News

Eva Maria Daniels, the Icelandic producer and film festival favorite behind such recent indie dramas as What Maisie Knew, Hold the Dark and Joe Bell, has died. She was 43.

Daniels died June 30 in London after a battle with cancer, her friend and publicist Jessie Cohen told The Hollywood Reporter. She was diagnosed in March 2020 with a type of Stage 3 cancer that had spread to her lymph nodes, but she declared herself cancer free in an interview with THR‘s Chris Gardner a year later.

“Eva died on the same terms as she lived,” director Börkur Sigthorsson wrote on Facebook. “She played her cards close to her chest. She didn’t seek recognition when she had success. She didn’t seek pity when she suffered. I will miss her friendship greatly, but mostly I will miss seeing what she would have done next.”

Daniels most recently executive produced the Sydney Sweeney-starring Reality.

"We really don't know each other at all..." Signature Entertainment in the UK has unveiled an official trailer for an indie romantic comedy titled 10 Things We Should Do Before We Break Up. The title is a direct reference to a part of the plot, but it's also a bit too similar to 10 Things I Hate About You to be considered original. Christina Ricci plays Abigail, a single mother of two who meets a man named Ben at a bar. They jokingly come up with a list of things to do before their imagined breakup, knowingly full well they’ll never even start a relationship. But when the joke turns in to a one-night stand that brings a pregnancy, things gets a whole lot more complicated. Co-starring Hamish Linklater, with Lindsey Broad, Mia Sinclair Jenness, Brady Jenness, Katia Winter, Jon Abrahams, and Scott Adsit. This looks charming, right? Official...

Vision Films has taken North American distribution on 10 Things We Should Do Before We Break Up, the romance pic starring Christina Ricci (Casper) and Hamish Linklater (The Big Short).

Film was written and directed by Galt Niederhoffer, it stars Ricci as a single mother who meets an irresponsible man. The pair believe they are destined to end badly, so create a list of ten things they should do before they break up.

Lindsey Broad, John Abrahams and Katina Winter also star.

Archstone Entertainment handles sales. Vision is planning a day and date theatrical release for February 2020.

Exclusive: Heading into the sixth and final season of Power this summer, executive producer Gary Lennon has added another new move to his dance card with Driver.

The Starz series co-showrunner has teamed up with Christopher Rossi and Authentic Talent & Literary Management to produce the feature thriller, I’ve learned. This is the second collaboration in as many months between the Hightown Ep and the others. Back in May, Deadline exclusively revealed that Lennon was set to make his directorial feature debut with the mean streets of 1970s NYC Jerry that he co-wrote with Meadowland scribe Rossi.

Like Jerry, Authentic’s Jennie Frisbie, Mitch Solomon, and Galt Niederhoffer will produce the Rossi written Driver with Lennon and his Street Kids shingle. In the flip of Jerry, Rossi will direct Driver, which tracks the revenge fueled tale of a woman forced to deal with the pain of her past by an unexpected encounter.

Exclusive: Power may be coming to an end with this summer’s sixth season but co-showrunner Gary Lennon is plugging into to a new creative source.

Having helmed several episodes of the well-watched Courtney Kemp-created Starz drama, Ep Lennon is now set to direct his first feature, I’ve learned.

Coming off the mean streets of 1970s NYC and based on the Emmy-nominated scribe’s own life, Jerry is a coming-of-age drama that follows a young man’s rough and ultimately redemptive ride to discover his sexuality and true passion.

“It has taken me over 20 years to tell this story,” Lennon told Deadline of the film co-written with Christopher Rossi.

“After directing episodes of Power, I’ve been inspired to take the reins as director of my script, co-written with Christopher Rossi,” the Ep added, noting that Jerry will be produced through his Street Kids shingle with Authentic Talent & Literary Management.

Authentic Talent & Literary Management is ramping up its digital team, adding a trio of executive-level hires as it looks to bolster the positioning of the management and production company’s roster of writers, producers, directors and talent with brands to create content.

The move to add Amron Lopez, Victoria Bachan and Brian Sokolik comes after Authentic struck a partnership agreement with indie studio Propagate Content with a focus on developing and producing scripted drama for network, premium cable and streaming services, as well as non-scripted TV series. Under terms of that deal, unveiled last month, Ben Silverman and Howard T Owens’ Propagate will finance the slate, which will be overseen by Authentic’s new head of production Galt Niederhoffer.

The newly hired trio have joined the digital division at Authentic established by former Wme and Big Frame exec Rana Zand, who oversees the division and facilitates digital and social media opportunities for Authentic’s roster.

Propagate, run by Ben Silverman and Howard Owen, has acquired Electus, as well as a majority interest in powerhouse talent management and production firm Artists First from Barry Diller’s Iac.

The independent content creation and distribution company is looking to expand its full-service global studio. The deal combines Electus’ popular content, international sales division and valuable library and Artists First’s impressive talent roster and hit shows with Propagate’s already robust content creation capabilities and strategic relationships. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“At Propagate, we are focused on building premium content with the best creative voices from around the world, and being able to support the growth of Electus and all of its partnerships is incredibly exciting to us,” Silverman and Owens said in a joint statement. “We have had the privilege of working closely with Peter Principato and his team of world-class executives and managers...

Updated: Two and a half years after Ben Silverman left the company he had founded, the Iac-owned Electus, to join Howard T. Owens in A+E Networks-backed Propagate, the duo have acquired Electus and its majority stake in management/production company Artists First from Barry Diller’s Iac.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed though I hear it is worth under $50 million. I hear Diller recently put Electus-Artists First up for sale and other main buyers who bid for the assets included Entertainment One.

The acquisitions were financed through the investment secured earlier this year from The Raine Group to accelerate Propagate’s global growth through new ventures and targeted acquisitions. Original investor A+E Networks also owns a stake in Propagate.

Electus is the producer and distributor of series including “Running Wild with Bear Grylls” for NBC, “The Toy Box” for ABC, “Jane the Virgin” for The CW...

Propagate, the production banner headed by Howard Owens and Ben Silverman, is in expansion mode with a deal to acquire Electus and a majority interest in management-production banner Artists First.

The deal reunites Silverman with Electus, the company he founded a decade ago with backing from Barry Diller’s Iac. Electus had been quietly shopping for a buyer for the past few months after Iac came to the conclusion that the company largely focused on unscripted programming was not a fit with the rest of its digital-centric operations.

Electus is the producer and distributor of series including NBC’s “Running Wild with Bear Grylls,” ABC’s “The Toy Box,” the CW’s “Jane the Virgin,” and Discovery’s “Darkness,” along with production companies Big Breakfast (“Adam Ruins Everything”) and Notional, producer of Food Network’s “Chopped” franchise. The price tag for Electus was said to be around $35 million, according to a knowledgeable source.

Authentic Talent & Literary Management and indie studio Propagate Content have set a partnership to create content, with a focus on developing and producing scripted drama for network, premium cable and streaming services, as well as non-scripted TV series. Under terms of the deal, Ben Silverman and Howard T Owens’ Propagate will finance the slate.

The venture will be led by writer-producer Galt Niederhoffer, who now becomes head of production for Authentic, the Jon Rubinstein-led company whose credits include the Vera Farmiga-helmed Sundance pic Higher Ground, a CBS pilot in the works from Chris Distefano, Comedy Central specials, Msg Networks’ Four Courses With Jb Smoove and Fusion’s Shade: Queens of NYC.

The first project under the agreement will be Reciprocity, a dramatic thriller from music biz veteran Drew Dixon and Christopher Cherot. Other projects in the works include Dysphoria, a queer coming-of-age pic set in a society that has outlawed gender,...

Authentic Talent & Literary Management and Propagate Content have entered into a new development and producing partnership and named Galt Niederhoffer head of production.

The two companies will work together to focus on scripted dramas for network, premium cable and streaming, as well as non-scripted television. Propagate is financing the development slate, and writer/producer Niederhoffer will oversee the new division.

“Over the past three years, Propagate has formed development partnerships with leading production and broadcast companies and executives around the world with an eye to developing world-class content,” Ben Silverman, Propagate’s chairman and co-ceo, and Howard T. Owens, Propagate’s co-ceo, said in a joint statement.

The Propagate duo has worked closely with Authentic’s CEO Jon Rubinstein for the past decade, and they expressed excitement about the new venture by adding that they “have admired Galt’s vision and sensibility, and believe she is the perfect choice to lead this new enterprise.

Authentic Talent & Literary Management and Ben Silverman's Propagate Content have struck a partnership that will see the two companies work together to develop and produce content across all mediums. As part of the move, Authentic has named indie writer-producer-director Galt Niederhoffer to head up production and oversee the new partnership.

The new arrangement will focus primarily on scripted drama for network, premium cable and streaming services, as well as non-scripted TV, with Propagate financing the development slate. As such, the move provides potential backing for projects generated by Authentic's clients, which include Brie Larson, Michael C. Hall ...

Authentic Talent & Literary Management and Ben Silverman's Propagate Content have struck a partnership that will see the two companies work together to develop and produce content across all mediums. As part of the move, Authentic has named indie writer-producer-director Galt Niederhoffer to head up production and oversee the new partnership.

The new arrangement will focus primarily on scripted drama for network, premium cable and streaming services, as well as non-scripted TV, with Propagate financing the development slate. As such, the move provides potential backing for projects generated by Authentic's clients, which include Brie Larson, Michael C. Hall ...

Peter Lenkov has emerged as CBS Television Studios’ most prolific writer-producer with four series on the air, Hawaii Five-0, MacGyver, Salvation and the recently picked-up Magnum P.I. reboot. He is now extending his relationship with the studio where he has been for the past decade, signing a new rich multi-year overall deal. Under the pact, Lenkov will continue as executive producer on the four drama series.

Additionally, he is ramping up his production company, 101st Street Entertainment, with the hire of Sean Canino as Co-President, to develop new projects for broadcast, cable, and streaming services. Much of the new development of 101st Street, named after the street Lenkov grew up on in the suburbs of Laval, Montreal, Canada, will emphasize the action-adventure that is at the core of Lenkov’s most recent shows, in addition to telling the stories of heroic, true-to-life characters.

Canino, most recently Head of Scripted Programming...

The 23rd Nantucket Film Festival will open June 20 with Sony Pictures Classics’ Boundaries, which is written and directed by Shana Feste and stars Christopher Plummer and Vera Farmiga in the lead father-daughter roles. Bobby Cannavale, Peter Fonda, Christopher Lloyd and Kristen Schaal also star.

Organizers said the festival will close June 25 with Love, Gilda, the CNN Films documentary about Gilda Radner that just had its world premiere last week at the Tribeca Film Festival. The centerpiece presentation will be Morgan Neville’s Fred Rogers documentary Won’t You Be My Neighbor.

For a ninth straight year, Nff will also screen a Pixar film on opening day. This year’s is Incredibles 2, which opens commercially June 15. Also continuing a tradition, the Berklee Silent Film Orchestra will accompany a screening of Universal’s 1928 film The Man Who Laughs. One of its notable features is Conrad Veidt’s character, which has been...

Galt Niederhoffer had a thriving film career with credits including 2010 films The Romantics (directing) and The Kids Are All Right (producing). But in 2015, she accused ex Jonathan Gordon (a former in-house counsel at Barry Diller’s Iac) of poisoning her. A nasty custody battle for their son ensued, with NYC tabloids covering every detail (and Michelle Williams testifying on Niederhoffer’s behalf). Now 41, the daughter of famed investor Victor Niederhoffer has published her fourth novel, Poison (St. Martin’s Press), optioned for TV by Ben Silverman’s Propagate Content. The plot echoes the Hollywood classic Gaslight. Or perhaps Niederhoffer’s own life: The...

Alchemy has acquired the political drama starring Nicolas Cage, while in a separate deal BBC Worldwide North America will present the theatrical premiere of We Come As Friends.

Austin Stark directed The Runner, about an ideaological politician who confronts hard truths about his dysfunctional life.

Sarah Paulson, Connie Nielsen, Wendell Pierce, Bryan Batt and Peter Fonda round out the key cast.

Alchemy plans to release The Runner later this year.

Bingo Gubelmann, Benji Kohn, Glenn Williamson, Erika Hampson and Chris Papavasiliou produced, while the executive producer roster includes Noah Millman, Ruth Mutch, Sam Bisbee, Tom Conigliaro, Galt Niederhoffer and Todd Cohen.

Alchemy vp of acquisitions Jeff Deutchman negotiated the North American deal with Wme Global and Alan Sacks of Frankfurt, Kurnit, Klein & Selz PC. Fortitude International handles international sales.

BBC Worldwide North America will present the worldwide theatrical premiere of We Come As Friends from documentarian Hubert Sauper at the IFC Center in New York on August...

Exclusive: Cast rounds on Goldcrest’s Liz Garbus-Galt Niederhoffer comedy.

Alan Rickman, Katie Holmes, Evan Rachel Wood and Zosia Mamet have joined Liz Garbus comedy Taxonomy ahead of the Efm.

Goldcrest will be tempting buyers with the hot indie package, which is based on Galt Niederhoffer’s novel A Taxonomy of Barnacles.

Holmes, Wood and Mamet will star as the New York-raised Barnacle sisters who share a gigantic apartment overlooking Central Park with their self-made and Darwin obsessed father Barry.

Rickman will play Barry Barnacle who is increasingly frustrated by the unending chaos of being surrounded by beautiful, teenage daughters and their adventures in love and life.

Robot & Frank producer Niederhoffer will produce with Amy Hobby (Secretary) for Tangerine Entertainment.

Production is due to get underway in New York this spring.

Acclaimed documentary director Garbus (Bobby Fischer Against the World) will direct Amy Lippman’s (Masters of Sex) script.

Goldcrest’s [link...

2:22

Michel Huisman ("Game of Thrones," "Orphan Black") will star opposite Teresa Palmer in Paul Currie's romantic action thriller "2:22" which starts shooting next week in Sydney, Australia. Houseman will replace Benjamin Walker who has left the project.

The actor portrays a man whose life is derailed when an ominous pattern of events repeats itself in exactly the same manner every day, ending at precisely 2:22 p.m. He falls for a beautiful woman whose life is threatened by these strange events. [Source: Variety]

Jadotville

Guillaume Canet will join Jamie Dornan in Richie Smyth's Irish-South African co-production war thriller "Jadotville" at Parallel Films. Filming begins this spring in South Africa.

Dornan plays an Irish commandant who leads a stand-off with troops against French and Belgian mercenaries in the Congo during in 1961. Canet plays a French commander. Smyth is directing from a script by Kevin Brodbin. [Source: Variety]

Taxonomy

Alan Rickman, Katie Holmes, Evan Rachel Wood...

Exclusive: Goldcrest to bring comedy Taxonomy to Afm.

Oscar-nominated documentary producer and director Liz Garbus is to direct feature comedy Taxonomy, an adaptation of the Galt Niederhoffer novel, with Goldcrest bringing the project to the Afm.

Written for the screen by Amy Lippman (Masters of Sex), Taxonomy is produced by Niederhoffer (Infinitely Polar Bear) and by Amy Hobby (Secretary) for Tangerine Entertainment.

The adaptation follows the Barnacle sisters—Bell, Bridget, Benita and Beth—who have been raised in New York in a gigantic apartment overlooking Central Park.

Their father Barry is Darwin obsessed, self-made and increasingly frustrated by the unending chaos of being surrounded by beautiful, teenage daughters and their adventures - hilarious and poignant - in love and life.

To ensure the survival of the fittest Barry devises a test of wits and wills that should at long last address what is to Barry the most essential of all issues: nature or nurture?

Goldcrest’s [link...

Exclusive: Goldcrest to bring comedy Taxonomy to Afm.

Oscar-nominated documentary producer and director Liz Garbus is to direct feature comedy Taxonomy, an adaptation of the Galt Niederhoffer novel, with Goldcrest bringing the project to the Afm.

Written for the screen by Amy Lippman (Masters of Sex), Taxonomy is produced by Niederhoffer (Infinitely Polar Bear) and by Amy Hobby (Secretary) for Tangerine Entertainment.

The adaptation follows the Barnacle sisters—Bell, Bridget, Benita and Beth—who have been raised in New York in a gigantic apartment overlooking Central Park.

Their father Barry is Darwin obsessed, self-made and increasingly frustrated by the unending chaos of being surrounded by beautiful, teenage daughters and their adventures - hilarious and poignant - in love and life.

To ensure the survival of the fittest Barry devises a test of wits and wills that should at long last address what is to Barry the most essential of all issues: nature or nurture?

Goldcrest’s [link...

Sony Pictures Classics announced today that they have acquired all North American, German, UK, Scandinavian, Eastern European and Russian rights to Maya Forbes' directorial debut Infinitely Polar Bear . Also written by Forbes, the film stars Mark Ruffalo and Zoe Saldana and premiered at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival to great acclaim. Infinitely Polar Bear is produced by Paper Street Films and Park Pictures Features, in association with Bad Robot and Kgb Media. Wally Wolodarsky, Benji Kohn, Bingo Gubelmann, Sam Bisbee and Galt Niederhoffer produced the film with Executive Producers J.J. Abrams, Bryan Burk, Austin Stark, Ruth Mutch, Noah Millman, Mark Ruffalo, Jackie Kelman Bisbee, Danny Rifkin, Tom Valerio and Richard Rifkin. Set in the late '70s, an eccentric mess of a...

Sony Pictures Classics (Spc) has finalised its deal for North American, German, UK, Scandinavian, Eastern European and Russian rights to Maya Forbes’ directorial debut Infinitely Polar Bear following the recent world premiere in Sundance.

The Solution Entertainment Group holds international rights to the Paper Street Films and Park Pictures Features drama.

Mark Ruffalo and Zoe Saldana star in the story of an eccentric father who takes charge of his daughters while the mother goes to university.

Wally Wolodarsky produced with Paper Street Films’ Benji Kohn and Bingo Gubelmann and Park Pictures’ Sam Bisbee and Galt Niederhoffer.

Bad Robot’s Jj Abrams and Bryan Burk are the executive producers with Paper Street Films’ Austin Stark, Soaring Flight Productions’ Ruth Mutch and Park Pictures’ Jackie Kelman Bisbee.

Spc negotiated the deal with ICM Partners.

The Solution Entertainment Group will handle international rights to Emmy-Award nominated writer Maya Forbes’ directorial debut Infinitely Polar Bear starring Oscar nominee Mark Ruffalo (The Kids Are Alright) and Zoe Saldana (Star Trek), it was announced today by The Solution Entertainment Group’s (“The Solution”) founders and partners, Lisa Wilson and Myles Nestel.

The film will make its world premiere at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival in the U.S. Dramatic section. ICM Partners will be handling Us rights.

The film is produced by Emmy-winning Wally Wolodarsky along with Paper Street Films’ Benji Kohn and Bingo Gubelmann (Happythankyoumoreplease) and Park Pictures’ Sam Bisbee and Galt Niederhoffer (Robot & Frank).

The film is executive produced by Bad Robot’s J.J. Abrams and Bryan Burk, Paper Street Films’ Austin Stark, Soaring Flight Productions’ Ruth Mutch and Park Pictures’ Jackie Kelman Bisbee.

The year is 1978, and the Stuart family is struggling to hold it together.

Exclusive: The Solution Entertainment Group will handle international sales on the upcoming Sundance world premiere Infinitely Polar Bear, on which Jj Abrams serves as executive producer.

Co-founders Lisa Wilson and Myles Nestel said the Solution will introduce the film to international buyers at the Efm in Berlin next month. ICM Partners represents Us rights.

Mark Ruffalo and Zoe Saldana star in the Us Dramatic selection by first-time feature director Maya Forbes.

Infinitely Polar Bear takes place in 1978 as a bipolar, unemployed father becomes the primary carer of his two children for 18 months while his wife goes to school in New York.

Wally Wolodarsky produced with Paper Street Films’ Benji Kohn and Bingo Gubelmann and Park Pictures’ Sam Bisbee and Galt Niederhoffer.

Bad Robot’s Abrams and Bryan Burk are the executive producers with Paper Street Films’ Austin Stark, Soaring Flight Productions’ Ruth Mutch and Park Pictures’ Jackie Kelman Bisbee.

The scribe behind Monsters vs. Aliens and The Rocker would normally be the last person I’d associate with Sundance, much less the director’s chair…but sometimes it’s a question of who and what you know. Equipped with excellent technical folk such as cinematographer Bobby Bukowski and editor Michael R. Miller, Maya Forbes expands on a story inspired by personal events and is surrounded here with A listers Zoe Saldana and Mark Ruffalo. Shooting of Infinitely Polar Bear began back in April in Providence, Rhode Island, so logically this is in the clear for a festival showing and might be a high sale price.

Gist: Ruffalo plays a bipolar husband and father who goes off his medication, and then loses both his sanity and job while struggling to hold onto his marriage. Saldana would play his put-upon wife, who, after going back to work, ends up moving out of the house,...

Philip Seymour Hoffman, Richard Jenkins, Christina Hendricks and John Turturro are set to star in "God's Pocket" at Park Pictures Features, Cooper’s Town Productions and Shoestring Pictures.

Based on the novel by Pete Dexter, the story deals with a construction site death that lands a blue-collar worker in trouble.

"Mad Men" actor John Slattery will make his directorial debut on the project and co-wrote the screenplay with Alex Metcalf.

Hoffman, Slattery, Sam Bisbee, Jackie Kelman Bisbee, Lance Acord, Galt Niederhoffer and Emily Ziff will produce.

Source: Screen Daily...

Park Pictures Features announced today Academy Award®-winning actor, Philip Seymour Hoffman, is set to star in God’S Pocket, the upcoming film directorial debut from Emmy®-nominee John Slattery. Slattery adapted the screenplay with Alex Metcalf from the novel by National Book Award Winning author Pete Dexter. Academy Award®-nominee Richard Jenkins, Emmy Award®-nominee Christina Hendricks and award winning actor John Turturro will co-star. Jay Cohen of Gersh will handle all film sales.

Park Pictures Features will produce the film in partnership with Hoffman’s Cooper’s Town Productions and Slattery’s Shoestring Pictures, which makes its producing debut with this film. Acclaimed director/cinematographer Lance Acord has signed on to shoot the film, which will be produced by Sam Bisbee, Jackie Kelman Bisbee, Slattery, Lance Acord and Galt Niederhoffer, for Park Pictures and Emily Ziff and Hoffman for Cooper’s Town. The film will be executive produced...

Breaking: Park Pictures Features signed Philip Seymour Hoffman to star in God’s Pocket, the upcoming film directorial debut from John Slattery, who adapted the Pete Dexter novel with Alex Metcalf. Richard Jenkins, Christina Hendricks and John Turturro will co-star. Gersh is selling. Park Pictures Features is producing with Hoffman’s Cooper’s Town Productions and Slattery’s Shoestring Pictures, which makes its producing debut. Producing is Sam Bisbee, Jackie Kelman Bisbee, Slattery, Lance Acord and Galt Niederhoffer for Park Pictures and Emily Ziff and Hoffman for Cooper’s Town. Set in the gritty blue-collar neighborhood of God’s Pocket, Mickey’s crazy stepson Leon is killed in a construction “accident” and Mickey quickly tries to bury the bad news with the body. But when a local columnist comes sniffing around for the truth, things go from bad to worse. Mickey finds himself stuck in a life and death struggle...

Paper Street Films and Park Pictures have just gotten underway in Providence on Infinitely Polar Bear, with Mark Ruffalo and Zoe Saldana starring in a drama about a manic depressive father who tries to win back his wife by taking responsibility for their two free spirited daughters. Maya Forbes wrote the script and is directing, inspired by true events from her childhood. Her scripting efforts include The Rocker, Monsters vs. Aliens, and Diary of a Wimpy Kid 3. Wally Wolodarsky; Benji Kohn, Austin Stark and Bingo Gubelmann from Paper Street Films and producing with Park Pictures’ Sam Bisbee and Galt Niederhoffer from Park Pictures. Bad Robot’s Jj Abrams and Bryan Burk are among the exec producers. Paper Street is responsible for Happythankyoumoreplease and Park Pictures for Robot & Frank. ICM Partners is repping domestic, and Aldamisa Entertainment has foreign.

In a contemporary adaptation of Langston Hughes’ celebrated play, the holiday musical drama Black Nativity follows Langston (Jacob Latimore), a street-wise teen from Baltimore raised by a single mother, as he journeys to New York City to spend the Christmas holiday with his estranged relatives Reverend Cornell and Aretha Cobbs (Forest Whitaker and Angela Bassett). Unwilling to live by the imposing Reverend Cobbs’ rules, a frustrated Langston is determined to return home to his mother, Naima (Jennifer Hudson). Langston embarks on a surprising and inspirational journey and along with his new friends, and a little divine intervention, he discovers the true meaning of faith, healing, and family. Screenplay by: Kasi Lemmons Directed by: Kasi Lemmons Based on the play by: Langston Hughes Produced by: Bill Horberg, Celine Rattray, Galt Niederhoffer Executive Producers: Trudie Styler, Joy Goodwin Executive Music Producer: Raphael Saadiq Cast: Forest Whitaker, Angela Bassett, Tyrese Gibson, Mary J. Blige,...

The Romantics

Stars: Katie Holmes, Anna Paquin, Josh Duhamel, Malin Akerman, Adam Brody, Dianna Agron, Jeremy Strong, Rebecca Lawrence, Candice Bergen, Elijah Wood | Written and Directed by Galt Niederhoffer

When looking at The Romantics there is a simple question, did you like Dawson’s Creek? If so then you’ll probably like this. Katie Holmes is a good actress but at times her roles can be quite similar in appearance, role and casting. This could be said to be the weakest part of The Romantics, but the fact is there is a strange charm that will catch your interest if you let it, though overall still feeling there was something lacking.

When friends and family make their way to a beach house for the wedding of Lila and Tom everything should be perfect for the main event. With storm clouds threatening though and a history between Tom and the maid...

The Romantics finally gets its UK DVD release this week. The Gen Y dramedy chronicling the enmeshed lives of seven college friends was filmed in late 2009 and in the intervening years the supporting cast have gone on to become headline names themselves.

But back in 2009 Katie Holmes was the biggest star on the bill and it is she who top-lines. Capitalising on those Joey Potter powers of irresistibility, she stars as Laura, the one-that-got-away from groom-to-be Tom (Josh Duhamel). Thrown together during the rehearsal and build up to his high society wedding (to her former roommate and sometime friend Lila), their chemistry is as inextinguishable as it is predictable.

Lila (Anna Paquin) loves Tom with all her heart but she is pragmatic and understands how easily his head could be turned. Her friend’s adult lives have complications of their own – nicknamed The Romantics at college, when they were young...

The Kasi Lemmons-directed musical Black Nativity has scored another lead in Tyrese Gibson. BlackFilm.com has the news, saying that the Fast & Furious 6 star will join the previously-announced Forest Whitaker, Angela Bassett and Jennifer Hudson in the Fox Searchlight Pictures film. Black Nativity tells the story of a teenage boy from Baltimore who is sent by his single mother to Harlem to spend Christmas with the grandparents he's never met. Through his grandfather's Christmas Eve sermon, he learns about the importance of faith and family. Lemmons is writing and directing the film based on Langston Hughes' gospel musical. Bill Horberg and Celine Rattray will produce with Galt Niederhoffer and Daniela Taplin Lundberg, while Joy Goodwin will executive produce....

Take a look at the first trailer for buddy comedy Robot and Frank starring Frank Langella. It looks like a sweet movie that will have nice laughs too; I will definitely be checking this one out. You should check it out with me as Robot and Frank opens on August 24th.

Set in the near future, Frank (Frank Langella) a retired jewel thief gets a new lease on life when he is introduced to a surprising new companion. With the help of his new friend, he attempts to woo a local librarian (Susan Sarandon) and resume his criminal escapades. Robot & Frank is directed by first time filmmaker Jake Schreier, written by Christopher Ford (TVs “Atom TV”), and produced by Galt Niederhoffer, Sam Bisbee, Jackie Kelman Bisbee and Lance Acord.

Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions (Spwa) and Samuel Goldwyn Films are partnering on the North American rights to Park Pictures Features’ "Robot & Frank", starring Frank Langella, Susan Sarandon, James Marsden, Liv Tyler, Peter Saarsgard, Jeremy Sisto and Jeremy Strong :

"...set in the near future, 'Frank' (Langella) a retired jewel thief gets a new lease on life when he is introduced to a surprising new companion. With the help of his new friend, he attempts to woo a local librarian (Sarandon) and resume his criminal escapades..."

"Robot & Frank" is produced in association with White Hat Entertainment and Dog Run Pictures, directed by Jake Schreier, written by Christopher Ford and produced by Galt Niederhoffer, Sam Bisbee, Jackie Kelman Bisbee and Lance Acord.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Robot & Frank"...

Frank Langella and Susan Sarandon starrer Robot & Frank to Samuel Goldwyn, Sony Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions and Samuel Goldwyn Films have partnered to release Jake Schreier's comedy Robot & Frank in the U.S. after acquiring North American rights for over $2 million. The Park Pictures Features production from the first-time director Jake Schreier has landed strong reviews at the festival and also stars James Marsden, Liv Tyler, Jeremy Sisto, Jeremy Strong and Peter Sarsgaard. Marking Park Pictures Features' first film, Robot and Frank was produced in association with Dog Run Pictures as well as White Hat Entertainment and Dog Run Pictures.Galt Niederhoffer, Sam Bisbee, Jackie Kelman Bisbee and Lance Acord produce. Scripted by Christopher Ford, the story set in the future, tells of a retired jewel thief named Frank (Langella) who gets a new lease on life...

Frank Langella and Susan Sarandon starrer Robot & Frank to Samuel Goldwyn, Sony Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions and Samuel Goldwyn Films have partnered to release Jake Schreier's comedy Robot & Frank in the U.S. after acquiring North American rights for over $2 million. The Park Pictures Features production from the first-time director Jake Schreier has landed strong reviews at the festival and also stars James Marsden, Liv Tyler, Jeremy Sisto, Jeremy Strong and Peter Sarsgaard. Marking Park Pictures Features' first film, Robot and Frank was produced in association with Dog Run Pictures as well as White Hat Entertainment and Dog Run Pictures.Galt Niederhoffer, Sam Bisbee, Jackie Kelman Bisbee and Lance Acord produce. Scripted by Christopher Ford, the story set in the future, tells of a retired jewel thief named Frank (Langella) who gets a new lease on life...

Frank Langella and Susan Sarandon starrer Robot & Frank to Samuel Goldwyn, Sony Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions and Samuel Goldwyn Films have partnered to release Jake Schreier's comedy Robot & Frank in the U.S. after acquiring North American rights for over $2 million. The Park Pictures Features production from the first-time director Jake Schreier has landed strong reviews at the festival and also stars James Marsden, Liv Tyler, Jeremy Sisto, Jeremy Strong and Peter Sarsgaard. Marking Park Pictures Features' first film, Robot and Frank was produced in association with Dog Run Pictures as well as White Hat Entertainment and Dog Run Pictures.Galt Niederhoffer, Sam Bisbee, Jackie Kelman Bisbee and Lance Acord produce. Scripted by Christopher Ford, the story set in the future, tells of a retired jewel thief named Frank (Langella) who gets a new lease on life...

Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions (Spwa) and Samuel Goldwyn Films are partnering on the U.S. theatrical release in addition to jointly acquiring North American rights to Park Pictures Features. Robot & Frank, the 2012 Sundance Film Festival favorite, starring Academy Award® nominee Frank Langella (Frost/Nixon), Academy Award® winner Susan Sarandon (Dead Man Walking), James Marsden, Liv Tyler, Golden Globe® nominee Peter Saarsgard (Shattered Glass), Jeremy Sisto and Jeremy Strong. Additionally, Spwa has acquired all media rights for Latin America, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Scandinavia and Eastern Europe including Russia.

The deal was negotiated by Spwa’s Executive Vice President of Business Affairs, Michael Helfand, and Joe Matukewicz, Senior Vice President of Acquisitions, with Peter Goldwyn, Vice President of Acquisitions, representing Samuel Goldwyn Films. CAA and ICM.s Jessica Lacy negotiated on behalf of the filmmakers. ICM represents Langella, Sarandon and Strong.

.We have loved this project from the script stage...

A futuristic buddy film focused on the relationship between an elderly ex-jewel thief and his caretaker robot, Robot & Frank’s premise might sound high-concept, silly even. But director Jake Chrier ‘s focus is on keeping the action emotionally grounded. Anchored by the dexterous, empathetic, and ever-dependable Frank Langella (Frost/Nixon, Superman Returns) as well as a strong ensemble that includes Susan Sarandon, James Marsden, and Liv Tyler, director Schreir’s feature debut is a small-scale character piece with some very large ambitions.

Filmmaker: Robot & Frank started out as a short film in 2003, so the feature version has obviously been gestating for quite awhile. How did the project develop and what changed over the years?

Schreir: Robot & Frank was a short film that Christopher Ford wrote and directed when we were at Nyu. I helped produce it for him. A few years ago, when he and I were trying to think...

Getty Images Liv Tyler on January 21, 2012 in Park City, Utah.

Liv Tyler is having a sci-fi moment.

On Saturday, her new film, “Robot and Frank,” which takes place in the near future with mechanical robot helpers, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, and at a dinner celebrating the movie at the Grey Goose Blue Door on Main Street, Ms. Tyler said her next project, “The Side Effect,” combines science fiction and horror elements.

The film is to be directed by Ti West,...

Adam Brody first made his splash with teen fans via his co-starring role as Seth Cohen on the Fox primetime soap The O.C. The 32-year-old San Diego native quickly moved on to more independent fare with roles in director Galt Niederhoffer’s The Romantics; Julian Farino’s suburban drama The Oranges, opposite Hugh Laurie and Leighton Meester; and Whit Stillman’s comedy Damsels in Distress co-starring Greta Gerwig and Analeigh Tipton as young women at an East Coast who start an arts program to help depressed students. Brody maintained his commitment to art-house fare joining Some Girls, from writer and producer Neil Labute.

Adam Brody first made his splash with teen fans via his co-starring role as Seth Cohen on the Fox primetime soap The O.C. The 32-year-old San Diego native quickly moved on to more independent fare with roles in director Galt Niederhoffer’s The Romantics; Julian Farino’s suburban drama The Oranges, opposite Hugh Laurie and Leighton Meester; and Whit Stillman’s comedy Damsels in Distress co-starring Greta Gerwig and Analeigh Tipton as young women at an East Coast who start an arts program to help depressed students. Brody maintained his commitment to art-house fare joining Some Girls, from writer and producer Neil Labute.

Adam Brody first made his splash with teen fans via his co-starring role as Seth Cohen on the Fox primetime soap The O.C. The 32-year-old San Diego native quickly moved on to more independent fare with roles in director Galt Niederhoffer’s The Romantics; Julian Farino’s suburban drama The Oranges, opposite Hugh Laurie and Leighton Meester; and Whit Stillman’s comedy Damsels in Distress co-starring Greta Gerwig and Analeigh Tipton as young women at an East Coast who start an arts program to help depressed students. Brody maintained his commitment to art-house fare joining Some Girls, from writer and producer Neil Labute.

Here’s your daily dose of an indie film in progress; every Friday, we spotlight a bigger project, usually from an established filmmaker or affiliated with a bigger production company. "Robot & Frank" Director: Jake Schreier Writer: Christopher D. Ford Executive Producers: White Hat/Tbb Producers: Galt Niederhoffer, Sam Bisbee, Jackie Kelman Bisbee, Lance Acord Director of Photography: Matt Lloyd Cast: Frank Langella, Susan Sarandon, James Marsden, Liv Tyler, Jeremy Strong, the ...

Jackie Kelman Bisbee and Lance Acord, the pair behind commercial production house Park Pictures, have formed Park Pictures Features along with producers Galt Niederhoffer and Sam Bisbee. Their first project - currently in production in New York - is a family comedy, "Robot & Frank," with Frank Langella, Susan Sarandon, James Marsden, Liv Tyler and Jeremy Strong with Liev Schreiber voicing the Robot. "Robot & Frank" also marks the directorial ...

James Marsden joins Jake Schreir's Robot & Frank Robot & Frank also stars Frank Langella, Susan Sarandon, Jeremy Strong, Liv Tyler and Liev Schrieber in the Jake Shreier film. Langella stars as a lover of books whose only friend is a Susan Sarandon's character - a librarian. He leads a lonely life until his grown children install a robot to care for him. This starts an unlikely friendship. Marsden plays one of Langella's children. Christopher Ford wrote the script for Robot & Frank which Galt Niederhoffer and Sam Bisbee are producing. Marsden's most recent work was in Universal Pictures' Hop with Russell Brand. He can be seen next in the remake of Straw Dogs...

James Marsden joins Jake Schreir's Robot & Frank Robot & Frank also stars Frank Langella, Susan Sarandon, Jeremy Strong, Liv Tyler and Liev Schrieber in the Jake Shreier film. Langella stars as a lover of books whose only friend is a Susan Sarandon's character - a librarian. He leads a lonely life until his grown children install a robot to care for him. This starts an unlikely friendship. Marsden plays one of Langella's children. Christopher Ford wrote the script for Robot & Frank which Galt Niederhoffer and Sam Bisbee are producing. Marsden's most recent work was in Universal Pictures' Hop with Russell Brand. He can be seen next in the remake of Straw Dogs...

James Marsden joins Jake Schreir's Robot & Frank Robot & Frank also stars Frank Langella, Susan Sarandon, Jeremy Strong, Liv Tyler and Liev Schrieber in the Jake Shreier film. Langella stars as a lover of books whose only friend is a Susan Sarandon's character - a librarian. He leads a lonely life until his grown children install a robot to care for him. This starts an unlikely friendship. Marsden plays one of Langella's children. Christopher Ford wrote the script for Robot & Frank which Galt Niederhoffer and Sam Bisbee are producing. Marsden's most recent work was in Universal Pictures' Hop with Russell Brand. He can be seen next in the remake of Straw Dogs...