Lionsgate has recommended to shareholders that they spurn Carl Icahn's latest offer to pay $7.50 for outstanding shares. The company just filed its Schedule 14D-9 Report. The report described a September 7 meeting of the board of directors, which unanimously rejected the offer and voted to recommend that shareholders do ... Read More »
CAA Signs Marlon Wayans
CAA has signed Marlon Wayans. Though Wayans spent the last six years at WME, the move amounts to a homecoming. Wayans had been a longtime client at CAA along with his brothers Keenen and Shawn, until they left as a ... Read More »
Fox To Develop Couples & Medical Drama Projects With Diane Farr & Peter Tolan

Two alums from the underrated ABC comedy (and old favorite of mine) The Job, co-star Diane Farr and co-creator/executive producer Peter Tolan, have set up hourlong projects at Fox. Farr's project is based on her upcoming semi-autobiographical book You Can't Love One of Them, while Tolan's is a medical drama written by Glen Mazzara (The Shield). Both have received script commitments. Read More...
UPDATE: How Piers Morgan's Deal To Take Over For Larry King Came About
UPDATE 3PM: I've learned more about how CNN's deal with Piers Morgan transpired. Despite the fact that speculation about Morgan replacing Larry King had been dragging on all summer, it actually took about two weeks to negotiate his deal, two weeks from the moment CNN made the offer to the moment it was done.
But of course there was a lot of groundwork to be laid out before CNN was allowed to make an offer, primarily concerning Morgan's obligation to NBC's America's Got Talent where he serves as a judge. I hear for NBC the main issues were scheduling, as Morgan will have to juggle filming for both shows, as well as competition, as Morgan's CNN show will air at 9 PM, going against NBC's primetime, and on occasion during the summer he will go against himself on Talent. With some understanding from NBC brass and the Talent producers, Simon Cowell and FremantleMedia, as well as a new 3-year deal Morgan inked with NBC to continue as a judge on the reality series, that hurdle was overcome. And despite some speculation, the pact doesn't involve Morgan doing additional duties for NBC. And as if getting two congloms, NBC Universal and CNN parent Time Warner, to work together on the deal was not enough, there was another factor that put negotiations on hold for awhile, Morgan's late June wedding.
Morgan's Talent boss and longtime friend Simon Cowell, of course, helped him get the blessing of the show's producers to go to CNN. But I hear Cowell's impact might have been much bigger; he was the reason Morgan pursued the gig in the first place. Morgan has interviewed Cowell, including on his British talk show Life Stories early this year. I hear Cowell told Morgan at the end of last year: "You are a good judge but you're a much better interviewer." Read More »
Universal Lands Stephen King's 'The Dark Tower' And Plans Unprecedented Feature/Network TV Adaptation
EXCLUSIVE: Universal Pictures and NBC Universal Television Entertainment have closed a deal to turn Stephen King’s mammoth novel series The Dark Tower into a feature film trilogy and a network TV series, both of which will be creatively steered by ... Read More »
Writers Guild East Ratifies Public Broadcasting Deal
Public Television writers repped by Writers Guild of America have unanimously ratified a new four-year contract. Deal covers writers who script content for the three major producers of public TV programming, WGBH, WNET and KCET, plus smaller companies that generate content for PBS. Made-for-internet programming is covered for the first ... Read More »
Paley Center Announces Emmy Rival Show

Just as the TV Academy is facing tough negotiations with the TV networks for a new Primetime Emmy Awards deal, the Paley Center for Media is officially throwing its hat into the ring with an announcement today that it has scheduled its first awards show for May 2012 in New ... Read More »
TNT & TBS Pick Up 4 Pilots Including 'Dallas'

TNT and TBS have just handed out pilot orders to 4 projects, including TNT's planned Dallas update. TNT's orders include Dallas, written by Cane creator Cynthia Cidre, crime procedural Perception (formerly Proof) and an untitled project from Allan Loeb (form. the Rabbit Factory), while TBS has picked up the Dean Devlin-produced comedic detective series Brain Trust. Here is the networks' announcement:
TNT and TBS are going into production on four series pilots, including projects from such successful producers and writers as Dean Devlin (TNT’s Leverage); Marco Schnabel (TNT’s The Librarian movie trilogy); Kenneth Biller and Mike Sussman (Star Trek: Voyager); Allan Loeb (Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps); and Cynthia Cidre (The Mambo Kings).
“These pilots reflect our enthusiasm for relatable but complex everyman heroes, showcased in exciting storytelling environments,” said Michael Wright, executive vice president, head of programming for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies (TCM).
Oscilloscope Acquires James Franco's 'Saturday Night Live' Documentary
James Franco continues to blaze the most unusual career path, though unlike Joaquin Phoenix's bizarre hip hop foray, Franco's eclectic moves seem to be leading somewhere. Oscilloscope Laboratories has just acquired Saturday Night, Franco's feature docu directorial debut that follows ... Read More »
BBC Worldwide America Taps COO

Ann Sarnoff has been named Chief Operating Officer at BBC Worldwide America, reporting to U.S. company president, Herb Scannell. She is the second member of Scannell's senior executive team following the recent appointment of Perry Simon as general manager, channels. Sarnoff, who joins the BBC from Dow Jones, previously worked closely with ... Read More »
London Adds Premieres, Sets Galas And Sidebars
The BFI London Film Festival has announced the rest of its galas and sidebars on top of opening film Never Let Me Go and closing film 127 Hours. The festival has added a diverse roster of films ranging from the ... Read More »
Uni Taps Simon Hewlett As Marketing Head
Universal Pictures International has promoted its UK and Eire managing director to run the whole of international marketing. As executive vice-president, Hewlett will oversee all UPI marketing for overseas theatrical releases including ads, media buying and publicity. He will report ... Read More »
Jim Wiatt Takes Consulting Role At AOL
In a move that will increase his time commitment to AOL, former WMA chairman/CEO Jim Wiatt has stepped down from the board of directors, and moved into a new role as strategic advisor. He's supposed to use his relationships with Hollywood talent and media companies to create new opportunities to build branded content. It is a non-exclusive gig. Read More »
Deadline Advisory: Nikki Away On Vacation

Everyone else at Deadline enjoyed their summer holidays while I kept reporting and editing. Needless to say, I hit the wall over Labor Day Weekend. So now I've managed to sneak away for some badly needed R&R. I don't care what you Hollywood people do while I'm gone: just be sure to tell Mike, Nellie, Tim, and Pete about it. Question is: can I go even a few days without posting? Dunno.
Ciarán Hinds And Janet McTeer Round Out Cast On ‘The Woman In Black’
EXCLUSIVE: Hinds will play the local landowner who counsels Daniel Radcliffe as he investigates this Victorian mystery. Radcliffe and Hinds have just worked together on Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, with Hinds playing Prof Dumbledore’s brother. McTeer will play Hinds’ on-screen wife, Mrs Daily. Based on the modern classic novel, The Woman In Black has been adapted by Jane Goldman (Kick-Ass), and will be directed by James Watkins (Eden Lake). Shooting begins September 23. Exclusive Media Group – parent company of producer Hammer Films – is co-financing with Canadian Read More »
News Corp's Sky Pays Rupert's Daughter Liz Murdoch 40% Less For TV Shows
BSkyB paid Liz Murdoch’s Shine Group £6 million ($9.3 million) for programming last year, the company said in its annual report. That is 40% less than the £10 million it paid Murdoch, sister of non-executive chairman James Murdoch, and ... Read More »




