Marvel Creators at Baltimore Comic-Con 2015
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - VIP and General Admission Tickets are now available for the 2015 Baltimore Comic-Con, taking place the weekend of September 25-27, 2015 at the Baltimore Convention Center. Baltimore Comic-Con is proud to welcome Marvel talent to our 2015 show: John Beatty, Greg Pak, Tom Raney, Jim Starlin, and Mike Zeck.
Starting his art career at the early age of 15, John Beatty first began inking at AC Comics. After hunting down Marvel Editor-in-Chief (at the time), Jim Shooter, at a convention, he was offered the opportunity to come to New York and get a paid try-out. Fortunately for Beatty, this worked out well, as he went on to spend 20 years working at DC and Marvel Comics on titles like Batman, JLA, The Adventures of Superman, Captain America, The Punisher, and Secret Wars. His recent work includes The Remaining original graphic novel by Kingstone Comics, and contributions to Hero Initiative projects including The Uncanny X-Men 100 Project and The Hellboy 100 Project.
Comics writer (and Rhodes Scholar) Greg Pak has been responsible for much-lauded runs on titles like Marvel's Incredible Hulk ("Planet Hulk" and "World War Hulk"), Incredible Hercules, X-Men: Magneto Testament, and Red Skull, Dynamite Entertainment's Battlestar Galactica, Valiant's Eternal Warrior, and Aspen's Dead Man's Run. He has been named Wizard Magazine's Breakout Talent of the Year, and his stories and characters have won numerous publication accolades as well. You can read Pak's latest work on Marvel's Storm, DC Comics' Action Comics and Superman/Batman, and Dynamite Entertainment's Turok, Dinosaur Hunter.
Tom Raney has spent much of his career working for the mid- to large-size publishers in the comics industry. A graduate of the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art, he has contributed to Marvel's Ultimate Universe, Valiant's relaunched titles, and Dark Horse Comics' Star Wars among many other titles and publishers. In recent history, his artwork can be seen within the pages of DC Comics' Threshold, Marvel's Incredible Hulk, and Titan Comics' Monster Massacre hardcover collection, and you can find his current work on Marvel's Avengers Vs., and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and Inferno, and DC's Injustice: Gods Among Us Year Four.
The multi-talented Jim Starlin has worked on both writing and creating art for some of the most noteworthy creations since his entry into the field of comics in the 1970s. The mind behind the Marvel character Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu, he is also responsible for a number of noteworthy cosmic characters in the Marvel Universe, including Gamora, Drax the Destroyer, and the villainous Thanos, all of whom were featured Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy feature motion picture. He developed noteworthy runs on Marvel's Captain Marvel, Warlock, and Silver Surfer, Marvel mini-series Infinity Gauntlet, Infinity War, and Infinity Crusade, and DC Comics' Batman, The Weird, and Cosmic Odyssey. His Death of Captain Marvel was the first Marvel graphic novel to be published. More recently, he has provided writing and art for DC's Stormwatch and writing on Green Lantern: Mongul #23.2, and he returned to his classic villain with Marvel's Thanos: The Infinity Revelation and Thanos: The Infinity Relativity.
Mike Zeck began his storied career in comics with Charlton Comics with their animation-related line of titles before moving to Marvel Comics to leave an indelible mark. Zeck provided art to unforgettable characters and titles such as 1987's "Kraven's Last Hunt" in the Spider-Man titles, "Circle of Blood" in The Punisher, and the classic Secret Wars featuring Zeck's design on the classic black costume for Spider-Man (and later adopted by Venom). Zeck's work has graced the pages and covers of Aquaman, Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight, Green Lantern, G.I. Joe, G.I. Joe: Special Missions, Lobo, Deathstroke The Terminator, The Eliminator, and too many titles to mention here. His creator-owned project Damned recently appeared from BOOM! Studios, and his work is featured in IDW's Mike Zeck's Classic Marvel Stories Artist's Edition.
"We are so privileged to have all five of these creators joining us this year," said Marc Nathan, promoter of the Baltimore Comic-Con. "Beatty and Zeck are touring together in honor of the 30th anniversary of Secret Wars, Starlin's characters have come to life in a big way on the big screen with Guardians of the Galaxy, and Pak and Raney continue to contribute in a huge way to Marvel and other publishers as well. It's Pak and Beatty's first year with us, we're thrilled to have Zeck back a second year in a row, and we know our fans won't want to miss this entire group of talent!"
TICKETS
General Admission and VIP Package tickets for Weekend, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, as well as the Harvey Awards, are now on sale! Visit www.baltimorecomiccon.com/tickets/ for more information and to purchase your advanced tickets now, and as always, kids 10 and under get into the show free with a paid adult General Admission!
In the coming weeks, look for more announcements from the Baltimore Comic-Con. We are looking forward to highlighting our guests, the Harvey Awards, industry exclusives, and programming. The latest developments can always be found on our website, Twitter, and Facebook pages.
Contact Information:
Please use the following e-mail addresses to contact the Baltimore Comic-Con:
press@baltimorecomiccon.com - for any general press inquiries or to be added to our PR distribution
promoter@baltimorecomiccon.com - for requesting exhibitor, publisher, and Artist Alley applications
registrar@baltimorecomiccon.com - for inquiries about submitted registrations
harveys@baltimorecomiccon.com- for the Harvey Awards ceremony and banquet
general@baltimorecomiccon.com- for general Baltimore Comic-Con inquiries
About The Baltimore Comic-Con
The Baltimore Comic-Con is celebrating its 15th year of bringing the comic book industry to the Baltimore and Washington D.C. area. For more information, please visit www.baltimorecomiccon.com.
About The Harvey Awards
The Harvey Awards are one of the comic book industry's oldest and most respected awards. With a history of over 20 years, the last 10 in conjunction with the Baltimore Comic-Con, the Harveys recognize outstanding achievements in over 20 categories. They are the only industry awards nominated and selected by the full body of comic book professionals. For more information, please visit www.harveyawards.org.
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Wednesday, June 17, 2015
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
Walt Disney Animation Studios Announces D23 Expo 2015 Events
Walt Disney Animation Studios Celebrates Its Upcoming Projects and Its Legacy Through Showstopping Presentations, Engaging Panels and Immersive Experiences at D23 EXPO 2015
Walt Disney Animation Studios Returns to D23 EXPO with Three Days of Bigger and Better-Than-Ever Fan Experiences, Including Big Announcements, Film Sneak Peeks and a Frozen Sing-Along
BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Walt Disney Animation Studios today announced its most exciting presence at D23 EXPO yet. The event, presented by D23: The Official Disney Fan Club, will take place August 14–16, 2015 at the Anaheim Convention Center.
CALENDAR OF KEY PRESENTATIONS/ PANELS/ EVENTS:
Every Story Is a Journey: The Upcoming Films of Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios
Friday, August 14, 3:00 pm - Hall D23
After meeting the Emotions inside the mind of an 11-year-old, taking a trip to San Fransokyo where a boy genius and his robot save the world, and falling in love with a queen with icy powers who wants to “let it go,” come see where Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios plan to take you next. In what has become a D23 EXPO must-see, host John Lasseter, chief creative officer of Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios, presents “Every Story is a Journey.” Filmmakers will unveil never-before-seen footage from Pixar’s upcoming The Good Dinosaur and Finding Dory and Disney Animation’s Zootopia and Moana. The event will include surprise announcements, musical performances, and appearances by the films’ star voice talent. Cell phones, cameras and all recording devices will be checked for this presentation.
Welcome to Zootopia!
Saturday, August 15, 1:30 pm - Stage 28
Welcome to Zootopia, a magnificent mammal metropolis, and home to Walt Disney Animation Studios’ next feature, the comedy-adventure Zootopia. Join directors Byron Howard (Tangled, Bolt) and Rich Moore (Wreck-It Ralph), producer Clark Spencer (Wreck-It Ralph, Bolt), and artists from the incredible production team as they introduce rookie rabbit-officer Judy Hopps, con-artist fox Nick Wilde and a host of dynamic animal characters, sharing footage and behind-the-scenes stories with D23 EXPO-goers.
Aladdin – The Making of a Classic
Saturday, August 15, 6:00 pm - Stage 28
Join Walt Disney Animation Studios filmmakers, including legendary directors John Musker and Ron Clements, animators Eric Goldberg (Genie) and Mark Henn (Jasmine), as well as Jasmine herself, Linda Larkin, and the two actors who gave life to the character Aladdin: Scott Weinger and Brad Kane, as they unveil the stories behind one of the great Disney classics, Aladdin, a film that led to a “whole new world” for animation.
The Shorts of Walt Disney Animation Studios: from Paperman to Prep & Landing, Feast to Frozen Fever
Sunday, August 16, 11:30 am - Stage 28
When Walt Disney and his brother Roy founded the Disney Brothers Studio in 1923, their first medium for storytelling was the animated short. More than 90 years later, Walt Disney Animation Studios continues this tradition, making groundbreaking and award-winning shorts including Feast, Paperman and this year’s hit Frozen Fever. Join the filmmakers behind these shorts and so many others, including Get a Horse!, John Henry, Lorenzo and The Ballad of Nessie for a conversation about this truly animated art form.
Frozen FANdemonium: A Musical Celebration!
Sunday, August 16, 3:00 pm - Hall D23
Join host Chris Montan, president, Walt Disney Music, and the Oscar®-winning songwriting team of Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez as they take you on a once-in-a-lifetime musical journey through the world of Frozen. This one-day-only performance features your favorite friends from the Walt Disney Animation Studios film—including Anna and Elsa—with sing-along experiences and fascinating stories behind some of your favorite Frozen songs.
The Tunes Behind the Toons: Screening/Q&A
Sunday, August 16, 6:00 pm, Stage 28
D23 EXPO invites you to a special screening and Q&A panel for The Tunes Behind the Toons, a short form documentary that celebrates the power of music in animation. From the silent film days when organists played live accompaniments, to the music within today’s animated features, this documentary traces the origins of cartoon music and its pioneers. Featuring interviews with Alan Menken, Randy Newman, Patrick Doyle, Mark Watters, Bruce Broughton, Richard Sherman and many others. Producer/director Dave Bossert will lead a star-studded Q&A following the presentation.
ON THE EXPO SHOW FLOOR:
Animation – Show Floor Exhibition
For the first time at D23 EXPO, Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios have created a joint experience no Disney fan should miss. With live demonstrations, presentations and autograph signings with top filmmakers from each studio, plus free giveaways and interactive displays featuring the films Inside Out, The Good Dinosaur, Zootopia, Finding Dory and Moana, this is a can’t-miss attraction for animation fans.
An Animator’s Gallery: Eric Goldberg
D23 EXPO 2015 hosts the first public exhibition anywhere of “An Animator’s Gallery: Eric Goldberg.” Celebrate Goldberg, whose artistry at Walt Disney Animation Studios began with his groundbreaking work on Genie in Aladdin, and continues to this day on projects such as the upcoming Moana and the 2014 Oscar®-nominated Mickey Mouse short Get A Horse! The exhibition features a collection of more than 100 of Goldberg’s caricatured creations of Disney characters, drawn in a style reminiscent of art seen on the famed walls of Sardi's Restaurant and The Brown Derby. This incredible collection of art is from the newly released book An Animator’s Gallery: Eric Goldberg Draws the Disney Characters, and will be available for purchase in the Walt Disney Publishing pop-up shop on the EXPO show floor.
Frozen Album Signing
With the purchase of Frozen: The Songs or Frozen Picture Disc at the Disney Music Emporium, guests will be issued a wristband to secure a space for an album signing with Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez and Tom MacDougall (Co-Producer, Frozen Soundtrack) on Saturday, August 15 at 10:30 am.
Tickets for D23 EXPO 2015 are available at a discounted price for a limited time. Through June 30, 2015, tickets are $67 for a one-day adult admission and $48 for children 3–12. Tickets for members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club are $58 for a one-day adult admission and $42 for children. Multi-day money-saving tickets are also available. D23 Members can save as much as $188 off the price of admission, based on the purchase of four three-day tickets at the D23 Member rate. For more information on tickets and the ticket pricing structure for D23 Members and general admission, visit D23EXPO.com.
About Walt Disney Animation Studios
Combining masterful artistry and storytelling with groundbreaking technology, Walt Disney Animation Studios (WDAS) is a filmmaker-driven animation studio responsible for creating some of the most beloved films ever made. Located in Burbank, WDAS continues to build on its rich legacy of innovation and creativity, stretching from the first fully-animated feature film, 1937's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, to 2014’s Oscar®-winning Big Hero 6. Among the studio's timeless creations are Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, The Jungle Book, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Tangled and the Academy Award®-winning Frozen, the biggest animated film of all time.
About D23 EXPO 2015
D23 EXPO—The Ultimate Disney Fan Event—brings together all the worlds of Disney under one roof for three packed days of presentations, pavilions, experiences, concerts, sneak peeks, shopping and more. The event provides fans with unprecedented access to Disney films, television, games, theme parks and celebrities. For the latest D23 EXPO 2015 news, visit D23EXPO.com. Presentations, talent and schedule subject to change. To join the D23 EXPO conversation, make sure to follow DisneyD23 on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and YouTube, and use the hashtag #D23EXPO.
About D23
The name “D23” pays homage to the exciting journey that began in 1923 when Walt Disney opened his first studio in Hollywood. D23 is the first official club for fans in Disney’s 90-plus-year history. It gives its members a greater connection to the entire world of Disney by placing them in the middle of the magic through its quarterly publication, Disney twenty-three; a rich website at D23.com with members-only content; member-exclusive discounts; and special events for D23 Members throughout the year.
Fans can join D23 at Gold and General Membership levels at D23.com and at DisneyStore.com/D23. To keep up with all the latest D23 news and events, follow DisneyD23 on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and YouTube.
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Walt Disney Animation Studios Returns to D23 EXPO with Three Days of Bigger and Better-Than-Ever Fan Experiences, Including Big Announcements, Film Sneak Peeks and a Frozen Sing-Along
BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Walt Disney Animation Studios today announced its most exciting presence at D23 EXPO yet. The event, presented by D23: The Official Disney Fan Club, will take place August 14–16, 2015 at the Anaheim Convention Center.
CALENDAR OF KEY PRESENTATIONS/ PANELS/ EVENTS:
Every Story Is a Journey: The Upcoming Films of Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios
Friday, August 14, 3:00 pm - Hall D23
After meeting the Emotions inside the mind of an 11-year-old, taking a trip to San Fransokyo where a boy genius and his robot save the world, and falling in love with a queen with icy powers who wants to “let it go,” come see where Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios plan to take you next. In what has become a D23 EXPO must-see, host John Lasseter, chief creative officer of Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios, presents “Every Story is a Journey.” Filmmakers will unveil never-before-seen footage from Pixar’s upcoming The Good Dinosaur and Finding Dory and Disney Animation’s Zootopia and Moana. The event will include surprise announcements, musical performances, and appearances by the films’ star voice talent. Cell phones, cameras and all recording devices will be checked for this presentation.
Welcome to Zootopia!
Saturday, August 15, 1:30 pm - Stage 28
Welcome to Zootopia, a magnificent mammal metropolis, and home to Walt Disney Animation Studios’ next feature, the comedy-adventure Zootopia. Join directors Byron Howard (Tangled, Bolt) and Rich Moore (Wreck-It Ralph), producer Clark Spencer (Wreck-It Ralph, Bolt), and artists from the incredible production team as they introduce rookie rabbit-officer Judy Hopps, con-artist fox Nick Wilde and a host of dynamic animal characters, sharing footage and behind-the-scenes stories with D23 EXPO-goers.
Aladdin – The Making of a Classic
Saturday, August 15, 6:00 pm - Stage 28
Join Walt Disney Animation Studios filmmakers, including legendary directors John Musker and Ron Clements, animators Eric Goldberg (Genie) and Mark Henn (Jasmine), as well as Jasmine herself, Linda Larkin, and the two actors who gave life to the character Aladdin: Scott Weinger and Brad Kane, as they unveil the stories behind one of the great Disney classics, Aladdin, a film that led to a “whole new world” for animation.
The Shorts of Walt Disney Animation Studios: from Paperman to Prep & Landing, Feast to Frozen Fever
Sunday, August 16, 11:30 am - Stage 28
When Walt Disney and his brother Roy founded the Disney Brothers Studio in 1923, their first medium for storytelling was the animated short. More than 90 years later, Walt Disney Animation Studios continues this tradition, making groundbreaking and award-winning shorts including Feast, Paperman and this year’s hit Frozen Fever. Join the filmmakers behind these shorts and so many others, including Get a Horse!, John Henry, Lorenzo and The Ballad of Nessie for a conversation about this truly animated art form.
Frozen FANdemonium: A Musical Celebration!
Sunday, August 16, 3:00 pm - Hall D23
Join host Chris Montan, president, Walt Disney Music, and the Oscar®-winning songwriting team of Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez as they take you on a once-in-a-lifetime musical journey through the world of Frozen. This one-day-only performance features your favorite friends from the Walt Disney Animation Studios film—including Anna and Elsa—with sing-along experiences and fascinating stories behind some of your favorite Frozen songs.
The Tunes Behind the Toons: Screening/Q&A
Sunday, August 16, 6:00 pm, Stage 28
D23 EXPO invites you to a special screening and Q&A panel for The Tunes Behind the Toons, a short form documentary that celebrates the power of music in animation. From the silent film days when organists played live accompaniments, to the music within today’s animated features, this documentary traces the origins of cartoon music and its pioneers. Featuring interviews with Alan Menken, Randy Newman, Patrick Doyle, Mark Watters, Bruce Broughton, Richard Sherman and many others. Producer/director Dave Bossert will lead a star-studded Q&A following the presentation.
ON THE EXPO SHOW FLOOR:
Animation – Show Floor Exhibition
For the first time at D23 EXPO, Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios have created a joint experience no Disney fan should miss. With live demonstrations, presentations and autograph signings with top filmmakers from each studio, plus free giveaways and interactive displays featuring the films Inside Out, The Good Dinosaur, Zootopia, Finding Dory and Moana, this is a can’t-miss attraction for animation fans.
An Animator’s Gallery: Eric Goldberg
D23 EXPO 2015 hosts the first public exhibition anywhere of “An Animator’s Gallery: Eric Goldberg.” Celebrate Goldberg, whose artistry at Walt Disney Animation Studios began with his groundbreaking work on Genie in Aladdin, and continues to this day on projects such as the upcoming Moana and the 2014 Oscar®-nominated Mickey Mouse short Get A Horse! The exhibition features a collection of more than 100 of Goldberg’s caricatured creations of Disney characters, drawn in a style reminiscent of art seen on the famed walls of Sardi's Restaurant and The Brown Derby. This incredible collection of art is from the newly released book An Animator’s Gallery: Eric Goldberg Draws the Disney Characters, and will be available for purchase in the Walt Disney Publishing pop-up shop on the EXPO show floor.
Frozen Album Signing
With the purchase of Frozen: The Songs or Frozen Picture Disc at the Disney Music Emporium, guests will be issued a wristband to secure a space for an album signing with Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez and Tom MacDougall (Co-Producer, Frozen Soundtrack) on Saturday, August 15 at 10:30 am.
Tickets for D23 EXPO 2015 are available at a discounted price for a limited time. Through June 30, 2015, tickets are $67 for a one-day adult admission and $48 for children 3–12. Tickets for members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club are $58 for a one-day adult admission and $42 for children. Multi-day money-saving tickets are also available. D23 Members can save as much as $188 off the price of admission, based on the purchase of four three-day tickets at the D23 Member rate. For more information on tickets and the ticket pricing structure for D23 Members and general admission, visit D23EXPO.com.
About Walt Disney Animation Studios
Combining masterful artistry and storytelling with groundbreaking technology, Walt Disney Animation Studios (WDAS) is a filmmaker-driven animation studio responsible for creating some of the most beloved films ever made. Located in Burbank, WDAS continues to build on its rich legacy of innovation and creativity, stretching from the first fully-animated feature film, 1937's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, to 2014’s Oscar®-winning Big Hero 6. Among the studio's timeless creations are Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, The Jungle Book, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Tangled and the Academy Award®-winning Frozen, the biggest animated film of all time.
About D23 EXPO 2015
D23 EXPO—The Ultimate Disney Fan Event—brings together all the worlds of Disney under one roof for three packed days of presentations, pavilions, experiences, concerts, sneak peeks, shopping and more. The event provides fans with unprecedented access to Disney films, television, games, theme parks and celebrities. For the latest D23 EXPO 2015 news, visit D23EXPO.com. Presentations, talent and schedule subject to change. To join the D23 EXPO conversation, make sure to follow DisneyD23 on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and YouTube, and use the hashtag #D23EXPO.
About D23
The name “D23” pays homage to the exciting journey that began in 1923 when Walt Disney opened his first studio in Hollywood. D23 is the first official club for fans in Disney’s 90-plus-year history. It gives its members a greater connection to the entire world of Disney by placing them in the middle of the magic through its quarterly publication, Disney twenty-three; a rich website at D23.com with members-only content; member-exclusive discounts; and special events for D23 Members throughout the year.
Fans can join D23 at Gold and General Membership levels at D23.com and at DisneyStore.com/D23. To keep up with all the latest D23 news and events, follow DisneyD23 on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and YouTube.
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Katherine Waterston Joins "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them"
Katherine Waterston Set to Star Opposite Eddie Redmayne in “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”
BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Katherine Waterston (“Inherent Vice”) will star opposite Eddie Redmayne in Warner Bros. Pictures’ much-anticipated adventure “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” set in J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World. The announcement was made by Greg Silverman, President of Creative Development and Worldwide Production, Warner Bros. Pictures.
“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”
Waterston will play the pivotal role of Tina, short for Porpentina, a witch who—unlike the beloved characters from Rowling’s Harry Potter books—works her magic in the U.S. She meets magizoologist Newt Scamander (Redmayne) when he stops in New York City on his travels to find and document magical creatures.
In making the announcement, Silverman said, “Katherine Waterston is a rising star, who was a revelation in our film ‘Inherent Vice,’ earning the praise of both critics and audiences. We are thrilled to have her back in the Warner Bros. family, especially in one of our most anticipated titles for 2016, ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.’”
David Yates (director of the last four “Harry Potter” films) will direct from J.K. Rowling’s screenplay, inspired by Newt Scamander’s Hogwarts textbook Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Ms. Rowling is an acknowledged authority on all things magical, having authored the Harry Potter series of books.
The film is being produced by David Heyman, producer of all eight of the blockbuster “Harry Potter” features; J.K. Rowling; Steve Kloves, who scripted all but one of the “Harry Potter” films; and Lionel Wigram, who served as an executive producer on the last four installments of the franchise.
Katherine Waterston recently starred in Paul Thomas Anderson’s acclaimed film “Inherent Vice,” for which she shared in an Independent Spirit Award for Best Ensemble. She also stars in the upcoming biopic “Steve Jobs,” under the direction of Danny Boyle. Her other credits include the award-winning HBO series “Boardwalk Empire,” and the films “The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby,” “Night Moves,” “Being Flynn,” “Taking Woodstock” and “Michael Clayton.”
Warner Bros. Pictures has slated “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” for worldwide release in 3D and IMAX on November 18, 2016.
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BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Katherine Waterston (“Inherent Vice”) will star opposite Eddie Redmayne in Warner Bros. Pictures’ much-anticipated adventure “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” set in J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World. The announcement was made by Greg Silverman, President of Creative Development and Worldwide Production, Warner Bros. Pictures.
“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”
Waterston will play the pivotal role of Tina, short for Porpentina, a witch who—unlike the beloved characters from Rowling’s Harry Potter books—works her magic in the U.S. She meets magizoologist Newt Scamander (Redmayne) when he stops in New York City on his travels to find and document magical creatures.
In making the announcement, Silverman said, “Katherine Waterston is a rising star, who was a revelation in our film ‘Inherent Vice,’ earning the praise of both critics and audiences. We are thrilled to have her back in the Warner Bros. family, especially in one of our most anticipated titles for 2016, ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.’”
David Yates (director of the last four “Harry Potter” films) will direct from J.K. Rowling’s screenplay, inspired by Newt Scamander’s Hogwarts textbook Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Ms. Rowling is an acknowledged authority on all things magical, having authored the Harry Potter series of books.
The film is being produced by David Heyman, producer of all eight of the blockbuster “Harry Potter” features; J.K. Rowling; Steve Kloves, who scripted all but one of the “Harry Potter” films; and Lionel Wigram, who served as an executive producer on the last four installments of the franchise.
Katherine Waterston recently starred in Paul Thomas Anderson’s acclaimed film “Inherent Vice,” for which she shared in an Independent Spirit Award for Best Ensemble. She also stars in the upcoming biopic “Steve Jobs,” under the direction of Danny Boyle. Her other credits include the award-winning HBO series “Boardwalk Empire,” and the films “The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby,” “Night Moves,” “Being Flynn,” “Taking Woodstock” and “Michael Clayton.”
Warner Bros. Pictures has slated “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” for worldwide release in 3D and IMAX on November 18, 2016.
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Cinemersia Dives Deeper in VR Feature Films
Cinemersia begins Arapaho, their second ambitious VR feature film
Feature length virtual reality movie will take audiences back in time to experience a gripping Native American story
LOS ANGELES /PRNewswire/ -- With the world's first live-action, VR feature film, MansLaughter, just weeks from releasing, its producers today announced the commencement of Arapaho, a far more ambitious second VR feature film. "I wanted to do something epic this time, on a grand scale visually and experientially," said Arapaho's writer and director, David Marlett. "Imagine Dances with Wolves, only you are out there, with them, not sitting in a theater."
With the prominence of VR at E3 this week, and last week's Oculus announcement of the commercial Rift coming in early 2016, along with their partnership with Microsoft/Xbox, the VR world is abuzz with optimism for the exciting future of immersive entertainment. "The device guys will duke it out," said Marlett, "but what matters most is the quality of the content their gear delivers to millions of viewers." Currently most storytelling VR content is animated, and the majority of live-action VR videos use multiple Go Pro cameras to capture scenic events, like heli-skiing and surfing.
Cinemersia has much more robust ideas. "For Arapaho, we're partnering with tech/camera innovators to create a large, spherical, cinema camera rig to be suspended below a helicopter," said the CTO of Cinemersia, Cameron Ayres. "David's story design will take you right into the heart of the tribe, alongside them as they hunt buffalo," added Joy Slate, Director of Operations. "No matter where you look, it will appear you're alone with them on the prairie. It's going to be breath taking."
Arapaho's blurb:
In 1852, on the Great Northern Plains of America, Black Eagle rouses his Arapaho hunters, plays with his children, and eats smoked venison strips as his sister paints his face for the hunt. When finished, he pauses to lift prayers to the Spirits. It will be three days before he and the buffalo party return, hopefully with the success he now prays for. But all know his other prayer, what weights his heart and fills his thoughts. His wife, Sun Bird, was kidnapped by a Pawnee raiding party over two moons prior and remains lost. Every ride out, every hunt, is a chance for Black Eagle to search new ground, to seek any sign of her. Today he feels she is near.
Though their first VR film, MansLaughter, will set records in a number of categories, including first live action VR feature film and longest VR film, Arapaho will go well beyond those records. "With MansLaughter, the sixty-plus minute runtime [time that it takes to see all of the scenes] is collapsed into four fifteen minutes-per-viewing experiences," said Ayres. "Arapaho will have a record-setting [for VR cinema] ninety minute runtime, containing two story threads, each viewable in forty-five minute stretches."
Production is planned for early 2016, in Wyoming or North Dakota. Besides talking with a number of corporate sponsors, Cinemersia will be working closely with the Native American community. "I truly don't think storytelling, or even the film industry as a whole, will be the same after Arapaho," said Marlett. "This will be the closest thing to time travel that we've ever known."
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Chris Brown, Michael B. Jordan to Appear at 2015 BET Awards
Chris Brown, Kendrick Lamar, Michael B. Jordan and Zendaya – “BET Awards” 2015 is Pulling Out All the Stops for the 15th Anniversary of Music’s Biggest Night
HOSTED BY ANTHONY ANDERSON AND TRACEE ELLIS ROSS, “BET AWARDS” 2015 WILL AIR LIVE ON SUNDAY, JUNE 28, 2015 ON BET FROM MICROSOFT THEATRE AT L.A. LIVE IN LOS ANGELES, CA
#BETX / #BETAWARDS
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, BET Networks revealed some of the industry’s most influential names in entertainment who are set to appear at the 15th annual “BET Awards” 2015 on Sunday, June 28, 2015. Hosted by Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross, the “BET Awards” will include a performance by Chris Brown and Kendrick Lamar. The star power continues as the network also announced that actor Michael B. Jordan and entertainer Zendaya will take the stage as presenters during the 15th Anniversary of the annual highly-anticipated televised event. Additional names to be announced.
A full list of the “BET Awards” 2015 nominations is now available at http://www.bet.com/awards.
Stephen G. Hill, BET’s President of Programming, Connie Orlando, BET’s Senior Vice President of Music and Specials, Lynne Harris Taylor, BET’s Vice President of Specials, will serve as Executive Producers for the “BET Awards” along with Jesse Collins, CEO of Jesse Collins Entertainment.
The “BET Awards” 2015 will air LIVE on Sunday, June 28, 2015 on BET and will premiere around the world on BET’s international network on Tuesday, June 30 at 9:00pm BST / 10:00pm CAT and will air live on MTV Australia for the very first time (check local listings).
The “BET Awards” will take place along with the BET Experience at L.A. Live in Los Angeles from June 25-28, 2015. BET.com/Awards is the official site for the “BET Awards” and will have all the latest news and updates about this year's show. All information about the BET Experience at L.A. LIVE presented by Coca-Cola® can be found at BETExperience.com. The BET Experience VIP Package offers the only way to purchase a “BET Awards” ticket, great seats to 3-nights of concerts at the Staples Center, and exclusive access to events at the free Fan Fest. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to BET.com/BETX.Follow the Experience on Twitter @betexperience.
ABOUT BET NETWORKS
BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIA.B), is the nation’s leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel reaches more than 90 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and sub-Saharan Africa. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions: BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; CENTRIC, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the 25- to 54-year-old African-American audience; BET Digital Networks - BET Gospel and BET Hip Hop, attractive alternatives for cutting-edge entertainment tastes; BET Home Entertainment, a collection of BET-branded offerings for the home environment including DVDs and video-on-demand; BET Event Productions, a full-scale event management and production company with festivals and live events spanning the globe; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET in the United Kingdom and oversees the extension of BET network programming for global distribution.
ABOUT “BET AWARDS”
The “BET Awards” is one of the most watched award shows on cable television according to the Nielsen Company. The “BET Awards” franchise remains as the #1 program in cable TV history among African-Americans, and it is BET's #1 telecast every year. It recognizes the triumphs and successes of artists, entertainers, and athletes in a variety of categories.
ABOUT JESSE COLLINS ENTERTAINMENT
Jesse Collins Entertainment is a full service television and film production company founded by entertainment industry veteran Jesse Collins. For more than a decade, Collins, the company’s CEO, has played an integral role in producing some of television’s most memorable moments in music entertainment. Formerly Executive Producer/EVP of Cossette Productions, Collins has produced ground-breaking and award winning television programming including the BET Awards, the GRAMMY Awards, BET Honors, UNCF An Evening of Stars and the BET Hip Hop Awards. Collins is an executive producer of Real Husbands of Hollywood, (now going into its 4th hit season) alongside industry icons Stan Lathan and Ralph Farquhar; and has worked with superstar talent such as Will Smith, Chris Rock, Jay-Z, Rihanna, Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Prince, Mariah Carey and many more.
BET EXPERIENCE AT L.A. LIVE PRESENTED BY COCA-COLA®
BET Networks, an entertainment powerhouse, and AEG, one of the leading entertainment companies in the world and developer/ operator of L.A. LIVE, have teamed up once again to create the BET EXPERIENCE AT L.A. LIVE (BETX), June 25 - 28, 2015 presented by Coca-Cola®. This three-day festival will be filled with music and comedy concerts taking place at Club Nokia and STAPLES Center; “106 & PARK”; FREE BET Fan Fest at the Los Angeles Convention Center including seminars, celebrity basketball games, celebrity meet & greets; and other special appearances. The weekend will be capped off with the “BET Awards” on Sunday, June 28, 2015 at Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE.
Follow us @BET_PR AND @BETAWARDS
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HOSTED BY ANTHONY ANDERSON AND TRACEE ELLIS ROSS, “BET AWARDS” 2015 WILL AIR LIVE ON SUNDAY, JUNE 28, 2015 ON BET FROM MICROSOFT THEATRE AT L.A. LIVE IN LOS ANGELES, CA
#BETX / #BETAWARDS
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, BET Networks revealed some of the industry’s most influential names in entertainment who are set to appear at the 15th annual “BET Awards” 2015 on Sunday, June 28, 2015. Hosted by Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross, the “BET Awards” will include a performance by Chris Brown and Kendrick Lamar. The star power continues as the network also announced that actor Michael B. Jordan and entertainer Zendaya will take the stage as presenters during the 15th Anniversary of the annual highly-anticipated televised event. Additional names to be announced.
A full list of the “BET Awards” 2015 nominations is now available at http://www.bet.com/awards.
Stephen G. Hill, BET’s President of Programming, Connie Orlando, BET’s Senior Vice President of Music and Specials, Lynne Harris Taylor, BET’s Vice President of Specials, will serve as Executive Producers for the “BET Awards” along with Jesse Collins, CEO of Jesse Collins Entertainment.
The “BET Awards” 2015 will air LIVE on Sunday, June 28, 2015 on BET and will premiere around the world on BET’s international network on Tuesday, June 30 at 9:00pm BST / 10:00pm CAT and will air live on MTV Australia for the very first time (check local listings).
The “BET Awards” will take place along with the BET Experience at L.A. Live in Los Angeles from June 25-28, 2015. BET.com/Awards is the official site for the “BET Awards” and will have all the latest news and updates about this year's show. All information about the BET Experience at L.A. LIVE presented by Coca-Cola® can be found at BETExperience.com. The BET Experience VIP Package offers the only way to purchase a “BET Awards” ticket, great seats to 3-nights of concerts at the Staples Center, and exclusive access to events at the free Fan Fest. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to BET.com/BETX.Follow the Experience on Twitter @betexperience.
ABOUT BET NETWORKS
BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIA.B), is the nation’s leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel reaches more than 90 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and sub-Saharan Africa. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions: BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; CENTRIC, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the 25- to 54-year-old African-American audience; BET Digital Networks - BET Gospel and BET Hip Hop, attractive alternatives for cutting-edge entertainment tastes; BET Home Entertainment, a collection of BET-branded offerings for the home environment including DVDs and video-on-demand; BET Event Productions, a full-scale event management and production company with festivals and live events spanning the globe; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET in the United Kingdom and oversees the extension of BET network programming for global distribution.
ABOUT “BET AWARDS”
The “BET Awards” is one of the most watched award shows on cable television according to the Nielsen Company. The “BET Awards” franchise remains as the #1 program in cable TV history among African-Americans, and it is BET's #1 telecast every year. It recognizes the triumphs and successes of artists, entertainers, and athletes in a variety of categories.
ABOUT JESSE COLLINS ENTERTAINMENT
Jesse Collins Entertainment is a full service television and film production company founded by entertainment industry veteran Jesse Collins. For more than a decade, Collins, the company’s CEO, has played an integral role in producing some of television’s most memorable moments in music entertainment. Formerly Executive Producer/EVP of Cossette Productions, Collins has produced ground-breaking and award winning television programming including the BET Awards, the GRAMMY Awards, BET Honors, UNCF An Evening of Stars and the BET Hip Hop Awards. Collins is an executive producer of Real Husbands of Hollywood, (now going into its 4th hit season) alongside industry icons Stan Lathan and Ralph Farquhar; and has worked with superstar talent such as Will Smith, Chris Rock, Jay-Z, Rihanna, Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Prince, Mariah Carey and many more.
BET EXPERIENCE AT L.A. LIVE PRESENTED BY COCA-COLA®
BET Networks, an entertainment powerhouse, and AEG, one of the leading entertainment companies in the world and developer/ operator of L.A. LIVE, have teamed up once again to create the BET EXPERIENCE AT L.A. LIVE (BETX), June 25 - 28, 2015 presented by Coca-Cola®. This three-day festival will be filled with music and comedy concerts taking place at Club Nokia and STAPLES Center; “106 & PARK”; FREE BET Fan Fest at the Los Angeles Convention Center including seminars, celebrity basketball games, celebrity meet & greets; and other special appearances. The weekend will be capped off with the “BET Awards” on Sunday, June 28, 2015 at Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE.
Follow us @BET_PR AND @BETAWARDS
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Monday, June 15, 2015
VIZ Media Announces New "Naruto" and "Bleach" Manga Box Sets
VIZ MEDIA TURNS UP THE HEAT ON SUMMER READING WITH NEW BLEACH AND NARUTO MANGA BOX SETS
Latest Box Sets For Seminal Manga Properties Set For Release In July; Each Set Contains 20+ Manga Volumes Along With Exclusive Bonus Premiums
San Francisco, CA – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest publisher, distributor and licensor of manga and anime in North America, prepares to thrill ardent fans of the BLEACH and NARUTO manga (graphic novel) series as it announces the forthcoming release of the latest box set editions for both titles.
Scheduled for release on July 7th, the BLEACH Manga Box Set 2 and NARUTO Manga Box Set 2 each contain over twenty individual manga volumes at a substantial savings over buying them individually. Exclusive bonus premiums, such as special mini-comics and full-color posters, are also included in each set.
BLEACH Manga Box Set 2 · Rated “T” for Teens · MSRP: $214.99 U.S. / CAN · Available July 7th
The latest BLEACH Manga Box Set contains Volumes 22-48 and includes an exclusive mini-comic containing the pilot story of the bestselling series along with a full-color, double-sided poster. In creator Tite Kubo’s manga series, BLEACH, Ichigo Kurosaki never asked for the ability to see ghosts – he was born with the gift. When his family is attacked by a Hollow--a malevolent lost soul – Ichigo becomes a Soul Reaper, dedicating his life to protecting the innocent and helping the tortured spirits themselves find peace.
In the latest Box Set volumes, after finally rescuing their friend Rukia, Ichigo and friends return to their quiet lives in the world of the living. However, the peace is short-lived as new enemies arrive from the world of the Hollows. Aizen is back, and Ichigo may be the only one who can stop him for good!
Additional information on BLEACH is available at: http://www.viz.com/bleach.
NARUTO MANGA BOX SET 2 · Rated “T” for Teens · MSRP: $174.99 U.S. / CAN · Available July 7th
Naruto is a young shinobi with an incorrigible knack for mischief. He's got a wild sense of humor, but Naruto is completely serious about his mission to be the world's greatest ninja! In the second NARUTO Manga Box Set, featuring Volumes 28-48, it's been more than two years since Naruto left to train with Jiraiya. Much has happened while he has been away, and new threats to the ninja world have emerged. Can Naruto prove his worth and rescue his friend Sasuke? The new box set also will feature an exclusive mini-comic containing the NARUTO pilot story and a full-color, double-sided poster.
Additional information on NARUTO is available at: http://www.viz.com/naruto.
For more information on other manga titles from VIZ Media, please visit www.VIZ.com.
About VIZ Media, LLC
Headquartered in San Francisco, California, VIZ Media distributes, markets and licenses the best anime and manga titles direct from Japan. Owned by three of Japan's largest manga and animation companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media has the most extensive library of anime and manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland and South Africa. With its popular digital manga anthology WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, BLEACH and ONE PIECE, VIZ Media offers cutting-edge action, romance and family friendly properties for anime, manga, science fiction and fantasy fans of all ages. VIZ Media properties are available as graphic novels, DVDs, animated television series, feature films, downloadable and streaming video and a variety of consumer products. Learn more about VIZ Media, anime and manga at www.VIZ.com.
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Open Road to Distribute "A Willing Patriot," Starring Liam Neeson
OPEN ROAD FILMS ACQUIRES “A WILLING PATRIOT”
MADRIVER PICTURES WILL FINANCE AND PRODUCE WITH FILM 360, HOLLYWOOD GANG AND JASON KELLER
LIAM NEESON WILL STAR; OPEN ROAD FILMS WILL RELEASE WIDE IN 2016
Open Road Films has acquired all U.S. distribution rights to A WILLING PATRIOT, which reunites the company with Liam Neeson who will star and will be financed and produced by MadRiver Pictures, along with Film 360, Hollywood Gang and Jason Keller. The announcement was made today by Tom Ortenberg, CEO of Open Road Films and Marc Butan of MadRiver Pictures.
In the international thriller A WILLING PATRIOT, a CIA agent (Neeson) engages in an elaborate cat-and-mouse game with a sinister terrorist who's planning an imminent attack.
Martin Zandvliet (“Land Of Mine”) will direct A WILLING PATRIOT from a script by Jason Keller, who will produce along with Film 360’s Guymon Casady and Darin Friedman as well as Hollywood Gang’s Gianni Nunnari. Film 360’s Ben Forkner, Hollywood Gang’s Shannon Gaulding and MadRiver’s Ed Fee will oversee on behalf of their respective companies.
A WILLING PATRIOT will shoot on location in South Africa, Morrocco and Tunisia with Open Road Films planning a wide release in 2016.
“Working with Liam Neeson on ‘The Grey’ was a fantastic experience and a success in every way” stated Tom Ortenberg. “A Willing Patriot, like ‘The Grey,’ is top-notch character-driven film. We are thrilled to re-team with Liam and producer Marc Butan, with whom we are working on the upcoming release of ‘Triple 9,’ on this international thriller.”
“We’re excited to be back in business with Open Road,” said Marc Butan. “They showed passion and enthusiasm for this film from day one, and we couldn’t have found a better home for it.”
The deal was negotiated on behalf of Open Road Films by Tom Ortenberg, Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel Elliott Kleinberg, and Executive Vice President of Production and Acquisitions Peter Lawson. Creative Artists Agency (CAA), which packaged and arranged financing for the film, negotiated on behalf of MadRiver Pictures. Neeson, along with MadRiver, are represented by CAA, while Zandvliet is repped by WME. Film 360 is represented by PJ Shapiro and Julian Zafijen, and Hollywood Gang and Keller are repped by attorney Carlos Goodman. Keller is repped by CAA and Management 360.
ABOUT OPEN ROAD FILMS
Open Road Films is a leading, independent, theatrical motion picture company, releasing a diverse slate of star-driven films which has included multiple #1 releases. It was founded in 2011 by AMC Entertainment Inc. (AMC) and Regal Entertainment Group (Regal), the two largest theatrical exhibition companies in the United States. Open Road and its lenders recently extended the company's $100,000,000 credit facility through 2018.
Current and past releases include: Nightcrawler, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, which took the #1 spot at the box-office during its opening week and received an Oscar® nomination for Best Original Screenplay, along with a Golden Globe nomination – it was named one of the best films of 2014 by the AFI and National Board of Review and top critics nationwide; the hit film Chef, written by, directed by and starring Jon Favreau along with Sofia Vergara, Scarlett Johansson, John Leguizamo, Bobby Cannavale, Oliver Platt, Dustin Hoffman and Robert Downey, Jr.; The Nut Job, which opened to over $25 million at the box office as the highest ever opening for an independent animated film; The Grey, directed by Joe Carnahan and starring Liam Neeson, which opened #1 at the box office; End Of Watch, directed by David Ayer and starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Peña, which opened #1 at the box office; Rosewater, written and directed by Jon Stewart; A Haunted House starring Marlon Wayans; and Side Effects, directed by Steven Soderbergh and starring Rooney Mara, Jude Law, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Channing Tatum.
Upcoming releases include: Dope (6/19/15), a critical hit and audience favorite comedy out of the Sundance Film Festival and Cannes Film Festival, written and directed by Rick Famuyiwa; Triple Nine, a thriller directed by John Hillcoat starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Casey Affleck, Anthony Mackie, Woody Harrelson, Aaron Paul, Kate Winslet, Gal Gadot, Norman Reedus, Teresa Palmer and Clifton Collins, Jr. (9/11/15); Rock The Kasbah (10/23/2015), starring Bill Murray along with Bruce Willis, Kate Hudson, Zooey Deschanel, Danny McBride and Scott Caan, directed by Barry Levinson; the Untitled Oliver Stone/Edward Snowden Project (12/25/15), written and directed by Oliver Stone starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Shailene Woodley; Spotlight, directed by Thomas McCarthy, starring Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Liev Schreiber and Stanley Tucci; and Sleepless Night starring Jamie Foxx and Michelle Monaghan.
ABOUT MADRIVER PICTURES
MadRiver Pictures launched in May 2015 following an initial capitalization from a round of private and strategic investors and a $30 million revolving equity investment from Vendian Entertainment. The company plans to finance and produce a broad slate of 3-4 wide release films per year in the $15-50 million budget range.
The existing MadRiver Pictures production slate, includes: John Hillcoat’s “Triple 9” starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Casey Affleck, Woody Harrelson, Kate Winslet, Aaron Paul and Anthony Mackie, which will be released by Open Road Films on September 11, 2015; Burr Steers’ “Pride & Prejudice & Zombies” starring Lily James, Sam Riley, Jack Huston and Lena Headey, based on Seth Grahame-Smith’s bestselling novel, which will be released by Screen Gems on February 19, 2016 and James Gray’s “The Lost City of Z” starring Charlie Hunnam, which begins principal photography in August.
ABOUT FILM 360
Film 360 has THE GALLOWS coming out on July 10 through Newline/Warner Bros. and is currently in post-production on the STEVE JOBS movie at Universal Pictures which is coming out October 9. Film 360 is also producing LIFEBOAT with a screenplay by Bill Broyles, Joe Wright directing and Anne Hathaway producing and starring for Working Title and Focus Features.
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MADRIVER PICTURES WILL FINANCE AND PRODUCE WITH FILM 360, HOLLYWOOD GANG AND JASON KELLER
LIAM NEESON WILL STAR; OPEN ROAD FILMS WILL RELEASE WIDE IN 2016
Open Road Films has acquired all U.S. distribution rights to A WILLING PATRIOT, which reunites the company with Liam Neeson who will star and will be financed and produced by MadRiver Pictures, along with Film 360, Hollywood Gang and Jason Keller. The announcement was made today by Tom Ortenberg, CEO of Open Road Films and Marc Butan of MadRiver Pictures.
In the international thriller A WILLING PATRIOT, a CIA agent (Neeson) engages in an elaborate cat-and-mouse game with a sinister terrorist who's planning an imminent attack.
Martin Zandvliet (“Land Of Mine”) will direct A WILLING PATRIOT from a script by Jason Keller, who will produce along with Film 360’s Guymon Casady and Darin Friedman as well as Hollywood Gang’s Gianni Nunnari. Film 360’s Ben Forkner, Hollywood Gang’s Shannon Gaulding and MadRiver’s Ed Fee will oversee on behalf of their respective companies.
A WILLING PATRIOT will shoot on location in South Africa, Morrocco and Tunisia with Open Road Films planning a wide release in 2016.
“Working with Liam Neeson on ‘The Grey’ was a fantastic experience and a success in every way” stated Tom Ortenberg. “A Willing Patriot, like ‘The Grey,’ is top-notch character-driven film. We are thrilled to re-team with Liam and producer Marc Butan, with whom we are working on the upcoming release of ‘Triple 9,’ on this international thriller.”
“We’re excited to be back in business with Open Road,” said Marc Butan. “They showed passion and enthusiasm for this film from day one, and we couldn’t have found a better home for it.”
The deal was negotiated on behalf of Open Road Films by Tom Ortenberg, Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel Elliott Kleinberg, and Executive Vice President of Production and Acquisitions Peter Lawson. Creative Artists Agency (CAA), which packaged and arranged financing for the film, negotiated on behalf of MadRiver Pictures. Neeson, along with MadRiver, are represented by CAA, while Zandvliet is repped by WME. Film 360 is represented by PJ Shapiro and Julian Zafijen, and Hollywood Gang and Keller are repped by attorney Carlos Goodman. Keller is repped by CAA and Management 360.
ABOUT OPEN ROAD FILMS
Open Road Films is a leading, independent, theatrical motion picture company, releasing a diverse slate of star-driven films which has included multiple #1 releases. It was founded in 2011 by AMC Entertainment Inc. (AMC) and Regal Entertainment Group (Regal), the two largest theatrical exhibition companies in the United States. Open Road and its lenders recently extended the company's $100,000,000 credit facility through 2018.
Current and past releases include: Nightcrawler, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, which took the #1 spot at the box-office during its opening week and received an Oscar® nomination for Best Original Screenplay, along with a Golden Globe nomination – it was named one of the best films of 2014 by the AFI and National Board of Review and top critics nationwide; the hit film Chef, written by, directed by and starring Jon Favreau along with Sofia Vergara, Scarlett Johansson, John Leguizamo, Bobby Cannavale, Oliver Platt, Dustin Hoffman and Robert Downey, Jr.; The Nut Job, which opened to over $25 million at the box office as the highest ever opening for an independent animated film; The Grey, directed by Joe Carnahan and starring Liam Neeson, which opened #1 at the box office; End Of Watch, directed by David Ayer and starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Peña, which opened #1 at the box office; Rosewater, written and directed by Jon Stewart; A Haunted House starring Marlon Wayans; and Side Effects, directed by Steven Soderbergh and starring Rooney Mara, Jude Law, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Channing Tatum.
Upcoming releases include: Dope (6/19/15), a critical hit and audience favorite comedy out of the Sundance Film Festival and Cannes Film Festival, written and directed by Rick Famuyiwa; Triple Nine, a thriller directed by John Hillcoat starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Casey Affleck, Anthony Mackie, Woody Harrelson, Aaron Paul, Kate Winslet, Gal Gadot, Norman Reedus, Teresa Palmer and Clifton Collins, Jr. (9/11/15); Rock The Kasbah (10/23/2015), starring Bill Murray along with Bruce Willis, Kate Hudson, Zooey Deschanel, Danny McBride and Scott Caan, directed by Barry Levinson; the Untitled Oliver Stone/Edward Snowden Project (12/25/15), written and directed by Oliver Stone starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Shailene Woodley; Spotlight, directed by Thomas McCarthy, starring Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Liev Schreiber and Stanley Tucci; and Sleepless Night starring Jamie Foxx and Michelle Monaghan.
ABOUT MADRIVER PICTURES
MadRiver Pictures launched in May 2015 following an initial capitalization from a round of private and strategic investors and a $30 million revolving equity investment from Vendian Entertainment. The company plans to finance and produce a broad slate of 3-4 wide release films per year in the $15-50 million budget range.
The existing MadRiver Pictures production slate, includes: John Hillcoat’s “Triple 9” starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Casey Affleck, Woody Harrelson, Kate Winslet, Aaron Paul and Anthony Mackie, which will be released by Open Road Films on September 11, 2015; Burr Steers’ “Pride & Prejudice & Zombies” starring Lily James, Sam Riley, Jack Huston and Lena Headey, based on Seth Grahame-Smith’s bestselling novel, which will be released by Screen Gems on February 19, 2016 and James Gray’s “The Lost City of Z” starring Charlie Hunnam, which begins principal photography in August.
ABOUT FILM 360
Film 360 has THE GALLOWS coming out on July 10 through Newline/Warner Bros. and is currently in post-production on the STEVE JOBS movie at Universal Pictures which is coming out October 9. Film 360 is also producing LIFEBOAT with a screenplay by Bill Broyles, Joe Wright directing and Anne Hathaway producing and starring for Working Title and Focus Features.
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