Amazon Studios’ Christina Malach Joins Media Res As SVP Development

Angelique Jackson Amazon Studios has picked up the rights to “Daring to Live,” produced by DeVon Franklin’s (“Breakthrough”) Franklin Entertainment. Previously set up at Paramount Players, the project is now in development at Amazon Studios. The film is inspired by Sheri Hunter’s 2020 memoir “Daring to Live: How the Power of Sisterhood and Taking Risks Can Jump-Start Your Joy.” It follows Hunter’s journey of “embracing life anew” after the sudden loss of her husband, thanks to the support of her group of friends — Angenette Frink, Mia Lewis and Brenda Jegede, collectively known as the “Dare Divas” — who encourage her to step outside her comfort zone.

EXCLUSIVE: Authentic Talent & Literary Management on Tuesday announced its hiring of manager Christina Shams, a veteran of the comedy world who counts Matt Rife, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Paul Elia, and Jeffrey Jay amongst her clients.

Rami Malek will star in the 20th Century Studios thriller “Amateur.” The picture, sources affirm, is in development.  Set to be directed by James Hawes, “Amateur” concerns a CIA cryptographer who loses his wife in a London terrorist attack.

Angelique Jackson Following their collaboration on “I Want You Back,” Amazon Studios is re-teaming with filmmakers Jason Orley and Isaac Aptaker on a yet-to-be-titled comedy. Orley will direct the new project from a script by Aptaker, based on a story they wrote. While plot details are being kept under wraps for the film, Amazon Studios landed the project in a preemptive deal based on the success of “I Want You Back,” from Orley, Aptaker and producer Elizabeth Berger. Aptaker and Berger will produce the new film via their The Walk-Up Company production banner, with the company’s head of development Adam Londy executive producing alongside Orley.

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor Cologne-based sales company The Match Factory has expanded and restructured its acquisition and development team. Former head of sales, Thania Dimitrakopoulou, has been promoted to vice president of acquisitions and sales. Claudia Solano comes on board as senior manager of acquisitions, and Cécile Tollu-Polonowski, a long-time partner with the company, has been appointed as head of development. Dimitrakopoulou, who joined The Match Factory in 2007, will now be heading up all acquisitions activities and manage the sales team, reporting to Michael Weber, managing director.

Another one! Young and the Restless star Melissa Claire Egan and husband Matt Katrosar are expecting their second child together.

It’s time for Ursula to emerge from the ocean depths.

Halle Bailey shared a new teaser for her upcoming film, on Wednesday, 100 days ahead of the film's theatrical release.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor A pair of virtual celebrities — the “lazy and spectacularly incompetent” Janky and Guggimon — could be starring in Amazon’s next Prime Video original series. Amazon announced that it is leading a $20 million investment round in character-design studio and art toy maker Superplastic, and alongside the funding Amazon Studios signed a first-look TV and film pact with Superplastic. Under the first-look deal, Amazon Studios currently is in early development on “The Janky & Guggimon Show,” featuring Superplastic’s two most famous synthetic celebrities. Per the companies, the show follows the adventures of “two lazy and spectacularly incompetent best friends who are hell-bent on getting rich and famous but leave a trail of chaos and destruction in their wake.”

As part of a new first look deal with Amazon Studios, character design studio Superplastic is developing a series starring two synthetic celebrities from their canon. “The Janky & Guggimon Show” follows the adventures of two lazy and spectacularly incompetent best friends who are hell-bent on getting rich and famous but leave a trail of chaos and destruction in their wake.

Her final Food Network bow. Giada De Laurentiis is teaming up with Amazon Studios after more than 20 years as a Food Network personality.

EXCLUSIVE: Celebrity chef, bestselling author and Emmy-winning TV host Giada De Laurentiss (Everyday Italian, Giada at Home) is getting into business with Amazon Studios, signing a multi-year overall unscripted series production deal. Under the pact, De Laurentiis will develop and executive produce with an eye towards starring in original unscripted television programming on behalf of the studio.

Recent Grammy winner Bad Bunny, Christina Aguilera and Jeremy Pope will be honored at the 34th annual GLAAD Media Awards next month for advancing and supporting the LGBTQ community.

community since the start of her music career. From using her voice to speak out against anti-LGBTQlegislation to creating songs and music videos that showcase LGBTQ love, Christina loudly and proudlyraises the bar for what it means to be a LGBTQ ally today,” GLAAD President & CEO, Sarah KateEllis said.Global recording artist and actor Bad Bunny will receive the Vanguard Award, which honors “allies who have made a significant difference in promoting acceptance of LGBTQ people and issues.” Previous honorees include Beyoncé and Jay-Z, Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears, Kerry Washington, Cher, Janet Jackson, Elizabeth Taylor, Kacey Musgraves and Antonio Banderas.Bad Bunny is being honored for using his music and music videos to showcase LGBTQ relationships, his open support of LGBTQ culture, and the tribute he gave to Alexa Negrón Luciano, a trans woman murdered in the city of Toa Baja during an appearance on “The Tonight Show.” The musician wore a shirt that said “They killed Alexa, not a man in a skirt” during the performance.

Expanding TV universes is the hottest trend right now. Bosch, one of the early adopters with Bosch: Legacy, is forging ahead with two police dramas inspired by the work of bestselling author Michael Connelly, which are in development at Amazon Studios.

EXCLUSIVE: Matt Reeves’ 6th & Idaho is teaming with ZQ Entertainment to produce God’s Country — a new genre film starring Scream VI’s Melissa Barrera, which will mark the American directorial debut of Egor Abramenko (Sputnik).

Former Amazon Studios Canada originals boss Christina Wayne will be the new Managing Director of Saudi Arabia-based MBC Studios.

EXCLUSIVE: Amazon Studios is finalizing deals for Criminal, a TV adaptation of Ed Brubaker and artist Sean Phillips’ bestselling crime comic book series, sources tell Deadline.

Indie producer Daisy Allsop has joined WestEnd films to oversee acquisitions and development across the company’s slate of films and TV shows.

The Cleaning Lady will be back for another go-round. Fox has renewed the popular series for a third season, the network’s first live-action scripted renewal for the 2023-24 season. Additionally, Jeannine Renshaw (Good Girls) also has joined the show as an executive producer and will serve as showrunner with Miranda Kwok.