Lupita Nyong’o in ‘Little Monsters’ (Photo credit: Ben King)
Universal Pictures has won a bidding war for a sci–fi action comedy from writer-director Abe Forsythe and Made Up Stories which will star Lupita Nyong’o — the creative team behind Little Monsters.
Miss Universe is described as a cross between Men In Black and Miss Congeniality, according to Deadline which broke the story.
Nyong’o will produce with Made Up Stories’ Bruna Papandrea, Jodi Matterson and Steve Hutensky. Emil Stern, Sigmund Stern and Jeanne Snow will be executive producers.
The project germinated while Forsythe was in post on Little Monsters, for which Universal acquired the Australian rights.
“It’s a female-driven, very high concept sci-fi action comedy,” Matterson tells If. The plan is to begin production next year, hopefully in Australia.
“We were thrilled with the responses (from the Us studios) to Miss Universe,” Jodi says. “Little Monsters proved what Abe is capable of.
Universal Pictures has won a bidding war for a sci–fi action comedy from writer-director Abe Forsythe and Made Up Stories which will star Lupita Nyong’o — the creative team behind Little Monsters.
Miss Universe is described as a cross between Men In Black and Miss Congeniality, according to Deadline which broke the story.
Nyong’o will produce with Made Up Stories’ Bruna Papandrea, Jodi Matterson and Steve Hutensky. Emil Stern, Sigmund Stern and Jeanne Snow will be executive producers.
The project germinated while Forsythe was in post on Little Monsters, for which Universal acquired the Australian rights.
“It’s a female-driven, very high concept sci-fi action comedy,” Matterson tells If. The plan is to begin production next year, hopefully in Australia.
“We were thrilled with the responses (from the Us studios) to Miss Universe,” Jodi says. “Little Monsters proved what Abe is capable of.
- 5/2/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Exclusive: Universal Pictures has won an auction for a sci-fi comedy that is a star vehicle for Lupita Nyong’o, who will re-team with the principals behind Little Monsters, the Sundance film that sold to Neon and Hulu. Abe Forsythe is writing the script and directing. Nyong’o will produce with Made Up Stories’ Bruna Papandrea, Jodi Matterson and Steve Hutensky. Emil Stern, Sigmund Stern and Jeanne Snow will be executive producers.
The project was pitched as Miss Universe — it won’t go out under that title –and sources describe it as Men In Black meets Miss Congeniality.
Forsythe is the Australian filmmaker who also wrote and directed Down Under. Already an Oscar winner for her breakout film 12 Years A Slave, Nyong’o has greatly elevated her star recently with electric turns in the Jordan Peele-directed Us for Universal, and the Ryan Coogler-directed Marvel blockbuster Black Panther.
The project was pitched as Miss Universe — it won’t go out under that title –and sources describe it as Men In Black meets Miss Congeniality.
Forsythe is the Australian filmmaker who also wrote and directed Down Under. Already an Oscar winner for her breakout film 12 Years A Slave, Nyong’o has greatly elevated her star recently with electric turns in the Jordan Peele-directed Us for Universal, and the Ryan Coogler-directed Marvel blockbuster Black Panther.
- 5/2/2019
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Lee Stobby has joined Silent R Management as a literary manager, TheWrap has learned. Stobby, who was previously a manager at Caliber Media, began his career at Industry Entertainment after working at several production companies, including Double Feature Films and Misher Films. Clients who will be traveling with Stobby to Silent R include filmmaker Rodney Ascher (“Room 237″), director Kaare Andrews (“Cabin Fever: Patient Zero”), writer Emil Stern (“Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole”), writer Lindsay Stidham (“Douchebag”), director Tomasz Thomson (“Snowman’s Land”) and writer Kate Trefry, whose script “Pure O” was voted to the 2013 Black List.
- 1/31/2014
- by Jeff Sneider
- The Wrap
Legend Of The Guardians:the Owls Of Ga' Hoole – (3D Blu-ray)Warner Home Entertainment2010/Rated PG/Running Time 97 minsList Price $44.98 – Now AvailableWhat would possess Zack Snyder to make a kiddie film about owls? I remember asking myself this question many months back when I first caught the trailer for the 300 director's latest, Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole. Had Snyder licked one too many Tootsie Roll pops or was he trying to show Warner Bros., the studio which had produced his last two films, that he could be a versatile director? Perhaps making a sure fire hit children's film was the only way the studio would back a radical idea like his bizarre looking epic Sucker Punch? Whatever the reason, I don't really care, because Lotg not only marks Snyder's best film, but proves he can handle stories of substance over style. Not that any of Snyder's familiar style is missing from Lotg,...
- 12/30/2010
- LRMonline.com
Chicago – The best parts of a Zack Snyder picture have consistently been the opening title sequences, from “Dawn of the Dead”’s apocalyptic montage to “Watchmen”’s brilliant prologue scored to Bob Dylan’s “The Time They Are A-Changin’.” Snyder’s latest problematic novel adaptation, “Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole” is no exception.
The film kicks off with a promising opening shot from an owl’s perspective, soaring through the air to show off the spectacular work of the animators. Billowing clouds, breathtaking waterfalls, and towering trees provide the photogenic framework for the gorgeously lensed owls, and for a fleeting moment, the film succeeds in capturing the exhilarating freedom of flight. Yet the film instantly falls apart once the owls open their beaks and celebrity voices come tumbling out.
Blu-Ray Rating: 2.5/5.0
More than any recent computer animated adventure, “Ga’Hoole” begs the question: why go...
The film kicks off with a promising opening shot from an owl’s perspective, soaring through the air to show off the spectacular work of the animators. Billowing clouds, breathtaking waterfalls, and towering trees provide the photogenic framework for the gorgeously lensed owls, and for a fleeting moment, the film succeeds in capturing the exhilarating freedom of flight. Yet the film instantly falls apart once the owls open their beaks and celebrity voices come tumbling out.
Blu-Ray Rating: 2.5/5.0
More than any recent computer animated adventure, “Ga’Hoole” begs the question: why go...
- 12/27/2010
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole didn’t receive a kind reception from critics when it first hit theaters. The story about two child owls who get separated from their family only to engage in a Cain and Abel story did not resonate well in the hearts of adults.
Perhaps that’s because Director Zack Snyder (Superman: Man of Steel, Sucker Punch) and screenwriters John Orloff (Anonymous) and Emil Stern (Tenderness) did not intend for it to be an overly gritty film in the vein of The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Instead, the team set out to service the original novel series of Kathryn Lasky as best they could. They do so to modest success. The soul of the story, a young owl that triumphs over great adversity is still there, which will be enough to hit home with younger audiences. However, some key details were...
Perhaps that’s because Director Zack Snyder (Superman: Man of Steel, Sucker Punch) and screenwriters John Orloff (Anonymous) and Emil Stern (Tenderness) did not intend for it to be an overly gritty film in the vein of The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Instead, the team set out to service the original novel series of Kathryn Lasky as best they could. They do so to modest success. The soul of the story, a young owl that triumphs over great adversity is still there, which will be enough to hit home with younger audiences. However, some key details were...
- 12/20/2010
- by Bags
- BuzzFocus.com
Legend of the Guardians – The Owls of Ga’Hoole (which I’m not going to say again) stands out as nothing so much as a missed opportunity, though one which may be serviceable enough for a sufficiently young demographic. Following the story of a young owl who is abducted and forced into slave labor, Legend of the Guardians quickly becomes a quest film (which utterly abandons that quest), as our owlet Soren must escape and find his way to the titular warriors, who may or may not really exist.
Opening on a normal family of owls, and Soren’s first lessons in flight, we are told the history and mythos of owl life, and learn that a mighty battle in the not so distant past is responsible for the peaceful life the owls now enjoy. Soren dreams of being a Guardian, but the legend has turned to fairy tale for most,...
Opening on a normal family of owls, and Soren’s first lessons in flight, we are told the history and mythos of owl life, and learn that a mighty battle in the not so distant past is responsible for the peaceful life the owls now enjoy. Soren dreams of being a Guardian, but the legend has turned to fairy tale for most,...
- 10/15/2010
- by Marc Eastman
- AreYouScreening.com
Writer John Orloff explains how, with the help of technology, he never felt limited when creating the film world of Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole.
How did you get involved with Guardians?
An executive I knew at Warner asked me what kind of movies I was interested in and I said I’d love to do a fantasy or sci-fi film, but nobody hires me for that because they want me to write non-fiction-based material. She sent me a number of books, including a full book set of Guardians. I read the first one and thought it was unlike any world I had ever seen before, it wasn’t incredibly derivative of Tolkien like so many fantasy books are and it had its own universe and its own rules. That was almost four years ago.
The film condenses the story of the first three books. Why?...
How did you get involved with Guardians?
An executive I knew at Warner asked me what kind of movies I was interested in and I said I’d love to do a fantasy or sci-fi film, but nobody hires me for that because they want me to write non-fiction-based material. She sent me a number of books, including a full book set of Guardians. I read the first one and thought it was unlike any world I had ever seen before, it wasn’t incredibly derivative of Tolkien like so many fantasy books are and it had its own universe and its own rules. That was almost four years ago.
The film condenses the story of the first three books. Why?...
- 9/30/2010
- by Miguel Gonzalez
- Encore Magazine
Rendered in 3-D, director Zack Snyder’s “Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole” can often be a breathtaking experience. For its rapturous imagery and mythical sensibilities, “Guardians” aspires to something akin to “Avatar” or the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy. In fact, the attention to texture and detail that Snyder and his team have invested in depicting everything from the film’s painterly landscapes to every individual feather of its largely avian cast is downright impressive.
Writers John Orloff and Emil Stern adapted Kathryn Lasky’s popular children novels about two warring kingdoms of owls — the noble Guardians and the evil Pure Ones. From the looks of it, Orloff and Stern do their best with an overload of characters, numerous byplays, backstory and incidents, but, finally, the job of condensing the full scope of a novel into a 90-minute fantasy flick asks too much of both the form and the audience.
Writers John Orloff and Emil Stern adapted Kathryn Lasky’s popular children novels about two warring kingdoms of owls — the noble Guardians and the evil Pure Ones. From the looks of it, Orloff and Stern do their best with an overload of characters, numerous byplays, backstory and incidents, but, finally, the job of condensing the full scope of a novel into a 90-minute fantasy flick asks too much of both the form and the audience.
- 9/23/2010
- Moving Pictures Magazine
Acclaimed filmmaker Zack Snyder makes his animation debut with the fantasy family adventure Legend Of The Guardians – The Owls Of Ga Hoole based on the beloved Guardians of Ga’Hoole books by Kathryn Lasky. Warner Bros. Pictures has released this music video “To The Sky” by Owl City. Enjoy!
Synopsis:
The film follows Soren, a young owl enthralled by his father’s epic stories of the Guardians of Ga’ Hoole, a mythic band of winged warriors who had fought a great battle to save all of owlkind from the evil Pure Ones. While Soren dreams of someday joining his heroes, his older brother, Kludd, scoffs at the notion, and yearns to hunt, fly and steal his father’s favor from his younger sibling. But Kludd’s jealousy has terrible consequences.causing both owlets to fall from their treetop home and right into the talons of the Pure Ones. Now it...
Synopsis:
The film follows Soren, a young owl enthralled by his father’s epic stories of the Guardians of Ga’ Hoole, a mythic band of winged warriors who had fought a great battle to save all of owlkind from the evil Pure Ones. While Soren dreams of someday joining his heroes, his older brother, Kludd, scoffs at the notion, and yearns to hunt, fly and steal his father’s favor from his younger sibling. But Kludd’s jealousy has terrible consequences.causing both owlets to fall from their treetop home and right into the talons of the Pure Ones. Now it...
- 9/11/2010
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
We started hearing about director Zack Snyder working on adapting Kathryn Lasky's Guardians of Ga’Hoole as his first foray into animation as his work on The Watchmen was concluding. Legend of the Guardians is finally opening on September 24 and Warner Bros. just released the first one-sheet for the feature.
Here are the other vital stats:
Cast: Emily Barclay, Abbie Cornish, Ryan Kwanten, Anthony Lapaglia, Miriam Margolyes, Helen Mirren, Sam Neill, Geoffrey Rush, Jim Sturgess, Hugo Weaving, Richard Roxburgh, David Wenham
Writers: John Orloff and Emil Stern
Producer: Zareh Nalbandian
Executive Producers: Donald De Line, Deborah Snyder, Lionel Wigram, Chris DeFaria, Kathryn Lasky, Bruce Berman
Fantasy Adventure. Acclaimed filmmaker Zack Snyder makes his animation debut with the fantasy family adventure. The film follows Soren, a young owl enthralled by his father’s epic stories of the Guardians of Ga’Hoole, a mythic band of winged warriors who had fought...
Here are the other vital stats:
Cast: Emily Barclay, Abbie Cornish, Ryan Kwanten, Anthony Lapaglia, Miriam Margolyes, Helen Mirren, Sam Neill, Geoffrey Rush, Jim Sturgess, Hugo Weaving, Richard Roxburgh, David Wenham
Writers: John Orloff and Emil Stern
Producer: Zareh Nalbandian
Executive Producers: Donald De Line, Deborah Snyder, Lionel Wigram, Chris DeFaria, Kathryn Lasky, Bruce Berman
Fantasy Adventure. Acclaimed filmmaker Zack Snyder makes his animation debut with the fantasy family adventure. The film follows Soren, a young owl enthralled by his father’s epic stories of the Guardians of Ga’Hoole, a mythic band of winged warriors who had fought...
- 7/30/2010
- by Robert Greenberger
- Comicmix.com
From Yahoo! Movies comes this trailer for the animated movie, Legend Of The Guardians The Owls Of Ga’Hoole, from director Zack Snyder (Watchmen, 300).
Synopsis:
Soren, is a young owl enthralled by his father’s epic stories of the Guardians of Ga’Hoole, a mythic band of winged warriors who had fought a great battle to save all of owl kind from the evil Pure Ones. While Soren dreams of someday joining his heroes, his older brother, Kludd, scoffs at the notion, and yearns to hunt, fly and steal his father’s favor from his younger sibling. But Kludd’s jealousy has terrible consequences–causing both owlets to fall from their treetop home and right into the talons of the Pure Ones. Now it is up to Soren to make a daring escape with the help of other brave young owls. Together they soar across the sea and through the...
Synopsis:
Soren, is a young owl enthralled by his father’s epic stories of the Guardians of Ga’Hoole, a mythic band of winged warriors who had fought a great battle to save all of owl kind from the evil Pure Ones. While Soren dreams of someday joining his heroes, his older brother, Kludd, scoffs at the notion, and yearns to hunt, fly and steal his father’s favor from his younger sibling. But Kludd’s jealousy has terrible consequences–causing both owlets to fall from their treetop home and right into the talons of the Pure Ones. Now it is up to Soren to make a daring escape with the help of other brave young owls. Together they soar across the sea and through the...
- 6/16/2010
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Today we've been provided with the new trailer for fantasy adventure Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'hoole, along with the official synopsis and details.
The Warner Bros family film, which will be director Zack Snyder's animation debut, is released in 3D in UK cinemas on October 15, 2010. The trailer is embedded below.
The synopsis is as follows:
Acclaimed filmmaker Zack Snyder makes his animation debut with the fantasy family adventure Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole, based on the beloved Guardians of Ga'Hoole books by Kathryn Lasky.
The film follows Soren, a young owl enthralled by his father's epic stories of the Guardians of Ga' Hoole, a mythic band of winged warriors who had fought a great battle to save all of owlkind from the evil Pure Ones.
While Soren dreams of someday joining his heroes, his older brother, Kludd, scoffs at the notion, and yearns to hunt,...
The Warner Bros family film, which will be director Zack Snyder's animation debut, is released in 3D in UK cinemas on October 15, 2010. The trailer is embedded below.
The synopsis is as follows:
Acclaimed filmmaker Zack Snyder makes his animation debut with the fantasy family adventure Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole, based on the beloved Guardians of Ga'Hoole books by Kathryn Lasky.
The film follows Soren, a young owl enthralled by his father's epic stories of the Guardians of Ga' Hoole, a mythic band of winged warriors who had fought a great battle to save all of owlkind from the evil Pure Ones.
While Soren dreams of someday joining his heroes, his older brother, Kludd, scoffs at the notion, and yearns to hunt,...
- 6/16/2010
- by David Bentley
- The Geek Files
Chicago – It’s been awhile since the ultra-useful DVD Round-Up brought you a wave of recently released DVDs that slipped below the mainstream radar but we’re back with a very star-powered installment of your favorite column and you can now expect us to return with monthly editions. Russell Crowe and Joseph Gordon-Levitt lead the way for this revamped list of synopses, cast info, tech specs, and special features. Pick your favorites from the quartet below.
“Tony” was released on April 6th, 2010.
“Tenderness” was released on April 13th, 2010.
“Neowolf” was released on April 20th, 2010.
“Uncertainty” will be released on April 27th, 2010.
“Tenderness”
Photo credit: Lionsgate Home Video
Synopsis: “A career-hardened detective (Oscar winner Russell Crowe) becomes obsesses with the early release of Eric, a teenaged serial killer he helped send to prison. While the detective trails the young psychopath, Eric is joined by a troubled girl who knows the predator’s darkest secrets and desires.
“Tony” was released on April 6th, 2010.
“Tenderness” was released on April 13th, 2010.
“Neowolf” was released on April 20th, 2010.
“Uncertainty” will be released on April 27th, 2010.
“Tenderness”
Photo credit: Lionsgate Home Video
Synopsis: “A career-hardened detective (Oscar winner Russell Crowe) becomes obsesses with the early release of Eric, a teenaged serial killer he helped send to prison. While the detective trails the young psychopath, Eric is joined by a troubled girl who knows the predator’s darkest secrets and desires.
- 4/23/2010
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
- Picked up by Lionsgate Films exactly two years ago, despite having an unsexy Russell Crowe in the lead, John Polson's Tenderness has been collecting dust and judging by the film's trailer below, it could be argued that this looks like straight to video fair than an improvement on Swimfan and Hide and Seek. Until now it hadn't seen the day of light having been showed solely in market festival screenings, but a recent submission to the MPAA board for ratings purposes and a world preem back in Sydney means we can expect this to hit theaters. Based on writer Emil Stern's adaptation of Robert Cormier's teen serial killer novel, set in New York State, the story centres on the release of juvenile murderer, Eric Poole, who at 18 is set free with an expunged record. Crowe’s character, the arresting detective Cristofuoro, is sure Poole is a serial killer who will reoffend,
- 3/3/2009
- IONCINEMA.com
Lionsgate Films U.K. have debuted the first look into "Tenderness" with the release of the film's trailer. Less than two minutes long, the video gives away a background story to the movie as well as displays footage introducing its four major characters played by Russell Crowe, Jon Foster, Sophie Traub and Laura Dern.
Set in New York State, "Tenderness" takes its focus on juvenile murderer by the name of Eric Poole and hard-bitten detective Cristofuoro. Having served his sentence for a young girl's murder, Poole is released from jail at the age of 18-year-old.
When he embarks on a road trip up-state, Cristofuoro who believes that Poole is a potential serial killer keeps him under his watchful eyes. But, all is not as it seems as Poole soon finds himself on the run with a 16-year-old girl, Lori, who could have been witness to the first murder and has become obsessed with him.
Set in New York State, "Tenderness" takes its focus on juvenile murderer by the name of Eric Poole and hard-bitten detective Cristofuoro. Having served his sentence for a young girl's murder, Poole is released from jail at the age of 18-year-old.
When he embarks on a road trip up-state, Cristofuoro who believes that Poole is a potential serial killer keeps him under his watchful eyes. But, all is not as it seems as Poole soon finds himself on the run with a 16-year-old girl, Lori, who could have been witness to the first murder and has become obsessed with him.
- 1/21/2009
- by AceShowbiz.com
- Aceshowbiz
- #62. The Life Before Her Eyes Director: Vadim PerelmanWriters: Emil Stern (The Tenderness) Producers: Marc Butan (We Own the Night), Anthony Katagas, Aimée Peyronnet (The Lovely Bones) and Perelman Distributor: Magnolia Pictures The Gist: Based on the best-selling novel by Laura Kasischke and written by Emil Stern, a suburban wife and mother (Thurman) begins to question her seemingly perfect life--and perhaps her sanity--on the 15th anniversary of a tragic high school shooting that took the life of her best friend. In flashbacks, Diana is a vibrant high schooler (Rachel Wood) who, with her shy best friend Maureen, plot typical teenage strategies-- Fact: This was quickly picked up at the Toronto film festival. See It: House of Sand and Fog was a quality directorial debut and I'm looking forward to watching Perelman's sophomore project. Release Date/Status?: Magnolia has set an April 18th date. ...
- 1/29/2008
- IONCINEMA.com
- One of the films that I missed in Toronto Film Festival last September due to an over-consumption of movie-watching was Vadim Perelman book to screen adaptation of Laura Kasischke novel. A real shame since I loved his directorial debut House of Sand and Fog. Formerly titled "In Bloom", The Life Before Her Eyes is based on the best-selling novel by Laura Kasischke and written by Emil Stern, a suburban wife and mother (Thurman) begins to question her seemingly perfect life--and perhaps her sanity--on the 15th anniversary of a tragic high school shooting that took the life of her best friend. In flashbacks, Diana is a vibrant high schooler (Rachel Wood) who, with her shy best friend Maureen, plot typical teenage strategies--cutting class, fantasizing about boys--and vow to leave their sleepy suburb at the first opportunity. Magnolia Pictures releases the dramatic thriller on the 18th of April. Here is the teaser trailer below.
- 1/22/2008
- IONCINEMA.com
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