WRAPS
A Monster Calls
10/31/2014
Logline: A boy deals with his mother’s illness and bullies at school by living in a world of fairy tales and monsters.
Studio: Focus Features
Production Companies: River Road Entertainment, Participant Media, Apaches Entertainment
Director: J. A. Bayona
Executive Producers: Bill Pohlad, Jeff Skoll, Mitch Horwits, Jonathan King, Patrick Wachsberger
Producers: Belen Atienza
Cast: Felicity Jones, Toby Kebbell, Liam Neeson, Sigourney Weaver, Lewis MacDougall
Screenwriter(s): Patrick Ness
SSN Insight: Focus Features is committing $20 million in P&A to release. Based on the children’s novel “A Monster Calls” written by Patrick Ness and published by Walker Books on September 27, 2011. The novel was based on an original idea by the late Siobhan Dowd. Screenplay was included in the 2013 Black List.
Ant-Man
10/28/2014
Logline: Biochemist Dr. Hank Pym creates a size-altering formula. He tests it on himself and manages to shrink himself down to the size of an ant.
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Production Company: Marvel Entertainment
Director: Peyton Reed
Executive Producers: Louis D’Esposito, Alan Fine, Victoria Alonso, Michael Grillo, Stan Lee
Producers: Kevin Feige, Brad Winderbaum
Cast: Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, Michael Peña, Evangeline Lilly, Corey Stoll
Screenwriter(s): Andrew Barrer (current draft), Gabriel Ferrari (current draft), Edgar Wright (previous draft), Joe Cornish (previous draft)
Details: Based on the comic book character Ant-Man who first appeared in “Tales to Astonish” created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby published by Marvel Comics; January 1962.
SSN Insight: Previously set up at Artisan Entertainment. Edgar Wright was previously attached to direct.
Magic Mike XXL
11/1/2014
Logline: A road-trip story of a car-load of male strippers on their way to a stripper convention and all the adventures they have on the way.
Production Company: Free Association
Director: Gregory Jacobs
Executive Producers: Steven Soderbergh
Producers: Channing Tatum, Reid Carolin
Cast: Channing Tatum, Joe Manganiello, Gabriel Iglesias, Alex Pettyfer, Matthew Bomer
Screenwriter(s): Channing Tatum
Details: Sequel to Magic Mike directed by Steven Soderbergh and starring Channing Tatum and Matthew McConaughey. Matthew McConaughey won’t be returning for the sequel.
SSN Insight: Even though Soderbergh won’t be back in the director’s chair, he do triple duty as the DP, camera operator and editor. This is a role reversal for the pair as Jacobs has been Soderbergh’s First AD and producer for over ten years.
Through the Looking Glass
10/31/2014
Logline: Alice’s adventures continue when she discovers that she is able to step through a mirror and enter a madcap alternate universe.
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Production Companies: Team Todd, Roth Films
Director: James Bobin
Executive Producers: No Executive Producer Available.
Producers: Joe Roth, Suzanne Todd, Jennifer Todd
Cast: Johnny Depp, Mia Wasikowska, Sacha Baron Cohen, Helena Bonham Carter, Rhys Ifans
Screenwriter(s): Linda Woolverton
Details: Sequel to Alice in Wonderland (2010) by Tim Burton and starring Johnny Depp and Mia Wasikowska.
SSN Insight: Mark Rylance had previously been in talks for the role played by Rhys Ifans. Based on the novel “Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There” written by Lewis Carroll and published in 1871.