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It’s been eight years since the first episode of “Are You The One?” (Ayto) premiered. Although the dating show didn’t hit mainstream fame immediately, it’s built a steady following and widely dispersed fan base over the years — even getting its own spin-off, “Are You The One: Second Chances.”

The dating series remains a fan-favorite among other series like “Ex on the Beach.” Some have even said this could be regarded as one of the best dating-style TV shows witnessed in the last decade. Many fans have likened it to “The Real World,” considered the Og of reality TV. Others may disagree, but no doubt, Ayto is one of the most entertaining dating shows you’ll watch.

If you’re a fan or someone interested in diving into this dating series, you probably have some questions. What’s Ayto been up to these days? Was the show paused due to the pandemic?...

Exclusive: We hear that Susan Johnson, the director of Netflix’s hit teen dramedy To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, has boarded Paramount Players’ Bounce based on the Megan Shull YA novel and starring YouTube personality JoJo Siwa. The feature is in early development.

Bounce tells the story of a teenage girl who wishes she could trade her family for a new one on Christmas Eve. Her wish is granted and she finds herself “bouncing” into the lives of other girls and living Christmas Day on repeat — learning the value of family, finding your voice and the power of love. Josann McGibbon, the writer and EP on Disney Channel’s Descendants franchise, and the scribe on such movies as Runaway Bride, Three Men and a Little Lady and the Co-ep of ABC’s Desperate Housewives, is adapting Shull’s novel.

Paramount won the rights to Bounce last summer after a competitive bidding war,...

The Writers Guild of America, East is hosting their annual “And the Nominees Are…” Panels on March 10th, and Variety will host the livestreams.

The Comedy/Variety Series Panel will take place at 10:00am Pt / 1:00pm Et, while the Long-Form TV Movie & Limited Series Panel will take place at 4:00pm Pt / 7:00pm Et. Both will be streamed on Variety.com via the YouTube link below.

The Comedy/Variety Series panel will feature the following nominees:

Kristen Bartlett (“Full Frontal with Samantha Bee”)

Alex Baze (“Late Night With Seth Meyers”)

Jenny Hagel

Michael Koman (“How To with John Wilson”)

Mike Pielocik (“Desus & Mero”)

The panel will be moderated by Variety‘s Cynthia Littleton.

Later in the day, the Long-Form TV Movie & Limited Series Panel will feature the following nominees:

Alan Ball (“Uncle Frank”)

Ian Brennan (“Hollywood”)

Alexandra Cunningham (“Dirty John: The Betty Broderick Story”)

Scott Frank...

The Writers Guild of America announced their WGA Awards TV nominations for on Wednesday, February 3. After getting just one bid from the Golden Globes earlier in the day, AMC’s “Better Call Saul” rebounded to top all shows with five nominations including for Drama Series along with Amazon Studios’ “The Boys,” Disney +’s “The Mandalorian” and Netflix’s “The Crown” and “Ozark.”

Hulu lands two shows in contention for Comedy Series with “The Great” and “PEN15,” making the streaming service the only company to score multiple nominees in the category. They are joined by HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” Apple TV+’s “Ted Lasso” and FX’s “What We Do in the Shadows.”

Another notable feat belongs to “The Simpsons,” which dominates the animation category with four of the six nominations. Despite premiering over 30 years ago, the Fox series shows no signs of writer’s fatigue. “Bob’s Burgers” and “BoJack Horseman...

The WGA on Wednesday unveiled nominations for its 2021 WGA Awards in the categories of TV, new media, news, radio/audio and promotional writing during 2020. Winners will be honored March 21 in a virtual ceremony.

AMC’s Better Call Saul topped all shows with five nominations including for Drama Series, joining a list that includes Amazon Studios’ The Boys, Netflix’s The Crown (which led the way on the TV side at the Golden Globe nominations earlier today) and Ozark and Disney+’s The Mandalorian.

Also making noise today is Hulu, the only other company to have multiple noms in the top categories; it scored in Comedy with Tony McNamara’s The Great and Pen15 and FX on Hulu’s What We Do in the Shadows, which are joined in the race by HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm and Apple TV+’s Ted Lasso.

Lasso is also nominated in the New Series,...

The nominations for the 2021 Writers Guild Award TV categories were announced on Wednesday, with streaming series dominating the lineup.

Both the drama series and the comedy series categories were majority streaming, with hits like “The Queen’s Gambit,” “The Mandalorian,” “The Crown” and “Ozark” sitting alongside fan-favorites like “PEN15,” “The Great” and “Ted Lasso.” Other nominees included HBO Max’s “The Flight Attendant,” HBO’s “Lovecraft Country” and Showtime’s “Good Lord Bird.

“Better Call Saul” also landed three additional nominations for individual episodes, with “Ozark” picking up another. “The Great” and “Ted Lasso” both picked up nomination for individual episodes as well as for Best New Series.

Comedy and variety nominees included Peacock’s fledgling late-night show, “The Amber Ruffin Show,” Amazon’s “Yearly Departed,” the one-off “30 Rock” reunion special and Stephen Colbert’s 2020 election coverage on Showtime.

Nominations in the film categories will be announced later this month,...

“Better Call Saul” are among the top nominees for this year’s Writers Guild Awards, landing a nod for best drama series, as well as three nominations in the episodic drama category. “The Simpsons” landed four nominations in best animation, while newcomers “Ted Lasso” and “The Great” both scored nominations in best comedy, new series and episodic comedy. Winners will be honored at a joint 2021 Writers Guild Awards virtual ceremony on Sunday, March 21, 2021. Here’s the complete list of nominations, announced on Wednesday morning:

Drama Series

“Better Call Saul,” Written by Ann Cherkis, Vince Gilligan, Peter Gould, Ariel Levine, Heather Marion, Thomas Schnauz, Gordon Smith, Alison Tatlock; AMC

“The Boys,” Written by Eric Kripke, Ellie Monahan, Anslem Richardson, Craig Rosenberg, Michael Saltzman, Rebecca Sonnenshine; Amazon Prime Video

“The Crown,” Written by Peter Morgan, Jonathan Wilson; Netflix

“The Mandalorian,” Written by Rick Famuyiwa, Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni; Disney Plus

“Ozark,” Written by Laura Deeley,...

Exclusive: Director of the Netflix hit teen dramedy To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, Susan Johnson, has signed with Verve.

The filmmaker joins an eclectic and diverse roster of female directors at Verve including Kim Peirce, Hanelle Culpepper, directing duo Bert & Bertie, Cristina Gallego, Leigh Janiak, Tanya Wexler and Gigi Saul Guerrero.

To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before premiered on Netflix in the summer of 2018 becoming reportedly one of the most re-watched films that year. The feature followed a teenage girl whose secret love letters are exposed and wreaked havoc on her love life. Critics loved it at 96% certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. Johnson executive produced the pic’s sequel last year, To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You.

Next up, Johnson is attached to direct Rabbit Cake for Amazon starring McKenna Grace, a heart-wrenching dramedy based on the NY Times best-selling book by Annie Hartnett.

You have to hand it to “Clouds,” the latest wholesome YA drama to premiere on the Disney Plus platform: There has never been, and probably never will be, another teen movie to pay such repeated tribute to Mary Oliver. A line from the late American poet’s “The Summer Day” — “Tell me, what is it you plan to do/With your one wild and precious life?” — is quoted multiple times in director Justin Baldoni’s sweet, smoothed-over biopic of teenage singer-songwriter Zach Sobiech, who died aged 18 of cancer, shortly after scoring the viral folk-pop hit that lends the film its title. The resonance of Oliver’s words is obvious, but effective.

Then again, “Clouds” also gets misty-eyed over the lyrics to Jason Mraz’s twee 2008 smash “I’m Yours:” It’s not a film that especially distinguishes between the sublime and the stickily sentimental, but in that respect, it feels...

Disney UK has launched the second trailer for the life-affirming teen drama based on a true story ‘Clouds’.

Zach Sobiech (Fin Argus) is a fun-loving high school student with raw musical talent living with osteosarcoma, a rare bone cancer. At the start of his senior year, he is ready to take on the world, however, when he receives the news that the disease has spread, he and his best friend and songwriting partner, Sammy (Sabrina Carpenter), decide to spend Zach’s limited time following their dreams.

With the help of Zach’s mentor and teacher, Mr. Weaver (Lil Rel Howery), Zach and Sammy are given the chance of a lifetime and are offered a record deal. Along with the support of the love of his life, Amy (Madison Iseman) and his parents, Rob and Laura (Tom Everett Scott and Neve Campbell); Zach embarks on an unforgettable journey about friendship, love and the power of music.

Disney CEO Bob Chapek said that more feature films will be coming to Disney+, and here’s what looks to be another marquee title in the wake of the streamer’s announcement earlier this week to debut Hamilton over July 4th weekend. Disney+ Global Content has made their first feature acquisition, Clouds, about 17-year old Zach Sobiech, who before dying of a rare bone cancer in May 2013, formed the band A Firm Handshake and recorded the hit single “Clouds”. Pic will hit the streaming service this fall in all territories.

“Clouds” charted on the Billboard Hot 100, and became a hit in the UK, Canada, and France, clocking No. 1 on iTunes seven years ago.

Clouds was shot in Montreal, and is based on the memoir Fly a Little Higher by Laura Sobiech, Zach’s mother, adapted by Kara Holden. Pic is directed and produced by Wayfarer Studios co-founder Justin Baldoni (Five Feet Apart...

Tom Everett Scott has joined the cast of Warner Bros teen drama “Clouds,” an individual with knowledge of the project exclusively told TheWrap.

The film is based on the memoir “Fly a Little Higher: How God Answered a Mom’s Small Prayer in a Big Way” and centers on the true story of Zach Sobiech (Fin Argus), a teenager who was diagnosed with a rare bone cancer. The teenager deals with the disease by turning to music and wrote the song “Clouds” which went viral on YouTube and reached No. 1 on iTunes prior to his death in 2013 at the age of 18. Scott will be playing the part of Rob Sobiech, Zach’s father. Neve Campbell is set to play Laura Sobiech, Zach’s mother. Madison Iseman and Sabrina Carpenter are also part of the cast

Justin Baldoni directs “Clouds” from a script by Kara Holden, with a previous draft by...

Exclusive: Neve Campbell has boarded Warner Bros. drama Clouds and will play Laura Sobiech, the author whose memoir Fly a Little Higher: How God Answered a Mom’s Small Prayer in a Big Way the Justin Baldoni-directed film is based on.

The pic follows 17-year-old Zach (Fin Argus), Laura’s son, whose diagnosed a second time with Osteosarcoma, a rare form of pediatric bone cancer, but this time it’s terminal. In the months leading up to his death, he finds the courage to date and fall in love with his dream girl, Amy (Madison Iseman) and despite waves of sorrow and guilt knowing he’s leaving his loved ones behind and in pain, he writes a song saying goodbye and to thank all the people who stood by him.

Laura blogged about her son’s battle with cancer on the Caring Bridge website. In May 2013 a documentary called My...

It feels like we are reporting daily on books getting adapted onto film. I love this, because it introduces people to new authors and promotes reading while letting fans of novels see their favorite stories play out on the screen. The most recent novel to get the treatment is the romantic comedy Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt. The adaptation will be written by Kara Holden, who wrote the script for Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life, which was a really great movie.

Variety reports the following synopsis for the movie:

The book, published in 2013, follows a 16-year old who discovers that her “perfect” boyfriend is cheating on her with an online girlfriend. When their ugly breakup goes viral, she not only swears off boys but modern technology altogether. Inspired by a list of goals her grandmother made in 1962, she decides to “go vintage” and return to a simpler...

Imagine Kids & Family has acquired film rights to Going Vintage, the bestselling Ya book written by Lindsey Leavitt. Kara Holden has been set to pen the adaptation of the teen romantic comedy.

The book, published in 2013 by Bloomsbury USA Childrens, centers on 16-year-old Mallory, a quirky and independent teen from Orange County. When she discovers her “perfect” boyfriend, Jeremy, is cheating on her with an online girlfriend, and their ugly breakup goes viral, she not only swears off boys but modern technology altogether. Inspired by a list of goals her grandmother made in 1962, Mallory decides to “go vintage” and return to a simpler time – using only the tech, clothing, music and means of entertainment from the early 1960s. She sets out to fulfill her grandmother’s teenage bucket list, but modern day problems and the resurfacing of her...

After a competitive bid negotiation, recently launched Imagine Kids & Family has won the film adaptation rights to Lindsay Leavitt’s romantic comedy novel “Going Vintage.”

Kara Holden, whose credits include “Carrie Pilby” and “Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life,” will pen the adaptation. The film will be produced by Imagine Kids+Family President Stephanie Sperber, alongside 2 Friends Entertainment’s Nancy Steingard and Wendy Moss-Klein.

The book, published in 2013, follows a 16-year old who discovers that her “perfect” boyfriend is cheating on her with an online girlfriend. When their ugly breakup goes viral, she not only swears off boys but modern technology altogether. Inspired by a list of goals her grandmother made in 1962, she decides to “go vintage” and return to a simpler time to fulfill her grandmother’s teenage bucket list, but modern day problems have her questioning whether there has ever been a “simpler time.”

“I fell...

Mptf (Motion Picture & Television Fund) hosted its seventh annual “Reel Stories, Real Lives” event, a unique evening of powerful stories about industry members and their families who have benefitted from Mptf’s services in recent years.

Stars Attend Reel Stories, Real Lives

Jay Ellis, Glen Powell, Mary Steenburgen, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson served as the storytellers.

Each story was written by one of Hollywood’s leading feature and television writers, including Reinaldo Marcus Green, Joby Harold, Kara Holden, and Olivia Milch.

The evening was hosted by Emmy Award-winning producer, writer, and actor Keegan-Michael Key.

“We are so fortunate to enjoy the support of our entire industry, from the incredible storytellers who wrote and presented last night’s narratives to the engaged audience who came to listen. Once again, the wonderful generosity of the entertainment community was on display and we are very grateful for that,” said Bob Beitcher, President and CEO of Mptf.

The only remotely unpredictable thing about “Carrie Pilby,” a bland romantic drama that wastes and waters down the abundant charisma of its young star (“Diary of a Teenage Girl” breakout Bel Powley), is that it suffers from the exact same problem that turned last week’s “Power Rangers” into such a lifeless bore: By trying to provide a little something for everyone, it ultimately offers precious little to anyone. From low-budget stories of sex in the city to blockbuster reboots about teens who overcome their sexting scandals by fighting giant alien monsters made of liquid gold, it seems that even the most outwardly dissimilar of movies are united by their shared compulsion to sacrifice insight at the altar of accessibility (union agreements come and go, but mediocrity is forever).

But even that fatal flaw could be seen coming a mile away, especially by those who were already familiar with the...

Sneak Peek the new comedy feature "Carrie Pilby" directed by Susan Johnson and written by Kara Holden, Dean Craig, based on the best-selling novel of the same name by author Caren Lissner, starring Bel Powley, Nathan Lane, Gabriel Byrne, Jason Ritter, William Moseley, Vanessa Bayer and Colin O'Donoghue, opening in limited release March 31, 2017:

"...'Carrie Pilby' is a 19-year-old genius who graduated early from 'Harvard College', with no idea how to fit in, date, or talk to other people after college. She believes the majority of people in her hometown, New York City, to be sex-obsessed, immoral and hypocrites.

"She felt the same way about students who did dangerous things in college, like drinking to excess and having sex, and as a result felt very isolated, although she confesses that she reluctantly lost her virginity to a professor there.

"Her therapist in New York gives her a five-point plan to test her beliefs,...

Going to Harvard at age 14 and writing “several strongly worded letters to oil companies” at age 6 doesn’t classify as normal, and from The Orchard’s newly released trailer for its upcoming film Carrie Pilby, Carrie’s life does indeed seem anything but conventional. The Susan Johnson-directed coming-of-age comedy is based on Caren Lissner’s bestseller and stars Bel Powley as a young genius who doesn’t necessarily know it all. In the film, written by Kara Holden, Carrie…...

Carrie Pilby, the Bel Powley-starring pic that The Orchard acquired in the fall after its bow at the Toronto Film Festival, will hit theaters March 31, the distributor said today. It will be followed by a digital and VOD release April 4. The movie, directed by Susan Johnson and written by Kara Holden who adapted Caren Lissner’s bestseller, stars Powley as Carrie, a genius who graduated Harvard at 18 and is convinced the world is populated by oversexed hypocrites. She has…...

Based on The New York Times best-selling book series by James Patterson, the hilarious family-friendly film, Middle School: The Worst Years Of My Life, arrives on Digital HD December 20 and Blu-ray (plus Digital HD), DVD, and On Demand January 3 from Lionsgate Home Entertainment and CBS Films.

The New York Times best-selling series by James Patterson breaks all the rules when Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life arrives on Digital HD December 20 and Blu-ray (plus Digital HD), DVD, and On Demand January 3 from Lionsgate and CBS Films. This hilarious, family-friendly leap from the page to the big screen stars Griffin Gluck (Batman vs. Robin) alongside Lauren Graham (TV’s “Gilmore Girls”), Rob Riggle (The Hangover), Thomas Barbusca (TV’s “Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp”), Andy Daly (Semi-Pro), Adam Pally (Dirty Grandpa), Isabela Moner (TV’s “100 Things to Do Before High School”), Isabella Amara (The Boss) and...

Making movies is definitely a serious business, but that doesn't mean you can't have fun on the set as well. We get a small glimpse at some of the on-set shenanigans in a new gag reel from the Lionsgate comedy Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life. This video features Andy Daly as Principal Dwight showing Adam Pally's Mr. Teller the various contraband students have in their lockers, although he opens the wrong locker in this sequence, forcing him to start over. We also get a glimpse at Lauren Graham, as she knocks over a house of cards, and Griffin Gluck goofing around with Efren Ramirez.

The New York Times best-selling series by James Patterson breaks all the rules when Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life arrives on Digital HD December 20 and Blu-ray (plus Digital HD), DVD, and On Demand January 3 from Lionsgate and CBS Films.

Keep up with the wild and wooly world of indie film acquisitions with our weekly Rundown of everything that’s been picked up around the globe. Check out last week’s Rundown here.

– Open Road Films has announced that it has acquired domestic distribution rights to “Spark,” an animated space adventure starring voice talent from Academy Award-winning actresses Hilary Swank and Susan Sarandon, Golden Globe nominee Patrick Stewart, Jessica Biel, and introducing Jace Norman. The animated film is directed by Canadian filmmaker Aaron Woodley. Open Road Films plans to release the film in theatres on April 14, 2017.

– IFC Films has announced at the American Film Market conference that the company has acquired U.S. rights to Werner Herzog’s “Queen of the Desert.” The film, written and directed by Herzog, stars Nicole Kidman, James Franco, Robert Pattinson and Damian Lewis. They will the release the film in the spring of next year.

Exclusive: Japanese deal closed with Radiant Films in the run-up to Afm.

Shochiku has acquired Japanese rights from Radiant Films International to Carrie Pilby following its recent world premiere in Toronto.

The deal closed in the run-up to the Afm, where Radiant president and CEO Mimi Steinbauer and her team continue to represent international rights.

Earlier this week it emerged The Orchard had picked up North American rights to the film directed by Susan Johnson about a conflicted genius drawn out of her shell by a checklist of goals devised by her psychiatrist.

Nathan Lane, Gabriel Byrne, Vanessa Bayer, William Moseley and Jason Ritter round out the key cast.

Kara Holden wrote the screenplay based on the novel by Caren Lissner.

Steinbauer praised Shochiku, adding: “With an exceptional distribution, marketing and publicity team, their expertise makes them the perfect partner to promote and successfully release this uplifting film to audiences. The film is...

The North American deal on the Bel Powley starrer follows the film’s recent world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Susan Johnson directed Carrie Pilby from a script by Kara Holden based on the novel by Caren Lissner about a conflicted genius who is drawn out of her shell by a checklist of goals devised by her psychiatrist.

Nathan Lane, Gabriel Byrne, Vanessa Bayer, Colin O’Donoghue, William Moseley and Jason Ritter round out the main cast.

Suzanne Farwell, Johnson, Susan Cartsonis, Brent Emery and Lisa Wolofsky produced.

The Orchard plans an early 2017 release for the film and negotiated the deal with ICM Partners and UTA Independent Film Group on behalf of the filmmakers.

Radiant Films International represents international sales.

The Orchard has acquired North American rights to Carrie Pilby, the Susan Johnson-helmed comedy that stars Bel Powley and bowed at the Toronto Film Festival. The Orchard plans an early 2017 release. Radiant Films International is repping foreign rights this week at the American Film Market. Based on Caren Lissner’s bestselling book and adapted by Kara Holden, Powley stars as a genius who graduated Harvard at 18. Convinced that the world is populated by oversexed…...

Like an overbooked, overambitious student, “Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life” tries to cram far more into its curriculum than it can handle. The film’s attempts at comedy and sentimentality are equally unsuccessful, resulting in a movie that feels more like a third-rate “Saved by the Bell” knock-off than a legitimate teen flick. Both the younger cast members and their more seasoned adult counterparts mostly give it their all, but the screenplay by Chris Bowman and Hubbel Palmer (“Masterminds”) and Kara Holden, based on the novels by airport-king James Patterson and Chris Tebbetts, throws in more incidents and.

The synopsis for Carrie Pilby can sound atrocious on paper. Most films utilizing an eighteen-year old Harvard graduate do so as periphery color because the trope lends itself to obnoxious pedantry and an unsympathetic notion of “first world problems.” Having your titular lead (played by Bel Powley) be that person is therefore a risky proposition. She’s an introvert bagging on society for willingly lowering their Iq to fit a cesspool of mediocrity despite making no attempt to engage or discover whether that assumption is true. We should despise her and harbor frustration towards director Susan Johnson for wanting the opposite. Well the joke’s on us because her character proves utterly likable in her failings — likable and relatable while traversing the landscape of life and love.

Her identity is in shambles after a year off post-college in her adopted home. With Dad (Gabriel Byrne) refusing to leave London (she...

Based on the book by James Patterson and Chris Tebbetts, Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life is the next in the line of films featuring kids taking control of their world.

Rafe (Griffin Gluck) is heading into middle school, and he finds himself in the world of Principal Dwight (Andy Daly), who runs a tight ship, and has an overabundance of rules. Rafe and his friends put together a plan to break every rule Principal Dwight has, but he has to keep his plans, and rule-breaking, from his mom (Lauren Graham).

While this one looks like a lot of fun for younger audiences, its success probably rests on Daly’s shoulders, and he’s a great choice for the role. The “bad guy” in such a film can easily go too cartoony, and though Daly could probably aim for that if he wanted to, his work on things...

CBS Films announced today the cast for the theatrical motion picture adaptation of James Patterson’s award-winning, bestselling series Middle School, arriving in theaters October 2016.

The cast will include Lauren Graham (“Parenthood,” “Gilmore Girls”), Rob Riggle (“22 Jump Street,” “Hotel Transylvania 2”), Thomas Barbusca (“Preacher,” “Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp”), Andrew Daly (“Review,” “Black-ish”), Adam Pally (“The Mindy Project,” “The To Do List”), Efren Ramirez (“Constantine,” “Napoleon Dynamite”), Isabela Moner (“100 Things to Do Before High School,” “Dora and Friends: Into the City!”) and Alexa Nisenson (“Constantine”) are joining Griffin Gluck (“About a Boy,” “Red Band Society”).

Steve Carr is set to direct the film from a screenplay by Chris Bowman, Hubbel Palmer and Kara Holden. Leopoldo Gout and Bill Robinson are producing and James Patterson and Steve Bowen are executive producing for James Patterson Entertainment. Jeff Skoll and Jonathan King of Participant Media are also serving as executive producers along with Michael Flynn.

Macbeth

A big batch of new photos have been released from Justin Kurzel's new film adaptation of the classic Shakespeare play "Macbeth" which scored rave reviews at the Cannes Film Festival and is scheduled to hit several overseas countries over the next month or two. [Source: Empire]

Untitled Robert Zemeckis Project

Writer Steven Knight says that Robert Zemeckis' next project, a sweeping romantic espionage thriller set against the backdrop of World War II Britain, will start filming in January.

Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard are set to play assassins who fall in love during a mission in Casablanca to kill a German ambassador. A game of espionage ensues as matters are further complicated. [Source: Collider]

Long Shot

WWE Studios has acquired the rights to adapt Franklin Martin's 2013 documentary "Long Shot: The Kevin Laue Story" into a feature film. "Soul Surfer" scribe Kara Holden will pen the story of Laue, the first...

WWE Studios has acquired rights to adapt Franklin Martin's documentary Long Shot: The Kevin Laue Story to a feature film, and has tapped Soul Surfer scribe Kara Holden to adapt it. The 2013 documentary followed Laue, who become the first player missing a limb to play Ncaa Division I basketball. A director search is underway. The Long Shot movie will detail Laue’s journey from Pleasanton, CA to the basketball court of Manhattan College in New York, where he joined the team…...

WWE Studios has acquired the rights to adapt Franklin Martin’s 2012 documentary Long Shot: The Kevin Laue Story into a narrative feature film.

The film will center on Kevin Laue, a young man who defied all odds to become the first player missing a limb to play Ncaa Division 1 basketball. Kara Holden — whose credits include Carrie Pilby, The Opposite of Love and Soul Surfer — is set to write the adaptation. WWE Studios is circling in on a director to helm.

Like Martin’s documentary, Long Shot will chronicle the trials and tribulations Laue faced and surpassed during his journey from the ...

WWE Studios has acquired the rights to adapt Franklin Martin’s 2012 documentary Long Shot: The Kevin Laue Story into a narrative feature film.

The film will center on Kevin Laue, a young man who defied all odds to become the first player missing a limb to play Ncaa Division 1 basketball. Kara Holden — whose credits include Carrie Pilby, The Opposite of Love and Soul Surfer — is set to write the adaptation. WWE Studios is circling in on a director to helm.

Like Martin’s documentary, Long Shot will chronicle the trials and tribulations Laue faced and surpassed during his journey from the ...

Fresh from her critical success in Marielle Heller's The Diary Of A Teenage Girl, Bel Powley has signed up for another adaptation of a novel. She'll play the titular Carrie Pilby, as director Susan Johnson brings Caren Lissner's book to the screen. Eddie Izzard, Tom Wilkinson and Jason Ritter are also among the cast.The coming-of-age tale involves the precociously talented Carrie graduating at 19 from Harvard, but struggles to fit in with and make sense of the wider world when she's cut free from the Ivy League institution. Visiting a shrink once a week at her father's urging, she's given a project: name the things she loves, do some of them, join something, celebrate New Year and go on a date with someone. We follow her awkward progress as she ticks the boxes.Kara Holden (Meant To Be) and Dean Craig (Death At A Funeral) wrote the screenplay,...

Exclusive: Hailee Steinfeld and Tom Wilkinson will star in the adaptation of Caren Lissner’s Ya novel that Mimi Steinbauer and her team introduce to buyers on the Croisette.

Principal photography is set for September on Carrie Pilby, in which Steinfeld plays a genius Harvard graduate who tries to find love and happiness in New York with the help of a simple checklist.

Susan Johnson makes her feature directorial debut from the adapted screenplay by Kara Holden and Dean Craig.

Eddie Izzard, Vanessa Bayer, Jason Ritter and Ben Winchell round out the key cast.

Suzanne Farwell and Susan Cartsonis produce alongside Johnson, while Elaine Harris is an executive producer. UTA Independent Film Group and ICM Partners jointly handle North American rights.

“I knew I had to come aboard the project as soon as I finished reading the script,” said Steinbauer (pictured). “It is one of the most delightful and heartwarming screenplays I’ve read in ages. This...

First it was Jennifer Lawrence, then Shailene Woodley. Now it seems like another up-and-coming actress is set to join the world of young adult adaptations with the latest movie, Carrie Pilby.

Hailee Steinfeld, known for her Oscar-nominated turn in True Grit, is set to star in the adaptation of the popular book. The book centers on a 19-year-old wunderkind who has just graduated from Harvard and isn’t sure what to do with her life. Written by Caren Lissner, the coming-of-age novel finds Carrie attempting new things and searching for her place in a scary world with the aid of her therapist.

Steinfeld is the first cast member on the project with first-timer director Susan Johnson helming the film and Kara Holden writing the script.

Steinfeld has begun to blossom in Hollywood with roles in Begin Again, Ender’s Game, and the upcoming Pitch Perfect 2. While the latter could...

Hailee Steinfeld is to star in Carrie Pilby.

The True Grit actress will play the protagonist in the adaptation of Caren Lissner's coming of-age-novel, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Steinfeld will play a 19-year-old genius who struggles to adapt to life after graduating from Harvard.

Carrie Pilby will be directed by Susan Johnson (What Women Want). Kara Holden and Dean Craig provide the script for the film, while Susan Cartsonis will executive produce.

It was recently announced that Steinfeld will star in Dustin Lance Black's Ya film The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight.

Steinfeld will next be seen in Barely Lethal and Pitch Perfect 2.

Watch a trailer for Pitch Perfect 2 below:...

Pete's Dragon

Michael C. Hall has joined cast of Disney’s remake of “Pete’s Dragon" alongside Robert Redford, Bryce Dallas Howard and Wes Bentley.

David Lowery will direct this non-musical reinvention of the 1977 film that revolves around Pete and his best friend Elliot, who happens to be a dragon. [Source: Variety]

Carrie Pilby

Hailee Steinfeld is set to star in "Carrie Pilby," the Susan Johnson-directed indie film adaptation of the coming-of-age novel by Caren Lissner. Suzanne Farwell will produce and shooting aims to begin in May.

Kara Holden and Dean Craig adapted the script which centers on a 19-year-old genius who has just graduated from Harvard and has no idea how to fit in or socialize in life outside college. [Source: THR]

Manchester-by-the-Sea

Michelle Williams is set to join Casey Affleck in Kenneth Lonergan's new drama "Manchester-by-the-Sea". Williams will play Affleck's wife in the film which slated to begin shooting in March in New England.

Hailee Steinfeld has found her next big role. The young actress has been tapped as the lead of young adult adaptation “Carrie Pilby,” according to The Hollywood Reporter. The film, based on a novel by Caren Lissner, centers on a 19-year-old genius. Just having received her diploma from Harvard she finds it difficult to make life after college work. Susan Johnson will serve as director of the film while Susan Cartsonis will executive produce. Kara Holden wrote the initial script, with revisions by Dean Craig. Fans of the novel can rejoice in the fact Lissner was also involved in the adaptation [...]

The post Hailee Steinfeld To Lead Ya Adaptation ‘Carrie Pilby’ appeared first on Up and Comers.

• Lupita Nyong'o and David Oyelowo are in discussions for the upcoming Disney film, Queen of Katwe. Mira Nair is directing the film, which will tell the story of Ugandan chess prodigy Phiona Mutesi. Nyong'o will play Phiona's mother, Harriet Mutesi, with Oyelowo as Robert Katende, a mentor of sorts who helps Mutesi become the World Chess Olympiad. The film was inspired by Tim Crother's 2011 Espn The Magazine article and book, "The Queen of Katwe: A Story of Life, Chess, And One Extraordinary Girl's Dream of Becoming a Grandmaster."William Wheeler adapted the story for the screen. [Variety] • Alec Baldwin, Jason Sudeikis,...

Check out a new photo from Soul Surfer starring Dennis Quaid, Helen Hunt, AnnaSophia Robb, Carrie Underwood, Lorraine Nicholson, Kevin Sorbo and Jeremy Sumpter.

The film is the inspiring true story of teen surfer Bethany Hamilton, who lost her arm in a shark attack and courageously overcame all odds to become a champion again, through her sheer determination and unwavering faith.

In the wake of this life-changing event that took her arm and nearly her life, Bethany’s feisty determination and steadfast beliefs spur her toward an adventurous comeback that gives her the grit to turn her loss into a gift for others.

Bethany (Robb) was born to surf. A natural talent who took to the waves at a young age, she was leading an idyllic, sun-drenched, surfer girl’s life on the Kauai Coast, competing in national competitions with her best friend Alana (Lorraine Nicholson), when everything changed in a heartbeat.

Soul Surfer is the true story of competitive teen surfer Bethany Hamilton, who lost her arm in a shark attack and courageously overcame all odds to become a champion again, inspiring millions worldwide through her sheer determination and unwavering faith. Coming to theaters nationwide on April 15, 2011, this exciting feature film stars Dennis Quaid, Helen Hunt, AnnaSophia Robb, and Carrie Underwood in her film debut. The cast also includes Lorraine Nicholson, Kevin Sorbo and Jeremy Sumpter.

The first film to be released under the new deal between FilmDistrict and Sony Pictures, Soul Surfer will go out as a wide release via TriStar Pictures with a broad-based and integrated marketing campaign managed by FilmDistrict.

The film was independently financed by Enticing Entertainment and Island Film Group, and is a production of Mandalay Vision, Brookwell McNamara Entertainment and Life’s A Beach Entertainment. North American and substantial International rights were acquired prior to...

Sony Pictures has released the first image from the upcoming sports drama Soul Surfer. The film tells “the true story of competitive teen surfer Bethany Hamilton, who lost her arm in a shark attack and courageously overcame all odds to become a champion again, inspiring millions worldwide through her sheer determination and unwavering faith.” Soul Surfer stars Dennis Quaid, Helen Hunt, AnnaSophia Robb, and Carrie Underwood.

Hit the jump to check out the first image from the movie. Soul Surfer is slated to open on April 15, 2011.

Click on the image to see it in high-resolution.

Here’s the press release:

Filmdistrict And Tristar Pictures

To Partner On Release Of ‘Soul Surfer’

Dennis Quaid, Helen Hunt, AnnaSophia Robb and Carrie Underwood

star in the Bethany Hamilton story

the first film to go out under the new FilmDistrict deal with Sony Pictures

New York, November 1, 2010 – Soul Surfer is the true story of competitive teen surfer Bethany Hamilton,...

New York, November 1, 2010 – Soul Surfer is the true story of competitive teen surfer Bethany Hamilton, who lost her arm in a shark attack and courageously overcame all odds to become a champion again, inspiring millions worldwide through her sheer determination and unwavering faith. Coming to theaters nationwide on April 15, 2011, this exciting feature film stars Dennis Quaid, Helen Hunt, AnnaSophia Robb, and Carrie Underwood in her film debut. The cast also includes Lorraine Nicholson, Kevin Sorbo and Jeremy Sumpter. The first film to be released under the new deal between FilmDistrict and Sony Pictures, Soul Surfer will go out as a wide release via TriStar Pictures with a broad-based and integrated marketing campaign managed by FilmDistrict. The film was independently financed by Enticing Entertainment and Island Film Group, and is a production of Mandalay Vision, Brookwell McNamara Entertainment and Life’s A Beach Entertainment. North American and substantial International rights were...

The story goes… this lady who calls herself Robyn Okrant, a 35 year-old yoga instructor, spent an entire year (2008), living her life based on Oprah Winfrey show doctrine. In essence, she bought whatever item or idea Oprah (or the parade of experts she’s featured on her show) encouraged her audience to buy (clothing, books, food, sex, health, diet, etc); apparently, she was living la vida Oprah!

And, this being the blogging age, she thought it’d be a good idea to blog about her experience; but she didn’t end there; she turned the blog into a book – a book that’s reportedly been optioned by 20th Century Fox, which is said to be on the fast-track with Anne Hathaway attached to star as Ms Okrant. Needless to say, she’s not black

Kara Holden (The Opposite of Love) is penning the script, but no director is attached yet.

Ms Okrant’s book,...

Remember when I wrote the other day about one of the new trends in Hollywood being movies about real people who do spectacularly dumb things in real life for one year, write about it, and get paid? The Year of Living Biblically is being made into a movie, as is Eat, Pray, Love, and so was Julie & Julia (in addition to Hodding Carter's Frugal Family, about a family that does the unbelievable: They lives on a budget. For a whole year!)

Well, this one takes the stupidity cake. There's a woman out there; her name is Robyn Okrant, a 35-year-old yoga instructor. She decided, in 2008, to live her entire life based on Oprah Winfrey's show. She bought what Oprah suggested she buy; read books recommended by Oprah; she ate and exercised according to Oprah; and even her sex life was dictated by what she saw on Oprah. I...

Anne Hathaway is set to star in 20th Century Fox's "The Opposite of Love" as an attorney with a commitment phobia. Her life starts to fall apart when she snubbs her boyfriend who is ready to take the plunge. "Wedding Crashers" production company Tapestry films produces teh film based on the book by Julie Buxbaum which Kara Holden has been assigned to adapt. Hathaway was last in the studio's "The Devil Wears Prada" success and is distributing her next film "Bride Wars" produced by Regency.

Anne Hathaway has signed on to star in “The Opposite of Love” for 20th Century Fox, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

The trade says the film centers on a young, commitment-phobic attorney (Hathaway) who finds her well-constructed life coming apart when she rejects her ready-for-marriage boyfriend.

“The Opposite Love” is based on the novel by Julie Buxbaum. Kara Holden is penning the adaptation.

Hathaway is quite the busy actress these days. Most recently, she starred alongside Steve Carell in “Get Smart.” Her upcoming projects include Jonathan Demme’s “Rachel Getting Married,” “Passengers” and “Bride Wars.”...