Production is officially underway for Obsessed, a new, Broadway-bound Diane Warren bio-musical: Producers announced today that licensing deals are set for songs that will be featured in the score, including the Taylor Swift hit “Say Don’t Go.”
26.01.2024 - 20:17 / deadline.com
Swedish-Eritrean filmmaker Binyam Berhane has filed a $2 million lawsuit against the producers of Daniel Espinosa’s Italy-set immigration drama Madame Luna ahead of its world premiere at the Rotterdam Film Festival this weekend.
Berhane says the movie, inspired by a real-life Eritrean refugee who became a notorious human trafficker operating between Libya and Italy, is based on an original story and research he brought to lead producer David Herdies at his Stockholm-based company Momento Film in 2013.
Filed this week in L.A. County Superior Court, the theft-of-project lawsuit (read it here) also is directed at Luxembourg-based Hercules Film Fund and Los Angeles-based production company Rhea Films, which joined Momento Film in the production.
Deadline has contacted all three parties for comment but has yet to hear back.
Berhane’s lawyer Scott Humphrey told Deadline that Momento had entered into option agreements with Berhane to make the Madame Luna project but never exercised the options, instead proceeding to make the feature film with other partners.
“I have no idea if it was intentional or not on their part to not have properly secured Mr. Berhane’s rights in the film prior to the final production of the film, but it clearly violates Mr. Berhane’s legal rights in the project,” Humphrey said. “Defendants are now distributing the film fully aware of Mr. Berhane’s rights as the undisputed originator of the project. Hence, the lawsuit.”
Humphrey is seeking damages on Berhane’s behalf in excess of $2 million on five causes of action spanning theft of the project, breach of contract, using Berhane’s name and likeness without his permission, copyright infringement and fraud.
As per the complaint lodged at the Santa Monica
Production is officially underway for Obsessed, a new, Broadway-bound Diane Warren bio-musical: Producers announced today that licensing deals are set for songs that will be featured in the score, including the Taylor Swift hit “Say Don’t Go.”
Paramount+ has set Thursday, April 4 for the premiere of the fifth and final season of Star Trek: Discovery. The first two episodes of the 10-episode final season will debut exclusively on the service in the U.S., the UK, Switzerland, South Korea, Latin America, Germany, France, Italy, Australia and Austria. It will also premiere on April 4 on P+ in Canada. New episodes will drop weekly following the premiere. The streamer also released key art for the final season (see below).
Dakota Johnson is baring it all at the Madame Web premiere!
EXCLUSIVE: Andrea Bang (Kim’s Convenience) will exec produce and topline Surrender, an indie drama marking the first feature from writer-director Jess Dang, which has entered production in Los Angeles. Co-starring Gilmore Girls‘s Keiko Agena, the film is one of ten in the fiction space to have recently been selected for fiscal sponsorship through Film Independent’s Fast Track Fellowship Program.
Naman Ramachandran “Delhi Crime” creator Richie Mehta‘s Prime Video series “Poacher” is the first time Los Angeles-based QC Entertainment has ventured into India. Led by partners Sean McKittrick, Raymond Mansfield and Edward H. Hamm Jr., QC – which stands for Quality Control – backed Jordan Peele’s Oscar-winning “Get Out” and “Us” and Spike Lee’s Oscar, BAFTA and Cannes-winning “BlacKkKlansman,” among many other successful ventures.
Queens is Nat Geo’s latest wildlife series that follows six domains ruled by the fierce and formidable matriarchs of the animal world.
They made for an unlikely alliance. One was the playboy son of a clothing tycoon who counted members of the Pakistani government among his close relatives.
Morrissey has cancelled his concerts commemorating the 20th anniversary of ‘You Are The Quarry’ due to “unforeseen circumstances”.The musician was scheduled to perform two shows in California celebrating the 2004 album, namely on January 26 at Anaheim, California’s Honda Center, and the following day, on January 27 at Los Angeles’ Kia Forum.However, last night (January 25), the two venues took to X to announce that the shows will not proceed due to “unforeseen circumstances”, and that “tickets will be automatically refunded to purchasers”.pic.twitter.com/p6noCHTcpY— Honda Center (@HondaCenter) January 25, 2024pic.twitter.com/BHir1IQzrs— The Kia Forum (@thekiaforum) January 25, 2024Morrissey is noted to have a history of cancelling shows. Last April, he pulled the plug on his concert scheduled for London’s Crystal Palace on July 9, before announcing a tour of the UK and Ireland during the same month of the Crystal Palace show.
Heaven knows that thousands of Southern California Morrissey fans are miserable now.
EXCLUSIVE: Gaz Alazraki, Alisa Tager, Mark Alazraki and Moises Chiver have partnered to create Maquina Vega, a new production company with offices in Los Angeles and Mexico City, which will provide a pipeline between the English and Spanish-speaking worlds.
Thom Yorke has written a new music score for the upcoming film Confidenza.The Radiohead and The Smile frontman composed the original music for the film (which translates to “Trust”) from Italian director Daniele Luchetti, based on the book by Domenico Starnone.The film stars Elio Germano, Vittoria Puccini and Isabella Ferrari, and follows Pietro Vella who works in a run down Roman high school. A synopsis reads: “He strongly believes he can help students strive for a better future and Teresa, and bright and rebellious student, is totally taken with him and his lessons.
Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Prominent Italian producers Mario Gianani and Lorenzo Mieli are exiting their Fremantle-owned companies — Wildside and The Apartment, respectively — in an industry shakeup expected to lead them to jointly form a new independent scripted content outfit. Gianani and Mieli co-founded Wildside in 2009 and turned it into the powerhouse behind major global dramas such as RAI/HBO’s “The Young Pope” and “My Brilliant Friend,” to name a few.
Cultural landmarks Book Soup and Vroman’s book store in Pasadena are for sale.
There were rumors that the cast of Friends would show up at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards to pay tribute to the late Matthew Perry, but that didn’t happen.
Jason Priestley is forever grateful he got out of Los Angeles!
Jennifer Lopez had the time of her life in Los Angeles over the weekend. The fan-favorite musician made an unexpected appearance at The Abbey in West Hollywood, surprising guests during their Sunday Service Drag Brunch.JENNIFER LOPEZ DEBUTS NEW SONG AND MUSIC VIDEO FOR ‘CAN’T GET ENOUGH’JENNIFER LOPEZ DEFENDS BEN AFFLECK AFTER VIRAL MOMENTJENNIFER LOPEZ’S STUNNING BEVERLY HILLS’ LIVING ROOM GOES VIRALThe Hollywood star took the stage on Sunday while drag performers celebrated JLo’s latest music release.
Daniel Radcliffe is sparking marriage rumors!
Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart are heading out after the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards!
Jaina Lee Ortiz wore her most daring look yet while attending an after party following the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards!
Daniel Radcliffe joins Weird Al Yankovic while arriving at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards on Monday (January 15) at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.