Orion Pictures Latest Celebrity News & Gossip

Oscar-nominated filmmaker RaMell Ross (Hale County This Morning, This Evening) has been tapped to direct a feature adaptation of Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Nickel Boys for MGM’s Orion Pictures, with Oscar nom Aunjanue L. Ellis (King Richard), Ethan Herisse (When They See Us), Brandon Wilson (The Way Back), Hamish Linklater (The Big Short) and Fred Hechinger (News of the World) set to star.

Madonna memorably made her film debut in the 1985 comedy “Desperately Seeking Susan”, and a new interview with the movie’s director suggests that she has the son of the head of the movie’s studio to thank for it.

Madonna memorably made her film debut in the 1985 comedy “Suddenly Seeking Susan”, and a new interview with the movie’s director suggests that she has the son of the head of the movie’s studio to thank for it.

EXCLUSIVE: Jaylin Webb, the young star of James Gray’s autobiographical period drama, Armageddon Time, has signed with Innovative Artists for representation. 

EXCLUSIVE: Film industry veteran Emily Wolfe  has joined Plan B Entertainment’s film division as they continue to expand their prolific slate of films.

Nicholas Galitzine (Purple Hearts) has been tapped to star alongside Academy Award winner Anne Hathaway in Prime Video’s film The Idea of You, based on Robinne Lee’s bestselling contemporary love story of the same name, which goes into production in October.

Emmy nominations were announced and as all the networks and streamers are placing their advertising campaigns ahead of September’s ceremony.

Angelique Jackson Nia DaCosta is set to write and direct “Hedda Gabler,” a reimagining of Henrik Ibsen’s famous play, for MGM’s Orion Pictures and Plan B.Hot off the box office success of “Candyman” and ahead of her upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe debut with “The Marvels,” DaCosta will present her fresh take on the fabled story. “Hedda Gabler” has seen numerous adaptations on stage and screen, and in several languages, since its 1891 debut, including 1975’s “Hedda,” which earned Glenda Jackson a best actress nomination at the Academy Awards.Produced by Gabrielle Nadig, who also produced DaCosta’s debut feature “Little Woods,” and Plan B, “Hedda Gabler” follows its titular character as she navigates a house she does not want, a marriage she feels trapped in and an ex-lover who has reappeared in her life. The film also marks DaCosta’s latest collaboration with MGM and Plan B.

Matt Donnelly Senior Film WriterGLAAD and The Black List have released their third-ever specialty report celebrating LGBTQ+ inclusive stories.Exclusive to Variety, the list includes work from 12 notable out creators in film, along with eight television pilots. The Black List is an annual ranking of the best unproduced screenplays in Hollywood.

EXCLUSIVE: Haley Bennett has joined the cast of Chinonye Chukwu’s and Orion Pictures’ Till, starring opposite Whoopi Goldberg, Frankie Faison and Jalyn Hall. The film is currently shooting in Atlanta. Chukwu is writing and directing.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaMarcia Nasatir, a trailblazing female executive and producer who elbowed her way into a male-dominated Hollywood, shattering conventions and an important glass ceiling in the process, died Tuesday at the age of 95.In a career of firsts, Nasatir worked for United Artists, Orion Pictures and Carson Productions, while producing the likes of “The Big Chill” and “Vertical Limit.” In 1974, she became the first female vice president of production at major

Angelique Jackson Whoopi Goldberg and Danielle Deadwyler will star in Chinonye Chukwu’s upcoming film “Till,” about Mamie Till-Mobley’s fight for justice for her 14-year-old son, Emmett Louis Till.Deadwyler will portray Mamie Till-Mobley, while Goldberg is set to play Till’s grandmother, Alma Carthan. Goldberg will also serve as a producer on the project, for MGM’s Orion Pictures, alongside Keith Beauchamp, Barbara Broccoli, Thomas K.

Annapurna acquired out of the festival this year for $2 million and will be released in partnership with MGM’s Orion Pictures. Parker also spent three years at CAA in the motion picture talent and non-fiction departments.

The New Yorker, in which she wrote about crying inside her local Korean grocery store after her mother passed away from terminal cancer. The book found Zauner reckoning with her relationship with her mother as well as time spent in Seoul with her grandmother.

Crying In H Mart, the bestselling memoir by Michelle Zauner a.k.a. Japanese Breakfast, is being adapted into a film by MGM's Orion Pictures.

While the nightmare child from hell genre has received its due (“Problem Child” and “Dennis The Menace” being two prominent troublemakers), perhaps none is as demented and strangely twisted like 1994’s Orion Pictures’ notorious bomb and mostly-disregarded comedy “Clifford.” Upon its release, “Clifford” was a widely derided comedy, savagely panned by critics and ignored by audiences.

Emma Seligman and Rachel Sennott, the creative team behind the well-reviewed indie Shiva Baby, have set their next feature. Seligman and Sennott will co-write high school sex comedy Bottoms for MGM's Orion Pictures, with Seligman directing and Sennott starring.Elizabeth Banks and Max Handelman's Brownstone Productions is set to produce.

EXCLUSIVE: In a deal north of $2 million, Annapurna Pictures has acquired North American rights to On The Count of Three, the 2021 Sundance buzz title that marks the directorial debut of standup comedian Jerrod Carmichael.  Pic is expected to be released through Annapurna’s distribution pact with MGM’s Orion Pictures.

It’s been eight years since filmmaker and Academy Award-nominee Sarah Polley made a feature-length film (2012’s incredible “Stories We Tell,” which we put high on our list of the Best Documentaries of the last decade). To be fair, she wrote and executive-produced 2017’s mini-series “Alias Grace“ and finally resurfaced this year directing episodes of CBC Comedy short series “Hey Lady!” But she’s back for real in the feature space and teaming up with a bevy of talent.

Dave McNary Film ReporterFrances McDormand is producing and starring in a film adaptation of the novel “Women Talking,” with Sarah Polley directing for MGM’s recently launched Orion Pictures.Orion and Plan B announced the project on Thursday. Polley will direct from her own script, based on Miriam Toews’ bestselling novel “Women Talking.” McDormand is producing via her Hear/Say Productions.

Billy Porter is set to make his directorial debut with a coming-of-age drama, which will help relaunch film studio Orion Pictures.The Pose star will team with screenwriter Alvaro García Lecuona for What If, which follows the relationship between a high school student named Khal and Kelsa, a trans girl.More TV news!“I’m thrilled to be part of this new space in Hollywood for telling all types of stories from all types of people,” Porter said in a statement.

Billy Porter is taking on a new role as director.

Dave McNary Film ReporterBilly Porter will make his feature directorial debut with the coming-of-age story “What If?” from a screenplay by Alvaro García Lecuona for MGM’s newly relaunched Orion Pictures.The story centers on a high school senior posting on social media about his crush on Kelsa, a trans girl at his school, resulting in the internet encouraging him to pursue the relationship.

Dave McNary Film ReporterHollywood studio executive William Bernstein, a co-founder of Orion Pictures who also worked for United Artists and Paramount Pictures, died Wednesday. He was 87.Longtime associate Mike Medavoy confirmed Bernstein’s death, first reported by The Hollywood Reporter.

Bruce Haring pmc-editorial-managerWilliam “Bill” Bernstein, who spent six decades in the motion picture business, died today at age 87, according to this longtime friend, Jeff Frankel.In 1978, Bernstein, along with four other executives from United Artists, including Arthur Krim, Eric Pleskow, Mike Medavoy and Robert Benjamin, departed  United Artists to found Orion Pictures. Mr. Bernstein conceived of the name of the studio.

Anthony D'Alessandro Editorial Director/Box Office EditorVeteran industry executive and producer Alana Mayo has joined MGM as the President of the newly relaunched Orion Pictures.The division will concentrate exclusively on underrepresented voices and authentic storytelling in film with a focus on developing, producing and acquiring feature films that amplify underserved voices, both in front of and behind the camera.

So “Tenet” left its August release date and so what the hell is happening with moviegoing this year? Well, studios have to make some hard choices and the first, making its big announcement before its Comic-Con showing on Saturday is Orion Pictures. They’ve just announced that “Bill & Ted Face The Music,” aka “Bill & Ted 3,” is now coming out September 1 on VOD and in select theaters– aka probably drive-ins and any states that are allowing theaters to play movies.