Jason Blum and James Wan in Advanced Talks to Merge Production Companies

EXCLUSIVE: Veteran actress, producer and singer-songwriter Rita Wilson has today announced the launch of Artistic Films — a film production company that will look to tell inspirational stories of hope that resonate with audiences across wide demographics.  

NBC Universal chief Jeff Shell was coy yet clearly jazzed today about the possible merger of prolific horror producers Jason Blum and James Wan’s respective companies — Blumhouse and Atomic Monster – saying “I can’t confirm it,” but, “If that should happen, we are going to be in an absolutely impregnable position.”

EXCLUSIVE: George Stephanopoulos and Ali Wentworth have launched BedBy8, a production company focused on scripted television projects, limited series and documentaries. Former White House Deputy Chief of Staff Alyssa Mastromonaco serves as President of the company.

Ben Affleck says his newly minted studio Artists Equity, in partnership with Matt Damon, is going for films that are commercial but smart, that acknowledge popular tastes, but that “people remember 20 years later.”

Apple TV+ is offering a first look at Shrinking, the new 10-episode comedy starring Harrison Ford and Jason Segel.

Aussie actor Hugh Jackman was best known for musicals like “Oklahoma” when the Wolverine role was offered to him in the early 2000s. At the time, director Bryan Singer and 20th Century Fox had lost their original choice, Dougray Scott, to Tom Cruise’s “Mission: Impossible II.” After “X-Men” became a huge hit, Jackman was briefly considered for the role of James Bond in what would end up being 2006’s “Casino Royale.” He turned down the part paving the way for Daniel Craig to ultimately take the reins from Pierce Brosnan.

EXCLUSIVE: Colman Domingo’s (Fear The Walking Dead) Edith Productions has wrapped under-the-radar sci-fi thriller It’s What’s Inside.

Oscar winner Keith Carradine (The Power of the Dog), Emmy nominee Jason Ritter (Raising Dion), Betsy Brandt (Breaking Bad) and Wrenn Schmidt (Nope) have joined the cast of Fox’s upcoming anthology series Accused, based on the International Emmy-winning British series. The project comes from 24 executive producers Howard Gordon and Alex Gansa and House creator/executive producer David Shore.

Chris Brown was the center of more than just one instance of drama at the AMAs!

As Deadline’s Mike Fleming reported back in June of this year, Redbird Capital Partners has today confirmed details in that story. Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Gerry Cardinale are launching an artist-led studio that partners with filmmakers to empower creative vision and broaden access to profit participation.

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon launched their own independent production company Artists Equity Sunday, an artist-led studio that hopes to empower filmmakers’ creative visions through entrepreneurial partnerships.The production company’s first project will feature Affleck in front of and behind the camera as director and cast member while Damon stars in a the real-life story behind the creation of the iconic Air Jordan brand. The project is slated for release in 2023 in partnership with Amazon Studios, Skydance Sports and Mandalay Pictures and is one of three projects the company anticipates in 2023.Artists Equity, which is also led by Gerry Cardinale’s investment firm, RedBird Capital Partners, serves as an intellectual property monetization platform that seeks to enable all participants in the production to share in profits as well as partner with established and emerging filmmakers seeking a talent-friendly environment.

Even though we were right in the heart of Beverly Hills for last night’s American Cinematheque Awards tribute to Ryan Reynolds, you would be forgiven if you thought somehow you had been transported from the Beverly Hilton International Ballroom and landed in Canada. Judging from these proceedings Reynolds just may be the hottest import ever to come across the border.

EXCLUSIVE: Maeve Courtier-Lilley (The Outpost), Emelia Hartford (A Hollywood Christmas), Pepe Barroso (High Seas) and Sang Heon Lee (XO, Kitty) have joined the cast of the upcoming Gran Turismo film, based on the bestselling racing video game series of the same name, from Sony Pictures and PlayStation Productions.

Prolific horror producers Jason Blum and James Wan are in advanced talks to merge their respective production companies Blumhouse and Atomic Monster, Deadline can confirm.

Lily Collins, Charlie McDowell and Alex Orlovsky have partnered to launch Case Study Films, a production company that will look to tell compelling and outside-of-the-box stories through a commercial eye in both film and television.  

Newen Studios has acquired Vanessa Djian’s French production company Daï-Daï Films, in a move that continues its recent expansion.

Judy Blume‘s 1975 novel Forever is being reimagined for a new generation as a Netflix series of the same name. Mara Brock Akil (Girlfriends, Being Mary Jane) will serve as showrunner and executive producer of the project, her first under her overall deal with the streamer.