Disney Directing Program Unveils 2022-2023 Participants

EXCLUSIVE: After landing the hot package Red Shirt earlier in the week, Amazon Studios has added another high-profile property to their slate as Sources tell Deadline the studio has landed the action comedy Moxie starring Keke Palmer. Deadline broke the news that the package was out to buyers before the Thanksgiving Holiday and Amazon moved fast to land the rights tot pic featuring one of the bigger stars of 2022. Hawkeye director Bert is on board to direct with Heather Quinn penning the script. Palmer, Peter Lawson and Kate Churchill are producing. Sharon Palmer is exec producing.

In Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, Daniel Radcliffe steps into a surrealist, fictionalized take on the rise to fame of the quirky accordion player and singer. “Being British, I think the first time I ever heard him referenced was in The Simpsons,” Radcliffe says. Featuring a cast of cameos so unexpected and rich that even the Harry Potter star was constantly taken aback, the film led him to attempt the accordion for real, in this latest of a series of roles in which he has leaned into his comedic and musical chops. He recalls the films that make him cry and his early life on set, and quietly admits to a penchant for The Bachelor franchise.

France’s Les Arcs Film Festival has unveiled the 15 European feature film projects that will be presented in its Works in Progress showcase as part of its industry program, running December 1-10.

Jane the Virgin will become a proud young Zulu woman in a South African remake of the romantic comedy-drama format.

Michael B. Jordan makes his directorial debut with “Creed III,” in theaters next March.

EXCLUSIVE: Thorpe, a drama about the formative years of Native American Olympic track and field Gold Medalist Jim Thorpe, is on a fast track, just in time for Native American Heritage Month. Director Tracey Deer will direct a script whose latest draft is by William N. Collage (Emancipation). Pic is based on Jim Thorpe: World’s Greatest Athlete, a book by Robert Wheeler, who is exec producer and has provided underlying materials. The film also has the support and participation of the Thorpe family.

Strengthened by the worldwide release this past weekend of Disney/Marvel’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the Walt Disney Studios has crossed the $3B box office mark globally for the year so far.

SPOILER ALERT: The following reveals major plot points from tonight’s episode of CBS’ FBI titled “Ready or Not.”

Can any film this year be more music-centric than “TÁR’”? Todd Field’s acclaimed project follows a legendary (but fictional) composer and conductor’s fall from grace. Its star, Cate Blanchett, perfectly immerses herself in this deeply flawed character in a film that touches upon cancel culture, consequences, and how the world reacts to those they have built up but then want to tear down.

Sticking close — and we mean really close!!

The thing about filmmaking is, if you want to stay in shape, you’ve got to keep at it; it’s like exercise if you want to be at the top of your game. One way many filmmakers do this, to stay sharp in between projects—especially as some don’t have the privilege to make a film every two years—is to direct commercials.

Ting Poo (Val) has been tapped to direct a new documentary on pop superstar Christina Aguilera for Time Studios and Roc Nation.

John Lewis has tugged at the heartstrings of Christmas fans across the nation by using its highly-anticipated advert to raise awareness of children in care.

In what would be the first definitive biopic of the legendary hip-hop star and pop culture icon, Universal Pictures is developing a film about the life of Snoop Dogg. The film marks the first project under Snoop’s newly formed Death Row Pictures with Allen Hughes on board to direct and Joe Robert Cole set to write the script. Snoop will produce along with Hughes and Sara Ramaker.

Harry Styles has that “One Thing” — according to former One Direction bandmate Louis Tomlinson.

We are just a couple of days away from the long-awaited release of “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” and believe me, it’s going to be an absolutely massive film at the box office and fans are going to lose their minds (in a good way, obviously) when they see what Ryan Coogler and Co. have done with the story.

EXCLUSIVE: Mario Van Peebles (Power Book III: Raising Kanan) has wrapped production in Montana on Outlaws, a new Western that he wrote, directed and stars in for Quiver. Others joining Van Peebles in major roles include Whoopi Goldberg (Till), Cedric the Entertainer (The Neighborhood), Edward James Olmos (Mayans M.C.), John Carroll Lynch (Big Sky), William Mapother (Son of Monarchs) and M. Emmet Walsh (The Immaculate Room). 

The Les Arcs Film Festival will launch a new sidebar showcasing this year’s European entries to the Best International Feature Film Oscar category at its 14th edition, running December 10 to 17 in its namesake French Alps skiing resort home of Les Arcs.