Filed in Press Projects Solos

Amazon Lands Star-Studded Cast for ‘Solos’ Anthology

Amazon has assembled an A-list cast for its latest anthology series.

Uzo Aduba, Nicole Beharie, Morgan Freeman, Anne Hathaway, Anthony Mackie, Helen Mirren, Dan Stevens and Constance Wu will star in Solos, a drama from Hunters creator David Weil and Amazon Studios. The seven-part series, set to premiere later this year, will explore the deeper meaning of human connection through the lens of the individual.

“I am beyond thrilled to be bringing Solos to life alongside this group of artists who I so deeply admire,” said Weil. “I created this piece with a desire to capture stories about connection, hope and the search for that common hum of humanity that binds us all. I’m immensely grateful to [Amazon Studios head] Jennifer Salke and my incredible partners at Amazon for their unwavering support and collaboration on this special project.”

Solos will tell character-driven stories set at different moments in time, and aims to showcase that during people’s most isolated moments, and in disparate circumstances, the human experience connects everyone.

Weil, who has an overall deal at Amazon, will serve as showrunner and executive produce with Sam Taylor-Johnson and Laura Lancaster. Pixie Wespiser serves as producer. Taylor-Johnson (Fifty Shades of Grey) will direct two episodes; Weil, Zach Braff and Tiffany Johnson are also set to direct.

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Filed in Mr. Malcolm's List Press Projects

‘Mr. Malcolm’s List’ With Freida Pinto, Constance Wu Sells to Bleecker Street

Bleecker Street has secured U.S. rights to “Mr. Malcolm’s List,” a Regency era romantic comedy that is set to star Freida Pinto, Constance Wu, Sope Dirisu, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, and Sam Heughan.

The film, an adaptation of a novel of the same name written by Suzanne Allain, will star production next spring in Ireland. A theatrical release is planned for 2022. Allain will pen the screenplay. The novel will be published globally by Berkley Press later this month, and is said to put a fresh spin on those well-worn stories of meeting cute amidst a swirl of frock coats and ball gowns. The project was presented to buyers during the recent Cannes Film Festival virtual market.

According to the log line, the film follows Julia (Wu), a society lady jilted by London’s most eligible bachelor Mr. Malcolm (Dirisu), when she fails to meet one of the items on his list of requirements for a bride. Feeling shunned and humiliated, she enlists her friend Selina (Pinto) to help her take revenge on Mr. Malcolm by tricking him into thinking he has found his perfect match. The plan appears to be working when Henry (Heughan) threatens Julia’s scheme by courting Selina for himself. Their scheme is further upended by the meddling of the bumbling Lord Cassidy (Jackson-Cohen).

Bleecker Street is the indie distributor of such films as Kitty Green’s “The Assistant,” “Military Wives” with Kristin Scott Thomas, and “Colette” with Keira Knightley.

“Mr Malcolm’s List” marks the feature directing debut of Emma Holly Jones, who previously filmed a short movie involving the same characters. Allain’s script was one of the highest-rated on The Black List, the entertainment industry website that tracks the best un-produced screenplays.

“Emma has built upon the brilliance of her short film to create a period romance for all ages,” said Andrew Karpen, CEO of Bleecker Street. “We are proud to be part of the team to bring her feature to life and look forward to releasing it in 2022.”

“Mr. Malcolm’s List” will be produced by Untitled Entertainment’s Laura Rister and Rebelle Media’s Laura Lewis. Holly Jones and Blinder Films’ Katie Holly are also producers, with Pinto and Wu serving as executive producers on the film.

“I’m thrilled to have the support of Bleecker Street for a movie like this, especially now,” said Holly Jones. “It all feels like a dream of mine to be making a film with such an extraordinary cast and truly collaborative partners.”

The deal was brokered between Kent Sanderson, Camille Bertrand and Avy Eschenasy of Bleecker Street, and Laura Lewis and Laura Rister on behalf of the film. Financial terms of the sale were not disclosed. WestEnd represents the film in international markets.

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Filed in Crazy Rich Asians Press Projects

“Crazy Rich Asians” Sequel Moves Forward

Great news! Warner Bros.’ is moving forward with development of a sequel to “Crazy Rich Asians”. Congratulations to Constance and the entire cast & crew!

The creative team behind Warner Bros.’ breakout romantic comedy is planning to reunite for the sequel, based on Kevin Kwan’s second book, ‘China Rich Girlfriend.’

The Crazy Rich Asians gang is getting back together. Jon M. Chu, who helmed the groundbreaking film that ruled the box office with a $35.3 million five-day opening, is planning to return for the sequel. Warner Bros.’ is moving forward with development on the follow-up, with plans to reunite the first movie’s original team, including producers Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson of Color Force and John Penotti of Ivanhoe.

Chu, whose past credits include 2016’s Now You See Me 2 and 2013’s G.I. Joe: Retaliation, does have a packed schedule, but sources say he’d likely helm the follow-up to Crazy Rich Asians after shooting the long-awaited adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s first musical, In the Heights, which Warners has scheduled for a June 26, 2020, release.

The plan is to also bring back screenwriters Peter Chiarelli and Adele Lim (who penned Crazy Rich Asians), although the deals have not yet been set.

Warner Bros. has not yet officially greenlighted the sequel (it’s standard practice for a studio to take a wait-and-see approach with a new potential franchise) but is moving forward on development. The studio and its CEO and chairman Kevin Tsujihara took a risk by greenlighting a comp-less film starring an all-Asian cast and a very specific story set in Singapore, but with the massive opening weekend results, a strong performance in weeks to come will all but guarantee the sequel is a go. The $30 million production, the first Hollywood studio movie since 1993’s The Joy Luck Club to feature an all-Westernized Asian ensemble, has opened better than any other comedy this year and any rom-com since 2015’s Trainwreck.

Warner Bros. has the option for Kevin Kwan’s entire trilogy, which includes 2015’s China Rich Girlfriend and 2017’s Rich People Problems. “We have a plan with Kevin for the next two films,” says producer Simpson.

This post contains spoilers for Warner Bros.’ Crazy Rich Asians after the cut!!Continue reading “Crazy Rich Asians” Sequel Moves Forward

Filed in All The Creatures Were Stirring Gallery Press Projects

“All The Creatures Were Stirring” Hits VOD, Digital & DVD This Christmas

Constance’s horror film “All The Creatures Were Stirring” has been given a release date. The film will be available VOD, Digital and DVD on December 4th.

RLJE Films has acquired all North American rights to the upcoming horror film All the Creatures Were Stirring and will be releasing it VOD, Digital, and DVD this December.

“With scares, laughs and stars from some of the top releases this year, including Constance Wu in Crazy Rich Asians and Amanda Fuller in Orange is the New Black, All the Creatures Were Stirring has it all,” said Chief Acquisitions Officer Mark Ward. “We’re excited to see how horror fans react to this new holiday horror classic from David and Rebekah McKendry.”

Written and directed by David Ian McKendry (The Dump) and Rebekah McKendry (The Barista) the film stars Constance Wu (Crazy Rich Asians), Amanda Fuller (Orange is the New Black), Jonathan Kite (2 Broke Girls), Jocelin Donahue (Insidious: Chapter 2) and Graham Skipper (The Mind’s Eye).

All the Creatures Were Stirring was produced by Morgan Peter Brown and Joe Wicker of FallBack Plan Productions (Absentia) and was executive produced by Kevin Kale. RLJE plans to release the film on VOD, Digital and DVD on December 4, 2018.

Synopsis: An awkward date on Christmas Eve leads a couple into a strange theater, where they’re treated to a bizarre and frightening collection of Christmas stories, featuring a wide ensemble of characters doing their best to avoid the horrors of the holidays. From boring office parties and last-minute shopping, to vengeful stalkers and immortal demons, there’s plenty out there to fear this holiday season.

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We also have our first still of Constance from the film:

GALLERY LINK:
0001 x Movie Productions > All the Creatures Were Stirring > Stills

Filed in Crazy Rich Asians Press Projects

WWD Interview: The Passions & Politics of Constance Wu

When Constance Wu first read the novel “Crazy Rich Asians” some five years ago, she was working as a waitress at Boa Steakhouse in Los Angeles, and the prospects that the book’s lead character Rachel Chu would one day be brought to the screen — and that she would be the one to play her — seemed distant.

“A former agent of mine who is still a dear friend, he thought that this book was sort of taking over,” Wu says late one recent afternoon over the phone from her home in Los Angeles. “He was like, ‘I think you should read this book. I think if they make a movie of this, there’s a part for you.’ And back then, I’m still a waitress and stuff, so I’m reading it, and I’m like, ‘Oh yeah, I could play this part, but I don’t know how to produce or any option or any kind of thing like that.’ So I was like, ‘Ok cool, great book. And when they do — if they do make something — I would love to audition for it.’”

The book, by Kevin Kwan, became an international best-seller and now “Crazy Rich Asians,” the story of a Chinese-American woman who travels to Asia for the first time to meet her boyfriend’s (very) wealthy family, is now a major studio film, the first with an all-Asian cast in Hollywood since 1993’s “The Joy Luck Club.”

The chance to play Rachel Chu almost eclipsed Wu: the book was originally optioned for film with the lead character rewritten for a white actress — yes, really — which Wu says was conceived as a way to make the movie more profitable.

When Constance Wu first read the novel “Crazy Rich Asians” some five years ago, she was working as a waitress at Boa Steakhouse in Los Angeles, and the prospects that the book’s lead character Rachel Chu would one day be brought to the screen — and that she would be the one to play her — seemed distant.

“A former agent of mine who is still a dear friend, he thought that this book was sort of taking over,” Wu says late one recent afternoon over the phone from her home in Los Angeles. “He was like, ‘I think you should read this book. I think if they make a movie of this, there’s a part for you.’ And back then, I’m still a waitress and stuff, so I’m reading it, and I’m like, ‘Oh yeah, I could play this part, but I don’t know how to produce or any option or any kind of thing like that.’ So I was like, ‘Ok cool, great book. And when they do — if they do make something — I would love to audition for it.’”
Continue reading WWD Interview: The Passions & Politics of Constance Wu