Camila Mendes’ repeat Wedding Day is going global…
Amazon Prime Video has acquired a swathe of international rights on Palm Springs, featuring the 26-year-old Brazilian American actress and Riverdale star as the bride celebrating her wedding day.
The Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti-starring comedy caused a splash at the Sundance Film Festival this year when Hulu and Neon sealed a record-breaking $17.5M world rights deal.
FilmNation was selling international rights to the film, and several of those key territories have now sold to Amazon, which will launch the film in Australia and New Zealand (November 20), Canada (December 18), Netherlands, France and the UK (all early 2021).
The movie’s North America release was heavily disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic, screening primarily at drive-ins before its Hulu launch.
Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti star in the Max Barbakow-directed feature in which Milioti plays a lost and occasionally self-destructive bridesmaid to a younger sister (Mendes) getting hitched in the desert. A moving wedding toast from a fellow guest (Samberg) gets the pair talking, and they seem to be a decent match until a metaphysical event occurs, leaving the two with ample time to ponder the meaning of life and how it should be spent.
The next chapter of Welcome to the Blumhouseis ready to deliver thrills while highlighting some of today’s emerging and inclusive talent in front of and behind the camera, including the 39-year-old Mexican actor.
Amazon Prime Video has unveiled The Manor, Black as Night,Madres, starring Huerta, and Bingoas the final four films in the eight-film genre anthology. The quartet will debut on the streaming platform in 2021.
Welcome to the Blumhouse kicked off at the beginning of October with its first slate of films including The Liefrom Veena Sud, Black Boxfrom up-and-coming writer-director Emmanuel Osei-KuffourJr., Evil Eyefrom emerging filmmakers Elan Dassani and Rajeev Dassani, and Nocturne from filmmaker Zu Quirke.
“Coming off the successful launch of the first four films of the program, which has surpassed our expectations, we are excited to reveal the next chapter coming in 2021,” said Jennifer Salke, head of Amazon Studios. “The spine-tingling, edge-of-your-seat thrills continues in this next collection of titles that will surely entertain, surprise and shock our global customers.”
“We’re thrilled to see how audiences around the world have responded to the films in the Welcome to the Blumhouse slate,” said Jeremy Gold, president of Blumhouse Television. “We couldn’t be prouder of the work of these talented filmmakers, cast and crew on all the movies…and we’re excited to introduce the next wave of films and the incredible filmmakers at their helm.”
The second round of thrillers continues the anthology’s original, elevated, genre storytelling that is a Blumhouse signature. Centered around unsettling themes of institutional horrors and personal phobias, the films tap into people’s deepest fears, presenting a distinctive vision and unique perspective.
Similar to the first four films of the program, the slate continues with a thruline, making it the first-ever program of Amazon Original movies on Prime Video that are thematically connected.
Here are details about the final four films and the talent behind them.
The Manor is written and directed by Axelle Carolyn, and stars Barbara Hershey, Bruce Davison, Nicholas Alexander, Jill Larsen, Fran Bennett and Katie Amanda Keane. After suffering a stroke, Judith Albright moves into a historic nursing home, where she begins to suspect something supernatural is preying on the residents. In order to escape she’ll need to convince everyone around her that she doesn’t actually belong there after all. Executive produced by Jason Blum, Jeremy Gold, Marci Wiseman, Lisa Bruce, Sandy King and Richard J Bosner.
Black as Night is directed by Maritte Lee Go and written by Sherman Payne. The cast stars Asjha Cooper, Fabrizio Guido, Craig Tate, Keith David, Mason Beauchamp, Abbie Gayle and Frankie Smith. A teenage girl with self-esteem issues finds confidence in the most unlikely way, by spending her summer battling vampires that prey on New Orleans’ disenfranchised with the help of her best friend, the boy she’s always pined for, and a peculiar rich girl. Executive produced by Jason Blum, Jeremy Gold, Marci Wiseman, Lisa Bruce, Maggie Malina and Guy Stodel.
Madres is directed by first-time feature director Ryan Zaragoza and written by Marcella Ochoa & Mario Miscione. Starring Tenoch Huerta, Ariana Guerra, Evelyn Gonzalez, Kerry Cahill, and Elpidia Carrillo. A Mexican-American couple expecting their first child relocate to a migrant farming community in 1970’s California. When the wife begins to experience strange symptoms and terrifying visions, she tries to determine if it’s related to a legendary curse or something more nefarious. Executive produced by Jason Blum, Jeremy Gold, Marci Wiseman, Lisa Bruce, Sanjay Sharma and Matthew Myers.
Bingo is directed by Gigi Saul Guerrero and written by Shane McKenzie & Gigi Saul Guerrero, along with Perry Blackshear. In the Barrio of Oak Springs live a strong and stubborn group of elderly friends who refuse to be gentrified. Their leader, Lupita, keeps them together as a community, a family. But little did they know, their beloved Bingo hall is about to be sold to a much more powerful force than money itself. Executive produced by Jason Blum, Jeremy Gold, Marci Wiseman and Raynor Shima.
Enrique Murciano’s secrets will be streamed online…
Amazon Prime Video has acquired the psychological thriller drama seriesTell Me Your Secrets, starring the 47-year-old Cuban American actor.
The series will premiere in 2021 on Prime Video in the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Created and written by Harriet Warner and co-produced by Bruna Papandrea’s Made Up Stories, Tell Me Your Secrets is an intense, morally complex thriller. The 10-episode drama revolves around a trio of characters, each with a mysterious and troubling past: Emma (Lily Rabe) is a young woman who once looked into the eyes of a dangerous killer, John (Hamish Linklater) is a former serial predator desperate to find redemption, and Mary (Amy Brenneman) is a grieving mother obsessed with finding her missing daughter. As each of them is pushed to the edge, the truth about their pasts and motives grows ever murkier, blurring the lines between victim and perpetrator. Also starring is Murciano as Peter Guillory, a therapist with seemingly good intentions.
Tell Me Your Secrets was originally ordered to series by TNT in 2018, but was later released and put in turnaround. Turner’s Studio T has remained as co-producer.
The series also stars Stella Baker as Theresa, Elliot Fletcher as Jake, Xavier Samuel as Kit Parker, Chiara Aurelia as Rose, Ashley Madekwe as Lisa Guillory, and Bryant Tardy (Logan) as Jay. Marque Richardson as Tom Johnston, Katherine Willis as Diana Lord, Richard Thomas as Bodie Lord, Emryi Crutchfield as Jess Cairns, and Charles Esten as Saul Barlow will appear in recurring roles.
The 27-year-old Spanish singer-songwriter is set to take part in the second edition of Rihanna’s Savage x Fenty brand fashion show.
Rihanna asked her nearly 99 million Twitter followers, “Who ready?” when she revealed the official teaser for Savage x Fenty Show Vol. 2, which will premiere exclusively on Amazon Prime Video on Friday, October 2.
Rosalia has joined a roster of musical artists that includes Travis Scott, Bad Bunny, Ella Mai, Miguel, Mustardand Roddy Ricch, who will all take the runway to perform during the fall 2020 collection runway show.
The show will also featureLizzo, Big Sean, Normani, Willow Smith, Rico Nasty, Christian Combs, Bella Hadid, Cara Delevingne, Demi Moore, Irina Shayk, Laura Harrier, Paloma Elsesser, Paris Hilton and many more.
Amazon Studios has picked up to series toA League of Their Own, a reimagining of Penny Marshall’s 1992 film, starring the 18-year-old Puerto Rican actress.
Hailing from co-creators Abbi Jacobson — who also stars —Will Graham and Sony Pictures Television, the hourlong series is described as a fresh approach to Marshall’s classic about the real-life All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.
The series will follow new characters who embody the spirit of a generation of women who dreamed to play professional baseball.
“The show takes a deeper look at race and sexuality, following the journey of a whole new ensemble of characters as they carve their own paths towards the field, both in the league and outside of it,” according to the streamer.
“28 years ago, Penny Marshall told us a story about women playing professional baseball that up until then had been largely overlooked. We grew up obsessed with the film, like everyone else. Three years ago, we approached Sony with the idea of telling a new, still overlooked set of those stories. With the help of an enormously talented team of collaborators, an amazing cast, and the devoted support of Amazon to this project, we feel beyond lucky and excited to get to bring these characters to life.” said Graham and Jacobson. “It took grit, fire, authenticity, wild imagination and a crackling sense of humor for these players to achieve their dreams. We’re hoping to bring audiences a story with all of those qualities.”
In addition to Delgado and Jacobson, A League Of Their Own also stars Chanté Adams, D’Arcy Carden, Gbemisola Ikumelo, Kelly McCormack, and 34-year-old Argentine-Honduran actress from Mexico Roberta Colindrez, with recurring guest stars Molly Ephraim, Kate Berlant and Melanie Field.
“There’s no crying in baseball, or at Prime Video,” said Vernon Sanders, Co-Head of Television at Amazon Studios. “Will and Abbi have taken a classic movie, reimagining it for a new generation with new characters and their own fresh, modern vision on a timeless story of big dreams, friendship, love, and, of course, baseball. We’re so excited to partner with Sony to bring this emotional, exciting new series to our Prime Video customers around the world.” A League of Their Own hails from Amazon Studios and Sony Pictures Television in association with Field Trip Productions.
The feature, directed by Marshall and scripted by Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel from a story by Kelly Candaele and Kim Wilson, grossed $132 million worldwide. In 2012, the Library of Congress selected the film for preservation in the U.S. National Film Registry.
“Abbi and Will have done a masterful job of reimagining this timeless classic. We are very thankful to our partners at Amazon for bringing this incredibly relevant and important story to audiences around the globe,” said Jeff Frost, President of Sony Pictures Television.
Delgado’s previous credits include Justo antes de Cristo and Desaparecidos, as well as Pedro Almodovar’s drama Julieta.
Colindrez’s previous credits include appearances on Starz’s Vida, Hulu’s Mrs. America, and Amazon’s I Love Dick.
Amazon Studios has released the first trailer for Lili Reinhart’s coming-of-age drama Chemical Hearts, featuring the Dominican actress.
Based on the novel by Krystal Sutherland, the film hits Amazon Prime Video on Friday, August 21.
Reinhart plays Grace Town, a high school transfer student still recuperating, physically and emotionally, from a car crash that she doesn’t talk about. She meets classmate Henry Page (Austin Abrams), and, as the Amazon description says, Henry soon “learns the heartbreaking secret that has changed her life” and “finds himself falling in love with her — or at least the person he thinks she is.”
Written, directed and produced by Richard Tanne, Chemical Hearts also stars Peña, Sarah Jones, Adhir Kalyan, Kara Young, and C.J. Hoff.
Peña’s previous credits include 24: Legacy, Blue Bloods and The Enemy Within.
Armando Bó has lined up two Argentina-themed television projects…
The 41-year-old Argentine screenwriter and film director, who won an Oscar for co-writing Birdman, has unveiled his first television slate since launching his own production company, About Entertainment, earlier this year.
Bo is developing two series based on well-known Argentinian stories.
About Entertainment has acquired the rights to Las Malas, the 2019 autobiographic novel by Camila Sosa Villada. And, Bo’s company is also developing Cromanon, based on true events of the tragedy that took place at the venue in Balvanera, Argentina in 2004.
Las Malas (Bad Girls) tells the story of a 19-year-old trans woman who moves to the big city and joins a group of trans sex workers that create a unique community. This story of self-discovery has two sides: one is realistic, harsh, and hostile; the other is fantastical, united, and thoughtful. Throughout their journey these ‘bad girls’ will take care of each other as a family.
Cromanonis a coming-of-age series that follows a group of teenagers surrounded by the catastrophic true events that took place in Argentina on December 30, 2004, when a fire broke out at the venue, during a rock concert, killing 194 teenagers and injuring over a thousand others. This unnatural tragedy was a breaking point for a generation and changed the culture of a whole country, as never before had so many young people died in a single incident.
Bó is the showrunner, director and executive producer of the eight-part dramedy series El Presidente, which launched in June on Amazon Prime Video.
He shared the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay with Nicolás Giacobone, Alejandro G. Iñárritu, and Alexander Dinelaris for Birdman. The quartet also won the Golden Globe.
He followed by writing/directing and producing Animal.
The 46-year-old Afro-Cuban American actor and his The Boys cast mates will take part in Amazon Prime Video’s first-ever Amazon Virtual-Con, which will include virtual experiences and activations that you can enjoy from the comfort of your home. The Amazon Virtual-Con is part of Comic-Con@Home.
The virtual event will kick off on the San Diego Comic Con’s official YouTube channel and on the Amazon Virtual-Con portal starting at 12:00 pm PST on Thursday, July 23.
Alonso’s The Boys panel, moderated by Aisha Tyler, will take place onThursday, July 23at 3:00 pm PST, with participation by executive producer Eric Kripke, along with series stars Alonso, Karl Urban, Jack Quaid, Antony Starr, Erin Moriarty, Jessie T. Usher, Chace Crawford, Tomer Capon, Karen Fukuhara and Aya Cash.
The virtual panel will offer a behind-the-scenes look at the upcoming second season of The Boys. Executive producers Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg will also make a special appearance.
Based on The New York Times best-selling comic by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, The Boysis a fun and irreverent take on what happens when superheroes – who are as popular as celebrities – abuse their superpowers rather than use them for good. The even more intense, more insane Season Two finds The Boys on the run from the law, hunted by the Supes, and desperately trying to regroup and fight back against Vought.
Other Amazon series joining this year’s virtual edition Comic-Con include Upload, Truth Seekers and Utopia. Like every Comic-Con, the panels will include cast, creators and crew of the series and will feature fan Q&As, behind-the-scene-stories, breaking news from the aforementioned series.
Virtual-Con will be available free of charge to all fans in front of the Prime Video paywall from July 23-26.
Here are the full details for the panels and Amazon Virtual-Con:
Truth Seekers Thursday, July 23 at 12:00 p.m. PST A new original supernatural horror-comedy by Simon Pegg (Shaun of the Dead), Nick Frost (Hot Fuzz), James Serafinowicz (Sick Note) and Nat Saunders (Sick Note). Join as they discuss the making of the hilarious eight-episode series about a team of part-time paranormal investigators, who team up to uncover and film ghost sightings across the UK, sharing their adventures on an online channel for all to see. Discussion and Q&A moderated by Empire Magazine’s Chris Hewitt.
Utopia Thursday, July 23 at 1:00 p.m. PST A twisted, eight-episode thriller about a group of young comic fans who discover the conspiracy in a graphic novel is real, and embark on a high-stakes adventure to save humanity from the end of the world. Join writer and executive producer Gillian Flynn (Gone Girl) and series stars John Cusack (High Fidelity), Rainn Wilson (The Office), Sasha Lane (American Honey), Ashleigh LaThrop (Fifty Shades Freed), Dan Byrd (Cougar Town), Desmin Borges (You’re The Worst), Javon “Wanna” Walton (Euphoria), and Jessica Rothe (Happy Death Day) for a Q&A moderated by Entertainment Weekly’s Christian Holub.
Upload Thursday, July 23 at 2:00 p.m. PST Join creator, executive producer and director Greg Daniels (The Office, Parks and Recreation) and stars Robbie Amell (Code 8), Andy Allo (Pitch Perfect 3), Kevin Bigley (Undone), Allegra Edwards (New Girl), and Zainab Johnson (American Koko) as they discuss how they brought this futuristic comedy to life, share behind-the-scenes details from Season One, and tease what fans can expect in Season Two. The panel will be moderated by Engadget’s Cherlynn Low. Upload Season One is a ten-episode, half-hour, sci-fi comedy that takes place in the near future, where people can be “Uploaded” into a virtual afterlife of their choice.
The Boys Thursday, July 23 at 3:00 p.m. PST Join executive producer Eric Kripke, along with series stars Karl Urban, Jack Quaid, Antony Starr, Erin Moriarty, Jessie T. Usher, Laz Alonso, Chace Crawford, Tomer Capon, Karen Fukuhara and Aya Cash, with moderator Aisha Tyler, for a behind-the-scenes look at the upcoming second season of The Boys. Executive producers Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg will also make a special appearance. Based on The New York Times best-selling comic by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, The Boysis a fun and irreverent take on what happens when superheroes – who are as popular as celebrities – abuse their superpowers rather than use them for good. The even more intense, more insane Season Two finds The Boys on the run from the law, hunted by the Supes, and desperately trying to regroup and fight back against Vought.
AMAZON VIRTUAL-CON PROGRAMMING
ComiXology’s Comic-Con@Home Panel, Plus Live Artist Drawing Sessions, Creator Interview Series, and Comic Book Movie Trivia NightSaturday, July 25 at 3:00pm PST (Comic-Con@Home panel) Are you currently reading digital comics? Are you familiar with comiXology’s exclusive digital content program – comiXology Originals? Join comiXology’s Head of Content, Chip Mosher and a cast of beloved comic creators and rising-stars including, writer Chip Zdarsky and artist Jason Loo (Afterlift), artist Claudia Aguirre (Lost on Planet Earth), writer Curt Pires (YOUTH), along with some surprise guests, to get the scoop on the latest comiXology Originals series direct from the creators making them! They’ll intrigue you with behind-the-scenes stories about the process of bringing comics from concept to the page and what it’s like pushing the envelope with digital comics, and beyond.
For the superfan seeking even more comic book content, comiXology’s own Kiwi will host live drawing sessions on comiXology’s Twitch channel with some of the industry’s most renowned illustrators, including GLAAD Media Award-winning illustrator Tula Lotay and three-time New York Times best-selling British artist Jock. In addition to drawing sessions, Kiwi will also host an interview series with creators from comiXology’s Originals line of exclusive digital content, including Curt Pires & Dee Cunniffe (YOUTH) and the creators behind two yet to be announced original graphic novels. And if all that isn’t enough, comiXology and Eisner Award winner Chip Zdarsky will host Comic Book Movie Trivia Night on Friday, July 24 at 5:00p.m. PST on their Twitch channel.
For the schedule of live drawing sessions and creator interviews, please continue to check amazon.com/virtualcon for updates.
Amazon Prime Video’s superhero satire The Boys, starring the 46-year-old Afro-Cuban American actor, will premiere the first three episodes of its second season on Friday, September 4.
New episodes will then be made available each Friday until the season finale on October 9.
Season 2 will be “crazier, stranger, more intense, more emotional,” according to the show’s creator and executive producer Eric Kripke, who joked that “the Surgeon General has insisted we air the first three episodes on September 4, then air the remaining five episodes weekly after that. We wanted to give you time to freak out, digest, discuss, come down from the high, before we give you another dose. We only have your wellbeing in mind. Hope you love the season as much as we do.”
The new season will find The Boyson the run from the law, hunted by the Supes, and trying to regroup and fight back against Vought.
In hiding, Hughie (Jack Quaid), Mother’s Milk (Alonso), Frenchie (Tomer Capon) and Kimiko (Karen Fukuhara) try to adjust to a new normal, with Butcher (Karl Urban) nowhere to be found.
Meanwhile, Starlight (Erin Moriarty) must navigate her place in The Seven as Homelander (Antony Starr) sets his sights on taking complete control. His power is threatened with the addition of Stormfront (Aya Cash), a social media-savvy new Supe, who has an agenda of her own. On top of that, the Supervillain threat takes center stage and makes waves as Vought seeks to capitalize on the nation’s paranoia.
The Supes of The Seven also include Queen Maeve (Dominique McElligott), A-Train (Jessie T. Usher), The Deep (Chace Crawford) and Black Noir (Nathan Mitchell).
Recurring stars in the upcoming season include Claudia Doumit, Goran Visnijc, Malcolm Barrett, Colby Minifie, Shantel VanSanten, Cameron Crovetti, PJ Byrne, Laila Robbins and Giancarlo Esposito returning as Vought boss Stan Edgar, among others.
The eight-episode Amazon Original series will be available on Prime Video in more than 200 territories around the world, and is produced by Amazon Studios and Sony Pictures Television Studios with Point Grey Pictures, Kripke Enterprises and Original Film.
Xavi Hernández is opening up about his life away from his homeland…
The 40-year-old Spanish football manager and former player and other stars of Spain’s so-called “golden generation” of World Cup-winning footballers will be featured in an Amazon original documentary.
Living Abroad, a four-part docuseries, will spotlight Hernández, David Villa, Javi Martínez and Juan Mata, who are playing their trade outside of Spain in football leagues around the world.
Produced by Madrid-based Atresmedia Studios, the original will premiere on Prime Video on June 5 in the UK and Spain, promising an “inside look” at the stars’ lives as they play in England, Japan, Qatar and Germany.
Ricardo Cabornero, Amazon’s head of prime video content, said the series is launching to coincide with the 10th anniversary of Spain winning the World Cup in South Africa.
Living Abroadis executive produced by Jorge Pérez Vega and Ignacio Corrales, while Sonia López is the director.
