Amazon Studios Secures Producing Deals with 3 Production Companies

Amazon Studios Secures Producing Deals with Bona Fide Productions, Killer Films and Le Grisbi Productions

Each production company will have two-year deals with the distributor

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--(NASDAQ: AMZN) – Amazon Studios announced that it has struck exclusive first-look deals with Bona Fide Productions, Killer Films and Le Grisbi Productions. Albert Berger and Ron Yerxa’s Bona Fide Productions and Christine Vachon and Pamela Koffler’s Killer Films will each have an exclusive first-look deal in both film and television for two years. John Lesher’s Le Grisbi Productions will have an exclusive first-look deal for indie-sized films for two years.

Currently, Amazon Studios is working alongside Bona Fide Productions on Marc Webb’s The Only Living Boy in New York, starring Jeff Bridges, Callum Turner and Kate Beckinsale and Killer Films on Wonderstruck, the latest film from Academy Award-nominated director Todd Haynes, starring Julianne Moore. Wonderstruck will screen in competition at the upcoming 70th annual Cannes Film Festival. Both The Only Living Boy in New York and Wonderstruck are slated for release in 2017.

“Bona Fide Productions, Killer Films and Le Grisbi Productions each have a long history of making critically acclaimed and award-winning films with accomplished filmmakers,” said Roy Price, Head of Amazon Studios. “We’re proud to be working with each of them and excited about our future creative collaborations.”

Bona Fide Productions has produced award-winning films such as Little Miss Sunshine, Little Children and Nebraska. Killer Films is the company behind award-winning titles Still Alice, Carol, Wiener-Dog, a film Amazon Studios purchased at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival, and the Amazon Original Series “Z: The Beginning of Everything.” John Lesher’s Le Grisbi is currently in post-production on Scott Cooper’s Hostiles, starring Christian Bale and Rosamund Pike, and production on White Boy Rick, which is being directed by Yann Demange and starring Matthew McConaughey. Previously, Le Grisbi has produced Fury, Black Mass, End of Watch and Birdman, which won the Oscar for Best Picture at the 2014 Academy Awards.


About Amazon Studios
Amazon Studios launched in 2010 as a new way to develop feature films and episodic series. First announced in January 2015, Amazon Original Movies in an initiative by Amazon Studios to produce and acquire original movies for theatrical release and early window distribution exclusively for Prime members. Like Amazon Original Series, Amazon Original Movies focuses on unique stories, voices and character from top and up-and-coming creators. In 2015 Amazon Studios released its first film, Chi-raq, from critically acclaimed filmmaker Spike Lee. Chi-raq is now available for Prime members to stream exclusively. James Gray’s The Lost City of Z is currently in theaters. Up next, Amazon Studios will release Doug Liman’s The Wall on May 12th, Amir Bar-Lev’s Long Strange Trip on May 26th and Michael Showalter’s The Big Sick on June 23rd.

About Amazon Video
Amazon Video is a premium on-demand entertainment service that offers customers the greatest choice in what to watch and how to watch it. Amazon Video is the only service that provides all of the following:

•     Prime Video: Thousands of movies and TV shows, including popular licensed content plus critically-acclaimed and award-winning Amazon Original Series and Movies from Amazon Studios like Transparent, The Man in the High Castle, Love & Friendship, and kids series Tumble Leaf, available for unlimited streaming as part of an Amazon Prime membership. Prime Video is also now available to customers in more than 200 countries and territories around the globe at www.primevideo.com.
•     Amazon Channels: Over 100 video subscriptions to networks like HBO, SHOWTIME, STARZ, PBS KIDS, Acorn TV, and more, available to Amazon Prime members in the US as add-ons to their membership. To view the full list of available channels, visit www.amazon.com/channels.
•     Rent or Own: Hundreds of thousands of titles, including new release movies and current TV shows available for on-demand rental or purchase for all Amazon customers.
•     Instant Access: Customers can instantly watch anytime, anywhere through the Amazon Video app on compatible TVs, mobile devices, Amazon Fire TV, Fire TV Stick, and Fire tablets, or online. For a list of all compatible devices, visit www.amazon.com/howtostream.
•     Premium Features: Top features like 4K Ultra HD, High Dynamic Range (HDR) and mobile downloads for offline viewing of select content.

In addition to Prime Video, the Prime membership includes unlimited fast free shipping options across all categories available on Amazon, more than two million songs and thousands of playlists and stations with Prime Music, secure photo storage with Prime Photos, unlimited reading with Prime Reading, unlimited access to a digital audiobook catalog with Audible Channels for Prime, a rotating selection of free digital games and in-game loot with Twitch Prime, early access to select Lightning Deals, exclusive access and discounts to select items, and more. To sign-up for Prime or to find out more, visit: www.amazon.com/prime.

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Warner Bros. Begins Production on "Aquaman" Movie

Production is Underway on Warner Bros. Pictures’ Super Hero Action Adventure “Aquaman”

Director James Wan and star Jason Momoa dive into the Super Hero’s first-ever solo feature, along with cast mates Amber Heard, Willem Dafoe, Patrick Wilson, Nicole Kidman and more

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Principal photography has begun on Warner Bros. Pictures’ action adventure “Aquaman,” helmed by James Wan (“The Conjuring” films, “Furious 7”). Jason Momoa stars in the title role, returning to the character he plays in this fall’s “Justice League.”

The film also stars Amber Heard (“Justice League,” “Magic Mike XXL”) as Mera; Oscar nominee Willem Dafoe (“Platoon,” “Spider-Man 2”) as Vulko; Temuera Morrison (“Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones,” “Green Lantern”) as Tom Curry; Dolph Lundgren (“The Expendables” films) as Nereus; Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (upcoming “Baywatch,” Netflix’s “The Get Down”) as Black Manta; with Patrick Wilson (“The Conjuring” films, “Watchmen”) as Orm/Ocean Master; and Oscar winner Nicole Kidman (“The Hours,” “Lion”) as Atlanna.

The film is being produced by Peter Safran, with Zack Snyder, Deborah Snyder, Rob Cowan, Jon Berg and Geoff Johns serving as executive producers.

Wan’s team behind the scenes includes such frequent collaborators as Oscar-nominated director of photography Don Burgess (“The Conjuring 2,” “Forrest Gump”), his five-time editor Kirk M. Morri (“The Conjuring” films, “Furious 7,” the “Insidious” films) and production designer Bill Brzeski (“Furious 7”). They are joined by costume designer Kym Barrett (“The Matrix” trilogy; “The Amazing Spider-Man”), along with Oscar-winning VFX supervisor Charles Gibson (“Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest,” “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 & 2”) and VFX supervisor Kelvin McIlwain (“The Fast and the Furious” franchise).

As is fitting for the king of the sea, the shoot will take place mainly in locations spanning the stunning Gold Coast of Queensland, Australia, with extensive filming to be accomplished at Village Roadshow Studios. The production will utilize the facility’s sprawling backlot and all nine VRS soundstages, including its newest, Stage 9, the largest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. Filming will also take place in Newfoundland, Sicily and Tunisia.

An icon for over 75 years, Aquaman is known by fans of DC Comics as the ruler of Atlantis but committed to protecting the entire globe, both land and sea.

Currently set for a 2018 release, the film is based on characters from DC.

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VIZ Media Offers Two Manga Samplers for Free Comic Book Day 2017

VIZ MEDIA SUPPORTS 2017 FREE COMIC BOOK DAY WITH ACTION-PACKED MANGA SAMPLERS SHOWCASING EXCITING NEW TITLES

Visit And Support Local Comics Retailers On May 6th To Receive

Two FREE VIZ Media Samplers Highlighting THE LEGEND OF ZELDA, As Well As DRAGON BALL SUPER And BORUTO!

VIZ Media announces its participation and sponsorship for Free Comic Book Day 2017, with a pair of special FREE manga samplers that will include excerpts from the company’s new THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: TWILIGHT PRINCESS series and the definitive THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: LEGENDARY EDITION – OCARINA OF TIME release as well as a second sampler containing excerpts from the Shonen Jump action series BORUTO: NARUTO NEXT GENERATIONS and DRAGON BALL SUPER.

Scheduled to take place on Saturday, May 6th, 2017 at thousands of locations nationwide, Free Comic Book Day is an annual promotional campaign developed by the North American comic book industry to help bring new readers of all ages and interests into independent comic book stores. Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) began in 2002 and is coordinated by the industry's single largest distributor, Diamond Comic Distributors. Readers should visit freecomicbookday.com to find local participating retailers in their area.

VIZ Media participates this year as both a Gold and Silver Level Sponsor with the following FREE exclusive releases (available while supplies last).

THE LEGEND OF ZELDA FCBD 2017 SAMPLER
A special Gold Level Sponsor sampler containing excerpts from the new THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: TWILIGHT PRINCESS (rated ‘T’ for Teens) series and also THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: LEGENDARY EDITION – OCARINA OF TIME (rated ‘A’ for All Ages). Both series are inspired by the beloved Nintendo® role playing, puzzle-solving, action video game property.

Once upon a time, wizards tried to conquer the Sacred Realm of Hyrule. The Spirits of Light sealed the wizards' power within the Shadow Crystal and banished them to the Twilight Realm beyond the Mirror of Twilight. Now, an evil menace is trying to find Midna, Princess of the Twilight Realm, and the fragments of the Shadow Crystal to gain the power to rule over both the Twilight Realm and the World of Light.

BORUTO AND DRAGON BALL SUPER FCBD 2017 SAMPLER
A special Silver Level Sponsor sampler featuring excerpts from two of manga’s most revered properties.

In BORUTO: NARUTO NEXT GENERATIONS (rated ‘T’ for Teens), Naruto was a young shinobi with an incorrigible knack for mischief. He achieved his dream to become the greatest ninja in his village, and now his face sits atop the Hokage monument. But this is not his story... A new generation of ninja are ready to take the stage, led by Naruto's own son, Boruto! Don’t miss this action-packed excerpt!

In DRAGON BALL SUPER (rated ‘T’ for Teens), ever since Goku became Earth’s greatest hero and gathered the seven Dragon Balls to defeat the evil Boo, his life on Earth has grown a little dull. But new threats loom overhead, and Goku and his friends will have to defend the planet once again in this continuation of Akira Toriyama’s best-selling series, DRAGON BALL!

For more information on these and other manga titles published by VIZ Media, please visit: VIZ.com.

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New "Youngblood #1" Gets a Second Printing

The all-new Youngblood #1 is rushed back to print

PORTLAND, OR — Image Comics is pleased to announce that Rob Liefeld’s YOUNGBLOOD #1 with writer Chad Bowers (X-Men ‘92, Deadpool: Bad Blood) and artist Jim Towe is being rushed back to print in order to keep up with the overwhelming customer demand.

YOUNGBLOOD #1 is part one in the all-new story arc “Reborn” to which Bowers and Towe lend their fresh story and artistic spin.

“There is a certain satisfaction at putting creative teams together and watching them conjure magic,” said Liefeld. “When I paired Chad Bowers with Jim Towe, I could feel that special spark and with 5 issues and counting I am nothing short of amazed at the content they are creating! The first day sell out of Youngblood is Chad and Jim's achievement and I'm so proud of them and the work they have created. Strap in for a crazy ride because as I look over the 120 pages gathered across my inbox I assure you that there is much more magic to come!”

Twenty-five years ago, YOUNGBLOOD launched the Image Revolution and turned the comics world on its head. Now the original blockbuster hit series returns with an all-new cast and a brand-new mission! When a young hero goes missing, his friend’s search for answers leads to some unexpected allies. Together, they'll do whatever it takes to find him…even if it means resurrecting the world’s most infamous super-team.

YOUNGBLOOD #1 remains available for purchase across all digital platforms, including the Image Comics website (imagecomics.com), the official Image Comics iOS app, Comixology’s website (comixology.com), iOS, Android, and Google Play.

Available on Wednesday, June 7th, 2017 (Final order cutoff deadline is Monday, May 15th, 2017):

    Rob Liefeld’s YOUNGBLOOD #1, 2nd printing (Diamond Code MAR178641)
    Rob Liefeld’s YOUNGBLOOD #2 Cover A by Towe (Diamond Code APR170916)
    Rob Liefeld’s YOUNGBLOOD #2 Cover B by Liefeld (Diamond Code APR170917)
    Rob Liefeld’s YOUNGBLOOD #2 Cover C by Canaan White (Diamond Code APR170918)

Select praise for YOUNGBLOOD:

“An excellent first issue that introduces things well and is going to be a hit with readers who like character dramas.” —AiPT!

ComicBook.com’s “5 Comics You Should Read This Week”

“Issue one has done well in giving us a peek of the new, and a glimpse of the past. The brief foretaste of the future of Youngblood Reborn feels quite promising.” —Big Comic Page

“Towe’s art is appropriately fun and while it’s a far cry from where this property began, that’s completely necessary for the title to move forward. You have to give Liefeld credit for putting his properties in the hands of creators who don’t want to wallow in nostalgia for too long. The creators have indicated a willingness to go beyond the stories that have already been told and the back-up story itself already drops a potentially big hint for the future.” —Newsarama

“Bright and engaging.” —Rogues Portal


ABOUT IMAGE COMICS
Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of bestselling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri, and Jim Valentino. It consists of five major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline Comics, Skybound Entertainment, and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, fantasy, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit www.imagecomics.com.

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Cartoonist Shaenon K. Garrity and writer Jess Nevins Launch Children's Book Kickstarter

"The Adventurous ABCs" by Jess Nevins and Shaenon K. Garrity is now on Kickstarter.  Garrity is a webcomics creator, and Jess Nevins is a college librarian who has written books about comic books, superheroes, and costumed heroes.

"Rampage" Goes into Production with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson

Dwayne Johnson Stars in “Rampage,” New Action Adventure from New Line Cinema, Now in Production

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Global megastar Dwayne Johnson headlines New Line Cinema’s action adventure “Rampage,” for director/producer Brad Peyton. Beau Flynn, John Rickard and Hiram Garcia are also producing the film, currently on location in Atlanta, for an April 20, 2018 release. “Rampage” marks the third collaboration between Johnson, Peyton and Flynn, following the blockbuster “San Andreas.”

Primatologist Davis Okoye (Johnson), a man who keeps people at a distance, shares an unshakable bond with George, the extraordinarily intelligent, silverback gorilla who has been in his care since birth. But a rogue genetic experiment gone awry transforms this gentle ape into a raging monster. To make matters worse, it’s soon discovered there are other similarly altered alpha predators. As these newly created monsters tear across North America, destroying everything in their path, Okoye teams with a discredited genetic engineer to secure an antidote, fighting his way through an ever-changing battlefield, not only to halt a global catastrophe but to save the fearsome creature that was once his friend.

“Rampage” also stars Oscar nominee Naomie Harris (“Moonlight”), Malin Akerman (TV’s “Billions”), Jake Lacy (TV’s “Girls”), Joe Manganiello (TV’s “True Blood”) and Jeffrey Dean Morgan (TV’s “The Walking Dead”); as well as P.J. Byrne (“The Wolf of Wall Street”), Marley Shelton (“Solace”), Breanne Hill (“San Andreas”), Jack Quaid (“The Hunger Games: Catching Fire”), and Matt Gerald (TV’s “Daredevil”).

Serving as executive producers are Marcus Viscidi, Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, and Jeff Fierson, with Wendy Jacobson co-producing. The screenplay is by Ryan Engle and Adam Sztykiel, story by Ryan Engle, based on the video game Rampage.

The creative team includes production designer Barry Chusid (“San Andreas”), director of photography Jaron Presant (2nd unit, “Star Wars: The Last Jedi”), editor Jim May (“Goosebumps”) and costume designer Melissa Bruning (“Dawn of the Planet of the Apes”). Music will be composed by Andrew Lockington, who created the scores for “San Andreas” and “Journey 2: The Mysterious Island.”

The creatures of “Rampage” will be brought to life by acclaimed VFX supervisor Colin Strause (“San Andreas,” “X-Men: Apocalypse”), with five-time Academy Award-winning visual effects company Weta Digital (“The Lord of the Rings” Trilogy, “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes”).

“Rampage” is a New Line Cinema presentation, a Wrigley Pictures/Flynn Picture Company/7 Bucks Entertainment production, in association with ASAP Entertainment. It will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

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"Power" Creator Signs Multi-Year Deal with Starz and Lionsgate

Courtney A. Kemp, Creator, Showrunner and Executive Producer of the Hit Drama Series “Power,” Signs Exclusive Multi-Year Deal with Starz and Lionsgate

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. & SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Heading into the fourth season premiere of the hit STARZ Original series “Power,” Starz and Lionsgate have signed “Power” creator, showrunner and executive producer Courtney A. Kemp to an exclusive multi-year overall deal. The collaborative nature of Kemp’s new deal expands her relationship with the company to include Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B), which allows Kemp to develop and produce new projects for Starz and other content through her End of Episode production company, while also continuing to serve in her current role as showrunner and executive producer on “Power.”

    “We are longtime fans of Courtney’s thanks to her record-breaking series ‘Power’ and delighted to be working with her at the studio going forward”

The deal was negotiated for Lionsgate by Television Group President Sandra Stern and for Starz by Senior VP Business & Legal Affairs Russell Schwartz.

The third season of “Power” delivered a record 8 million multiplatform viewers (Live + SD) per episode* and was the most watched premium television original series in 2016, behind only “Game of Thrones.”** The 10-episode fourth season returns on Sunday, June 25th airing all day with a “Power” Play marathon stunt.

“Courtney A. Kemp is the complete showrunner package, and we’re thrilled to continue collaborating with such a creative talent and outstanding producer,” said Chris Albrecht, President and CEO of Starz. “We are proud to see Courtney receive the recognition she deserves in our industry and are pleased the combined ‘power’ of Starz and Lionsgate offers even greater opportunities for her – and us – in the creative community.”

“We are longtime fans of Courtney’s thanks to her record-breaking series ‘Power’ and delighted to be working with her at the studio going forward,” said Lionsgate Television Group Chairman Kevin Beggs. “Her new deal shows the ability of our combined company to attract and nurture the top talent in the business.”

"This new deal presents a wonderful opportunity to extend my creative efforts on ‘Power’ while developing new shows for Lionsgate,” said Kemp. “I am grateful to Jon [Feltheimer], Kevin and Chris for this warm welcome to the Lionsgate family, and I'm looking forward to a continued relationship with Chris, Carmi and the entire team at Starz."

“Power” marked Courtney A. Kemp’s debut as a creator and showrunner and follows the complex character James “Ghost” St. Patrick and his attempts to move from New York’s biggest drug dealer to its biggest legit businessman. Under her leadership, the series doubled viewership from its premiere episode to its Season One finale and generated the largest concentration of African American viewership of any scripted premium series in almost a decade.*** “Power” was renewed for Seasons Four and Five following the record-shattering Season Three premiere on July 17, 2016.

For her work on the show, Marie Claire magazine named Kemp one of “The 50 Most Influential Women in America,” she was included as one of the female powerhouses on Elle Magazine’s “The Agenda,” and was named one of Ebony Magazine’s “Power 100” honorees.

Previously, Kemp was a writer and supervising producer on the celebrated television show “The Good Wife,” which went on to garner nominations for a Primetime Emmy® Award for Outstanding Drama Series and a Writers Guild Award for Dramatic Series. She also worked on ABC’s “Eli Stone,” Fox’s “Justice,” and “The Bernie Mac Show” among others. Prior to her work in television, Kemp wrote for many prestigious magazines, including GQ, Vibe and Marie Claire.

Kemp is represented by CAA and Michael Gendler of Gendler & Kelly.


About “Power”
Season Four picks up on the heels of James “Ghost” St. Patrick’s highly publicized arrest by his ex-girlfriend, Assistant U.S. Attorney Angela Valdes, for the murder of FBI Agent Greg Knox—a crime he did not commit. Ghost can’t outrun his past choices and mounting enemies this season, which threaten his freedom and his family’s safety at every turn. His fight for redemption brings him face-to-face with the Feds, the media, new allies, and old foes. But the biggest obstacle for Ghost remains himself and his internal struggle between the man he wants to be and the one he really is.

“Power” is a visionary drama that straddles the glamorous Manhattan lifestyles of the rich and infamous and the underworld of the international drug trade. The cast is led by Omari Hardwick as drug kingpin and nightclub impresario James “Ghost” St. Patrick, Joseph Sikora, as his brother in arms in the drug business, Tommy Egan; Naturi Naughton plays Ghost’s fierce, loyal wife Tasha St. Patrick and Lela Loren as his first love, Assistant U.S. Attorney, Angela Valdes.

Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Mark Canton, Randall Emmett and Gary Lennon serve as Executive Producers on “Power.” The show is also produced by G-Unit Films and Television, the production company launched by Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson.

”Power” airs in more than 175 countries/territories worldwide. Starz retains all global distribution and home entertainment rights to the series.

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