Latest in Universal

Big Short Adapted Screenplay Oscar winner Charles Randolph is adapting Katrina's Brooker's upcoming W.W. Norton book about controversial real estate corp WeWork for both Blumhouse and Universal. Book focuses on the intertwined lives and ambitions of Masayoshi Son, CEO of Softbank, and Adam Neumann, CEO of WeWork, the…

Universal Pictures has put in motion a monster movie titled Renfield, which will focus on Dracula's henchman and inmate at the lunatic asylum. It’s based on an original pitch from Robert Kirkman and has Rocketman helmer Dexter Fletcher attached to direct. Ryan Ridley (Cartoon Network's Rick & Morty) penned the…

Ryan Destiny is set to star as Claressa "T-REX" Shields, the Flint Michigan-native, world champion boxer who is the subject of Rachel Morrison’s directorial debut film, Flint Strong. The pic, which is set up at Universal, is based on the 2015 boxing documentary T-Rex by Zackary Canepari and Drea Cooper. Barry Jenkins…

Lionsgate/Media Rights Capital’s Knives Out arrived on tracking this morning with estimates ranging from $22M-$25M over the Wednesday through Sunday Thanksgiving period. While that number isn’t anything to jump up and down about for a Thanksgiving release, there’s a lot of goodwill here in the Rian Johnson whodunit’s…

EXCLUSIVE: Universal’s forthcoming romantic drama All My Life has added Michael Masini (A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, the forthcoming Birds of Prey), Chrissie Fit (Pitch Perfect franchise, People You May Know) and Greg Vrotsos (Orange is the New Black, Showtime's Twin Peaks). The trio join previously announced…

EXCLUSIVE: Universal is developing the Adib Khorram 2018 Penguin Books YA novel Darius the Great is Not Okay.  Kevin Hamedani and Travis Betz will adapt for Todd Lieberman and David Hoberman’s Mandeville Films which is producing. The novel follows half-Persian Darius Kellner, a fanboy who knows how to speak Klingon…

Former Universal Pictures executive Amit Dey has been named SVP & Head of Valence Media’s new non-fiction division at MRC. In the newly formed role, Dey will be responsible for developing, producing and managing all documentary content for film and TV, as well as working with sales and distribution partners across all…

After making her big-screen debut in the 100 million dollar grossing drama Hustlers, Cardi B has signed on for her next feature, one that’s sure to land in the high figures, Universal’s Fast & Furious 9. Deadline has confirmed that the multi-platinum selling rapper has landed a small role in the upcoming…

Universal Pictures has renamed The Voyage Of Doctor Dolittle to simply Dolittle. The film will still be released wide on its previously announced date of January 17, 2020. . The move marks yet another shuffling for the film, which originally was slated for an April 12, 2019 release date, then moved to January 17…

EXCLUSIVE: Ashleigh Powell is adapting Kim Liggett’s novel The Grace Year which hits store shelves today, a project that Elizabeth Banks will direct for Universal. Back in January, we broke the news about Banks optioning the novel to direct for Universal and produce through her and Max Handelman’s Brownstone banner…

Universal’s Global Talent Development and Inclusion have unveiled the participants for the 2019 Directors Initiative. The initiative has also expanded their partnerships to include the American Black Film Festival and the New York Latino Film Festival. In addition, NBCUniversal Filmmasters will join veteran partners…

DreamWorks Animation has added two more feature toons to its 2021 slate, the Untitled Spirit Riding Free movie based on its Netflix series on May 14, and The Bad Guys on September 17 based on Aaron Blabey’s bestselling Scholastic book series. This raises the Glendale studio’s release count for that year to three…