Jake Gyllenhaal Goes Supernatural
Good morning: In today's edition of The Industry, we look at:
Gyllenhaal’s Night, Neon’s Together, Jennifer Coolidge’s Riff Raff.
Let’s go!
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Jake Gyllenhaal goes supernatural.
The actor will appear in the next M. Night Shyamalan film. But as always, there is a twist!
Shyamalan will write the script in parallel with Nicholas Sparks (author: The Notebook), who will write a book. What shared idea will these two come up with?
That will be interesting.
All we know is it is a supernatural romantic thriller. Both Shymalan and Sparks have intersected their recent interest in religious miracles. Here’s a snippet of the synopsis from Sparks’ latest, Counting Miracles (2024):
A religious character serves as a vehicle to re-examine this existential question… none of them is expecting a miracle…but that may be exactly what is about to alter their futures forever.
And here’s the synopsis of Shyamalan’s Knock at the Cabin (2023):
While vacationing, a girl and her parents are taken hostage by armed strangers who demand that the family make a choice to avert the apocalypse.
It’ll be interesting to see how dark or how light the supernatural element will be, given these writers tend to work from opposite extremes. Perhaps the intersection will be something that is not just frightening and thought-provoking, as Shyamalan’s work usually is, but deeply emotionally poignant.
Gyllenhaal, for his part in this equation, works best when the supernatural/sci-fi element in his films has a psychological manifestation, as in Donnie Darko (2001), Enemy (2013), or Source Code (2011). He has a remarkable ability to personalize the most outlandish of circumstances.
It will be interesting to see how the intersection of all these artistic visions manifests.
THE INDUSTRY TLDR
Neon acquires worldwide rights for the Sundance midnight film Together for $17M.
Prime Video secures post-Starz streaming rights for Lionsgate films, including major franchises like Hunger Games.
Netflix has officially greenlit a reboot series of Little House on the Prairie.
My Old Ass writer and director Megan Park is taking on a YA drama series, Sterling Point, for Amazon Prime Video.
Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s studio Artists Equity has appointed Dillon West as the new COO.
Jennifer Coolidge shines in the mobster comedy Riff Raff.
Eddie Murphy plays a retired superspy in Blue Falcon, an action comedy for Sony.
Annette Bening will star opposite Anya Taylor-Joy in Apple TV+’s upcoming limited series Lucky.
Benny Safdie is cast in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, marking his second collaboration with the director.
The Count of Monte Cristo tops France’s César Awards with 14 nominations.
AFM is moving back to LA.
Dutch filmmaker Anton Corbijn (dir: A Most Wanted Man) is starting production on Switzerland, his first feature film in almost a decade.
Magazine Dreams, the much-delayed Jonathan Majors boxing film that premiered at Sundance 2023, has a trailer.
Twinless, which premiered at Sundance a few days ago, is an astonishing depiction of codependency.
THE INDUSTRY NEWS
I’m leaving Sundance today, and the festival was an amazing display of filmmaking.
We’ll have a breakdown later in the week with our favorites from the festival.
For now, we can all find comfort in Neon acquiring worldwide rights (minus AU and NZ) for the Sundance midnight film Together for $17M.
The film stars Alison Brie and Dave Franco. Directed by first-time feature director Michael Shanks.
Here’s the synopsis:
A couple's move to the countryside triggers a supernatural incident that drastically alters their relationship, existence, and physical form.
Neon has been riding high on horrors last year, bringing in $168.9 M from three wide-releases:
Longlegs
$126.9 M worldwide
<$10 M budget
Immaculate
$35.3 M worldwide
$9 M budget
Cuckoo
$6.7 M worldwide
$7 M budget
Interestingly, last year’s big sale at Sundance was very similar. A $17 M acquisition by Netflix for the horror film It’s What’s Inside, also by a first-time feature director.
Neon will release Together on August 1st.
Amazon has thrown itself into the Lionsgate and Starz divorce: It’s not a dramatic shift, but after the Lionsgate/Starz split, Prime wants to be the streaming home for Lionsgate’s films. Lionsgate’s films will first have their theatrical run, then stream on Starz as per their contract. After that, they’ll finally land on Prime.
The agreement includes select films from the 2025 lineup and a commitment to licensing library movies and TV series. Prime Video will feature franchises like:
The Hunger Games
Now You See Me
John Wick
Twilight
Saw
It's a promising catalog, no wonder Prime is not worried about picking up seconds. This deal aligns with Lionsgate’s overall plan to separate its studio and Starz divisions while maximizing content distribution across multiple platforms, together reinforcing Prime Video’s position as a major streaming destination.
The Ingalls family is making their way back to the prairie and to the small screen. Netflix has officially greenlit a reboot series of Little House on the Prairie as a “reimagining” of the ‘70s drama that was originally based on the classic book series by Laura Ingalls Wilder.
The new version from CBS Studios and Anonymous Content Studios is expected to follow Charles (previously played by Michael Landon), his wife Caroline (previously played by Karen Grassle) and their daughters Laura and Mary (previously played by Melissa Gilbert and Melissa Sue Anderson) as they leave Wisconsin to settle in Independence, KS.
Producer Rebecca Sonnenshine (The Boys, Vampire Diaries) will serve as showrunner and EP.
Jinny Howe, VP, Drama Series, Netflix said:
“Rebecca’s vision threads the needle with an emotional depth that will delight both new and existing fans of this beloved classic.”
Even given its recent resurgence on Peacock, tackling such a beloved and near-perfect series is risky, but apparently, this reboot has been in the works for years now, just finally starting to get traction.
Tidbits:
My Old Ass writer and director Megan Park is taking on a YA drama series, Sterling Point, for Amazon Prime Video. Margot Robbie’s LuckyChap Entertainment, who was behind Park’s 2024 Sundance gem My Old Ass, will be EPing the upcoming series under a first-look TV deal with Amazon. Veterans of the YA genre, Gossip Girl (2021-2023) creator Josh Schwartz and Nancy Drew (2019-2023) EP Stephanie Savage will produce Sterling Point. While details are being kept under wraps, creator, co-showrunner, and director Park will most likely use her acting experience in teen dramas like ABC’s The Secret Life of an American Teenager (2008-2013) and Jane the Virgin (2014-2019) to guide her YA direction.
Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s studios Artists Equity has appointed Dillon West as the new Chief Operating Officer. The former COO, Michael Joe, is taking on a strategic advisory role while staying on the board of directors. Industry veteran Andrew Gumpert has been tapped for the newly created role of President of Business Affairs & Strategy. Launching back in 2022, the studio’s most recent backing is Jennifer Lopez’s Kiss of the Spider Woman, which just premiered at Sundance.
Longtime CBS development executive Bryan Seabury has been promoted to EVP, and head of content strategy at the studio while continuing to also serve as head of drama development. Seabury’s new role will have an emphasis on franchise building and leveraging and identifying new and existing IP for global audiences across broadcast, streaming, and other emerging media.
The reunion is on. Both Lisa Kudrow and Mira Sorvino nearly 30 years after the release of their ‘90s cult hit film Romy and Michele's High School Reunion (1997), are in talks to reunite for a legacyquel. The comedy saw Sorvino and Kudrow as a pair of unaccomplished 29-year-olds who decide to fabricate successful careers in order to impress their former classmates at their 10th anniversary high school reunion. Tim Federle (dir: High School Musical) will direct for 20th Century Studios. The original screenwriter, Robin Schiff (showrunner: Emily in Paris), is returning. Production is set to begin in June.
Mini Tidbit:
Netflix has promoted Michael Azzolino to VP of Scripted Drama and Nne Ebong to VP of Studio Scripted Series, expanding their responsibilities.
Upcoming Sony releases:
Dir: Darren Aronofsky
Star: Austin Butler, Vincent D'Onofrio, Zoë Kravitz, and a wild looking Matt Smith
Releasing August 29th, 2025
Insidious 6
Release date pushed to: August 2026
THE ACTOR SPOTLIGHT
Jennifer Coolidge shines in the mobster comedy Riff Raff. With an all-star cast that includes Bill Murray and Pete Davidson, it's no wonder. Just look at these masters of comedy playing off of each other (trailer).
Davidson and Murray play a pair of mismatched hitmen out for revenge. Jennifer Coolidge and Ed Harris find themselves in the crosshairs. The trailer has an effortless, funny charm that disguises violence.
But the one who really shines in this whole thing is Coolidge; she plays Ed Harris's mob-tied ex-wife, who unfortunately ends up ruining his new family's vacation when past sins come to haunt her. She has some of the best one-liners in the trailer.
Coolidge is in the middle of a bit of a renaissance; she has always been a steady character actor and good for a cameo here and there, but White Lotus has elevated her to a scene-stealing force of nature (clip). She played Tanya with a profound sense of sadness and tragedy that just made her constant befuddlement all the more rich and exciting.
This cast is quickly building hype. We could have a classic like the likes of Big Lebowski here, I'm serious. Riff Raff hits theaters March 7.
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Sony Pictures has cast Eddie Murphy in Blue Falcon, an action comedy.
Here’s the synopsis:
A retired superspy who heads for the destination wedding of his estranged son, and finds himself in proximity with his archrival.
The last time Murphy played a spy? In I Spy (2002) where, he starred as a world champion boxer tasked to help Owen Wilson save the world from Malcolm McDowell’s invisible enemy plane (even Murphy’s patented charm can’t save the film, trailer).
What I like about this new role is how Murphy will align with his character’s newfound energy of coming out of retirement.
He has resurfaced recently with:
Dolemite Is My Name (2019)
Coming to America 2 (2021)
You People (2023)
Candy Cane Lane (2023)
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (2024)
Murphy doesn’t quite have the same off-the-charts charisma as he used to so I’m hoping he finds something deeper in Blue Falcon.
And if you haven’t seen it, nothing could ever top this NSFW greatest scene of his career.
Tidbits:
Benny Safdie is cast in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. There is no word on the plot or role, but Safdie recently appeared in Nolan’s Oppenheimer as the Hungarian scientist Edward Teller, father of the hydrogen bomb, who ultimately sells him out at the security hearing. Remember the snubbed handshake moment? Safdie is immersed in whatever role he plays on screen. When I first saw him play Robert Pattinson’s developmentally disabled brother in Good Time, I thought they’d found a developmentally disabled actor. I was shocked when Benny Safdie (who also served as co-director) walked out for the Q&A. Benny also plays a gloriously sad sack in The Curse. We can’t wait to see his acting career burgeon (on top of his wildly impressive directing career).
ITV has announced The Hack, a seven-part drama on the U.K.’s phone-hacking scandal, written by Jack Thorne. Starring David Tennant (Dr. Who) as real-life journalist Nick Davies. The seven-part series explores the media scandal and a parallel murder investigation all tied up with events based on a true story. The cast includes Toby Jones. The series has just finished filming and is in post—a collaboration between ITV and Stan in Australia. First look photo here.
Oscar-nominated actress Annette Bening to star opposite Anya Taylor-Joy in Apple TV+’s upcoming limited series Lucky. Based on the NYT bestselling novel by Marissa Stapley the script is being penned by This Is Where I Leave You writer Jonathan Tropper. Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine is produced alongside Apple Studios, with few other details announced yet. This series comes shortly after Benning starred in the ensemble cast of Peacock’s miniseries book adaptation Apples Never Fall, which premiered last year.
FESTIVALS / AWARDS
The César Awards, the French equivalent of the Academy Awards, just dropped their nominations.
Here are the best film nominees:
BEST FILM
The Count of Monte Cristo (14 nominations)
Synopsis:
After escaping from an island prison where he spent 14 years for being wrongly accused of state treason, Edmond Dantès returns as the Count of Monte Cristo to exact revenge on the men who betrayed him.
Emilia Pérez (12 nominations)
Synopsis:
A dramatic comedy adapted from the play "Being Cyrano" that tells the story of a boy who takes refuge in an imaginary world to escape the violence of his father.
Souleymane’s Story (Cannes Un Certain Regard, Best Actor/Jury Prize)
Synopsis:
A Paris food delivery cyclist and asylum seeker named Souleymane has two days to prepare his story for a make-or-break interview to secure legal residency.
Misericordia (Cannes Offical Selection)
Synopsis:
Returning to Saint-Martial for his late boss's funeral, Jérémie's stay with widow Martine becomes entangled in a disappearance, a threatening neighbor, and an abbot's shady intentions.
Find the full list of nominees here. The César Awards takes place on Feb 28th.
German auteur filmmaker Jan-Ole Gerster’s English language debut feature Islands will be handled by Protagonist Pictures for worldwide sales. With a cast made up of Sam Riley (Control), Stacy Martin (The Brutalist) and Jack Farthing (Spencer), the dramatic thriller has been described as “an extraordinary blend of intrigue and atmosphere, exploring the darker edges of desire and mystery against a sun-drenched backdrop”. Islands will have its world premiere at the Berlinale as part of the Berlinale Special Gala section next month.
Tidbit:
AFM is moving back to LA. This is good for the city. And good as last year’s AFM in Vegas was quite the headache.
INDIE FILMMAKER SPOTLIGHT
After much delay, Dutch filmmaker Anton Corbijn (A Most Wanted Man) is finally starting production on Switzerland, his first feature film in almost a decade.
The cast is led by Dame Helen Mirren as a famed crime novelist with House of the Dragon’s Olivia Cooke and Oppenheimer’s Alden Ehrenreich.
Official Logline:
A mysterious young man from a New York publisher is sent to Switzerland to persuade the renowned writer Patricia Highsmith to write one final installment of the Ripley anthology.
Corbijn, a noted photographer-turned-director, is known for such acclaimed films as:
The American (2010)
a spy thriller starring George Clooney
A Most Wanted Man (2014)
a true crime feature with Philip Seymour Hoffman in one of his final roles
Corbijn has been MIA since 2015, and Switzerland is surely set to become one of the most anticipated films of 2026. For his upcoming film, Corbijn is borrowing director Yorgos Lanthimos’ go-to cinematographer, Robbie Ryan (The Favourite, Poor Things), known for his wide-eyed lens and fluid camera movement.
Filming on Switzerland is officially underway in Rome ahead of moving to Italy, Switzerland, then London.
Magazine Dreams, the boxing film that premiered at Sundance 2023 to strong reviews but got pulled from its Searchlight release due to Jonathan Majors's involvement, has its first trailer. It looks incredibly raw.
Briarcliff’s founder Tom Ortenberg, former Lionsgate President, who picked up the film, stated:
“Magazine Dreams is a visceral experience that challenges the perceptions of ambition and identity… Jonathan Majors’ transcendent performance as Killian Maddox will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the most compelling and transformative roles in recent cinema history,”
I was kicking myself for missing tickets to this at Sundance in 2023, so I’m jazzed that this will see the light of day on March 21, 2025, in theaters.
Tidbits:
Twinless, which premiered at Sundance a few days ago, is an astonishing depiction of codependency.
Here’s the official synopsis:
Two young men meet in a twin bereavement support group and form an unlikely bromance.
James Sweeney wrote, directed, and co-starred. The script is meticulously constructed and thrives off misdirection. Two equally lost characters form a parasitic relationship that blossoms even as it gets tinged with maliciousness. But the film always remains lovable and focused.
My favorite quote:
“I was we. Now I’m I.”
We look forward to seeing this get released.
ON THIS DAY
1931. City Lights, directed by Charlie Chaplin, premieres at the Los Angeles Theater.
See you Friday!
Written by Gabriel Miller, Spencer Carter, and Madelyn Menapace.
Editor: Gabriel Miller.
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