Right on the heels of “Armageddon Time,” James Gray is teaming back up with Focus Features. The acclaimed filmmaker will direct “Ezekiel Moss,” a new feature set in the Great Depression, for the distribution company, a source confirmed to IndieWire.
According to the logline, “Ezekiel Moss” will be a ghost story set in the Great Depression and will focus on the friendship between a young boy and a drifter who arrives in his small town that may or may not have the ability to speak with the dead. Gray will direct the film from a screenplay by Keith Bunin, whose other credits include 2020’s “Onward” and Questlove’s upcoming remake of Disney’s “The Aristocats.”
Focus has reportedly been developing the project for several years; Philip Seymour Hoffman was reportedly attached to direct before his unexpected death in 2014. The movie will be produced by Likely Story for Focus, and is currently in pre-production,...
According to the logline, “Ezekiel Moss” will be a ghost story set in the Great Depression and will focus on the friendship between a young boy and a drifter who arrives in his small town that may or may not have the ability to speak with the dead. Gray will direct the film from a screenplay by Keith Bunin, whose other credits include 2020’s “Onward” and Questlove’s upcoming remake of Disney’s “The Aristocats.”
Focus has reportedly been developing the project for several years; Philip Seymour Hoffman was reportedly attached to direct before his unexpected death in 2014. The movie will be produced by Likely Story for Focus, and is currently in pre-production,...
- 3/31/2023
- by Wilson Chapman
- Indiewire
Last October, news broke that James Gray‘s follow-up to “Armageddon Time” would be a biopic about John F. Kennedy‘s time in World War II. Now that appears to no longer be the case. Deadline reports that Gray instead will team up again with Focus Features for “Ezekiel Moss,” from a buzzy script by Keith Bunin.
Read More: James Gray Wants To Do An ‘Armageddon Time’ Sequel Focusing On Anne Hathaway’s Character
The upcoming movie is a Depression-era ghost story about a young, imaginative boy in a small town who befriends a drifter who may or may not have supernatural abilities to speak with the dead.
Continue reading ‘Ezekiel Moss’: James Gray’s Next Film At Focus Is A Depression-Era Ghost Story at The Playlist.
Read More: James Gray Wants To Do An ‘Armageddon Time’ Sequel Focusing On Anne Hathaway’s Character
The upcoming movie is a Depression-era ghost story about a young, imaginative boy in a small town who befriends a drifter who may or may not have supernatural abilities to speak with the dead.
Continue reading ‘Ezekiel Moss’: James Gray’s Next Film At Focus Is A Depression-Era Ghost Story at The Playlist.
- 3/31/2023
- by Ned Booth
- The Playlist
Exclusive: James Gray and Focus Features are reuniting as Gray has come on to direct Ezekiel Moss for the studio from a script by Keith Bunin. Likely Story is producing the film. Bunin recently delivered a draft that blew the studio and Gray away with the director recently committing to it. Gray and Bunin will now team to develop the full the story as they get ready for the pre-production process.
The film is a Depression-era ghost story about a young, imaginative boy living in a small town who befriends a mysterious drifter who may or may not have the supernatural ability to communicate with the dead.
The project has been something the studio has been developing for awhile with Philip Seymour Hoffman planning to direct prior to his tragic death in 2014.
Known for his critically acclaimed dramas like We Own The Night and Two Lovers, Gray recently directed Armageddon Time for Focus Features,...
The film is a Depression-era ghost story about a young, imaginative boy living in a small town who befriends a mysterious drifter who may or may not have the supernatural ability to communicate with the dead.
The project has been something the studio has been developing for awhile with Philip Seymour Hoffman planning to direct prior to his tragic death in 2014.
Known for his critically acclaimed dramas like We Own The Night and Two Lovers, Gray recently directed Armageddon Time for Focus Features,...
- 3/31/2023
- by Justin Kroll
- Deadline Film + TV
HuffPo Gabby Sidibe gets in trouble for using the word "Tranny" on television. It's hard to keep up. Gabby is not alone. I also didn't realize this word was now off limits since Lgbt people have been using it for years and in names of clubs and dance nights and everything ("Tranny Shack" "Tranny Chasers" etcetera)
Cinema Blend American Hustle will hit DVD Bluray on March 18th. I wonder if it will have any Oscar wins to tout on its cover? You think?
The Wire attends the Frozen sing-along
TV Blend poster for season 2 of Bates Motel (I wish I had liked that show, but nope.)
In Contention Guy makes us want to go the Miami Film Festival
/Film new trailer for Captain America: Winter Soldier includes Emily VanCamp
More on Psh
Slate Dana Stevens' tribute to the late Philip Seymour Hoffman
The Wrap catches us up on...
Cinema Blend American Hustle will hit DVD Bluray on March 18th. I wonder if it will have any Oscar wins to tout on its cover? You think?
The Wire attends the Frozen sing-along
TV Blend poster for season 2 of Bates Motel (I wish I had liked that show, but nope.)
In Contention Guy makes us want to go the Miami Film Festival
/Film new trailer for Captain America: Winter Soldier includes Emily VanCamp
More on Psh
Slate Dana Stevens' tribute to the late Philip Seymour Hoffman
The Wrap catches us up on...
- 2/4/2014
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
The death of Philip Seymour Hoffman will not delay production on his final film, the second part of the Hunger Games franchise, while two Sundance premieres are slated for release this year
• Philip Seymour Hoffman: full coverage
Philip Seymour Hoffman had shot the majority of his scenes for the final two films of the sci-fi saga The Hunger Games prior to his death, according to reports.
Variety said there were just seven days left of the shoot for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2, which has been shooting back to back with Part 1 in Atlanta, Berlin and Paris. Hoffman played the increasingly important role of Plutarch Heavensbee, but it is understood his death will not cause delays or reshoots for the two-part project. Mockingjay – Part 1 is due for release in November this year, with Part 2 arriving in November 2015. The second film is likely to be Hoffman's final to arrive in cinemas.
• Philip Seymour Hoffman: full coverage
Philip Seymour Hoffman had shot the majority of his scenes for the final two films of the sci-fi saga The Hunger Games prior to his death, according to reports.
Variety said there were just seven days left of the shoot for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2, which has been shooting back to back with Part 1 in Atlanta, Berlin and Paris. Hoffman played the increasingly important role of Plutarch Heavensbee, but it is understood his death will not cause delays or reshoots for the two-part project. Mockingjay – Part 1 is due for release in November this year, with Part 2 arriving in November 2015. The second film is likely to be Hoffman's final to arrive in cinemas.
- 2/3/2014
- by Ben Child
- The Guardian - Film News
No doubt even more exhausted than usual by stupid Scientology questions and being swarmed by starry-eyed Hunger Games fans when he's just trying to shop at the mall, Philip Seymour Hoffman is looking to escape back behind the camera for his second directorial effort after 2010's Jack Goes Boating. Titled Ezekiel Moss (a name perfectly phonetically tailored to be croaked from Philip Seymour Hoffman's throat), the film is a Depression-era drama about a young boy's friendship with a drifter who may have the power to talk to the dead. Hoffman has preemptively responded to all future ...
- 9/18/2012
- avclub.com
Planet of the Apes: After successfully rebooting a valuable franchise with Rise of the Planet of the Apes, director Rupert Wyatt may not be involved with the next installment after all. Rumor has it that Wyatt is not comfortable with the release date that has already been set -- May 23, 2014 -- and thus may exit the project. Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, who wrote Rise, have already submitted a script for the sequel, and the studio is eager to move forward, with Wyatt or someone else. [Deadline] Philip Seymour Hoffman: With his sterling performance in Paul Thomas Anderson’s The Master fresh in mind, Philip Seymour Hoffman is ready to move behind the camera again. The Academy Award-winning actor will helm Ezekiel Moss, a supernatural drama about a mysterious stranger with...
Read More...
Read More...
- 9/18/2012
- by Peter Martin
- Movies.com
Planet of the Apes: After successfully rebooting a valuable franchise with Rise of the Planet of the Apes, director Rupert Wyatt may not be involved with the next installment after all. Rumor has it that Wyatt is not comfortable with the release date that has already been set -- May 23, 2014 -- and thus may exit the project. Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, who wrote Rise, have already submitted a script for the sequel, and the studio is eager to move forward, with Wyatt or someone else. [Deadline] Philip Seymour Hoffman: With his sterling performance in Paul Thomas Anderson’s The Master fresh in mind, Philip Seymour Hoffman is ready to move behind the camera again. The Academy Award-winning actor will helm Ezekiel Moss, a supernatural drama about a mysterious stranger with...
Read More...
Read More...
- 9/18/2012
- by Peter Martin
- Movies.com
1.) We sent an email to Fox last night to confirm and have yet to hear back, but as of now it looks like Rupert Wyatt is out as director of Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. Wyatt signed on for the sequel after finding success with the franchise reboot Rise of the Planet of the Apes, but it turns out he didn't feel comfortable with meeting Fox's announced May 23, 2014 release date. It's similar to the situation with Hunger Games director Gary Ross, who didn't return for Catching Fire because of the quick turnaround between films. I'm sure Fox will name a replacement director rather quickly, while Wyatt could potentially move to Agent 13, the sci-fi project with Charlize Theron attached to star. It was picked up by Universal back in the spring. Wyatt was also at one time attached to direct Londongrad, with Michael Fassbender starring as former Kgb spy Alexander Litvinenko,...
- 9/18/2012
- by Kevin Blumeyer
- Rope of Silicon
Philip Seymour Hoffman will direct a new supernatural thriller, it has been confirmed. The Master star will take the director's chair on Ezekiel Moss for Mandalay Pictures. Ezekiel Moss appeared on the 2011 film industry 'Black List' of acclaimed yet unproduced scripts, and tells the tale of a boy as he befriends a drifter who might hold the power to communicate with the dead. Mandalay's Cathy Schulman hailed Hoffman as "one of the great talents of our generation" in a statement, adding: "We (more)...
- 9/18/2012
- by By Kate Goodacre
- Digital Spy
Philip Seymour Hoffman, who just debuted a cornerstone role of his career as The Master, will soon slide out of the spotlight for a minute to direct Ezekiel Moss. The gothic-tinted tale takes place in the Great Depression and focuses on an imaginative youngster and "a mysterious drifter who may have the ability to communicate with the dead." Hoffman last directed in 2010, making Jack Goes Boating; he's currently filming The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, where he'll play Plutarch Heavensbee.
- 9/18/2012
- by Zach Dionne
- Vulture
The 2011 Black List, the Top Unproduced Screenplays of the year has been released. The best unproduced screenplays from The Black List 2011 is compiled by votes from over 300 “execs, agency guys, and high-level assistants. Titled The Black List, the compendium highlights both established screenwriters and up-and-comers, and has served as a launching pad in the past for projects like Juno, Lars and the Real Girl, and (500) Days of Summer. Last year’s list included Margin Call, Crazy, Stupid, Love, The Hunger Games, and Snow White and the Huntsman.”
Regarding the validity of The Black List, things to keep in mind:
some of these screenplays have already been acquired and are already in development, though…none will have entered principal photography by December 31, 2011. Also worth pointing out is that, as in previous years, there have been rumors that some of the participants have been accused of using the Black List to promote their own clients or friends.
Regarding the validity of The Black List, things to keep in mind:
some of these screenplays have already been acquired and are already in development, though…none will have entered principal photography by December 31, 2011. Also worth pointing out is that, as in previous years, there have been rumors that some of the participants have been accused of using the Black List to promote their own clients or friends.
- 12/13/2011
- by filmbook
- Film-Book
The Black List of 2011 continues with the second-half of the list showcasing the screenplays that received the most number of votes.
Remember, this is a list voted on by Hollywood professionals of what they personally believe to be the best unproduced screenplays written in 2011. You might recognize titles for movies that are in development. That's fine by The Black List rules; the only condition that the screenplay must meet is that it's not being filmed within this calendar year. For Black List 2011 selections like Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained, that makes it valid for Black List inclusion.
If you've missed the first half of the list you can find it here.
13 Votes:
The Accountant by Bill Dubuque
The Treasury Department pursues a brilliant, autistic accountant who doubles as an assassin and “problem-solves” with precision in more ways than one.
Agency: Paradigm
Agent: Trevor Astbury
Management: Zero Gravity Management
Manager: Eric Williams...
Remember, this is a list voted on by Hollywood professionals of what they personally believe to be the best unproduced screenplays written in 2011. You might recognize titles for movies that are in development. That's fine by The Black List rules; the only condition that the screenplay must meet is that it's not being filmed within this calendar year. For Black List 2011 selections like Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained, that makes it valid for Black List inclusion.
If you've missed the first half of the list you can find it here.
13 Votes:
The Accountant by Bill Dubuque
The Treasury Department pursues a brilliant, autistic accountant who doubles as an assassin and “problem-solves” with precision in more ways than one.
Agency: Paradigm
Agent: Trevor Astbury
Management: Zero Gravity Management
Manager: Eric Williams...
- 12/13/2011
- by Patrick Sauriol
- Corona's Coming Attractions
The 2011 Black List has arrived online and there are a bunch of the hottest scripts in Hollywood. Some have already been picked up by studios, while most are still unproduced. Here is the press release: The Black List was compiled from the suggestions of over 300 film executives, each of whom contributed the names of up to ten of their favorite scripts that were written in, or are somehow uniquely associated with, 2011 and will not have begun principal photography during this calendar year.
This year, scripts had to receive at least six mentions to be included on the The Black List.
All reasonable effort has been made to confirm the information contained herein. The Black List apologizes for all misspellings, misattributions, incorrect representation identification, and questionable 2011 affiliations.
It has been said many times, but it's worth repeating:
The Black List is not a "best of" list. It is, at best, a "most liked" list.
This year, scripts had to receive at least six mentions to be included on the The Black List.
All reasonable effort has been made to confirm the information contained herein. The Black List apologizes for all misspellings, misattributions, incorrect representation identification, and questionable 2011 affiliations.
It has been said many times, but it's worth repeating:
The Black List is not a "best of" list. It is, at best, a "most liked" list.
- 12/13/2011
- by Tiberius
- GeekTyrant
[1] Each December since 2004, studio executive Franklin Leonard has compiled the best unproduced screenplays of the year, as voted by hundreds of execs, agency guys, and high-level assistants. Titled The Black List, the compendium highlights both established screenwriters and up-and-comers, and has served as a launching pad in the past for projects like Juno, Lars and the Real Girl, and (500) Days of Summer. Last year's list included Margin Call, Crazy, Stupid, Love, The Hunger Games, and Snow White and the Huntsman. It should be noted that the headline is somewhat misleading -- some of these screenplays have already been acquired and are already in development, though according to Leonard none will have entered principal photography by December 31, 2011. Also worth pointing out is that, as in previous years, there have been rumors that some of the participants have been accused of using the Black List to promote their own clients or friends.
- 12/12/2011
- by Angie Han
- Slash Film
This year at the Austin Film Festival, studio executive and “Black List” founder Franklin Leonard introduced the opening film, Butter. It’s a fantastic satirical comedy written by Jason Micallef and Leonard’s post-screening Q&A with him was equally hilarious and unconventional.
Sitting in the upper deck at the Paramount Theatre, I was in awe at how Leonard had not only created the list just six years prior but how it provided such legitimacy to emerging screenwriters, like Micallef. He was relatively unknown in ‘08, but his script placed third on the list. Now he has a movie coming out starring Jennifer Garner, his new scripts have Jack Black and Jason Segel attached (separately), and he wrote a movie titled Good Vibrations about, um, marital aids starring Charlize Theron. That’s the power of the Black List.
Simply put, “The Black List” is a collection of the best unproduced screenplays...
Sitting in the upper deck at the Paramount Theatre, I was in awe at how Leonard had not only created the list just six years prior but how it provided such legitimacy to emerging screenwriters, like Micallef. He was relatively unknown in ‘08, but his script placed third on the list. Now he has a movie coming out starring Jennifer Garner, his new scripts have Jack Black and Jason Segel attached (separately), and he wrote a movie titled Good Vibrations about, um, marital aids starring Charlize Theron. That’s the power of the Black List.
Simply put, “The Black List” is a collection of the best unproduced screenplays...
- 12/12/2011
- by Jeff Leins
- newsinfilm.com
As the New Year approaches, we are now getting a look at all the scripts that have been passed on, those unproduced screenplays of 2001, or what is better known as The Black List. This year, like every other year, is compiled from the suggestions of hundreds of film executives, each contributes the names of up to ten of their favorite scripts that were written in, or are somehow uniquely associated with, 2011 and will not be released in theaters during this calendar year. Some of the best scripts have come from The Black List. Films like The Social Network went on to become the best of 2010. Other movie scripts have catapulted writers into stardom. Diablo Cody’s Juno, Nancy Oliver’s Lars And The Real Girl, Scott Neustader’s and Michael Weber’s 500 Days Of Summer, are just some of the screenplays which appeared on The Black List and then were made.
- 12/12/2011
- by Mike Lee
- FusedFilm
Franklin Leonard‘s Black List is the go-to list for the hottest unproduced screenplays in Hollywood. Just last year we got Margin Call, which is now one of the most-praised films of the year. The list also includes Doug Liman‘s next film, the thriller All You Need is Kill. David Guggenheim‘s Safe House hits theaters next spring with Ryan Reynolds and Denzel Washington starring. Chan-wook Park‘s English-language debut Stoker was also in the top 10, along with Ben Affleck‘s recently wrapped CIA hostage film Argo, both arriving next fall.
Today, the top 10 has been unveiled and we get quite a mix of genres. There is a satirical behind-the-scenes film from Chewbacca aka Peter Mayhew‘s point-of-view, a zombie film, a homosexual WWII drama, a Melancholia-esque drama on separate people finding peace before the world ends, a space film about a botched Apollo 18 mission and much more...
Today, the top 10 has been unveiled and we get quite a mix of genres. There is a satirical behind-the-scenes film from Chewbacca aka Peter Mayhew‘s point-of-view, a zombie film, a homosexual WWII drama, a Melancholia-esque drama on separate people finding peace before the world ends, a space film about a botched Apollo 18 mission and much more...
- 12/12/2011
- by jpraup@gmail.com (thefilmstage.com)
- The Film Stage
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