Warner Bros. Discovery Strikes Film Deal With Former Staffer; ‘The Intern’ To Be Remade
Warner Bros. Discovery is getting into business with one of its longest-serving execs in Asia and will remake The Intern as part of the agreement. The entertainment powerhouse has struck a first-look film deal with Jack Nguyen and his JOAT Films. Under terms of the deal, Nguyen will present Asia-focused films to the studio with an emphasis on local-language remakes of WBD’s English-language films. First off of the line will be a Korean remake of 2015 comedy-drama The Intern, which starred Robert De Niro, Anne Hathaway and Rene Russo. “Jack is an industry veteran with a second to none understanding of the film production business across Asia,” said Kurt Rieder, SVP, Head of Theatrical Distribution, APAC, WBD. “There is a strong appetite for remakes of universally popular Hollywood stories across the region, and we look forward to working with Jack to bring these to life through a new local lens.” Nguyen worked for WBD for 30 years, where he oversaw local-language activity in the Asia and Latin America regions, and led market entries into China, India, Japan and Korea. He led the biz vertical that shot Letters from Iwo Jima, the Rurouni Kenshin franchise and Yurusarezaru Mono, the remake of Clint Eastwood’s Oscar-winner Unforgiven. Out of Korea, Warner Bros. produced and distributed The Age of Shadows, Korea’s submission for the Oscars’ Best Foreign Language Film in 2017, and The Witch. “I want to showcase new and talented filmmakers by finding ‘diamond in the rough’ projects that deserve attention on the world stage,” said Nguyen. “I’m excited to embark on this new chapter with the most storied studio in Hollywood.”
Another Senior Sony India TV Exec Exits
Sony Pictures Networks India is saying goodbye to another long-serving exec. Neeraj Vyas — Business Head of Sony Entertainment Television (SET), Sony SAB, PAL and Sony Max Movie Cluster — will leave the company on August 31 after nearly three decades. According to Sony, he has decided to “embark on a new entrepreneurial journey.” His departure closely follows the retirements of SPNI General Counsel Ashok Nambissan and CFO Nitin Nadkarni, who leave their posts on the same day in August. N.P. Singh, the MD and CEO of SPNI, is also stepping back and moving into an advisory role. Those departures have all come after the long gestating merger with ZEE Entertainment Enterprises collapsed earlier this year. Incoming staff include new General Counsel Ritesh Kholsa, while Jaideep Janakiram was promoted from Head of International Business (Americas), has been promoted to Head of International Business and Operations, succeeding Neeraj Arora. Vyas played a pivotal role in the development of SPNI’s flagship General Entertainment Channels, SET and the Hindi movies cluster among others. Having started in sales for SET, he rose through the ranks and was named head of Sony Max on 2011 before adding other responsibilities, including the running of SET, which he took on last year. Singh said: “Neeraj Vyas’ journey with Sony Pictures Networks India has been remarkable. His vision and leadership have been pivotal in transforming our entertainment channels into market leaders.” Vyas said he was “excited for what lies ahead.”
Trailer, New Cast For Netflix Taiwan Cop Show ‘GG Precinct
Netflix is taking viewers into Taiwan’s GG Precinct, and above is a first-look at the cop series. The crime comedy, a spin-off of box office hit Marry My Dead Body, is launching on Netflix on August 6. The series follows a series of peculiar crimes with the most outlandish killing methods, from a victim covered in chicken feathers and wearing a reindeer antler hat to a female body hung by her hair. Game show host Tai Chih-yuan is returning to TV acting after 10 years to portraying an infamous serial killer who sets up the crime scene as riddles to Chinese idioms before he is arrested. Directors Cheng Wei-hao and Yin Chen-hao revealed the killer’s opening appearance (as seen in the trailer) is an ode to Hannibal Lecter. Also joining the cast are several members of the Taiwanese YouTube series Muyao 4 Super Playing — Tai Chih-yuan, Lin Po-sheng, Kunda Hsieh, Winni, Wu Yang-lin and Maria Abe — and singer-songwriter Huang Hsuan.
Meg Ryan To Be Honored At Sarajevo Film Festival
Meg Ryan will receive the Honorary Heart of Sarajevo Award at the 30th Sarajevo Film Festival, running from August 16-23. As part of the celebrations, Ryan will also hold a masterclass session and screen her latest film What Happens Later. Previous recipients of the Honorary Heart of Sarajevo Award include Mark Cousins, Lynne Ramsay, Charlie Kaufman, Jesse Eisenberg, Ruben Östlund, and Wim Wenders.
ITV Orders More ‘Jeopardy’
ITV is going for lots more Jeopardy. The British commercial net has ordered a supercharged second 25-part run of its version from Whisper North of the U.S. gameshow, which is hosted by Stephen Fry. Series one averaged an audience of 1.6 million for ITV daytime, the broadcaster said. Based on the decades-old U.S. gameshow, which is produced by Sony Pictures Television and distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution, the quiz sees the traditional quiz format reversed with contestants given general knowledge clues in the form of answers and having to phrase each response in the form of a question. Series two will be filmed in Salford next month and is set to TX in 2025. Casting for contestants is due later this month. Fry said: “Thrilled to be back at the Jeopardy! lectern for another series. Aside from the sheer entertainment value of the format, it’s especially wonderful to see contestants from all over the country revealing such wonderful, varied knowledge and quick wits.”