Keenspot Graphic Novel ‘Dreamless’ by ‘Marry Me’ Creator Gets Film Adaptation (EXCLUSIVE)

Warner Bros International Television Production Australia, in partnership with Speech & Drama Pictures, has acquired exclusive international rights to develop holiday-themed ballad “How To Make Gravy” into a Christmas film.

Disney+ will adapt Sharon M. Draper’s Out of My Mind from page to screen as an upcoming movie. The project comes from Big Beach, Participant, EveryWhere Studios LLC and Disney Branded Television. Amber Sealey (No Man of God) will direct from an adapted screenplay written by Daniel Siepleman (Humanitas Prize winner for On the Basis of Sex).

We’ve seen a lot of actors cross over into the world of directing and the latest name to make the jump is Blake Lively (“The Town“). She’s landed a high-profile genre project that will see her collaborate with an unlikely screenwriter.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefFilm adaptation rights to hit Indian novelist Chetan Bhagat’s 2016 acclaimed book “One Indian Girl” have been acquired up by Sony Pictures International Productions. The studio plans a Hindi-language adaptation that will go into development later this year. Bhagat’s book, which broke pre-sale records on Amazon India when it was launched, revolves around a high-flying woman financier who is intelligent and successful, but finds it difficult to find love.

Actress Blake Lively (A Simple Favor) is mounting an adaptation of the graphic novel Seconds for Searchlight Pictures, in her feature directorial debut, Deadline can confirm.

Naman Ramachandran Executive producer and composer Joe Hisaishi and the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) are readying a stage adaptation of Hayao Miyazaki’s beloved 1988 Studio Ghibli film “My Neighbor Totoro.” It will open at London’s the Barbican this fall in collaboration with Improbable and Nippon TV.Hisaishi was the original composer of the film. Written by playwright Tom Morton-Smith (“Oppenheimer”) and directed by Phelim McDermott with production design by Tom Pye, costumes by Kimie Nakano, lighting by Jessica Hung Han Yun, and movement by You-Ri Yamanaka, the production will feature puppetry created by Basil Twist and music from Hisaishi’s score in a new orchestration by Will Stuart, performed live with sound design by Tony Gayle. Artwork for the adaptation includes a hand drawn title by Toshio Suzuki, producer for Studio Ghibli, who was involved in the planning and production of the original animated film.

Although their characters are all smooth talking legal experts on Paramount+ series “The Good Fight,” occasionally, some of the actors flub a line or two. And this is documented hilariously in this gag reel clip from the DVD release of Season 5, exclusive to TheWrap.Mandy Patinkin, who plays Judge Wackner, is first up in the video, combining recess and research into a brand new word.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentParis-based company Indie Sales has acquired Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk’s debut feature “Pamfir” which will world premiere at Directors’ Fortnight. The banner is handling international sales on the movie. Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk previously directed the short film “Weighlifter,” a European Film Award contender and winner of the Best Short Film Award in Angers.“Pamfir” takes place in Western Ukraine, on the eve of a traditional carnival.

Manori Ravindran International EditorFremantle has struck a strategic development deal with AWA Studios, the film and television division of AWA (Artists, Writers & Artisans).The deal will allow Fremantle and AWA Studios to collaborate and co-develop a slate of TV projects based on AWA’s expanding IP library. The graphic fiction publisher and entertainment studio was founded in 2018 by Marvel alumni Bill Jemas and Axel Alonso, and Jon Miller.Under the pact, the two companies will collaborate closely on “all aspects” of the partnership, with Fremantle leading on raising production finance and funding the development of projects.

Last year, few movies threw audiences for a loop like Michael Sarnoski‘s feature debut, “Pig.” Nicolas Cage stars in the film as a reclusive truffle hunter who returns to Portland, where he was once a renowned chef, to figure out who stole his beloved foraging pig. Many expected another unhinged Cage performance, but instead, “Pig” showcases Cage at his most understated in a quiet film about grief and loss that expertly subverts its revenge set-up.

Marta Balaga The Ukrainian Institute has issued an official letter to the Cannes Film Festival and French director Michel Hazanavicius asking them to rename his opening night movie “Z,” which the org claims is a pro-war symbol of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.In Russia, “Z” is considered a pro-war symbol that has also been used in pro-Russian demonstrations across Europe. The symbol has recently been adopted by some Russian figures taking part in world events, such as gymnast Ivan Kuliak who, while in Qatar for a World Cup event, sported a “Z” on his chest while standing on a podium next to Ukrainian athlete Illia Kovtun.

EXCLUSIVE: Michael Sarnoski is set to write and direct the feature film adaptation of Sabrina, which is based on the Nick Drnaso’s graphic novel of the same name, from New Regency and RT Features. New Regency is producing alongside RT Feature’s Rodrigo Teixeira. New Regency will finance the project. Sources close to Sarnoski say this will not be his next film as he is expected to make the A Quiet Place spin-off his next directing gig.

K.J. Yossman Originating as a Tumblr webcomic by U.K. writer and illustrator Alice Oseman, upcoming Netflix series “Heatstopper” tells the story of two British teenagers, Nick and Charlie, who navigate their friendship as their feelings turn romantic.Patrick Walters, head of development at production company See-Saw, first came across the queer comic in 2018 when Oseman launched a Kickstarter campaign from her bedroom to turn the series into a graphic novel, and immediately knew it was crying out for an on-screen adaptation.Four years and one pandemic later, “Heartstopper” will drop on Netflix on Friday, April 22.

In 2020, the rights to the New York Times best-selling novel, “The Water Dancer” were sold to MGM, Plan B, Maceo-Lyn, and Harpo Films with the intention of making a big-screen adaptation. Now we’ve learned that Nia DaCosta, known for the indie “Little Woods” and the “Candyman” remake, has been named the director for the project.

Leo Barraclough International Features EditorMunich-based sales agency Beta Cinema has closed sales to several major territories for stylish comic-book adaptation “Diabolik,” which is among the leaders in the race for Italy’s top film awards – the David di Donatello Awards – with 11 nominations. Beta Cinema will kick off presales on the film’s sequels in Cannes.“Diabolik” has been acquired by buyers in France (Metropolitan), Spain (Flins & Piniculas), and Latin America and Portugal (Sun Distribution Group).

AGC Television, the TV wing of Stuart Ford’s AGC Studios, is optioning a trio of books written by American author Jayne Allen.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaNia DaCosta will direct the feature film adaptation of Ta-Nehisi Coates’ best-selling novel “The Water Dancer.” The film is being backed by Metro Goldwyn Mayer and will be produced by Maceo-Lyn, Brad Pitt’s Plan B and Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Films.DaCosta directed last year’s horror hit “Candyman” and is also stepping into the Marvel Cinematic Universe with her next feature, the upcoming “The Marvels.” Her first film, “Little Woods,” starred Tessa Thompson and Lily James and premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2018 before getting released theatrically by Neon.“The Water Dancer” is a surrealist story that unfolds in the pre–Civil War South. It follows Hiram Walker, born into slavery, who lost his mother as a child and over time loses all memory of her.

Selome Hailu Charlamagne Tha God is developing new lines of graphic novels under his Simon & Schuster imprint Black Privilege Publishing as well as comic book series with AWA Studios, Variety has learned exclusively.To begin the endeavor, Charlamagne has tapped Kevin Grevioux (“Underworld,” “King of Killers”) as the writer of a new graphic novel project titled “Darkstorm.” Illustrated by Ken Lashley, “Darkstorm” follows a reluctant superhero with PTSD who is seen as an anti-hero except to those who know him best.On the comic books side, the first series in development is “The Vindicators,” which centers a a diverse superhero team and a relatable origin story set in a bleak dystopian future. “If you know anything about me, then you know how much I love comics,” Charlamagne said.