Latest in Wolfgang Hammer

CBS Films insiders confirm that about three weeks ago, CBS Films co-president Wolfgang Hammer quietly segued to become a consultant focusing on digital content. Among the youngest production presidents of a major company ever, Hammer ran the film division with Terry Press, who is alone at the top. Under Hammer, Les Moo…

BREAKING: Wolfgang Hammer and Terry Press have been named co-presidents of CBS Films. This cements a structure that has worked since Amy Baer left the studio and CBS Films ramped up its activity acquiring finished films. In his title as COO, Hammer oversaw the acquisitions of The Mechanic, Salmon Fishing In The Yemen…

EXCLUSIVE: CBS Films is negotiating to co-finance Seven Psychopaths, the next film by In Bruges writer/director Martin McDonagh. CBS Films will distribute the film in the United States. The film reunites McDonagh with his In Bruges star Colin Farrell, who plays a screenwriter who struggles to find the handle on his…

UPDATE: Les Moonves has just released a statement on the exit of Amy Baer from CBS Films: "We thank Amy for her important role in building CBS Films. Going forward, we remain fully committed to the division's focus on a targeted slate of smart acquisitions and quality homegrown productions in all genres. CBS Films…

UPDATE 2, 7:03PM: CBS Films has just issued a press release confirming the acquisition: TORONTO (September 12) – CBS Films announced today that they have acquired the U.S.distribution rights to SALMON FISHING IN THE YEMEN which made its world premiere at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival this week. The…

CBS Films, which has supplemented its homegrown slate with acquisitions of finished films, has hired Scott Shooman to be EVP Acquisitions. CBS Films president and CEO Amy Baer made the appointment. Shooman, who spent a decade at Sony Pictures and was most recently veep of Acquisitions and Productions there, will…

EXCLUSIVE: CBS Films has redrawn its plans to launch a film franchise based on the Vince Flynn novel series about CIA agent  and Mitch Rapp. Ed Zwick has come aboard to direct an adaptation of American Assassin, a bestseller published last fall by Atria. Though it was the 11th book in the  Rapp series, American Assassi…

EXCLUSIVE: CBS Films just closed a movie option deal for the young adult novel Level 2, right around the same time its sister company Simon & Schuster Children’s Books closed a publishing deal. Value of both is around $500,000, and there is a second book in the publishing component for the author, Lenore Appelhans…

EXCLUSIVE: CBS Films has acquired screen rights to Legend, the first of a futuristic novel trilogy by Marie Lu. Twilight Saga producers Marty Bowen and Wyck Godfrey will produce through their Temple Hill banner. The first book will be published this November by Penguin Group. UTA sold the movie rights. This might…

It has been so busy tonight that tips on this news have been sitting in my email account since 3 PM: Lionsgate EVP of the Motion Picture Group Wolfgang Hammer is headed to CBS Films as the new COO to work for President & CEO Amy Baer and oversee acquisitions, finance, legal, and business affairs, including…