Jessica Henwick, Alisha Weir Join Ewan McGregor in Animated Feature ‘The Land of Sometimes’ (EXCLUSIVE)

Christopher Vourlias Urban Sales has closed a raft of deals on the upcoming animated feature “Into the Wonderwoods” ahead of its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in the Special Screenings section. The film, which bows with a special screening May 22 at the prestigious French fest, has sold to 45 territories, the Paris-based sales outfit announced during the Cannes Market. Pic has sold to Volga for the CIS territories and the Baltics; Selim Ramia & Co.

Marta Balaga The “Mavka” franchise is just getting started. Ukraine’s FILM.UA Group is now developing a live-action film based on the character already spotlighted in “Mavka. The Forest Song,” Variety has found out.

Ed Meza @edmezavar Writer, director and actress Toni Kalem (“The Sopranos“) is adapting Lore Segal’s internationally acclaimed 1964 semi-autobiographical novel “Other People’s Houses,” about a Jewish child refugee who finds asylum in Britain via the Kindertransport rescue effort. The story follows a 10-year-old Jewish girl from Vienna who is sent to England as part of the 1938 children’s transport that followed Nazi Germany’s annexation of Austria. She spends the next several years living in wildly disparate households, from wealthy families to modest working-class folks, an experience that presents her with stark impressions of England’s class system.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Paul Dano, Alicia Vikander, Jude Law, Zach Galifianakis and Tom Sturridge team up in Olivier Assayas’ political thriller “The Wizard of the Kremlin”, based on Giuliano da Empoli’s bestseller by the same name. Produced by Olivier Delbosc’s banner Curiosa Films and Gaumont – who last partnered on Cannes prizewinning “The Taste of Things” — “The Wizard of the Kremlin” is one of the hottest packages launching at the Cannes Film Market where Alexis Cassanet, Gaumont’s EVP international sales and distribution, is kicking off pre-sales.

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor Morgana Studios, ReachStar and ReDefine Originals are partnering on the animated feature “Diamante,” set on the lush Caribbean Island of the Dominican Republic. The film will be directed by Mathieu Ratthé with the screenplay written by Ratthé and Leticia Tonos Paniagua from an original idea by Claudio Lluberes. Animation will be handled by ReDefine Originals, which is part of DNEG.

Meghan Markle was seen taking the lead from a seemingly 'slumped' Prince Harry as they touched down in Los Angeles amid a swirl of controversy surrounding their charity The Archwell Foundation.The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were returning from the African country Nigeria after visiting to promote the Invictus Games and were snapped arriving in LA after a reported 'excruciating' 18-hour travel day. Their return comes amid the recent controversy circulating their charity which was accused of being behind on paying some legal fees.

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor Leading documentary specialist Autlook Filmsales has secured international sales rights to “Us, Our Pets and the War,” which looks at the impact of the war in Ukraine on animals, and how the conflict led to the biggest pet evacuation in history. The film, which became the highest-grossing theatrically released documentary in Ukraine of all time, is directed by investigative journalist and YouTube vlogger Anton Ptushkin.

Jazz For Two is one of the big Korean dramas of the year, and we want Just Jared readers to get to know the cast even better!

Sigourney Weaver is in talks to return to space for a key role in the next Star Wars movie, The Mandalorian & Grogu.

Despite Fallout taking place in the aftermath of a nuclear war, it’s truly not the end of the world for the Prime Video series, which has many miles to go. 

EXCLUSIVE: Belgian distribution and production company Belga Films Group is reuniting with award-winning director Jaco Van Dormael to produce The Magician of Auschwitz, which will be his first English-language feature in 15 years after shooting mainly in French.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have started their three-day visit to Nigeria. Harry and Meghan arrived in the west African country today, Friday 10 May, on the invitation of the chief of defence staff.The couple have been pictured during a visit to children at the Lights Academy in Abuja, with the pair seen beaming and smiling. Harry will later meet injured service members at a military hospital.They will also attend a training session for charity organisation Nigeria: Unconquered, which collaborates with the Invictus Games, as well as a reception where military families will be honoured.

EXCLUSIVE: Michael Stahl-David (Cloverfield), Scottie Thompson (Crown Vic) and Michael Weston (Home Before Dark) are in production in Ohio on Down to the Felt, an indie dark comedy with action elements from filmmaker Jon Osbeck. The trio joins a cast that also includes Jo-Ann Robinson and Cullen Douglas.

EXCLUSIVE: Excelsior! Kartoon Studios and the UK’s GFM Animation have teamed to develop and produce animated features based on the Stan Lee Universe.

EXCLUSIVE: Peyton Jackson and Estella Kahiha have been added to the cast of Jaume Collet-Serra’s The Woman in the Yard from Blumhouse for Universal.

Marta Balaga The Fantastic Pavilion returns to Cannes for its second edition, revealing seven Gala Screenings. This year’s selection features “Do Not Enter” by Hugo Cardozo, “Aire, Just Breathe” directed by Leticia Tonos, Doug Rao’s “Dirty Boy,” Can Evrenol’s “Sayara,” “Mourir or Not Mourir” by Anaïs Cave and Thomas Combret, Andreas Marschall’s “Black.White.Red.” and “Vadakkan” by Sajeed A.

Jennie Punter Process documentaries following Indigenous land protectors are typically endurance tests for filmmakers, not to mention protagonists. But the payoff is that these films often resonate strongly with audiences in their ability to take viewers beyond the headlines and frontlines in profound and intimate ways.

EXCLUSIVE: Chris Coy (Lawmen: Bass Reeves) has been tapped for a series regular role on Netflix‘s drama Black Rabbit, as well as a supporting role in David Robert Mitchell’s Warner Bros film Flowervale Street.

The Tribeca Festival has unveiled its reunions, retrospectives and talks series for the 23rd edition unspooling in June including a Storyteller Series with Judd Apatow, Andy Cohen, Kieran Culkin, Kerry Washington, Laverne Cox, Jon Batiste, and Michael Stipe.

When Taika Waititi released “Thor: Ragnarok” in 2017, the refreshingly comedic take on God Of Thunder was overwhelmingly well received, with fans loving the more irreverent take on the Norse God. Most critics and fans still consider it the best “Thor” film.