ArcLight Films, MEP Capital Management Buys Library of The Lotus Entertainment (EXCLUSIVE)

EXCLUSIVE: Apple Original Films has set a first-look feature deal with Nike’s Waffle Iron Entertainment and Makeready, to develop and produce sports films.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaProducer and entrepreneur Alex Lieberman has launched Bright West Entertainment, a new film finance and production company with a special focus on backing documentary content.The company is making a big splash this month. Three of its next feature documentaries — “On the Line: The Richard Williams Story,” “Subject” and “Rudy! A Documusical” — are set to world premiere at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival, which kicks off on Wednesday.“I’m focused on financing interesting stories and trying to serve as a catalyst to help projects get made,” Lieberman tells Variety.

Though he only has a few directing credits under his belt, the name David Leitch is really synonymous with loud, explosive action with a side of quips. And if the new trailer for “Bullet Train” is any indication, that’s exactly what you’re getting in the director’s latest venture.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaHappyNest has closed an equity investment into GoKidGo, an audio company geared towards making content for kids. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The pact gives HappyNest proprietary development rights to adapt short-form and long-form animated series from GoKidGo original characters, including a new original R.L.

Natalie Anderson has renewed her wedding vows in a surprise ceremony at Velassaru in the Maldives – so secret that not even her husband James Shepherd knew what was about to happen.MORE: Natalie Anderson lands dream role alongside Liam Neeson as she makes film debutSharing the happy news exclusively in HELLO! magazine, 40-year-old Natalie says, "How James didn't know is beyond me," as she reveals she hatched a plan with their nine-year-old son Freddie that played out in the finest tradition of a romantic film, with him delivering a special letter to get his father to the beach ceremony on time.WATCH: 10 of the most spectacular HELLO! exclusive weddings"It was so magical and so intimate with it just being the three of us. It was absolutely perfect and all I dreamt it would be," says Natalie of the ceremony that took place on 28 May, just days before their wedding anniversary on 6 June.READ: Natalie Anderson reveals how former Emmerdale co-star helped her with new roleMORE: Natalie Anderson on expanding her familyQuite by chance, the joyful mix of red, white and blue in both the traditional costume and island location was a glorious reminder of the celebrations going on back home for the Platinum Jubilee."Red petals, white sand, blue sky – it was incredible," says health and fitness project manager and coach James, 50.

Marc Malkin Senior Film Awards, Events & Lifestyle EditorAmazon Studios and Brad Pitt’s Plan B Entertainment are developing a limited series based on “The Deviant’s War: The Homosexual vs. The United States of America,” historian Eric Cervini’s New York Times bestseller.

has added star Griffin Matthews to the cast, ET has exclusively learned. He will play a recurring character who will appear opposite Tatiana Maslany as Jennifer Walters, a lawyer who handles superhuman-related legal cases. “Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would join the Marvel Universe!” Griffin tells ET about joining the MCU.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaAs viewers gear up for the final seasons of “Stranger Things,” “Stranger Sings! The Parody Musical” is launching new productions this fall in London and Australia. It will also mount an Off-Broadway revival, where the show was a hit during its initial 2021 run.The London production gets points for atmosphere — it will set “Stranger Sings!” within a maze of disused railway arches underneath Waterloo Station.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaDocumentary studio XTR and Crooked Highways are teaming up on “Merch!”The upcoming documentary will look at the origin and impact of music merchandise through the stories of pivotal musicians, designers, fans, and entrepreneurs who helped commodify artists. The non-fiction feature will trace the history of these products, starting with the first Elvis Presley concert t-shirt.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaDouglas Carter Beane, the Tony Award-nominated playwright behind “The Nance” and “The Little Dog Laughed,” has signed with Verve for representation in all areas.Beane is one of the most prolific and celebrated writers in the theater business, having seen many of his works produced to great acclaim both on and off Broadway. He has moved seamlessly between genres and subject matter, from straight plays to musicals, often injecting a drawing-room wit and sophistication into the material.Beane’s plays include “As Bees in Honey Drown,” “The Closet,” “Shows for Days,” “Mr.

success of the Deadpool franchise, but prior to that the actor made many movies, most of which don’t come immediately to mind. You’d be forgiven if you’d forgotten Ryan Reynolds once starred alongside Denzel Washington in the movie Safe House. It’s possible Reynolds himself would like to forget it too, as he apparently gave Washington, not one, but two black eyes.

A follow-up to the $130M-plus grossing movie Law Abiding Citizen is happening with producer Lucas Foster and screenwriter Kurt Wimmer returning, as well as Gerard Butler and his G-Base partner Alan Siegel reprising their roles as producers.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaBlue Fox Entertainment has acquired worldwide rights to “Unexpected,” an offbeat comedy starring Anna Camp, Joseph Mazzello, Neil Flynn and Ryann Shane. The movie is currently in post-production.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaScreen Media has acquired all North American rights to “The Locksmith,” an upcoming action-thriller starring Ryan Phillippe, Kate Bosworth and Ving Rhames.The film was directed by Nicolas Harvard, a veteran first assistant director whose credits include “Hell or High Water” and “Whiplash.” It marks his feature directorial debut. Screen Media is planning a day-and-date, theatrical and on-demand release later this year.In “The Locksmith,” Miller (Phillippe), an ex-con recently released from prison for a bungled robbery, tries to walk a straight line and work his way back into the lives of his ex, Beth (Bosworth), a police detective, and their young daughter.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaNeon has purchased North American distribution rights to Mark Jenkin’s “Enys Men,” ahead of the horror film’s premiere in the Directors’ Fortnight section of the Cannes Film Festival.The film, which sounds very shades of “The Wicker Man,” stars Mary Woodvine and Edward Rowe. Jenkin wore a lot of hats on this one.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaScreen Media has acquired North American rights to “Code Name Banshee,” an upcoming action-thriller with Antonio Banderas and Jamie King. The film will receive a day-and-date theatrical and on-demand release in July.Directed by Jon Keeyes and written by Matthew Rogers, the duo behind “The Survivalist,” the film follows Caleb (Banderas), a former government assassin in hiding, who resurfaces when his protégé, the equally deadly killer known as Banshee (King), discovers a bounty has been placed on Caleb’s head.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaA trio of veteran film financiers and producers are launching a new venture.Joe Simpson, Simon Williams and Jonathan Bross are teaming up on Ashland Hill Media Finance, a film and TV financing venture, backed by an alternative investment fund with assets under management of $1.85 billion. From its offices in Santa Monica and London, Ashland Hill expects to close upwards of 25 deals in the next 12 months, with plans to further expand its operations beyond the U.S.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaIFC Films has acquired North American rights to “R.M.N.,” the new film from acclaimed writer, director and producer Cristian Mungiu, ahead of its world premiere in Cannes this week.It’s a grand reunion for the indie studio and the director, marking their fifth distribution collaboration. IFC Films will release “R.M.N.” theatrically in 2022.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaWestEnd Films has closed a series of new deals on “Out of the Blue,” an upcoming thriller that brings together Neil LaBute and Diane Kruger.Rights for the film, which LaBute writes and directs, have gone to Australia and New Zealand (Kismet Movies), France (Metropolitan Filmexport), Germany (Koch Films), Spain (A Contracorriente Films), Italy (Eagle Pictures), Middle East (Phoenicia Pictures) Israel (Forum Film), Poland (Galapagos Films), Greece (Spentzos Film), former Yugoslavia (Investacommerce) and Portugal (Nos Lusomundo). WestEnd is also sharing a moody first-look image.Kruger, best known for her performances in “Inglourious Basterds” and “Troy,” leads an ensemble that also includes Ray Nicholson (“Promising Young Woman”), Hank Azaria (“Love & Other Drugs”) and Chase Sui Wonders (“Genera+ion”).