A24's Biggest Budget
Given the election, today’s edition is slimmer.
Good morning: In today's edition of The Industry, we look at:
In The Industry News: A24 Supreme. Martin Campbell + Daisy Ridley double feature. Shari Redstone steps away.
Actor Spotlight: Billy Zane is Marlon Brando. Nicholas Braun in Splitsville.
Festivals: AFM’s XYZ.
Indie Filmmaker Spotlight: Jennifer Kent (dir: The Babadook) returns for her third feature.
Let’s go!
Join our virtual Live Event today with Crystal Moselle (dir: Sundance’s The Wolfpack, Magnolia Picture’s Skate Kitchen, HBO’s Betty) and Derrick B. Harden, the directors of the recent breakout film The Black Sea, which premiered at SXSW.
They will be break down exclusive clips from The Black Sea that attracted investors, and propelled them to premiere at SXSW.
They will also detail their process of writing, funding, casting, shooting, and editing this completely improvised feature film.
The event kicks off today at 5pm EST. Here are the details:
https://theindustry.co/p/live-event-how-to-make-a-350k-sxsw
THE INDUSTRY NEWS
A24 is taking Marty Supreme to AFM. The film is their biggest budgeted ever at an estimated $70-90 M. The film, directed by Josh Safdie, centers on the real-life tale of Marty “Supreme” Reisman, played by Timothée Chalamet, considered one of the greatest ping-pong players of all time, winning 22 major titles in his nearly 60-year career.
Here’s the confirmed plot details:
Set against a politically tumultuous 1950s, the film is a fast-paced, globetrotting adventure-comedy in the vein of Wolf of Wall Street and Catch Me If You Can.
Supreme was a habitually destitute millionaire, winning and losing his fortune many times over, who hustled Dustin Hoffman, Kurt Vonnegut, David Mamet, Bobby Fischer, and just about anyone who could pick up a paddle.
Safdie has cast a highly unusual set of actors, including:
Fran Drescher (SAG President)
Kevin O’Leary (Shark Tank’s Mr. Wonderful)
Abel Ferrara (Dir: Bad Lieutenant)
Tyler The Creator
Plus, Gwyneth Paltrow in her return to the screen. Read more about her casting here:
https://theindustry.co/p/gwyneth-paltrows-return-angelina
Marty Supreme is currently filming in NYC.
Martin Campbell + Daisy Ridley double feature. Campbell (dir: Goldeneye, Casino Royale) is directing Dedication (IMDBPro link) starring Star Wars’ Ridley.
Here’s the official synopsis:
A Marine commander (Ridley), relieved of duty after a mission gone wrong, must confront her past and prove her worth in a relentless battle against hostage-takers led by a vengeful anarchist's son.
The project is going out at AFM:
US Sales Rep: CAA
Worldwide sales rep: Highland Film Group
Liam Hemsworth’s Land of Bad
Russell Crowe’s Sleeping Dogs
Campbell + Ridley previously collaborated on Cleaner, which is due out in 2025.
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Tidbit:
Paramount/Skydance updates. Shari Redstone and her son Tyler Korff will not serve on Paramount Global's board after its merger with Skydance Media. National Amusements, Redstone’s company, has long controlled Paramount. As previously thought, Skydance CEO David Ellison will become board Paramount chairman, with Jeff Shell as president.
THE ACTOR SPOTLIGHT
Billy Zane is Marlon Brando in Waltzing With Brando. The resemblance is uncanny in the new trailer.
Official synopsis:
Movie star Marlon Brando recruits a Los Angeles architect to built the world’s first ecologically perfect retreat on a small, uninhabitable island in Tahiti.
Zane, a fellow midwestern like Brando, is not afraid of a little transformation as he did previously in his role as the superhero The Phantom in The Phantom (1996).
The film is launching at the Torino Film Festival on November 22nd.
Splitsville the new film by director/writer Michael Angelo Covino (The Climb) just added some new cast.
Here’s the lowdown:
Nicholas Braun (Cousin Greg, Succession)
David Castañeda (The Umbrella Academy)
O-T Fagbenle (perfectly scummy in Presumed Innocent)
Dakota Johnson, Adria Arjona (True Detective S2) and Kyle Marvin (The Climb) also star.
Synopsis:
After Ashley (Arjona) asks for divorce, Carey (Marvin) turns to friends Julie (Johnson) and Paul (Angelo Covino), learning their happy marriage is open. But when Carey crosses a line, chaos ensues for all relationships.
Neon is distributing. Production just wrapped.
FESTIVALS
American Film Market (AFM) kicks off Day 2. Here are two new projects coming to the market from genre sales agent/distributer/production company XYZ Films:
Cast: Jay Baruchel (Blackberry, This Is the End), Barbie Ferreira (Euphoria)
Co-Financier/Sales Rep: XYZ Films (Blackberry)
Synopsis:
A 24-year-old music critic (Ferreira) gets romantically involved with members of an indie band she decides to publicize, set against Montreal's indie music scene in 2011.
White Mars (IMDBPro link)
Cast: Lucy Hale (Pretty Little Liars)
Prod Company/Sales Rep: XYZ Films (Blackberry)
Synopsis:
In an isolated Antarctic facility, microbiologist Sammie (Hale) battles a malevolent entity intent on exterminating her crew.
INDIE FILMMAKER SPOTLIGHT
Jennifer Kent (dir: The Babadook) is readying her third feature, which is said to be The Thief of Always. The film is based on the Clive Barker novel.
Here’s the official synopsis:
Mr. Hood's Holiday House has stood for a thousand years, welcoming countless children into its embrace. There is a price to be paid, of course, but young Harvey Swick, bored with his life and beguiled by Mr. Hood's wonders, does not stop to consider the consequences. It is only when the house shows its darker face—when Harvey discovers the pitiful creatures that dwell in its shadows—that he comes to doubt Mr. Hood's philanthropy.
Not only is this Kent’s return to the horror genre, but her new project feels reminiscent of her groundbreaking The Babadook (trailer) because it so heavily plays on the haunted house trope, featuring a young child paralyzed with fear over a mysterious imminent dark presence lurking in the walls.
No word on production or start date.
UK Oscar-winning production company See-Saw Films is exploring a sale. Established by Iain Canning and Emile Sherman, they’ve produced:
The King’s Speech (2010)
Cast: Colin Firth, Elizabeth Moss
Academy Award for Best Picture
Lion (2016)
Cast: Dev Patel
Slow Horses (2022 - 2024) - Apple TV+
An investment bank has been appointed to explore the sale. The company is said to have made $158.8 M in 2023 with a profit of around $5.9 M.
Tidbits:
Vertical picks up Sharp Corner, for US distribution, which stars Ben Foster who was lauded for his performance when it world premiered at TIFF.
Synopsis:
A dedicated family man becomes obsessed with saving the lives of the car accident victims on the sharp corner in front of his house - an obsession that could cost him everything.
The film will be released domestically in the spring and will continue to sell internationally at AFM.
A Hong Kong remake of Tape, the 2001 Richard Linklater film starring, Ethan Hawke, Uma Thurman and Robert Sean Leonard (House) just released a trailer.
ON THIS DAY
1996. The English Patient premieres in LA (Best Picture 1997)
See you tomorrow.
Written and Edited by Gabriel Miller.
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