AMC Networks Acquires Anime Specialist Sentai Holdings

EXCLUSIVE: Stath Lets Flats producer Roughcut TV has hired two development execs to bolster its scripted comedy/drama credentials and is taking the hit Channel 4 comedy back out to U.S. networks.

Directed by Sara Dosa, the film explores the relationship and achievements of the Kraffts, who captured never-before seen footage of volcanic eruptions and lava flows closer than anyone had ever filmed before. The pair followed their passions to the end, dying in a pyroclastic flow at Mount Unzen in Japan in 1991.

Leo Barraclough International Features EditorShudder, AMC Networks’ premium streaming service for horror, thriller and the supernatural, has acquired rights to psychological horror “Speak No Evil” ahead of its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival. Playing in the Sundance Midnight section, “Speak No Evil” is written and directed by Christian Tafdrup (“A Horrible Woman”) and is set for release in North America, the U.K.

EXCLUSIVE: The Santa Barbara Film Festival will be getting a touch of Lucy and Desi by way of honoring another pair of major stars.

Sony Pictures Classics has acquired the rights to “A Winter’s Journey,” an animated film from director Alex Helfrecht and the animation team behind “Loving Vincent.” SPC picked up the North American rights to the film as well as those for Latin America, Middle East, Scandinavia, Australia/New Zealand, Turkey, India, South Africa, Southeast Asia, Japan, Thailand, and worldwide airlines. No release date has been set.

Sony Pictures Classics has taken North America, Latin America, Middle East, Scandinavia, Australia/New Zealand, Turkey, India, South Africa, Southeast Asia, Japan, Thailand rights and global airlines to Alex Helfrecht’s animated movie A Winter’s Journey. 

Will Smith is shedding light on true stories behind his latest miniseries, .ET's Nischelle Turner spoke to Smith at the Palm Springs International Film Awards, where he touched on the importance of the show, which tells the story of Mamie Till-Mobley, who devoted her life to seeking justice for her son, Emmett Till, following his brutal murder.«There was a time in my life, where I was concerned with being a movie star and that concern has moved on,» Smith, who is serving as an executive producer on the series said of taking projects like  and his most recent film,. «I want to make stories that make me smile, I want to tell stories that make me cry and I want to tell stories about the triumph of the human spirit.»«I want to create things that have some contributing value to the human family,» Smith continued.In addition to boasting an all-star cast, the series also has JAY-Z as an executive producer on the project, with both the Oscar-nominated actor and 23-time GRAMMY-winning rapper signing on via their respective production companies, Overbrook and Roc Nation.ET's Kevin Frazier spoke with the cast at the show's Los Angeles premiere last month, and while they admit that none of them have talked to Smith or JAY-Z, their impact as collaborators was felt throughout.Cedric Joe, who portrays Till-Mobley's son, Emmett, said knowing Smith and JAY-Z were part of the project made it that much more special.«It's definitely exciting, especially growing up and being fans [of them],» Joe said.

A version of this story about “Belle” first appeared in the special animation section of Awards Preview issue of TheWrap’s awards magazine.The “Beauty and the Beast” story seems particularly suited for animation, and for reinvention.The tale of a forbidden love between a virtuous human woman and a monster is full of opportunities that really blossom in animation — wild transformations, magical objects and the exaggerated visual dramatization of such an unlikely romance. Thirty years after Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” enchanted audiences (and became the first animated feature ever nominated for the Best Picture Oscar), there’s a new and very different version of the story ready to steal your heart.“Belle,” the latest animated feature from Mamoru Hosoda (Mirai, “The Boy and the Beast,” “Mirai”), takes the folkloric tale into the current technological landscape and beyond.

Anaconda, which features Marry Me co-stars Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson, The Hangover, and 1991's starring and Later in the month, the buzzed-about drama series Shonda Rhimes , which tells the story of scammer Anna Delvey (played by ), will drop.

The world is mourning a fashion visionary. Sadly, on Tuesday, André Leon Talley, the former editor of Vogue magazine, passed away, according to reports from TMZ.  The outlet learned that the creative died in a White Plains, New York hospital. He was 73.

Ed Meza @edmezavarZDF Enterprises has closed deals with Asian buyers for new Scandinavian and Russian series, among them “Agatha Christie’s Hjerson,” “Sherlock: The Russian Chronicles” and “Top Dog.”Japan’s AXN Mystery picked up exclusive pay-TV rights for “Agatha Christie’s Hjerson,” a playful, modern-day whodunnit based on the fictional detective Sven Hjerson, created by Christie’s fictional writer Ariadne Oliver. The series centers on Hjerson and trash TV producer Klara Sandberg, who wants to reset her career with a true crime show featuring the once renowned criminal profiler.

King Richard actor posted a short clip on Monday (January 17) to celebrate Bright’s birthday in which the pair dance to Whitney Houston’s classic ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody’ together.Smith holds hands with Bright in the video while singing the chorus, and captioned the video: “85 Today! Happy Bday, Mom-Mom. Let’s dance our way to 100.”Watch the video here:A post shared by Will Smith (@willsmith)Meanwhile, Will Smith revealed last year that there had been a time in his life during which he contemplated suicide.In the trailer for documentary Will Smith: The Best Shape of My Life, the actor discusses his mental health struggles.“When I started this show, I thought I was getting into the best shape of my life, physically,” he said.

Will Smith had the sweetest dance party. On Sunday, the star celebrated his mother, Caroline Bright’s, birthday with a special tribute.“85 Today! Happy Bday, Mom-Mom. Let’s dance our way to 100,” Smith captioned a video of him and his mother in the middle of a dance floor.

Will Smith celebrated his mom’s birthday in style.

Will Smith has lots of reasons to celebrate lately.

Belle is set to top $2 million Thurs.-Mon. on 1,326 screens, according to distributor GKIDS. With Saturday’s actuals, it said, the gross surpassed $1.2M, making it director Mamoru Hosoda’s highest grossing film in the U.S. That was previously 2018’s Mirai with $812K.

Anime master Mamoru Hosoda makes movies that, even at their most elaborate, can reach such staggeringly emotional heights that they seem to break free of anything you're prepared for in an animated movie — or in most kinds of movies, for that matter.Any talented Japanese filmmaker working in fantastical animation inevitably draws comparisons to the great Hayao Miyazaki. But the more appropriate touchstone for Hosoda may be Yasujirō Ozu.