News

Keshet Studios, the U.S. scripted arm of Keshet International, has acquired the U.S. remake rights to the French romantic fantasy thriller series “Vortex” from France TV Distribution.

Based on an original concept by Franck Thilliez, “Vortex” centers on a police captain who stumbles upon a time warp while examining a VR crime scene. He realizes that he can communicate with his lost love, just before her death in 1998. Determined to alter her fate and prevent her murder, Ludovic risks everything, including his life with his new family.

The deal, negotiated by Keshet Studios and Michelle Palant, international sales manager at France TV Distribution, marks Keshet Studos’ first remake deal for a French show.

“Within the first few minutes of watching ‘Vortex,’ I knew this had to be Keshet Studios’ first French adaption for the U.S.,” said Heather Brewster, Keshet Studios’ SVP of scripted. “A deeply emotional, inventive,...

After introducing the project at MipTV earlier this year, distributor Newen Connect is bringing its crime thriller series “Syndrome E” to the Unifrance Rendez-Vous, the international sales event for French shows in Biarritz, South-West France, which runs Sept. 4-8.

“Syndrome E” is the first TV series adapted from the work of international best-selling thriller writer and screenwriter Franck Thilliez. The French author was the fourth most read writer in France in 2020, with more than 7 million books sold in France and translated in more than 20 countries.

“Syndrome E” is the first TV series adapted from international best-selling thriller writer and screenwriter Franck Thilliez. The French author was the fourth most read writer in France in 2020, with more than 7 million books sold in France and translated in more than 20 countries.

“Syndrome E” is the first book of the Sharko and Hennebelle novels, one of Thilliez’s franchises. The adaptation was entrusted to screenwriter Mathieu Missoffe,...

Along with its premium scripted lineup, Newen Connect is launching a pair of timely investigative documentaries, “Ukraine” and “Wagner,” which are providing insight into the current war.

Now filming, “Ukraine” is being co-directed by Ksenia Blochakova, the Russia correspondent of the news channel France 24, and Philippe Lagnier, a journalist working at Newen-owned production banner Capa.

“Ukraine” is a one-hour documentary featuring interviews with soldiers, politicians and experts speaking about the Russian offensive. The doc, commissioned by Arte in France and in Germany, is expected to air at the end of April.

Chloé Persyn, who joined Newen Connect last year as head of factual distribution, said “Ukraine” illustrates the banner’s capacity to turn around in-depth documentaries exploring complex geo-political issues in record time.

“Wagner,” co-directed by Blochakova and Alexandra Jousset, sheds light on the Wagner Group, a private Russian military force which is known as Putin’s shadow army.

Newen Connect, the distribution branch of Newen, the Paris-based international production and distribution company owned by French’s biggest TV network, the TF1 Group, has boarded a bevy of upscale international drama series, including “Lost Luggage,” “Memento Mori,” Christian” and “Agent K.” The Paris-based company will help finance and sell internationally these shows.

“Since creating Newen Connect in October, we have ramped up our teams, hired Leona Connell [a former exec at Sky Vision and NBC Universal] as EVP of Newen Connect, and got a larger presence in the U.K. as well as Canada to increase our input in the English-language drama landscape, and beyond,” said Rodolphe Buet, a former senior executive at Studiocanal and chief distribution officer at Newen.

The recently-rebranded division, which comprises more than 20 executives located in Paris, London, Montreal, New York and Buenos Aires, is increasingly looking to team up ambitious third-party producers on premium drama projects at an early stage,...

French public broadcaster France Televisions is set to ramp up its roster of edgy premium scripted series aimed at younger audiences with “Carrement craignos,” “La Brigade des cauchemars,” “Bug” and “La meilleure moitié.”

The new shows, which are commissioned by France Televisions and/or by its online platform france.tv, were unveiled during a video presentation at the Fiction Festival in Paris on Wednesday. Running Sept. 16-18, the festival traditionally takes place in La Rochelle and relocated to Paris, at the Folies Bergeres theater, due to the pandemic.

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After ordering the second seasons of Noé Debré’s political satire “Parlement” and Simon Bouisson’s cyber thriller “Stalk,” the online platform of France Televisions boarded “Carrement craignos,” a half-hour comedy directed by actor-turned helmer Jean-Pascal Zadi, whose recent credits include Gaumont’s comedy “Tout Simplement Noir.”

“Carrement craignos” is headlined by a multi-ethic cast of up-and-comers, including Bun Hay Mean, Mathieu Longatte,...

Stars: Charley Palmer Rothwell, Roxane Mesquida, Hippolyte de Poucques, Daphné Huynh, Thomas Mustin, Marie Zabukovec, Laetitia Chambon, Helena Chambon | Written by Jacques Kluger, Amiel Bartana | Directed by Jacques Kluger

Welcome to Paranoia, the ultimate escape game. Rule #1: Nothing is real. Rule #2: One of you will die.

Play or Die follows Lucas (Charley Palmer Rothwell) and Chloe (Roxane Mesquida) who – after some serious persuasion by Chloe – decide to participate in Paranoia, a very exclusive escape game. After solving a first riddle, they make it to the location of the finale in an abandoned mental hospital, lost in a frightening forest. There, four other participants are waiting on them; participants who, after only a couple of rooms into their “adventure,” all soon realize that only one of them will get out of there alive…

Now you’d be forgiven for thinking that Play or Die was inspired by the likes...

Based on the thrilling novel "Puzzle" by Franck Thilliez, Jacques Kluger's Play or Die will finally see a release from Samuel Goldwyn Film, who recently stick-handled the release of Xavier Gens' Cold Skin. The escape room style horror thriller stars Charley Palmer (Dunkirk), Roxane Mesquida, Marie Zabukovec, Thomas Mustin (Raw), and Igor Van Dessel. It will be available through On-Demand and on Digital platforms as of July 2. In the story, Lucas and Chloe are two passionate gamers who decide to participate in "Paranoia", a very exclusive escape game. After solving the first riddle, they make it to the location of the finale in an abandoned mental hospital, hidden deep in a frightening forest. There, four other participants are waiting for them. Together, they soon...

[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...

Film distributor and production house Samuel Goldwyn Films has just announced a release date for the horror thriller Play or Die. Taking a note from the escape room phenomenon, Play or Die will show on digital platforms, this Summer. Play or Die is a film from director Jacques Kluger and this title was shot in Belgium. In the film, there are two rules. When either one is broken, a character will perish in this isolated locale. As well Play or Die stars: Charley Palmer (Dunkirk), Roxane Mesquida ("Now Apocalypse"), Marie Zabukovec (Interrail), Thomas Mustin and Igor Van Dessel. An early look ahead at the film's release is available here. Several stills have been released for Play or Die. They show a masked killer and a room set on fire. This is one escape room which requires more than wits to survive. As well, Samuel Goldwyn will release an updated poster,...

Exclusive: Paramount Pictures has acquired screen rights to Nexus, the science fiction novel by Ramez Naam. The project will be produced by Mary Parent and Cale Boyter through their Disruption label and Darren Aronofsky and Scott Franklin through their Protozoa banner. Negotiations are underway for the book to be adapted by Ari Handel and Mark Heyman. Handel is a longtime Aronofsky associate who co-wrote Aronofsky’s upcoming Biblical epic Noah, which Parent produced. Heyman wrote Aronofsky’s Black Swan and recently signed on to adapt the Franck Thilliez novel Syndrome E for Paramount and Indian Paintbrush. The author is former CEO of Apex Nanotechnology, and he previously wrote the nonfiction book More Than Human: Embracing The Promise Of Biological Enhancement. Nexus is his first novel, and it takes place in the near future in a battle for mind control. A young technologist becomes the first person to invent controllable nanotechnology software for the brain.

According to Deadline Hollywood, Mark Heyman has been hired by Paramount and Indian Paintbrush to script Syndrome E, based off the best-selling novel of the same name from Franck Thilliez. The book, for what it’s worth, sounds a lot like The Ring without the supernatural elements. Or Cigarette Burns with a police procedural shoved in the middle. It focuses on a detective named Lucie Hennebelle whose best friend is struck with blindness after watching a terrifically violent movie from the 1950s (my guess is Seven Samurai). As it turns out, the film has subliminal flashes that spell death for anyone who watches, but it’s not a little girl in a well that comes for them. It’s something a bit more earth-bound. Familiarity aside, there’s something thrilling here, and Heyman should be cause for a lot of excitement. He cut his teeth with Darren Aronofsky and has proven to be a strong talent in...

Nearly a year ago when Paramount and Indian Paintbrush picked up  Syndrome E, a first-in-a-trilogy French novel from Franck Thilliez, it was no surprise that Steve Zaillian become attached as producer on the project. After all, the screenwriter was coming off The Girl With a Dragon Tattoo for David Fincher and the source material has drawn comparisons to that revenge [...]...

Franck Thilliez‘ international bestseller Syndrome E is getting a big screen adaptation! And it looks that Paramount studio is quite serious about the whole thing, ’cause we’ve just learned that Mark Heyman, man responsible for Black Swan script, is set to adapt the novel. So far – so good, check out the rest of this report for more details! In case you’re not so familiar with Thilliez’ novel, let me first inform you that it centers on a detective named Lucie Hennebelle, who discovers that her friend comes down with a case of spontaneous blindness after watching an extremely rare and spectacularly violent film from...

Deadline has an exclusive that Mark Heyman will be adapting the book Syndrome E. for Paramount and Indian Paintbrush. The novel was originally published in France (it hit stateside this past summer) and is the first in a series by author Franck Thilliez. Described as a thriller, Syndrome E. is about, "a beleaguered detective named Lucie Hennebelle, who discovers that her friend comes down with a case of spontaneous blindness after watching an extremely rare and spectacularly violent...

Syndrome E

Mark Heyman ("Black Swan") has been hired to adapt Franck Thilliez's international bestseller novel "Syndrome E" for Paramount and Indian Paintbrush.

The novel follows a beleaguered detective whose friend comes down with a case of spontaneous blindness after watching an extremely rare film from the 1950s - a film that those who come in contact with end up dead. [Source: Deadline]

Influence

John Brancato and Michael Ferris ("The Game," "Terminator 3") are set to pen the thriller "Influence" which is based on Dr. William Chasey’s book "Truth Never Dies."

The story details how a high-powered Washington lobbyist who took a job representing Muammar al-Gaddafi’s Libya in the wake of the 1988 terrorist bombing of Pan Am 103. He soon saw his life systematically dismantled by the U.S. government. [Source: Deadline]

Killshot

Paige Cameron has been set to develop and co-write the script for the thriller "Killshot" at Smokewood Entertainment.

The story...

The destructive power of art can be a fascinating theme, although more so in the case of something like Dorian Gray than the Pawnee Indian murals on Parks and Recreation. The international bestselling novel Le Syndrome E, written by French author Franck Thilliez, follows that theme, describing the deadly effect a rare film has upon those who watch it. Combined with a police procedural plotline, the novel reads like a combination of The Ring and Se7en, two of my favorite films of the last twenty years. Paramount Pictures and Indian Paintbrush Productions are set to bring an adaptation of the novel stateside, with Black Swan screenwriter Mark Heyman will be taking on script duties, according to Deadline. Film Rites. Steve Zaillian and Garret Basch will be producing, along with Steven Rales and Mark Roybal, who were both executive producers on recent films likeMoonrise Kingdom and Seeking a Friend for...

Another adaptation is on its way that centers on a premise that you may not necessarily see coming, and we mean that literally. Deadline is reporting that Mark Heyman (Black Swan) has been tapped by Paramount and Indian Paintbrush to bring the international bestseller novel Syndrome E to the big screen.

Originally published in France, the Franck Thilliez novel, the first in a series, was published Stateside by Viking last summer. Film Rites’ Steve Zaillian and Garrett Basch are producing with Steven Rales and Mark Roybal.

The protagonist is a beleaguered detective named Lucie Hennebelle, who discovers that her friend came down with a case of spontaneous blindness after watching an extremely rare and spectacularly violent film from the 1950s. She discovers that the film has been embedded with subliminal images and those who come in contact with it end up dead. The detective teams with a Paris cop who...

Exclusive: Mark Heyman has been set by Paramount and Indian Paintbrush to adapt the international bestseller novel Syndrome E. Heyman’s recent script work includes the Darren Aronofsky-directed Black Swan. Originally published in France, the Franck Thilliez novel, the first in a series, was published stateside by Viking last summer. Film Rites’ Steve Zaillian & Garrett Basch are producing with Steven Rales & Mark Roybal. The protagonist is a beleaguered detective named Lucie Hennebelle, who discovers that her friend comes down with a case of spontaneous blindness after watching an extremely rare and spectacularly violent film from the 1950s. The cop discovers that the film has been embedded with subliminal images that those who come in contact with it end up dead. The detective teams with a Paris cop who has been trying to figure out the film’s connection to five men murdered and left in the woods. Together they...

Paramount Pictures and Indian Paintbrush have set Mark Heyman on adapting the Franck Thilliez novel, Syndrome E . Deadline has the news, saying the Black Swan screenwriter will adapt the French novel, officially described as follows: Already a runaway bestseller in France, Syndrome E tells the story of beleaguered detective Lucie Hennebelle, whose old friend has developed a case of spontaneous blindness after watching an extremely rare.and violent.film from the 1950s. Embedded in the film are subliminal images so unspeakably heinous that Lucie realizes she must get to the bottom of it.especially when nearly everyone who comes into contact with the film starts turning up dead. Enlisting the help of Inspector Franck Sharko.a brooding, broken analyst for the Paris police who...

Deadline reports that Paramount and Indian Paintbrush are the latest to join the foreign book craze, having pointed resources toward Syndrome E — a soon-to-be-translated, first-in-a-trilogy French novel from Franck Thilliez. Said to be a mix of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and Se7en, Syndrome E centers on Lucie Hennebelle, a detective who investigates “an extremely rare and spectacularly violent film from the 1950s,” after his friend watches the film and develops blindness.

Five men have been left dead on account of its raw power, and Hennebelle starts working with a fellow detective to uncover the secret behind “what has to be the most disturbing and powerful film ever made,” created by someone who could be “the personification of evil and the origins of violence.”

Dragon Tattoo‘s screenwriter, Steve Zaillian, will produce through Film Rites (with Garret Basch), along with Steven Rales and Mark Roybal.

Then, THR informs...

Paramount Pictures and Indian Paintbrush are closing a deal to acquire the film rights to French author Franck Thilliez's bestselling novel "Syndrome E" reports Deadline.

The story follows a beleaguered detective whose friend comes down with a case of spontaneous blindness after watching an extremely rare and spectacularly violent film from the 1950s.

The cop discovers that the film has been embedded with subliminal images that those who come in contact with it end up dead.

The detective teams with a Paris cop who has been trying to figure out the film’s connection to five men murdered and left in the woods

An English translation of the work will be published this Summer. Steve Zaillian, Garrett Basch, Steven Rales & Mark Roybal are all set to produce the film.

In what sounds like an interesting mashup between 8Mm and The Ring, Syndrome E is now in development at Paramount and Indian Paintbrush. The Franck Thilliez novel by the same name is already a bestseller in France and it's only the first installment of a planned ongoing series. Which means it has what Hollywood craves - franchise potential. Per Deadline, "Paramount Pictures and Indian Paintbrush are closing a deal to acquire the rights to the international bestselling novel Syndrome E. Originally published in France, the Franck Thilliez novel is the first in a series, and it will be released in the U.S. by Viking this summer. The publisher bought U.S. rights at Frankfurt, and its the first book by the author to be translated into English."...

Another book-to-film adaptation is on its way, this time based on a French thriller that has yet to hit the States. But it sounds pretty intriguing so you'll want to read on for the details.

Per Deadline, Paramount Pictures and Indian Paintbrush are closing a deal to acquire the rights to the international bestselling novel Syndrome E. Originally published in France, the Franck Thilliez novel is the first in a series, and it will be released in the U.S. by Viking this summer. The publisher bought U.S. rights at Frankfurt, and it’s the first book by the author to be translated into English.

Synopsis:

Syndrome E tells the story of beleaguered detective Lucie Hennebelle, whose old friend has developed a case of spontaneous blindness after watching an extremely rare—and violent—film from the 1950s. Embedded in the film are subliminal images so unspeakably heinous that Lucie...

Exclusive: Paramount Pictures and Indian Paintbrush are closing a deal to acquire the rights to the international bestselling novel Syndrome E. Originally published in France, the Franck Thilliez novel is the first in a series, and it will be released in the U.S. by Viking this summer. The publisher bought U.S. rights at Frankfurt, and it’s the first book by the author to be translated into English. The protagonist is a beleaguered detective named Lucie Hennebelle, who discovers that his friend comes down with a case of spontaneous blindness after watching an extremely rare and spectacularly violent film from the 1950s. The cop discovers that the film has been embedded with subliminal images that those who come in contact with it end up dead. The detective teams with a Paris cop who has been trying to figure out the film’s connection to five men murdered and left in the woods.