Leo Barraclough-Senior Latest Celebrity News & Gossip

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentAs part of its Cannes Market presentations, HanWay Films arranged for Phillip Noyce to tell buyers about its true-crime love story “Peggy Jo,” which he will direct, with “Baby Driver” and “Yesterday” actress Lily James starring. The film is loosely based on the true-story of the life of Texan Peggy Jo Tallas, who takes to robbing banks while posing as a man.

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentBron Studios, whose film credits include “Joker,” “Bombshell,” “The Way Back” and “Greyhound,” has partnered with director Kornel Mundruczo (Cannes’ Un Certain Regard Award winner “White God,” Cannes competition title “Jupiter’s Moon”), and Alexander Rodnyansky, producer of Oscar-nominated films “Leviathan” and “Loveless,” to produce the television drama series about a woman who becomes a pioneer in the changing porn industry of the 2000s, while

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentOdessa Young (“Shirley,” “Assassination Nation,” “A Million Little Pieces”), Josh O’Connor (“The Crown,” “Emma,” “Gods Own Country”), Olivia Colman (“The Favourite,” “The Crown”) and Colin Firth (“1917,” “A Single Man,” “The King’s Speech”) will star in “Mothering Sunday” for director Eva Husson (“Girls of the Sun,” “Bang Gang – A Modern Love Story”).

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentSales agency Arclight Films has closed multiple key distribution deals for “Tomiris,” the epic action-adventure about the legendary Kazak warrior queen, directed by Akan Satayev (“The Liquidator”).

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentSolveig Langeland’s Stuttgart-based sales agency Sola Media has sold CGI animated feature film “Moonbound” to multiple territories.The film, directed by Ali Samadi Ahadi on a production budget of around $9 million, will be released in Germany and Austria by Little Dreams and Warner Bros.

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentAt the virtual Cannes market, the Exchange is pre-selling political thriller “The Independent,” the narrative feature debut of twice Emmy-nominated director Amy Rice, starring “The Big Sick” star Kumail Nanjiani.

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentBerlin-based sales agency Films Boutique has closed key territories on its bittersweet portrayal of the end of a relationship “Are We Lost Forever.”The Swedish LGBT drama, the feature debut of director David Färdmar, has been picked up by Outplay in France, Salzgeber in Germany, Peccadillo Pictures (U.K./Ireland), Arti Films in Benelux and Surtsey Fim in Spain.

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentLondon-based production, finance and sales outfit Film Constellation has closed key deals on documentary “He Dreams of Giants,” charting Terry Gilliam’s 30-year journey to bring the story of Don Quixote to life on screen.The film is the follow up from Keith Fulton and Lou Pepe’s “Lost in La Mancha” (2002), which focused on Gilliam’s first, and ill-fated attempt to tell the same story.Film Constellation has sold both films to Scandinavia and the

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentBeta Cinema has closed numerous deals on its Cannes virtual market slate, spearheaded by all-rights deals on Berlin competition entries “Berlin Alexanderplatz” to Le Pacte for France and “My Little Sister” to Weltkino for Germany, as well as “The Auschwitz Report” to Signature Entertainment in the U.K./Ireland.As well as the French deal, Burhan Qurbani’s new adaptation of Alfred Döblin’s “Berlin Alexanderplatz” was picked up by distributors in

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentWith many film lovers nervous about returning to movie theaters in the post-COVID era, a couple of Czech tech pioneers have come up with a service that enables films to be screened easily and legally in alternative settings, either outdoors or in non-theatrical venues, such as a bar or a restaurant.On Thursday, Ctirad Hemelík and Vít Krajíček will present their innovative movie distribution service Artinii to industry players as part of Cannes

Leo Barraclough Senior International Correspondent“My name is Udo,” says Udo Kier sitting in his home in Palm Springs, a converted library built by Swiss architect Albert Frey. The German actor – whose more than 260 screen credits include films by Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Gus Van Sant, Lars von Trier and Alexander Payne – has connected by Zoom for our call, which I had been told was no certainty, due to his lack of technical savvy.

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentJan Naszewski’s Warsaw-based sales agency New Europe Film Sales has closed several deals with leading independent distributors on the upcoming supernatural drama “Lamb” by Valdimar Jóhannsson, starring Noomi Rapace.The film was picked up by distributors in France (The Jokers), Germany (Koch Films), Poland (Gutek Film), Benelux (The Searchers), Hungary (Vertigo), Czech Republic (Artcam), Austria (Filmladen), Denmark (Camera Film), Switzerland

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentMunich-based sales agent Global Screen has sold 3D animated movie “OOOPS — The Adventure Continues,” which has its market premiere at Cannes’ online market, to multiple territories. Variety has been given exclusive access to the film’s trailer.

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentSolstice Studios, the movie studio headed by Mark Gill, has secured distribution worldwide for its psychological thriller “Unhinged,” starring Russell Crowe. The movie is set to open in U.S.

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentSolstice Studios, the movie studio headed by Mark Gill, has secured distribution worldwide for its psychological thriller “Unhinged,” starring Russell Crowe. The movie is set to open in U.S.

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentMunich-based sales agent Global Screen has closed deals on major territories for nature documentary “The Hidden Life of Trees,” based on Peter Wohlleben’s non-fiction bestseller, which has been published in more than 40 countries.Capelight has acquired all rights for North America, with Metropolitan picking up France.

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentU.S. production, finance and management firm The Cartel has appointed APA’s former head of motion picture literary Ryan Saul as manager/producer and has promoted Bradford Bricken to partner.

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentGerard Butler is set to reteam with “Greenland” and “Angel Has Fallen” director Ric Roman Waugh on action thriller “Kandahar.” CAA Media Finance is representing the film’s U.S.

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentMunich-based sales agent Global Screen closed major European deals for drama “Veins of the World,” the fiction feature film debut of director-screenwriter Byambasuren Davaa, whose “The Story of the Weeping Camel” was nominated for an Oscar for best documentary, and sold to more than 60 territories.“Veins of the World,” which premiered at the Berlin Film Festival and will also be screened at the Marché du Film Online, has been picked up by Les

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentVariety has been given access to the first exclusive clip for horror movie “The Banishing,” which will have its market premiere during the Cannes Marché du Film this week, with WestEnd Films handling sales. Variety spoke to its director Christopher Smith, whose previous genre movies, “Creep,” “Triangle” and “Severance,” earned him a cult following.

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentPicture Tree Intl. has acquired international sales rights to the Norwegian romantic comedy “Diana’s Wedding,” directed by Charlotte Blom, and will selling the film at Cannes Market Online.Nordisk Film will handle distribution in the Scandinavian territories, with a theatrical release in Norway scheduled for Sept.

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentHugh Jackman is in talks to star in Michael Mann’s racing drama “Ferrari,” about Ferrari founder Enzo Ferrari. STX will be handling international sales at the Cannes virtual market, with CAA Media Finance representing U.S.

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentThe British branch of Women in Film and TV has launched a campaign to highlight the huge number of freelancers who have been left unable to claim for either of the U.K. government financial schemes, leaving them in financial hardship.

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentA letter (see link here) proposing ways to remedy the lack of diversity in the British television business has been sent to the U.K. government, broadcasters, streamers, and other bodies in the industry, and signed by almost 1,000 people.

Leo Barraclough Senior International Correspondent“Mudbound’s” Garrett Hedlund and “The Rider’s” Brady Jandreau have signed on to star in writer/director Paxton Winters’ “Outside the Wire,” alongside Zahraa Ghandour (“Baghdad in My Shadow”). Film Constellation is handling international rights with UTA Independent handling North American.

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentFID Marseille will take place from July 22-26 as a live, physical event, claiming to be the first post-COVID film festival in the world. The fest will include a tribute to German filmmaker Angela Schanelec, with eight films screening, including her latest work, Berlinale Silver winner “I Was at Home, But” (Ich war zu Hause, aber).

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentMPC Episodic, which offers its VFX expertise to series creators, has expanded its senior team with the hire of seven key creatives. The outfit has also opened a Berlin office.Since its launch in January, MPC Episodic has been working on a number of series for clients including Disney Plus, BBC Studios, Apple TV Plus and Amazon Studios.

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentEarlier this month, the British government gave the greenlight to film and TV production to resume, but how can this be done safely? During a panel discussion on Wednesday, moderated by Joseph Chianese, executive VP at consultancy Entertainment Partners, three prominent figures in the British production sector spoke about how the industry is figuring out how to implement the guidelines issued by the British Film Commission, “Working Safely

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentKarlovy Vary Film Festival, the leading cinema event in Central and Eastern Europe, has unveiled the projects that will be showcased during the online edition of its industry program, Eastern Promises.

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentConstance Wu (“Crazy Rich Asians,” “Hustlers”) and Sam Heughan (“Outlander,” “The Spy Who Dumped Me”) have joined the cast of romantic comedy “Mr. Malcolm’s List,” where they will star alongside Freida Pinto, Sope Dirisu and Oliver Jackson-Cohen.

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentSales agent Beta Cinema is launching its Cannes Market slate, which is headlined by psychological thriller “Corvidae,” with a playful and novel approach. The company has produced an entertainment show, in the style of a late-night chat show, featuring its sales team pitching its films and presenting exclusive clips from them.

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentSales agent Le Bureau Films is set to launch sales at the Cannes Virtual Market on British writer and director Aleem Khan’s “Afterlove.” Variety has been given an exclusive image of the film, which is one of only five selected to receive the Cannes Critics’ Week Label.

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentUTA has signed “The Bachelor” alum and “The Viall Files” host Nick Viall for representation in all areas. The multi-hyphenate personality is best known for starring in the 21st season of ABC’s “The Bachelor,” after participating in three prior seasons of the franchise.

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentVariety has been given exclusive access to the first-look image for “Naked Singularity,” starring John Boyega and Olivia Cooke, which is being sold in international markets by Anton, and in the U.S.

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentFrench distributor ARP has acquired “Supernova,” a romantic drama starring Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci as a longtime couple on a road trip. The film, represented by The Bureau Sales, has now inked distribution deals in almost all territories worldwide.

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentBankside Films has boarded sales on Welsh-language contemporary horror “The Feast” (Gwledd), the directorial debut of Lee Haven Jones.