‘Resurrection’: IFC Films & Shudder Acquire Sundance Rebecca Hall & Tim Roth Thriller

Chet Hanks is making his own way! Or… something!

Are audiences sleeping on Charlie McDowell? As the spouse of Lily Collins and the son of Martin McDowell and Mary Steenburgen, it’s easy to overlook that he’s also a director who already has a couple of solid films to his credit. “The One I Love” and “The Discovery” both premiered at Sundance in 2014 and 2017, respectively.

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentAmber Heard (“Aquaman”) and Spain’s Eduardo Noriega (“Vantage Point”) will star in 19th century-set supernatural thriller “In the Fire.”The film, which will shoot in Italy, is directed by Conor Allyn (“No Man’s Land”).Principal photography is set to start Feb. 21 in Italy’s Apulia region.

Jamie Lang AMC Networks’ genre-focused streaming platform Shudder has acquired the rights to horror maestro Gustavo Hernández’s “Virus: 32” in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the U.K.The deal was closed between Shudder and Pip Ngo from XYZ, CAA Media Finance and Juan Torres from Latido Films. Spanish sales powerhouse Latido is selling the film and has been showing it to buyers at this year’s European Film Market.A high-profile title to track since it was first unveiled at the virtual Cannes Market in 2020, “Virus: 32” stars Paula Silva (“In the Quarry”) and former Berlin Silver Bear winner Daniel Hendler (“Lost Embrace”) in a story about a rapidly spreading virus which transforms people into intelligent, ultra-violent, extra-fast zombie hunters.

EXCLUSIVE: Sherlock and Good Omens star Siân Brooke is to lead BBC One police thriller Blue Lights from the creators of The Salisbury Poisonings, with filming kicking off in Belfast.

EXCLUSIVE: IFC Films has acquired North American rights to Julian Higgins’ feature directorial debut God’s Country, starring BAFTA and Emmy winner Thandiwe Newton (Westworld, Crash), on the heels of its debut at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival. It will release the film won in a bidding war in theaters this fall.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter“Hail Mary,” a modern-day biblical fantasy that upends the mythology of Mary and Joseph, is in the works.“House of Gucci” actor Jack Huston and Angela Sarafyan of “Westworld” will star in the movie, which is currently in production in Mexico City. Additional cast members include newcomers Natalia del Riego and Benny Emmanuel.Rosemary Rodriguez, whose credits include “Peacemaker,” “The Walking Dead” and “Acts of Worship,” is directing “Hail Mary” from a script by Knate Lee (“Jackass Forever,” “New Mutants”).“Hail Mary” is described as a retelling of Mary and Joseph story, one that promises to alter “everything you thought you believed in.”Here’s the official logline: “Maria (Riego) is an immigrant from Belize who finds herself mysteriously pregnant. She’s following the North Star, attempting to get across a closed U.S.

Selome Hailu Ashleigh Murray is set to star as Zenzi Fullington in “Tom Swift,” the CW’s upcoming spinoff of “Nancy Drew.”She stars opposite Tian Richards, who plays the titular character as previously announced. Zenzi is described as “efficient and effervescent, but nobody’s fool.

IFC Films has nabbed U.S. rights to “Fire,” the new drama from celebrated French director Claire Denis. The pact marks the first major domestic deal of the Berlinale 2022 competition.World premiering next week at the Berlin Film Festival, “Fire” is headlined by two of France’s biggest stars, Juliette Binoche (“The English Patient”) and Vincent Lindon (“Titane”).

Naman Ramachandran The BAFTA revealed a bunch of diverse nominations on Thursday and the talent behind the recognized films are understandably ecstatic.Jane Campion’s moody western “The Power of the Dog” scored eight nominations. Benedict Cumberbatch, best actor nominee for the film, said: “I’m deeply humbled and grateful to BAFTA for this nomination.

Robin Roberts shares a close relationship with her co-stars on Good Morning America and doesn't shy away from supporting and uplifting them.MORE: Robin Roberts returns to GMA studios with hilarious video featuring co-star TJ HolmesShe did just that when her co-star Michael Strahan helmed the story of Tom Brady's retirement on the air, one that he could relate to following his own prolific football career.As they looked back on Tom's legendary career and spoke to close friend Alex Guerrero, the conversation of how Michael himself had been able to transition to a successful career outside of football came up.WATCH: GMA's Robin Roberts and Ginger Zee bring fans to tears with unbelievably emotional updateRobin added on to that statement by praising how he'd been able to navigate that by saying: "There's high praise for you there."When you decided to retire, you had made calls, you had made relationships. And that's much of what Brady seems to have done, taking the time to think about the next."MORE: Robin Roberts delights fans as she details future plans on the show amid Covid battleMichael acknowledged that by also commenting on how seamlessly the NFL legend had created his own businesses and ventures outside of the football world.

Tim Reid Howard Hesseman, the veteran actor known for starring in sitcoms “WKRP in Cincinnati” and “Head of the Class,” died Jan. 29 at the age of 81. The actor is remembered here by his friend and fellow “WKRP” star, actor-director Tim Reid.I first met Howard Hesseman at a cast meeting before we shot the pilot for “WKRP in Cincinnati.” The first thing I had to do was admit that I’d lifted something from him years back.Back in the early 1970s, I was one-half of a Black and white comedy duo with Tom Dreesen.

In “Watcher,” “It Follows” star Maika Monroe plays Julia, an actor who gives up her career to join her husband for in Romania for his new job. While he’s off at work, she often spends time alone.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media ReporterIFC Films and the AMC Network-owned digital platform Shudder purchased North American rights to “Watcher,” an eerie thriller that premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.IFC Midnight, the company’s genre division, plans to release the film in theaters and on VOD (beginning with the horror-centric streamer Shudder) in 2022. The exact date has not been set yet.Chloe Okuno directed “Watcher,” a suspenseful story about a young woman who moves into a new apartment with her fiancé gets the creepy sense that she’s being observed.

Angelique Jackson Netflix has acquired worldwide rights to the Sundance award-winning documentary “Descendant,” by filmmaker Margaret Brown (“The Order of Myths,” “Be Here to Love Me: Townes Van Zandt,” “The Great Invisible”). Higher Ground, President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama’s production company, will present the Participant feature alongside Netflix later this year.The film follows members of Africatown, a small community in Alabama, as they share their personal stories and community history as descendants of the Clotilda, the last known ship carrying enslaved Africans to the United States.

IFC Films and Shudder have acquired the North American rights to “Resurrection,” a psychological thriller starring Rebecca Hall that made its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival this week. Andrew Semans wrote and directed the film that also stars Tim Roth, Grace Kaufman and Michael Esper and that generated buzz at Sundance for its shocking and terrifying themes involving abusive relationships blended with more naturalistic horror elements in the French grand guignol legacy.