Thomas Benski Latest Celebrity News & Gossip

EXCLUSIVE: Thomas Benski, former CEO and co-founder of Gangs of London producer Pulse Films, stopped by Deadline’s Zurich Summit studio to discuss his time at Pulse and what the future holds for him, including an upcoming production. You can watch the video above.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Omar Sy, the charismatic French actor of heist show “Lupin,” is set to star in “French Lover,” Netflix‘s romantic comedy that will mark the directorial debut of Nina Rives. Sy, who is currently attending the Cannes Film Festival and sits on Greta Gerwig’s competition jury, will star opposite Sara Giraudeau (“Bernadette”), Pascale Arbillot (“Lost Bullet”) and Alban Ivanov (“C’est la vie”). Hugo Gélin, who previously directed “Love at Second Sight” and “Two Is a Family,” a pair of heartwarming comedies which thrived at the French box office, is serving as artistic producer on the film.

EXCLUSIVE: Here’s some buzzy casting. Greta Lee (Past Lives) and Kingsley Ben-Adir (Bob Marley: One Love) are in negotiations to star in director and producer Louis Leterrier’s (Now You See Me) upcoming sci-fi horror film 11817.

Louis Leterrier (Fast X) will direct and produce 11817, a sci-fi horror film scripted by Matthew Robinson (The Invention of Lying) that is being presented to buyers at Cannes by Rocket Science.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Carrousel Studios, the newly launched production company of “Lupin” star Omar Sy, “Fast X” director Louis Leterrier and “Gangs of London” producer Thomas Benski, has appointed Cécile Gaget as CEO. A seasoned executive, the Paris-based Gaget previously worked at Wild Bunch as head of film, and also worked at Anton Capital and Gaumont where she spearheaded international sales and co-productions.

Newly-launched Carrousel Studios has appointed French film industry veteran Cécile Gaget as its CEO, with effect from May 1.

Actor and producer Omar Sy (Lupin), director-producer Louis Leterrier (Fast X) and producer and Pulse Films founder Thomas Benski (American Honey) are launching Carrousel Studios with bases in Paris, London, LA and Senegal.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent “Lupin” star Omar Sy, “Fast X” director Louis Leterrier and “Gangs of London” producer Thomas Benski have launched Carrousel Studios, a European independent production company with offices in Paris, London, Los Angeles and Senegal. The banner will finance and produce film and TV projects, with an emphasis on elevated action, thrillers, sci-fi, fantasy and comedy. The company will look to tap into tax credits, European incentives and brands to finance content.

Chapter 11 filing, Vice has estimated liabilities between $500 million to $1 billion. The filing states that Vice’ management “has determined that it is advisable and in the best interest of the Vice Group Companies to enter into a stalking horse agreement for the sale of substantially all assets and related auction procedures.” In a “stalking horse” agreement, potential buyers are lined up in advance of the bankruptcy filing.“This accelerated court-supervised sale process will strengthen the Company and position Vice for long-term growth, thereby safeguarding the kind of authentic journalism and content creation that makes Vice such a trusted brand for young people and such a valued partner to brands, agencies and platforms,” Vice co-CEOs Bruce Dixon and Hozefa Lokhandwala said in a statement.

Kate Ward, Vice Studios Global President and the boss of Pulse Films, has joined BBC Studios to oversee factual.

Thomas Benski and Marisa Clifford, the founders of Gangs of London producer Pulse Films, have chosen to step down after 16 years and Vice has taken full control of the London-headquartered outfit.

EXCLUSIVE: Vertical Entertainment has acquired North American and UK/IRE rights to the political comedy The Hater, from writer-director Joey Ally (Uproot, Are You Still Singing), in which she stars alongside Bruce Dern (Nebraska, The Hateful Eight), Meredith Hagner (Search Party, Palm Springs), D’Angelo Lacy (aka musical artist Black Gatsby), Ian Harding (Pretty Little Liars, Ford v Ferrari), Ali Larter (The Last Victim, Resident Evil: The Final Chapter), and Nora Dunn (Together Together, The Lost Husband). The independent distributor has slated it for a day-and-date release on March 18.

EXCLUSIVE: Waleed Zuaiter, who scored a Leading Actor BAFTA nomination for his role in Channel 4 and Hulu series Baghdad Central, has joined the cast of Sky’s crime drama Gangs Of London.

Sky has confirmed directors on the second season of its crime series Gangs Of London. Corin Hardy, who directed four episodes on season one, will return for another quartet this time out and will be joined by Marcela Said (Lupin) and Nima Nourizadeh (Little America) who return for two apiece.

EXCLUSIVE: Following an extensive search, director Olivia Wilde looks to have found her Kerri  Strug setting Leave No Trace breakout Thomasin McKenzie to play the Olympian gymnast in Perfect for Searchlight. Wilde will direct from a script by Ronnie Sandahl.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentStrand Releasing has acquired North American rights to Bassam Tariq’s “Mogul Mowgli,” co-written, starring and produced by Riz Ahmed. The movie world premiered at the Berlin Film Festival where it won the Fipresci International Critics’ Prize.Produced by Thomas Benski, CEO of Pulse Films, and Ahmed’s Left Handed Films banner, “Mogul Mowgli” recently received seven British Independent Film Award nominations.

Manori Ravindran International EditorLong-time Pulse Films executive Lucas Ochoa (pictured, left) has left the “Gangs of London” producer to join “Normal People” outfit Element Pictures as an executive producer. Also joining the production company is Silverprint Pictures’ Michael Dawson (right).Ochoa’s hire is a major coup for Element Pictures, and comes as a surprise given his years spent building Pulse Films alongside co-founder and creative partner Thomas Benski.

By Manori Ravindran

Hot on the heels of her Independent Spirit Award for best first feature, Booksmart director Olivia Wilde is heading to Berlin with a new film.Produced by Riverstone Pictures and Pulse Films from a script by Ronnie Sandahl, Perfect is the extraordinary true story of gymnast Kerri Strug’s triumph against all odds to win Team USA’s first gold medal at the 1996 Olympics.Producers are Nik Bower for Riverstone Pictures and Thomas Benski for Pulse Films, together with Jeremy Baxter and Moss Barclay.

The very first trailer for the action-packed upcoming drama Gangs Of London has just landed on our doorstep. The upcoming nine-part drama from Sky Television/ Cinemax features quite the cast, including Sope Dirisu, Joe Cole, Colm Meaney, Lucian Msamati and Michelle Farley.