Todd Black Latest Celebrity News & Gossip

Hot on the heels of his first Academy Award nomination for his lead role in American Fiction, Jeffrey Wright has been set to join Denzel Washington and Ilfenesh Hadera in Spike Lee’s High and Low, an English-language reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 crime thriller, for Apple and A24.

EXCLUSIVE: Ilfenesh Hadera (Godfather of Harlem) has been tapped to star opposite Denzel Washington in Apple and A24‘s High and Low, an English-language reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 crime thriller, from filmmaker Spike Lee.

EXCLUSIVE: Sony has preemptively closed a deal for film rights to Grady Hendrix‘s short story “Ankle Snatcher,” tapping Hendrix to adapt it for the screen, sources tell Deadline. Hendrix is also set to produce alongside Escape Artists‘ Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal and Tony Shaw, as well as Aperture Entertainment‘s Adam Goldworm.

EXCLUSIVE: The long-in-development Masters of the Universe reimagining from Mattel looks to be gaining some momentum as sources tell Deadline Travis Knight is in final negotiations to direct. Insiders say his deal has still not closed at that other elements on the project are still coming together but all signs are pointing to Knight being the top choice to direct. Chris Butler to rewrite the script from an initial draft written by David Callaham, and Aaron and Adam Nee. Amazon MGM Studios in final negotiations for rights to the project and Mattel’s Robbie Brenner and Escape Artists’ Todd Black and Jason Blumenthal to produce.

EXCLUSIVE: Lighthouse Management + Media has signed buzzy writer-director Laura Kosann for representation in all areas.

Peacock has released the trailer for Season 2 of “Dr. Death,” starring Edgar Ramírez and Mandy Moore. The series is based on a true story told by the popular Wondery podcast of the same name.

There is an update about the long-awaited live-action Masters of the Universe project.

Amazon MGM Studios is eyeing a live-action Masters of the Universe film, based on the popular ’80s toys from Mattel, Deadline can confirm. While in very early talks, the project would come over to the streamer from Netflix, where it fell apart over the summer.

Matt Donnelly Senior Film Writer In “Masters of the Universe,” He-Man’s nemesis is the evil wizard Skeletor. In Hollywood, his greatest threat has been a list of studio partners that have sidelined him from the big screen for nearly two decades. The blond barbarian, based on a popular set of Mattel toys, may finally win the day.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Sony Pictures has acquired the English-language remake rights to Chinese comedy drama, “Hi, Mom,” which until recently overtaken by “Barbie” had been the world’s highest grossing film directed by a solo female. The original picture, directed by Jia Ling and released in early 2021, sees a young woman whose mother has been fatally injured in a car accident, travel back to the early 1980s where she becomes best friend to the younger version of her mother. That enables her to work on giving her mother a better life than first time around.

In a cinema that has plenty of offerings when it comes to guys with guns, what givesSony and Escape Artists’ Equalizer series with Denzel Washington that extra zhuzh?

EXCLUSIVE: Four-time Emmy winner Will Ferrell (Spirited) is in early talks to star as the NFL’s John Madden in Madden, a new film to be directed for Amazon/MGM by five-time Oscar nominee David O. Russell (American Hustle), multiple sources tell Deadline.

Angelique Jackson The all-star cast for Netflix’s adaptation of August Wilson’s “The Piano Lesson” has been revealed. Oscar winner Samuel L. Jackson and John David Washington will star in the feature film, reprising their roles from the highly successful Broadway revival of Wilson’s play, which recently concluded its run at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre. Set in 1936 Pittsburgh during the aftermath of the Great Depression, “The Piano Lesson” follows the lives of the Charles family, a household led by Doaker Charles (Jackson), and an heirloom, the family piano, which is decorated with designs carved by an enslaved ancestor. Washington plays Boy Willie, Doaker’s nephew, a role Jackson originated in the 1987 production.

EXCLUSIVE: Peacock has set its recurring cast for Season 2 of Dr. Death, adding Rita Volk (Faking It) Judy Reyes ( (Succession), Jack Davenport (Ten Percent),Annika Boras (Succession), and Sandra Andreis (Snabba Cash).

EXCLUSIVE: Sony has rounded out its cast for The Equalizer 3, with Eugenio Mastrandrea (From Scratch), Remo Girone (Ford v Ferrari), Sonia Ammar (Scream), Daniele Perrone (Baaria), Andrea Scarduzio (Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One) and Andrea Dodero (Blocco 181) signing on for roles. 

Lionsgate has landed the motion picture adaption of the hit Sega videogame phenomenon “Streets of Rage,” according to an individual with knowledge of the project.“John Wick” writer Derek Kolstad is penning the adaptation and producing alongside Sega’s Toru Nakahara, dj2 Entertainment’s Dmitri M. Johnson, Timothy I.

EXCLUSIVE: Lionsgate has acquired the feature adaptation of hit Sega video game Streets of Rage which John Wick franchise scribe Derek Kolstad is writing and producing alongside the videogame brand’s Toru Nakahara, dj2 Entertainment’s Dmitri M. Johnson, Timothy I. Stevenson, and Dan Jevons, and Escape Artists’ Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, and Tony Shaw. Deadline first told you about the project.

There have been reports over the last 24 hours of a drugs raid implicating production staff involved in the Italian shoot of The Equalizer 3 on Italy’s Amalfi Coast. 

EXCLUSIVE: Gaia Scodellaro is set to join Denzel Washington and Dakota Fanning in Antoine Fuqua’s The Equalizer 3 for Sony Pictures. Written by Richard Wenk, the film will being produced by Escape Artists’ Academy Award nominee Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, and Steve Tisch as well as Washington, and Fuqua.

EXCLUSIVE: Amblin Partners have picked up the sci-fi feature The Exchange, from writer Brian Watkins and producers Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal and Tony Shaw, of Escape Artists. Watkins will pen script with Black, Blumenthal and Shaw producing through their Escape Artists banner. Steve Tisch and David Bloomfield are exec producing 

J. Kim Murphy In a surprise shift to this year’s awards season, Will Smith’s next film “Emancipation” will release in 2022 after all. Apple announced the news Monday, releasing the first trailer for the Antoine Fuqua-directed historical drama. “Emancipation” premieres in theaters on Dec. 2 and will stream on Apple TV+ starting Dec. 9. Though “Emancipation” had originally been set for a 2022 release date, Apple elected to delay the film to 2023 after Smith became embroiled in controversy for slapping Chris Rock onstage at the Academy Awards. The embattled actor has since publicly apologized for his actions, sharing an emotional video released online in June, but has largely steered clear of the public eye since the Oscar ceremony.

Pedro Pascal (“The Mandalorian”) and David Harbour (“Stranger Things”) will star in HBO’s upcoming limited series “My Dentist’s Murder Trial.” The series, which is currently in development, is based on the true story of Dr. Gilberto Nunez’s indictment in the death of his friend Thomas Kolman.

HBO is developing My Dentist’s Murder Trial, a limited series, starring and executive produced by David Harbour (Stranger Things) and Pedro Pascal (The Mandalorian, The Last of Us).

Joe Otterson TV ReporterPedro Pascal and David Harbour at set to star together in the limited series “My Dentist’s Murder Trial” currently in development at HBO, Variety has learned.The series is inspired by the James Lasdun New Yorker article “My Dentist’s Murder Trial: Adultery, False Identities, and a Lethal Sedation.” The article told the true story of how Dr. Gilberto Nunez was indicted for the death of his friend, Thomas Kolman.Both Pascal and Harbour will executive produce in addition to starring.

EXCLUSIVE: It’s been nearly 20 years since their hit action thriller Man On Fire blew away audiences and further helped solidify Dakota Fanning as a future star but it now looks like she is ready to reteam with the Oscar Winning Denzel Washington. Sources tell Deadline, Fanning is set to star opposite Washington in Antoine Fuqua’s The Equalizer 3 for Sony Pictures.

EXCLUSIVE: Clayton Cardenas (Mayans M.C.) has signed on to star opposite Taraji P. Henson in Alessandro Camon’s upcoming drama Time Alone, based on his play of the same name, which will enter production in Los Angeles in July.

The film stars Kevin Hart and Woody Harrelson in a mix-up comedy in which a New York City screw-up is mistaken for the world’s deadliest assassin at an Airbnb rental apartment. It had previously been scheduled for theatrical release on August 12.

Netflix has acquired worldwide rights to Sony Pictures’ action-comedy The Man from Toronto, starring Kevin Hart and Woody Harrelson, Deadline can confirm. The film previously scheduled for release in theaters on August 12 will now bow on the streamer in all territories apart from China later this year.

Matt Donnelly Senior Film WriterKevin Hart and Woody Harrelson’s action comedy “The Man From Toronto” is headed to Netflix, Variety has learned exclusively.The Sony Pictures production originally dated for an August theatrical release has sold in a worldwide rights deal to the streamer,  in all territories barring China. The transfer falls under the exclusive first-look deal Sony signed with Netflix last year, on the heels of its notable windowing agreement with the tech giant in 2021.The film revolves around a case of a mistaken identity after the world’s deadliest assassin, known as the “man from Toronto,” (Harrelson) and a stranger, played by Hart, run into each other at an Airbnb. Chaos soon follows as the assassin’s world comes crashing down on Hart.

Steven Spielberg cited the hit Netflix Korean drama Squid Game as a game changer for the industry. Spielberg was among the nominated producers for the PGA Awards Zanuck Award speaking on a panel Saturday Morning at the Skirball Center in Los Angeles.

EXCLUSIVE: Oscar nominated multi-hyphenate Taraji P. Henson is set to star in Time Alone, adapted from Alessandro Camon’s award-winning play, with Camon slated to direct. Being the Ricardo producer Todd Black will produce along with Suzanne Warren. Emanuele Moretti’s Motus Studios will Finance with Oakhurst Entertainment’s Jai Khanna and Marina Grasic. Verve Ventures and Motus will co-represent domestic rights.

Denzel Washington’s nomination for best actor in the Joel Cohen film The Tragedy of Macbeth marks him as the most nominated Black actor in Oscar History, with ten nominations and two wins. 

West Side Story‘s Kyle Allen has been cast as He-Man in the upcoming Masters Of The Universe reboot.Producer Mattel Studios and Netflix made the announcement yesterday (January 28), revealing that Allen will take up the sword in the long-delayed live-action adaptation of the ’80s cartoon series.According to Variety, Allen will play an orphan named Adam who discovers he is a prince destined to be the saviour of a faraway land. He must quickly learn of his power and the importance of saving his true home from an evil force.Masters Of The Universe is set to be directed and co-written by The Nee Brothers (The Lost City and Band Of Robbers).

Matt Donnelly Senior Film WriterThe reported live-action feature film adaptation of “Masters of the Universe” has finally anointed its He-Man — rising actor Kyle Allen.Producer Mattel Studios and Netflix announced that the “West Side Story” actor will take up the sword and skimpy costume of the ’80s icon in a film to be directed and co-written by The Nee Brothers (of the upcoming Sandra Bullock film “The Lost City” and “Band of Robbers”).In “Masters of the Universe,” Allen will play an orphan named Adam who discovers he is a prince destined to be the savior of a faraway land. He must quickly learn of his power and the importance of saving his true home from an evil force.“Masters of the Universe is an iconic property that shaped the imaginations of an entire generation of kids with the message of becoming the best version of yourself.

Mattel’s live-action Masters of the Universe based on its iconic 1980s muscular action figure toy line is determined to live on.

Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion PicturesBeing the RicardosProducer: Todd Black, p.g.a.BelfastProducers: Laura Berwick, Kenneth Branagh, Becca Kovacik, Tamar ThomasCODAProducers: Philippe Rousselet, p.g.a., Fabrice Gianfermi, p.g.a., Patrick Wachsberger, p.g.a.Don’t Look UpProducers: Adam McKay, p.g.a., Kevin Messick, p.g.a.DuneProducers: Mary Parent, p.g.a., Cale Boyter, p.g.a., Denis Villeneuve, p.g.a.King RichardProducers: Tim White, p.g.a., Trevor White, p.g.a., Will Smith, p.g.a.Licorice PizzaProducers: Sara Murphy, Paul Thomas Anderson, Adam SomnerThe Power of the DogProducers: Jane Campion, p.g.a., Tanya Seghatchian, p.g.a., Emile Sherman, p.g.a.