Fremantle and Fabula have renewed their first-look partnership with an agreement they say will result in them working even more closely to develop a fresh slate of original dramas and films.
27.03.2024 - 16:07 / variety.com
Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large When NBC recently resurrected its long-dormant “Deal or No Deal,” it came with a new format: “Deal or No Deal Island.” The game show was originally a “shiny floor” in-studio contest where players had to guess how much money was inside a large briefcase. The updated iteration takes things outdoors, raising the stakes by adding interpersonal dynamics, physical challenges and survival to the mix. At producer Endemol Shine North America, they call adding a fresh spin to existing IP the “ESNA twist.” And it’s become a hallmark for CEO Sharon Levy, who took over the shingle — part of Banijay Americas — a little more than a year ago.
“I’m not a fan of a straight-up reboot without a reason for being,” Levy says. “You need to give them a reason to watch. And it has to feel of the moment.
Development is probably always my first true love. It’s how I started and as much as I love making things, I love cracking them ahead of time. I’d much prefer arguing and fighting and testing and prototyping format beats and thinking about things.
Looking in the catalog and asking, ‘What are we going to do with “Deal or No Deal”?’ Having this idea to set it on an island and make it a social competition was a crazy idea.” Levy says “Deal or No Deal Island” was inspired somewhat by the success of island mystery films like the “Knives Out” sequel “Glass Onion.” The show has paid off with temendous multi-platform delayed-viewing, and NBC says it’s the fastest-growing NBC unscripted debut ever on Peacock. The company also recently introduced “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” with lifestyle brand The Home Edit. Levy is awaiting word on a series order from ABC, which aired a pilot of the reworked reality show as
.Fremantle and Fabula have renewed their first-look partnership with an agreement they say will result in them working even more closely to develop a fresh slate of original dramas and films.
"The monster wasn't Haaland," read the headline.
Deadline reports.The show will pick up years after the original series — which ran from July 1992 to March 1999 — and provide an update on its beloved characters. While many of the plot points, and cast members for that matter, remain shrouded in mystery, it was verified that the new reboot would involve the death of one of the original characters prompting the return of Amanda Woodward (Locklear), Sydney Andrews (Zuniga, 61) and Jo Reynolds (Leighton, 55). “When one of their dearest friends dies suddenly, the residents of ‘Melrose Place’ gather to honor the deceased,” the show’s logline reads.
ScreenSkills Chair Steps Down
Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Apparently TV can’t get enough “Melrose Place.” The campy sudser from the 1990s, which was already rebooted once in the 2010s, is looking to make another comeback — and this time with three of the OG stars. Heather Locklear (who was always billed as a “special guest star” back in the day, although once joining the drama she quickly took lead), Laura Leighton and Daphne Zuniga are all back to reprise their roles in the latest reboot, this time from writer Lauren Gussis. Gussis will also exec produce with Leighton, Zuniga, Tiffany Grant and Jason Weinberg.
EXCLUSIVE: Welcome back to WeHo. Three popular Melrose Place original cast members, Heather Locklear, Laura Leighton and Daphne Zuniga, are reuniting for a followup to the 1990s staple. A Melrose Place reboot, with the trio attached to star, is in development at CBS Studios and is currently being shopped to networks and streamers, Deadline has learned.
Selena Kuznikov Studio71 has signed an exclusive ad sales agreement with pop-culture podcast “Juicy Scoop with Heather McDonald.” The media company will sell advertising and brand partnerships across both audio and video. The podcast is hosted by stand-up comedian Heather McDonald, who has released comedy specials on Prime Video, Netflix and Showtime.
Love Island's Georgia Harrison has sparked rumours of a split from Anton Danyluk after she was spotted getting cosy with fellow All Stars contestant Chris Taylor. The pair were seen looking relaxed and comfortable as they left Loughton restaurant Tom, Dick and Harry's, but curiously, the outing hasn't made it onto their Instagram profiles, despite both being known for sharing their daily lives on social media.
EXCLUSIVE: Reese Witherspoon is revisiting one of the signature titles in her acting resume, taking it to a new medium. Witherspoon and her Hello Sunshine company are behind Legally Blonde spinoff TV series inspired by the popular film franchise that are in development at Amazon MGM Studios, sources tell Deadline.
The Matrix is in development, with The Martian‘s Drew Goddard set to direct.The upcoming sequel will be the first film in the series not to be directed by Lana or Lily Wachowski, although the former is attached as an executive producer.Plot details have not yet been revealed, but Warner Bros. Motion Pictures president of production Jesse Ehrman has teased that the story will build on the fantasy world without straying too far from what made the series a success.“Drew came to Warner Bros.
Even though Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow once vowed to push forward with more “Matrix” projects with or without the involvement of The Wachowskis, we honestly thought the studios were done with “The Matrix” franchise following the only mildly-received “The Matrix Resurrections.” However, a surprising report from Deadline has announced that filmmaker Drew Goddard (“Cabin In The Woods”) is attached to write and direct a fifth “Matrix” film, which will continue the action-packed cyberpunk story.
American superstar singer, Taylor Swift, has joined the billionaire club. The 34-year-old's earnings have surpassed $1.1 billion dollars (£875 million), thanks to her successful 'Eras Tour' and her well-regarded music assortment, Forbes magazine reports.
Rumors are going around that Tobey Maguire could be suiting back up in red and blue for another Spider-Man movie with director Sam Raimi!
Brent Lang Executive Editor Searchlight Pictures has signed a first-look deal with Olivia Colman and Ed Sinclair’s South of the River Pictures. Under the new pact, the specialty studio, which has worked with Colman on “The Favourite” and “Empire of Light,” will develop and produce feature-length motion pictures with the production company. South of the River Pictures was founded by Colman, Sinclair and their long-time partner in crime, Tom Carver, to develop and produce original scripted comedies and dramas with “an authored sensibility.” Colman and Sinclair have been married since 2001.
Zack Sharf Digital News Director “Happy Gilmore 2″ is apparently being developed by Adam Sandler, and a script even exists. Shooter McGavin actor Christopher McDonald revealed the news during a radio interview on “Audacy’s 92.3 The Fan.” McDonald said he had a recent run-in with Sandler, who unexpectedly pulled out the first draft for a sequel to their 1996 sports comedy classic. “I saw Adam [Sandler] about two weeks ago, and he says to me, ‘McDonald, you’re gonna love this,'” McDonald said.
The Sims, is reportedly in production.The film adaptation is set to be produced by LuckyChap Entertainment, with principals Margot Robbie, Tom Ackerley and Josey McNamara to produce alongside Vertigo Entertainment.The screenplay is set to be co-written by Briony Redman and the film’s director, Kate Herron, best known for directing the first season of Loki.The game’s publisher, Electronic Arts, is also set to have some involvement in the creation and production of the feature film.The Sims is a life simulation video game, in which the player controls an avatar, making them work, build houses, develop relationships, skills and personality traits.The first version of the game was released in 2002, and within two years had sold more than 6.3million copies world wide.Several expansion packs and sequel games later, the franchise has sold nearly 200million copies world-wide, becoming one of the best-selling video games of all time.
EXCLUSIVE: Depp v. Heard producer Empress Films has hired in the U.S. and UK following its deal with Universal Television Alternative Studio (UTAS).
If you thought New Amsterdam should have received more than five seasons on NBC, you’re in luck as the network is working on a sequel series right now!
Studiocanal has announced a partnership with French production and sales company WTFilms (What The Films).
Gerald Levin, known to many as Jerry, wasn’t flamboyant. He wasn’t characterized, as were many of his media business contemporaries, by extravagant hobbies, odd peccadillos, inspiring speeches or a spicy personal life. He could be testy, but he didn’t engage in public brawls beloved by – and between – Ted Turner and Rupert Murdoch.