ITV

Tag: Warner Bros.

  • Andy ‘Gollum’ Serkis of LOTR fame to helm ‘Jungle Book’ for Warner Bros

    Andy ‘Gollum’ Serkis of LOTR fame to helm ‘Jungle Book’ for Warner Bros

    MUMBAI: Andy Serkis, the quirky actor, best known for portraying the role of the infamous creature ‘Gollum’ in the Lord of the Rings films has been roped in to direct Warner Bros’ live-action adaptation of Rudyard Kipling much loved classic, Jungle Book.

     

    Before Serkis, Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu (Babel) and Ron Howard (Rush) were attached to the project, but the former stepped out due to scheduling conflicts.

     

    Warner Bros faces tough competition with this venture, since Disney also has a live-action Jungle Book adaptation already in the casting stage.

     

    Warner Bros’ Jungle Book marks the directorial debut for the critically acclaimed actor. Serkis previously worked with Peter Jackson on The Hobbit films in the Second Unit Direction team. Jackson entrusted Serkis with the job after he developed a command of CG technology through his acting prowess not only in the Lord of the Rings films, but also in Jackson’s King Kong, Steven Spielberg’s The Adventures of Tintin and the new Planet of the Apes movies.

     

    Jungle Book tells the story of a boy is raised by wolves in the Indian Jungle with the help of Baloo the bear and Bagheera the black panther and then has to fight the tiger Shere Khan.

  • Warner Bros TV signs acquisition of Eyeworks’ operations in 15 countries, except US

    Warner Bros TV signs acquisition of Eyeworks’ operations in 15 countries, except US

    MUMBAI: Warner Bros Television Group has entered into an agreement to acquire independent television production company Eyeworks Group’s businesses in 15 countries across Europe, South America, Australia and New Zealand for $273 million.

     

     

    The acquisition, which does not include Eyeworks’ operations in the US, will add 13 new territories to Warner Bros Television’s network of production companies, according to a statement from Warner Bros Television.

     

     

    Once completed, this acquisition will further strengthen Warner Bros’ international television production capabilities and also see Warner Bros take over all of Eyeworks’ international distribution activities.

     

     

    Warner Bros Television is expected to complete the acquisition of Eyeworks later in 2014, subject to regulatory approvals.

     

     

    The announcement was made by Warner Bros. Worldwide Television Distribution President Jeffrey Schlesinger, Warner Bros Television Group President, Business and Strategy Craig Hunegs, Warner Bros Television Group President and Chief Content Officer Peter Roth and Eyeworks Group Founder and current Chief Executive Officer Reinout Oerlemans.

     

     

    Founded in The Netherlands by Oerlemans in 2001, Eyeworks is a major international independent producer and distributor of scripted and non-scripted content across a range of genres, including entertainment, drama and film, which airs in more than 150 countries worldwide.

     

     

    The acquisition of Eyeworks will mark a milestone for Warner Bros International Television Production, led by Warner Bros International Television Production  Head and Executive Vice President Ronald Goes, which was originally formed in 2009 to establish operating production companies.

     

     

    Warner Bros Entertainment Chief Executive Officer Kevin Tsujihara said: “Our proposed acquisition of Eyeworks’ 15 local production companies, represents a significant next step in our strategy, further strengthening Warner Bros’ position in global television.”  

     

     

    Hunegs, Schlesinger and Roth added: “This is an important move for the Warner Bros Television Group, as we establish local production companies around the world, each with a mandate to develop original local programming and adapt the output from the studio. We see Eyeworks as a strong complement to our existing US and international production capabilities.”

     

     

    This follows the acquisition in 2010 of Shed Media, a leading production company in the UK, and in 2011, BlazHoffski in The Netherlands and Belgium.

     

     

    In connection with the transaction, Reinout Oerlemans would move to Los Angeles for his new role in the industry, as Chairman of Eyeworks USA, leading the further expansion of that company in the US. Reinout will step down as CEO of the Eyeworks Group once the acquisition is completed.

     

     

    Oerlemans said: “For Eyeworks, this is a defining step towards our ongoing objective to be a major player in content production around the globe. I realise this is the end of an era, because I will no longer be the CEO of the Group, after an amazing period of 12.5 years.”

  • Jesse Eisenberg and Jeremy Irons to act in the upcoming Superman-Batman film

    Jesse Eisenberg and Jeremy Irons to act in the upcoming Superman-Batman film

    MUMBAI: Warner Bros. Pictures announced today in an official press release that, Jesse Eisenberg has been set to star as Lex Luthor and Jeremy Irons will play Alfred in the upcoming Zack Snyder untitled Superman/Batman film. The dual announcement was made today by Greg Silverman, President, Creative Development and Worldwide Production, and Sue Kroll, President, Worldwide Marketing and International Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures.

     

    In the official press release, Snyder stated, “Lex Luthor is often considered the most notorious of Superman’s rivals, his unsavory reputation preceding him since 1940. What’s great about Lex is that he exists beyond the confines of the stereotypical nefarious villain. He’s a complicated and sophisticated character whose intellect, wealth and prominence position him as one of the few mortals able to challenge the incredible might of Superman. Having Jesse in the role allows us to explore that interesting dynamic, and also take the character in some new and unexpected directions.”

     

    The director further added in the release, “As everyone knows, Alfred is Bruce Wayne’s most trusted friend, ally and mentor, a noble guardian and father figure. He is an absolutely critical element in the intricate infrastructure that allows Bruce Wayne to transform himself into Batman. It is an honor to have such an amazingly seasoned and gifted actor as Jeremy taking on the important role of the man who mentors and guides the guarded and nearly impervious façade that encapsulates Bruce Wayne.”

     

    Eisenberg has received Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, Screen Actors Guild Award and BAFTA Award nominations for his starring role as Mark Zuckerberg in David Fincher’s The Social Network. He also starred in Woody Allen’s To Rome with Love and Louis Letterier’s Now You See Me. He will next be seen in The Double and Night Moves.

     

    Irons won the Academy Award for his portrayal of Claus von Bülow in Reversal of Fortune. His work in the film also garnered him a Golden Globe Award. He won an Emmy Award and a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award for his performance in the TV miniseries Elizabeth I, opposite Helen Mirren, and recently starred on the small screen as Rodrigo Borgia in Neil Jordan’s highly acclaimed Showtime series The Borgias, for which Irons earned a Golden Globe nomination. He was recently nominated for a SAG Award for the PBS Great Performances television miniseries The Hollow Crown, for his performance as Henry IV.

     

    Snyder’s film stars Henry Cavill, reprising his role as Superman/Clark Kent, Ben Affleck as Batman/Bruce Wayne, and Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman/Diana Prince. The film also reunites Man of Steel stars Amy Adams, Laurence Fishburne and Diane Lane.

     

    The new film is currently being written by Chris Terrio (Argo), from a screenplay by David S. Goyer (Da Vinci’s Demons). Charles Roven (The Dark Knight) and Deborah Snyder (300, Suckerpunch) are producing, with Benjamin Melniker (Constantine), Michael E. Uslan (The Spirit), Wesley Coller (Watchmen), David S. Goyer and Geoff Johns (Smallville, Arrow) serving as executive producers.

     

    The film is set to open worldwide on May 6, 2016, and is based on Superman characters created by Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster, Batman characters created by Bob Kane, and Wonder Woman created by William Moulton Marston, appearing in comic books published by DC Entertainment.

  • Hugh Jackman to play Blackbeard in the upcoming film Pan

    Hugh Jackman to play Blackbeard in the upcoming film Pan

    MUMBAI: Hugh Jackman, the actor known for his portrayal of one the major classic X-Men characters in the X-Men and Wolverine movie franchise, has been signed on to play the role of the nefarious pirate Blackbeard in Warner Bros’ upcoming film on Peter Pan, based on J. M. Barrie’s classic character.

     

    Pan, scheduled to be released in the US on 17 July 2015, is to be directed by Joe Wright (Anna Karenina, Atonement, Pride & Prejudice) with a screenplay by Jason Fuchs (Ice Age: Continental Drift) and is being produced by Greg Berlanti (Green Lantern, Arrow, The Tomorrow People), Eric Fellner (Rush, Les Misérables) and Paul Webster (Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, Miss Pettigrew Lives For a Day).

     

    Hugh Jackman, last seen in the psychological thriller Prisoners with Jake Gyllenhaal, will next be seen in Chappie, a sci-fi thriller directed by Neill Blomkamp (District 9), and reprising the character of Wolverine in X-Men: Days of Future Past, which according to MTV, may be the last time he puts on the claws.

     

    According to the Internet Movie Database (IMDB), X-Men: Days of Future Past will be released in India on 23 May 2014.

  • Marvel’s upcoming Batman v/s Superman pushed to 2016

    Marvel’s upcoming Batman v/s Superman pushed to 2016

    MUMBAI: Warner Bros announced on Friday, 17 January that the release of the upcoming sequel to the 2013 blockbuster superhero film, Man of Steel, will now be postponed to 7 May, 2016, nine months later than its previous 17 July, 2015 release date.

     

    As a result of this push to the release date, there’s a potential Warner Bros/DC showdown with rival Disney/Marvel. The movie will now see light of day on Mother’s Day weekend and will face off with Fox’s X-Men: Apocalypse, which comes only a week after. As it stands now, it will be Superman-Batman, X-Men the following weekend, and hot on their tail – The Amazing Spider-Man 3 from Sony.

     

    The Batman v/s Superman film is the high-profile follow-up to last summer’s Man of Steel, which grossed $668 million worldwide and rebooted the Superman franchise for Warner Bros.

     

    The follow-up movie, which also will feature The Caped Crusader, is in casting mode and has lined up Ben Affleck (Argo) as Batman and Gal Gadot (Fast & Furious franchise) as Wonder Woman in addition to Henry Cavill (Man of Steel), who is reprising his role as Superman. Jason Momoa (Game of Thrones) is in negotiations for a role as well.

     

    Zack Snyder – 300 fame – is directing the movie, which is now undergoing a rewrite by – the Oscar-winning scribe who penned Argo – Chris Terrio.  David Goyer (co-writer of Man of Steel and creator of Da Vinci’s Demons) wrote the initial draft.

  • Wolverine actor to play legendary pirate Blackbeard in upcoming film

    Wolverine actor to play legendary pirate Blackbeard in upcoming film

    Hugh Jackman, the Academy Award nominated actor, is in negotiations to play the legendary villainous pirate Blackbeard in Warner Bros upcoming feature film on the origin of J.M. Barrie’s classic creation Peter Pan, tentatively titled, Pan.

     

    Joe Wright (Anna Karenina) is directing Pan from a script by Jason Fuchs (Ice Age: Continental Drift) with Greg Berlanti (Arrow, Brothers & Sisters) serving as producer. The role was reportedly originally offered to Javier Bardem, who ended up passing on the project.

     

    In this film, Blackbeard will be Pan’s main antagonist, while Captain Hook serves as an ally. Hugh Jackman was recently seen sharing screen space with Academy Award winner, Jake Gyllenhaal in the critically acclaimed eerie psychological abduction thriller, Prisoners. Jackman had been in discussions for a handful of films before committing to Pan including the antagonist in Warner Bros “The Incredible Mr. Limpet” remake.

     

    As to who will play the titular character of Peter Pan, Warner Bros is expected to do an open casting and find a discovery for the role. 

  • Parle Biscuits Meets Tom and Jerry

    Parle Biscuits Meets Tom and Jerry

    MUMBAI: The Indian biscuit industry is set to witness a new innovation as two of the world’s most iconic brands come together to offer a product never seen before in the market. Parle Products, India’s largest biscuit manufacturer, has joined hands with Warner Bros. Consumer Products to introduce a biscuit range with Warner Bros.’ beloved animated characters Tom and Jerry, that have entertained many generations. For Mumbai-based licensing enterprise, Dream Theatre Pvt. Ltd, this ranks among its top merchandising quests.

    The initiative will see Parle Products introduce a new range of its popular Milk Shakti Milky Sandwich biscuits embedded with Tom and Jerry’s faces. Carrying all-new packaging, these biscuit packs will be available in the market in two sizes – 60 grams and 120 grams, costing Rs 10 and 20 respectively.

    The launch of these exciting biscuits will be followed by a post-launch television commercial. With Parle on board, the product is poised for longevity in the biscuit segment. The move assumes much significance for being the first of its kind in the market, and with the INR 21,213 crore biscuit industry watching, Parle’s dominant position will earn an extra ring of innovation.

    Sharing his views on the announcement, Mr. Jiggy George, Founder and CEO of Dream Theatre Pvt. Ltd. offered, “This deal spells good news for the licensing industry. Tom and Jerry aren’t just animated characters – they have an instant ‘happiness appeal.’ We are very excited about the Parle Milk Shakti Milky Sandwich – Tom and Jerry association, a unique tie-up that brings together the strengths and acumen of Parle Products, the largest biscuit player in India, and the immense popularity of Tom and Jerry, among young and old alike!”


    Mr. Pravin Kulkarni, General Manager, Marketing, Parle Products adds, “Tom and Jerry, with a classic legacy, have a lot of fans amongst both kids and adults in India. To get Warner Bros.’ Tom and Jerry on board is definitely a landmark for Parle. We have associated with Warner Bros. Consumer Products to bring Parle Milk Shakti Milky Sandwich – Tom and Jerry biscuits to consumers everywhere and delight them!”

    “We’re pleased to mark WBCP’s entry into India’s food and beverage market by partnering with Parle Products for Parle Milk Shakti Milky Sandwich – Tom and Jerry biscuits,” said Preston Kevin Lewis, Managing Director – Australia, New Zealand & India for Warner Bros. Consumer Products. “This new partnership allows us to bring the most popular animated brand in India to consumers in a fun new way.”

  • Universal dates The Mummy reboot for April 2016

    Universal dates The Mummy reboot for April 2016

    MUMBAI: Nearing the end of its best year ever at the domestic box office, Universal announced a slew of release dates today. The recently shaken-up studio has set its reboot of The Mummy for 22 April 2016, and Seventh Son, the Jeff Bridges-Julianne Moore fantasy that Legendary picked up from Warner Bros in August, will bow 6 February 2015, a week before the arrival of Universal’s Fifty Shades Of Grey.

     

    Legendary‘s untitled Michael Mann cyber thriller for 16 January 2015 and Blumhouse’s Jennifer Lopez thriller The Boy Next Door hits theaters on 23 January 2015. The studio also is pushing its video game adaptation Warcraft – the first film that had been dated under the new Universal -Legendary partnership – from 18 December 2015 to March 2016.

  • Warner Bros Island Of Lemurs: Madagascar

    Warner Bros Island Of Lemurs: Madagascar

    MUMBAI: In a trailer released by Warner Bros – Morgan Freeman narrates the story of the 3D  IMAX documentaryIsland of Lemurs: Madagascar, which follows the endangered title creatures around the remote title republic.

     

    It features scientist Patricia Wright discussing her lifelong mission to help lemurs – of which there are hundreds of species – survive in the modern world. The docu was written and produced by Drew Fellman, and David Douglas is the director of Island of Lemurs that hits the really big screens on 4 April. 

  • Warner Bros gets Rupert Sanders to helm Napoleon

    Warner Bros gets Rupert Sanders to helm Napoleon

    MUMBAI: Warner Bros has signed Rupert Sanders to direct Napoleon, a Scarface-style look at the French leader that will be produced by Gianni Nunari. Jeremy Doner is the scribe and Niija Kuykendall will oversee for the studio.

     

    This comes a day after the studio tapped Joe Wright to direct Pan. Sanders made his feature directing debut on Universal’s Snow White And The Huntsman, which grossed near $400 million worldwide. He’s got 90 Church with that studio and producer Joe Roth, and he’s developing Juliet for Sony and New Regency, with Charles Roven producing, as well as the screen adaptation of the Frederick Forsyth thriller The Kill List for producers Steve Schwartz, Paula Mae Schwartz and Nick Wechsler.