U.K. Distributor Other Parties Launches Production Arm Led by Former Amazon Studios’ Exec Emily Guarino (EXCLUSIVE)

EXCLUSIVE: Riverdale star Camila Mendes and Happy Death Day actress Rachel Matthews are opening the doors to Honor Role, a new feature film and TV production company focused on dynamic, character-driven stories crafted by sharp filmmakers with a distinct point-of-view.

A woman who was conned in an international cryptocurrency scam has urged other victims to join a class action lawsuit.

The cast of Knives Out 3, aka Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, is rapidly coming together!

Ethan Shanfeld More money, more problems. That seems to be the motto of Netflix‘s brand new competition series, in which one contestant is saddled with a $1 million prize as the other 11 players fight to hunt them down and claim it for themselves. The series, with the working title “Million Dollar Secret,” will be hosted by Peter Serafinowicz, the British comedian and actor whose credits include “Guardians of the Galaxy,” “Shaun of the Dead,” “John Wick: Chapter 2” and “Spy.” Here’s how the competition works, in Netflix’s own words: “The million-dollar prize is won by one of 12 players right at the start of the first episode.

David Benedict The relationship is captivating. The energy flowing effortlessly between them means you instantly feel their connection, their shared affection, their give and take.

Freevee has canceled its freshman comedy series Primo from Shea Serrano and Mike Schur.

“Throwing money” at the “workforce crisis” in UK film and TV will “exacerbate the problem” rather than solving it, according to the former boss of Amazon in Europe.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Veteran unscripted producer Jeff Collins (“Dance Moms”) has sealed an overall deal with Sony Pictures Television – Nonfiction. Under the pact, Collins and his newly launched Resilient Content shingle will focus on creating unscripted programming and developing formats for broadcast, cable and streaming.

Hollywood Cinema Production Resources‘ (Hollywood CPR) board of directors names Ashlee Hypolite as its new executive director. Hollywood CPR is a nonprofit that creates opportunities for employment and provides accessible workforce training for students from underrepresented communities.

American Idol just came to an end, and we now have a winner of Season 22!

Selena Kuznikov Renovo Media Group has launched a new studio and facility in Clear Lake, Iowa, set to be led by Lisa Crnic as president, Aaron Wiederspahn as head of scripted, and Ben Parrish as head of unscripted. The group is led by chairman David Kingland. Renovo Media Group will develop, finance and produce feature films, scripted and unscripted docs and series and commercial productions.

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor Tennis champion Naomi Osaka’s company Hana Kuma has boarded Leonardo Van Dijl’s debut feature “Julie Keeps Quiet” ahead of its world premiere on Saturday in Cannes Critics’ Week. The film is being sold by New Europe Film Sales. Osaka and her longtime agent and business partner Stuart Duguid’s Hana Kuma, an Emmy Award-nominated creative house, will serve as executive producers on the film.

Christopher Vourlias Logical Pictures is launching a new Africa venture that will see the production, financing and distribution outfit expand its global footprint into the fast-growing African market. According to the group’s head, Frédéric Fiore, the move will help position Logical Pictures as the preferred financing partner on the continent for the international industry and the leading production company of African content with global ambitions.

Jennifer Maas TV Business Writer Microsoft‘s Activision has launched a new internal, standalone studio with one mission: creating a new narrative-based and genre-defining AAA franchise. Titled Elsewhere Entertainment, the studio will be headquartered in Warsaw, Poland, with additional staff in the United States.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Untamed Talent, the recently launched Arab world management and production company led by former Mister Smith Entertainment executive Antone Saliba is rebranding as 75East and bringing on board Shams Mohajerani, a former acquisitions executive at Cairo-based MAD Solutions, as its chief manager and producer. The change in name to 75East of the company, which launched last December with backing from Front Row Productions – a joint venture between leading Middle East distribution companies Front Row Filmed Entertainment and Empire Entertainment – is a geographical reference to the wider Southwest Asian and North African (SWANA) region from Morocco to Pakistan, “reflecting the company’s commitment to representing talent beyond Arabic-speaking territories,” according to a statement.

EXCLUSIVE: Global communications agency DDA is bolstering its awards offering with the hire of Carola Ash, former AMPAS Vice President of Member Relations and Global Outreach. She joins DDA as Director of International Awards Outreach and will be based in London. 

EXCLUSIVE: Veteran producers Frida Torresblanco (Pan’s Labyrinth) and Frank Murray (First Reformed) have teamed up to launch Hangtime International Pictures, a new transatlantic production company headquartered in London and New York.

A WASTE firm has pointed the finger at axed Green Party minister Lorna Slater for them suffering a £150million loss over the failed bottle recycling scheme.

Selena Kuznikov Grace Caroline Currey has joined the cast of “The Breed,” and is set to lead the film. Directed by brothers Sean and Bryan Furst, the film is an “unconventional reimagining of the Wes Craven cult classic.” The brothers will produce together through their company, Curmudgeon Films. The film centers around Currey’s character Violet, “a rebel icon and badass on a mission to search for abandoned dogs on a remote island which leads to complete adrenaline-fueled terror.” Currey most recently starred in Lionsgate’s adventure thriller, “Fall,” directed by Scott Mann.

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor The Playmaker has signed with Neopol Film to handle international sales for their upcoming creature horror thriller, “Paws.” Featuring polar bear creature animatronics from the renowned studio behind “Star Wars” and “Jurassic World,” the film tells the story of a climate researcher stranded in the Arctic who must forge an unlikely alliance with a polar bear in order to survive. The project will feature a stellar international cast, yet to be announced.