EXCLUSIVE: Justin Johnson Cortez (911: Lone Star) is set as a series regular on CBS Studios’ CW pilot Walker: Independence, executive produced by Jared Padalecki. Walker: Independence, a prequel to the CW/CBS Studios series Walker, is set in the late 1800s and follows Abby Walker, an affluent Bostonian whose husband is murdered before her eyes while on their journey out West. On her quest for revenge, Abby crosses paths with Hoyt Rawlins, a lovable rogue in search of purpose. Abby and Hoyt’s journey takes them to Independence, Texas, where they encounter diverse, eclectic residents running from their own troubled pasts and chasing their dreams. Our newfound family will struggle with the changing world around them, while becoming agents of change themselves in a town where nothing is what it seems.
ICM’s Jeff Barry Joins Range Media Partners as International TV Head
07.02.2022 - 20:23 / variety.com
Matt Donnelly Senior Film WriterLongtime ICM Partners agent Jeff Barry has joined Range Media Partners, where he will head up the company’s international TV department.He arrives at the management company — founded by a trove of top representatives who defected from the legacy agencies over the past two years — as a partner. He will be tasked with building out numerous Range verticals including literary and scripted studio divisions.Barry had been with ICM since 2008, where he specialized in helping international writers, directors and actors crossover into Hollywood.
Barry is one of many stalwart agents expected to find other gigs as ICM awaits a formal acquisition by CAA.“If the last few years have taught us anything, it is that the future of television and film is international. There is a strong demand and interest in global content, and for the dynamic creators who tell these stories,” Barry said of the new gig.
“Range provides an amazing platform for these artists to bring their compelling and unique narratives to life, while serving the growing appetite of networks, global streamers and audiences alike,” Barry’s clients over the years have included Ed Berger (“Your Honor”), Joe Barton (the upcoming “Cloverfield” sequel), David Nicholls (“Patrick Melrose”), Matthew Carnahan (“House of Lies”), Quoc Dang Tran (“Marianne,” “Parallels”), Stephen Schiff (“The Americans”), Paul and Michael Clarkson (“The Haunting of Hill House”) and Andrew Cividino (“Schitt’s Creek”). Clients making the move to Range are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.“Jeff is a trailblazer who has built a tremendous reputation over the years for his relentless work ethic, dynamic approach to representation and unwavering leadership guided
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Morley Nelson Helming ‘Uncontained’; BondIt Media Capital Boards ‘My Times Up’; Virgil Films, Freestyle, Gravitas Acquisitions; More – Film Briefs
EXCLUSIVE: Police officer turned video game writer and technical director Morley Nelson (MIB: Alien Crisis, The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct) is currently in production in Minnesota on Uncontained, a horror-thriller that he is directing from his original screenplay.
‘Immigrant’: Dan Stevens Joins Hulu Limited Series
EXCLUSIVE: Dan Stevens (Legion, Eurovision Song Contest: The Story Of Fire Saga) has been tapped for a key role in the Hulu limited series Immigrant (working title), starring and executive produced by Kumail Nanjiani, from Pam & Tommy creator Robert Siegel.
DJ Jazzy Jeff says ‘Bel-Air’ might be his “favourite show ever”
Will Smith‘s longtime musical accomplice DJ Jazzy Jeff has lavished praise on the new Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air reboot, calling the show “mind-blowing”.Bel-Air sees newcomer Jabari Banks take on the role of Will as his life changes up following the move from West Philadelphia to Bel-Air in Los Angeles.Speaking in a recent interview with HipHopDX, Jeff spoke highly of Smith’s work as executive producer on the show.He said: “I wasn’t involved in the making [of the show], but I am one of the hosts of the official Bel-Air podcast that’s coming out. I am super-duper excited because, without giving any spoilers, if someone was to take The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air in the ’90s and move it to ’20 to ’22 and put a dramatic spin on it, I don’t think they could have done a better job.“I think more people are going to be talking about Bel-Air than the Super Bowl.
Screen Media Acquires Psychological Thriller ‘The Immaculate Room’ Starring Emile Hirsch & Kate Bosworth
EXCLUSIVE: Screen Media has acquired North American rights to the psychological thriller The Immaculate Room, from writer-director Mukunda Michael Dewil (Vehicle 19). The Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment company has slated the title, starring Emile Hirsch (Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood, Into the Wild), Kate Bosworth (Before I Wake, Still Alice), Ashley Greene (Bombshell, The Twilight Saga) and M. Emmet Walsh (Blood Simple, Blade Runner), for a day-and-date release in the second half of this year.
‘Oppenheimer’: Matthew Modine Joins Christopher Nolan’s Film For Universal
EXCLUSIVE: Matthew Modine (Stranger Things, The Dark Knight Rises) is the latest addition to the cast of Christopher Nolan’s anticipated film Oppenheimer for Universal Pictures.
‘The Boys’ Star Jack Quaid Joins Christopher Nolan’s ‘Oppenheimer’
EXCLUSIVE: Following the box-office success of the most recent installment, Scream star Jack Quaid looks to have found his next big project as sources tell Deadline he is the latest top tier addition to Christopher Nolan’s next film Oppenheimer. The A-list ensemble already includes Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr., Florence Pugh, Rami Malek and Cillian Murphy, who is set to star in the title role as J. Robert Oppenheimer, the scientist who ran the Manhattan Project that led to the invention of the atomic bomb. The film will bow on July 21, 2023, a slot typically saved for Nolan films in the past. It’s also roughly two weeks before the anniversary of the dropping of the bomb on Hiroshima. Details behind who Hartnett will be playing are unknown at this time.
Lauren Sanchez celebrates L.A. Super Bowl-winning alongside Jeff Bezos and her ex Tony Gonzalez
Jeff Bezos and his girlfriend, entertainment reporter and news anchor, Lauren Sanchez.While enjoying the game, the entrepreneur and the media personality mingled with their friends, including, Lauren’s ex, former football tight end Tony Gonzalez, one of the Latino athletes who has played at the Super Bowl.A post shared by Lauren Sanchez (@laurenwsanchez)Before the exciting match, Bezos and Sanchez started the weekend partying alongside other A-listers. The pair attended the h.wood Group and Revolve’s pop-up party headlined by Justin Bieber.
‘Acting: The First Six Lessons’: Freestyle Digital Media Acquires Narrative Documentary Written By And Starring Beau & Emily Bridges
EXCLUSIVE: Freestyle Digital Media has acquired North American rights to the narrative documentary Acting: The First Six Lessons, written by and starring Beau Bridges and his daughter Emily Bridges. The digital film distribution division of Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group/Entertainment Studios plans to release the drama across VOD platforms on March 8.
Andrew Rannells Joins Hulu Chippendales Limited Series ‘Immigrant’
Joe Otterson TV ReporterAndrew Rannells has been cast in a recurring role in the upcoming Hulu limited series “Immigrant.”The darkly comedic series tells the true story of Somen “Steve” Banerjee (Kumail Nanjiani), the Indian-American entrepreneur who started Chippendales. Along with Nanjiani and Rannells, the cast also includes Murray Bartlett and Annaleigh Ashford.Rannells will play the rich kid investor in Chippendales New York and the love interest of Bartlett, who stars as producer-choreographer Nick De Noia.Rannells’ recent onscreen roles include “Black Monday” at Showtime and “Girls5Eva” at Peacock.
‘Immigrant’: Andrew Rannells Joins Kumail Nanjiani In Hulu Limited Series
Andrew Rannells has been tapped for a recurring role in Hulu limited series Immigrant (working title), starring Kumail Nanjiani, Annaleigh Ashford and Murray Bartlett, from Pam & Tommy creator Robert Siegel.
Screen Media Buys Lena Headey, Sam Worthington Thriller ‘9 Bullets’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaScreen Media has acquired North American rights to “9 Bullets,” a new crime thriller with “Game of Thrones” star Lena Headey and “Avatar’s” Sam Worthington. The studio is planning a day-and-date release in April. “9 Bullets” centers on a showgirl (Headey), who risks everything when she rescues a young boy after his family is murdered by her ex-boyfriend, who also happens to be the local crime-boss (Worthington).
Jeff Goldblum-Narrated ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ Documentary Picked Up by Go2Films (EXCLUSIVE)
Leo Barraclough International Features EditorJerusalem-based sales agent Go2Films has taken both worldwide rights (excluding North America) and Israeli distribution rights to “Fiddler’s Journey to the Big Screen” by Oscar-nominated director Daniel Raim and narrated by Jeff Goldblum. Kino Lorber and Zeitgeist Films will handle North American distribution on the film, which follows the making of Norman Jewison’s “Fiddler on the Roof.”The film was meant to have its international premiere in the Official Selection of Palm Springs Film Festival, which was cancelled due to COVID-19.
Lauren Sanchez shows how much vigilance it takes to fly a helicopter and supports Jeff Bezos
Lauren Sanchez loves to fly. On Sunday, the Black Ops Aviation founder shared a photo from her helicopter training where she landed a different helicopter for the first time. The pic was of her thumb with a circular imprint from the throttle.
‘Oppenheimer’: Dane DeHaan Joins Christopher Nolan’s Historical Drama For Universal
Dane DeHaan (The Staircase, ZeroZeroZero) has signed on to star alongside Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Florence Pugh, Robert Downey Jr., Matt Damon, Rami Malek, Benny Safdie and Josh Hartnett in Christopher Nolan’s film Oppenheimer for Universal Pictures, Deadline has confirmed.
ICM Vet Jeff Barry Joins Range Media Partners As Partner
Jeff Barry is heading to Range Media Partners as Partner and will lead the company’s International TV efforts, as well as building out their lit department, scripted studio and verticals.
‘The Masked Singer’ Executive Claire O’Donohoe Joins Banijay U.K. to Further Expansion Plans
Naman Ramachandran Leading entertainment format producer Claire O’Donohoe has joined Banijay U.K. as director of programs.O’Donohoe will work closely with her long-time creative collaborator Natalka Znak, the newly appointed CEO of group companies Remarkable, Initial, and ZnakTV, a company Znak set up in 2021 after departing Sky-backed outfit Znak & Co.O’Donohoe has some two decades of TV experience in the U.S. and U.K.
Fox’s ‘Masked Singer’ Commissioner Claire O’Donohoe Joins Natalka Znak At Banijay
Fox exec Claire O’Donohoe, who helped launch The Masked Singer and I Can See Your Voice in the U.S., is to team up with her long-time creative collaborator Natalka Znak at Banijay.