After scripting such films as David Cronenberg’s Eastern Promises and Stephen Frears' Dirty Pretty Things, Steven Knight is set to make his directorial debut on his script Hummingbird. The film is set at Shine Pictures, the movie arm of Liz Murdoch’s Shine Group. Hummingbird follows a damaged ex-Special Forces soldier who finds himself trapped in the criminal underworld and assumes another man's identity to exact revenge. 20th Century Fox will release this New Regency-financed thriller worldwide. Casting is under way on the project, which is expected to start shooting this fall. Paul Webster, who recently stepped down as Shine’s head of film, will co-produce alongside Shine, New Regency and Tracey Seaward (The Queen). Knight, Webster and Seaward worked together before on Eastern Promises. Ollie Madden from Warner Bros Entertainment UK will replace Webster as Shine’s head of film in May. Shine’s current slate includes The Gray Man,...
- 4/11/2011
- by TIM ADLER in London
- Deadline London
Matt Cook ("999," "By Way of Helena") has been hired to adapt a film version of Anders Roslund and Borge Hellstrom's Swedish crime novel "Three Seconds" for New Regency and Shine reports Variety.
The story follows Piet Hoffman, the best undercover operative in the Swedish police force though only one other man is aware of his existence. After a drug deal goes awry, he is faced with the hardest mission of his life - infiltrating Sweden’s most infamous maximum security prison.
The book is the fifth in the author's crime novel series and won the Swedish Academy of Crime Writers’ Award 2009 for Best Swedish Crime Novel of the Year.
The story follows Piet Hoffman, the best undercover operative in the Swedish police force though only one other man is aware of his existence. After a drug deal goes awry, he is faced with the hardest mission of his life - infiltrating Sweden’s most infamous maximum security prison.
The book is the fifth in the author's crime novel series and won the Swedish Academy of Crime Writers’ Award 2009 for Best Swedish Crime Novel of the Year.
- 3/15/2011
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Matt Cook has signed on to adapt a screenplay for Swedish novel Three Seconds. Cook, the writer behind By Way of Helena and blacklisted crime drama 999, adapts the Anders Roslund and Borge Hellstrom-written bestselling crime novels. Shine and New Regency will produce the project. Three Seconds tells of an undercover operative within the Swedish police force who must infiltrate one of the country's most infamous prisons. The book was named the Swedish Crime Novel of the Year in 2009. Publisher of the first edition (January 4th this year) is SilverOak...
- 3/14/2011
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Black List screenwriter Matt Cook is set to adapt the Swedish crime novel Three Seconds for the big screen, Variety reports. Released in 2009 in Sweden (with a translated version hitting the Us last year), the novel represents a collaboration between journalist Anders Roslund and former criminal Borge Hellström, telling the intricately-layered story of criminals turned double agents by the Swedish police. The original article suggests that the massive tome will be significantly trimmed for the feature version, likely focusing on a single storyline from the novel.
- 3/14/2011
- Comingsoon.net
Exclusive: Kudos Pictures, the Brit TV and film company owned by Liz Murdoch’s Shine Group, has hired Oliver Madden from Warner Bros. to be its new film boss. Current Head of Film Paul Webster, now in post on Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, is returning to independent producing. He will exit Shine at the end of April but will continue to work with the company on upcoming film projects. Madden, current VP of production at Warner Bros. Entertainment UK, will join a slightly reconfigured Shine Pictures -- Kudos’ joint venture with New Regency -- in May, reporting to Kudos executive chairman Stephen Garrett. Shine’s current slate includes The Gray Man, an adaptation of Mark Greaney’s thriller; Eastern Promises 2; and an adaptation of Swedish bestselling thriller 3 Seconds, with writer Matt Cook attached. Recent Kudos productions include Brighton Rock.
- 3/10/2011
- by TIM ADLER in London
- Deadline London
The Black List of 2010 continues with the second-half of the list showcasing the screenplays that received the most number of votes.
If you've missed the first half of the list you can find it here.
13 Votes:
Hunger Games by Billy Ray
“Based on the book by Suzanne Collins. In an America of the future, young boys and girls are forced to participate in a televised battle to the death.”
Agent Creative Artists Agency – Todd Feldman, Brian Kend
Manager Management 360 – Guymon Casady
Lionsgate. Color Force producing
14 Votes:
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith
“When the mother of future United States President Abraham Lincoln is murdered by a vampire, he begins a lifelong vendetta to rid the world of the heinous creatures.”
Agent William Morris Endeavor – Cliff Roberts, Jeff Gorin
Fox. Tim Burton Productions, Bazelevs Productions producing.
15 Votes:
Are We Officially Dating? by Tom Gormican
“A dating movie told from...
If you've missed the first half of the list you can find it here.
13 Votes:
Hunger Games by Billy Ray
“Based on the book by Suzanne Collins. In an America of the future, young boys and girls are forced to participate in a televised battle to the death.”
Agent Creative Artists Agency – Todd Feldman, Brian Kend
Manager Management 360 – Guymon Casady
Lionsgate. Color Force producing
14 Votes:
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith
“When the mother of future United States President Abraham Lincoln is murdered by a vampire, he begins a lifelong vendetta to rid the world of the heinous creatures.”
Agent William Morris Endeavor – Cliff Roberts, Jeff Gorin
Fox. Tim Burton Productions, Bazelevs Productions producing.
15 Votes:
Are We Officially Dating? by Tom Gormican
“A dating movie told from...
- 12/15/2010
- by Patrick Sauriol
- Corona's Coming Attractions
Every year, film executive Franklin Leonard releases his list, called The Black List, of most-liked unproduced screenplays in Hollywood. This year's list was compiled from the suggestions of 290 film executives, each of whom picked up to ten of their favorite scripts. Since the list started in 2004, many screenplays ended up being turned into films. In 2005, two of the top three scripts were "Lars and the Real Girl" which was nominated for Best Original Screenplay Oscar, and "Juno" which actually won the Oscar. See The 2010 Black List below, broken up by how many votes each screenplay received. Keep in mind, some of the projects are already in the works. 49 Votes: * College Republicans (by Wes Jones): Based on true events. Aspiring politician Karl Rove runs a dirty campaign for national College Republican Chairman under the guidance of Lee Atwater, his campaign manager. 47 Votes: * Jackie (by Noah Oppenheim): Jackie Kennedy fights...
- 12/14/2010
- WorstPreviews.com
Early Karl Rove, post assassination state of mind of Jackie O, the Lehman brothers, the 1979 Iranian hostage situation, CIA and FBI. This year's top unproduced screenplays are either political thrillers or are equipped with behind the scene political bantering with Wes Jones' "College Republicans" topping the list. The project which details the early days of Karl Rove, mastermind strategist with gusto for the Republican party already has Shia Labeouf circling the project and Richard Linklater's name as been thrown into the mix as potential directing material. Anonymous Content who held the first place vote-getter in The Beaver a couple of years back, is producing. Here's the complete list -- we'll provide a huge update on all the titles below hopefully later in the day. 49 Votes: "College Republicans" by Wes Jones Based on true events. Aspiring politician Karl Rove runs a dirty campaign for national College Republicans chairman under the guidance of Lee Atwater,...
- 12/13/2010
- IONCINEMA.com
The Black List started in 2005 when Franklin Leonard was working for Leonardo DiCaprio's Appian Way production company. Leonard was getting drowned in sub-par spec scripts, so he sent an e-mail out to his industry contacts looking for the best unproduced scripts out there. The 2005 Black List and the 2006 Black List were undeniably important in getting a fresh batch of writers on the Hollywood scene. Since then, too many people know about the party and the studio system has learned that people are paying attention. That means that increasingly, scripts have been lobbied into the Black List. [Note: I have no actual evidence I would be able to share, disclose or show you that proves this, so file that assertion under: "Things Dave thinks and gets to write because he's squatted on that soapbox long enough to get squatter's rights."]This year: the majority of the Black List Top Ten has already been sold or optioned. I'm not sure how helpful it is to make a list of good In Production scripts. Certainly less helpful to writer's churning out material that keeps getting passed over (or people who have Not starred in Prison Break...
- 12/13/2010
- LRMonline.com
Back in 2004, a list was compiled of the best unproduced screenplays in Hollywood of that year. This came to be known as The Black List. It was all started by a young executive at Leonardo DiCaprio’s production company Appian Way, who polled 90+ peers to send him their 10 favorite, new, unproduced screenplays to read over the holidays. It has since become a tradition at the end of every year, in December, to release this list, which is voted on by a group of individuals in the entertainment industry from producer assistants, talent agency individuals, and many people involved with film development all the way up to VP's.
The 2010 Black List is here, and thanks to Deadline we have the list of best unproduced screenplays. Most of the scripts we've heard of, many of them are in production, some have already wrapped filming, they just wont be released until next year.
The 2010 Black List is here, and thanks to Deadline we have the list of best unproduced screenplays. Most of the scripts we've heard of, many of them are in production, some have already wrapped filming, they just wont be released until next year.
- 12/13/2010
- by Venkman
- GeekTyrant
The Black List has been released, Franklin Leonard’s annual compilation of the “best liked” unproduced screenplays in Hollywood. The 2010 list is flavored with politics, including a comedy about a young Karl Rove and a drama about Jackie Kennedy’s days of mourning following the JFK assassination. According to the Los Angeles Times, six of the top-10 scripts have already been picked up by studios, with one, Margin Call, already slated to premiere at Sundance in January. Check out the rest of the Top 10 after the jump:
1. College Republicans by Wes Jones. Aspiring politician Karl Rove runs a dirty campaign...
1. College Republicans by Wes Jones. Aspiring politician Karl Rove runs a dirty campaign...
- 12/13/2010
- by Jeff Labrecque
- EW - Inside Movies
Every year, studio executive Franklin Leonard compiles the “Black List,” a collection of the best unproduced screenplays as voted on by 300 execs and high-level assistants. The 2010 list is the sixth of its kind to bring additional awareness to Hollywood’s hottest scripts.
Topping the list this year is Wes Jones’ College Republicans, a Social Network-esque story (read my script review here) about the underhanded election of Karl Rove to a National College Republican seat, managed by strategy wunderkind Lee Atwater. Shia Labeouf is attached to play Atwater and Paul Dano as Rove. Previous Black List leaders include 2008’s The Beaver, which became a long-delayed film directed by Jodie Foster and starring Mel Gibson, and 2009’s The Muppet Man, which remains on the shelf.
Top 10 of 2010 (via the La Times). The Black List is available for download on the official website. Update: the rest added below:
49 votes: “College Republicans” by Wes Jones.
Topping the list this year is Wes Jones’ College Republicans, a Social Network-esque story (read my script review here) about the underhanded election of Karl Rove to a National College Republican seat, managed by strategy wunderkind Lee Atwater. Shia Labeouf is attached to play Atwater and Paul Dano as Rove. Previous Black List leaders include 2008’s The Beaver, which became a long-delayed film directed by Jodie Foster and starring Mel Gibson, and 2009’s The Muppet Man, which remains on the shelf.
Top 10 of 2010 (via the La Times). The Black List is available for download on the official website. Update: the rest added below:
49 votes: “College Republicans” by Wes Jones.
- 12/13/2010
- by Jeff Leins
- newsinfilm.com
An annual list of the best unproduced screenplays circulating in Hollywood, Franklin Leonard's Black List has become a remarkable gauge of the best of what may be coming down the line. Compiled from a poll of hundreds of development executives the list - now in its sixth year - has a pretty stellar track record when it comes to finding the best and brightest regardless of whether they be a young up and comer or an established writer. This year's list is skewed towards projects that have already been optioned or set up but regardless, here's what you should be looking for in the coming year:
College Republicans by Wes Jones. Aspiring politician Karl Rove leads a dirty campaign for College Republican chairman under the guidance of Lee Atwater. Anonymous Content producing.
Jackie by Noah Oppenheim. Jacqueline Kennedy's life immediately after her husband's assassination. Darren Aronofsky directing for Fox Searchlight.
College Republicans by Wes Jones. Aspiring politician Karl Rove leads a dirty campaign for College Republican chairman under the guidance of Lee Atwater. Anonymous Content producing.
Jackie by Noah Oppenheim. Jacqueline Kennedy's life immediately after her husband's assassination. Darren Aronofsky directing for Fox Searchlight.
- 12/13/2010
- Screen Anarchy
The Black List has been released. The annual list is compiled with a poll of 300 (up from last year's 250) development executives and high-level assistants, and contains a ranking of the hot screenplays making the rounds in Hollywoodland, which were written in, or are somehow uniquely associated with, 2010 and will not be released in theaters during this calendar year. Basically, the black list contains the hottest projects in Hollywood that you haven't heard of yet. Note: The headline is a slightly inaccurate, because a lot of these screenplays have already been acquired (six of the top ten listed), a bunch are in production now, and some have even finished production. One of this year's top ten screenplays, J.C. Chandor's Margin Call, about the last 24 hours at now-defunct investment bank Lehman Brothers is already in the can and set to premiere at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival with Chandor at the helm...
- 12/13/2010
- by Peter Sciretta
- Slash Film
Frank Leonard is the most popular man in Hollywood today. This fine December day marks the release of the 6th annual Black List, a ranked collection of the top un-produced screenplays in the town, compiled by Leonard. Last year the top script was The Muppet Man from Christopher Weekes about “the life and times of the late Jim Henson.” Coming in second was Aaron Sorkin‘s The Social Network script, which is a current frontrunner to sweep the Oscars. The year before was The Beaver, now starring Mel Gibson and set for a release in 2011.
The top one this year, College Republicans, has Shia Labeouf and Paul Dano attached. As for the rest of the list, I’ll be seeing Margin Call (pictured above) at Sundance 2011 and Safe House goes into production next year. We also reported on Oldboy director Park Chan-wook‘s English language debut with Carey Mulligan attached,...
The top one this year, College Republicans, has Shia Labeouf and Paul Dano attached. As for the rest of the list, I’ll be seeing Margin Call (pictured above) at Sundance 2011 and Safe House goes into production next year. We also reported on Oldboy director Park Chan-wook‘s English language debut with Carey Mulligan attached,...
- 12/13/2010
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
There's a lot of buzz about the script reading for the raucously funny The Hand Job on Sunday at the Rollins Theatre with Bill Hader, Colin Hanks, Jessica Alba and others. But earlier during the conference, Aff held another, quieter script reading on Friday in the stuffy little Maxmillian Room at the Driskill. What for? By Way of Helena, a twisty western revenge thriller as yet to be produced.
Earlier in the day, screenwriter Matt Cook participated in the Black List panel, as his screenplay for By Way of Helena was voted one of the best unproduced screenplays of 2009 on The Black List. Immediately following, Black List founder Franklin Leonard introduced Cook for a reading of his script. Helping Cook was an eclectic mix of well known and lesser known actors. The entire lineup at the front of the room, in order, was Cook, Jason Newman (Silas, Clem), Lauren Wolf (Maria), Richard Dillard (Saul,...
Earlier in the day, screenwriter Matt Cook participated in the Black List panel, as his screenplay for By Way of Helena was voted one of the best unproduced screenplays of 2009 on The Black List. Immediately following, Black List founder Franklin Leonard introduced Cook for a reading of his script. Helping Cook was an eclectic mix of well known and lesser known actors. The entire lineup at the front of the room, in order, was Cook, Jason Newman (Silas, Clem), Lauren Wolf (Maria), Richard Dillard (Saul,...
- 10/27/2010
- by Jenn Brown
- Slackerwood
Each year, Hollywood executives name the best screenplays of the year that have yet to be made. In previous years, their list has catapulted dozens of scripts into production and screenwriters out of oblivion. Some of this year’s crop have moved into production; others are stuck in development hell. See what you think.
It’s called the Black List — film executives' favorite scripts written in, or somehow uniquely associated with, this year but not be released in theaters during this calendar year.
In previous years, the list has catapulted dozens of scripts into production and screenwriters out of oblivion. Diablo Cody's Juno, Nancy Oliver's Lars And The Real Girl, Scott Neustader's and Michael Weber's 500 Days Of Summer, are just some of the scripts that were made after appearing on the list.
Ninety-seven screenplays appear on the just-released version, according to Deadline Hollywood. Here are the Top...
It’s called the Black List — film executives' favorite scripts written in, or somehow uniquely associated with, this year but not be released in theaters during this calendar year.
In previous years, the list has catapulted dozens of scripts into production and screenwriters out of oblivion. Diablo Cody's Juno, Nancy Oliver's Lars And The Real Girl, Scott Neustader's and Michael Weber's 500 Days Of Summer, are just some of the scripts that were made after appearing on the list.
Ninety-seven screenplays appear on the just-released version, according to Deadline Hollywood. Here are the Top...
- 12/17/2009
- doorQ.com
Since 2004, Franklin Leonard — now an exec at Universal — has compiled a list of the “most liked” scripts in Hollywood. What started as a means to find good reading material for the Christmas holiday has become an annual tradition in December. Players from various Hollywood businesses (this year the number of people grew to 311) select their top 10 favorite scripts and the votes shake out into “The Black List.”
These elite scripts typically get noticed by agencies and studios around town and wind up on the screen or the Academy category for “Best Original/Adapted Screenplay.” In an industry where unoriginality means financial blockbuster, “The Black List” is a reminder that talented screenwriters still exist.
The number one script (out of 97) with 47 mentions is newcomer Christopher Weekes’ The Muppet Man, a biopic about late puppeteer Jim Henson. The Jim Henson Company has purchased the rights and is producing.
The second script is...
These elite scripts typically get noticed by agencies and studios around town and wind up on the screen or the Academy category for “Best Original/Adapted Screenplay.” In an industry where unoriginality means financial blockbuster, “The Black List” is a reminder that talented screenwriters still exist.
The number one script (out of 97) with 47 mentions is newcomer Christopher Weekes’ The Muppet Man, a biopic about late puppeteer Jim Henson. The Jim Henson Company has purchased the rights and is producing.
The second script is...
- 12/12/2009
- by Jeff Leins
- newsinfilm.com
Last December, we introduced you to Franklin Leonard and The Black List, the list of the best unproduced screenplays in Hollywood. Since then, Leonard has been named by The Hollywood Reporter as one of the top 35 executives under 35 working in Hollywood and his list has gained even more prominence. This year's list consists of 97 scripts with 311 people contributing to the ranking -- up from 260 in 2008. The top 10 (actually, 11, thanks to a tie in 10th place) is filled with mostly up-and-comers, with the exception of Aaron Sorkin and David Scarpa. All of the scripts are in some stage of development around Hollywood,...
- 12/11/2009
- by Nicole Sperling
- EW - Inside Movies
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.