Paramount Won’t Renew Deal With Jerry Bruckheimer (EXCLUSIVE)

Italy in the spring and again in the fall to contain the spread of COVID-19, leaving virtual tours as the best option for art lovers who wanted to see the treasures held by institutions such as the Uffizi Galleries in Florence and the Vatican Museums in Rome.But some exquisite pieces of Italy's cultural heritage remain on display for in-person viewing inside the country's churches, which stayed open during the autumn resurgence of the virus.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaGeorge Lopez has joined the cast of Dito Montiel’s “Afterward.”It’s unclear what role Lopez will play in the dramatic thriller, but he joins an ensemble that includes Aaron Eckhart and Terrence Howard. Lionsgate Grindhouse is distributing the film in North America.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaDocumentaries about the fight for pay equity and America’s first Black variety TV show will help anchor the winter lineup of Independent Lens The Emmy Award-winning weekly series boasts several films that will make their broadcast debuts, including Jared Leto’s “A Day in the Life of America; Melissa Haizlip’s “Mr.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaWyatt Oleff, Kevin Pollak and Janeane Garofalo will star in Mark Rosman’s “In My Life.”As the film’s title suggests, the comedy/drama is inspired by the music of the Beatles. It follows Evan, a 16-year-old John Lennon wannabe, who is thrilled when the Beatles move in next door to his Beverly Hills home before playing the Hollywood Bowl in 1965.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaKiersey Clemons will star in 141 Entertainment’s “Susie Searches,” a darkly comic thriller from Sophie Kargman. “Susie Searches” centers on Susie (Clemons), an awkward college student who seizes the opportunity to bolster her popularity and her under-the-radar true-crime podcast by solving the disappearance of a classmate.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaIFC Films has nabbed North American rights to South African Oliver Hermanus’ “Moffie,” a queer war film that is set against the backdrop of a South African border war. The indie studio will release the film in April 2021.Hermanus directs the film and adapted the story from André Carl van der Merwe’s autobiographical 2006 novel with Jack Sidey.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaDramatists Play Service, the theatrical publishing and licensing house, has reached a deal to be acquired by Broadway Licensing. The transaction is expected to be completed by the end of March 2021.

Chris Pine has closed a deal to star in Dungeons & Dragons, the live action film based on Hasbro’s massively popular role-playing game from Wizards of the Coast. Hasbro/eOne and Paramount are jointly producing and financing, with eOne distributing in the UK and Canada, and Paramount the rest of the world.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaUniversal Filmed Entertainment Group has renewed its first-look deal with Working Title Films, the producer of many of the studio’s most beloved movies.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaJohn Mulaney and Andy Samberg will star in a new reboot of “Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers” for Disney Plus.The feature film will hit the service in spring 2022 and is a combination of live action and computer animation. Seth Rogen will cameo in the film, which Disney teased during its investor day.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaCast and crew members were sent home this week due to a coronavirus scare on the Los Angeles set of “Bullet Train,” the upcoming Brad Pitt action-thriller.The move was made after an asymptomatic crew person tested positive for COVID-19. In accordance with union protocol and out of an abundance of caution, the handful of cast and crew who had contact with the crew member went home and continued to be tested.

signed a first-look deal with Paramount in 2013, after Disney failed to renew its 20-year deal with the producer despite the blockbuster success of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise starring Johnny Depp.At Paramount, Bruckheimer produced last year’s Will Smith sci-fi film, “Gemini Man,” which disappointed at the box office.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaPaul Schneider, Shantel VanSanten, Kevin Corrigan, and Moises Arias will round out the cast of “American Murderer.” They join previously announced stars Tom Pelphrey, Ryan Phillippe, Idina Menzel and Jacki Weaver in the story of a charismatic con man turned party king who bankrolls his high living through a series of scams.The film is written and will be directed by Matthew Gentile, and is based on the true story of Jason Derek Brown.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaConcord Theatricals has secured exclusive worldwide licensing rights to “Slave Play” by Jeremy O. Harris, the galvanic look at sex, race, and power that scored a history-making 12 Tony Award nominations.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaUli Edel will direct “Shadow Song,” the story of the bond between a Chinese music student and his Jewish classmate.The film is a feature-length version of the 2017 short “A Children’s Song” and boasts a screenplay by Oscar-nominated screenwriter Robert Nelson Jacobs (“Chocolat”).

We’ve already seen the immediate fallout of the recent legal battle that Johnny Depp started when he sued a British tabloid for defamation for calling him a “wife beater” as a result of the heaps of allegations against the actor from ex-wife Amber Heard and other women he’s been involved with. That long legal battle resulted in all of Heard and Depp’s dirty laundry being aired out for the world to witness.

Ellise Shafer editorThe Independent Cinema Alliance has expressed disappointment over Warner Bros.’ decision to release the rest of its 2021 film state simultaneously in theaters and on HBO Max.In a statement released Monday, the volunteer alliance called for a return to theatrical exclusivity, writing that releasing movies solely in theaters for a period of time is “what drives that value – not streaming.” ICA pointed out that with the COVID-19 vaccine set to be distributed soon, a