The Last Lions

This is a — and possibly “the” — key question for Big Media investors coming out of the major broadcast and cable networks’ upfront programming presentations this week. As the sales pitches wore on it became clear that execs plan to spare no expense to recover from a year of dreary ratings. There’ll be 25 new programs on the Big Four networks, up from 18 planned this time last year. What’s more, “all of the broadcast networks are moving toward year-round original schedules, less re-runs [and] more frequent ‘mini-events’,” Bernstein Research’s Todd Juenger says. He adds that networks continue to depend on star power — for example CBS landed Robin Williams for its sitcom The Crazy Ones and Turner enlisted off-camera help from Michael Bay (Transformers), Dick Wolf (Law & Order), Howard Gordon (Homeland), Frank Darabont (The Walking Dead), and Jerry Bruckheimer (CSI). “These guys don’t come cheap, and we presume they must participate significantly in the back-end,” Juenger says. Execs no doubt feel confident that their bets will pay off. For example, hit dramas could play well in international syndication. Mini-series also should appeal to streaming services including Netflix and Amazon where subscribers like to binge view. But domestic advertisers still provide lions share of revenues for TV shows. And if networks are optimistic about that market, it has as much to do with whether they believe consumers will buy lots of cars as with the merits of what programmers ... Read More »

EXCLUSIVE: Inside Llewyn Davis‘ Garrett Hedlund is on board to play the lead in screenwriter Matthew Michael Carnahan’s directorial debut Violent Talent. The Wolf Of Wall Street’s Margot Robbie as well as RocknRolla’s Toby Kebbell and Four Lions’ Riz Ahmed will join Hedlund in the drama. Carnahan is directing Violent Talent from an original script he wrote. The film focuses on Eamon (Hedlund) as he and his two oldest friends Angel and Quan (Kebbell and Ahmed) try to build a criminal empire in a contemporary Chicago where he feels crime might be the most honest job around. Robbie’s character is known as Riley. Violent Talent will be produced by Tracy Falco through her Defender Entertainment Banner. Carnahan and Falco previously produced the Robert Redford-directed Lions For Lambs together. Carnahan wrote the script for the 2007 film. Nate Winslow of Defender will serve as an associate producer on Violent Talent. WME Global will represent the movie’s domestic distribution rights. Before Violent Talent, TRON: Legacy and On The Road star Hedlund next will be seen in early December in the Coen Bros’ Inside Llewyn Davis as well as the indie Lullaby. Inside Llewyn Davis, which CBS Films picked up back in February, is also in competition at Cannes this year. Violent Talent director-scribe Carnahan ... Read More »