Vertical Buys Clement Virgo’s Acclaimed Drama ‘Brother’ (EXCLUSIVE)

in a statement. “We are proud that after so many hugely successful independent years Gail and Howard chose WME as their partner in this next phase of growth.”The deal follows the 2019 purchase of The Harry Walker Agency, a speakers firm that counts former president Barack Obama and Michelle Obama as clients, along with Hillary Clinton, Ann Curry, Ronan Farrow, Stacey Abrams, Earvin Magic Johnson and Al Sharpton.

K.J. Yossman AMC Networks Central Europe (AMCNI CNE) and Oble Studios are set to co-produce a new revenge period drama set in Hungary titled “Fata Morgana.” Set in Hungary in the early twentieth century, “Fata Morgana” is based on a legend – believed to be a true story – about an anti-heroine who disguises herself as a man in order to go on a killing spree avenging oppressed women. The show – which has undertones of “Killing Eve” – centers around Victoria, who is frustrated with the physical abuse she witnesses perpetually inflicted on women by men. Vowing to get revenge, she takes on the identity of vigilante “Piperman” – blurring the lines between a feminist superhero and contemptable murderer.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Major Cineplex, Thailand’s largest movie industry conglomerate, has announced that it has completed a deal to sell M Pictures Entertainment, one of the country’s leading film distributors. The buyer is local music star Khanngoen Nuanual. The deal was first announced in February and has now been completed, according to a regulatory filing. Both Major Cineplex and M Pictures are companies listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand. Major Cineplex said that Nuanual had purchased 1.2 billion shares, representing 92.5% of the company, at THB0.54 apiece, implying a total transaction valued at THB650 million ($18.8 million). The filing added that Nuanual is now obliged to make a tender offer to the remaining minority shareholders and that this step is expected to be completed by the end of July.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Aniplex, a Sony business unit best known as a major producer and distributor of anime films and series including the hit “Demon Slayer,” is to acquire Japanese IP development and talent management firm Origamix Partners. The firm will be expanded into live-action production. The deal was announced Wednesday and will become effective from June 1. The terms of the acquisition were not disclosed other than Aniplex obtaining “a full share” of the company. Sony said that Origamix, which has previously been behind the “Kingdom” film franchise and the “Alice in Borderland” series, now in its second season at Netflix,” will be renamed Myragion Studio.

EXCLUSIVE: Vertical has snapped up North American rights out of Cannes to Hot Mess, a new comedy starring Emma Roberts (Madame Web) which is in pre-production for a shoot early next year.

Brent Lang Executive Editor Vertical has secured North America, United Kingdom, and Ireland rights to “Natty Knocks,” a new horror film from Dwight H. Little, the director of “Halloween 4.” The film’s casts includes a collection of horror all-stars such as Bill Moseley (“The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2”), Danielle Harris (“Halloween”) and Robert Englund (“A Nightmare on Elm Street”). “Natty Knocks” unspools on Halloween Eve, as a small-town babysitter and the kids she is looking after struggle to survive a serial killer named Abner Honeywell. Vertical has slated the film for a day-and-date release on July 21. The screenplay was penned by Benjamin Olson. The cast also includes Charlotte Fountain-Jardim (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”), Thomas Robie (“Insidious: The Last Key”), Noen Perez (“Grace and Frankie”) and Jason James Richter (“Free Willy”). The film’s executive producers are Amit Sarin and Vineesha Arora Sarin; producers are Jason Richer and Sandy Little.

Brent Lang Executive Editor Vertical has secured North American rights to “The Queen Mary,” a psychological horror film that was produced on the titular ship. It was made by “Dracula Untold” director Gary Shore and chronicles the mysterious and violent events surrounding one family’s voyage on Halloween night in 1938, and how their destinies link up with those of another family onboard the ocean liner into the present day.  The Queen Mary, now on anchored in Long Beach, Calif., was once a luxury ocean liner and a favored mode of transport for generations of the rich and famous. All that seaborne revelry has established a reputation for the Queen Mary as “One of the World’s Most Haunted Places,” or so sayeth Time Magazine.

Brent Lang Executive Editor Yellow Veil Pictures has acquired worldwide rights to “The Becomers,” a genre-bending comedy from Zach Clark. The company will launch the film at the Marche Du Film in Cannes this week. “The Becomer” tells the story of a body-snatching alien who comes to Earth, reconnects with their partner, and tries to find their way in modern America. “During the pandemic, I binged the original ‘Star Trek’ series for the first time and then I made this movie” Clark said on his latest film. “It felt like life as we knew it was ending, but then again, it also felt like that might not be the worst thing either. ‘The Becomers’ is a story of love, longing, and alienation. A kitsch-soaked, pathos-laden melodrama about our sad, sad planet. It’s the weirdest thing I’ve ever made and I can’t think of anyone better than Yellow Veil to get it out into the universe.”

Manori Ravindran Executive Editor of International MUBI has acquired all rights for Kevin Macdonald’s John Galliano documentary from Newen Connect. The film “High & Low — John Galliano” has sold to MUBI for North America, U.K. and Ireland, Germany, Austria, Latin America, Benelux, Turkey and India. The streamer and distributor will reveal its theatrical release plans and streaming dates in the near future. Macdonald’s credits include the Oscar-winning “One Day in September,” “Touching the Void,” “The Last King of Scotland,” “Whitney” and, most recently, “The Mauritanian.” Widely recognized as one of the most influential and successful fashion designers of our time, Galliano dressed the most beautiful and famous women in the world for almost 15 years at Givenchy and Dior. He reinvented the fashion industry by transforming his runway shows into immersive fantasies and helped turn high-fashion from an elitist niche into a multi-billion-dollar global business.

Those who frequent the launch of ALDI's Snow Gear Special Buys would be familiar with the competitive nature the cold-weather clothing unleashes. They're the most eagerly anticipated Special Buys range of the year, which makes them quite hard to come across. Some even go so far as to arrive a few hours before stores open.

Vertical announced today that they have acquired the US rights to the Peter Dinklage, Anne Hathaway romantic comedy “She Came to Me,” which opened the Berlin Film Festival in February of this year. “She Came to Me” is written and directed by Rebecca Miller (“Maggie’s Plan”) and, per the official synopsis, “follows Steven Lauddem (Dinklage), a composer who is plagued by a creative block which leaves him unable to finish the score for his big comeback opera.

EXCLUSIVE: Vertical has nabbed U.S. rights to the romantic comedy She Came to Me, starring Emmy winner Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones), Academy Award winner Anne Hathaway (Ocean’s 8) and Academy Award winner Marisa Tomei (Spider-Man: No Way Home), with plans to release the film in theaters nationwide on a date that has yet to be determined.

Rose Ayling-Ellis To Lead ITV Drama ‘Code Of Silence’

Just recently, it was announced that filmmaker Andrew Niccol is set to revisit his “Lord of War” film with a new sequel, aptly titled “Lords of War.” Well, before he gets going on that film and a reunion with Nicolas Cage, Niccol has another project lined up which could begin filming later this year, “I, Object.” READ MORE: ‘Lords Of War’: Nic Cage & Bill Skarsgård Teaming With Andrew Niccol On A Sequel To 2005’s ‘Lord Of War’ According to THR, Andrew Niccol is begun putting a cast together for his next film, the live-action/animation hybrid film, “I, Object.” And the new members of the cast include Melanie Lynskey (“Yellowjackets”), Karl Urban (“The Boys”), Thomasin McKenzie (“Jojo Rabbit”), and Jemaine Clement (“Flight of the Conchords”).

Jonas Brothers have announced their massive 35-date ‘Five Albums, One Night’ North American tour for this summer.Following the band’s Broadway residency which saw them perform one album from their discography in its entirety each night and their planning for their Yankee Stadium five albums, one-night show, the brothers have decided that instead of doing a one-off show, they will take the Five Albums, One Night show across North America.The 35-date run is set to kick off on August 12 with two nights at Yankee Stadium in New York City. From there, the band will spend the following two months making their way through North America making stops at Chicago’s Wrigley Field, Arlington’s Globe Life Field and Los Angeles’ Dodger Stadium, Toronto’s Rogers Centre.

Brent Lang Executive Editor Drafthouse Films has acquired three films that it will release theatrically in U.S. theaters followed by digital releases across major streaming platforms.  They include “Mister Organ,” a documentary from journalist and filmmaker David Farrier, whose 2016 film “Tickled” explored the dark underbelly of “competitive endurance tickling,” will be released in theaters this fall. As he turns his camera on another stranger than fiction story, Farrier finds himself caught in an increasingly dangerous game of cat and mouse with a mysterious character who expertly manipulates the lives of anyone who dares to expose his secrets. The film, Produced by Ant Timpson and Firefly Films’ Emma Slade and Alex Reed, was a critical and audience favorite at Fantastic Fest 2022, and has become a box office hit in Farrier’s native New Zealand.

Naman Ramachandran Emerging star from Hong Kong, Isabella Wei, headlines Silent D Pictures’ comedy-drama “High Wire.” The film follows the story of Go-wing, a British-Chinese takeaway girl who discovers her inner strength and artistic bravery when a circus comes to her small English town. As Go-wing navigates the challenges of her dual cultural identity, she finds herself at a crossroads and must decide between conforming to societal expectations or forging her own path towards her dreams. The film pays homage to the first and second generations of Chinese immigrants and their journey to adapt to life in England whilst facing issues of systemic racism and discrimination.

Jonas Brothers made their first joint appearance on on Sunday, and looked back at their younger years in the spotlight.During a segment called «Agree or Disagree,» Nick, Joe and Kevin Jonas were posed a series of questions by host Andy Cohen, including if they think is a better movie than (agree), and if they were the best singers in a Disney Channel collaboration that also featured their exes, Selena Gomez, Miley Cyrus and Demi Lovato (disagree).One burning question the brothers weren't shy about answering was about their infamous purity rings, which they wore during the start of their career — publicly vowing that they would wait until marriage to have sex.«The purity rings were a bad idea, one, two, agree or disagree,» Cohen asked. Joe, Nick and Kevin all turned their paddles around to flash «agree.» «In theory they're not a bad idea,» Nick quipped. «But you should know what you're signing up for before you sign up for it.»«When you're 12 versus when you're like 16 is a very big difference,» Joe added.Cohen then asked the brothers if there was a big moment when they took the rings off, to which Nick replied, «It just sort of happened.» Today, the singers are all married.

Manori Ravindran Executive Editor of International Vertical has acquired U.S. rights to the sci-fi comedy “Aliens Abducted My Parents and Now I Feel Kinda Left Out” from Visit Films. The film world premiered at Sundance in January and was presented to international buyers at the European Film Market in Berlin. Vertical has slated a summer release for the pic. “Aliens” centers on Itsy Levan, who is devastated by her parents’ decision to leave the city and buy a fixer upper in the middle of nowhere. Her life seems over until she meets her space-obsessed neighbor Calvin Kipler, who has spent most of his life awaiting the next arrival of Jesper’s Comet— partly because of his obsession with astronomy, but mostly because the last time it came, aliens abducted his parents. Calvin is now preparing to finally get abducted with them.

New Music Friday! The weekend is here, which means more streaming, new playlists and the best that music has to offer. ET has you covered for everything in between.The Jonas Brothers lead this week's releases with, the group's second album following their 2019 reunion.