Film News Roundup: ‘Aladdin’ Star Marwan Kenzari Joins Charlize Theron’s ‘Old Guard’
By Dave McNary
LOS ANGELES (Variety.com) – In today’s film news roundup, Marwan Kenzari joins Charlize Theron in a new movie, Darby Camp is starring in “Clifford, the Big Red Dog,” Vic Armstrong will direct thriller “Sons of the Cross” and Doc Society selects six documentaries for its Good Pitch program.
CASTINGS
“Aladdin” star has been cast opposite and Kiki Layne in the action film “The Old Guard” for Skydance and Netflix.
Gina Prince-Bythewood is directing “,” based on the comic by writer Greg Rucka and artist Leandro Fernandez. The story, published in 2017 by Image, centers on old soldiers who never die, finding themselves trapped in immortality without explanation.
Producers are Skydance’s David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Don Granger; Marc Evans; and Theron and her Denver and Delilah partners Beth Kono and AJ Dix. Stan Wlodkowski and Rucka are executive producing.
Kenzari starred as the villainous Jafar in “Aladdin” and also appeared in “Murder on the Orient Express.” Kenzari is repped by ICM Partners and Nummer19 Management.
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“Big Little Lies” star Darby Camp and British comedian Jack Whitehall have been cast as the leads in Paramount’s “Clifford, the Big Red Dog.”
The story of the 25-foot-tall dog will be a live-action/animated 3D comedy-adventure. Walt Becker is directing the project, produced by Jordan Kerner and Scholastic Entertainment’s Iole Lucchese.
The first book was published by Scholastic in 1963, leading to more than 60 titles and 127 million books in print. Clifford is Scholastic’s official mascot.
In the movie, Camp’s character will discover a small red puppy who undergoes a growth spurt and will team with her uncle (played by Whitehall) to fight the forces of greed.
Camp is repped by Paradigm and Alex Kohner of Morris Yorn. Whitehall is repped by CAA and United Agents.
ATTACHMENT
Winter State Entertainment and Incorporated Productions have hired famed stunt double Vic Armstrong to direct the upcoming thriller “Sons of the Cross.”
The project, based on a screenplay and story by Patrick Gallagher, is a spiritual tale of good versus evil told through the life of a New York detective thrust in the middle of a global conspiracy after investigating a series of brutal murders. Producers are Mike Reinboth and Gallagher at Incorporated Productions, and Camille and Hamid Torabpour and Mark Smith at Winter State Entertainment.
Armstrong was Harrison Ford’s stunt double in the first three Indiana Jones movies and has credits on “Mission: Impossible,” “I Am Legend,” “Gangs of New York,” “Robin Hood” and “Thor.” He won a technical achievement Academy Award for accurately and safely arresting the descent of stunt persons in high freefalls.
Principal photography will commence later in 2019 in Pittsburgh. Casting is now underway.
Doc Society has selected six films for the Good Pitch USA program, which culminates in a live event at the Times Center in New York on Oct. 22.
The event, produced by Doc Society and presented in partnership with Ford Foundation and Sundance Institute, is designed to be a launchpad for the best independent documentary films, and a model for creating collaborative campaigns using storytelling to fuel social change.
This year’s line-up includes “And She Could Be Next,” from Grace Lee and Marjan Safinia; “40 Days and 40 Nights,” from director Dara Kell, which chronicles the new Poor People’s Campaign; “Through the Night,” by Loira Limbal, which explores a 24-hour children’s daycare center; “Plan C for Civilization,” by Ben Kalina and Jen Schneider, which follows scientists experimenting with new technology to cool the planet; Sam Feder’s “Disclosure,” a look at trans representation; and “Two Gods,” from brothers Zeshawn Ali (director) and Aman Ali (producer).
