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Exclusive: 20th has landed the rights to a feature adaptation of the New York Times bestselling novel California Bear from Duane Swierczynski. Gary Lennon will write the feature alongiside Swierczynski with Ryan Coogler’s Proximity Media producing, sources tell Deadline.

Swierczynski’s latest novel is a thriller that follows four unlikely vigilantes whose decision to take justice into their own hands pits them against the villain behind California’s coldest murder case.

California Bear is 20th’s first project with Proximity. Rashonda Joplin, 20th’s Director of Production, and Catherine Hughes, Creative Executive, will be shepherding the project. 20th’s Head of Literary Affairs, Clare Reeth was instrumental in bringing the book into the studio. Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian produce through their company, Proximity Media. Rebecca Cho will exec produce and oversee the project along with Hannah Levy for Proximity Media.

In March, Lennon extended his development deal...

Mother’s Day weekend 2019 marked a turning point in the young life of Madhuri Shekar.

It all started two years before with a phone call from a woman named Kate Navin, then head of theater for Audible. Navin said she’d recently been armed with money to develop original works from emerging play- wrights, and she was calling to offer Shekar, just a year out of Juilliard, the chance to write. The only catch: Shekar’s play would have to be crafted as an audio-only production.

Shekar’s answer to this challenge was “Evil Eye,” a 100-minute potboiler that revolves around daily telephone conversations between a mother in India and a daughter in Los Angeles. The finished play was released on Audible in May 2019. For Shekar, the impact on her career was immediate. Within weeks, she was negotiating a deal with Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Blumhouse for the movie version...

Amazon is finally bringing two of its entertainment divisions closer together in the world of podcasts, film and TV.

Amazon MGM Studios will adapt a number of Audible podcasts for TV and film as part of a deal to co-develop and co-produce projects.

The move includes the adaptation of podcasts including The Prophecy, Hot White Heist, Nut Jobs, Oracle, Daniel X: Genesis, Words + Music and Breakthrough.

Randy McKinnon is attached to write supernatural thriller The Prophecy, which has been acquired by ABC Signature and Amazon MGM Studios as a one-hour drama series with Simpson Street, QCode and Station26 attached to produce.

John Riggi and Adam Goldman are attached to adapt comedy Hot White Heist as a half-hour series with Broadway Video and Alan Cumming attached to produce alongside Amazon MGM Studios.

Suits duo Aaron Korsh and Rick Muirragui are behind heist drama Nut Jobs, which is in the works at...

Audible Inc. has pacted with its sibling Amazon MGM Studios unit to develop TV series based on a slew of podcasts and other original audio-only content featuring such notables as Kerry Washington, author James Patterson, “Suits” creator Aaron Korsh and more.

The deal brings together two high-profile content operations under the Amazon umbrella in the hopes of hitting a few home runs by by developing series from podcasts and other Audible-produced originals that have been successful with listeners in the U.S. and elsewhere. Among the properties in development are the scripted podcasts “The Prophecy,” “Hot White Heist,” “Oracle” and “Nut Jobs” and unscripted concepts such as “Words+Music,” a look at award-winning tunesmiths, and “Breakthrough,” a singing competition.

Audible, the audio entertainment pioneer that Amazon acquired in 2008, will co-develop and co-produce the projects with Amazon MGM Studios. The titles will be shopped to sibling outlets Amazon Prime Video...

Exclusive: More citizens will head to the polls this year for elections than any other in history, and the political fever has reached Series Mania.

This year’s event in Lille, France contains four political dramas in competition — not surprising given almost 50% of the world will vote for new leaders in more than 64 elections (including the European Union), according to Time magazine.

“It is all things political in 2024,” said Leona Connell, Chief Commercial Officer at Newen Connect, the sales arm of TF1 Group’ owned French sales house’s Newen Studios that will representing two of the highest profile political titles at Series Mania, In the Shadows and 8 Months.

In the Shadows (Dans L’Ombre) comes from Versailles and Rembrandt director Pierre Schoeller, who adapted a novel from former French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe and Gilles Boyer, a political insider who served as Philippe’s advisor.

The series stars Swann Arlaud as...

Co-written by author James Patterson and Duane Swierczynski, the new Audible Original Zero Tolerance, starring Hilary Swank, debuts Thursday, August 24th on Audible. The audio drama also stars Christine Ko, Melonie Diaz, and a full cast.

Sergeant Jo Barnes (Swank) and her elite, all-female U.S. Army investigative team are renowned for cracking complex sex crime cases within the military. Their latest mission takes them to the Mojave Desert at Fort Irwin Army Base in California, to unravel the mysterious disappearance of Private Nichelle Simmons—a soldier who accused a comrade of assault. But when the accused is inexplicably set free, their case takes a sinister turn.

As Jo, Maddie (Ko), and Luna (Diaz) delve deeper, they encounter resistance at every turn. Facing a race against time, the trio is determined to uncover the truth at all costs, confronting dangerous adversaries who are capable of anything—even murder.

Be sure to...

This country artist is back with another book, this one detailing some of her most iconic fashion moments. Here’s what Dolly Parton said about her upcoming memoir Behind The Seams: My Life in Rhinestones.

Dolly Parton returns with a new hair and costume-themed book, ‘Behind the Seams’ Dolly Parton discusses ‘Run, Rose, Run: A Novel’ co-written with James Patterson | Rick Kern/FilmMagic via Getty Images

The “Queen of Country” is known for her bold fashion choices, even using her acrylic nails as an instrument on several occasions. She’s mentioned sleeping with makeup on and waking up at early hours to wash her face.

Parton is also known for sporting a blonde wig, which became a trademark of her music career. Now, fans can learn more about this songwriter and her fashion choices, thanks to the upcoming 2023 release Behind The Seams: My Life in Rhinestones.

“I am happy, proud,...

Dolly Parton is one of the most universally beloved celebrities alive. Her greatest hits and vibrant personality remain popular with younger generations and she’s used her fame and money to improve child literacy and contribute to the creation of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine through her philanthropic work. Her music may not dominate the charts as it used to, but Parton disagrees with anyone who says she is past her prime. In her eyes, life is only getting better with time.

Dolly Parton is still excited about the possibilities of what life has to offer Dolly Parton performs on stage during the 37th Annual Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony I Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

Parton celebrated her 77th birthday on January 19, 2023. Instead of slowing down, the country legend is finding new worlds to conquer. She spoke to Forbes in promotion of her ongoing partnership with Duncan Hines, which features new lines of cornbread,...

Exclusive: Independent studio wiip has preemptively acquired An Honest Man, an upcoming novel by Michael Koryta, to develop as a television drama series, with Koryta attached to pen the adaptation.

An Honest Man tells the story of Israel Pike, a man just released from prison for killing his own father, who returns to his ancestral island home in northern Maine and quickly becomes the primary suspect when seven men, including two Senate rivals and the prosecutor who sent Pike to prison, are found dead aboard a yacht drifting offshore. Lt. Jenn Salazar of the Maine State Police takes the lead in the investigation on Salvation Point Island, operating with secrets of her own to protect.

The novel will be published by Mulholland Books July 25, 2023.

wiip’s Paul Lee, Mark Roybal and Nate Winslow will executive produce alongside Koryta.

During his tenure at 20th Century Fox, Roybal acquired Koryta’s Those Who Wish Me Dead...

Dolly Parton is going on a virtual tour with best-selling author, James Patterson, to promote their new novel Run Rose Run. Parton is also partnering with Fox Entertainment’s Blockchain Creative Labs (Bcl) to launch “Dollyverse,” which is an audience-centric Web3 experience, at the South by Southwest Conference (SXSW) and Festivals starting next week. The debut of Run Rose Run will have […]

The post Dolly Parton To Launch Nft Collection ‘Dollyverse’ At SXSW appeared first on uInterview.

Dolly Parton tends to release records for a reason. Unlike her Seventies contemporary Willie Nelson, who, at a dozen years her senior, records albums for no other purpose than to suit his own whims, Parton’s release schedule over the past half-dozen years has largely served as an extension of her unceasing global brand: 2016’s Pure & Simple, her last album of adult originals not directly tied to a larger piece of Dolly multimedia, launched a worldwide tour and kickstarted the ongoing Parton revival. In the years since, there have been...

Parker McCollum and Lainey Wilson were named as, respectively, best new male artist and best new female artist in early honors announced by the Academy of Country Music in advance of Monday’s live ceremony from Las Vegas on Prime Video.

The Academy posted videos of both artists getting the news from country superstar Miranda Lambert. Wilson still has a shot at winning something next week, as well: She’s up for song of the year for her No. 1 country hit “Things a Man Oughta Know.” McCollum has also earned a No. 1 song of his own, “Pretty Heart,” although the 2020 hit preceded the eligibility period for this year’s awards.

Both artists will get a performance slot on the show, which is foregoing a network broadcast component and will stream exclusively from Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium at 8 p.m. Et/5 Pt.

The Academy made some other announcements about the show Friday,...

Exclusive: Three-time ER Emmy nominated actor Eriq La Salle has landed a three-book, world rights deal with Ebony Magazine Publishing imprint Sourcebooks for his dark and gritty crime thriller Martyr Maker series.

Laws of Depravity, will be book one and available to a worldwide audience in November. The second title will be Laws of Wrath and then Laws of Annihilation.

The franchise follows NYPD detectives Quincy Cavanaugh and Phee Freeman and FBI agent Janet Maclin as they investigate brutal slayings by high-profile serial killers. The books have received accolades from literary trade magazines, as well as praise from New York Times’ bestselling author James Patterson. All books will be available for the first time on Audio.

“Unfortunately, there has historically been a blatant underrepresentation of authors of color in the thriller/suspense genre,” La Salle says. “The exciting collaboration between two well respected brands such as Ebony and Sourcebooks is...

Exclusive: Television literary agent Elizabeth Newman is leaving CAA after nearly 15 years to join Fox 21 Television Studios.

Newman is set to become VP Development at Fox21, part of Disney TV Studios, and she will report to President Bert Salke.

Newman will develop programs for all platforms, as well as identify talent and ideas for series. She’ll work closely with agents and network, cable and streaming execs to shepherd projects through the development process from inception to production order.

Newman has represented television writers, directors and producers, as well as authors and intellectual property for scripted series adaptation since she became an agent in 2005.

During her time at CAA, projects she worked on included The Marvelous Mrs Maisel, 2 Broke Girls and Nashville, as well such as upcoming shows as NBC’s Council of Dads, Starz’s Hightown, Netflix’s Away, Showtime’s The President Is Missing and Apple’s Swagger.

Alan Cumming has taken to social media to eulogize CBS’ Instinct, which on Friday was cancelled after two seasons. In a heartfelt post, the Good Wife alum pays tribute to his co-star, Bojana Novakovic, and acknowledges the significance of playing the first-ever openly gay lead character on a broadcast network drama.

“So the word is out. @InstinctCBS will not be returning for a third season,” he writes. “Almost exactly three years ago I was sent a galley copy of a book by [James Patterson] and [Howard Roughan] and then I met the showrunner [Michael Rauch] who was to adapt it...

X-Men’s Famke Janssen has been added to the cast of Danis Tanovic’s ‘The Postcard Killings’ alongside Jeffrey Dean Morgan.

The film is a chilling crime story, following Jacob Kanon (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), a hardened New York Detective, in search of the person responsible for the murder of his only daughter. Across Europe, newlywed couples are being targeted in a string of bizarre homicides that leave the young victims’ bodies looking like they have been staged.

Janssen takes on the role of Valerie Kanon, the mother of their now deceased daughter.

Joining Janssen and Morgan on the cast are Denis O’Hare, Naomi Battrick (Jamestown, A Very English Scandal), Ruairi O’Connor and Cush Jumbo.

The film’s cross-country focus is also highlighted by an extended cast that includes Sallie Harmsen, Eva Röse and Joachim Król.

Also in news – Josh Gad to lead ‘Honey I Shrunk The...

Famke Janssen has joined Jeffrey Dean Morgan in the cast of crime thriller “The Postcard Killings.” Variety has been given the first-look image from the movie.

Morgan plays Jacob Kanon, the New York detective intent on capturing his daughter’s murderer. Janssen plays Valerie Kanon, the mother of their now deceased daughter.

Across Europe, newlywed couples are being targeted in a string of bizarre killings that leave the young victims’ bodies looking like the murders have been staged.

Bosnian filmmaker Danis Tanovic, who won an Oscar for “No Man’s Land,” and Berlin Grand Jury winner “Death in Sarajevo,” directs the pic.

The film is an adaptation of James Patterson and Liza Marklund bestselling novel. It is produced by Good Films Collective, and is being sold in Cannes by Christian Mercuri’s Capstone.

As well as Morgan and Janssen, the film features Denis O’Hare, Naomi Battrick, Ruairi O’Connor and Cush Jumbo.

The amount of wacky things happening in this news story is above average, so we’re just going to need everyone to stay calm and hold off on checking for signs that they’ve descended into some kind of twilight-y zone. Here we go: A few years ago, we reported that Bill Clinton and James Patterson were working together…...

“Mission Impossible: Fallout” director Christopher McQuarrie and “Invictus” screenwriter Anthony Peckham have joined Showtime’s upcoming adaption of “The President is Missing,” the debut novel from former President Bill Clinton and James Patterson.

McQuarrie will executive produce with Heather McQuarrie and the book’s authors.

“Christopher McQuarrie is a master of complex and compelling filmmaking. We feel so lucky to have ensnared him along with the supremely talented Tony Peckham to adapt ‘The President Is Missing,'” said Gary Levine, president of entertainment at Showtime. “They are both extremely enthusiastic about bringing this uniquely authentic political thriller to life on Showtime.”

Also Read: Showtime Is 'Still Bullish' on 'Halo' After Director Rupert Wyatt's Exit, Jana Winograde Says

“The President Is Missing,” a thriller co-written by the former president and the bestselling author, was published last June.

In “The President Is Missing,” a powerless and politically aimless vice...

Oscar winner Christopher McQuarrie (The Usual Suspects) and Anthony Peckham (Invictus) have boarded The President Is Missing, the drama series adaptation of the novel by President Bill Clinton and James Patterson. McQuarrie will executive produce the project, currently in development, with Heather McQuarrie and the book’s authors. Peckham will also executive produce and write the adaptation.

In The President is Missing, a powerless and politically aimless Vice President unexpectedly becomes President halfway into his administration’s first term, despite his every wish to the contrary. He walks right into a secret, world-threatening crisis, both inside and outside the White House. Attacked by both friends and enemies alike, with scandal and conspiracy swirling around him, he is confronted with a terrible choice: keep his head down, toe the party line and survive, or act on his stubborn, late-developing conscience and take a stand.

Showtime acquired the rights to the book,...

Christopher McQuarrie and Anthony Peckham have signed on to “The President Is Missing,” the drama series based on the novel of the same name by Bill Clinton and James Patterson currently in development at Showtime.

McQuarrie will executive produce with Heather McQuarrie, Clinton, and Patterson. Peckham will write the adaptation in addition to executive producing. Jillian Share will co-executive produce for the McQuarries’ Invisible Ink Productions. Bill Robinson and Leopoldo Gout will also executive produce.

“Christopher McQuarrie is a master of complex and compelling filmmaking. We feel so lucky to have ensnared him along with the supremely talented Tony Peckham to adapt ‘The President Is Missing,’” said Gary Levine, president of entertainment at Showtime Networks. “They are both extremely enthusiastic about bringing this uniquely authentic political thriller to life on Showtime.”

In the series, a powerless and politically aimless Vice President unexpectedly becomes President halfway into his administration’s first term,...

Showtime's The President Is Missing has solved its first mystery — the drama series has hired a writer.

Invictus and Sherlock Holmes writer Anthony Peckham will adapt the novel by former President Bill Clinton and James Patterson. The drama series has also tapped Christopher McQuarrie (Mission: Impossible — Fallout) as an executive producer.

"Christopher McQuarrie is a master of complex and compelling filmmaking. We feel so lucky to have ensnared him along with the supremely talented Tony Peckham to adapt The President Is Missing," Showtime Entertainment president Gary Levine said Thursday in a statement. "They are both extremely ...

Imagine if “Gone Girl” had been developed as a toothless network television pilot — if it had been stripped of its subversive approach to gender dynamics, bludgeoned free of its sadistic gallows humor and shot like a very special episode of “NCIS: Suburbia.” Imagine if it hadn’t been directed by a filmmaker who’s drawn to trash the way that most people are to perfume, someone who genuinely believes you can learn as much about marriage and misogyny from the novels sold at an airport bookstore as you can from those taught in a college classroom. Imagine instead that it had been directed by the guy who made “The Help.”

Adapted from Paula Hawkins’ explosively popular novel of the same name, “The Girl on the Train” is nothing if not a story that’s stuck on rails. Rachel Watson (Emily Blunt) spends most of her time speaking in voiceover, if...