Steve Asbell Latest Celebrity News & Gossip

EXCLUSIVE: In a move that points to a change in direction he will take at the helm of Disney live action and 20th Century Studios, former Searchlight co-head David Greenbaum has made his first big statement buy, and it’s set to the music of Bruce Springsteen‘s seminal album Nebraska.

EXCLUSIVE: In a competitive situation with multiple studios bidding, 20th Century Studios has reeled in theatrical distribution rights to Imagine Entertainment‘s thriller Whalefall, based on the recently published novel by bestseller Daniel Kraus.

EXCLUSIVE: Effective immediately, Walt Disney‘s President of Motion Picture Studios Sean Bailey, who turned the company’s animation vault into a multibillion-dollar live-action movie business, is departing after 15 years on the lot. Searchlight co-president David Greenbaum is stepping in to replace him.

EXCLUSIVE: It’s been almost 13 years since James L. Brooks last directed a film and looks like fans of the Oscar-winning writer/director will soon have their wish granted as his next project nears production. Sources tell Deadline that not only as 20th Century come on to Brooks’ next film Ella McCkay but that Emma Mackey, Jamie Lee Curtis, Woody Harrelson, Ayo Edibiri, Albert Brooks, Kumail Nanjiani and Spike Fearn are in negotiations to star in the pic.

EXCLUSIVE: Hot directing team Radio Silence will next direct the reboot of Escape From New York for 20th Century Studios.

Planet Of The Apes franchise, alongside a first look from the film.Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes, directed by Wes Ball (The Maze Runner), picks up “many years” after the events of 2017’s War For The Planet Of The Apes.Freya Allan (The Witcher) and Peter Macon (The Orville) join previously announced cast member Owen Teague in the film, written by Josh Friedman, Patrick Aison and Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes screenwriters Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver.In a statement, Steve Asbell, president at 20th Century Studios, said: “Planet Of The Apes is one of the most iconic and storied science fiction franchises in film history, as well as being an indelible part of our studio’s legacy.A new saga begins.“Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes,” picking up many years after “War for the Planet of the Apes,” starts production next month and stars Owen Teague, Freya Allen, and Peter Macon. Directed by Wes Ball, “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” arrives in 2024.

Michaela Zee editor 20th Century Studios has revealed the first look and title of the latest addition to the “Planet of the Apes” franchise: “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.” Starring “The Witcher’s” Freya Allan, Owen Teague and Peter Macon, the next chapter of the “Planet of the Apes” saga will pick up several years after the conclusion of 2017’s “War for the Planet of the Apes.” “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” will be helmed by Wes Ball, director of “The Maze Runner” trilogy. The screenplay is by Josh Friedman, Patrick Aison, and “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” writers Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver.

The next installment of Planet of the Apes has been confirmed and the title and initial casting for the film have been revealed!

EXCLUSIVE: 20th Century’s next installment in the Planet of the Apes franchise is a go and has found its new star as sources tell Deadline Freya Allan is set to star Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. Deadline reported last month that Owen Teague was tapped as the lead ape of the pic and insiders add that Peter Macon has also joined the cast. Production is set to start next with Maze Runner helmer Wes Ball directing the pic. This film starts an all-new chapter in the Planet of the Apes saga, picking up many years after the conclusion of 2017’s War for the Planet of the Apes. The screenplay is by Josh Friedman, Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver and Patrick Aison. Joe Hartwick Jr., Jaffa, Silver and Jason Reed are the film’s producers with Peter Chernin and Jenno Topping exec producing.

We really haven’t had any huge announcements from 20th Century Studios in quite some time and that seems to have changed as we’ve gotten a handful of updates from the head of the studio in a recent one-on-one interview about various franchises the studio oversees for Disney. The Hollywood Reporter was able to speak with 20th Century Studios President Steve Asbell about the upcoming films that audiences can look forward to in the future beyond the four “Avatar” sequels directed by James Cameron, as Asbell was adamant the studio will hit its December 2022 release for “Avatar 2.” READ MORE: James Cameron Explains Why He Shot 3 ‘Avatar’ Sequels At The Same Time The studio boss promised the studio has “more ‘Free Guy‘ movies coming.” Adding it’s already busy in the scripting stage of development, “We’re awaiting a script that is days away.

20th Century Studios has signed a three-year first-look deal with Will Ferrell and Jessica Elbaum’s Gloria Sanchez Productions for feature length movies in the theatrical and streaming space.

Walt Disney Studios has made made two significant promotions to bolster its film group, following the exit of 20th Century Studios vice chairman Emma Watts in January.

The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed that Steve Asbell has been named president of production at 20th Century Studios, taking over for Emma Watts, who departed the post last month. Asbell has served as executive vp production at the studio formerly known as 20th Century Fox since 2012, and has been with the studio since 2002.

By Anthony D'Alessandro