American Utopia
Spike Lee’s filmed version of David Byrne’s hit Broadway show “American Utopia” is set to open this year’s Toronto Film Festival. Lee shot the production during its Hudson Theatre run and the concert film will debut on HBO this fall.
The concert comprises performances of songs from Byrne’s 2018 solo album of the same name as well as works from his Talking Heads years such as Once in a Lifetime and Burning Down the House. [Source: TIFF]
Elisabeth Moss
“Handmaid’s Tale” star Elisabeth Moss and her new production company Love & Squalor Pictures have done a joint first-look deal with Hulu and Fox 21 Television Studios. The company will focus on creating TV and film content for all platforms.
First is a psychosexual neo-noir thriller anthology titled “Black Match” for Hulu in which Moss will star. Set in modern day Los Angeles, it comes from an original script written by Ian McCulloch. Mike Barker is attached to direct the pilot. [Source: Variety]
Untitled M. Night Shyamalan
Gael Garcia Bernal (“Y Tu Mama Tambien,” “Mozart in the Jungle”) is set to star in M. Night Shyamalan’s newest mysterious thriller feature to be distributed by Universal Pictures on July 23rd next year.
He joins the superb ensemble already assembled including Eliza Scanlen, Thomasin McKenzie, Aaron Pierre, Alex Wolff, Vicky Krieps, Abbey Lee, Nikki Amuka-Bird, and Ken Leung. No title or plot details have yet been revealed. [Source: The Playlist]
The Sky Is Everywhere
Grace Kaufman (“The Last Ship,” “Man with a Plan”) has scored the lead role in Apple and A24’s adaptation of the Jandy Nelson young adult novel “The Sky Is Everywhere”. This marks her first lead role in a major studio film.
Nelson will adapt and write the script from her own novel, and Josephine Decker (“Shirley,” “Madeline’s Madeline”) is attached to direct. The story follows a teen as she works through the loss of her sister, a journey that includes accidentally falling in love. [Source: Deadline]
Nine Perfect Strangers
Grace Van Patten (“Under The Silver Lake”) has joined Hulu’s limited series “Nine Perfect Strangers” opposite Nicole Kidman, Melissa McCarthy, Luke Evans, Samara Weaving, Manny Jacinto and Melvin Gregg.
The story is set at a boutique health-and-wellness resort that promises healing and transformation as nine stressed city dwellers try to get on a path to a better way of living. Van Patten will play Zoe, one of the nine strangers. [Source: TheDisInsider]
