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“Euphoria” and “The White Lotus” actress Sydney Sweeney will star in the upcoming psychological horror film “Immaculate,” for Black Bear Pictures, the company announced on Friday.The film reunites Sweeney with director Michael Mohan (“The Voyeurs”), who will direct from a script by Andrew Lobel.Sweeney stars in the film as Cecilia, a woman of devout faith who is offered a fulfilling new role at an illustrious Italian convent. Her warm welcome to the picture-perfect Italian countryside is soon interrupted as it becomes clearer to Cecilia that her new home harbors some dark and horrifying secrets.Principal photography will commence in January 2023.Sweeney and Jonathan Davino will produce for Fifty-Fifty Films alongside David Bernad (“The Mule,” “The White Lotus”), who developed the project with Sweeney following their collaboration on “The White Lotus,” along with Teddy Schwarzman and Michael Heimler producing for Black Bear.

EXCLUSIVE: Horror movie The Monkey, the adaptation of the Stephen King short story, wrapped shoot a week ago and we can reveal that lead cast joining Theo James (The White Lotus) includes Tatiana Maslany (She–Hulk: Attorney at Law), Elijah Wood (The Lord Of The Rings), Christian Convery (Sweet Tooth), Colin O’Brien (Wonka), Rohan Campbell (The Hardy Boys) and Sarah Levy (Schitt’s Creek).

Lionsgate announced on Tuesday that its new Guy Ritchie film The Ministry Of Ungentlemanly Warfare is set to open in wide release on April 19. Set to contend with the pic in its opening weekend at the box office is Radio Silence’s untitled monster thriller for Universal.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter Neon has acquired North American rights to “Immaculate,” a religious thriller starring Sydney Sweeney. Sweeney, the star of “Euphoria” and “The White Lotus,” also produced the film with Black Bear and Middle Child Pictures. Neon is planning a theatrical release on a yet-to-be-determined date.

Neon has snapped up U.S. rights to Immaculate, a new horror film produced by and starring Sydney Sweeney (Anyone But You), for release in theaters on a date not yet disclosed.

EXCLUSIVE: It’s no secret that the independent film game is not for the faint-hearted, with the last decade seeing a number of companies and financiers collapse under the weight of the industry’s constant state of flux. But amidst the turmoil and unprecedented change, Teddy Schwarzman has been quietly building his Black Bear label into a full-fledged independent film studio. 

EXCLUSIVE: Black Bear and BlockFilm — the new production label of former Miramax boss Bill Block — are set to heat up the AFM market some more today with action movie Levon’s Trade, which will star Jason Statham (Fast & Furious franchise) and be directed by David Ayer (Suicide Squad) from a screenplay adapted by Sylvester Stallone (Creed).

EXCLUSIVE: Black Bear has closed a raft of international deals on Guy Ritchie’s next project, the as yet untitled action film which wrapped principal photography in Spain this week.

EXCLUSIVE: In a lucrative deal, Lionsgate has landed domestic distribution rights to Guy Ritchie’s (Sherlock Holmes) next project, which remains untitled, as principal photography wraps in Spain this week. 

Ed Meza @edmezavar The changing global strategies of streamers and their impact on the independent film sector were front and center for international industry reps at the Zurich Summit on Saturday. Sasha Bühler, Netflix’s director of film for Germany, Austria and Switzerland, Patrick Wachsberger, Black Bear president John Friedberg, John Lesher, Neon CEO Tom Quinn, Focus Features’ Kiska Higgs and CAA’s Roeg Sutherland were among the participants taking deep dives into major issues facing the global entertainment market. Commenting on changing investment strategies at Netflix, Bühler stated, “We’re available in over 190 countries and we have 238 million subscribers, very diverse, around the world, and we actively produce in 50 countries, so it’s not a one-size-fits-all approach, and there are territories that are more saturated than others.” There are definite growth markets for Netflix and the company has not slowed down its investments at all, she added.

EXCLUSIVE: Neon CEO and founder Tom Quinn, Black Bear International President John Friedberg and Iconoclast‘s Head of Film and TV Robert Walak stopped by Deadline’s Zurich Summit studio this weekend to talk about current projects. Watch the video above.

UPDATED: Craig Gillespie’s Dumb Money, which is making its TIFF world premiere this weeekend at the fest, is still on course for a three-step platform on Sept 15 -LA & NYC, and Sept. 22, but will now widebreak on Sept. 29 instead of Oct. 6. The comedy also sidesteps Universal’s The Exorcist: The Believer.

Sony’s Craig Gillespie-directed comedy, Dumb Money, about the GameStop meme investors isn’t going wide anymore on Sept. 22. Rather, the Culver City lot has opted to go exclusive with the ensemble movie on Sept. 15 in LA and NYC, then a limited break on Sept. 22, followed by a moderate release on Sept. 29 and a final wide on Oct. 6. You’ll remember, Sony moved Kraven the Hunter off of that first weekend of October to Labor Day weekend 2024.

more beloved auteurs among the critical community of the last few decades. Mann recently directed the pilot for HBO Max’s “Toyko Vice” while executive producing the Ansel Elgort and Ken Watanabe-starring show.

Black Bear UK, the newly established theatrical distribution arm of indie studio Black Bear, has made a series of hires, solidifying its core distribution team who will work out of the UK.

Katie Reul editor The official trailer for Sony’s “Dumb Money” has dropped, shedding light on how a group of amateur investors artificially increased the stock value of GameStop, the popular video game retailer. The short squeeze occurred in January 2021 after Reddit users on a page called “Wall Street Bets” united to catalyze a market explosion. As a result, significant hedge funds and independent short sellers incurred devastating financial loss. Based on author Ben Mezrich’s “The Antisocial Network,” “Dumb Money” similarly centers around the Reddit users behind the phenomenon with actors Seth Rogen, Paul Dano, Sebastian Stan and Pete Davidson in lead roles.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter Variety and Gotham Film and Media Institute kicked off the Cannes Film Festival in style, bringing together entertainment industry insiders and festival attendees for a welcome party at the newly revamped Carlton Hotel. The outdoor courtyard was filled with producers, executives and financiers and other Hollywood players, including Tom Bernard and Michael Barker, Martin Scorsese’s daughter Francesca, FilmNation’s founder Glen Basner, Cinetic Media boss John Sloss, CAA’s Ben Kramer and Black Bear International’s John Friedberg.  At the event, Leonine Studios was honored with the International Achievement in Film Award, a recognition designed to spotlight the honoree’s recent achievements. The German production, licensing and distribution company was formed by Fred Kogel in 2019 and established itself as one of Europe’s biggest movie buyers. It’s picked up more than 40 feature films, such as “Hunger Games,” “John Wick: Chapter 4,” “Everything Everywhere All at Once” and “Knives Out.”

Theo James will star in the latest feature film adaptation of a Stephen King short story. “The Monkey” will be adapted for the screen by Osgood Perkins, who will write and direct. The film will be produced by Atomic Monster’s James Wan and Michael Clear, C2 Motion Picture Group’s Jason Cloth and Dave Caplan (Babylon).

EXCLUSIVE: Fresh off starring in season two of HBO’s The White Lotus, Theo James has been set to lead new horror movie The Monkey, based on the short story of the same name by Stephen King.

may or may not have “Yellowstone” in his future, but he’s definitely due to team with Andrew Patterson, the director behind the acclaimed 2020 indie “The Vast of Night,” on the new film “The Rivals of Amziah King.”Patterson wrote and will direct the film, which is described as “a deeply atmospheric, character-focused crime thriller set against the unique backdrop of remote Oklahoma.” McConaughey will play Amziah King for Patterson, who lives in Oklahoma.Black Bear Pictures will fully finance the film with Heyday Films’ David Heyman, Black Bear’s Teddy Schwarzman and Michale Heimler, Heyday’s Jeffrey Clifford, Will Greenfield and Patterson producing. Executive producers include Heyday’s Rob Silva and Black Bear’s John Friedberg and Christopher Casanova.Black Bear International will launch international sales in Cannes, with WME Independent representing the U.S.

Matthew McConaughey has been set to lead crime thriller The Rivals of Amziah King, written and directed by Andrew Patterson (The Vast of Night). Black Bear International will launch offshore sales in Cannes with WME Independent repping U.S. rights.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter Matthew McConaughey is set to star in “The Rivals of Amziah King,” a crime thriller that takes place in rural Oklahoma. Black Bear International will launch international sales in Cannes, with WME Independent representing the U.S rights.  Andrew Patterson (“The Vast of Night”) is writing and directing “The Rivals of Amziah King.” Plot details are being kept under wraps, but a press release describes the film as a “deeply atmospheric, character-focused crime thriller set against the unique backdrop of remote Oklahoma.” McConaughey will star in the titular role of Amziah King.

“The Covenant” and the long-delayed “Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre,” the suddenly prolific British genre filmmaker has a new project set up by Black Bear International. The new film, with a title and plot under-wraps, is being prepped for buyers at Cannes and will mark a class reunion of sorts.

EXCLUSIVE: Amid simmering unease over the impact of the writers’ strike, the upcoming Cannes market is getting a shot in the arm with the arrival of Guy Ritchie’s next project, a big-budget untitled action movie which will star Henry Cavill (Man Of Steel), Oscar nominee Jake Gyllenhaal (Spider-Man: Far From Home) and Eiza González (Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw).

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor Alan Ritchson (“Reacher,” “Fast X”) has been set as the lead in “Motor City,” an action thriller from director Timur Bekmambetov (“Wanted,” “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter”). Black Bear Intl. will launch sales at Cannes. Ritchson will play John Miller, a Detroit man released from prison, who unleashes a rampage of brutal vengeance on those who framed him. The Detroit-set film will be “characterized by immersive visual storytelling, with stunningly choreographed and stylized action sequences,” according to a statement. Greg Silverman and Jon Berg will produce for Stampede Ventures, alongside Cliff Roberts and Chad St. John, who also penned the script. Executive producers include Chris Bosco and Gideon Yu for Stampede Ventures and John Friedberg for Black Bear Intl.

EXCLUSIVE: Avatar: The Way of Water star Sam Worthington has joined Oscar winner Riz Ahmed and Emmy nominee Lily James in thriller Relay, which began filming this week in New York and New Jersey.

Sony announced on Friday that they will release the starry Craig Gillespie film Dumb Money on the GameStop short squeeze of 2021 on October 20.

EXCLUSIVE: Alicia Witt (I Care a Lot) and Blair Underwood (Caste) have signed on to star alongside Nicolas Cage and Maika Monroe in Longlegs — the horror-thriller from Jason Cloth and Dave Caplan’s C2 Motion Picture Group (Babylon), which Osgood Perkins (The Blackcoat’s Daughter) is directing from his own script.

EXCLUSIVE: Neon is in pole position to win North American rights to Nicolas Cage and Maika Monroe horror-thriller Longlegs in the first sizeable domestic deal of this year’s EFM.

EXCLUSIVE: Black Bear International has closed a raft of international deals on EFM titles Longlegs and Fred & Ginger, we can reveal. The two projects were among the most in-demand with foreign buyers and the deals account for the lion’s share of each film’s budget.

EXCLUSIVE: Simona Tabasco (The White Lotus) will star opposite Sydney Sweeney in the psychological horror film Immaculate from Black Bear Pictures. Details regarding Tabasco’s role are being kept under wraps.

Riz Ahmed and Lily James are joining forces for the contemporary thriller “Relay,” which will be presented to buyers at European Film Market in Berlin.David Mackenzie, who helmed the Oscar-nominated “Hell or High Water,” will direct from a script he wrote with Justin Piasecki. Production begins in New York and New Jersey in April 2023.“Relay” stars Ahmed as Tom, a “fixer” whose specialty is brokering major payoffs between corrupt corporations and the individuals who threaten to ruin them.

EXCLUSIVE: We’re not quite done yet with the European Film Market packages, with a nice one coming together at the eleventh hour as Oscar winner Riz Ahmed and Baby Driver star Lily James have been set to lead thriller Relay for director David Mackenzie (Hell or High Water).

Julia MacCary editor Álvaro Morte, Benedetta Porcaroli, Dora Romano and Giorgio Colangeli have joined Black Bear Pictures’ upcoming psychological horror film “Immaculate” with previously announced star and producer Sydney Sweeney. The film has begun its principal photography in Rome. The horror film depicts devoutly religious Cecilia (Sweeney) who receives an offer at an illustrious Italian convent. While seemingly picture-perfect, her new home in the Italian countryside holds some horrifying secrets. Morte’s credits include “Money Heist,” “Mirage,” “The Wheel of Time” and the upcoming series “Talkies.” Porcaroli has worked on projects such as “Perfect Strangers” “Baby,” “18 Presents” and the upcoming “Il Vangelo Secondo Maria.” Romano was featured in “The Hand of God,” “Perfume: The Story of a Murderer,” “Imma Tataranni – Deputy Prosecutor” and “Night Sun.” Colangeli’s credits include “Il Divo,” “Mindemic,” “Citizens of the World” and the upcoming “Castelrotto.” Sweeney’s acting work includes “Euphoria,” “The White Lotus” and “The Handmaid’s Tale.”

Black Bear International has further bolstered its team with the hire of Luane Gauer as SVP, International Production & Acquisitions.

EXCLUSIVE: There’s more star power on board for Guy Ritchie and Jerry Bruckheimer’s new war movie, The Ministry Of Ungentlemanly Warfare, we can reveal, ahead of its February 13 start date.

There’s more star power on board for Guy Ritchie’s new war movie, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, which announced new cast additions today before its principal photography starts Feb. 13.