Hasbro signs a new 5 year exclusive deal for movie and television development with Paramount. The development will be done by Hasbro’s newly organized Allspark Pictures and Allspark Animation, with Paramount distributing the films and TV series developed. The two companies have previously collaborated on five Transformers and two G.I. Joe films.
Fox Animation acquires the motion picture rights to Sanrio’s Mr. Men and Little Miss characters. No director or writer has signed on to the project yet; Shawn Levy (Night at the Museum director/producer) will produce through his Fox-based 21 Laps Entertainment.
Marvel’s third Thor film, Thor: Ragnarok, debuted with $121 million, the fourth largest opening of 2017 so far. With this latest film, Marvel Studios has now opened 17 films, which have collectively earned over $5 billion at the box office in North America and over $13 billion worldwide.
YouTube Red sets Nov. 22 as the premiere date for sci-fi/comedy film Lazer Team 2. The movie is a sequel to Lazer Team, the first-ever feature film from the digital media company Rooster Teeth.
ITV America signs an exclusive overall deal with literary manager and producer Sharlene Martin and the Martin Literary & Media Management that allows ITV to option any unscripted projects based on the literary works of Martin’s clients, who are primarily crime writers. Those clients include Anthony Flacco (novel currently in development as a feature for Warner Bros., with Clint Eastwood slated to direct), Shanna Hogan, and Andy Caldwell (his novel was the basis for A&E documentary O.J.: Guilty in Vegas).
Saban Brands is working on a new animated comedy/adventure series, Rainbow Butterfly Unicorn Kitty. The quirky series targets kids aged 6–11 and stars a magical cat that is part rainbow, butterfly, and unicorn. Saban is currently in talks with a global linear kids broadcaster, with plans to launch the show in the U.S. in fall 2018. Italian prodco Rainbow is on-board as a co-producer and will represent the property in Italy and other European territories. California’s Funrise Toy is the global master toy and co-production partner.
Star Wars: Episode IX isn’t going to be the end for Rey, Finn or other characters introduced in The Force Awakens—Disney’s Lucasfilm is planning to include them and others in the “next 10 years of stories,” according to President Kathleen Kennedy.
Disney unveils the case of its upcoming live-action remake of The Lion King, hitting theaters summer 2019. Beyoncé Knowles and Donald Glover lead the all-star cast as Nala and Simba, respectively. Seth Rogan is Pumbaa, James Earl Jones is Mufasa, Chiwetel Eijofor is Scar, and John Oliver is wisecracking Zazu.