Kim Kardashian‘s foray into film and TV continues with another high-profile sale, this one hitting close to home for the reality star and entrepreneur.
After a competitive bidding that went through the week, sources tell Deadline that Netflix has landed for development Calabasas, a TV series which Kardashian is executive producing with her American Horror Story co-star Emma Roberts, Pretty Little Liars creator I. Marlene King and Alexandra Milchan (Tár). Insiders say there were two other offers from major buyers with Netflix putting in the winning bid by week’s end. Calabasas is based on the book If You Lived Here You’d Be Famous By Now by Via Bleidner, with King set to write the adaptation and serve as showrunner.
The story follows Via, a 16-year-old sheltered Midwestern Catholic school girl whose world is turned upside down when her family moves and she’s forced to transfer to the fast world of Calabasas High, where nothing is as it appears and where everyone is trying to be someone else. It’s a place where dreams come true … but not without complications and sometimes unforeseen consequences. >>>Think: 'The O.C.' & 'Beverly Hills 90210' |
|
| Deadline Exclusives & Originals |
|
Back To The 'Desert' - Stephan Elliott, who directed the celebrated cult classic The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, tells Deadline that a sequel is moving forward and that the original movie’s stars Terence Stamp, Guy Pearce and Hugo Weaving are back “on board” 30 years after the film’s initial release. Adds Elliott, “I’ve got a script that everybody likes, we’re still working out deals. … It’s happening.” >>> “One Helluva Journey” Trump Trial Opening Arguments Begin - Donald Trump arrived at a Manhattan courthouse this morning, where he will sit and watch as prosecutors and defense attorneys deliver opening statements to a jury in an unprecedented scene. This is the first criminal trial of a former president, readily apparent with the metal barricades and patrol by dozens of uniformed officers around the courthouse. TV and audio coverage is restricted in the courtroom, leaving networks to rely on their reporters to give regular updates. Some broadcast networks planned special reports, adding to coverage throughout the day on cable news channels. >>>Lawyers Sparring
Tom Holland On Weaving 'Spider-Man 4' - St. Andrews was hit with a heavy bout of Spidey fever this weekend as the third annual Sands International Film Festival opened, and featured one popular guest of honor. Spider-Man actor Tom Holland passed through the fest and took part in the first annual Sands golf tournament. On the greens, Holland linked up with Deadline to discuss his career so far and plans for future projects, including whether he will return for a fourth Spider-Man movie. “The simple answer is that I’ll always want to do Spider-Man films,” he told Deadline. “Everyone wants it to happen,” he added. The more “complicated answer” Holland said is how he and the Spider-Man team approach any follow-up to Spider-Man: No Way Home without retreading past themes. >>> “A Legacy To Protect”
Historic Chat - Steven Soderbergh sat down with Joe and Anthony Russo at the Sands International Film Festival on Saturday night to discuss their 2002 collaboration Welcome to Collinwood, the first time all three have ever publicly talked about their long friendship and work together. Collinwood was the second feature from the Russos following their debut Pieces, which bombed out of Slamdance in 1997. “There was zero interest in the film from anybody but this man over here,” Anthony said of Pieces, pointing towards Soderbergh. >>> More On Marvel, Hope For Future Of Film Biz
What Capsized Participant? - In announcing the shutdown of Participant Media last week, proprietor Jeff Skoll cited “revolutionary” changes in the entertainment business Deadline's Michael Cieply, in his latest column, offers his take that the company failed “because most of high-end Hollywood jumped into the company’s basically sound but modestly sized boat. The purpose-film niche was swamped.” >>> Read The Column
Brian Stelter Visits ElectionLine - “In the event of a Trump loss …he’s going to yell, and scream, and kick and moan, I know that, and Fox will do the same, perhaps, unless Rupert Murdoch or Lachlan intervene and say let’s get back to reality,” postulates Brian Stelter of what America may wake up to the day after the election in November with a win for Joe Biden. >>> Listen To The Podcast
KMR Clients Speak Out - SAG-AFTRA is expected on April 25 to meet with former and current clients of KMR Talent who haven’t received compensation for work they already completed. The union is asking members to show “proof of loss” in the wake of KMR’s “talent payment breakdown.” One former client tells Deadline “I’m not holding my breath” for payment. >>>Other Testimonials
Fox Renewal Status Report - Fox is looking forward to the 2024-25 season after a strike-disrupted 2023-24 lineup which featured only three live-action scripted series, The Cleaning Lady, Alert and Animal Control, with the network’s top drama series, 9-1-1: Lone Star MIA. The fifth season of Lone Star will be used to launch Fox’s two new drama series, Rescue HI-Surf and Doc. Also delayed by the strikes was Season 2 of anthology drama Accused, which will air in 2024-25 alongside 9-1-1: Lone Star, Rescue HI-Surf, Doc, Canadian drama co-production Murder in a Small Town and Animal Control, which was renewed for Season 3 in February, ahead of its second-season premiere. >>>What About ‘The Cleaning Lady’ & ‘Alert’?
The Film That Lit My Fuse - There’s a new sheriff in town for Season Two of the Amazon Prime series Outer Range. Charles Murray has taken the reins of this quirky drama that might be a close cousin to Yellowstone if the Dutton clan also battled such sci-fi elements like the mysterious black void that shows up in the pasture of a ranch run by Royal Abbott (Josh Brolin). Murray comes the drama after a long career as director, writer and EP of series that include Sons of Anarchy, Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Luke Cage , along with directorial efforts that include The Devil You Know and A Cold Hard Truth. Here, he discusses the influences that helped shape this committed cinephile’s voice. >>>Watch
Lavish 'Robin Hood' - Comedian and writer Julian Clary will play the title role in this festive season’s London Palladium pantomime Robin Hood, with singer and travel show presenter Jane McDonald topping the bill as Maid Marion.The annual Palladium show, now in its ninth consecutive season, has become an eagerly awaited staple in the West End’s calendar. >>>Gargantuan Scale Costumes |
|
Over the decades, vampire movies have made a star of many a young actor. Soon, the same should be said of Ireland’s Alisha Weir, who at 13 years old, held Universal’s monster movie Abigail on her highly capable shoulders. Like the titular ballerina vampire, Weir is no ordinary girl -- holding her own opposite the likes of Melissa Barrera and Dan Stevens. Completing the majority of her own stunts for the film, she’s also said to have taken the project to the next level when she brought her skills as a dancer into play. She landed the part of the titular vampire following a Zoom meeting with the directors and a chemistry reading with Barrera, finding in the project a chance to realize her dream of working in horror, as someone who’s grown up with films like The Conjuring. >>> Horror Always On Her "Bucket List" |
|
The potential new Greg Daniels and Michael Koman comedy series in The Office universe has locked in its first two stars: Domhnall Gleeson and Sabrina Impacciatore, who will be part of an ensemble. Details regarding their roles are under wraps.
Exclusive
Ethan Coen has rounded out the cast for his comedy Honey Don’t! for Focus Features and Working Title. Newcomers include Charlie Day, Billy Eichner, Gabby Beans, Talia Ryder and nine more. As previously announced, Margaret Qualley, Aubrey Plaza and Chris Evans will lead the ensemble.
Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl Champ Marshawn Lynch, Mustafa Shakir, Cam Gigandet, André Eriksen and Lio Tipton are boarding 87North and Universal‘s original action movie With Love.
Exclusive
Kelly Marie Tran and Miles Robbins will star in Shal Ngo’s Control Freak, a psychological thriller from WorthenBrooks for Hulu Originals. The feature film has wrapped production and will premiere in early 2025.
In Brief - FX’s Alien series adds Sandra Yi Sencindiver... Meta Golding joins Netflix’s Ransom Canyon |
|
More News 🍿 A24’s Civil War is winning the domestic box office skirmish against three wide entries with a second weekend of $11.1M after a $3.25M Friday and $4.6M Saturday. The haul catapulted the Alex Garland political thriller into A24’s top 5 in terms of theatrical revenue.
🚨 Change is afoot on another Dick Wolf series: Rick Eid is stepping down as showrunner of FBI but will remain an executive producer on the series. Eid has been the showrunner on FBI since its debut in 2018. The drama is currently in its sixth season and was renewed by CBS through 2027. Eid will continue as showrunner for Wolf/Universal Television’s Law & Order, which is currently wrapping its 23rd season and was picked up for season 24.
🎎 Writers Guild members at Sesame Workshop have reached a tentative deal with management to avoid a threatened strike. A ratification vote on the new five-year collective bargaining agreement will be held in the coming days.
🎭 From the elaborate (and worth an early arrival) preshow of costumed musicians setting the Weimar mood with klezmer-meets-Brecht/Weill in an August Wilson Theatre reconstructed into a showily decadent in-the-round music hall, Broadway’s latest Cabaret promises an overwhelming theatrical experience. The promise continues at least through the first appearance of Eddie Redmayne’s Emcee, crooked and twisted like some slack-stringed marionette.
🎞️ IATSE ended last week with at least one more Local negotiation under its belt. The Motion Picture Costumers (Local 705) struck a tentative deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers on craft-specific issues, according to the union. That makes 11 of 13 West Coast Studio Locals to wrap up talks ahead of general negotiations. Both the Affiliated Property Craftspersons Local 44 and the Studio Teachers (Local 884) are still in negotiations with the AMPTP.
📺 The CW has opted not to renew affiliations with E.W. Scripps-owned stations in seven markets. Nexstar Media Group, the broadcast network’s corporate parent, says it is “confident” that replacement deals will keep The CW on the air across the U.S. Affected markets include Detroit, Miami, Tucson, AZ; Corpus Christi, TX; San Luis Obispo, CA; Norfolk, VA; and Lafayette, LA.
🎬 Hollywood needs a new generation of vibrant young actors. And better roles for them, writes Deadline's Peter Bart. The worldwide success of Oppenheimer told us that a complex story becomes more interesting if it’s also about someone interesting. Yet movies with vibrant young protagonists seem to be losing their moment. |
|
Obituaries
🕯 Mandisa, a Season 5 Top 10 American Idol competitor who went on to a Grammy-winning career in Christian music, died at her home in Nashville on Thursday. She was 47. 🕯 Howie Schwab, a longtime ESPN producer and star of the ESPN trivia show Stump the Schwab, died on Saturday at 63, according to his family. No cause or location was given. 🕯 Meg Bennett, an actress and writer on soap operas General Hospital and The Young and the Restless, died April 11 of cancer at 75, her family said. 🕯 Jane Nefeldt, a longtime WGA West Senior Executive who was involved in six contract negotiations, has died. She was 71. The guild said she died April 16 in Hermosa Beach, CA, but did not provide other details. 🕯 Samantha Davis, the wife of Willow star Warwick Davis who appeared alongside her husband in various films and co-founded with him the charity Little People UK for the dwarfism community, died March 24. She was 53. 🕯 Lourdes Portillo , the Mexican-born, Chicana-identified filmmaker who crafted nuanced film and video works that center the emotions and circumstances of diverse Latinx experiences, died on Saturday at her home in San Francisco. She died peacefully, surrounded by her three sons and a younger sister, according to a friend.🕯 Hollywood & Media Deaths In 2024 Photo Gallery |
|
On the Radar
Thu - Comcast earnings; SCOTUS hearing on Donald Trump's presidential immunity claim
Fri - Challengers opens wide
Sat - AFI Life Achievement Award honoring Nicole Kidman; Contenders Television: Documentary + Unscripted; White House Correspondents' Dinner |
|
Cannes Honors Kurosawa - The Cannes Film Festival has unveiled the poster for its upcoming 77th edition. It pays tribute to Japanese master Akira Kurosawa and his late-career feature, Rhapsody in August. |
|
|
