Amazon Studios Celebrating Queer Media with ‘Voices: Pride’ Virtual Event (EXCLUSIVE)

Manori Ravindran International EditorAmazon Studios is in late-stage discussions for “Foe,” an adaptation of Iain Reid’s science-fiction novel starring Saoirse Ronan, LaKeith Stanfield and Paul Mescal.The streamer is closing in on global rights in a competitive situation, though a deal has yet to be signed.

EXCLUSIVE: On one of the hot Cannes Virtual Market packages, Amazon Studios has moved into exclusive talks on a worldwide rights dea for Foe, source said. Bidding was ferocious all weekend.

Ellise Shafer administratorAmazon Studios is firing back following reports that production on the upcoming “Lord of the Rings” series is not taking safety standards seriously, with the company calling the claims “completely inaccurate.”An article in the New Zealand Herald, published on Friday, reports that “at least three” stunt workers on the set of the “Lord of the Rings” series — which is costing Amazon $465 million to produce its first season — have been seriously injured.

Prince William and Prince Harry reunited on Thursday to honor Princess Diana.

EXCLUSIVE: Amuse Group USA, the American wing of one of Japan’s leading entertainment companies, is launching a new event that will put a selection of hot Japanese properties in front of U.S. content creators.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaDwayne Johnson will star in “Red One” for Amazon Studios, the streaming service announced Monday. The film will reunite Johnson with “Fast and Furious” scribe Chris Morgan — the pair recently collaborated on the hit spinoff “Hobbs & Shaw.”The deal for the film treatment, which comes after a highly competitive bidding situation, is another sign that Amazon is focused on creating more populist fare.

Dwayne Johnson and Dany Garcia’s Seven Bucks Productions are developing the feature film treatment Red One with Amazon Studios. Amazon won the project after a highly competitive bidding war. Johnson will star in four-quadrant holiday action adventure comedy project conceived by Hiram Garcia, President of Production at Seven Bucks.

EXCLUSIVE: Amazon Studios is teaming with Mandeville Films to turn the Antti Tuomainen novel The Rabbit Factor into a star vehicle for Steve Carell. Todd Lieberman and David Hoberman are producing and Alex Young will EP for Mandeville Films.

The new “Transformers” movie has only just begun shooting, but Paramount Pictures wants to let the world know that they’re still spending all the money on this franchise.

Adam B. Vary Senior Entertainment WriterThe “Transformers” movie franchise will take on the “Beast Wars” storyline from the late 1990s in “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts,” producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura and director Steven Caple Jr.

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EXCLUSIVE: Tom Spezialy, coming off a run as an executive producer on HBO’s Emmy-winning limited series Watchmen, has signed an overall deal with Amazon Studios. Under the pact, I hear Spezialy has joined Silk, Sony Pictures Television’s upcoming live-action Marvel series, which reportedly is headed to Amazon’s Prime Video as SVOD distributor. Reps for Amazon and Sony declined comment.

Leo Barraclough International Features EditorMotion Picture Exchange has acquired worldwide sales rights on the coming-of-age horror film “Student Body,” and will be launching it out of the Cannes Virtual Market next week.Written and directed by Lee Ann Kurr in her feature debut, the film features Montse Hernandez (“Lowriders,” “Jane the Virgin”), Cheyenne Haynes (“Camping”), Harley Quinn Smith (“Cruel Summer,” “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”), Austin Zajur (“Scary Stories to Tell in the

Leo Barraclough International Features EditorThe leading sales, finance and production outfit Beta Cinema will present first footage from the upcoming Australian comedy drama “How to Please a Woman” at next week’s Pre-Cannes Screenings.

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentOscar-nominated French actor Bérénice Bejo (“The Artist”) has joined Pierfrancesco Favino (“The Traitor”), Nanni Moretti, and the Italian cast of romantic drama “Il Colibrì,” which has started shooting in Rome.Fandango Sales is launching sales at the virtual Cannes market on this high-profile drama directed by Francesca Archibugi (“A Question of the Heart”) based on the eponymous novel by Sandro Veronesi, winner of Italy’s top literary prize, the Premio

Amazon Studios has promoted its British unscripted chief Dan Grabiner to head of UK originals.

Naman Ramachandran Dan Grabiner, formerly head of unscripted for Amazon Studios U.K., has been promoted to head of U.K. originals, reporting into Georgia Brown, head of Amazon originals, Europe.Grabiner’s remit is to oversee the team responsible for developing and producing U.K.

EXCLUSIVE: Filmmaker and Snowfall actor Malcolm M. Mays has been tapped by Amazon Studios to write a new script for the film Steal Away about the daring theft and escape of Robert Smalls, a slave in 1862 Charleston, SC.

Amazon Studios on Wednesday unveiled a division-wide inclusion policy that underscored its commitment to diversity, inclusion and equity for its content and productions, along with a “playbook” that includes guidelines for its collaborators in the creative community.