Grindstone Acquires Alan Ritchson’s Comedy-Thriller ‘Cicada 3301’

Denise Petski Senior Managing EditorDwayne Johnson has revealed the cast for Young Rock, his upcoming NBC comedy series inspired by his life. The project comes from Johnson and Fresh Off the Boat creator/executive producer Nahnatchka Khan.

Grindstone Entertainment has picked up the North American rights to The Gardener, which stars Gary Daniels and Robert Bronzi. The action thriller, written by Ben Demaree and based on a story by Jeff Miller (The Toy Box), stars Bronzi (Death Kiss) as an immigrant living a quiet life as a gardener at an English manor house and resorting to old skills to save the family he works for from violent home invaders led by a ruthless crime boss, played by Daniels.

Dade Hayes Finance EditorEXCLUSIVE: Virgil Films & Entertainment has acquired North American rights to Nasrin, a documentary about activist Nasrin Sotoudeh narrated by Oscar winner Olivia Colman.Sotoudeh is a human rights activists and an outspoken leader of Iran’s women’s rights movement. Last week, she cited serious health concerns in ending a six-week hunger strike in Evin Prison, where she has been serving a nearly four-decade sentence.

Also Read: 'Cuties' Director Blames Poster for Right-Wing Attacks: 'People Judged Without Understanding the Real Message'“DNA” stars Fanny Ardant, Louis Garrel, Dylan Robert, Marine Vacth, Caroline Chaniolleau, Alain Françon, Florent Lacger, Henri-Noël Tabary, Omar Marwan and Maïwenn.Maïwenn directed from a screenplay she wrote with Mathieu Demy. “DNA” is a production of Why Not Productions and Arte France Cinéma.

Peter Debruge Chief Film CriticSet partly in Ivory Coast’s “Mad Max”-like MACA correctional facility and partly in the imagination of its newest inmate, “Night of the Kings” feels radically different from most films set behind bars, and not just because of its one-of-a-kind location.

Mike Fleming Jr Co-Editor-in-Chief, FilmEXCLUSIVE: Keeping intact its long relationship with filmmaker Pedro Almodovar, Sony Pictures Classics has acquired The Human Voice, the 30 minute short film that stars Tilda Swinton and will be unveiled during the New York Film Festival.

We’re all badly addicted to technology, addicted to our phones, addicted to text message dings, Twitter notifications, Instagram stories, and lord knows what other social media apps distracting us from life and consuming us 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This is the jumping-off point of “Save Yourselves!“: two Brooklyn hipsters fully aware of their social and digital obsessions and deciding to take a trip out of town and to seclusion to unplug from it all.

Dacre Montgomery could not be happier for his Stranger Things co-star David Harbour, after he married girlfriend and musician Lily Allen in Las Vegas earlier this month.

Japanese gaming giant Bandai Namco Entertainment (BNEE) is acquiring Montreal-based developer Reflector Entertainmentfrom Lune Rouge. The deal, which also includes the subsidiary Reflector Interactive, is expected to close in the fourth quarter of this year and will see Reflector founderAlexandre Amancio stay on as chief creative officer.

Also Read: 'Shiva Baby' Director Turns Her Jewish, LGBT Background Into Comedy (Video)“It’s really hard to make smart look stupid but Quentin Dupieux has managed the feat spectacularly,” says Magnolia President Eamonn Bowles in a statement to TheWrap. “‘Mandibles’ had me howling.

Saban Films is closing in on a North American distribution deal for Pixie, a comedy thriller that stars Olivia Cooke and Alec Baldwin. Pixie also stars Ben Hardy, Daryl McCormack and Colm Meaney, with Barnaby Thompson directing from a script by Preston Thompson (Kids in Love).

Also Read: Michael Shannon, Patrick Schwarzenegger Drama 'Echo Boomers' Picked Up by Saban Ahead of TIFF PremiereJonathan Saba and Bill Bromiley negotiated the deal for Saban Films along with Endeavor Content on behalf of the filmmakers.

Kate Winslet is opening up with how she feels about working with controversial directors Woody Allen and Roman Polanski, years after their movies were released.

It may have taken a lot longer than fans of his would have hoped, but Woody Allen has been able to skip the Hollywood system altogether and make a new comedy, titled “Rifkin’s Festival.” And ahead of its September 18 debut at the San Sebastian Film Festival, we now have a trailer for the feature.

Also Read: Woody Allen Rips Son Ronan Farrow's Journalism as 'Shoddy,' Questions 'Credibility'“Since coming here, my mind started playing tricks on me,” Shawn says in the trailer for “Rifkin’s Festival.” “Now I’m beginning to question what I want, who I am. Who am I?”“Rifkin’s Festival” is Allen’s fourth film made in partnership with Mediapro and Gravier Productions, and the film is also a co-production of Wildside.

Woody Allen’s latest film, “Rifkin’s Festival,” has a first trailer, which Variety can share exclusively.Produced by Spain’s The Mediapro Studio, Allen’s own Gravier Productions and Italy’s Wildside, the comedy will world premiere at Spain’s 68th San Sebastian Film Festival, opening the event on Sept.

Patrick Hipes Executive Managing EditorNeon said Wednesday that it has acquired U.S. rights to writer-director Philippe Lacôte’s Night of the Kings, a deal that comes after the pic premiered earlier this week in the Horizons section of the Venice Film Festival.

Lily Allen and David Harbour tied the knot! The 35-year-old Smile singer and the 45-year-old Stranger Things actor got married on Monday (September 8), TMZ confirmed on Wednesday (September 10).

Dave McNary Film ReporterNeon has acquired U.S. rights to Philippe Lacôte’s prison drama “Night of the Kings,” which premiered Monday in the Horizons sidebar of the Venice Film Festival.“Night of the Kings” is set to play at both the Toronto International Film Festival and New York Film Festival later this month.