Rapper-Turned-Screenwriter Saeed Crumpler Inks Overall Deal With Sony Pictures Television

National Geographic has closed a first-look deal with Chris Hemsworth and producer Ben Grayson’s newly formed Wild State, a multi-platform production company that develops scripted and unscripted content.

Steven A. Sund, the former chief of the U.S. Capitol Police, has inked a book deal with Blackstone Publishing, promising to reveal new details about the infamous day.

Ed Meza @edmezavar Sony Pictures Classicspresidents Michael Barker and Tom Bernard offered sound advice to U.S. theater chains, while explaining the reasons behind their continued success, during a discussion at the Zurich Film Festival on Saturday about their colorful and storied partnership that has spanned more than four decades. Zurich is honoring the duo for their services to film culture with its Game Changer Award on Sunday.   Speaking to Roeg Sutherland, co-CEO of CAA Media Finance, at the festival’s Zurich Summit industry event, Barker and Bernard took an engaging and humorous trip down memory lane, from first working together at United Artists Classics and then at Orion Classics, before establishing Sony Pictures Classics in 1992, to working with Akira Kurosawa, and managing to reacquire “Howards End” from Ismail Merchant, despite Harvey Weinstein’s efforts to significantly outbid them.

Tom “Tommy” McCarthy, executive vice president of post-production facilities, is retiring from his post at Sony Pictures Entertainment after more than three decades. Jon Hookstratten, EVP of Administration & Operations, confirmed the news in a memo adding that Kimberly Jimenez had been promoted to senior vice president of post-production services.

Tom McCarthy, Sony Pictures Entertainment’s executive vice president of postproduction services, is retiring from his role after a career spanning three decades with the studio. Kimberly Jimenez will now be promoted to fill his shoes in a new role as senior vice president of postproduction services at the studio. The news was shared in a note with staff on Thursday from Jon Hookstratten, EVP of Administration & Operations.

A long-running planning application to create a permanent pitch for a gypsy/traveller site near Falkirk has been delayed again after confusion over ownership of the land.

Jennifer Kuo Baxter, an entertainment attorney and executive who worked as SVP Business and Legal Affairs at Sony Pictures and in senior positions at DreamWorks Animation and other studios during her 30-year career, has died. She was 62.

EJ Panaligan editor Jennifer Kuo Baxter, an entertainment lawyer whose career led to holding several senior executive positions at multiple movie studios, died on July 23 of cancer. She was 62. Kuo Baxter’s career in entertainment spanned more than 30 years, working in the business and legal affairs departments at Sony Pictures Entertainment, TriStar Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation, Interscope and DreamWorks Animation Studios. She joined the legal affairs group at Columbia Pictures — which subsequently became Sony Pictures Entertainment — in the fall of 1986, where her responsibilities included supporting the production and distribution of feature films and motion pictures.

EXCLUSIVE: Christmas has come early for Hallmark Media: Alison Sweeney (The Wedding Veil trilogy) has agreed to a multi-picture overall deal with the channel.

Sony added three news movies to their 2023-2024 theatrical release sked while shifting some others due to the post-production jam which continues to plague a number of big pics. The good news is that nothing is moving out of 2022.

David Harbour is set to star in Sony Pictures and PlayStation Productions film adaptation of Gran Turismo. Neill Blomkamp is directing from a screenplay written by Jason Hall and Zach Baylan.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter Sony Pictures Classics has landed worldwide rights to “It Ain’t Over,” a documentary about baseball Hall of Famer Yogi Berra. Sean Mullin directed the doc, which premiered at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival. The specialty studio has yet to detail any release plans for the movie. Described as “an intimate portrait of a misunderstood American icon, “It Ain’t Over” illustrates the life and career of Berra, a sports legend whose accomplishments on the baseball diamond were often overshadowed by his off-the-field persona. Berra, considered one of the best catchers in baseball history, won 10 World Series championships during his 19 seasons in Major League Baseball, 18 of which were with the New York Yankees. He also became known for Yogi-isms, like “It ain’t over ’til it’s over” and “It’s déjà vu all over again.”

K.J. Yossman Jáde Osiberu, creator of upcoming Amazon Original movie “Gangs of Lagos,” has inked an overall deal with the streamer. The three-year deal will include original scripted dramas and features from Osiberu’s production company Greoh Studios. Osiberu, who is the creator of hit projects including “Sugar Rush,” “Isoken” and “Gidi Up,” follows others creators including Steve McQueen, Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Jenny Han in signing similar international agreements. “I am overjoyed with this collaboration and already feel like I’m part of the Prime Video and Amazon Studios family,” said Osiberu. “It will be an absolute pleasure to introduce Prime Video audiences to the most exciting talent and storylines Nigeria has to offer, and I’m looking forward to continuing to help elevate Nigerian stories on a global scale.”

Sony Pictures Classics has acquired worldwide rights to It Ain’t Over, the feature documentary about legendary New York Yankees catcher Yogi Berra directed by Amira & Sam helmer Sean Mullin. The pic had its world premiere earlier this year at the Tribeca Film Festival.

late Vin Scully, among others.“It Ain’t Over” was produced by Natalie Metzger, Matt Miller, Peter Sobiloff and Mike Sobiloff with Vanishing Angle and Off Media.“I’m incredibly grateful to the Berra family for entrusting me and my team with Yogi’s legacy. This film has been a true passion project for everyone involved – and we could not have imagined a better home than Sony Pictures Classics,” Mullin said.“Inspiring and warmly humorous, Sean Mullin’s ‘It Ain’t Over’ is a sports movie unlike any other, the full rich story of Yogi Berra, one of pro baseball’s great figures, a true original.

Jáde Osiberu, the co-writer and director of Gangs of Lagos, has signed an overall deal with Prime Video, the studio behind the upcoming feature drama.

K.J. Yossman Ahead of this year’s FIFA World Cup, set to take place in Qatar in November, soccer-themed streaming platform FIFA+ has commissioned a 10-part docuseries about the history of the tournament titled “Moment Of Truth” from Whisper, Final Replay and Sony Pictures Television. The series will “examine the world’s favourite sport through the lens of human endeavour,” according to the official logline. “Why do we care so much about the game? What makes exceptional footballers tick? What lifts teams to greatness? What does it tell us about ourselves?” The answer to those questions – and the themes around which the docuseries is built – are located in the words “absolution, cunning, genius, courage, inspiration, joy, art, passion, hope and wisdom.”

With the next world cup in Qatar fast approaching, Sony Pictures Television is distributing a landmark examination of the tournament that has been running for nearly 100 years, titled The Moment of Truth.

Manori Ravindran International Editor Corus Entertainment has struck an overall deal with U.K.-Canadian production company Dominion of Drama, and appointed its founder Jeff Norton as the head of its new imprint, Waterside Studios. Waterside Studios is positioned as a new IP and production venture focused on premium scripted Canadian content for youth and primetime audiences. The outfit will cater to the Canadian as well as international marketplace. Norton most recently served as a consultant for Corus, and previously as executive producer of “Trucktown” for production company Nelvana. He also co-wrote the novel “Keeping the Beat,” which was one of the launch titles for Kids Can Press’ young adult KCP Loft imprint.

A US rapper who performed on one of Ed Sheeran's hit singles has reportedly been shot dead in America. PnB Rock was fatally injured during a robbery at a restaurant in Los Angeles, according to reports in the US.