LuckyChap Showbiz and Celebrity Breaking News

Whatever happened to actor-turned-filmmaker Olivia Wilde directing a “Spider-Man” spin-off, rumored to be a Jessica Drew “Spider-Woman” film? Well, it’s unclear if it will ever happen, and it’s clearly not anywhere on the release date schedule. But perhaps in a sign that she still intends to make some kind of superhero film centered around women, she’s signed a deal to partner with producer Simon Kinberg and Margot Robbie’s LuckyChap productions to make a live-action adaptation of Rob Liefeld’s “Avengelyne” comic series (via THR).

Margot Robbie‘s production company LuckyChap had an all-around stellar 2023, thanks to the success of “Barbie” and “Saltburn.” But what does the future hold for the hottest banner in Hollywood? THR reports that LuckyChap has another new project to announce: an adaptation of the hit gaming series “The Sims.” Sound like a “Barbie” redux to anyone else? READ MORE: Director Kate Herron Stalked Marvel To Land ‘Loki’ & We Are All Better For It [Interview] That’s because, on a certain level, it is.

EXCLUSIVE: Just before the holiday break, Universal Pictures has found an exciting package under its tree. Sources tell Deadline that the studio has landed rights to the Christmas comedy Naughty, which has Olivia Wilde directing and LuckyChap producing. The package is based on a spec by Cocaine Bear scribe Jimmy Warden, and the auction saw several studios in the mix with Universal ultimately delivering the winning bid.

Ethan Shanfeld Don’t worry darling, Olivia Wilde is back with another movie: a Christmas comedy titled “Naughty” and backed by Margot Robbie’s production company, LuckyChap. The film, written by “Cocaine Bear” screenwriter Jimmy Warden, is described as “Bridesmaids” in the North Pole. It follows single mom Mallory, who, in order to gain custody of her son from her awful ex, must find Santa Claus and convince him to testify in her divorce hearing.

EXCLUSIVE: While the industry is starting to wind down ahead of the holiday break, a juicy package could liven things up before the new year. Deadline is hearing that Olivia Wilde is attached to direct Naughty, a Christmas comedy that has LuckyChap on as producers.

Matt Donnelly Senior Film Writer Thomas “Eromose” Ikimi, director of the Tribeca Film Festival player “88,” has been tapped to write a new drama about a fierce wildlife preservationist and activist. Eromose will write the screenplay for “Manaka,” a story inspired by the organization Saving the Wild and its founder Jamie Joseph. The Zimbabwean-born South African founded the charitable foundation to help protect rhinos from poaching, as well as to tell authentic stories about frontline workers protecting the species from going extinct.

Caroline Brew editor Dua Lipa presented thePower of Women producer of the year award to LuckyChap Entertainment, the minds behind films and TV series that celebrate women’s stories including “Barbie,” “Promising Young Woman” and “Maid.” “Since 2014, LuckyChap has been championing female filmmakers,” Lipa said Thursday night at the Variety Power of Women dinner, presented by Lifetime. “This mission is part of the company’s ethos – celebrating female storytellers and strong female characters, and employing female HODs – but if you speak with Margot [Robbie], Tom [Ackerley] and Josey [McNamara] they’ll tell you – it’s just good business.” “As filmmakers, the LuckyChap team lead with humor, empathy and heart every step of the way,” the singer continued.

Michaela Zee Variety is pleased to announce the honorees for its upcoming Power of Women issue on Wednesday, Nov. 15, and event on Thursday, Nov.

Valerie Wu Intern Two celebrity-led production companies — Margot Robbie’s LuckyChap and Brad Pitt’s Plan B — are in talks to co-produce a remake of the classic 1934 comedy mystery “The Thin Man.” LuckyChap and Plan B have not engaged in any discussions yet about casting due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike. However, according to sources, both companies have been intent on securing exclusive rights to the significant film series since before the WGA strike, which started in May. The two companies would produce jointly.

Following an extensive auction, LuckyChap and Plan B Entertainment are in exclusive talks to acquire rights to the classic Thin Man series. The rights of The Thin Man recently became available and LuckyChap and Plan B had been eyeing this for some time pre-WGA strike and are in talks for the rights. No discussions of starring are happening in respect to the sag strike. However both companies would produce together.

EXCLUSIVE: Amazon Studios has won a heated auction among four other studios and streamers for a Julia Roberts and Jennifer Aniston comedy vehicle. The untitled body swap comedy was pitched last week by Max Barbakow, who will write and direct the film. LuckyChap Entertainment, the production label of Margot Robbie, Tom Ackerley and Josey McNamara, will produce alongside Roberts and her Red Om Films banner, Aniston’s Echo Films, and Barbakow. He is best known for directing Palm Springs, the Andy Samberg-Cristin Milioti 2020 comedy won by Neon and Hulu at Sundance for a then-festival record sum. The comedy is based on his original pitch.

EXCLUSIVE: AWA Studios is adapting Garth Ennis’ (The Boys, Preacher) graphic novel Marjorie Finnegan, Temporal Criminal for the big screen. 

EXCLUSIVE: Disney’s next feature film based on one of its classic theme park rides looks to be getting ready to leave the station as sources tell Deadline Bert & Bertie are in negotiations to direct a new feature film based on the Big Thunder Mountain attraction at Disney Theme Parks. LuckyChap Entertainment and Scott Free are producing with Kieran and Michele Mulroney writing the script.

EXCLUSIVE: Academy Award-winning writer and director Emerald Fennell has lined up her cast for her next film, Saltburn with Jacob Elordi and Barry Keoghan attached to star in the project from MRC Film. Deadline recently broke that Rosamund Pike will also co-star with  principal photography set to begin this summer in the UK. The pic will be produced by Fennell and LuckyChap Entertainment’s Josey McNamara, Tom Ackerley and Margot Robbie.

EXCLUSIVE: Having already landed an A-list ensemble for its upcoming Barbie pic, Warner Bros. and Mattel have upped the anty by rounding out the cast with some high level talent. Sources tell Deadline that Kingsley Ben-Adir, Rhea Perlman, Ncuti Gatwa, Oscar winner Emerald Fennell, Sharon Rooney, Scott Evans, Ana Cruz Kayne, Connor Swindells, Ritu Arya and Jamie Demetriou. They join a cast that includes Margot Robbie, who will star in the titular role, Ryan Gosling, America Ferrara, Kate McKinnon, Simu Liu, Ariana Greenblatt, Emma Mackey, Alexandra Shipp, Issa Rae, Michael Cera, Hari Nef and Will Ferrell.

Will Ferrell has rounded out the all-star cast of the Warner Bros film Barbie centered on the iconic doll line starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling. America Ferrara, Kate McKinnon and Simu Liu are also on board with Greta Gerwig directing. Robbie is on board to play Barbie with Gosling set to play Ken. It is unknown who Ferrell will be playing.

Filmmaker Megan Park has written what will be her sophomore feature, My Old Ass, which LuckyChap Entertainment and Indian Paintbrush are producing.

Megan Park, the director of the SXSW award winner “The Fallout,” has set her second feature film called “My Old Ass” that will be produced by Margot Robbie’s LuckyChap Entertainment and Indian Paintbrush. Park is writing and directing “My Old Ass,” which is described as a modern coming-of-age comedy, though any other plot details are being kept under wraps.

EXCLUSIVE: Ariana Greenblatt is the latest to join the growing ensemble of Warner Bros. Barbie, film centered on the iconic doll line starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling. America Ferrara, Kate McKinnon and Simu Liu are also on board with Greta Gerwig directing. Robbie is on board to play Barbie with Gosling set to play Ken. It is unknown who Greenblatt will be playing.

EXCLUSIVE: Dani Gorin, most recently SVP Television at Michael Ellenberg’s Media Res, has joined Margot Robbie’s LuckyChap Entertainment as President of Television. This marks the first TV President hire for the company, founded by Robbie, Tom Ackerley and Josey McNamara, as LuckyChap is quickly building a television footprint with such shows as Netflix’s hugely popular limited series Maid, Hulu’s Dollface and the upcoming Iron Mike.

EXCLUSIVE: Margot Robbie’s Barbie movie looks to have found its Ken as sources tell Deadline Ryan Gosling is in final negotiations to play the iconic Mattel character in Warner Bros. movie centered on the classic doll line.

EXCLUSIVE: 20th Century Studios has set Keira Knightley to star in Boston Strangler, a drama written and to be directed by Matt Ruskin, best known for Crown Heights. Ridley Scott and Kevin Walsh of Scott Free will produce alongside Tom Ackerley and Josey McNamara of LuckyChap Entertainment. Pic begins shooting in December in Boston.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterLuckyChap Entertainment has signed a first-look TV deal with Amazon, Variety has learned exclusively.Under the deal, LuckyChap’s Margot Robbie, Tom Ackerley, and Josey McNamara will work with Amazon Studios to create television projects that will premiere exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.