Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentShooting is underway on “Woken,” a psychological thriller set on a remote island in the North Sea starring Erin Kellyman (“Solo: A Star Wars Story”) and Maxine Peake (“Funny Cow”).The pic is being directed by first-time Irish director Alan Friel who previously worked with Peake on his prize-winning 2017 short “Cake.”Cameras are rolling in Fanore Beach, Ireland, on “Woken,” which is being lead-produced by Ireland’s Fantastic Films. Fantastic has partnered on the pic with Italy’s Propaganda, the Rome-based indie shingle that is ramping up production and moving into the genre pics space.“Woken,” which is also written by Friel, is set against a post-apocalyptic scenario in which the isle provides a safe haven from a pandemic that has decimated earth.
Italy’s Picomedia Developing High-End Cambodia-Set Spy Thriller ‘The Supernotes Affair’ (EXCLUSIVE)
21.03.2022 - 17:37 / variety.com
Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentItalian producer Roberto Sessa (“The Sea Outside”) has snapped up rights to bestselling spy thriller “Supernotes” about a CIA-trained Italian intelligence officer who winds up in a Cambodian prison after investigating a sensitive scheme to print counterfeit $100 bills in North Korea.Picomedia chief Roberto Sessa plans to turn the book – which had previously been optioned by Alexandra Milchan’s Los Angeles-based Emjag Productions — into a high-end TV series that he is pitching to prospective partners during France’s Series Mania festival.“Supernotes,” which has been published in more than 30 countries, including the U.S., U.K. and France, is the purportedly true story of an Italian secret agent known as Agent Kasper who while on a mission during the mid-90s to investigate perfectly counterfeited $100 bills that were flooding Southeast Asia stumbles into an explosive secret behind them involving the CIA.
This leads the Italian operative to be forced to spend over a year in captivity in a detention camp near Phnom Penh.Meanwhile, back in Rome, a feisty lawyer named Barbara Belli hired by Kasper’s family to work for his release comes to realize that the agent has uncovered something so damaging that the CIA wants him silenced.Sessa, a veteran producer whose Rome-based Picomedia scored a hit recently with young adult drama “The Sea Outside,” says he was immediately captivated by the book written by Italian journalist Luigi Carletti and Agent Kasper. But he had to wait until Milchan’s option expired before recently buying the rights directly from the authors.“This is a very ambitious project that will probably irk Americans,” said Sessa, referring to the fact that CIA are indicated as
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Jade Goody's son Bobby heartbreakingly says he 'doesn't miss' mum as they never a developed close bond
Jade Goody's son Bobby Brazier admits that he "doesn't miss" his late mum as he doesn't think he was with her "long enough" to develop a close bond.
Tommy Lee Jones and Ben Foster Thriller ‘Finestkind’ Acquired by Paramount+
Paramount+ has acquired the rights to “Finestkind,” a crime thriller that stars Tommy Lee Jones and Ben Foster. Brian Helgeland, an Oscar-winner for “L.A. Confidential,” will both write and direct the film that will begin production later this month in Massachusetts.
Paramount+ Picks Up Crime Thriller ‘Finestkind’ Starring Tommy Lee Jones, Ben Foster, Toby Wallace & Jenna Ortega
Paramount+ has acquired Finestkind, the crime thriller from Oscar winner Brian Helgeland which stars Academy Award winner Tommy Lee Jones, Ben Foster, Toby Wallace and Jenna Ortega. A drop date later this year on the streamer is scheduled.
‘Batman Unburied’ Podcast Premiere Date Set at Spotify
Todd Spangler NY Digital EditorPodcast series “Batman Unburied,” a thriller delving into the dark recesses of Bruce Wayne’s psyche and featuring classic Batman villains, is set to launch on Spotify worldwide this spring.The drama series will premiere May 3 exclusively on Spotify. It’s the first project under the audio platform’s multiyear deal with Warner Bros.
Total European TV Production Dips For Soaps, While High-End Output Rises and BBC Reigns, Report Finds
Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentProduction of European TV scripted content dropped by more than 600 hours in 2020, which is 4% of total, mainly due to less soaps being made. Conversely, production of high-end shows increased.These are among the main takeaways of a new report issued by the EU’s European Audiovisual Observatory on Tuesday during the MipTV market in Cannes.The report lists the BBC as the top commissioner of high-end TV shows in 2020 with between two-to-13 episodes, followed by Netflix, German state broadcasters ARD and ZDF and French pubcaster France Télévisions.Germany leads the way as the top TV scripted content production country in Europe in terms of number of overall seasons and TV movies produced.
‘Squid Game’ Director Hwang Dong-Hyuk Prepares ‘Killing Old People Club’ as Next Feature
Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent“Squid Game” director Hwang Dong-Hyuk said he’s developing “Killing Old People Club,” a new film inspired by a novel penned by Umberto Eco, the revered Italian intellectual and essayist. Speaking during a session at MipTV along with his producer Jun Young Jang at February Films, Dong-Hyuk revealed he has already penned a 25-page treatment about the project which will surely be “another controversial film,” he said. “It will be more violent than ‘Squid Game,'” teased Dong-Hyuk, adding that he might have to hide from old people after the film comes out.
Roland Joffe in Talks for World Wars Movie at APX, Cast Adds Olivier Martinez, Klaus Maria Brandauer (EXCLUSIVE)
Manori Ravindran International Editor“The Killing Fields” and “The Mission” director Roland Joffé is in talks to helm an epic drama spanning the two World Wars in a project set up with international film and media fund APX Capital Group.“L’Inverno” is the first pic to emerge from APX’s new Music World Films & TV venture — a new division headed by Mathew Knowles (Beyoncé’s father), who sold his Music World Entertainment Group to APX last month. As part of the deal, the film and TV division of Knowles’ company has been merged with the studio.APX will complete the financing on “L’Inverno,” with the $12-million budgeted movie starting principal photography in Rome, Italy, this fall.
Holly Willoughby fights tears in trailer for new show alongside different co-host
Holly Willoughby was left fighting back tears as she filmed her new TV show alongside a different co-host. Fans are used to seeing the This Morning star alongside Phillip Schofield.
Italy to Set Firm 90-Day Window Between Theatrical Release and Streaming Play
Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentIn a move that will transform Italy’s relationship with Netflix, the Italian government has set a firm three-month time window between a movie’s theatrical release and when it can drop on a streaming platform.The announcement was made by Italian Culture Minister Dario Franceschini during a Rome confab on the state of the country’s film industry held by the country’s motion picture association ANICA.The minister said he has signed a law that will extend the existing 90-day theatrical window for Italian films that had benefitted from government subsidies to now include all films, regardless of where they are produced or how they are financed.Due to its having a more flexible windowing policy than France, Italy in recent years has been an interesting testing ground for the theatrical releases of Netflix titles, largely because the Venice Film Festival is a frequent launching pad for the platform’s original films.
Freeze the Fear: Holly Willoughby squirms in trailer for BBC's iciest show
They say cold-water swimming has its health benefits, but from the looks of BBC’s new show, dipping in the icy cold brings more challenges. The new trailer for Freeze the Fear with Wim Hof, aka The Iceman, features eight celebs embarking on an epic adventure through the sub-zero temperatures of Northern Italy. Across the six-part series, they’ll be living together in a tented village surrounded by snow, and be testing themselves – both physically and mentally – with challenges like walking barefoot in the snow and freezing showers.
Gino D'Acampo leaving This Morning and moving back to Italy: 'I am a little bit sad'
This Morning chef Gino D'Acampo has revealed he is leaving the ITV daytime show.The 45 year old celebrity chef, who has become a popular fixture on the programme, shared his plans on the latest edition today, Tuesday, March 29. “I was just walking around because I am a little bit sad today because I am going to go to Italy very soon, so this is my last This Morning, until probably autumn or winter," Gino explained. “Thank god for that," presenter Phillip Schofield teased him.
Jennifer Lopez, Skydance TV Developing Post-WWII NYC Set Prime Video Series ‘Backwards In Heels’
EXCLUSIVE: We hear that Amazon in a competitive situation has taken the Jennifer Lopez-produced, Skydance TV series Backwards in Heels off the table.
‘Mission: Impossible 7’: Christopher McQuarrie Was Reportedly Hospitalized With Severe COVID After Multiple Outbreaks On Set
Shooting any film during the pandemic has been a challenge, but it sounds like “Mission: Impossible 7” has taken the cake. Despite Tom Cruise’s viral outburst chastising crew members, it doesn’t look like the brass were taking COVID-19 safety seriously enough on the shoot.
Alec Baldwin Set To Make Acting Comeback In Italian Christmas Comedies ‘Kid Santa’ & ‘Billie’s Magic World’
Five months after the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during the production of Rust, the film’s star Alec Baldwin is set to make his screen comeback in a pair of Italian Christmas features.
Alec Baldwin Set For Italian Films ‘Kid Santa’ & ‘Billie’s Magic World’ In Wake Of ‘Rust’ Shooting
Alec Baldwin has found his next pair of acting projects on the heels of the shooting on the Albuquerque set of his Western Rust, Deadline has confirmed.