EXCLUSIVE: The Goldbergs star Wendi McLendon-Covey has signed a first-look deal with Sony Pictures Television, the studio behind the hit ABC comedy series. Under the pact, McLendon-Covey will develop for the studio across all platforms.
13.04.2022 - 16:01 / deadline.com
Angelika Film Center and Sony Pictures Classics unveiled a “Bring A Friend Back To The Movies” initiative timed to the April 22 release of dramatic comedy The Duke.
The arthouse cinema and specialty distributor are offering a complimentary second ticket to anyone who buys a first directly from the Angelika’s website, app or in the theater to see the film during its first week of release. It’s a nod to the fact that older arthouse demos have been the slowest to return to theaters, wary of Covid but also just having gotten out of the habit.
The Duke by the late Roger Michell stars Jim Broadbent and Helen Mirren. It premiered at Venice and Telluride last year. SPC is opening the film in NY and LA, expanding to additional cities thereafter.
“The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on theaters and the moviegoing experience,” said Tom Bernard, Sony Pictures Classics’ co-president. But with vaccinations, boosters and health and safety protocols at theaters, he said, “going to the movies is as safe or safer than going to a bar or a crowded restaurant.”
“We know that people are finally ready to get back into their seats,” he added, “and The Duke is the ideal film” to remind them.
“Being able to bring a friend for free to the Angelika to see The Duke…is the perfect way to celebrate the magical experience of watching films in a theater with an audience,” said Angelika CEO Ellen Cotter of Michell’s final feature film before his death in 2021. It’s the true story of 60-year-old taxi driver (Broadbent), who stole Spanish artist Francisco Goya’s portrait of The Duke of Wellington from the National Gallery in London — the only painting ever nicked from museum in its 196-year history. It’s certified fresh with critics on Rotten
EXCLUSIVE: The Goldbergs star Wendi McLendon-Covey has signed a first-look deal with Sony Pictures Television, the studio behind the hit ABC comedy series. Under the pact, McLendon-Covey will develop for the studio across all platforms.
EXCLUSIVE: Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) and Nordic streamer Viaplay has agreed a multi-year extension to their content partnership, bringing the likes of Kraven The Hunter, Madame Web and Morbius to the Nordics once they debut.
Sam Raimi stepped into the offices of Sony Pictures in an impeccable black suit to pitch himself to direct “Spider-Man.” He had no reason to expect he would get the job.“My agent, Josh Donen, said, ‘They want to be honest with you. There’s about 18 directors they’d rather have than you on a list,'” Raimi recalls. “And I said, ‘OK, well, tell them I’m number 19.'”When Raimi finally did get a meeting, he found himself in a room that included Sony Pictures CEO John Calley, Columbia Pictures chair Amy Pascal, Marvel Studios chief Avi Arad, Sony film executive Matt Tolmach and the film’s producer, Laura Ziskin.
EXCLUSIVE: Sony Pictures’ Stage 6 Films has acquired international rights (outside of China) to the dark comedy Bodies Bodies Bodies, from director Halina Reijn (Instinct).
Matt Donnelly Senior Film WriterBenito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, better known by his stage name Bad Bunny, has been cast as the newest Marvel hero in Sony Pictures’ portfolio of the super characters — and will lead the standalone comic book film “El Muerto.”“El Muerto” is set to hit theaters on Jan. 12, 2024.Introduced by Sony Motion Pictures Group president Sanford Panitch at CinemaCon, the annual gathering of movie theater owners in Las Vegas, Ocasio will be the first ever Latino actor to headline a live-action Marvel movie.“To bring El Muerto to life is just incredible ..
Doja Cat will be leading the Elvis movie soundtrack!
Sony Pictures Classics art heist caper The Duke, Neon’s tender Petite Maman, and Charlotte from Good Deed Films, an animated biopic with mature themes, open an eclectic specialty weekend ready to draw older crowds if they’re ready to return.
Spoilers for “The Duke” ahead.It’s the greatest heist you’ve never heard of.The year was 1961. The United Kingdom was filled with pride that one of its national treasures — a priceless portrait of the Duke of Wellington by famed Spanish artist Francisco de Goya — was to securely remain in England after government funds were raised to stave off an interested American buyer.
EXCLUSIVE: Sony Pictures Television has signed an overall deal with writer Brittany Miller. Under the pact, Miller will focus on comedy development for scripted series across cable and streaming.
died last September at age 65. “He wasn’t ailing.
Hopping into the holidays! Members of the royal family gathered for their annual Easter service without their matriarch, Queen Elizabeth ll, on Sunday, April 17.
Rebecca Rubin Film and Media ReporterAngelika Film Center and Sony Pictures Classics want you to go back to the movies…with a friend.In an effort to increase foot traffic at arthouse cinemas, Angelika and SPC have partnered to launch “Bring a Friend Back to the Movies.” The initiative is timed to the release of “The Duke,” a dramatic heist comedy starring Jim Broadbent and Helen Mirren, on April 22.“Bring a Friend Back to the Movies” will provide one complimentary ticket to customers who purchase a ticket directly from the Angelika website, app or in theaters to see “The Duke” during the first week of its release. Select Angelika locations will also offer each ticket holder for “The Duke” a specially priced split of bubbly to share with their friend in celebration of their return to the movies.
EXCLUSIVE: Dark Star Pictures has acquired the North American distribution rights to The Passenger as part of its ongoing collaboration with Bloody Disgusting. Dark Star and Bloody Disgusting plan a theatrical release for the film on June 3, 2022 with the On Demand and DVD release to follow on June 28, 2022.
A+E Networks Global Content Sales has hired Sony Pictures Television exec Kerstin Gühne as its Vice President for EMEA.
EXCLUSIVE: The Black List is partnering with Academy Award-winning studio Sony Pictures Animation for its first writers program geared toward emerging, diverse talent in animation.
K.J. Yossman Sony Pictures Television International chief Wayne Garvie has set his sights on European production, he revealed during a keynote discussion at MipTV on Monday afternoon.Garvie was speaking alongside Bad Wolf co-founder Jane Tranter in a panel discussion moderated by Variety international editor Manori Ravindran.