Either Tekashi 6ix9ine knows exactly what he’s doing, or this was all a happy accident. We’re banking on the fact that the young emcee/professional instigator/convicted felon is laughing all the way to the bank.
“F— being a superhero, I wanna be a villain,” 6ix9ine says in a teaser trailer for Showtime docuseries “Supervillain: The Making of Tekashi 6ix9ine.”
Pretty much the rest of the teaser trailer, which dropped on Friday, is made of up extremely unflattering media quotes about the rapper (real name Daniel Hernandez).
Watch the teaser trailer via the video above.
“Supervillain” is centered on an interview with Hernandez following his early release from prison this spring. He was locked up after pleading guilty to armed robbery charges and conspiracy to commit murder.
6ix9ine’s sentence was drastically reduced after he testified for the prosecution, and he got out even earlier...
“F— being a superhero, I wanna be a villain,” 6ix9ine says in a teaser trailer for Showtime docuseries “Supervillain: The Making of Tekashi 6ix9ine.”
Pretty much the rest of the teaser trailer, which dropped on Friday, is made of up extremely unflattering media quotes about the rapper (real name Daniel Hernandez).
Watch the teaser trailer via the video above.
“Supervillain” is centered on an interview with Hernandez following his early release from prison this spring. He was locked up after pleading guilty to armed robbery charges and conspiracy to commit murder.
6ix9ine’s sentence was drastically reduced after he testified for the prosecution, and he got out even earlier...
- 10/23/2020
- by Tony Maglio
- The Wrap
Showtime has released the first trailer for “Supervillain,” a revealing docuseries about the rise of provocative young rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine.
Directed by Karam Gill, the three-episode docuseries will examine how 6ix9ine manufactured his own cult celebrity status through his mastery of social media and purposely stirring up controversy. Gill conducted an exclusive interview with 6ix9ine after the rapper was released from prison earlier this year.
The docuseries will follow how Daniel Hernandez, originally working as a deli clerk in New York City, transformed into 6ix9ine, the tattooed, rainbow-haired viral rapper. He boasts more than 2.6 billion streams, 15 hits on the top music charts and collaborations with artists like Nicki Minaj, Kanye West, Young Thug, Lil Baby and more. Not only is he a rapper, however, 6ix9ine is an internet sensation who has mastered turning his outlandish digital presence into an effective marketing tactic for his rap persona.
Directed by Karam Gill, the three-episode docuseries will examine how 6ix9ine manufactured his own cult celebrity status through his mastery of social media and purposely stirring up controversy. Gill conducted an exclusive interview with 6ix9ine after the rapper was released from prison earlier this year.
The docuseries will follow how Daniel Hernandez, originally working as a deli clerk in New York City, transformed into 6ix9ine, the tattooed, rainbow-haired viral rapper. He boasts more than 2.6 billion streams, 15 hits on the top music charts and collaborations with artists like Nicki Minaj, Kanye West, Young Thug, Lil Baby and more. Not only is he a rapper, however, 6ix9ine is an internet sensation who has mastered turning his outlandish digital presence into an effective marketing tactic for his rap persona.
- 10/23/2020
- by Jordan Moreau
- Variety Film + TV
Amy Poehler will direct a documentary with the working title “Lucy & Desi” about the marriage between comedy icons Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz for Imagine Documentaries and White Horse Pictures, the two companies announced Monday.
Poehler is making her documentary feature directorial debut on the project, and she will also produce the film through her Paper Kite banner. The film has already begun production and will be financed by Imagine Documentaries.
“Lucy & Desi” will tell the story of the groundbreaking comedian Ball, who forever changed the way the world viewed comedy and paved the way for scores of women who followed in her footsteps. The film will utilize archival film and personal still photos, first-person narratives and examine how Ball evolved from a performer to a businesswoman and through “I Love Lucy” and more worked to break barriers for women in entertainment and beyond.
Also Read: Netflix Picks Up Documentary...
Poehler is making her documentary feature directorial debut on the project, and she will also produce the film through her Paper Kite banner. The film has already begun production and will be financed by Imagine Documentaries.
“Lucy & Desi” will tell the story of the groundbreaking comedian Ball, who forever changed the way the world viewed comedy and paved the way for scores of women who followed in her footsteps. The film will utilize archival film and personal still photos, first-person narratives and examine how Ball evolved from a performer to a businesswoman and through “I Love Lucy” and more worked to break barriers for women in entertainment and beyond.
Also Read: Netflix Picks Up Documentary...
- 8/24/2020
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Exclusive: Amy Poehler will make her documentary feature directing debut for Imagine Documentaries and White Horse Pictures on Lucy & Desi, the working title for a definitive film about the remarkable personal and professional partnership between comedian Lucille Ball and husband Desi Arnaz.
This will be the biggest documentary to be fully financed by Imagine Documentaries and the film will have the benefit of full cooperation from the estate of Ball & Arnaz and their family. Through her Paper Kite banner, Poehler will produce with Imagine’s Justin Wilkes and Michael Rosenberg, White Horse’s Nigel Sinclair and Jeanne Elfant Festa, and Diamond Docs’ Mark Monroe. Imagine’s Brian Grazer, Ron Howard and Sara Bernstein will be executive producers with White Horse’s Nicholas Ferrall and Cassidy Hartmann, and Diamond Docs’ Morgan Sackett. Monroe also serves as writer.
The film will tell the story of the groundbreaking comedian who changed the landscape,...
This will be the biggest documentary to be fully financed by Imagine Documentaries and the film will have the benefit of full cooperation from the estate of Ball & Arnaz and their family. Through her Paper Kite banner, Poehler will produce with Imagine’s Justin Wilkes and Michael Rosenberg, White Horse’s Nigel Sinclair and Jeanne Elfant Festa, and Diamond Docs’ Mark Monroe. Imagine’s Brian Grazer, Ron Howard and Sara Bernstein will be executive producers with White Horse’s Nicholas Ferrall and Cassidy Hartmann, and Diamond Docs’ Morgan Sackett. Monroe also serves as writer.
The film will tell the story of the groundbreaking comedian who changed the landscape,...
- 8/24/2020
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Imagine Entertainment Chairmen Brian Grazer and Ron Howard have made a substantial investment and take an ownership stake in Oscar-winning documentary director Alex Gibney’s Jigsaw Productions. The intention is to help Jigsaw’s elevation into a flourishing mini-studio, and further the ambitions of the Imagine Documentaries banner led by Justin Wilkes and Sara Bernstein for a stepped up output of docus for multiple platforms.
Imagine steps up after one of Jigsaw’s co-owners, Kew Media Group, fell into receivership and had become, as Gibney explained it, “a ball and chain around our ankle. I had been talking to Ron and Brian over a number of years about the possibility of joining forces in some way, and the timing suddenly seemed perfect,” Gibney told Deadline. “They had always seemed enthusiastic about what we did, and wanting to invest in that and see if there were ways to enhance our reach,...
Imagine steps up after one of Jigsaw’s co-owners, Kew Media Group, fell into receivership and had become, as Gibney explained it, “a ball and chain around our ankle. I had been talking to Ron and Brian over a number of years about the possibility of joining forces in some way, and the timing suddenly seemed perfect,” Gibney told Deadline. “They had always seemed enthusiastic about what we did, and wanting to invest in that and see if there were ways to enhance our reach,...
- 6/16/2020
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Brian Grazer and Ron Howard’s Imagine Documentaries will chart the rise of New York Post gossip columnist Cindy Adams in a docuseries for CBS’s Showtime Networks.
Jenny Carchman, who made Showtime’s Emmy-nominated New York Times documentary The Fourth Estate, will direct the Adams series, working closely with the New York Post, where the columnist still writes for Page Six.
Gossip Starring Cindy Adams will premiere in 2021 and chronicle Adams’ four-decade career as the “reigning queen of gossip,” the notorious characters that have emerged from her writing, and her journalistic colleagues.
Grazer and Howard are executive producers alongside Imagine Entertainment’s Michael Rosenberg, Imagine Documentaries’ Sara Bernstein and Justin Wilkes, and Troy Searer from New York Post Entertainment. Carchman is directing and producing.
Gossip Starring Cindy Adams was announced by Vinnie Malhotra, executive vice president of nonfiction programming for Showtime Networks.
Jenny Carchman, who made Showtime’s Emmy-nominated New York Times documentary The Fourth Estate, will direct the Adams series, working closely with the New York Post, where the columnist still writes for Page Six.
Gossip Starring Cindy Adams will premiere in 2021 and chronicle Adams’ four-decade career as the “reigning queen of gossip,” the notorious characters that have emerged from her writing, and her journalistic colleagues.
Grazer and Howard are executive producers alongside Imagine Entertainment’s Michael Rosenberg, Imagine Documentaries’ Sara Bernstein and Justin Wilkes, and Troy Searer from New York Post Entertainment. Carchman is directing and producing.
Gossip Starring Cindy Adams was announced by Vinnie Malhotra, executive vice president of nonfiction programming for Showtime Networks.
- 11/26/2019
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
In just over a year, Ron Howard and Brian Grazer’s Imagine Entertainment has stealthily assembled a slate of nearly 20 documentary feature and TV series projects, with distribution partners such as Netflix, Showtime and Apple TV Plus in place.
The prestigious lineup features filmmakers and producers including Martin Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio, Amy Berg, Morgan Neville and Howard himself. The subjects range from deep dives into icons like New York gossip queen Cindy Adams, star chef José Andrés, and former NBA star Dwyane Wade (now an agent), to penetrating looks at guitar hero Carlos Santana and last year’s wildfire that devastated Paradise, Calif.
Imagine’s documentary unit was founded in September 2018 and is headed by former RadicalMedia executive Justin Wilkes and longtime HBO Documentary Films senior vice president Sara Bernstein. The pair have been pulling their weight in an established film and television production company that has been investing heavily...
The prestigious lineup features filmmakers and producers including Martin Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio, Amy Berg, Morgan Neville and Howard himself. The subjects range from deep dives into icons like New York gossip queen Cindy Adams, star chef José Andrés, and former NBA star Dwyane Wade (now an agent), to penetrating looks at guitar hero Carlos Santana and last year’s wildfire that devastated Paradise, Calif.
Imagine’s documentary unit was founded in September 2018 and is headed by former RadicalMedia executive Justin Wilkes and longtime HBO Documentary Films senior vice president Sara Bernstein. The pair have been pulling their weight in an established film and television production company that has been investing heavily...
- 11/26/2019
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
Showtime Documentary Films today announced a new limited docuseries profiling controversial rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine. Titled “SuperVillain” and inspired by the Rolling Stone feature written by Stephen Witt, the three-part series will trace how a New York City deli clerk named Daniel Hernandez became superstar rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine — who racked up 2.6 billion streams and multiple hit singles but whose gang ties, which he claimed were just for image purposes, caught up with him. He’s currently in prison on federal racketeering and weapons charges, but has cooperated with authorities and could be released as early as the end of this year.
Brian Grazer of Imagine Entertainment will executive produce. The series will be produced by Imagine Documentaries, Rolling Stone and Lightbox. An airdate will be announced in the coming weeks.
“The bizarre and complicated rise of Tekashi 6six9ine is a story of our times,” said Vinnie Malhotra, Executive Vice President,...
Brian Grazer of Imagine Entertainment will executive produce. The series will be produced by Imagine Documentaries, Rolling Stone and Lightbox. An airdate will be announced in the coming weeks.
“The bizarre and complicated rise of Tekashi 6six9ine is a story of our times,” said Vinnie Malhotra, Executive Vice President,...
- 10/17/2019
- by Variety Staff
- Variety Film + TV
Showtime Documentary Films has given a green light to Supervillain, a limited docuseries profiling notorious hip-hop artist Tekashi 6ix9ine, inspired by journalist Stephen Witt’s Rolling Stone feature Tekashi 6ix9ine: The Rise and Fall of a Hip Hop Supervillain. The project is a co-production of Imagine Documentaries, Rolling Stone and Lightbox.
The three-part series will trace how a New York City deli clerk named Daniel Hernandez exploded into Tekashi 6ix9ine, the tattooed face of Gen Z and hip hop’s prince of trolls, with 2.6 billion streams and 15 hits on the Billboard charts.
Tekashi is currently in prison on federal racketeering and weapons charges and is awaiting release as early as the end of this year.
Imagine Entertainment’s Brian Grazer will executive produce with Justin Wilkes and Sara Bernstein of Imagine Documentaries, Gus Wenner of Rolling Stone, Jonathan Chinn and Simon Chinn of Lightbox, and Witt.
Rapper...
The three-part series will trace how a New York City deli clerk named Daniel Hernandez exploded into Tekashi 6ix9ine, the tattooed face of Gen Z and hip hop’s prince of trolls, with 2.6 billion streams and 15 hits on the Billboard charts.
Tekashi is currently in prison on federal racketeering and weapons charges and is awaiting release as early as the end of this year.
Imagine Entertainment’s Brian Grazer will executive produce with Justin Wilkes and Sara Bernstein of Imagine Documentaries, Gus Wenner of Rolling Stone, Jonathan Chinn and Simon Chinn of Lightbox, and Witt.
Rapper...
- 10/17/2019
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
After charting Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s rise to the top of the legal world, the filmmaking team behind “Rbg” is reuniting to tell the story of a different kind of trailblazer: Julia Child, the television chef and cookbook author who taught America how to eat.
Co-directors Betsy West and Julie Cohen will examine Child’s unconventional life, one that saw her seize the spotlight with the 1961 publication of her best-seller “Mastering the Art of French Cooking” when she was nearly 50 years old. She then brought her love of fine food to the masses with Wgbh television program “The French Chef,” which was syndicated nationally by PBS, and later, in appearances on “Good Morning America.”
“She was larger than life, literally,” West told Variety days before flying to France to conduct interviews for the film. “She was 6’2” or 6’3” and kind of clunky in a way, but also totally self-confident and funny and authentic,...
Co-directors Betsy West and Julie Cohen will examine Child’s unconventional life, one that saw her seize the spotlight with the 1961 publication of her best-seller “Mastering the Art of French Cooking” when she was nearly 50 years old. She then brought her love of fine food to the masses with Wgbh television program “The French Chef,” which was syndicated nationally by PBS, and later, in appearances on “Good Morning America.”
“She was larger than life, literally,” West told Variety days before flying to France to conduct interviews for the film. “She was 6’2” or 6’3” and kind of clunky in a way, but also totally self-confident and funny and authentic,...
- 10/8/2019
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Disney+ has ordered a six-part non-fiction series about the School of American Ballet in New York City from Imagine’s Ron Howard and Brian Grazer.
The series, “On Pointe,” marks the first time the famed 85-year-old Lincoln Center-based school will open its doors to cameras, allowing for access to its facility, classes, faculties and students.
According to Disney, “On Pointe” will capture a “year in the life” of the young students of the School of American Ballet (Sab). Shot in true vérité, observational style, “On Pointe” will follow Sab students through their audition process, training, and home and school lives, including their preparation for New York City Ballet’s annual performances of George Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker,” on the Lincoln Center stage.
Also Read: Why the CBS-Produced Gina Rodriguez Potus Series 'Diary of a Female President' Landed at Disney+ Instead of The CW
For high school students, the series...
The series, “On Pointe,” marks the first time the famed 85-year-old Lincoln Center-based school will open its doors to cameras, allowing for access to its facility, classes, faculties and students.
According to Disney, “On Pointe” will capture a “year in the life” of the young students of the School of American Ballet (Sab). Shot in true vérité, observational style, “On Pointe” will follow Sab students through their audition process, training, and home and school lives, including their preparation for New York City Ballet’s annual performances of George Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker,” on the Lincoln Center stage.
Also Read: Why the CBS-Produced Gina Rodriguez Potus Series 'Diary of a Female President' Landed at Disney+ Instead of The CW
For high school students, the series...
- 9/13/2019
- by Tim Baysinger
- The Wrap
Disney Plus has given a series order to a documentary series about the School of American Ballet from Imagine Documentaries and Dctv.
“On Pointe” will follow a year in the life of students at the New York City school as they go through rigorous training, auditions and preparations for the New York City Ballet’s annual performances of “The Nutcracker.” It’s described as a six-part series.
Imagine teamed with New York-based production company Dctv earlier this year to gain unprecedented access to the prestigious school based at Lincoln Center.
Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Justin Wilkes and Sara Bernstein are executive producers for Imagine. Dctv’s Matthew O’Neill is executive producer and showrunner. Larissa Bills will produce and direct.
“On Pointe” is part of a growing slate of original unscripted and documentary series in the works for Disney Plus, the ambitious streaming platform set to launch on Nov. 12. Other...
“On Pointe” will follow a year in the life of students at the New York City school as they go through rigorous training, auditions and preparations for the New York City Ballet’s annual performances of “The Nutcracker.” It’s described as a six-part series.
Imagine teamed with New York-based production company Dctv earlier this year to gain unprecedented access to the prestigious school based at Lincoln Center.
Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Justin Wilkes and Sara Bernstein are executive producers for Imagine. Dctv’s Matthew O’Neill is executive producer and showrunner. Larissa Bills will produce and direct.
“On Pointe” is part of a growing slate of original unscripted and documentary series in the works for Disney Plus, the ambitious streaming platform set to launch on Nov. 12. Other...
- 9/13/2019
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
As the Toronto Film Festival comes to a close and Hollywood preps to hand out some Emmys, the Specialty box office continues to churn out some original storytelling — and this week’s theme seems to be the concept of sound.
The Sound of Silence
Distributor: IFC Films
Michael Tyburski makes his feature film debut today with The Sound of Silence, which made its world premiere earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival. Co-written by Tyburski and Ben Nabors, the film stars Peter Sarsgaard as Peter Lucian, an expert in identifying a symphony of almost undetectable sounds. When he is not collecting sounds, he is a “house tuner” who diagnoses the discordant ambient noises produced by everything from wind patterns to humming electrical appliances that adversely affect his clients’ moods. (Who knew a career like that existed?) When he is hired by a lonely, sleep-deprived woman named Ellen (Rashida Jones...
The Sound of Silence
Distributor: IFC Films
Michael Tyburski makes his feature film debut today with The Sound of Silence, which made its world premiere earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival. Co-written by Tyburski and Ben Nabors, the film stars Peter Sarsgaard as Peter Lucian, an expert in identifying a symphony of almost undetectable sounds. When he is not collecting sounds, he is a “house tuner” who diagnoses the discordant ambient noises produced by everything from wind patterns to humming electrical appliances that adversely affect his clients’ moods. (Who knew a career like that existed?) When he is hired by a lonely, sleep-deprived woman named Ellen (Rashida Jones...
- 9/13/2019
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
Lorna Lee Torres commences international sales.
Magnolia Pictures has acquired worldwide rights to Tiff opener Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson And The Band ahead of its opening night world premiere slot on Thursday (5).
Magnolia head of international sales Lorna Lee Torres and international sales manager Marie Zeniter will launch sales in Toronto and all international rights are available excluding Canada, where the film will make its premiere as a Crave Original.
Daniel Roher directed Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson And The Band, the first Canadian-made documentary to open the festival. Magnolia plans an early 2020 theatrical release for the film, inspired by Robertson’s 2017 memoir Testimony,...
Magnolia Pictures has acquired worldwide rights to Tiff opener Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson And The Band ahead of its opening night world premiere slot on Thursday (5).
Magnolia head of international sales Lorna Lee Torres and international sales manager Marie Zeniter will launch sales in Toronto and all international rights are available excluding Canada, where the film will make its premiere as a Crave Original.
Daniel Roher directed Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson And The Band, the first Canadian-made documentary to open the festival. Magnolia plans an early 2020 theatrical release for the film, inspired by Robertson’s 2017 memoir Testimony,...
- 9/5/2019
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Magnolia Pictures has acquired the worldwide rights to “Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band,” which is playing at Tiff as the festival’s opening night gala presentation, Magnolia announced Thursday.
The documentary about Robertson and the classic rock group The Band is directed by Daniel Roher and is executive produced by Martin Scorsese, Brian Grazer and Ron Howard. Magnolia is planning a theatrical release for the film early next year.
“Once Were Brothers” is inspired by Robertson’s 2017 bestselling memoir “Testimony” and is a confessional, cautionary and sometimes humorous tale of Robertson’s young life amid the founding of The Band. The film blends archival footage and interviews with many of Robertson’s friends and collaborators, including Bruce Springsteen, Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, Scorsese, Taj Mahal, Peter Gabriel, David Geffen and Ronnie Hawkins, among others.
Also Read: 'Once Were Brothers' Film Review: Robbie Robertson Documentary Finds the Sadness...
The documentary about Robertson and the classic rock group The Band is directed by Daniel Roher and is executive produced by Martin Scorsese, Brian Grazer and Ron Howard. Magnolia is planning a theatrical release for the film early next year.
“Once Were Brothers” is inspired by Robertson’s 2017 bestselling memoir “Testimony” and is a confessional, cautionary and sometimes humorous tale of Robertson’s young life amid the founding of The Band. The film blends archival footage and interviews with many of Robertson’s friends and collaborators, including Bruce Springsteen, Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, Scorsese, Taj Mahal, Peter Gabriel, David Geffen and Ronnie Hawkins, among others.
Also Read: 'Once Were Brothers' Film Review: Robbie Robertson Documentary Finds the Sadness...
- 9/5/2019
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
If movies were simply judged by their educational and historical merits, “Official Secrets” would be a slam dunk. Based on real events, the drama about a British translator who leaked a top secret Nsa memo during the 2003 lead-up to the Iraq war fancies itself the next “Spotlight” or “The Post,” but its workmanlike translation is more fitting for social studies classrooms than awards conversations. Keira Knightley delivers a routine performance in a central role that is more expository than explosive, and the dramatic action builds around her character more like it would a glorified coat rack than a compelling heroine.
Based on the true story of British Intelligence whistleblower Katharine Gun (Knightley), “Official Secrets” begins with Katharine facing trial for treason in 2004 before cutting back to one year prior. While working as a Mandarin translator at Britain’s Government Communications Headquarters (G.C.H.Q.), Katharine is shocked to receive...
Based on the true story of British Intelligence whistleblower Katharine Gun (Knightley), “Official Secrets” begins with Katharine facing trial for treason in 2004 before cutting back to one year prior. While working as a Mandarin translator at Britain’s Government Communications Headquarters (G.C.H.Q.), Katharine is shocked to receive...
- 8/30/2019
- by Jude Dry
- Indiewire
Specialty film’s gravitational pull is anchored at the Telluride Film Festival this holiday weekend, while a moderate number of new limited releases begin their theatrical rollouts. IFC Films bio-drama Official Secrets starring Keira Knightley and Ralph Fiennes opens New York and L.A. Set against the lead-up to the U.S. invasion of Iraq, the Sundance premiere had been a number of years in the making. Sundance and SXSW doc Raise Hell: The Life & Times of Molly Ivins heads to select Texas locations after a strong showing of sneak screenings midweek. Pantelion has the weekend’s widest release among the debut specialties with Mexican comedy Tod@s Caen, starring Martha Higareda and Omar Chaparro. And 1091 is opening its first acquisition since the company’s relaunch, Before You Know It, starring Judith Light.
Other Labor Day weekend specialty releases include Forrest Films’ Bennett’s War and Blue Fox Entertainment...
Other Labor Day weekend specialty releases include Forrest Films’ Bennett’s War and Blue Fox Entertainment...
- 8/30/2019
- by Brian Brooks and Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
Filmmaker Gavin Hood is at his best when he gets political. The less said about his superhero outing X-Men Origins: Wolverine, the better, while Ender’s Game underwhelmed. However, after his breakthrough Tsotsi, efforts like Rendition, though especially Eye in the Sky and now Official Secrets, show how engaged he is when he’s passionate about a cause. Here, telling the true story of a British whistleblower in the lead up to the 2003 Iraq War, he’s found a terrific vehicle for his talents. The film is angry, urgent, and effortlessly well made. Hitting theaters this week, it’s a mature and serious work that’s well worth your time. The movie is a political thriller, based on the true story of Katharine Gun (Keira Knightley), a member of British Intelligence who leaked classified documents in an attempt to stop the 2003 invasion of Iraq. A longtime effective and loyal intelligence office,...
- 8/29/2019
- by Joey Magidson
- Hollywoodnews.com
As the UK’s Brexit political thriller plays out in real time, IFC Films has set a release date for director Gavin Hood’s take on another one from 15 years ago. Official Secrets, the story of Iraq-invasion whistleblower Katharine Gun, will hit select theaters on August 23.
The film, which premiered at Sundance in January, stars Keira Knightley as Gun. Charged with breaking the Official Secrets Act in Britain, and facing imprisonment, she reaches out to Ben Emmerson (Ralph Fiennes), one of the top lawyers in the country, to take her case and defend her actions. With her life, freedom and marriage threatened, Gun risks everything by leaking a classified email to the press in the hope that this simple act could help halt an unjust war.
The pic also stars Matthew Goode, Adam Bakri and Matt Smith as journalist Martin Bright, who first publicly broke the news about the memo.
The film, which premiered at Sundance in January, stars Keira Knightley as Gun. Charged with breaking the Official Secrets Act in Britain, and facing imprisonment, she reaches out to Ben Emmerson (Ralph Fiennes), one of the top lawyers in the country, to take her case and defend her actions. With her life, freedom and marriage threatened, Gun risks everything by leaking a classified email to the press in the hope that this simple act could help halt an unjust war.
The pic also stars Matthew Goode, Adam Bakri and Matt Smith as journalist Martin Bright, who first publicly broke the news about the memo.
- 4/2/2019
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
In January 2003, British government employee Katherine Gun was emailed a memo that requested she, and those she worked with at the Gchq (Government Communications Headquarters), listen in on the Un offices of six nations: Angola, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Chile, Guinea, and Pakistan. These countries held the crucial swing votes on the approval of the invasion of Iraq. Regarding this ask as illegal, Gun leaked the email to a friend with connections to The Observer. The information goes public and Gun’s life changes forever as the government charges her under the Official Secrets Act of 1989.
Directed by Gavin Hood and starring Keira Knightley as Gun, Official Secrets digs into this story with plenty of aplomb if not enough urgency. Such a languid pace at which this movie operates! Running at nearly two hours, the script, spends an admirable amount of time in its first act developing Gun as a character. Unfortunately,...
Directed by Gavin Hood and starring Keira Knightley as Gun, Official Secrets digs into this story with plenty of aplomb if not enough urgency. Such a languid pace at which this movie operates! Running at nearly two hours, the script, spends an admirable amount of time in its first act developing Gun as a character. Unfortunately,...
- 2/5/2019
- by Dan Mecca
- The Film Stage
IFC Films has acquired “Official Secrets,” a politically charged thriller with Keira Knightley and Ralph Fiennes that debuted at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.
Directed by Gavin Hood, the film is a ripped-from-the-headlines tale, this one about a Katharine Gun, a British whistleblower who leaked documents to the press. Her goal was to expose an illegal U.S./U.K. spying operation in the lead-up to the Iraq War that she hoped would lead citizens to question the rationale for the invasion. Gun, an intelligence translator, discovered that the governments were trying to strong arm the U.N. Security Counsel members in order to drum up support for deposing Saddam Hussein.
IFC is planning a traditional theatrical release at some point in 2019. The cast includes Matthew Goode, Matt Smith, and Rhys Ifans. Producers include Ged Doherty, Elizabeth Fowler, and Melissa Shiyu Zuo.
Hood teamed with Sara Bernstein and Gregory Bernstein...
Directed by Gavin Hood, the film is a ripped-from-the-headlines tale, this one about a Katharine Gun, a British whistleblower who leaked documents to the press. Her goal was to expose an illegal U.S./U.K. spying operation in the lead-up to the Iraq War that she hoped would lead citizens to question the rationale for the invasion. Gun, an intelligence translator, discovered that the governments were trying to strong arm the U.N. Security Counsel members in order to drum up support for deposing Saddam Hussein.
IFC is planning a traditional theatrical release at some point in 2019. The cast includes Matthew Goode, Matt Smith, and Rhys Ifans. Producers include Ged Doherty, Elizabeth Fowler, and Melissa Shiyu Zuo.
Hood teamed with Sara Bernstein and Gregory Bernstein...
- 2/2/2019
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Brian Grazer and Ron Howard’s Imagine Documentaries unit has struck an exclusive, first-look deal with Apple to produce a slate of feature documentaries and docuseries.
The longtime Imagine partners launched their new documentary unit last June, bringing on Justin Wilkes, the former president of RadicalMedia, to serve as its president, as well as former HBO exec Sara Bernstein as its executive vp.
Imagine — whose past forays into nonfiction filmmaking include the National Geographic hybrid docuseries Mars and Breakthrough, as well as the feature doc The Beatles: Eight Days a Week (which was acquired by Hulu) — is currently ...
The longtime Imagine partners launched their new documentary unit last June, bringing on Justin Wilkes, the former president of RadicalMedia, to serve as its president, as well as former HBO exec Sara Bernstein as its executive vp.
Imagine — whose past forays into nonfiction filmmaking include the National Geographic hybrid docuseries Mars and Breakthrough, as well as the feature doc The Beatles: Eight Days a Week (which was acquired by Hulu) — is currently ...
- 1/18/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Ralph Fiennes and Matthew Goode will join Keira Knightley and Matt Smith in the real-life spy thriller Official Secrets.
Mark Gordon and eOne are behind the film that centers on British intelligence whistleblower Katharine Gun (Knightley), who, during the immediate run-up to the 2003 Iraq invasion, leaked a top-secret National Security Agency memo exposing a joint U.S.-U.K. illegal spying operation against members of the Un Security Council.
Oscar-winner Gavin Hood (Tsotsi) will direct the film, which is set to begin shooting next month in England. Sara and Greg Bernstein penned the feature, which is based on the novel The Spy Who Tried to...
Mark Gordon and eOne are behind the film that centers on British intelligence whistleblower Katharine Gun (Knightley), who, during the immediate run-up to the 2003 Iraq invasion, leaked a top-secret National Security Agency memo exposing a joint U.S.-U.K. illegal spying operation against members of the Un Security Council.
Oscar-winner Gavin Hood (Tsotsi) will direct the film, which is set to begin shooting next month in England. Sara and Greg Bernstein penned the feature, which is based on the novel The Spy Who Tried to...
- 3/8/2018
- by Mia Galuppo
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Keira Knightley and Matt Smith are set to star in the real-life spy thriller Official Secrets from Mark Gordon and eOne.
The feature centers on British Intelligence whistle-blower Katharine Gun (Knightley), who, during the immediate run-up to the 2003 Iraq invasion, leaked a top-secret NSA memo exposing a joint U.S.-U.K. illegal spying operation against members of the Un Security Council.
Oscar winner Gavin Hood (Tsotsi) will direct the film, which is set to begin shooting next month in England. Sara and Greg Bernstein penned the feature that is based on the novel, The Spy Who Tried To Stop A War, by Marcia and...
The feature centers on British Intelligence whistle-blower Katharine Gun (Knightley), who, during the immediate run-up to the 2003 Iraq invasion, leaked a top-secret NSA memo exposing a joint U.S.-U.K. illegal spying operation against members of the Un Security Council.
Oscar winner Gavin Hood (Tsotsi) will direct the film, which is set to begin shooting next month in England. Sara and Greg Bernstein penned the feature that is based on the novel, The Spy Who Tried To Stop A War, by Marcia and...
- 2/12/2018
- by Mia Galuppo
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Sierra/Affinity to launch sales at Efm. Spy thriller set to begin production on March 12 in Yorkshire, England.
Keira Knightley, fresh from the triumphant world premiere and sale of period drama Colette in Sundance, will shift gears and star as British intelligence whistle-blower Katharine Gun alongside Matt Smith in Official Secrets, Mark Gordon and eOne announced on Monday (February 12).
Sierra/Affinity will launch international sales at the Efm this week in all territories excluding Canada, the UK, Australia and New Zealand, Germany, Benelux and Spain, where eOne distributes directly. CAA and UTA Independent Film Group represent Us rights.
Official Secrets has been in the works for years with various cast members coming and going, however a reconstituted version has finally come together for the Efm ahead of a scheduled March 12 start date in Yorkshire, England.
eOne will oversee production and finances with Screen Yorkshire and producer Melissa Shiyu Zuo through her Gs Media.
Gavin Hood will direct...
Keira Knightley, fresh from the triumphant world premiere and sale of period drama Colette in Sundance, will shift gears and star as British intelligence whistle-blower Katharine Gun alongside Matt Smith in Official Secrets, Mark Gordon and eOne announced on Monday (February 12).
Sierra/Affinity will launch international sales at the Efm this week in all territories excluding Canada, the UK, Australia and New Zealand, Germany, Benelux and Spain, where eOne distributes directly. CAA and UTA Independent Film Group represent Us rights.
Official Secrets has been in the works for years with various cast members coming and going, however a reconstituted version has finally come together for the Efm ahead of a scheduled March 12 start date in Yorkshire, England.
eOne will oversee production and finances with Screen Yorkshire and producer Melissa Shiyu Zuo through her Gs Media.
Gavin Hood will direct...
- 2/12/2018
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Spy thriller set to star Paul Bettany, Natalie Dormer and Harrison Ford.
The Solution Entertainment Group has licensed key territories at Efm to its upcoming all-star spy thriller Official Secrets.
Paul Bettany [pictured], Natalie Dormer, Martin Freeman, Anthony Hopkins and Harrison Ford star, while Tahar Rahim is circling the project and Gillian Anderson is in active talks to join the cast.
Snd has acquired rights for France, Notorious Pictures for Italy, Corbi for Spain, and Swen Group International for Latin America.
The Solution’s co-founder and partner Lisa Wilson and her team have also closed deals in: Portugal (Cinemundo), the Middle East (Eagle Films), Greece and India (Tanweer), South Africa (Times Media Films), Taiwan (Ipa), Turkey (Aqua/Pinema Group), Indonesia (Pt Prima), and Singapore (Shaw Organisation).
Entertainment In Motion picked up airlines rights and talks are ongoing with other major territories.
Production is set for May in the UK. Justin Chadwick directs the story about a journalist...
The Solution Entertainment Group has licensed key territories at Efm to its upcoming all-star spy thriller Official Secrets.
Paul Bettany [pictured], Natalie Dormer, Martin Freeman, Anthony Hopkins and Harrison Ford star, while Tahar Rahim is circling the project and Gillian Anderson is in active talks to join the cast.
Snd has acquired rights for France, Notorious Pictures for Italy, Corbi for Spain, and Swen Group International for Latin America.
The Solution’s co-founder and partner Lisa Wilson and her team have also closed deals in: Portugal (Cinemundo), the Middle East (Eagle Films), Greece and India (Tanweer), South Africa (Times Media Films), Taiwan (Ipa), Turkey (Aqua/Pinema Group), Indonesia (Pt Prima), and Singapore (Shaw Organisation).
Entertainment In Motion picked up airlines rights and talks are ongoing with other major territories.
Production is set for May in the UK. Justin Chadwick directs the story about a journalist...
- 2/15/2016
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Paul Bettany (Avengers film series, Iron Man film series), Natalie Dormer (The Hunger Games trilogy, The Forest, HBO’s ‘Game Of Thrones’), Martin Freeman (The Hobbit films, upcoming Captain America: Civil War, Sherlock), Sir Anthony Hopkins and Harrison Ford have joined the espionage thriller Official Secrets which will be produced by Elizabeth Fowler (Devil’S Knot).
Justin Chadwick (Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom, The Other Boleyn Girl) will direct the true story based on the best-selling book The Spy Who Tried To Stop A War: Katherine Gun and The Secret Plot to Sanction the Iraq Invasion. The screenplay is written by Sara and Gregory Bernstein.
The Solution Entertainment Group’s Lisa Wilson and Myles Nestel are executive producing the feature film and are handling the financing and international sales at the upcoming European Film Market. UTA Independent Film Group packaged the project and represents domestic rights.
The film is slated...
Justin Chadwick (Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom, The Other Boleyn Girl) will direct the true story based on the best-selling book The Spy Who Tried To Stop A War: Katherine Gun and The Secret Plot to Sanction the Iraq Invasion. The screenplay is written by Sara and Gregory Bernstein.
The Solution Entertainment Group’s Lisa Wilson and Myles Nestel are executive producing the feature film and are handling the financing and international sales at the upcoming European Film Market. UTA Independent Film Group packaged the project and represents domestic rights.
The film is slated...
- 1/29/2016
- by Kellvin Chavez
- LRMonline.com
Paul Bettany (Avengers film series, Iron Man film series), Natalie Dormer (The Hunger Games trilogy, The Forest, HBO’s ‘Game Of Thrones’), Martin Freeman (The Hobbit films, upcoming Captain America: Civil War, Sherlock), Sir Anthony Hopkins and Harrison Ford have joined the espionage thriller Official Secrets which will be produced by Elizabeth Fowler (Devil’S Knot).
Justin Chadwick (Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom, The Other Boleyn Girl) will direct the true story based on the best-selling book The Spy Who Tried To Stop A War: Katherine Gun and The Secret Plot to Sanction the Iraq Invasion. The screenplay is written by Sara and Gregory Bernstein.
The Solution Entertainment Group’s Lisa Wilson and Myles Nestel are executive producing the feature film and are handling the financing and international sales at the upcoming European Film Market. UTA Independent Film Group packaged the project and represents domestic rights.
The film is slated...
Justin Chadwick (Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom, The Other Boleyn Girl) will direct the true story based on the best-selling book The Spy Who Tried To Stop A War: Katherine Gun and The Secret Plot to Sanction the Iraq Invasion. The screenplay is written by Sara and Gregory Bernstein.
The Solution Entertainment Group’s Lisa Wilson and Myles Nestel are executive producing the feature film and are handling the financing and international sales at the upcoming European Film Market. UTA Independent Film Group packaged the project and represents domestic rights.
The film is slated...
- 1/29/2016
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Paul Bettany, Natalie Dormer, Martin Freeman, Sir Anthony Hopkins and Harrison Ford have joined the cast of the espionage thriller "Official Secrets".
Justin Chadwick ("Mandela: A Long Walk to Freedom," "The Other Boleyn Girl") directs the true story which is set in the run up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Dormer plays a young British intelligence officer who reveals the existence of a secret illegal Nsa spy operation against the Un Security Council to a British journalist (Bettany).
Her arrest following the leak makes headlines around the world, and attempting to gain the evidence to free her, the journalist unearths the shocking plot which puts both their lives in jeopardy. Freeman will play a newspaper editor, Hopkins a retired UK general and Ford a CIA agent.
Sara and Gregory Bernstein adapted the script from the novel "The Spy Who Tried To Stop A War". Elizabeth Fowler will produce and filming...
Justin Chadwick ("Mandela: A Long Walk to Freedom," "The Other Boleyn Girl") directs the true story which is set in the run up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Dormer plays a young British intelligence officer who reveals the existence of a secret illegal Nsa spy operation against the Un Security Council to a British journalist (Bettany).
Her arrest following the leak makes headlines around the world, and attempting to gain the evidence to free her, the journalist unearths the shocking plot which puts both their lives in jeopardy. Freeman will play a newspaper editor, Hopkins a retired UK general and Ford a CIA agent.
Sara and Gregory Bernstein adapted the script from the novel "The Spy Who Tried To Stop A War". Elizabeth Fowler will produce and filming...
- 1/29/2016
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Well, Justin Chadwick’s Official Secrets just got a whole lot more exciting, as the project has added Harrison Ford, Natalie Dormer and Paul Bettany to its cast. Based on the best-selling novel The Spy Who Tried To Stop A War: Katherine Gun and The Secret Plot to Sanction the Iraq Invasion,” principal photography is set to get underway on the film this May in the UK.
With a script by Sara and Gregory Bernstein, and Elizabeth Fowler overseeing producing duties, Official Secrets is shaping up to be a pretty hot project, especially now that those three aforementioned talents have joined the film, where they’ll star alongside the already cast Martin Freeman and Anthony Hopkins.
For more information, check out the official plot synopsis below:
In the run up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Katharine Gun (Dormer), a young British intelligence officer reveals a secret illegal Nsa spy operation...
With a script by Sara and Gregory Bernstein, and Elizabeth Fowler overseeing producing duties, Official Secrets is shaping up to be a pretty hot project, especially now that those three aforementioned talents have joined the film, where they’ll star alongside the already cast Martin Freeman and Anthony Hopkins.
For more information, check out the official plot synopsis below:
In the run up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Katharine Gun (Dormer), a young British intelligence officer reveals a secret illegal Nsa spy operation...
- 1/29/2016
- by Josh Wilding
- We Got This Covered
Paul Bettany, Natalie Dormer, Martin Freeman, Anthony Hopkins and Harrison Ford will star in the spy thriller that looks certain to get buyers buzzing ahead of the Efm next month.
Justin Chadwick, whose credits include Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom and The Other Boleyn Girl, will direct and production is set to kick off in the UK in May.
Official Secrets centres on a young British intelligence officer who passes on to a journalist details of an illegal Nsa operation against the Un Security Council to pave the way for the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
Dormer will play the operative, Bettany the reporter at The Observer newspaper and Freeman the newspaper’s foreign affairs editor. Hopkins is cast as a retired UK general and Ford – red-hot on the back of the global success of Stars Wars: The Force Awakens – a CIA agent.
The Solution Entertainment Group is financing and will commence sales at the Efm next month. UTA Independent...
Justin Chadwick, whose credits include Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom and The Other Boleyn Girl, will direct and production is set to kick off in the UK in May.
Official Secrets centres on a young British intelligence officer who passes on to a journalist details of an illegal Nsa operation against the Un Security Council to pave the way for the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
Dormer will play the operative, Bettany the reporter at The Observer newspaper and Freeman the newspaper’s foreign affairs editor. Hopkins is cast as a retired UK general and Ford – red-hot on the back of the global success of Stars Wars: The Force Awakens – a CIA agent.
The Solution Entertainment Group is financing and will commence sales at the Efm next month. UTA Independent...
- 1/28/2016
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
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.