Former Anonymous Content Partner Joy Gorman Wettels Launches Production Company Joy Coalition & Strikes First-Look Deal With Fifth Season

If it couldn't get much worse for Stephen Reid considering he's turned to murder to keep his money troubles a secret, he now looks set to suffer more setbacks in Coronation Street. Todd Boyce, who plays the troublesome character, has been pictured filming as Stephen heads for more honest ways of making money.

EXCLUSIVE: Jeff Frost, who recently left his post as President of Sony Pictures Television Studios, has set up a production company, Bristol Circle Entertainment, and has signed a first-look TV production deal with the indie studio. Under the pact, Frost is executive producing the high-profile new series from Breaking Bad creator and Better Call Saul co-creator Vince Gilligan, starring Rhea Seehorn, which just landed at Apple TV+ with a big, two-season straight-to-series order.

Michaela Zee editor 20th Century Studios has revealed the first look and title of the latest addition to the “Planet of the Apes” franchise: “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.” Starring “The Witcher’s” Freya Allan, Owen Teague and Peter Macon, the next chapter of the “Planet of the Apes” saga will pick up several years after the conclusion of 2017’s “War for the Planet of the Apes.” “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” will be helmed by Wes Ball, director of “The Maze Runner” trilogy. The screenplay is by Josh Friedman, Patrick Aison, and “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” writers Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver.

EXCLUSIVE: 20th Century’s next installment in the Planet of the Apes franchise is a go and has found its new star as sources tell Deadline Freya Allan is set to star Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. Deadline reported last month that Owen Teague was tapped as the lead ape of the pic and insiders add that Peter Macon has also joined the cast. Production is set to start next with Maze Runner helmer Wes Ball directing the pic. This film starts an all-new chapter in the Planet of the Apes saga, picking up many years after the conclusion of 2017’s War for the Planet of the Apes. The screenplay is by Josh Friedman, Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver and Patrick Aison. Joe Hartwick Jr., Jaffa, Silver and Jason Reed are the film’s producers with Peter Chernin and Jenno Topping exec producing.

National Geographic has closed a first-look deal with Chris Hemsworth and producer Ben Grayson’s newly formed Wild State, a multi-platform production company that develops scripted and unscripted content.

Marking another major merger in the representation world, sources tell Deadline that Anonymous Content is in exclusive negotiations to acquire management And production firm Grandview/Automatik. The two companies have had discussions about a potential merger going all the way back to the spring with nothing serious ever coming of it but over the past couple weeks talks have ramped up and sources close to the situation say they are now exclusive.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter Anonymous Content is currently an exploring an acquisition of Grandview/Automatik, Variety has learned from sources. Should the deal go forward, it would merge the two management and production companies into a single entity. Sources say that the two companies had previously had limited discussions about a potential merger, but nothing was serious until recently. Reps for both Anonymous and Grandview/Automatik declined to comment. Grandview/Automatik was originally founded in 2014 by former CAA agent Matt Rosen, manager Jeff Silver, and producer Brian Kavanaugh-Jones. On the management side, Grandview currently has 20 managers handling over 500 clients. Among their top clients are “Top Gun: Maverick” director Joseph Kosinski, “House of the Dragon” co-creator Ryan Condal as well as series star Olivia Cooke, “Atlanta” executive producer and director Hiro Murai, “Prey” director Dan Trachtenberg, and “Maid” creator Molly Smith Metzler.

EXCLUSIVE: Deadline can reveal the first-look images from Rumble Through the Dark, the latest film from directing duo Graham and Parker Phillips (The Bygone), starring Aaron Eckhart And Bella Thorne. Scroll down for the pics.

David E. Kelley’s investigative drama series “The Calling” were released Monday by Peacock, offering a glimpse into the show ahead of its Nov. 10 debut on the streamer. Adapted from a series of novels by author Dror Mishani, the show’s plot follows a New York Police Department detective named Avraham Avraham (Jeff Wilbush), who typically relies on spirituality to guide his pursuit of truth until one investigation makes him rethink his beliefs. The series stars Wilbush, Juliana Canfield, Karen Robinson and Michael Mosley. One image highlights a particularly tense, yet slightly absurd moment where Wilbush is locked hands with a man wearing a hotdog suit in what looks like the context of an interrogation.

Teasers for the fourth season of Netflix's You have finally been released along with a number of clues about what's to come. While fans have known for a while that the fourth instalment of the hit show is in the works, Netflix have stayed tight-lipped about release dates and storylines. The streaming giant have now announced that the new series of You will be released in two parts in 2023; the first on 10 February and the second on 10 March.

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor Filming for the fourth season of the Sky Original series “Das Boot” wrapped in Malta last week, and the first look images have been released. NBCUniversal Global Distribution is handling international sales of the series, which is produced by Bavaria Fiction, on behalf of Sky Studios. In Season 4, which is coming to Sky’s premium channel Sky Atlantic and streaming service NOW next year, the brutal submarine war in the Mediterranean Sea comes to a head, while intrigues and secrets spread through Berlin. Resistance to the Nazis grows within the Kriegsmarine’s own ranks. After a shared tragedy, the siblings Klaus (Rick Okon) and Hannie Hoffmann (Rosalie Thomass) find their way back to each other. Both fight for their cause. Klaus has returned to the German Reich from Portugal. As a submarine commander he travels to Naples on a secret mission to change the course of the war. Hannie wants to help the many orphans who have become victims of the war and uncovers infamous machinations of the Nazi Reich.

Michael London, the Snowfall exec producer who runs Groundswell Productions, has cemented his relationship with Lionsgate.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter Chloé Zhao has entered into a multi-year first look TV deal with Searchlight Television, Variety has learned. Under the terms of the deal, Zhao will develop and produce scripted content for Searchlight TV across all platforms. It represents a homecoming for Zhao, with Searchlight having produced her Academy Award and Golden Globe-winning feature film “Nomadland.” “Chloe is a visionary filmmaker and, since the moment we finished ‘Nomadland,’ we have looked to find new ways to collaborate again,” said Searchlight presidents Matthew Greenfield and David Greenbaum. “We are inspired by the breadth of Chloe’s storytelling passions and are beyond happy to be able to link arms and expand the opportunities to support personal, powerful, and enduring stories.”

Foster Driver and Zoë Kent, through their production company Driver+Kent Media, have entered into a first look deal at A+E Studios.Under the pact, which was announced by Tana Jamieson, executive vice president, Creative Affairs at A+E Studios, Driver+Kent Media will develop and produce projects for sale on all global and domestic television platforms and services.Driver+Kent already have “Dead Eleven,” based on the book by Jimmy Juliano, and “Summerset,” created by George Northy, set up at the studio.“Foster and Zoë come to the table with an eye for stories that are relevant, speak to a global audience and showcase the complexities of the world we live in,” Jamieson said in a statement.  “Their eclectic film and television backgrounds combined with their passion for vibrant and inclusive storytelling make them ideal partners for us at A+E Studios. We’re excited to be in business with Driver+Kent Media and look forward to what’s ahead.”“We are thrilled to be deepening our relationship with the amazing team at A+E Studios through our new first look deal,” Driver and Kent said in a joint statement.

A+E Studios has entered into a first-look deal with Foster Driver and Zoë Kent through their production company Driver+Kent Media. Under the pact, Driver+Kent Media will develop and produce projects for A+E Studios for sale on all global and domestic television platforms and services.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter A+E Studios has signed a first-look deal with Foster Driver and Zoë Kent’s Driver+Kent Media. Under the deal, Driver+Kent will develop and produce projects for A+E Studios across all platforms for sale globally and domestically. “Foster and Zoë come to the table with an eye for stories that are relevant, speak to a global audience and showcase the complexities of the world we live in,” said Tana Nugent Jamieson, executive vice president of creative affairs for A+E Studios. “Their eclectic film and television backgrounds combined with their passion for vibrant and inclusive storytelling make them ideal partners for us at A+E Studios. We’re excited to be in business with Driver+Kent Media and look forward to what’s ahead.”

Director Kevin Bray is cementing his relationship with FX.

BreAnna Bell Kevin Bray has inked a first-look deal with FX productions, the production company announced on Thursday. As part of the agreement, Bray will be developing new content for FX. The deal further expands Bray’s relationship with FX. Bray directed the first three episodes of FX’s “The Patient” as well as several episodes of “The Americans” and “Snowfall.” In partnership with Color Force, Bray will also executive produce and direct on “The Sterling Affairs,” FX’s limited series about the downfall of Los Angeles Clippers’ owner Donald Sterling starring Laurence Fishburne, Ed O’Neill and Jacki Weaver. “We’ve been fortunate to work with Kevin on some of FX’s most acclaimed series and he’s a gifted artist with the skills to create series of his own,” said Nick Grad, FX’s president of original programming. “Kevin’s a wildly accomplished director and producer whose latest work on The Patient is among his best and will be on display in The Sterling Affairs and the projects he develops in the future for FX.”

Joe Otterson TV Reporter Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg and Donnie Wahlberg have signed a three-year first-look deal for unscripted projects with Lionsgate Television. The deal will see the couple produce and develop unscripted and reality projects, documentaries, short form productions, and non-fiction podcasts via their newly formed company, Work Baby Productions. Lionsgate company Pilgrim Media will provide development support and the production services entity for sold projects under the terms of the deal. “Our focus as a couple, and as partners, is to bring light to projects that we are passionate about,” said Wahlberg and McCarthy Wahlberg. “Our new partners at Pilgrim and Lionsgate share that passion, and we are so excited to work with them to make these dreams reality.”

Angelique Jackson Amazon Studios and Macro Film Studios have partnered for a new endeavor — a multiyear first-look film deal. Under the new pact, Amazon Studios will have first rights to feature film projects Macro will develop, package and produce for Prime Video, which is available in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide. News of the partnership was announced by Amazon Studios head Jennifer Salke, as well as Macro founder and CEO Charles D. King and Macro Film Studios president James F. Lopez. “With our ongoing goal to share MACRO Film Studios’ premium and acclaimed content to a global audience, there really is no better partner than Amazon Studios,” said King and Lopez in a joint statement. “Their reach extends to a national and international core and they are known the world over for a business acumen and long-horizon strategic thinking that is simply unmatched. We believe we will do great things together.”