Producer Scott M. Rosenfelt Joins Philippines Crime Series ‘Sellblock’ as Blue Fox Boards for Sales (EXCLUSIVE)

Robert De Niro is slated to star in “Bobby Meritorius,” a new crime drama in the works at Paramount+. The series comes from Paramount Television Studios, which made a commitment to develop the show in a competitive situation.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Sagafilm Nordic, the Icelandic banner behind Cineflix’s hit show “The Minister,” is set to produce another politics-themed series, “President Salka.” The six-episode comedy series is penned by Jóhann Ævar Grímsson, the talent behind the critically acclaimed series “Stella Blómkvist.” It has been commissioned by leading Icelandic streamer Siminn, and is expected to go into production this year for a delivery during the second quarter of 2024. An up-and-coming stand-up comedian is in negotiations to take on the lead role. “President Salka” follows the adventures of a vivacious and prominent influencer, Salka Guðrúnar Eddudóttir, who gets elected as the president of Iceland in a stunning nationwide upset. The unexpected news throws the government into a state of emergency, leading to an intense all-night crisis meeting. Meanwhile, Salka moves into the luxurious presidential residence at Bessastaðir and captivates the whole country with her charisma. However, her unconventional methods put Iceland’s independence and sovereignty at risk, causing concern among those around her.

Donnie Wahlberg is grateful to be a part of two long-running institutions of entertainment: The New Kids on the Block and CBS announced on Tuesday that the police procedural has been renewed for a 14th season, and when ET's Nischelle Turner spoke with him about his upcoming season of the ID true-crime series he couldn't help but rave about his longtime experience on «I'm just incredibly grateful, you know?» Wahlberg shared. «It's very unbelievable to be doing so many things that I love to do. I've been in my band for almost 40 years, 30-something years, and I've been doing this show for 13 years and I'm so grateful for it.»Wahlberg admitted that he occasionally thinks it might be time to turn in his fictional badge, but said he's inspired by keeping pace with the long-tenured franchise, as well as his family.«I have a great cast, who's become family, we have a great crew and so many loyal viewers and fans,» he marveled.

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor “Jackie the Wolf,” which will have its world premiere at Hot Docs in the World Showcase program, has debuted its trailer with Variety (below). Deckert Distribution has boarded the film as its world sales agent. The film is a personal exploration of the life and eventual death of right-to-die activist Jacqueline Jencquel, directed through the lens of her son, filmmaker Tuki Jencquel. “In 2018, my mother announced her assisted suicide plans to the world through a controversial interview with Konbini news, which went on to be seen over 18 million times. I had already been filming my mother on and off for many years, but this interview triggered something urgent in me,” Tuki Jencquel said.

Rebecca Souw One of the leading actors of his generation, Korea’s Choi Min-sik is tackling his first TV role in some 25 years, with Disney+ crime drama series “Big Bet.” Choi says the gamble was a challenge, but ultimately worth the risk. While he has notched up iconic cinema roles in “Oldboy” “Shiri,” “I Saw the Devil,” Luc Besson’s “Lucy” and all-time Korean box office record holder “Roaring Currents,” Choi’s last significant TV role was in dark comedy “The Moon of Seoul” (aka “Seoul ui Dal”) in the 20th century’s pre-streaming era. Choi says that the changes in the TV industry are palpable and mostly for the better.

If you’ve been around the block on the internet for a number of years, you’re probably familiar with the Florida Man memes. Basically, these memes are just a way to show how ridiculous the residents of Florida actually are.

Everything Everywhere All At Once directors Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert have clarified their involvement in an upcoming Star Wars spin-off series.The directing duo, also known as the Daniels, addressed concerns that they had been “sucked up the ‘corporate machine’” following reports of their involvement in Star Wars: Skeleton Crew.In an Instagram Story, Kwan explained they were only hired as guest directors on one episode of the Disney+ series, which is created by Jon Watts and Christopher Ford.“Lol, all of the people @ing us about getting sucked up by the ‘corporate machine’ can chill,” Kwan wrote. “These headlines are always misleading.

Naman Ramachandran New history documentary series “Queens That Changed the World,” that shines a light on some of the world’s most powerful female rulers, has scored a raft of worldwide sales. Channel 4 has acquired the series for the U.K. The series is produced by Woodcut Media who brokered the deal with Channel 4, and is distributed worldwide by Abacus Media Rights who have already pre-sold it to streaming service BBC Select (U.S. and Canada) and broadcasters SBS (Australia), AMC Networks International (Spain and Portugal), Viasat World (CEE, Scandinavia, Baltics, CIS), NRK (Norway), DR (Denmark), SVT (Sweden), Czech TV (Czech Republic) and HOT8 (Israel).

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Vanessa Hudgens, the Asian American actor whose career kicked off in Disney’s “High School Musical” series, is set to shoot a travel documentary in the Philippines, the country of her mother’s birth. The untitled project will shoot in Palawan and Manila in March. Paul Soriano is attached as a director, producer and executive producer. Mark A. Victor of TEN17P will also serve as executive producer. No distributor, broadcaster or streaming platform has yet been disclosed. Soriano’s recent credits include directing the 2019 film “Mañanita” and Manny Pacquiao biopic “Kid Kulafu.”

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Have A Good One (HAGO) has boarded “Split,” a series created and directed by well-respected French feminist author Iris Brey ahead of its world premiere in competition at Series Mania Festival. “Split” was produced by Fabienne Servan-Schreiber et Charlotte Ortiz at Paris-based Cinétévé for the French broadcaster France Televisions’ digital platform Slash. The show revolves around Anna, a 30 year-old stuntwoman who falls in love with a famous actress during a film shoot. The attractive cast includes Alma Jodorowsky (“The Serpent”), Jehnny Beth (“Paris, 13th District”), Ralph Amoussou, and Pauline Chalamet.

EXCLUSIVE: Veteran producer Stratton Leopold (Mission: Impossible III) and filmmaker Dax Phelan (The Other Side of the Wind) have teamed up to produce a new currently untitled limited series based on an infamous 19th-century prison escape known affectionately as The Catalpa Expedition.

EXCLUSIVE: Geoff Stults (Little Fires Everywhere) is set for a key recurring role in ABC’s The Company You Keep, starring and executive produced by Milo Ventimiglia.

EXCLUSIVE: Award-winning documentary producer and film programmer Sara Archambault is joining the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. As the newly-named Documentary Film Project Manager, Archambault will oversee a new initiative on documentary film in the public interest.

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor Xavier Henry-Rashid’s London-based sales agency Film Republic has closed deals for multiple territories on “F*cking Bornholm,” a tart comedy of social discomfort. The film had its international premiere in the main competition section of Karlovy Vary Film Festival, where it won the Europa Cinemas Label award. In his review, Variety’s Guy Lodge commented that Polish writer-director Anna Kazejak‘s “precise, piquant film deserves wider festival exposure and discerning distributor interest.” It has now been acquired by Iceland’s Bio Paradis, Arsenal for Germany, Austria and Switzerland, Lithuania’s Garsas, Slovenia’s RTV, Israel’s Yes and Sweden’s Lucky Dogs. The international trailer has its debut below.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Viaplay’s newly launched U.S. streaming service has unveiled the trailer for its anticipated original crime series “Cell 8” which will premiere exclusively in North America on the platform on April 13. The 6-episode series shot in both Swedish and English, and revolves around the justice system and death penalty. “Cell 8” tells the story of a man presumed dead who is arrested on a ferry between Sweden and Finland. Detectives Mariana Hermansson (Mimosa Willamo) and Ewert Grens (Leonard Terfelt) who proceed to the arrest are thrown into a mysterious and increasingly dark series of events. The case soon reveals a personal connection not only to Hermansson herself, but to a Death Row prisoner in the U.S. and a grieving parent consumed by the quest for revenge.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief ABS-CBN, once The Philippines largest broadcast group, said Thursday that it would sell its internet and broadband division Sky Cable to PLDT, the country’s biggest telecoms company. The transaction is valued at $123 million and means that ABS-CBN will focus even more on content production and distribution. “The proceeds from the sale of the shares of ABS-CBN and the settlement of Sky Vision’s obligations to ABS-CBN will be used by ABS-CBN to settle and fund its retirement obligations. The sale of the company’s ownership in Sky will also allow ABS-CBN to focus its resources on content creation,” ABS-CBN said. Since losing its TV licenses, it distributes it content via its own streaming business and on Facebook and YouTube.

EXCLUSIVE: Prime Video UK & Ireland has boarded a pair of British true-crime series — one about the infamous Moors Murderer Ian Brady.

London-based PR maven Matthew Freud, joined by fellow Brit and collaborator Charlie Mackesy, offered his apologies for winning the Oscar for Short Film (Animated) for The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and the Horse.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief The much-decorated Japanese drama “Drive My Car” was named the best film Sunday at the Asian Film Awards, defeating hot favorite “Decision to Leave.” Other notable awards went to Japan’s Hirokazu Kore-eda whose “Broker” debuted at Cannes, but which was largely shunned in his home country. “Decision to Leave,” which started the evening with ten nominations, was nevertheless rewarded with three awards, best screenplay, best production design and best actress for China’s Tang Wei.

Argentina, 1985 Leads 2023 Platino Awards NominationsSantiago Miter’s political thriller Argentina, 1985 leads this year’s Platino awards nominations with 14 nods, including Best Director, Screenplay, and Best Ibero-American Fiction Film. Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s latest pic Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths trails with six nominations alongside Spanish filmmaker Rodrigo Sorogoyen’s The Beasts and Lullaby by Alauda Ruiz De Azúa. On the TV side, the Colombian series Noticia de un kidnapping also notched six noms. This year’s Platino awards take place on April 22 at the IFEMA Municipal Palace in Madrid. Check out the full list of nominations here.