(L to R) Jamie Hector and Titus Welliver on Prime Video’s ‘Bosch.’ Credit: Aaron Epstein. Copyright: Amazon Studios.
The ‘Bosch’-verse is expanding!
Popular police dramas ‘Bosch’ and ‘Bosch: Legacy,’ which both star Titus Welliver as the title character, has two new shows in development at Amazon Studios, further expanding its world. As spinoffs in TV becomes more popular, Bosch’s two new shows will focus on Detective Jerry Edgar and new character Detective Renee Ballard.
Inspired by bestselling author Michael Connelly’s novels centered around LA detective Harry Bosch, its flagship show is the longest-running original series on Prime Video with seven seasons. ‘Bosch: Legacy’ was renewed for a second season before the first episode was released on Freevee and Prime Video.
The first spinoff series, the ‘Untitled J. Edger’ project will focus on Harry Bosch’s former partner, Detective Jerry Edgar (Jamie Hector) who is tapped for an undercover FBI mission in Little Haiti, Miami. In this glamorous city, he is forced to balance his new life with the gritty underbelly of the city, while being chased by his mysterious past.
Jamie Hector on Prime Video’s ‘Bosch.’ Credit: Lacey Terrell. Copyright: Amazon Studios.
The next series, the ‘Untitled Renee Ballard’ show centers around Detective Renee Ballard, who is tasked with running the LAPD’s new cold case division. Beyond simply investigating unsolved crimes, Renee is dedicated to bridging credibility to the department and justice to the community. Having learned from retired ally and mentor Harry Bosch, Renee does things her own way – solving cases in unconventional ways while navigating the politics of being a woman on the rise in the LAPD.
The character Renee Ballard has not yet appeared on the ‘Bosch’ or ‘Bosch: Legacy,’ therefore the role has not been cast.
For such a successful show, it’s no wonder the studio wants to expand the world. As we can see from series such as ‘Yellowstone’, ‘Dexter’, and ‘Billions’, building out the world of an existing series is the current trend. No word yet on whether the new shows will be for Prime Video, Freevee, or both.
Jamie Hector on Prime Video’s ‘Bosch.’ Credit: Hopper Stone. Copyright: Amazon Studios.
Alicia Vikander as Lara Croft in 2018’s ‘Tomb Raider.’
Having seen success––at least in terms of buzz––with the likes of ‘The Rings of Power’ and ‘The Boys’, Amazon is breaking open its (admittedly huge) piggy bank for a new potential franchise.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the company has struck a deal with Dmitri M. Johnson’s dj2 Entertainment for the rights to the ‘Tomb Raider’ game series.
Launched in 1996 on Sony’s PlayStation console, the ‘Tomb Raider’ series has gone on to be a huge selling title across various platforms, earning more than $95 million by last year and spawning a massive amount of merchandising.
The series gives the player control of fictional British archaeologist Lara Croft, who travels around the world searching for lost artifacts and infiltrating dangerous tombs and ruins.
That most recent title came from MGM and Warner Bros., but there has been talk of a sequel, with first ‘Meg 2: The Trench’s Ben Wheatley and then ‘Lovecraft Country’s Misha Green attached to make it, development stalled.
Amazon, of course, bought MGM last year, but the rights to the ‘Tomb Raider’ games had already lapsed from the studio because of the lack of forward movement on the new movie.
With the rights in Amazon’s grip, the plans have now shifted to building out an interconnected Lara Croft universe boasting a new game release and what will probably be another movie reboot.
Phoebe Waller-Bridge on BBC Studios’ ‘Fleabag.’
Perhaps most intriguingly, the new universe also features a potential Prime Video TV series from ‘Fleabag’ creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who recently renewed her deal with Amazon. While we might not have expected Waller-Bridge to be all in on a ‘Tomb Raider’ title, she’s apparently a fan of the games. and has had experience with action on the likes of ‘Killing Eve’ and recent Bond outing ‘No Time to Die’ (for which she provided script polishes).
No details have yet emerged on what Waller-Bridge’s show might look like (she doesn’t plan to appear, just write and produce) or how it might connect to any potential movie (or movies, you know Amazon will want to get their money’s worth). But it’s certainly interesting to ponder the idea of a Lara Croft with the writer’s trademark snappy dialogue.
Yet Amazon is not the only company with an interest in Croft––this will no doubt be disheartening for Netflix, which already has a ‘Tomb Raider’ anime series in the works following a two-series order. Or perhaps it’ll drive up interest in all things Lara?
Alicia Vikander as Lara Croft in 2018’s ‘Tomb Raider.’
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‘A Simple Favor’, adapted from Darcey Bell’s novel, told the story of widowed single mother and crafting/parenting vlogger Stephanie Smothers (Kendrick), who strikes up an unexpected friendship with glamorous fellow mother Emily Nelson (Lively). The two share drinks and swap stories, though the power dynamic in the friendship always seems weighted towards the more confident, secretive Emily.
When Stephanie agrees to look after Emily’s son, Emily then goes missing, leading Stephanie and Emily’s husband Sean Townsend (Henry Golding) to investigate what happened – and to start up a relationship of their own.
We won’t spoil what happens next in case you haven’t read the book or seen the original movie, but while ‘Favor’ does feature a relatively wrapped-up ending, it also leaves some ideas for a potential follow-up, which is where Lionsgate (which originally plucked the first movie from the depths of 20th Century Fox development and brought it to screens), and Amazon Studios are headed. Especially since that movie made $97 million worldwide from a $20 million budget.
Blake Lively in Paul Feig’s ‘A Simple Favor.’
Bell hasn’t written a sequel book, so the movie will be an original story featuring the same characters. Quite what happens in the new movie is a mystery for now.
Feig has his latest directorial outing, ‘The School for Good and Evil’ headed to Netflix. The movie, which adapts Soman Chainani’s book, follows the adventures of best friends Sophie and Agatha at the titular school, where ordinary kids are trained to be fairy tale heroes and villains. Sophie (Sophia Ann Caruso) has princess aspirations and expects to be picked for the School for Good and Agatha (Sofia Wylie) seems a natural fit for the villains in the School for Evil. Yet soon the girls find their fortunes reversed, putting their friendship to a test…
Kendrick last appeared in another Netflix movie, the sci-fi thriller ‘Stowaway’ and has also been busy lending her voice to the ‘Trolls’ franchise. Her next movie to arrive is Mary Nighy’s ‘Alice, Darling’, in which Kendrick plays a woman trapped in an abusive relationship becomes the focus of an intervention staged by her best friends. Wunmi Mosaku and Kaniehtiio Horn are also in that one.
Anna Kendrick in Paul Feig’s ‘A Simple Favor.’
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In this exclusive interview with Made in Hollywood, ‘Radioactive’ stars Rosamund Pike and Sam Riley, and director Marjane Satrapi talk about making the film. They share how they worked to bring the science to life in this story about Nobel Prize winners Marie and Pierre Curie, and how the film shows the long-term implications of the Curies’ discoveries.
‘Radioactive’ is now available on Amazon Prime Video.
A pivotal figure of the Watergate scandal is getting the big screen treatment, with Chris Pine set to play lawyer-turned-whistleblower John Dean in a new feature.
Variety has the scoop on the project, which chronicles the political exploits of Dean, who served as White House Council under President Richard Nixon from July 1970 through August 1973 — right at the heart of the scandal that imploded Nixon’s presidency. The film is set up at Amazon Studios, and Dean himself will serve as an executive producer on the feature.
According to Variety, Dean was known as the “connoisseur of cover-ups,” and “became a crucial Nixon whistle-blower by offering testimony that implicated the president in the historic cover-up” of the break-in at the Democratic committee headquarters at the Watergate Hotel, during Nixon’s 1972 re-election campaign. In exchange, Dean pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice, and received a sentence of four months of house arrest. He remains in the public eye today as an author of numerous books and a political commentator, and has been outspoken against the Republican Party and the current administration.
The script for the film — currently untitled — is being penned by Evan Parter, who Variety notes is an “Up-and-coming screenwriter … whose scripts have appeared more than once on the annual Black List.” Amazon scooped up the flick after hearing only the pitch, so expect production to take some time as the film comes together.
This year marks the 50th time in history that the pleasant, beachy hamlet of San Diego explodes with magic and enthusiasm for all things nerdy, overstuffing every available space in a three mile radius in the Gaslamp Quarter. For anyone who’s had the pleasure of attending San Diego Comic Con and willingly dehydrated themselves at the mere suggestion of catching a glimpse of Patrick Warburton, you know that SDCC turns the “fun” dial to 11 and breaks the knob off. This year is no exception, so the following serves as a road map of the top five shiniest things that I will be seeing and doing while slathering on sunscreen and adjusting my wig.
“Terminator: Dark Fate” Panel
Paramount
When: Thursday, July 18 at 11 a.m.
Where: Hall H (of course!
What: Paramount Pictures brings a “Terminator: Dark Fate” panel discussion and footage presentation with talent and filmmakers. There’s not much I can reveal about this one, except that I’ll be hosting, and I have already practiced my T-1000 run and have confirmed I definitely cannot do it.
Amazon Offsite
Amazon
When: Thursday, July 18 through Sunday, July 21 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: MLK Promenade & First Ave
What: The important number to note here is 60,000, which officially refers to the square footage of Amazon’s ginormous activation. Unofficially, it refers to how many minutes I’m willing to spend in line because this thing looks amazing. That’s plenty of room for attendees to enjoy video and live promos for “The Boys,” “Carnival Row,” and “The Expanse” on a 40-foot tall tower that we can only assume will later be used as some kind of ghost conduit, a’la “Ghostbusters.” Inside, attendees will receive gold and silver coins and thwart kidnappings, tour a spaceship, and lounge in a neo-Victorian fairy tale venue. Sounds like a high-capacity event that will be a great way to escape the heat and get some good future-binging ideas (and some killer Instagram pics).
“His Dark Materials” Panel
HBO/BBC
When: Thursday, July 18 at 4:45 p.m.
Where: Hall H
What: If you’re like me, you’ve spent entirely too many minutes either grumbling about how dark the “Battle of Winterfell” was or reading and re-reading episode recaps of all of season two of “Westworld” — so even though HBO is bringing “Game of Thrones” and “Westworld” panels to the con, SDCC is about discovering the next hot thing. That points me directly to “His Dark Materials,” an adaptation of a trilogy of novels by Philip Pullman (unsuccessfully adapted, once, as a Nicole Kidman/Daniel Craigmovie with talking polar bears). At the heart of the story is Lyra, a young woman who is searching for a missing friend in a very magical landscape. Panel attendees will include Dafne Keen, Lin-Manuel Miranda, James McAvoy, and Ruth Wilson, among others. Talking polar bears TBD.
“Parks and Recreation” 10th Anniversary Panel
NBC Universal
When: Friday, July 19 at 4:30 p.m.
Where: Horton Grand Theater
What: It’s been a decade since our beloved “Parks and Recreation” was on television, but in that time, Amy Poehler’s Leslie Knope has become even more important to our upside-down world. She’s the epicenter of hope in her town, and is always bringing out the best in the rich, vibrant characters who surround her. This panel is being kept under wraps for the most part, but I’ll be in line to get my ticket early Friday morning. I’m assuming it will be hosted by Perd Hapley, and will feature appearances from Brandi Maxx, the Red-Faced Man, someone from Eagleton to boo, and Duke Silver. I hope I’m right.
“Batwoman” Pilot Screening
The CW/DC
When: Saturday, July 20 at 10:30 a.m.
Where: Ballroom 20
What: Kate Kane protecting the streets of Gotham makes me feel spiritually safer in my real city. The CW has a knack for bringing DC Comics to life in engaging ways, and with Ruby Rose starring as a highly-trained street fighter and out lesbian, I’ve already set my DVR. This panel will feature the pilot and a Q&A after.
**BONUS CHOICE**
MOVIEFONE PANEL
Fox
When: Saturday, July 20 from 8 to 9 p.m.
Where: Room 28DE
What: Shameless plug: There’s nothing worse than a great movie that blows it at the end. Moderator Grae Drake (Ms. Moviefone) asks you to pitch your alternate (not necessarily happy) endings for otherwise-great films to a panel of judges made up of movie critics, filmmakers, actors, comedians, and other opinionated movie-lovers. You know, like a live version of that Change.org petition you signed that one time! Each idea is ranked on its merits by the judges and audience, and at the end of the panel the winner will be declared and a team of improv performers will bring the new improved scenario to life in front of your very eyes. Does anybody have a therapy dog?
The two are toplining director Mike Cahill‘s “Bliss.” Amazon Studios announced Thursday that principal photography had begun in Los Angeles and Croatia. The film is described as a “mind-bending love story.”
Cahill is directing from his own script. It centers on Greg (Wilson), a recently divorced man who meets Isabel (Hayek), a captivating woman with an interesting theory about the world they live in. She believes that the ugliness around them is a simulation inside a real, more beautiful and blissful world. Although Greg initially has his doubts, he finds that Isabel may be onto something.
“Bliss” is being produced by James D. Stern. Lucas Smith and Marsha Swinton are serving as executive producers. So far, the film’s release date has not been announced.
Amazon Studios clearly think they have an award winner with the dramatic true story “The Report.”
The film, which stars Adam Driver, Jon Hamm and Annette Bening, will play theaters for two weeks beginning on September 27, before its streaming debut on Amazon on October 11. That’s the required amount of time to qualify for Oscar nomination. (The Academy opted not to expand that window despite recent controversy about streaming films and Oscar consideration.)
The film, which played this year’s Sundance festival, stars Driver as Daniel Jones, who investigated and wrote about the CIA’s secret torture program and then fought to have the report released.
Amazon Studios
Bening costars as Senator Dianne Feinstein and Jon Hamm plays then White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough.
Scott Z. Burns, whose screenplays include Steven Soderbergh films “Contagion” and “Side Effects,” wrote and directed. (He also wrote the screenplay for the 25th Bond film: Phoebe Waller-Bridge was then brought in to “polish” the script.)
“Our hope with ‘The Report’ has always been that we would find a way for it to reach the largest audience possible. We are thrilled that Amazon Studios is putting so many resources behind reaching that goal,” said Burns of the film getting a limited theatrical release.
Head of Amazon Studios Jennifer Salke said, “’The Report’ is an enthralling, investigative thriller featuring pitch-perfect performances and brilliant storytelling from Scott and the entire team. We are so proud to share this uniquely authentic and incredibly timely story about a true, American hero and his quest for truth and justice with our global Prime Video customers.”
Driver received his first Oscar nomination for his role in last year’s BlacKkKlansman.” Bening has been nominated for four Oscars.
Amazon Studios once planned to distribute the Woody Allen film “A Rainy Day in New York” in 2019, but now it no longer even holds U.S. distribution rights. The studio has returned them to Allen, Variety reports.
Amazon Studios initially reached a series of deals with Allen starting in 2014 as it built its library of originals. “A Rainy Day in New York” was one of the films that fell under those deals. However, trouble arose after Allen’s son Ronan Farrow wrote a 2016 THR column that brought renewed attention to the sexual abuse allegations made decades before by Allen’s daughter Dylan Farrow. (Allen denies her claims.) The director says in an ongoing lawsuit that the studio became concerned about the negative publicity of working with him, and then informed him in June 2018 that it would not distribute “Rainy Day” or his other films.
With Amazon Studios having returned the rights to Allen, he’s free to find another U.S. distributor, according to Variety’s sources. (Neither Amazon Studios nor Allen has commented.) The film is already set to be distributed in Europe, but it remains to be seen whether there will be an interested U.S. distributor. With the #MeToo movement going strong, distributors are reportedly wary. Variety’s sources say that one indie distributor set up a screening only as “professional courtesy.”
It seems that Allen hasn’t given up hope, though. He recently released a trailer for “A Rainy Day in New York” via Facebook, and it says the movie is “coming soon.”
