Film News Roundup: Edgar Wright Boards Kidnap Thriller ‘The Chain’ for Universal Pictures

Dave McNary Film ReporterMONDAY, JULY 6Military thriller “The Outpost,” starring Orlando Bloom and Scott Eastwood and released by Screen Media, was the top performer on iTunes on July 3, its opening day.“The Outpost” is based on Jake Tapper’s best-selling non-fiction book, “The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor.” It details a 2009 attack by 400 Taliban insurgents in the Battle of Kamdesh in the Afghanistan War. Bravo Troop 3-61 CAV became one of the most decorated units of the 19-year

Today, it’s being reported that Oscar-winning composer and film legend Ennio Morricone has passed away at the age of 91, due to complications from a recent fall. To say that Morricone is one of the most influential composers in film history is an understatement.

Also Read: Ennio Morricone, Oscar-Winning Film Composer, Dies at 91“With great sadness, we say goodbye to a big master of cinema. His music will keep playing in our memories.

Jazz Tangcay Artisans EditorAntonio Banderas, Edgar Wright, Jean Michel Jarre, Chance the Rapper and even the Italian prime minister were among the people paying to legendary film composer Ennio Morricone early Monday, who died following complications from a fall.

Sarah-Jane Mee has welcomed her first child with fiancé Ben Richardson.The 41 year old Sky News anchor took to her Instagram feed to announce the news as she shared a stunning black and white photo of the little baby. The snap sees the youngster wearing a baby grow with an illustration of a TV on it that had "Breaking News" written in it.

Dave McNary Film Reporter101 Studios announced it will domestically distribute Robert De Niro’s comedy “The War With Grandpa” on Sept. 18 in partnership with financier Brookdale Studios.The film, directed by Tim Hill and produced by Marro Media Company, is based on the children’s fiction novel by Robert Kimmel Smith and centers on a boy being forced to give up his bedroom when his grandfather moves in.

Good News ambassador Georgia Toffolo lift your spirits with her roundup of the best good news stories this week. Toff, and Monty the dog, have picked their favourite positive stories to show us that all is not bad in the world.

“Scott Pilgrim vs. The World” is usually considered one of the best video game movies ever made because of how well it translated that medium into a film, despite being based on a comicbook.

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World anime project could be on its way.It’s been 10 years since the Michael Cera-starring adaptation of Bryan Lee O’Malley’s graphic novel series hit screens, and now, according to its director, discussions are being had about a potential animated Scott Pilgrim project.“There’s some plans – and there’s nothing official yet – but there are some plans to revisit the material in an animation way,” Wright told Entertainment Weekly.

Nowadays, people tend to look back at Edgar Wright’s film adaptation of the comic book series “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” with fondness.

Dave McNary Film ReporterTUESDAY, JUNE 23Universal has set a July 23, 2021, release date for M. Night Shyamalan’s untitled thriller, which stars Eliza Scanlen, Thomasin McKenzie, Aaron Pierre, Alex Wolff and Vicky Krieps.Shyamalan will write, direct and produce the film.

Dave McNary Film ReporterIn today’s film news roundup, three projects — “The Culling,” “Atlantis” and “A Savannah Haunting” — are unveiled; “Transhood” wins the Audience Award at AFI Docs; the WGA East announces 15 candidates; and the Visual Effects Society honors five members.PROJECT LAUNCHESUniversal Pictures is developing the thriller “Atlantis with “Jurassic World” director Colin Trevorrow and his Metronome Film Co.

Tom Grater International Film ReporterEXCLUSIVE: Arclight Films will handle world sales on Bloody Hell, the horror-thriller from Alister Grierson, whose 2011 pic Sanctum grossed $100M global for Universal.The new pic is written by Robert Benjamin and is set between Boise, Idaho and Helsinki, Finland, following Rex Coen, played by Ben O’Toole (Hacksaw Ridge), a man with a mysterious past who flees the country to escape his own personal hell only to arrive somewhere much worse.Meg Fraser, Caroline

As the world waits to see Edgar Wright’s upcoming psychological terror, “The Last Night in Soho”— delayed into spring 2021 thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic—the admired English filmmaker already has a new film on his radar. Wright will be adapting the popular, Amazon book “The Chain,” written by Irish writer Adrian McKinty.

Also Read: Edgar Wright's 'Last Night in Soho' Gets New 2021 Release and First Look Image (Photo)Universal’s executive vice president of production Matt Reilly will oversee the project on behalf of the studio.Wright, who’s known for the cult action comedies “Baby Driver,” “Scott Pilgrim vs.

Mike Fleming Jr Co-Editor-in-Chief, FilmEXCLUSIVE: In a seven-figure deal, Universal Pictures has optioned The Chain, the 2019 bestselling novel by Adrian McKinty. Baby Driver helmer Edgar Wright will direct, while Jane Goldman (Kingsman: The Golden Circle and X-Men: First Class) is writing the script.The novel had been in talks to be acquired by Paramount before it was published last July by LittleBrown/Mulholland, but the deal never crossed the finish line.

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentFID Marseille will take place from July 22-26 as a live, physical event, claiming to be the first post-COVID film festival in the world. The fest will include a tribute to German filmmaker Angela Schanelec, with eight films screening, including her latest work, Berlinale Silver winner “I Was at Home, But” (Ich war zu Hause, aber).

Dave McNary Film ReporterIn today’s film news roundup, the Santa Barbara Film Festival moves back, Legion M is backing “Save Yourselves!,” Gravitas buys “Odd Man Rush,” a Tiny Tim documentary finds a home and The Creative Coalition is backing films about obesity.FILM FESTIVALThe Santa Barbara International Film Festival has shifted its dates backwards for its 36th annual event, which will now take place from March 31 to April 10, 2021.The festival, which typically occurs in January and is a key

Dave McNary Film ReporterIn today’s film new roundup, “Broken Hearts Gallery” moves back, “Burnt Orange Heresy” gets a release date, “Summertime,” “2 Hearts” and “The Mechanic” find homes and Helen Mirren is narrating “Escape from Extinction.”RELEASE DATESSony Pictures has moved back the release of romantic comedy “The Broken Hearts Gallery” from July 10 to July 17.The studio said Tuesday that the movie will still be the first wide release of the summer. Last week, Warner Bros.