Channel 4 Welcomes Wonderhood Studios’ ‘Fur Babies’
19.10.2022 - 13:35 / deadline.com
The Lord of the Rings franchise can reach the $6B-plus scale of Marveland Star Wars, according to the man who brokered the sale of the IP to Sweden’s Embracer Group, who revealed new information about the deal.
ACF Investment Bank CEO Thomas Dey told Mipcom Cannes Lord of the Rings is one of around six “pieces of IP of this magnitude on the planet,” which will now have its potential unlocked by Embracer. Embracer picked up the motion picture, video game, board game, merchandizing, theme parks and stage production rights relating to The Lord of the Rings and Hobbit franchises over the summer as well as matching rights in other Middle-earth-related literary works authorized by the Tolkien Estate and HarperCollins, which have yet to be explored. The timing was good, coming a few weeks before Amazon’s Rings of Power TV series launched.
“I think this asset has the ability to get to [Marvel and Star Wars’] scale,” Dey told a packed Mipcom keynote. “Someone has just needed to have the belief that this can be as ambitious as it can be.”
While financials of the transaction, which completed a few weeks ago, have not been disclosed, Dey joked: “We let bidders come in and make bids, gave guide prices on our thoughts and then [Embracer] halved that.”
Embracer’s focus is likely to be on gaming, which CEO Lars Wingefors said is the 15,000-staff public company’s “strongest area of growth and monetization,” as he spoke alongside Dey. The company also bought The Mask owner Dark Horse Comics late last year.
“Having 10,000 developers in the group means we are thinking about what we can do with the IP going forward and this justifies value for us,” he added. “And then we have a number of amazing opportunities to do ‘transmedia’ projects.
Channel 4 Welcomes Wonderhood Studios’ ‘Fur Babies’
Warner Bros/New Line/DC’s Black Adam handily crossed $300M global this frame, landing so far at $182.3M from the international box office and $319.7M worldwide.
Coming off the blood-pumping Viking epic “The Northman” from director Robert Eggers, Swedish actor Alexander Skarsgård (“Succession”) will be seen next in Brandon Cronenberg’s next movie “Infinity Pool.” But perhaps working alongside all these indie auteurs has activated something in the actor as Skarsgård is about to make his directorial debut soon. A new report from Deadline reveals that Skarsgård will co-star and direct “The Pack,” which will also work as a reunion of sorts as Florence Pugh (“Midsommar”) will take a lead role too in the film as well.
Plans for a 27 turbine scheme at Whiteneuk near Corsock have been ditched.
Back in 2019, it was announced by the folks in charge at Disney that the “Star Wars” franchise would take a break on the film side of things after the release of ‘Rise of Skywalker.’ But even then, you have to assume the executives didn’t imagine we’d be waiting at least until 2025 for a new film in the galaxy far, far away. Continue reading Damon Lindelof & ‘Ms.
“Babylon” to a wide release ahead of Christmas Day on Dec. 23.
Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Australia’s SLR Productions has announced production on season two of the award-winning original CGI animated series, “Space Nova” for ABC ME. The 15 x 22-minute season has received significant production funding from both Screen Australia and the Australian Children’s Television Foundation as well as development funding from ABC ME and Create NSW. “Space Nova” will be co-produced with Giggle Garage in Malaysia and distributed internationally by ZDF Studios, with ACTF representing the series across Australia and New Zealand. Targeting a six- to ten-year-old global audience, the first season sold to broadcasters or streamers in Germany, the U.K., Norway, Finland, Sweden, Poland, the U.S, Singapore, East Asia, Indonesia, and Brazil.
Star Wars franchise.The actor currently plays She-Hulk’s (Tatiana Maslany) rival Titania in the Disney+ series, voiced Wonder Woman in DC League of Super-Pets and appeared in the Star Trek series Prodigy.Speaking at New York Comic Con, Jamil said: “It feels only natural that I should at least be allowed to do catering at ‘Star Wars’. Just as I’ve been referring to my nerd EGOT.
Clayton Davis Reputations go a long way in Hollywood, and when you’re seeking Oscar attention, a good one provides a significant edge against the competition. While more than a few contenders in this year’s mix have had previous run-ins with colleagues and journalists, those without that baggage have social media, and the industry, rooting for them. At the top of the list is Brendan Fraser, one of the best comeback stories in years. In Darren Aronofsky’s “The Whale” (Aronofsky and Fraser are both on the cover of this week’s New York issue of Variety) where he plays a 600-pound man looking to reconnect with his daughter, he delivers an astounding performance. The adaptation of Samuel D. Hunter’s play may face an uphill battle in other major categories, based on reactions so far. However, the star of “The Mummy” (1999) and “Encino Man” (1992) has been able to rise above any criticism, especially after Variety posted a viral video of him getting emotional during the film’s standing ovation at Venice.
Maya Jama has been revealed as the new host Love Island after weeks of speculation.The 28 year old was one of the favourites to take over the role from former host Laura Whitmore, 38, who announced she was stepping down as the presenter of the ITV2 dating show following the end of this year's series. Maya will make her debut as host as the new ninth series returns in early 2023.
Blink-182 are reuniting for a major world tour next year. Band members Mark Hoppus, Tom DeLonge and Travis Barker are reuniting for the first time in nearly 10 years for their biggest tour yet.
The Cure debuted a new track called ‘And Nothing Is Forever’ during their show in Stockholm last night (October 10) – check out the footage below.Robert Smith and co. were performing at the Avicii Arena in the Swedish capital as part of their current European tour, which has already seen the band preview two new songs: ‘Alone’ and ‘Endsong’.Those cuts returned to the setlist yesterday, with ‘And Nothing Is Forever’ making its first appearance six songs into the gig (via Setlist.FM).The dreamy, six-minute number – featuring typically-lush synth and piano – includes the opening lyrics: “Promise you’ll be with me in the end/ Say we’ll be together, and with no regret/ However far away/ You will remember me in time.”Later, Smith reflects on how his “world has grown old, and nothing is forever“.
Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Mediawan Rights has expanded its unscripted division with the appointment of former Shine France top executive Jeremy Klif, and is opening up to formats from third-party producers. Klif has been tapped deputy director of international sales for the unscripted unit which was launched by Mediawan Rights’ managing director Valérie Vleeschhouwer, in April. Klif began his career in the U.S. at Mark Burnett Productions, and later worked as head of sales and acquisitions for Shine France (“The Voice,” “MasterChef”) upon his return to Paris. He went on to launch Borderline Media, a production and distribution banner specialized in formats, in 2017. At Mediawan Rights, Klif will work alongside Estelle Bodén, the co-founder of Sweden’s Elk Entertainment, who serves as head of distribution for the division. Like Klif, Bodén has a track record as an entrepreneur and also worked for indies and big groups such as Strix Television.
Universal Pictures Wins Big At 2022 BASE AwardsThe British Association for Screen Entertainment hosted the 42nd annual BASE Awards at Camden’s Roundhouse Thursday night and Universal Pictures led the winner’s list, taking home five awards, including Outstanding Innovation for Streaming ‘Live’ to Your Living Room: Stand-Up Comedy with Eddie Izzard and Dylan Moran, and Best in Class Packaging for Inglourious Basterds: Total Basterds Edition. Sony Pictures Entertainment and Warner Bros. Discovery followed close behind with four awards each. Sony Pictures Entertainment took home Campaign of the Year for New Release Film – Over 15m Box Office for Spider-Man: No Way Home, while Warner Bros. Discovery won Home Entertainment Campaign of the Year – TV for Game of Thrones: The Iron Anniversary.
Taskmaster is in development at Paramount.As reported by Variety, Taskmaster Australia will be produced by Avalon Television with Kevin & Co for Network 10.The series, set to be released next year, will be hosted by comedian and writer Tom Gleeson, alongside Tom Cashman.Taskmaster has been adapted for various countries since it originally debuted in the UK in 2015, including New Zealand, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Canada.Alex Horne, who originally created the format and co-hosts the UK version, is an executive producer on the Australian series, alongside Richard Allen-Turner, Rob Aslett, James Taylor, Jon Thoday and Andy Devonshire.The UK version is currently in its fourteenth series on Channel 4, co-hosted by Greg Davies.
Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Paramount has ordered a series of ‘Taskmaster Australia’ to be produced by Avalon Television with Kevin & Co for Network 10. Set to air in 2023, the show will be hosted by Tom Gleeson and Tom Cashman. The production in Australia joins a growing list of countries with local adaptations of Alex Horne’s BAFTA and National Comedy Award winning “Taskmaster” format. The show involves an all-powerful Taskmaster who, with the help of his loyal assistant, sets out to test the wiles, wit and wisdom of five comedians through a series of strange and surreal challenges.