EXCLUSIVE: Amazon MGM Studios has ordered a pilot based on the Charlie Bone children’s/YA fantasy novels.
02.11.2023 - 16:41 / deadline.com
EXCLUSIVE: Big shift in the film distribution sphere here today as Searchlight’s longtime Head of Distribution Frank Rodriguez is heading to Amazon MGM Studios as their new General Sales Manager.
Rodriguez will report to Amazon MGM Head of Distribution Kevin Wilson, who was named to the position in April following the passing of longtime distribution boss Erik Lomis. The recent hire of Rodriguez is part of the restructuring of the theatrical distribution group over at Amazon MGM. Already at Amazon MGM is East Coast distribution vet Mark Boxer, who came to the studio during the Bob Berney era, who was named Head of Specialty Theatrical Distribution back in April.
Rodriguez–who received the distinguished ShowEast honor the “Bingham Ray Spirit Award” last month– has been at Searchlight since 2012 when it was Fox Searchlight and has overseen the domestic distribution of a slew of Oscar and award winning arthouse hits including Wes Anderson’s highest grossing movie ever, The Grand Budapest Hotel ($59.3M domestic, $174.5M WW), Guillermo del Toro’s Best Picture winning The Shape of Water ($63.8M domestic, $195.2M), Taikia Waititi’s absurdist political comedy Jojo Rabbit ($33.3M domestic, $93.5M WW), Steve McQueen’s Oscar Best Picture winning 12 Years a Slave ($56.6M domestic, $187.7M), Michael Keaton’s comeback movie Birdman ($42.3M domestic, $103.2M WW), and Yorgos Lanthimos’ The Favourite ($34.3M domestic, $95.9M WW).
Rodriguez’s track record in distribution includes stints with DreamWorks as their head of sales in New York. He started with the studio from its beginnings until it was initially acquired by Paramount. He later served as SVP of Eastern Sales with the studio before Searchlight.
Rodriguez leaves behind big
EXCLUSIVE: Amazon MGM Studios has ordered a pilot based on the Charlie Bone children’s/YA fantasy novels.
Roger Howarth is leaving General Hospital after 11 years on the show and it appears his exit is against his wishes.
So long, Dr. Austin Gatlin-Holt.
EXCLUSIVE: Derval Whelan, who previously worked at Searchlight Pictures for 14 years until 2021, is returning to the Disney specialty label as their Head of Distribution. She takes over for former Head of Distribution Frank Rodriguez, who Deadline told you departed for Amazon MGM to be their General Sales Manager.
Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes have released a new song in the form of “melancholic bop” ‘Brambles’.The mid-paced song is the second single to be taken from the duo’s upcoming fifth album ‘Dark Rainbow’, which will land on January 26 via International Death Cult. It follows the album’s lead single ‘Man Of The Hour’.‘Brambles’ is a self-reflective track that serves as, in the words of a press release, “a plea for perfect love”.
Amazon has slashed the price of an electric lunch box that can cook any meal you want from the comfort of your work desk.
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.
Instagram story. The Grammy winner treated fans to a solid minute of the unreleased track, offering a substantial preview for those eagerly awaiting his return. Aside from the unveiled snippet, details about Ocean’s track are still shrouded in mystery.
Frank Ocean is once again teasing new music – listen to his latest preview below.Today (November 9), Frank Ocean took to his Instagram Stories to post a minute-long snippet of a new, unreleased song. The Instagram Story is set to expire by tomorrow (November 10), but has been recorded and shared by Pop Base on X/Twitter – listen to it below.No other information has been shared by singer, who is known for being reclusive and very rarely puts out new music.Frank Ocean previews new music.
Manager/producer Larry Thompson is making another run for a Southern California congressional seat, this time in a district represented by Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA).
Jeremy Allen White is stepping out for the day.
Davide Abbatescianni Comicbook artist and writer Frank Miller, the man behind classics “300,” “Sin City” and “Daredevil,” is working on his new projects through Frank Miller Presents, the publishing banner he launched last year. Miller, speaking at Lucca Comics & Games this week, told Variety what drove him to embark on this new creative venture. “I’d say I was driven by restlessness.
Actor Tyler Christopher was reportedly found dead inside his home after a concerned friend went to check on him. On Wednesday, 1 November, news broke that Tyler, who was best known for his role in General Hospital, had sadly passed away at the age of 50.
Frank Turner – listen first on NME below.The new song from the Scottish singer-songwriter is the latest preview of his forthcoming new album ‘Crisis Actor’ – which is available to pre-order now – and follows first single ‘Oblivion’.“It’s a song about drinking too much and drinking too little, holding on and trying to let go,” Liar explained. “Bitter drinks and bitter romance.”“Staring into my glass, I swear the ice cubes are judging me /For what we did or didn’t do in the past I only care that you couldn’t keep loving me,” the artist sings on the rowdy chorus.‘Negroni’ is set in the 1920s prohibition speakeasy cocktail bar that the accompanying Scotland-based video is shot in.
Kendall Jenner is stepping out for coffee.
Tyler Christopher, the General Hospital actor who originated the role of Nikolas Cassadine, died after suffering from a “cardiac event.”
EXCLUSIVE: Amazon MGM Studios has snapped up rights to Rebecca Yarros‘ fantasy book series The Empyrean, and is moving to develop its first title, Fourth Wing, for TV alongside Michael B. Jordan’s Outlier Society.
Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter Amazon MGM Studios, the renamed joint venture of Amazon Studios and MGM, has acquired rights to James Ponti’s popular children’s book series “City Spies” and is developing a film based on the first novel. The idea is for the initial installment to launch a global franchise, described by the company as a “four-quadrant action-adventure that will delight audiences of all ages and as a universe-building property for the studio.” The story follows a 12-year-old coding prodigy, who is recruited by an eccentric MI6 agent to join the City Spies, a team of kids from around the world who feel unnoticed in their own lives.
Joe Otterson TV Reporter A series version of the iconic horror film “Poltergeist” is currently in early development at Amazon MGM Studios, Variety has learned exclusively. No writer is currently attached to the project. Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey will executive produce on behalf of Amblin Television.
A.D. Amorosi Seventy years since his first Capitol Records sessions for the single “Lean Baby” and the “Songs for Young Lovers” 10″ album… 62 years since his first Reprise LP, “Ring-a-Ding-Ding!”… and 25 years since his passing, the legend of Frank Sinatra still looms large.