Sony Pictures India Exit; Indie Horror ‘If It Bleeds’ Casting (Exclusive); BBC Buys Aussie Drama & Adds Trio To Doc Unit — Global Briefs

EXCLUSIVE: We’re getting word about a series in the works from Sony Pictures Television‘s AFFIRM television and Revelations Entertainment which is centering around the Biblical Nazarene movement.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Another “Frasier” alum is about to return to the series’ new revival: Harriet Sansom Harris, who originally played Frasier Crane’s agent, Bebe Glazer, is back for a guest role in Season 2. Joining her will be “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” star Rachel Bloom, who will play Bebe’s daughter, Phoebe Glazer.

It’s official: Sony Pictures will have “Street Fighter” be back in theaters in a couple of years, but without the Philippou brothers at the helm. THR reports that the studio plans to have a new movie based on the Capcom video game franchise ready for a March 20, 2026 theatrical release.  Legendary co-develops the film, with Capcom on board as producer.

Sony Pictures Networks India has named Disney+ Hotstar content chief Gaurav Banerjee as its new Managing Director and CEO.

Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) has confirmed Gaurav Banerjee as its new managing director and CEO. He will take the reins on or before Aug. 26, pending approvals.

EXCLUSIVE: Sony Pictures Television has extended comedy writer and showrunner Brigitte Muñoz-Liebowitz‘s (Gordita Chronicles) overall deal, sources reveal to Deadline.

EXCLUSIVE: Sony Pictures Classics has acquired worldwide rights to Blue Moon, the new film from Academy Award nominee Richard Linklater (Hit Man), on which we were first to report, and which will be his next effort after all, with production commencing in Dublin, Ireland this summer.

Ethan Shanfeld Following the success of “Bad Boys: Ride or Die,” Will Smith is teaming up again with Sony Pictures for the sci-fi thriller “Resistor,” based on Daniel Suarez’s 2014 novel “Influx.” The movie hails from Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, Steve Tisch and Tony Shaw of Escape Artists, which has been developing the project for years alongside Smith and Jon Mone through Westbrook. Heather Washington is executive producing, and Dave Wilson is a producer.

Sony Pictures Entertainment has hired Nachiket Pantvaidya as general manager of productions in India. 

EXCLUSIVE: Ronald D. Moore is back at Sony Pictures Television, signing a multi-year overall deal with the independent studio. Under the pact, Moore, his Tall Ship Productions banner, and longtime collaborators Maril Davis and Ben McGinnis will develop and produce scripted series for cable and streaming platforms.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Sony Pictures Classics‘ Dylan Leiner along with FilmNation’s Stefan Zorich and Paramount‘s Fabrizio Carrer were among the top film executives and companies who participated in the 13th NY Film & Entertainment Soccer Tournament for charity hosted at the Tribeca Festival. The sun-drenched event gathered 39 teams, along with more than 60 filmmakers from the Tribeca Festival, and hundreds of spectators at Brooklyn Bridge Park overlooking downtown Manhattan.

EXCLUSIVE: Emmanuel Gazmey Santiago, better known by his stage name Anuel AA, has set his feature debut in Carlos “Spiff TV” Suarez’s indie horror film You Lose You Die. He joins previously announced stars Freddy Rodriguez, who also executive produces, and Ashley Elizabeth Fliehr (WWE star Charlotte Flair).

Brent Lang Executive Editor Sony Pictures Entertainment has acquired Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, the theater chain that inspired a passionate following with its creative cocktails, extensive food menu and strict “no talking, no texting” policies. The media company acquired Alamo Drafthouse from owners Altamont Capital Partners, Fortress Investment Group and its founder Tim League. Under its new ownership, Alamo Drafthouse will be managed under a newly established division, Sony Pictures Experiences.

Naman Ramachandran India’s Dream Slate Pictures is commencing a biopic of Kiran Bedi, the first woman officer in the Indian Police Service (IPS). Formerly India’s national junior tennis champion, Bedi joined the IPS in 1972. She earned fame for her campaign against drug abuse in Delhi.

Famous horror film and TV studio Blumhouse, which has released a slew of cult hits such as Paranormal Activity, The Black Phone, M3GAN and Five Nights at Freddy’s, is finally ready to stake its claim in the video game space after the studio’s announcement of its new games division last year.

Alex Ritman Gravitas Ventures has acquired North American rights to horror thriller “I’ll Play Mother,” with the Anthem Sports & Entertainment Company set to release the film in September. The film, which was acquired from Concourse Media, stars Susanne Wuest (“Goodnight Mummy”), Jo Martin (“Doctor Who,” “Back to Life”) and Shubham Saraf (“A Suitable Boy”). Brad Watson (“The Siege”) directs from a screenplay by Libby Adam, based on an original story by Charles Edwards.

Paper Flowers,” based on the story of 22-year-old Shalin Shah, whose battle with cancer garnered viral attention in 2015. The film will premiere June 20 at the Dances With Films Festival at the TLC Chinese Theater in Hollywood with two additional screenings taking place on June 26 at the London Indian Film Festival and the Birmingham Indian Film Festival.

EXCLUSIVE: TV writers-producers Denise Thé, Melissa Scrivner Love, and Amanda Segel have formally launched Third Rail Productions with a first-look deal at Sony Pictures Television. Under the two-year pact, the trio will develop and produce scripted series for cable and streaming, focusing on dramas with female leads.

EXCLUSIVE: Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe‘s six-year-long ordeal at the hands of Iranian authorities gripped Britain — and now her story is to be told in a major BBC factual drama series.

Sony Pictures Animation is currently making Goat, an original animated sports comedy from producers Stephen Curry and Erick Peyton of Unanimous Media, Oscar nominee Michelle Raimo Kouyate (The Spider Within: A Spider-Verse Story, Silver Linings Playbook), and Adam Rosenberg (Creed 3) and Academy Award winner Rodney Rothman (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse) of Modern Magic.