Welcome back Studio Coffee folks! From the studio behind Parasite, comes Spaceship Earth – a Sundance documentary that’s planning to make a social distancing-friendly debut in drive-ins and on projectors in early May. We’ve got details on that, as well as Millie Bobby Brown’s next Netflix gig and a Chris Pine-lead The Saint reboot.
ICYMI: We’ve got news on HBO Max’s launch date and how to get a subscription.
Parasite and I, Tonya studio Neon looks to drive-ins for its next premiere
Neon, the studio behind Oscar-winners Parasite and I, Tonya, is prepping for its next premiere and is leaning on drive-ins, pop-up projections and, of course, on demand. On May 8, the indie studio’s Spaceship Earth will debut across the U.S. on Apple TV, Hulu and Amazon as well as the aforementioned social distance-following theatrical experiences, per Variety. Further, Neon is even working with indie theaters, museums, book stores, restaurants and other orgs to participate in the release by offering hosting capabilities on their own websites – including the option to add on line digital Q&As, panels with filmmakers, and special guests. Pretty cool, right? Wait till you hear the pitch.
Directed by Matt Wolf, Spaceship Earth follows the real life events of Biosphere 2, an experiment designed to help an oil tycoon acquire licensable technologies for space colonization and determine how to maintain an isolated, sustainable environment for two years. Not long after its launch, the simulation quickly became a dystopian one, pointing out ecological crises, resulting in a corporate takeover – and sudden disappearance of data. Check it out on May 8.
Netflix’s next acquisition teams up Millie Bobby Brown and Fleabag director Harry Bradbeer
Netflix acquires yet another property for film acquisition with the six-book series The Enola Hunt Holmes Mysteries by Nancy Springer, starring Millie Bobby Brown. The actress is steadily steering away from her Stranger Things stardom with this as well as Godzilla: King of Monsters. She’s joined by Fleabag director Harry Bradbeer and a supporting cast including Sam Claflin, Adeel Akhtar, Fiona Shaw, Frances de la Tour, Louis Partridge, Burn Gorman, Susan Wokoma, Henry Cavill and Helena Bonham Carter, per Deadline. The books tell the story of Enola Holmes, the 14 year-old sister of Sherlock Holmes who, following her mother’s disappearance, moves to London where she creates a secret private detective career with a focus on missing persons cases – all the while staying away from her overprotective older brothers. News of this acquisition comes following Netflix’s $20 mil auction purchase of The Starling.
The Saint heads to reboot with Chris Pine in the title role
Chris Pine and Paramount are teaming up again; this time for a reboot of The Saint. Pine will star in the titular role with Dexter Fletcher in the director’s chair and a script from Seth Grahame-Smith. Prior to that first film, the premise came from the 1920s novel series written by Leslie Cherteris, which follows Simon Templar. He’s not only the titular saint, he’s a Robin Hood-like international thief for hire, which kind of sounds like a perfect Pine character. It’s uncertain when production on The Saint will begin, given that COVID is still looming over the entertainment industry. Robert Evans produced the original 1997 film starring Val Kilmer and produced this one as well before he passed in 2019.
HBO Max header Love Life drops its first trailer
Following her Quibi trailer about hanging out with a sex doll, Anna Kendrick features in another trailer this week, this time with HBO Max. Her character, Darby, is dedicated to spending her time looking for the love of her life while deflecting jabs at her name. It airs as part of HBO Max’s originals slate on May 27, along with co-stars Zoe Chao, Sasha Compère and Scott McNairy. It’s created by Sam Boyd and directed by Stephanie Lang.
