‘Insecure’ Executive Producer, ‘Star’ Showrunner To Write ‘Sister Act 3’
“Sister Act 3” is ramping up development, tapping “Insecure” co-executive producer Regina Hicks and “Star” showrunner Karin Gist to pen the sequel for Disney’s newly named streaming service, Disney+.
Plot details of “Sister Act 3” are being kept under wraps, but the original starred Whoopi Goldberg and centered on her Reno lounge singer, who goes into protective custody at a San Francisco convent and pretends to be a nun after a mob boss puts a hit on her. Goldberg has said she would cameo in this pic, but that a new cast would put a fresh spin on the original.
The 1992 film from Disney’s Touchstone Pictures also starred Maggie Smith and Harvey Keitel and earned $232 million worldwide.
This marks another major piece of IP that Disney has added to its streaming service as it continues to build up its TV and film slate. The service has already set a live-action “Lady and the Tramp,”; “Togo,” a live-action take on the film that inspired the Disney animated film “Balto”; and “Nicole,” a female-centric Santa movie starring Anna Kendrick.
Hicks and Gist have previously served as writing partners on a handful of films, including “Drumline” and the two “Camp Rock” movies.
Hicks has co-exec produced the HBO comedy “Insecure” for the last three seasons. On top of that, she has also worked on “The Comedy,” “Uncle Buck,” and “Girlfriends.” Gist has served as a co-exec producer on “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Revenge,” and “House of Lies.”
Hicks is repped by UTA and 3 Arts and Gist is repped by ICM Partners and 3 Arts.
Source: Variety
WATCH: New ‘Avengers: Endgame’ Trailer Released!
Check out the new trailer for AVENGERS: ENDGAME!! Chadwick Bozeman, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, and Robert Downey Jr. are among the members of the cast of the fourth installment of the Avengers series. The plot of the star-studded Marvel film has yet to be revealed.
I have made the choice to step down from hosting this year’s Oscar’s….this is because I do not want to be a distraction on a night that should be celebrated by so many amazing talented artists. I sincerely apologize to the LGBTQ community for my insensitive words from my past.
It appears the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences may be looking for a new host for the upcoming Oscars ceremony very soon.
In a new Instagram video, Kevin Hart, who was tapped to emcee the ceremony earlier this week, says the Academy called him issuing an ultimatum if things were going to proceed as planned.
“I just got a call from the Academy and that call basically said, ‘Kevin, apologize for your tweets of old or we’re going to have to move on and find another host.’ I’m talking about the tweets from 2009 and 2010,” the 39-year-old comedian said. “I chose to pass on the apology. The reason why I passed is because I’ve addressed this several times. This is not the first time this has come up. I’ve addressed it. I’ve spoken on it. I’ve said where the rights and wrongs were. I’ve said who I am now versus who I was then. I’ve done it. I’m not going to continue to go back and tap into the days of old when I’ve moved on and I’m in a completely different place in my life.”
In a previous Instagram video, Hart addressed escalating concerns over a long history of hate speech and derogatory jokes about the LGBTQ community on social media, resurfaced in national news after he was named host of the Oscars on Thursday.
Source: Variety
Kevin Hart Refuses to Apologize, Despite Academy Ultimatum, for Past Anti-Gay Comments
CREDIT: PAMELA LITTKY
It appears the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences may be looking for a new host for the upcoming Oscars ceremony very soon.
In a new Instagram video, Kevin Hart, who was tapped to emcee the ceremony earlier this week, says the Academy called him issuing an ultimatum if things were going to proceed as planned.
“I just got a call from the Academy and that call basically said, ‘Kevin, apologize for your tweets of old or we’re going to have to move on and find another host.’ I’m talking about the tweets from 2009 and 2010,” the 39-year-old comedian said. “I chose to pass on the apology. The reason why I passed is because I’ve addressed this several times. This is not the first time this has come up. I’ve addressed it. I’ve spoken on it. I’ve said where the rights and wrongs were. I’ve said who I am now versus who I was then. I’ve done it. I’m not going to continue to go back and tap into the days of old when I’ve moved on and I’m in a completely different place in my life.”
In a previous Instagram video, Hart addressed escalating concerns over a long history of hate speech and derogatory jokes about the LGBTQ community on social media, resurfaced in national news after he was named host of the Oscars on Thursday.
“Stop looking for reasons to be negative,” Hart wrote in the previous Instagram post. “Stop searching for reasons to be angry.”
Those sentiments did not go over well for many who read them as a non-apology.
“The same energy that went into finding those old tweets could be the same energy put into finding the response to the questions that have been asked years after years after years,” Hart said in his latest video. “We feed internet trolls and we reward them. I’m not going to do it, man. I’m going to be me. I’m going to stand my ground. Regardless, Academy, I’m thankful and appreciative of the opportunity. If it goes away, no harm, no foul.”
The Academy did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
See Hart’s full video below.
‘Celebrity Deathmatch’ Reboot In Works At MTV Studios With Ice Cube Set To Star!
MTV Studios is reviving another classic MTV series, Celebrity Deathmatch. The recently launched studio is developing a reimagined version of the cult-favorite claymation stop-motion satire that skewered celebrities, politicians and everyone in between during its famed original 1998-2002 run. Ice Cube is attached to star and will executive produce alongside his partner Jeff Kwatinetz through his Cube Vision production company. Series creator Eric Fogel will return to executive produce as well, with additional showrunners and talent to be named shortly.
The all-new Celebrity Deathmatch will be shopped as a weekly series to premium and streaming networks in 2019. The show is the first step in a plan for reinventing the franchise across consumer products, gaming, theatrical and more.
MTV in June announced the creation of MTV Studios with exploiting library IP as a main goal and an initial slate that included a reimagining of MTV’s animated comedy Daria, an update of the unscripted series Made as well as a live-action remake of animated sci-fi series Aeon Flux and a return of the network’s reality series The Real World, largely for digital platforms. They recently were joined by an Undressed revival as the first of the studio’s reboots found a home when MTV Studios made a deal for The Real World at Facebook.
“We’re excited to grow our partnership with Ice Cube and Cube Vision to reimagine this fan favorite,” said Chris McCarthy, President of MTV, VH1 and CMT. “Deathmatch was the meme before memes, remains a hot topic on social media and will be a smart, funny way to tackle the over-the-top rhetoric of today’s pop culture where it belongs – in the wrestling ring.”
Celebrity Deathmatch, co-executive produced by Cube Vision’s Ben Hurwitz, expands Ice Cube’s relationship with MTV Networks. Cube Vision is producing Hip Hop Squares, a take on the classic game show Hollywood Squares, for MTV sibling VH1.
“Happy to once again be working with Viacom and MTV on a fan favorite like Celebrity Deathmatch and to continue our success together,” said Ice Cube.
Fogel and original Deathmatch puppets
Jim Cooper/Shutterstock
Celebrity Deathmatch is highly regarded as an incubator for top comedic talent, including bestselling author A.J. Jacobs (1999-2002) and writers and producers who went on to contribute to comedy staples from The Simpsons to Key and Peele, Family Guy and more.
The original series premiered on May 14, 1998, and ended on October 20, 2002, airing for 75 episodes (you can watch a trailer below). A TV special, Celebrity Deathmatch Hits Germany, aired in June 2001. Reruns of the series aired for a brief period that year on UPN.
A revival of the series premiered in 2006 on MTV2, without involvement from Fogel. The premiere drew over 2.5 million viewers, becoming MTV2’s highest-rated season premiere ever. It was canceled again in 2007 after two seasons. In April 2015, MTV2 announced a reboot of the series, but the pilot ultimately was not picked up to series.
Ice Cube/Cube Vision are repped by WME. Fogel is repped by Gotham Group.
Source: Deadline
Steve Harvey Back To Ring In New Year On Fox With Maria Menounos As Co-Host
Talk show host Steve Harvey will ring in the new year once again on Fox, the network announced today. Along with co-host Maria Menounos, Harvey will count down to 2019 from Times Square beginning at 8 pm ET on Monday, Dec. 31st.
Fox’s New Year’s Eve with Steve Harvey: Live From Times Square marks Harvey’s second annual holiday special.
Joining the 3.5-hour festivities for a featured musical performance will be Sting. Others line up for the evening are Robin Thicke, Florence + the Machine, Jason Aldean, Juanes and Why Don’t We. Celebrity appearances also will include Ken Jeong, SNL‘s Kenan Thompson and Fox NFL Sunday commentators Curt Menefee, Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long, Michael Strahan and Jimmy Johnson. Additional performers and celebrity guests to be announced.
Last year’s live broadcast included Menounos’ unannounced wedding, with Harvey officiating. The special scored 8.5 million total viewers, an all-time high for a Fox New Year’s special, according to the network.
Producers are IMG Original Content and Done + Dusted. Guy Carrington, Katy Mullan, Mike Antinoro, Dave Chamberlin and Orly Anderson serve as executive producers, and Eddie Delbridge is co-executive producer.
Fox’s New Year’s Eve with Steve Harvey: Live From Times Square airs Monday, Dec. 31 on Fox from 8-10:00 PM and 11 PM-12:30 AM ET (tape delayed for CT/MT/PT).
Source: Deadline
Issa Rae To Produce Romantic Musical ‘Love in America’ For Universal
The film will reunite Rae with ‘Insecure’ writer-producer Amy Aniobi and production partner Deniese Davis.
Issa Rae, the co-creator of Insecure, is teaming up with Amy Aniobi, a writer-producer on the HBO comedy, for a romantic musical feature.
Universal has picked up Love in America, which Rae will produce through her production banner ColorCreative. Rae’s production partner, Deniese Davis, is also producing the project, which marks the company’s first foray into feature film. ColorCreative had previously worked in the network and cable spheres, partnering with companies such as Anonymous Content, BET and HBO.
Details for Love in America are being kept under lock and key but Aniobi will write the script with newcomers Khiyon Hursey and Harrison Richlin.
Universal executive vp of production Erik Baiers and creative exec Mike Pryce will oversee.
Rae has snagged Golden Globe nominations two years in a row for her work in Insecure, in which she stars and executive produces. She recently wrapped production on Little, a comedy for Universal that also stars Marsai Martin and Regina King.
Love in America is the second time in as many weeks that Aniobi is working with Universal. Aniobi is attached to write a dramedy titled Bye Bye Bye that will be produced by Kevin Hart and CJ Entertainment and got picked up by Universal in November. Before working on Insecure, she served as an exec producer on 2 Dope Queens, a consulting producing on Brothers in Atlanta and a story editor on Silicon Valley.
Rae, Aniobi and Hursey and Richlin are repped by UTA. Rae is additionally repped by 3 Arts Entertainment and Hansen Jacobson. Aniobi is additionally repped by Ziffren Brittenham. And Hursey and Richlin are additionally repped by 3 Arts.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
WATCH: New Trailer Titled ‘Breakthrough’ Starring Chrissy Metz, Josh Lucas, Topher Grace, Mike Colter
BREAKTHROUGH is based on the inspirational true story of one mother’s unfaltering love in the face of impossible odds. When Joyce Smith’s adopted son John falls through an icy Missouri lake, all hope seems lost. But as John lies lifeless, Joyce refuses to give up. Her steadfast belief inspires those around her to continue to pray for John’s recovery, even in the face of every case history and scientific prediction.
From producer DeVon Franklin (Miracles from Heaven) and adapted for the screen by Grant Nieporte (Seven Pounds) from Joyce Smith’s own book, BREAKTHROUGH is an enthralling reminder that faith and love can create a mountain of hope, and sometimes even a miracle.
Kevin Hart To Host The 91st Academy Awards!
Kevin Hart is officially set to host the 91st Academy Awards ceremony.
“I will be sure to make this years Oscars a special one,” the comedian wrote Tuesday afternoon in an Instagram post, adding, “now it’s time to rise to the occasion.”
The star is emceeing the event for the first time. First-time producers Donna Gigliotti and Glenn Weiss will oversee the show, with Gigliotti serving as producer and Weiss on hand as co-producer and director.
Earlier on Tuesday, The Hollywood Reporter reported that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences had held talks with the comedian about hosting the February ceremony.
“I appreciate @TheAcademy for the opportunity,” wrote Hart in his post, adding, “For years I have been asked if I would ever Host the Oscars and my answer was always the same…I said that it would be the opportunity of a lifetime for me as a comedian and that it will happen when it’s suppose to.”
The last two Oscar shows were hosted by Jimmy Kimmel and produced by Michael De Luca and Jennifer Todd. But each year ratings declined, with a record-low 26.5 million viewers tuning in for last March’s broadcast, which adds to the pressure the new team will face in mounting the kudocast.
The Academy, which has promised that the show won’t run over three hours, has already announced one change — not all the awards in the 24 Oscar categories will be revealed live. Instead, six to eight categories will be announced before the audience at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood during commercial breaks, and edited excerpts from the acceptances will be aired later in the broadcast.
In August, the Academy’s board also recommended the creation of a new award, a so-called “popular” Oscar, that it said would recognize “outstanding achievement in popular film,” ensuring that some of the biggest box office successes of the year have a prominent place at the awards. But that idea met with so much resistance that the Academy shelved it a month later.
Hart previously hosted the MTV Movie Awards along with his Central Intelligence co-star Dwayne Johnson. He has publicly spoken about wanting to host the Oscars since at least 2015, when he told the morning show Live With Kelly and Michael (now Live With Kelly and Ryan) that he was actively campaigning to get the role. “That would be a major accomplishment. With what I’ve done and the progress I’ve made in my career, that’s definitely the next major step, I feel, for a comedian,” Hart said to the hosts at the time.
The Oscars will air live on Sunday, Feb. 24, on ABC.
Four-time Oscar nominee Ethan Hawke is set to appear in heist thriller Cut Throat City, joining Terrence Howard, Wesley Snipes, Eiza González, Kat Graham, Tip “T.I.” Harris, Joel David Moore, Isiah Washington, Keean Johnson, Sam Daly, Denzel Whitaker, Rob Morgan, Rich Paul, Demetrius Shipp Jr., and Shameik Moore. The New Orleans-set film is directed by Wu Tang Clan’s RZA and based on a script from P.G. Cuscheri.
Hawke will play Jackson Symms, a highly respected city councilman and retired NOLA deputy chief who has a keen sense of the less fortunate community members who he serves. The 9th Ward is his district.
The pic centers around four boyhood friends return to New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward after Hurricane Katrina, they find their home decimated and prospects for work swept away. Turning to a local gangster for employment, the crew is hired to pull off a daring casino heist, right in the heart of the city. But when the heist goes awry, the boys are forced on a dangerous crime spree, fighting for their survival while both hunted by the warlord and two idealistic detectives.
Jackson is pained by the death, property damage, and family despair Hurricane Katrina caused – specifically it reminds him of the loss of his beloved wife.
Well Go USA nabbed North American rights earlier this year with an aim to release the film in theaters next year. XYZ Films is handling international sales.
Hawke was recently seen in Netflix’s Juliet, Naked, Blaze, which he co-wrote and directed, and the Paul Schrader-helmed First Reformed, which was among the National Board of Review’s top ten films of 2018. In addition, Hawke’s leading performance has so far earned him a Gotham Award, the New York Film Critics Circle honor, and an Indie Spirit Award nomination.
He’s repped by CAA, MGMT Entertainment, and the Law Offices of George Sheanshang.
