Comedian Bo Burnham is returning to his musical roots for the “Sesame Street” movie.
Burnham is writing songs for the upcoming film starring Anne Hathaway, according to a new Deadline report. Jonathan Krisel is the project’s director, and the most recent draft of the script comes from Barry Schwartz. Earlier versions were written by Chris Galletta and Mike Rosolio.
The movie centers on Big Bird and the rest of the “Sesame Street” gang as they mysteriously land in Manhattan. They meet history show host Sally Hawthorne and join forces with her to not only save her show but prove that Sesame Street exists. Meanwhile, they have to contend with an “evil” mayor.
It should be familiar territory for Burnham. The “Eighth Grade” writer-director got his big break in the early 2000s when he was posting original songs to YouTube. However, the tunes Burnham is creating for this latest project will have to be little more family-friendly.
In addition to making music, Burnham does stand-up comedy. He has also had roles in films such as “Rough Night” and “The Big Sick.” Next up for him is “Promising Young Woman,” alongside Carey Mulligan, Alison Brie, and Connie Britton.
Shawn Levy and Michael Aguilar are producing “The Sesame Street” movie, along with Guymon Casady of Entertainment 360. Mark Gordon will executive produce. The film is scheduled to open Jan. 15, 2021.
Also joining the cast: Connie Britton, Jennifer Coolidge, Laverne Cox, Max Greenfield, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Sam Richardson (“Veep”), and Molly Shannon.
Mulligan will play a young woman who takes revenge for her tragic past on all the predatory man who crosses her path.
The movie has already started production in Los Angeles. It will mark the feature directorial debut of Emerald Fennell, who will also write and produce the film.
Her short film, “Careful How You Go,” was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the 2018 Sundance Film Fest.
“I am beyond excited to be working with so many impossibly talented and wonderful people on ‘Promising Young Woman,’” Fennell said. “Frankly, I feel lucky to be allowed anywhere in the vicinity of so many geniuses, and I can’t wait to bring this twisted tale to life.”
The Directors Guild of America held its annual awards ceremony this past weekend, revealing its picks for the best in film and television direction. And while the night’s biggest winner has been earning plenty of accolades in recent weeks, victors in other categories proved that there are no guarantees when it comes to awards season.
Alfonso Cuaron took home the DGA’s top prize, claiming the Best Feature Film Director award for “Roma.” The Netflix film — loved by critics and tied for the most Oscar nominations in this year’s field — now has a decent shot at winning the Best Director prize at the Academy Awards later this month, since the DGA frequently overlaps with the Oscars.
Cuaron beat out an impressive field that included Bradley Cooper (“A Star Is Born”), Peter Farrelly (“Green Book”), Spike Lee (“BlacKkKlansman”), and Adam McKay (“Vice”). Cooper was also nominated in the Best First-Time Feature Film Director category, but in a stunning upset, lost the prize to Bo Burnham (“Eighth Grade“). Looks like his Best Director Oscar snub may not have been a fluke after all.
In other surprises, both “Succession” (McKay) and “Barry” (Bill Hader) took home the top awards in the drama and comedy television categories, respectively, beating out buzzier fare like “The Americans” and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.”
A list of winners in the major categories is below. The full list can be found here.
FEATURE FILM: ALFONSO CUARÓN
“Roma”
(Netflix)
Unit Production Manager: Ana Hernandez
First Assistant Director: Frederic Henocque Albino
Second Assistant Director: Patrick Heyerdahl
Second Second Assistant Directors: Luis Fernando Vásquez, Julián ‘Chico’ Valdés, Arturo Garcia
FIRST-TIME FEATURE FILM : BO BURNHAM
“Eighth Grade”
(A24)
First Assistant Director: Dan Taggatz
Second Assistant Director: Vic Coram
Second Second Assistant Director: Evelyn Fogleman
DOCUMENTARY: TIM WARDLE
“Three Identical Strangers”
(Neon and CNN Films)
DRAMATIC SERIES: ADAM MCKAY
“Succession” – “Celebration”
(HBO)
Unit Production Manager: Regina Heyman
First Assistant Director: Amy Lauritsen
Second Assistant Director: Scott Bowers
Second Second Assistant Director: Nicholas Notte
Location Managers: Michael Kriaris, Patty Carey
COMEDY SERIES: BILL HADER
“Barry” –“Chapter One: Make Your Mark”
(HBO)
Unit Production Managers: Mark Tobey, Aida Rodgers
First Assistant Director: Dale Stern
Second Assistant Director: Michelle Gritzer
Second Second Assistant Director: Chris Riddle
Additional Second Assistant Director: Gary Cotti
MOVIES FOR TELEVISION AND LIMITED SERIES: BEN STILLER
“Escape at Dannemora”
(Showtime)
Unit Production Managers: Adam Brightman, Bill Carraro
First Assistant Directors: Lisa M. Rowe, Lyda Blank, Phillip A. Patterson
Second Assistant Director: Kevin R. Shields
Second Second Assistant Director: Luke A. Crawford
Location Manager: Hyo Park
After announcing its nominations in the television and documentary categories earlier this week, the Directors Guild of America has now revealed its slate of nominees for its annual film awards — and with it, prognosticators may have a clearer shape of the Oscar race.
Recent Golden Globe winners “Roma” (Best Director Alfonso Cuaron) and “Green Book” (Best Comedy Film, helmed by Peter Farrelly) were both represented in the DGA’s lineup, as were “A Star Is Born” (Bradley Cooper), “BlacKkKlansman” (Spike Lee), and “Vice” (Adam McKay). Cooper also received a second DGA nomination in the first-time director category, as did newly-minted Writers Guild Awards nominee Bo Burnham (“Eighth Grade”).
Amazingly enough, this is Lee’s first ever DGA nomination. He seems all but a shoo-in to repeat for an Oscar nomination, too.
Speaking of the Oscars, the DGA picks typically have lots of overlap with the eventual Academy shortlists of both Best Director and Best Picture. Last year’s DGA champ, “The Shape of Water,” went on to claim both of those Oscar statuettes.
The full list of nominees is below. The DGA Awards will be handed out on February 2.
OUTSTANDING DIRECTORIAL ACHIEVEMENT IN FEATURE FILM:
BRADLEY COOPER A Star is Born
(Warner Bros. Pictures)
Unit Production Manager: Robert J. Dohrmann
First Assistant Director: Michele “Shelley” Ziegler
Second Assistant Director: Xanthus Valan
Second Second Assistant Director: Matthew R. Milan
ALFONSO CUARÓN Roma
(Netflix)
Unit Production Manager: Ana Hernandez
First Assistant Director: Frederic Henocque Albino
Second Assistant Director: Patrick Heyerdahl
Second Second Assistant Directors: Luis Fernando Vásquez, Julián ‘Chico’ Valdés, Arturo Garcia
PETER FARRELLY Green Book
(Universal Pictures)
Unit Production Managers: Alissa M. Kantrow, John Brister, Franses Simonovich (New York Unit)
First Assistant Directors: J.B. Rogers, Alejandro Ramia (New York Unit)
Second Assistant Directors: Paul B. Uddo, Jack McKenna (New York Unit)
Second Second Assistant Directors: Gerson Paz, Jonathan Warren
Location Manager: Louis Zuppardi
SPIKE LEE BlacKkKlansman
(Focus Features)
Unit Production Manager: Marcei A. Brown
First Assistant Director: Mike Ellis
Second Assistant Director: Tracey Hinds
Second Second Assistant Directors: Jason Perez, Christina Ann Walker, Anastasia Folorunso
ADAM MCKAY Vice
(Annapurna Pictures)
Unit Production Managers: Julie Hartley, Jeff Waxman
First Assistant Director: Matt Rebenkoff
Second Assistant Director: Joann Connolly
Second Second Assistant Directors: Yarden Levo, Dave Vogel (Washington D.C. Unit)
OUTSTANDING DIRECTORIAL ACHIEVEMENT OF A FIRST-TIME FEATURE FILM DIRECTOR:
BO BURNHAM Eighth Grade
(A24)
First Assistant Director: Dan Taggatz
Second Assistant Director: Vic Coram
Second Second Assistant Director: Evelyn Fogleman
BRADLEY COOPER A Star is Born
(Warner Bros. Pictures)
Unit Production Manager: Robert J. Dohrmann
First Assistant Director: Michele “Shelley” Ziegler
Second Assistant Director: Xanthus Valan
Second Second Assistant Director: Matthew R. Milan
CARLOS LÓPEZ ESTRADA Blindspotting
(Summit Entertainment)
Assistant Director: La Mar Stewart
Second Second Assistant Director: Dominic Martin
Additional Second Second Assistant Director: Armin Houshmandi
MATTHEW HEINEMAN A Private War
(Aviron Pictures) Unit Production Manager: Louise Killin First Assistant Directors: George Walker, Peter Freeman (Jordan Unit)
Second Assistant Directors: Tom Mulberge (UK Unit), Tom Browne (Jordan Unit)
Second Second Assistant Director: Tarik Afifi (Jordan Unit)
BOOTS RILEY Sorry to Bother You
(Annapurna Pictures)
Production Manager: Chris Martin
First Assistant Director: Brian Benson
Second Assistant Director: Hilton Jamal Day
Second Second Assistant Directors: Sam Purdy, Nick Alvarez
Big catch: It’s only for Wednesday night, August 8.
But if you don’t have big plans for 8/8 evening (aka tomorrow, as of this writing), consider tracking down a local screening of “Eighth Grade.”
The coming-of-age comedy has earned raves from critics (98 percent fresh) and viewers. However, it’s struggling to reach its target young teen base because it was slapped with an R-rating.
So for one night only there will be free screenings for all ages. Eff the R!
Eighth Grade announced that they are offering no-ratings-enforced screenings, because real life is unrated!! it's such a beautiful way to advocate for young people – to let them see media made about their everyday struggles, esp media that respects young people so deeply!! <3
The film has been crushing in its limited release, ranking No. 13 on the box office chart from this past weekend despite only opening in about 1,000 theaters. It’s The Little Movie That Could!
