Amazon Announces New Kids Shows and Returning Favorites for Fall 2017

Amazon Announces Fall Slate for Kids Originals Including If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and Sid & Marty Krofft’s Sigmund and the Sea Monsters

Wishenpoof and The Stinky & Dirty Show return for second seasons

New fall programming highlights impactful storytelling and inspiring characters

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--(NASDAQ: AMZN)—Amazon announced its fall slate for kids originals, exclusively on Prime Video. Amazon Studios creates series for kids with heart for both enjoyment and impact to inspire a generation of lifelong creative learners. The fall slate includes Wishenpoof (September 26), Sigmund and the Sea Monsters (October 13), If You Give a Mouse a Cookie (November 7), and The Stinky & Dirty Show (Fall 2017); all series will premiere on these dates in the US and UK, and made available worldwide at a later date.

    “We’re honored to reintroduce If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and Sigmund’s iconic character to a new generation of kids and families”

“We’re honored to reintroduce If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and Sigmund’s iconic character to a new generation of kids and families,” said Tara Sorensen, Head of Kids Programming at Amazon Studios. “Our fall slate will bring customers more engaging and heartwarming stories to enjoy with their families.”

Wishenpoof – New season premieres on September 26, 2017

Wishenpoof centers on Bianca (Addison Holley), a fairy who can grant wishes using Wish Magic. The series highlights her thought process as she thinks, decides and solves problems in her own creative way. Each episode features a new song by Bianca for viewers to sing along with and imaginative stories to follow. Created by Angela C. Santomero (Blue’s Clues, Creative Galaxy, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Super Why!) and produced by Out of the Blue Enterprises, the show features guest voice talent Jason Priestly (Beverly Hills, 90210) as Bianca’s dad. The series’ learning approach is based on Ellen Galinsky’s “Seven Essential Life Skills” framework that focuses on skills to help children reach their full potential by having empathy for others, tackling challenges, communicating effectively, thinking critically, and to never stop learning. Season one is rated 4.7 out of 5 stars by customers with 79% 5-star reviews.

Starting September 26, the Wishenpoof season two soundtrack will be available to stream exclusively via Amazon Music Unlimited and Prime Music. In addition, the Wishenpoof Wish Magic Adventure Game by Haywire Group is now available on Amazon.

Sigmund and the Sea Monsters – New series premieres on October 13, 2017

Sid & Marty Krofft’s Sigmund and the Sea Monsters follows two beachcombing brothers, Johnny (Solomon Stewart) and Scotty (Kyle Breitkopf), who find Sigmund – a real live sea monster. The two brothers befriend the harmless and funny Sigmund and hide him in their clubhouse. However, keeping him a secret may be nearly impossible since the town’s overzealous Captain Barnabas (David Arquette) is obsessed with proving that sea monsters are real. With the help of their cousin Robyn (Rebecca Bloom), this team of friends makes it their mission to protect their new friend and have a great and memorable summer. Based on the nostalgic 1970s live-action series, Sigmund and the Sea Monsters is directed by Ron Oliver and is executive produced by Sid and Marty Krofft. The series will also feature a cover of the original theme song, “Friends” by The Roots.

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie – New series premieres on November 7, 2017

When you give a mouse a cookie, he’ll probably ask for a glass of milk, and then...who knows what he’ll ask for next? Based on the beloved books by Laura Numeroff (Dennis the Menace) and Felicia Bond and executive produced by Numeroff, Bond and Emmy Award-winning writer Ken Scarborough (Arthur, Sesame Street, Curious George) who also serves as head writer, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie follows the adventures of Mouse, Oliver, Moose, Pig, Cat, and Dog, as they discover that when you’ve got a curious Mouse for a friend one thing always leads to another, then another, and then another! The show's learning approach was developed in consultation with authors Mimi Ito and John Seely Brown and revolves around a cause and effect narrative structure that sparks imagination and the creativity engendered by knowing that possibilities are endless. The pilot and beloved book are both rated 4.7 out of 5 stars by customers with 82% 5-star reviews for the pilot and 84% 5-star reviews for the book. If You Give a Mouse a Cookie will feature new recordings by Grammy nominated recording artist Lisa Loeb.

The Stinky & Dirty Show – New season premieres in Fall 2017

Based on the “I Stink!” book series by Kate and Jim McMullan, The Stinky & Dirty Show follows the adventures and mishaps faced by best friends and unlikely heroes, Stinky the garbage truck and Dirty, the backhoe loader. They are a dynamic and hilarious duo of resourcefulness that learn when things don’t go as expected, asking “what if” can lead to success. The series is written and developed by Guy Toubes (The Adventures of Chuck & Friends, Littlest Pet Shop, Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi), executive produced by Toubes and Holly Huckins, and animated by Brown Bag Films, Ltd (Peter Rabbit, Octonauts, Doc McStuffins). This season will once again feature original music from acclaimed folk singer and songwriter Dan Bern and celebrity voice talent, including Whoopi Goldberg (The View), Mark Hamill (Spacey), Jane Lynch (Glee), Andy Richter (Arrested Development), Joan Cusack (Shameless) and Wallace Shawn (Toy Story). The series’ learning approach is based on Jessica Lahey’s New York Times best-seller “The Gift of Failure: How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed,” specifically modeling resourcefulness, resilience, teamwork, and the benefits of failure. Season one is rated 4.8 out of 5 stars by customers with 87% 5-star reviews.

Prime members will be able to stream the series exclusively via the Amazon Prime Video app for compatible TVs, connected devices including Fire TV, mobile devices, and online at www.amazon.com/primevideokids. Members can also download the series to mobile devices for offline viewing at no additional cost to their membership. Amazon kids originals are also available on FreeTime Unlimited, the all-you-can-eat subscription service designed from the ground up for kids. FreeTime Unlimited is available exclusively on Amazon devices, including Amazon Fire TV and Fire tablets, and a year-long subscription is included with every Fire Kids Edition.

Customers who are not already Prime members can sign up for a free trial at www.amazon.com/prime. For a list of all Amazon Video compatible devices, visit www.amazon.com/howtostream.


About Amazon Original Kids Programming
In 2014, Amazon Studios began introducing kids originals for Prime Video, kicking off with the Emmy award-winning series, Tumble Leaf, about a delightfully curious blue fox, and his best friend Stick, a quirky caterpillar, as they embark on a fun and nature-filled adventure. Today, customers can enjoy a growing selection of original kids series and specials including Just Add Magic, Lost in Oz, Annedroids, Dino Dana, Thunderbirds Are Go!, Danger & Eggs, and An American Girl Story which consists of four separate specials. Two additional series will debut this fall including Sigmund and the Sea Monsters and If You Give a Mouse a Cookie.

The mission of Amazon’s original preschool series is to inspire lifelong creative learning in children beginning at the preschool age. The aim is to validate, maintain and foster young children’s creative, joyful, and curious learning spirit through offering core content that is integrated with skills children need now and for the future. This is accomplished by integrating an innovative curriculum thread through all preschool shows including The Stinky & Dirty Show, Creative Galaxy, Wishenpoof, and If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, working with established creators and educational advisors that comprise the Thought Leader Board and developing learning experiences that extend beyond the screen. All of this is to give parents confidence that these programs will provide valuable skills and life lessons that children can use in their real life—while being entertaining at the same time.

To date, Amazon Original Kids Series and Specials have won 16 Daytime Creative Arts Emmys, including “Outstanding Children’s Animated Program” in 2016 for Niko and the Sword of Light and again in 2017 for Lost in Oz: Extended Adventure; as well as “Outstanding Pre-School Children’s Animated Program” in 2015 and 2016 for Tumble Leaf and again in 2017 for The Snowy Day. Prime Video’s growing line-up of award-winning and critically-acclaimed Originals for kids and families are available to stream and enjoy using the Amazon Prime Video app for compatible TVs, connected devices, including Amazon Fire TV and mobile devices, or online at www.amazon.com/primevideokids.

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.

About Amazon
Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, and Alexa are some of the products and services pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit www.amazon.com/about and follow @AmazonNews.

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Antonio Banderas Joins NatGeo's "Genius" as Pablo Picasso

Emmy- and Golden Globe-Nominated Actor Antonio Banderas to Star as Pablo Picasso in GENIUS Season Two from National Geographic, Fox 21 Television Studios and Imagine Television

Season Two Again Hails From Showrunner Ken Biller With Executive Producers Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Ken Biller, Francie Calfo, and Gigi Pritzker

Production Begins This Fall on 10-Episode Anthology Series

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As National Geographic heads into this year’s Emmys with 10 nominations for the first season of GENIUS, Emmy- and Golden Globe-nominated actor Antonio Banderas (“Evita,” “The Mask of Zorro,” “The 33”) has been cast as Pablo Picasso in season two, which will chronicle the life and work of the Spanish painter, one of the 20th century’s most influential and celebrated artists. The new season, from Fox 21 Television Studios, will again be executive produced by Brian Grazer and Ron Howard’s Imagine Entertainment, Madison Wells Media’s OddLot Entertainment and EUE/Sokolow, and will premiere in 2018.

    .@antoniobanderas to star as Pablo Picasso in season 2 of @NatGeoChannel #GENIUS

“The life story of Pablo Picasso has long since fascinated me and I have so much respect for this man, who also comes from my birthplace Málaga,” said Antonio Banderas. “I am thrilled to work with National Geographic, Brian, Ron, Ken and the rest of the GENIUS team to tell an authentic story of one of the most innovative painters in the world.”

“Antonio was the natural choice. He, like Picasso, has a no-holds-barred approach to life that will add to the genuineness that we’re looking for,” said Ron Howard. “He has such tremendous range as an actor, who I know will bring this brilliant and unconventional artist to life.”

“From Pancho Villa to Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara, Antonio has had such a successful track record in portraying real-life, larger-than-life iconic figures with such honesty and depth. And with Picasso, I’m looking forward to seeing his interpretation of the man behind the artistic greatness,” added Brian Grazer.

“Not only are they both from Málaga, Spain, but also similar to Picasso, Antonio exudes charisma and passion, and has challenged boundaries with his creative artistry,” said Carolyn Bernstein, executive vice president, head of global scripted, National Geographic. “He checks all the boxes for us and we couldn’t be more pleased to have him lead the series.”

Banderas is repped by Paradigm Talent Agency.

The first season of GENIUS, which starred Geoffrey Rush (“The King’s Speech,” “Pirates of the Caribbean”) as Albert Einstein, was recently nominated for 10 Emmys, including Outstanding Limited Series, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie, Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series and more, marking a network record. It also became the network’s best performing new series launch in network history, watched by over 45 million viewers globally.

The artistic career of Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno Crispín Crispiniano María Remedios de la Santísima Trinidad Ruiz Picasso spanned more than 80 of his 91 years, much of it in his second home of France. Much like the subject of the first season of GENIUS, Einstein, Picasso imagined and interpreted the world in totally new and unorthodox ways, and constantly reinvented our perceptions of art and creativity. The prolific artist generated an estimated 50,000 works, among the most notable being “The Old Guitarist” from his Blue Period, now on display at the Art Institute of Chicago; “Guernica,” inspired by the Nazi bombing of a small Spanish town of the same name, recently displayed at the Museo Reina Sofia in Madrid; and “Les Demoiselles D’Avignon,” now on display at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.

Picasso’s passionate nature and relentless creative drive were inextricably linked to his personal life, which included tumultuous marriages, numerous affairs and constantly shifting political and personal alliances. He lived most of his life in the vibrant Paris of the first half of the 20th century and crossed paths with writers and artists including Coco Chanel, Henri Matisse, Marc Chagall, Gertrude Stein, Georges Braque and Jean Cocteau. Picasso constantly reinvented himself, always striving to innovate and push the boundaries of artistic expression.

Showrunner, executive producer and writer Ken Biller will continue his role overseeing the new season. The second season will also once again hail from Fox 21 Television Studios, whose recent “The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story” dominated every awards contest and critics’ list; Imagine Television, the producer of “24” and “Empire,” with executive producers Grazer and Howard along with executive producer Francie Calfo and producer Anna Culp; and Madison Wells Media’s OddLot Entertainment, which earlier this year produced the Academy Award-nominated film “Hell or High Water,” with executive producers Gigi Pritzker and Rachel Shane. Sam Sokolow and Jeff Cooney from EUE/Sokolow are also executive producers. Filming is expected to begin later this fall for a 2018 premiere on National Geographic Channels in 171 countries and 45 languages.

GENIUS is produced by Fox 21 Television Studios, Imagine Television, Madison Wells Media’s OddLot Entertainment and EUE/Sokolow.


About National Geographic Partners LLC:
National Geographic Partners LLC (NGP), a joint venture between National Geographic and 21st Century Fox, is committed to bringing the world premium science, adventure and exploration content across an unrivaled portfolio of media assets. NGP combines the global National Geographic television channels (National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo MUNDO, Nat Geo PEOPLE) with National Geographic’s media and consumer-oriented assets, including National Geographic magazines; National Geographic studios; related digital and social media platforms; books; maps; children’s media; and ancillary activities that include travel, global experiences and events, archival sales, licensing and e-commerce businesses. Furthering knowledge and understanding of our world has been the core purpose of National Geographic for 129 years, and now we are committed to going deeper, pushing boundaries, going further for our consumers … and reaching over 730 million people around the world in 172 countries and 43 languages every month as we do it. NGP returns 27 percent of our proceeds to the non-profit National Geographic Society to fund work in the areas of science, exploration, conservation and education. For more information visit natgeotv.com or nationalgeographic.com, or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+, YouTube, LinkedIn and Pinterest.

About Fox 21 Television Studios:
Fox 21 Television Studios is a production unit housed within Fox Television Group devoted to making creatively ambitious scripted and unscripted series for all distribution platforms. Fox 21 Television Studios is responsible for two of this year’s Emmy contenders for Outstanding Limited Series: Ryan Murphy’s “FEUD: Bette and Joan” (19 nominations) and GENIUS from Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, Francie Calfo, Gigi Pritzker, Rachel Shane, Sam Sokolow, Jeff Cooney, Ken Biller and Noah Pink (10 nominations). The studio also produced the Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning sensation from Murphy, Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson “The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story” (with FX Productions); the Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning “Homeland,” starring Claire Danes and Mandy Patinkin; and the critically acclaimed “The Americans” (with FX Productions), starring Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell. Additional series include “Dice,” from Scot Armstrong, Sean Furst, Bryan Furst, Richard Shepard, Bruce Rubenstein and Andrew Dice Clay; “Queen of the South,” executive produced by David T. Friendly and Natalie Chaidez; and “Chance” from Kem Nunn, Alexandra Cunningham, Lenny Abrahamson, Michael London and Grazer. Upcoming projects include “Seven Seconds” from Veena Sud, and the next two installments in the “American Crime Story” anthology, titled “The Assassination of Gianni Versace” and “Katrina.”

About Imagine Entertainment:
Imagine Entertainment was founded in 1986 by Ron Howard and Brian Grazer to create independently produced feature films, television programs and other original programming. Imagine Entertainment has been honored with more than 60 prestigious awards including 10 Academy Awards and 42 Emmy awards. Past productions include the Academy Award Best Picture winner “A Beautiful Mind,” as well as Grammy Award Best Film winner “The Beatles: Eight Days a Week — The Touring Years.” Additional films include “Get on Up,” “Rush,” “J. Edgar,” “Frost/Nixon,” “American Gangster,” “The Da Vinci Code,” “Apollo 13,” “8 Mile,” “Liar, Liar,” “Backdraft” and “Parenthood,” to name a few. Upcoming films include “Lowriders,” “The Dark Tower” and “American Made.” Television productions include Fox’s “Empire” and “24” franchise, Nat Geo’s MARS and Breakthrough, NBC’s “Parenthood” and “Friday Night Lights,” Fox’s and Netflix’s “Arrested Development,” and HBO's “From the Earth to the Moon,” for which Howard and Grazer won the Emmy for Outstanding Mini-Series. Upcoming television productions include Fox’s “Shots Fired” and Nat Geo’s GENIUS. Ron Howard and Brian Grazer began their collaboration in 1985 with the hit comedies “Night Shift” and “Splash,” and continue to run Imagine Entertainment as chairmen.

About Madison Wells Media’s OddLot Entertainment:
Founded in 2001 by producer Gigi Pritzker, Madison Wells Media’s OddLot Entertainment is a film and television production company that develops, produces, finances and arranges distribution for quality commercial properties for the U.S. and international markets. OddLot teams with first-class filmmakers and provides them with resources that go far beyond equity investment to produce a range of high-quality films. Most recently, OddLot produced the Academy Award-nominated film “Hell or High Water,” written by Taylor Sheridan and starring Jeff Bridges, Chris Pine and Ben Foster, for CBS Films. OddLot’s past releases include the 2010 Academy Award-nominated drama “Rabbit Hole,” starring Nicole Kidman; “The Way Way Back,” starring Steve Carell; “Drive,” starring Ryan Gosling; the futuristic sci-fi film “Ender’s Game;” and Jon Stewart’s directorial debut, “Rosewater.” OddLot CEO Gigi Pritzker is part of a consortium that launched the film studio STX Entertainment founded by producer Robert Simonds. OddLot has a preferential co-producing, financing and development deal with STX. The company is based in Los Angeles, California, and is a subsidiary of Madison Wells Media, a diversified premium content company.

About EUE/Sokolow:
Founded in 2010 by producer/director Jeff Cooney and veteran television producer Sam Sokolow, EUE/Sokolow is an independent television studio that develops, finances, produces and arranges the distribution of premium television shows and content. EUE/Sokolow attracts high-end talent to develop television properties in a forward-thinking business model designed for today’s global television marketplace. Recently, EUE/Sokolow independently produced pilots/presentations of “Co-Op,” a television show created by and starring Zachary Levi and written and directed by Nancy Hower and John Lehr; “Diplomatic Immunity,” a comedy starring Australian comedy troupe The Peloton; “Shalom Y’all,” a comedy by showrunner Caryn Lucas based on the work of Julia Fowler; and “Win With Les,” starring Josh Lucas and created and written by Blair Singer. Since opening their doors, Cooney and Sokolow have set up shows at HBO, ABC, NBC, Freeform, Nat Geo, TNT, E!, Lifetime Movie Network and OWN. EUE/Sokolow is a subsidiary of EUE/Screen Gems, whose infrastructure includes studio complexes in Atlanta, Wilmington and Miami that have been home to productions such as “Stranger Things” (Netflix), “Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1” (Lionsgate), “Sleepy Hollow” (Fox), “Iron Man 3” (Marvel Studios), “Six” (A&E/History Channel), “The Conjuring” (New Line Cinema), “Under the Dome” (CBS) and “East Bound and Down” (HBO).

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Negromancer News Bits and Bites from September 10th to 16th, 2017 - Update #43

Support Leroy on Patreon.

MOVIES - From GlobalNews:  Are real-life clowns losing work because of "IT's" Pennywise the Clown?

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MOVIES - From Vox:  The site explains why Hollywood keeps making the same kinds of movies.

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JAMES BOND - From Fortune:  Apple and Amazon are among the players that will bid for the rights to distribute the 27th James Bond film, which is due in 2019.

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MOVIES - From Vulture:  The site lists 17 horror movies remake it thinks you should actually watch.

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BLM - From YahooNews:  The AP takes a look at high-profile killings of African-American men by law enforcement.

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MOVIES - From THR:  Joel McHale joins Melissa McCarthy's puppet comedy, "The Happytime Murders."

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HISTORY - From StillCrew:  The story of how the late Dick Gregory forced the FBI to find the bodies of three slain Civil Rights workers in Mississippi.

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MOVIES - From THR:  Jamie Lee Curtis reportedly returning to the Halloween film franchise for the 2018-scheduled reboot, remake, re-whatever.

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TELEVISION - From TheWrap:  Jack Whitehall, Miranda Richardson, and Michael McKean have joined Neil Gaiman's TV series, "Good Omens."

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TELEVISION - From TheWrap:  Apparently Oscar-winner and multiple Oscar-nominee, Jennifer Lawrence, once auditioned to play "Serena" on The WB's late "Gossip Girl."  The role eventually went to Blake Lively.

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TELEVISION - From TVLine: Adria Arjona joins Neil Gaiman's "Good Omens" TV series, based on the novel he wrote with the late Terry Pratchett.

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OSCARS - From BleedingCool:  The film to send out movie screeners to Oscar voters is "Logan."  [At least, they're trying, bless their hearts. - Ed.]

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TELEVISION - From Collider:  HBO will shot multiple endings for the "Game of Thrones" finale.

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COMICS-FILM - From YahooEntertainment:  Here is the first photo of David Harbour ("Stranger Things") as Hellboy in the "Hellboy" reboot film.  [Honestly, I think he resembles Ron Perlman, the previous Hellboy actor. - Ed.]

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TELEVISION - From YahooEntertainment:  "South Park" opens its 21st season poking fun at white supremacists and the white working class.

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POLITICS - From YahooEntertainment:  Some actors, entertainers, and performers have decided to be blunt about what they think about President Trump even his supporters are fans of theirs..

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MOVIES - From Variety:  Kiki Layne has won the lead in Oscar-winner Barry Jenkins' ("Moonlight") next film, "If Beale Street Could Talk."

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STAR WARS - From TheWrap:  J.J. Abrams is now the director of Star Wars Episode 9, after the first announced director, Colin Trevorrow, was fired.  Abrams directed "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" (Episode 7).  Abrams will co-write the film's script with Oscar-winner Chris Terrio ("Argo").

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LGBTQ - From YahooEntertaiment:  Armie Hammer shuts James Woods down after Wood tweets some silliness about Hammer's gay-themed film, Call Me By Your Name.

From YahooEntertaiment:  Amber Tamblyn weighs in on James Woods' "decency."

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COMICS-FILM - From THR:  Daniel Dae-Kim is in talks to play Major Ben Daimio in the "Hellboy" reboot.  Actor Ed Skrien, who is white, had been hired to play the character who is Japanese-American in the comic book, but Skrien stepped down after social media protests and complaints of "whitewashing."

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COMICS-FILM - From SlashFilm:  "Maze Runner" director Wes Ball to direct a film based on the really cool comic book, "Mouse Guard."

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COMICS-FILM - From Variety:  Patty Jenkins closes deal to direct "Wonder Woman" sequel. [D'uh. - Ed.]

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CELEBRITY - From YahooEntertaiment:  The wife of Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Mara Lane, reveals that the actor has had a substance abuse relapse after she suffered a miscarriage.

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BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo:  The winner of the 9/8 to 9/10/2017 weekend box office is "It," with an estimated take of $117 million.  Among the records that opening sets is the largest opening for any horror movie of any MPAA rating.

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CELEBRITY - From BET:  There is something going on between Tyrese Gibson and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.

From BET:  Tyrese continues begging for The Rock's attention, now moving to Instagram.

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BLM - From RawStory:  Claremont, New Hampshire police chief Mark Chase is trying to protect white teenagers who lynched a biracial child after taunting him with racial epithets.  Luckily, the child survived.

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POLITICS - From RawStory:  Incompetent CIA director Mike Pompeo trying to turn the CIA into an evangelical dumpster.

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EMMYS - From Deadline:  Night 1 2017 Creative Arts Emmy winners announced.  RuPaul, Leah Remini, Meryl Streep, and Ava DuVernay among winners.

From Variety:  Here is a winners list from Night 2 of the 2017 Creative Arts Emmys.

From Vulture:  Complete winners list from 2017 Creative Arts Emmy winners.

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FILM FESTIVALS - From Deadline:  Guillermo del Toro's period fantasy film, "The Shape of Water," wins the "Golden Lion" at the 2017 Venice Film Festival.

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STREAMING - From YahooFinance:  Maybe Disney should just buy Netflix.

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FILM FESTIVALS - From YahooEntertainment:  At Toronto International Film Festival, Margot Robbie earning good reviews for her starring role in the Tonya Harding fake documentary/biopic, "I, Tonya."

OBITS:

From Variety:  The actor Harry Dean Stanton has died at the age of 91, Friday, September 15, 2017.  He had a decades-long career, but his breakthrough roles came in the mid-1980s when he was 58, in Alex Cox's "Repo Man" and Wim Wenders "Paris, Texas."  He also appeared in the TV series, "Twin Peaks," during its original run.

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From Variety:  Grant Hart, the drummer for the influential punk band Hüsker Dü, has died at the age of 56, Thursday, September 14, 2017.  Hart had been battling cancer.

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From THR:  The actor Frank Vincent has died at the age of 78, Wednesday, September 13, 2017.  He played the vicious mob boss, Phil Leotardo, on "The Sopranos."  He also played tough guys in three Martin Scorsese films: "Raging Bull" (1980), "Goodfellas," (1990), and "Casino" (1995).  He also had a role in Spike Lee's "Do The Right Thing" (1989).

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From TheWrap:  Edith Windsor, LGBTQ activist, has died at the age of 88, Tuesday, September 12, 2017.  Windsor was the lead plaintiff in the pivotal Supreme Court case, "United States vs. Windsor" that took down the ridiculous federal law, the "Defense of Marriage Act."  Her victory paved the way towards the recognition of the rights of gay people to marry.

From Variety:  X Atencio, Disney animation and Imagineer, has died at the age of 98, Sunday, September 10, 2017. Atencio worked on the Disney animated features, "Pinocchio" and "Fantasia."  He worked on the Disneyland attractions, Pirates of the Caribbean and The Haunted Mansion

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From JewishChronicle:  Len Wein, the comic book writer and editor who co-created the characters Wolverine and Swamp Thing," died at the age of 69, Sunday, September 10, 2017.

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From RollingStone:  Troy Gentry, one half of the popular country music duo, Montgomery Gentry, died at the age of 50, Friday, September 8, 2017.  Gentry was killed in a helicopter accident.

From YahooEntertainment:  Federal investigators release details about helicopter flight and crash that killed country music star, Troy Gentry.

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From TheWrap:  The actor Mike Hodge has died at the age of 70, Saturday, September 9, 2017.  Hodge had recurring roles on "Law & Order" and "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit."

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From TheWrap:  Influential television executive Don Ohlmeyer died at the age of 72, September 10, 2017.  A 16-time Emmy winner, Ohlmeyer worked on "Monday Night Football" and coined the phrase, "Must See TV," for NBC.

Review: Wonderful "Wonder Woman" in Less Than Wonderful Movie

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 16 (of 2017) by Leroy Douresseaux

[This review originally posted on Patreon.]

Wonder Woman (2017)
Running time:  141 minutes (2 hours, 21 minutes)
MPAA – PG - 13 for sequences of violence and action, and some suggestive content
DIRECTOR:  Patty Jenkins
WRITERS:  Allan Heinberg; from a story by Zack Snyder, Allan Heinberg, and Jason Fuchs (based on characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics and created by William Moulton Marston)
PRODUCERS:  Charles Roven, Zack Snyder, Deborah Snyder, and Richard Suckle
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Matthew Jensen
EDITOR:  Martin Walsh
COMPOSER:  Rupert Gregson-Williams

SUPERHERO/FANTASY/WAR/HISTORICAL

Starring:  Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Connie Nielsen, Robin Wright, Danny Huston, David Thewlis, Said Taghmaoui, Ewen Bremner, Eugene Brave Rock, Lucy Davis, Elena Anaya, Lilly Aspell, Lisa Loven Kongsli, Ann Wolfe, Ann Ogbomo, Emily Carey, and James Cosmo

Wonder Woman is a 2017 superhero fantasy, war, and and historical film from director Patty Jenkins.  The film stars the DC Comics superhero, Wonder Woman, who first appeared in All Star Comics #8 (1941) and was created by writer William Moulton Marston (with artist Harry George Peter).  The movie takes place when Wonder Woman was only known as Diana, princess of the Amazons, a young, trained warrior who goes out into the world to discover her full powers and her true destiny.  Wonder Woman is also the fourth film in the DC (Comics) Extended Universe film series.

Wonder Woman opens in present-day Paris, in the Louvre, where Diana Prince/Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) works as an archivist of some type.   Bruce Wayne has sent her a gift, a World War I-era photographic plate that contains an image of Diana and three men.

This image returns Diana's memories to her past, beginning when she was a child (Lily Aspell) on the hidden island of Themyscira, home to the Amazon race of warrior women.  Diana is the daughter of the queen, Hippolyta (Connie Nielsen), who does not want her daughter trained to be a warrior.  Hippolyta's sister and Diana's aunt, General Antiope (Robin Wright), believes that Diana should be prepared for the eventual day when she will have to fight.

As a young woman, Diana rescues an American pilot and spy, Captain Steve Trevor (Chris Pine), after his plane crashes off the coast of Themyscira.  The Germans pursing Trevor invade Themyscira, but are repelled by the Amazons.  Diana interprets these events as signs that she must accompany Trevor as he returns to the world of men, where Diana believes she must confront the reason for the world war that rages across Europe (World War I).  Diana believes that Ares, the god of war, is behind the so-called “War to End All Wars,” but Diana does not realize that this journey will reveal the truth about her powers, her destiny, and her identity.

Since its release to theaters in the United States (almost a month ago as of this writing) and around the world (over a month as of this writing), Wonder Woman has received rave reviews.  Women and children, especially girls, have embraced the power of this beloved female superhero who finally stars in her own feature film.

I get it; I understand the appeal and the adoration, but for me, Wonder Woman the movie is, at best, a slightly above-average superhero movie.  Gal Gadot is wonderful as Wonder Woman, which surprised me because I thought she was all wrong when I first heard about her casting.  However, here, Gadot is so good that I had trouble imagining another actress (except maybe Linda Carter) as Wonder Woman.  Gadot embodies the strength and independence of a woman raised in a society in which women do not think of themselves as subordinate or inferior to men.

In the character drama, in the film's quiet moments, in the times when Diana fights for the forgotten and ignored (the “little” people?), director Patty Jenkins and Gal Gadot deliver on what Wonder Woman has meant, what she means today, and what she can mean in the future.  Jenkins and Gadot depict the ability of women to pursue the best of themselves and to pursue the best for humanity at large – with their endeavors as equal or even superior to those of men.  To nurture and to create; to defend and to take the initiative:  Wonder Woman/Diana and women can do anything men can do.

The problems with Wonder Woman the film are the men who contribute to this film.  Co-producer and co-writer Zack Snyder's handiwork is all over the cheesy, slow-motion camera fight scenes.  The fact that the last act devolves into a ridiculous supernatural battle between Diana and Ares is typical of the previous Warner/DC Comics films.  Those movies reeked with the ludicrous fights that were the climaxes of Snyder's The Man of Steel and Batman Vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice, as well as last year's Suicide Squad, which is also part of the DC Extended Universe.

Patty Jenkins and Gal Gadot deliver some superb movie making with Wonder Woman.  Unfortunately, the perspective of males, one of whom is a hack filmmaker, ruins it.

6 of 10
B

Friday, June 30, 2017


The text is copyright © 2017 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Amazon Series to Follow University of Michigan Football Team and Coach Jim Harbaugh

Amazon Greenlights Untitled University of Michigan Football Series Exclusively for Amazon Prime Video

The Amazon Original Unscripted Series follows legendary Coach Jim Harbaugh and the 2017 University of Michigan football team

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--(NASDAQ:AMZN)—Amazon announced it has greenlit an untitled University of Michigan Football series, following legendary Coach Jim Harbaugh and the 11-time national championship team throughout the 2017 season.

    “We are excited to partner with BTN and work with Coach Harbaugh and the Michigan football team on this all-access view into one of the great college football programs in America”

Produced by BTN Originals, The Montag Group and Jim Jorden Productions, the series will give Prime members unprecedented access to the winningest program in college football, chronicling Michigan’s 2017 season. The cameras will follow Coach Harbaugh, his assistant coaches, the student athletes and their support system on and off the field, giving viewers an inside look at the team, game, practice, life in Ann Arbor, and everything in between.

During Harbaugh’s first two years, Michigan became a top 10 national power, and pulled in one of the top recruiting classes for the 2017 season. Harbaugh is a former Michigan quarterback, Heisman finalist, first round draft pick, 14-season NFL quarterback and a former NFL head coach, who led the San Francisco 49ers to three NFC Championship games and a Super Bowl in his first three seasons.

“We pride ourselves on offering Prime members access to the people and worlds that they simply cannot find anywhere else. This series will show viewers an elite college football program in a way that’s never been done before,” said Conrad Riggs, Head of Unscripted, Amazon Originals. “We’re excited to have this series join the Sports Emmy-winning All or Nothing on our unscripted sports programming roster.”

“We are excited to partner with BTN and work with Coach Harbaugh and the Michigan football team on this all-access view into one of the great college football programs in America,” said Sandy Montag, Executive Producer.

“We are proud to collaborate with Amazon Prime Video in documenting our University of Michigan student-athletes' daily experiences and the lifelong lessons learned both on the football field and in the classroom,” said Harbaugh. “We welcome judgement! We embrace this opportunity to showcase our 2017 University of Michigan football team to a vast audience around the world.”

“This represents a tremendous opportunity for BTN’s award-winning original programming team to work with an entity like Amazon, as well as explore alternative distribution models for Big Ten content in the future,” said Michael Calderon, Senior Vice President, Programming and Digital Media, BTN.

The series will be executive produced by Sandy Montag (Perfect in ’76), Kirk Reynolds, Ron Lynn and Jim Jorden, and produced by BTN Originals, The Montag Group and Jim Jorden Productions.

Prime members will be able to stream the series exclusively via the Amazon Prime Video app for TVs, connected devices including Fire TV, mobile devices and online. Members can also download the series to mobile devices for offline viewing at no additional cost to their membership. The series will be a global release and available on PrimeVideo.com for Prime Video members in more than 200 countries and territories.

Customers who are not already Prime members can sign up for a free trial at www.amazon.com/prime. For a list of all Amazon Video compatible devices, visit www.amazon.com/howtostream.


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 channel subscriptions that Prime members can add to their membership, including HBO, SHOWTIME, STARZ, Cinemax, PBS KIDS, Acorn TV and more, plus Anime Strike – the first curated on-demand subscription by Amazon Channels. To view the full list of channels available, 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: Instantly watch anytime, anywhere through the Amazon Video app on 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 catalogue 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.

About Amazon
Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, and Alexa are some of the products and services pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit www.amazon.com/about and follow @AmazonNews.

About BTN Originals
BTN Originals is best known for its Emmy-nominated series “The Journey,” as well as documentaries including “Unbeaten: The Life of Brook Berringer” and “Tiebreaker.”

About BTN
A joint venture between the Big Ten Conference and Fox Networks, BTN is the first internationally distributed network dedicated to covering one of the premier collegiate conferences in the country. With more than 1,500 events across all platforms, the 24/7 network is the ultimate destination for Big Ten fans and alumni across the country, allowing them to see their favorite teams, regardless of where they live. BTN2Go is the digital extension of the Big Ten Network, delivering live games and on-demand programming to Big Ten Network customers via the web, smartphones, and tablets. Events include football, men’s and women’s basketball games; dozens of Big Ten Olympic sports and championship events; studio shows; and classic games. Original programming, such as The Journey, highlights activities and accomplishments of some of the nation’s finest universities. The groundbreaking Student U initiative provides real-world experience for students interested in careers in sports television. The network is in more than 60 million homes across the United States and Canada, including carriage by all the major video distributors, such as DIRECTV, DISH, Verizon FiOS, AT&T U-Verse, Charter Communications, Comcast Xfinity, Time Warner Cable, Cablevision, Cox Communications, Mediacom, RCN, WOW!, and approximately 300 additional video providers across North America. For more information, go to www.btn.com.

About The Montag Group
The Montag Group is a talent management, consulting, content development, and media-strategy company focused in the world of sports, entertainment and lifestyle. Sandy Montag, President & CEO, served as Executive Producer on “Perfect in ‘76”, a documentary on the undefeated Indiana basketball team which aired on Showtime earlier this year.

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"IT" Attacks Box Office Records ITs Opening Weekend

New Line Cinema’s “IT” Has Fearsome Record-Shattering Debut

The Losers’ Club Wins Big with Huge Worldwide Opening

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--New Line Cinema’s widely acclaimed horror thriller “IT” smashed the record books with stunning opening weekend numbers on both the domestic and international fronts, it was announced today by Sue Kroll, President Worldwide Marketing and Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures. Based on Stephen King’s beloved perennial bestseller, the film took in an estimated $189.4 million worldwide.

Domestically, “IT” scared up an astounding $123.1 million, crushing multiple records in its first weekend, starting with $13.5 million Thursday night previews, which made history as the highest horror preview; the largest R-rated preview; and the top September preview ever. Through the weekend, the milestones continued to mount, just a few of which include: the top horror film opening ever; biggest September opening for a film of any genre; and highest non-holiday weekend release for an R-rated film. On its own, “IT” surpassed the all-time industry record gross for a post-Labor Day weekend. In addition, “IT” now stands as New Line Cinema’s highest opening ever, and moviegoers looking for the biggest scares gave IMAX® their #1 opening weekend in September. The records had begun falling even before release, as “IT” became the top horror pre-seller ever and Fandango’s top September pre-seller ever for any genre.

Internationally, “IT” also saw huge releases in 46 markets, topping the box office in virtually all of them. Taking in an extraordinary $66.3 million, “IT” had the largest opening ever for a horror film. Among the other benchmarks are: the highest opening weekend for a horror film and top September debut ever in Russia and Australia; the biggest horror film debut in Brazil, Holland and Poland; and Warner Bros. Pictures’ largest opening for 2017 in 19 markets, including Russia, Australia, Spain, Poland, Norway, Belgium, Finland, Denmark and Chile. Anticipation is high in major markets yet to open, including Sweden, Mexico, France, Argentina, Germany and Italy.

In making the announcement, Kroll stated, “Anticipation for ‘IT’ has been at a fever pitch since the record-breaking debut of its teaser trailer, and the film has exceeded all expectations. ‘IT’ is not only a tremendously successful entry in New Line’s expanding horror-verse, but its appeal transcends the genre. Everyone involved, including director Andy Muschietti, his cast, and the producers, did a remarkable job bringing Stephen King’s cherished masterpiece to the big screen. I want to congratulate them, as well as all of our colleagues at New Line, on this fantastic start. I also want to recognize the inspired marketing campaign, spearheaded by Blair Rich, and our worldwide distribution efforts, led by Jeff Goldstein, Veronika Kwan Vandenberg and Tom Molter, and all their teams. We look forward to strong reviews and word-of-mouth carrying the film well into the fall/holiday season.”

“IT” tells the story of seven young outcasts growing up in the township of Derry, Maine, who call themselves the Losers’ Club. Each of them has been ostracized for one reason or another; each has a target on their back from the local pack of bullies…and all have seen their inner fears come to life in the form of an ancient shapeshifting predator they can only call It. For as long as their town has existed, Derry has been the entity’s hunting ground, emerging from the sewers every 27 years to feed on the terrors of its chosen prey: Derry’s children. Banding together over one horrifying and exhilarating summer, the Losers form a close bond to help them overcome their own fears and stop a killing cycle that began on a rainy day, with a small boy chasing a paper boat as it swept down a storm drain…and into the hands of Pennywise the Clown.

Directed by Andy Muschietti (“Mama”), “IT” is based on the Stephen King novel of the same name, which has been terrifying readers for decades. First published in 1986, IT became an instant classic. It continues to be counted among the best and most influential works of the undisputed literary master of horror, inspiring numerous film and television projects in the years that have followed.

The film stars Bill Skarsgård (“Allegiant,” TV’s “Hemlock Grove”) as the story’s central villain, Pennywise. An ensemble of young actors also star in the film, including Jaeden Lieberher (“Midnight Special”), Jeremy Ray Taylor (“Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip”), Sophia Lillis (“37”), Finn Wolfhard (TV’s “Stranger Things”), Wyatt Oleff (“Guardians of the Galaxy”), Chosen Jacobs (upcoming “Cops and Robbers”), Jack Dylan Grazer (“Tales of Halloween”), Nicholas Hamilton (“Captain Fantastic”) and Jackson Robert Scott, making his film debut.

Muschietti directed “IT” from a screenplay by Chase Palmer & Cary Fukunaga and Gary Dauberman, based on the novel by King. Roy Lee, Dan Lin, Seth Grahame-Smith, David Katzenberg and Barbara Muschietti produced the film, with Dave Neustadter, Walter Hamada, Richard Brener, Toby Emmerich, Marty P. Ewing, Doug Davison, Jon Silk and Niija Kuykendall serving as executive producers.

The behind-the-scenes creative team included director of photography Chung-Hoon Chung (“Me and Earl and the Dying Girl,” “Oldboy”), production designer Claude Paré (“Rise of the Planet of the Apes”), editor Jason Ballantine (“Mad Max: Fury Road”), and costume designer Janie Bryant (TV’s “Mad Men”). The music was composed by Benjamin Wallfisch (“Annabelle: Creation”).

New Line Cinema presents a Vertigo Entertainment/Lin Pictures/Katzsmith Production, “IT.” The film is being distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

“IT” has been rated R for violence/horror, bloody images, and for language.

www.Itthemovie.com

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VIZ Media Announces New Girls' Love Title, "Sweet Blue Flowers"

VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES THE LAUNCH OF NEW YURI MANGA SERIES SWEET BLUE FLOWERS

Coming-Of-Age Series Depicts Love And Friendship Between High School Girls

San Francisco, CA – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), a premier company in the fields of publishing, animation distribution, and global entertainment licensing, delivers a poignant story about young girls’ romance and friendship with the release of SWEET BLUE FLOWERS on September 19th, 2017.

The series, by creator Takako Shimura, will be published in print and digital editions under the VIZ Signature imprint. SWEET BLUE FLOWERS is rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens; Volume 1 will carry a print MSRP of $24.99 U.S. / $33.99 CAN.  The series will also be available digitally via VIZ.com and the VIZ Manga App, as well as from the Nook, Kobo, Kindle, iBooks, comiXology, and Google Play Store. Subsequent volumes will be published in English on a quarterly basis.

In SWEET BLUE FLOWERS, Akira Okudaira is starting high school and is ready for exciting new experiences. And on the first day of school, she runs into her best friend Fumi from kindergarten at the train station! Now Akira and Fumi have the chance to rekindle their friendship, but life has gotten a lot more complicated since they were kids.

“SWEET BLUE FLOWERS depicts all the agony, excitement, and complications of love as Akira and Fumi navigate young adulthood and their emerging sexualities,” says Pancha Diaz, Editor. “With its quiet but graceful approach to teenage love and friendship, this noteworthy series will strike a chord with all readers.”

Manga creator Takako Shimura debuted in 1997 with the one-shot Boku wa, Onnanoko (I’m a Girl), a collection of short stories about queer youth. She is widely known for her stories focusing on LGBTQ topics. Wandering Son was a featured selection on the 2012 YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens list and also spawned a 12-episode anime series. Shimura’s landmark yuri (girls’ love) series Sweet Blue Flowers was adapted into anime in 2009.

For additional information on SWEET BLUE FLOWERS and other manga titles distributed and published by VIZ Media, please visit VIZ.com.


About VIZ Media, LLC
Established in 1986, VIZ Media is the premier company in the fields of publishing, animation distribution, and global entertainment licensing. Along with its popular digital magazine WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, DRAGON BALL, SAILOR MOON, and POKÉMON, VIZ Media offers an extensive library of titles and original content in a wide variety of book and video formats, as well as through official licensed merchandise. Owned by three of Japan's largest publishing and entertainment companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media is dedicated to bringing the best titles for English-speaking audiences worldwide.

Learn more about VIZ Media and its properties at VIZ.com.

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