Latest in Deals

J.J. Abrams’ ambitious HBO sci-fi drama series Demimonde has hit a major roadblock in its long journey to the screen. The issues, related to the show’s price, come amid talk of a potential reevaluation of the massive deal Abrams’ Bad Robot has at Warner Bros for film, TV, gaming and digital content as the new Warner Br…

#1 New York Times bestselling author Nicholas Sparks (The Notebook) has entered into a first-look production agreement with Universal Pictures, which will see him produce three features for the studio alongside Anonymous Content. The films will be based on some of Sparks’ most recent novels, the first being his 2021…

IATSE Local 161, which represents East Coast script supervisors, production coordinators and accountants, will begin bargaining with the AMPTP on Monday for a new film and TV contract. Pay equity is a major issue, said Dawn Mountain, the local's president and chair of its contract negotiations committee. Mountain, a…

EXCLUSIVE: Increased competition in the Christmas movie business has prompted Crown Media Family Networks to adopt a more aggressive strategy under the fresh leadership of Executive VP Lisa Hamilton Daly — locking in beloved actors with exclusive, multi-picture deals. The latest to join the Hallmark repertory is Ryan…

EXCLUSIVE: TriCoast Worldwide has locked down international sales rights to the coming-of-age film Dear Zoe, starring Stranger Things‘ Sadie Sink, with plans to screen the pic for potential buyers and festival reps at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival. The indie from director Gren Wells (The Road Within) is based on…

EXCLUSIVE: After recently wrapping production on the Pet Sematary origin pic, Paramount is looking to stay in business with writer-director Lindsey Beer as the the multi-hyphenate has entered into a first-look deal with Paramount Pictures to produce, write, and direct feature projects. Beer is already developing…

EXCLUSIVE: Lionsgate has extended Emmy Award-winning writer and producer Ben Karlin and his Superego Industries’ first-look deal. Most recently, Karlin joined the Lionsgate hit Minx as an executive producer at the top of season one, partnering with creator Ellen Rapoport on the HBOMax show, which received a Season 2…

EXCLUSIVE: Luke Macfarlane, best known for his roles in Brothers & Sisters and Smash, has signed a multi-picture deal with Crown Media Family Networks. Macfarlane is set to star in Moriah's Lighthouse, a new movie premiering in June on Hallmark Channel. "Luke is an actor whose ability to bring to life characters with…

Elisabeth Murdoch, Stacey Snider and Jane Featherstone’s indie studio Sister has entered a first-look deal with the new production company Wychwood Media, from Harry Potter filmmaker David Yates and his producing partner, Lewis Taylor. Under the pact, the pair will develop and produce both scripted and unscripted…

EXCLUSIVE: Cutting Edge Media Music has inked a slate partnership deal with Asbury Park Pictures, which will see it fund five of the company’s films, in exchange for the corresponding original music publishing rights. Cutting Edge’s latest deal comes on the heels of its successful, multi-year slate partnership deal…

EXCLUSIVE: Netflix has renewed Pàlpito (The Marked Heart), the Spanish-language hit from Leonardo Padrón which premiered on April 20. The series has reached 68.04 million hours viewed and has hit the Top 10 in 68 countries within and beyond Latin America. On the heels of the show’s success, Netflix has signed Padrón…

EXCLUSIVE: The Goldbergs star Wendi McLendon-Covey has signed a first-look deal with Sony Pictures Television, the studio behind the hit ABC comedy series. Under the pact, McLendon-Covey will develop for the studio across all platforms. The pact was made in conjunction with McLendon-Covey recently signing a new…