theatrically in the U.S. and international territories, with all customary distribution windows applying to the title.
And get a load of what you’ll be able to see in-home next year: Denzel Washington’s The Little Things, Judas and the Black Messiah, Tom & Jerry, Godzilla vs. Kong, Mortal Kombat, Those Who Wish Me Dead, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, In the Heights, Space Jam: A New Legacy, The Suicide Squad, Reminiscence, Malignant, Dune, The Many Saints of Newark, King Richard, Cry Macho and Matrix 4.
Following the one-month HBO Max access period domestically, each film will leave the platform and continue theatrically in the U.S. and international territories, with all customary distribution windows applying to the title.
And get a load of what you’ll be able to see in-home next year: Denzel Washington’s The Little Things, Judas and the Black Messiah, Tom & Jerry, Godzilla vs. Kong, Mortal Kombat, Those Who Wish Me Dead, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, In the Heights, Space Jam: A New Legacy, The Suicide Squad, Reminiscence, Malignant, Dune, The Many Saints of Newark, King Richard, Cry Macho and Matrix 4.
- 12/3/2020
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Toby Emmerich will now have oversight of HBO Max original films as part of a reorganization at Warner Media. As part of the shift, Jessie Henderson, the EVP of Original Feature Films at WarnerMedia, has decided to leave the company, and Nikki Ramey, SVP of Original Feature Films at HBO Max, is moving over to New Line and will report to Richard Brener, president and chief creative officer, and Carolyn Blackwood, chief operating officer for Warner Bros. Pictures Group. The goal for WarnerMedia will be to combine HBO Max with Warner Bros. Pictures group and break down silos between the company’s divisions. Also Read: AT&T Q3 Earnings: HBO Max Hits 38 Million US Subs, Warner Bros Revenue Falls 28% Moving forward, Emmerich will have oversight over all motion picture output for WarnerMedia, be it streaming or theatrical. And all development and production of original feature films for HBO Max will...
- 10/23/2020
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Feature film programming for streaming service HBO Max has undergone a restructure, as two executives shuffle out of the group and greenlight power now falls exclusively under studio chief Toby Emmerich.
In February, WarnerMedia announced the creation of WarnerMax — a streaming film label that would create movies exclusively for the service, control of which was to be shared by Warner Bros. Pictures Group chairman Emmerich and HBO Max chief content officer Kevin Reilly.
In a new arrangement announced Friday, Emmerich has been given full control of original films and will oversee rollout to either theatrical releases or streaming premieres. WarnerMedia’s executive vice president of original films, Jessie Henderson, has chosen to depart the company.
Nikki Ramey, senior vice president of original feature films at HBO Max, is headed to Warner label New Line Cinema. She will report to New Line president and chief creative officer Richard Brener for development and production,...
In February, WarnerMedia announced the creation of WarnerMax — a streaming film label that would create movies exclusively for the service, control of which was to be shared by Warner Bros. Pictures Group chairman Emmerich and HBO Max chief content officer Kevin Reilly.
In a new arrangement announced Friday, Emmerich has been given full control of original films and will oversee rollout to either theatrical releases or streaming premieres. WarnerMedia’s executive vice president of original films, Jessie Henderson, has chosen to depart the company.
Nikki Ramey, senior vice president of original feature films at HBO Max, is headed to Warner label New Line Cinema. She will report to New Line president and chief creative officer Richard Brener for development and production,...
- 10/23/2020
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
Rumors have raced for weeks that exec changes at WarnerMedia would soon reverberate to movie content as the effort to streamline production continues. Two of the rumored moves have happened: Jessie Henderson, EVP Original Feature Films for HBO Max, decided to leave the company. Another HBO Max exec, Nikki Ramey, will leave her senior veep of Original Feature Films post to join New line and report to president/chief creative officer Richard Brener for film development and production, and Carolyn Blackwood, Chief Operating Officer, Warner Bros. Pictures Group, for finished film acquisitions.
Toby Emmerich will have oversight over all motion picture output for WarnerMedia, streaming and theatrical. Moving forward, all development and production of original feature films for HBO Max will be consolidated under Emmerich and the Warner Bros Pictures Group, working in conjunction with Casey Bloys on overall platform goals. Oversight of original feature films for HBO Max was...
Toby Emmerich will have oversight over all motion picture output for WarnerMedia, streaming and theatrical. Moving forward, all development and production of original feature films for HBO Max will be consolidated under Emmerich and the Warner Bros Pictures Group, working in conjunction with Casey Bloys on overall platform goals. Oversight of original feature films for HBO Max was...
- 10/23/2020
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Warner Max, launched earlier this year to produce features for HBO Max, is being phased out.
Warner Media is streamlining film production operations and has given Warner Bros. Pictures Group chairman Toby Emmerich oversight over all streaming and theatrical feature film output at the company.
Going forward all development and production of original features for HBO Max will be consolidated under Emmerich and the Warner Bros. Pictures Group, working in conjunction with HBO president Casey Bloys.
Oversight of original features for HBO Max was previously shared by leadership at WarnerMedia Entertainment and the Warner Bros Pictures Group.
Warner Max, launched...
Warner Media is streamlining film production operations and has given Warner Bros. Pictures Group chairman Toby Emmerich oversight over all streaming and theatrical feature film output at the company.
Going forward all development and production of original features for HBO Max will be consolidated under Emmerich and the Warner Bros. Pictures Group, working in conjunction with HBO president Casey Bloys.
Oversight of original features for HBO Max was previously shared by leadership at WarnerMedia Entertainment and the Warner Bros Pictures Group.
Warner Max, launched...
- 10/23/2020
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
His Dark Materials will be back with a bang in November as the HBO and BBC big-budget co-production returns for its second season.
HBO will launch the second season of the Bad Wolf-produced adaptation of the Philip Pullman books at 9 p.m. November 16. It will also be available to stream on HBO Max.
This comes as the team behind the series, which includes writer Jack Thorne, are prepping scripts for a possible third season. Although a third run hasn’t been commissioned, the hope on all sides is for it to run for more seasons.
HBO programming chief Casey Bloys told Deadline earlier this year that the first season had performed very well for the network and that he would like to do more. “One of the things that I was hoping for, and the numbers we’re seeing bear this out, it is more of a co-viewing show than we’ve ever had.
HBO will launch the second season of the Bad Wolf-produced adaptation of the Philip Pullman books at 9 p.m. November 16. It will also be available to stream on HBO Max.
This comes as the team behind the series, which includes writer Jack Thorne, are prepping scripts for a possible third season. Although a third run hasn’t been commissioned, the hope on all sides is for it to run for more seasons.
HBO programming chief Casey Bloys told Deadline earlier this year that the first season had performed very well for the network and that he would like to do more. “One of the things that I was hoping for, and the numbers we’re seeing bear this out, it is more of a co-viewing show than we’ve ever had.
- 10/12/2020
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
HBO’s “His Dark Materials” will return for its second season on Nov. 16, the network announced Monday.
The second season picks up following the events of the Season 1 finale, which saw Lord Asriel (James McAvoy) open a bridge to a new world, and Lyra (Dafne Keen), distraught over the death of her best friend, following him into the unknown. Season 2 finds Lyra in a strange and mysterious abandoned city — Cittàgazze — where she meets Will (Amir Wilson), who is also running from a troubled past.
Based on Philip Pullman’s “His Dark Materials” novel series, the second season will take its story from the second book, “The Subtle Knife.”
Jade Anouka, Simone Kirby and Terence Stamp join the series this season. The returning cast members include Keen, Wilson, Amir Wilson and Lin-Manuel Miranda, as well as the previously announced Andrew Scott.
Anouka plays Ruta Skadi, a witch Queen, who joins forces...
The second season picks up following the events of the Season 1 finale, which saw Lord Asriel (James McAvoy) open a bridge to a new world, and Lyra (Dafne Keen), distraught over the death of her best friend, following him into the unknown. Season 2 finds Lyra in a strange and mysterious abandoned city — Cittàgazze — where she meets Will (Amir Wilson), who is also running from a troubled past.
Based on Philip Pullman’s “His Dark Materials” novel series, the second season will take its story from the second book, “The Subtle Knife.”
Jade Anouka, Simone Kirby and Terence Stamp join the series this season. The returning cast members include Keen, Wilson, Amir Wilson and Lin-Manuel Miranda, as well as the previously announced Andrew Scott.
Anouka plays Ruta Skadi, a witch Queen, who joins forces...
- 10/12/2020
- by Tim Baysinger
- The Wrap
“His Dark Materials” is staging a “Fleabag” reunion.
The Hot Priest himself, Andrew Scott, revealed during the “His Dark Materials” Comic-Con@Home panel on Thursday that his character’s dæmon — a magical animal companion within the world of the Philip Pullman novels — will be voiced by “someone who is very close to me in my real life: a young performer and writer called Phoebe Waller-Bridge.”
Scott and Waller-Bridge previously starred opposite one another on the critically acclaimed second season of the Amazon comedy. “The relationship [between human and dæmon] is all about companionship, friendship, and loyalty and that’s what I feel about Phoebe in my real life,” Scott said. “So it’s wonderful that this is happening.”
Also Read: 'His Dark Materials' Season 2 Trailer: 'Strange, New Times' and a Knife-Wielding Andrew Scott (Video)
The second season of “His Dark Materials,” which will premiere on HBO this fall, picks up following the events of the Season 1 finale,...
The Hot Priest himself, Andrew Scott, revealed during the “His Dark Materials” Comic-Con@Home panel on Thursday that his character’s dæmon — a magical animal companion within the world of the Philip Pullman novels — will be voiced by “someone who is very close to me in my real life: a young performer and writer called Phoebe Waller-Bridge.”
Scott and Waller-Bridge previously starred opposite one another on the critically acclaimed second season of the Amazon comedy. “The relationship [between human and dæmon] is all about companionship, friendship, and loyalty and that’s what I feel about Phoebe in my real life,” Scott said. “So it’s wonderful that this is happening.”
Also Read: 'His Dark Materials' Season 2 Trailer: 'Strange, New Times' and a Knife-Wielding Andrew Scott (Video)
The second season of “His Dark Materials,” which will premiere on HBO this fall, picks up following the events of the Season 1 finale,...
- 7/23/2020
- by Reid Nakamura
- The Wrap
HBO unveiled the first trailer for the upcoming second season of “His Dark Materials” at the show’s Comic-Con@Home panel on Thursday.
The one-and-a-half minute clip gives a first look at the new world of Cittàgaze, as well as some of the new characters for the second season, including “Fleabag” and “Sherlock” alum Andrew Scott as explorer John Parry.
The second season, which will premiere on HBO this fall, picks up following the events of the Season 1 finale, which saw Lord Asriel (James McAvoy) open a bridge to a new world, and Lyra (Dafne Keen), distraught over the death of her best friend, following him into the unknown. Season 2 finds Lyra in a strange and mysterious abandoned city — Cittàgazze — where she meets Will (Amir Wilson), who is also running from a troubled past.
Also Read: How HBO's 'His Dark Materials' Learned From the Failures of 'The Golden Compass'
The...
The one-and-a-half minute clip gives a first look at the new world of Cittàgaze, as well as some of the new characters for the second season, including “Fleabag” and “Sherlock” alum Andrew Scott as explorer John Parry.
The second season, which will premiere on HBO this fall, picks up following the events of the Season 1 finale, which saw Lord Asriel (James McAvoy) open a bridge to a new world, and Lyra (Dafne Keen), distraught over the death of her best friend, following him into the unknown. Season 2 finds Lyra in a strange and mysterious abandoned city — Cittàgazze — where she meets Will (Amir Wilson), who is also running from a troubled past.
Also Read: How HBO's 'His Dark Materials' Learned From the Failures of 'The Golden Compass'
The...
- 7/23/2020
- by Reid Nakamura
- The Wrap
Ahead of the show’s Comic-Con@Home panel on Thursday, HBO has announced three new cast members for the second season of “His Dark Materials.”
Jade Anouka, Simone Kirby and Terence Stamp have joined the drama’s new season, which is based on the second book in Philip Pullman’s “His Dark Materials” series, “The Subtle Knife.” They join returning cast members Dafne Keen, Ruth Wilson, Amir Wilson and Lin-Manuel Miranda, as well as the previously announced Andrew Scott.
The second season picks up following the events of the Season 1 finale, which saw Lord Asriel (James McAvoy) open a bridge to a new world, and Lyra (Keen), distraught over the death of her best friend, following him into the unknown. Season 2 finds Lyra in a strange and mysterious abandoned city — Cittàgazze — where she meets Will (Wilson), who is also running from a troubled past.
Also Read: How HBO's 'His Dark...
Jade Anouka, Simone Kirby and Terence Stamp have joined the drama’s new season, which is based on the second book in Philip Pullman’s “His Dark Materials” series, “The Subtle Knife.” They join returning cast members Dafne Keen, Ruth Wilson, Amir Wilson and Lin-Manuel Miranda, as well as the previously announced Andrew Scott.
The second season picks up following the events of the Season 1 finale, which saw Lord Asriel (James McAvoy) open a bridge to a new world, and Lyra (Keen), distraught over the death of her best friend, following him into the unknown. Season 2 finds Lyra in a strange and mysterious abandoned city — Cittàgazze — where she meets Will (Wilson), who is also running from a troubled past.
Also Read: How HBO's 'His Dark...
- 7/23/2020
- by Reid Nakamura
- The Wrap
Burbank, CA – Lauded by critics as HBO’s new hit original fantasy drama series, His Dark Materials: The Complete First Season will be available on Blu-ray and DVD on August 4, 2020. Adapted from Philip Pullman’s epic trilogy of the same name, which has sold over 22 million copies worldwide, His Dark Materials: The Complete First Season will feature all eight episodes from the debut season along with an exclusive new bonus feature, Making His Dark Materials. This special feature follows the ambitious undertaking of bringing the beloved award-winning book series to life. Available from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, the release will be priced at $29.98 Srp ($39.99 in Canada) for the Blu-ray and $24.98 Srp ($29.98 Srp in Canada) for the DVD.
His Dark Materials takes place in a world parallel to our own, where a human’s soul exists outside one’s body in the form of a talking animal called a “daemon.” The...
His Dark Materials takes place in a world parallel to our own, where a human’s soul exists outside one’s body in the form of a talking animal called a “daemon.” The...
- 5/17/2020
- by ComicMix Staff
- Comicmix.com
An American Pickle, the Seth Rogen-starring comedy that moved from Sony Pictures to HBO Max, has lined up an August 6 release date on WarnerMedia’s streaming service. The pic, from Rogen and Evan Goldberg’s Point Grey Pictures, will world premiere as the first HBO Max original film under the Warner Max movie label.
The premiere date came Wednesday as HBO Max unveiled a second wave of programming for the summer that will follow the initial titles available for the platform’s May 27 launch.
WarnerMedia acquired global rights to American Pickle on April 27 from Sony, which had planned a 2020 theatrical release for it before the coronavirus shutdown, after which the Culver City studio was forced to shift most of the pics on its feature slate to 2021. It was won of several mid-sized films sold off to to streaming platforms amid the Covid-19 crisis that shuttered movie theaters, joining the...
The premiere date came Wednesday as HBO Max unveiled a second wave of programming for the summer that will follow the initial titles available for the platform’s May 27 launch.
WarnerMedia acquired global rights to American Pickle on April 27 from Sony, which had planned a 2020 theatrical release for it before the coronavirus shutdown, after which the Culver City studio was forced to shift most of the pics on its feature slate to 2021. It was won of several mid-sized films sold off to to streaming platforms amid the Covid-19 crisis that shuttered movie theaters, joining the...
- 5/13/2020
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
HBO Max and its corporate sibling Warner Bros. announced today they’re teaming up to launch a new label that will produce movies for WarnerMedia’s HBO Max streaming service. The label, Warner Max, will produce eight to 10 films annually for the service, which launches in May, with the first titles dropping on the platform at some point this year.
The label will deal in mid-budget releases, the kind of films that have increasingly disappeared from theaters in favor of streaming-only distribution. It’s a strategy already being employed by Disney with its four-month-old Disney+ service: The studio remains committed to theatrical tentpoles like the upcoming Marvel title “Black Widow,” while giving a streaming debut to mid-budget fare like the live-action “Lady and the Tramp.”
Warner Max hasn’t yet made its slate public, but its likely some previously announced projects, like the Melissa McCarthy vehicle “Superintelligence,” will be among...
The label will deal in mid-budget releases, the kind of films that have increasingly disappeared from theaters in favor of streaming-only distribution. It’s a strategy already being employed by Disney with its four-month-old Disney+ service: The studio remains committed to theatrical tentpoles like the upcoming Marvel title “Black Widow,” while giving a streaming debut to mid-budget fare like the live-action “Lady and the Tramp.”
Warner Max hasn’t yet made its slate public, but its likely some previously announced projects, like the Melissa McCarthy vehicle “Superintelligence,” will be among...
- 2/5/2020
- by Chris Lindahl
- Indiewire
Warner Bros. Pictures and HBO Max formed a new film label, titled Warner Max, that will generate eight to 10 mid-budget films per year for WarnerMedia’s new streaming service.
Formed at the behest of WarnerMedia CEO John Stankey and Warner Bros. Entertainment president Ann Sarnoff, the division will deliver on the promise of synergy by leveraging the company’s brand and talent portfolios, including DC Films, HBO original content, New Line Cinema, and Warner Animation Group. HBO Max will launch in May. The first Warner Max title will premiere in 2020.
The straight-to-service movies will not affect theatrical production for Warner Bros. and New Line.
Warner Max will be overseen by HBO Max’s chief content officer Kevin Reilly and Warner Bros. Pictures Group chairman Toby Emmerich, who will share greenlight responsibilities. They will work in collaboration with Warner Bros. Pictures COO Carolyn Blackwood and HBO Max executive Sarah Aubrey. Jessie Henderson,...
Formed at the behest of WarnerMedia CEO John Stankey and Warner Bros. Entertainment president Ann Sarnoff, the division will deliver on the promise of synergy by leveraging the company’s brand and talent portfolios, including DC Films, HBO original content, New Line Cinema, and Warner Animation Group. HBO Max will launch in May. The first Warner Max title will premiere in 2020.
The straight-to-service movies will not affect theatrical production for Warner Bros. and New Line.
Warner Max will be overseen by HBO Max’s chief content officer Kevin Reilly and Warner Bros. Pictures Group chairman Toby Emmerich, who will share greenlight responsibilities. They will work in collaboration with Warner Bros. Pictures COO Carolyn Blackwood and HBO Max executive Sarah Aubrey. Jessie Henderson,...
- 2/5/2020
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
Jv to provide eight to 10 mid-budget films per year for the HBO Max platform.
Warner Media and Warner Bros issued a strong statement of intent on Wednesday (5), announcing Warner Max, the new feature production arm of HBO Max.
The joint venture will provide a steady flow of eight to 10 mid-budget films per year for the HBO Max platform designed specifically with streamer audiences in mind. HBO Max launches in May.
Observers noted that once HBO Max rolls out internationally, local-language production hubs could spring up to service a growing global audience.
The inaugural slate of English-language Warner Max titles will...
Warner Media and Warner Bros issued a strong statement of intent on Wednesday (5), announcing Warner Max, the new feature production arm of HBO Max.
The joint venture will provide a steady flow of eight to 10 mid-budget films per year for the HBO Max platform designed specifically with streamer audiences in mind. HBO Max launches in May.
Observers noted that once HBO Max rolls out internationally, local-language production hubs could spring up to service a growing global audience.
The inaugural slate of English-language Warner Max titles will...
- 2/5/2020
- by 36¦Jeremy Kay¦54¦
- ScreenDaily
Warner Bros and HBO Max said Wednesday that they have created Warner Max, a new film label that will serve as the feature production arm of the streaming service that’s launching in May.
The new joint venture will have a target of releasing eight to 10 mid-budget movies per year, overseen by HBO Max’s chief content officer Kevin Reilly and Warner Bros. Pictures Group chairman Toby Emmerich, who are sharing greenlight responsibility for Warner Max films and will work in collaboration with Warner Bros Pictures Group COO Carolyn Blackwood and HBO Max Head of Original Content Sarah Aubrey.
Warner Bros and New Line Cinema will continue to create mid-budget fare for the traditional theatrical window, while Warner Max will create a new pipeline for filmmakers looking to make a particular type of film or connect with a specific audience that would be best reached in the streaming environment. The...
The new joint venture will have a target of releasing eight to 10 mid-budget movies per year, overseen by HBO Max’s chief content officer Kevin Reilly and Warner Bros. Pictures Group chairman Toby Emmerich, who are sharing greenlight responsibility for Warner Max films and will work in collaboration with Warner Bros Pictures Group COO Carolyn Blackwood and HBO Max Head of Original Content Sarah Aubrey.
Warner Bros and New Line Cinema will continue to create mid-budget fare for the traditional theatrical window, while Warner Max will create a new pipeline for filmmakers looking to make a particular type of film or connect with a specific audience that would be best reached in the streaming environment. The...
- 2/5/2020
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Roland Emmerich has signed a deal with Huayi Brothers to distribute his next film, “Moonfall,” in China, the company announced on Thursday.
Huayi Brothers’ Dennis and James Wang will also serve as executive producers on the sci-fi film, which follows a last-ditch attempt to stop the moon from colliding with Earth after a mysterious force knocks it out of orbit. Emmerich is directing from a script by himself, Harald Kloser and Spenser Cohen.
Also Read: Lionsgate Lands Roland Emmerich's Sci-Fi Epic 'Moonfall'
Emmerich is producing Moonfall under his Centropolis banner with Kloser producing through
his company, Street Entertainment. Ute Emmerich, Stuart Ford, J.P. Pettinato, Carsten Lorenz, and
Marco Shepherd are all listed as executive producers.
“We believe that the most effective way to facilitate worldwide cultural exchange is in collaboration with top artists, and this project marks a milestone for us as a solid content creator in the international film business,...
Huayi Brothers’ Dennis and James Wang will also serve as executive producers on the sci-fi film, which follows a last-ditch attempt to stop the moon from colliding with Earth after a mysterious force knocks it out of orbit. Emmerich is directing from a script by himself, Harald Kloser and Spenser Cohen.
Also Read: Lionsgate Lands Roland Emmerich's Sci-Fi Epic 'Moonfall'
Emmerich is producing Moonfall under his Centropolis banner with Kloser producing through
his company, Street Entertainment. Ute Emmerich, Stuart Ford, J.P. Pettinato, Carsten Lorenz, and
Marco Shepherd are all listed as executive producers.
“We believe that the most effective way to facilitate worldwide cultural exchange is in collaboration with top artists, and this project marks a milestone for us as a solid content creator in the international film business,...
- 1/17/2020
- by Jeremy Fuster
- The Wrap
Actors Ruth Wilson and Clarke Peters took the dais at Ccxp to talk about HBO fantasy drama His Dark Materials, based on the best-selling novels by Philip Pullman. The two went into detail about their characters and how it has been like working on such an ambitious story about Dafne Keen’s Lyra, who, after searching for her kidnapped friend, uncovers a sinister plot involving stolen children and becomes a quest to understand a mysterious phenomenon called Dust.
Keen wasn’t able to attend the panel and sent a message of thanks via a video before the actors talked about the show, which tackles intense and heavy topics and themes is just as relevant to children as it is to adults. “We shouldn’t underestimate children,” said Peters. He references a quote that says “Out of the mouths of babes comes truth.”
He adds, “With [His Dark Materials], there are mature themes. If discussed in front of children,...
Keen wasn’t able to attend the panel and sent a message of thanks via a video before the actors talked about the show, which tackles intense and heavy topics and themes is just as relevant to children as it is to adults. “We shouldn’t underestimate children,” said Peters. He references a quote that says “Out of the mouths of babes comes truth.”
He adds, “With [His Dark Materials], there are mature themes. If discussed in front of children,...
- 12/8/2019
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
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