Showtime has ordered a drama series about Zulu king Shaka, with Antoine Fuqua onboard to direct and executive produce, Variety has learned.
“Shaka: King of the Zulu Nation” hails from writers and executive producers Olu Odebunmi and Tolu Awosika. Rooted in actual events, the series chronicles Shaka’s unlikely rise to power, uniting multiple tribes across vast stretches of Africa in the early 19th century to transform his power into legend, on par with history’s most seminal figures.
“This project offers a gateway to our past that is so critical to our global history and yet so often marginalized,” said Fuqua. “Through “Shaka: King of the Zulu Nation,” we hope to bring this saga to life, all the tears, sweat and blood, all the joy and sorrow, all the intimacy and intensity and humanity. In short, we’re going to rock the world with this one.”
Odebunmi and Awosika...
“Shaka: King of the Zulu Nation” hails from writers and executive producers Olu Odebunmi and Tolu Awosika. Rooted in actual events, the series chronicles Shaka’s unlikely rise to power, uniting multiple tribes across vast stretches of Africa in the early 19th century to transform his power into legend, on par with history’s most seminal figures.
“This project offers a gateway to our past that is so critical to our global history and yet so often marginalized,” said Fuqua. “Through “Shaka: King of the Zulu Nation,” we hope to bring this saga to life, all the tears, sweat and blood, all the joy and sorrow, all the intimacy and intensity and humanity. In short, we’re going to rock the world with this one.”
Odebunmi and Awosika...
- 3/16/2021
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
Will Smith is to team up with Antoine Fuqua to tackle the slavery drama ‘Emancipation’ for Westbrook Studios and McFarland Entertainment.
The project will be based on the true story of Peter, a runaway slave forced to outwit cold-blooded hunters and the punishing Louisiana swamp on a tortuous journey to the Union Army and his only chance at freedom.
William N. Collage penned the script to the project which Smith will star in and Fuqua will take the helm.
Smith, James Lassiter and Jon Mone will produce through Westbrook Studios, along with McFarland Entertainment’s Joey McFarland and Escape Artists’ Todd Black. Fuqua will executive produce under his Fuqua Films banner, alongside Cliff Roberts.
Also in news – Viggo Mortensen and Peter Farrelly to re-unite on adaptation of ‘The Greatest Beer Run Ever: A True Story of Friendship Stronger Than War’
Smith, who was last seen in ‘Bad Boys For Life...
The project will be based on the true story of Peter, a runaway slave forced to outwit cold-blooded hunters and the punishing Louisiana swamp on a tortuous journey to the Union Army and his only chance at freedom.
William N. Collage penned the script to the project which Smith will star in and Fuqua will take the helm.
Smith, James Lassiter and Jon Mone will produce through Westbrook Studios, along with McFarland Entertainment’s Joey McFarland and Escape Artists’ Todd Black. Fuqua will executive produce under his Fuqua Films banner, alongside Cliff Roberts.
Also in news – Viggo Mortensen and Peter Farrelly to re-unite on adaptation of ‘The Greatest Beer Run Ever: A True Story of Friendship Stronger Than War’
Smith, who was last seen in ‘Bad Boys For Life...
- 6/16/2020
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Superstar athletes from every discipline are currently filming a documentary about the devastating impact that coronavirus has had on sports, Variety can report exclusively.
The project was conceived by Chris Paul, a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder and the president of the NBA players union, and producer Brian Grazer. Titled “The Day That Sports Stood Still,” the feature is being directed by Antoine Fuqua and produced by Imagine Documentaries.
Paul, a longtime friend of Grazer, will lead a cast of famous subjects from every major international sport as they share tales of how coronavirus affected their teams and fans in real time. The project will also bring emotional reminders of why these top performers fell in love with their respective games.
Paul will also serve as a producer alongside Grazer and his Imagine Entertainment co-head Ron Howard, and Imagine Documentaries co-head Justin Wilkes. The doc has not yet attached a distributor.
The project was conceived by Chris Paul, a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder and the president of the NBA players union, and producer Brian Grazer. Titled “The Day That Sports Stood Still,” the feature is being directed by Antoine Fuqua and produced by Imagine Documentaries.
Paul, a longtime friend of Grazer, will lead a cast of famous subjects from every major international sport as they share tales of how coronavirus affected their teams and fans in real time. The project will also bring emotional reminders of why these top performers fell in love with their respective games.
Paul will also serve as a producer alongside Grazer and his Imagine Entertainment co-head Ron Howard, and Imagine Documentaries co-head Justin Wilkes. The doc has not yet attached a distributor.
- 5/20/2020
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
Chris Evans is in talks to star in director Antoine Fuqua’s past-lives drama “Infinite” for Paramount Pictures.
“Infinite” will be produced by Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Mark Vahradian at Di Bonaventura Pictures, and John Zaozirny. Rafi Crohn is the exec producer.
John Lee Hancock and Ian Shorr are adapting D. Eric Maikranz novel’s “The Reincarnationist Papers,” which is centered on the Cognomina, a secret society of people who possess total recall of their past lives. A troubled young man haunted by memories of two past lives stumbles upon the centuries-old secret society of similar individuals and dares to join their ranks.
Evans will next be seen as Captain America in Disney-Marvel’s “Avengers: Endgame,” which opens on April 26. He’s also starring in the murder mystery “Knives Out” with Jamie Lee Curtis, Daniel Craig, and Michael Shannon, set for a Nov. 27 release from Lionsgate.
Fuqua’s...
“Infinite” will be produced by Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Mark Vahradian at Di Bonaventura Pictures, and John Zaozirny. Rafi Crohn is the exec producer.
John Lee Hancock and Ian Shorr are adapting D. Eric Maikranz novel’s “The Reincarnationist Papers,” which is centered on the Cognomina, a secret society of people who possess total recall of their past lives. A troubled young man haunted by memories of two past lives stumbles upon the centuries-old secret society of similar individuals and dares to join their ranks.
Evans will next be seen as Captain America in Disney-Marvel’s “Avengers: Endgame,” which opens on April 26. He’s also starring in the murder mystery “Knives Out” with Jamie Lee Curtis, Daniel Craig, and Michael Shannon, set for a Nov. 27 release from Lionsgate.
Fuqua’s...
- 2/12/2019
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Antoine Fuqua’s just released his western “The Magnificent Seven,” which dominated the box office taking in a solid $35 million in its opening weekend. Now, the director is ready to release his upcoming drama series, “Ice,” for At&T’s Audience network.
“Each diamond has lived a life. Persevered. Suffered,” says Jeremy Sisto in the first teaser trailer. “Each one tells us a story, and that story, no matter how many times it’s told, can outlive us all.”
Read More: ‘The Magnificent Seven’ Director Antoine Fuqua On How His Western Remake Reflects The World Today
The 10-episode series centers around the Green family, half brothers Jake (Cam Gigandet) and Freddy (Sisto), their father (Raymond J. Barry) and uncle Cam (Ray Winstone), as they navigate the culturally diverse and treacherous world of the diamond business. Judith Shekoni, Konstantin Lavysh and Donald Sutherland also co-star.
The show is written and executive produced by Robert Munic,...
“Each diamond has lived a life. Persevered. Suffered,” says Jeremy Sisto in the first teaser trailer. “Each one tells us a story, and that story, no matter how many times it’s told, can outlive us all.”
Read More: ‘The Magnificent Seven’ Director Antoine Fuqua On How His Western Remake Reflects The World Today
The 10-episode series centers around the Green family, half brothers Jake (Cam Gigandet) and Freddy (Sisto), their father (Raymond J. Barry) and uncle Cam (Ray Winstone), as they navigate the culturally diverse and treacherous world of the diamond business. Judith Shekoni, Konstantin Lavysh and Donald Sutherland also co-star.
The show is written and executive produced by Robert Munic,...
- 9/26/2016
- by Liz Calvario
- Indiewire
Coming off the back of The Magnificent Seven, Denzel Washington and director Antoine Fuqua are set to go their separate ways, with the former lining up Oscar hopeful Fences and Inner City. Fuqua, meanwhile, will soon be busy lensing The Man Who Made It Snow and upcoming documentary, American Dream American Knightmare.
How and ever, those hoping for a Magnificent Seven reunion anytime soon will be disappointed to learn that The Equalizer 2, previously penciled in for release on September 29, 2017, will now begin filming next September.
At least, that’s according to producer Todd Black (via Collider), who revealed during a recent Q&A session that while the script is done, stacked schedules mean that the action sequel won’t be prepped for production until late next year.
The script is done. We start shooting right after Labor Day, maybe right before Labor Day depending on Denzel’s schedule. So...
How and ever, those hoping for a Magnificent Seven reunion anytime soon will be disappointed to learn that The Equalizer 2, previously penciled in for release on September 29, 2017, will now begin filming next September.
At least, that’s according to producer Todd Black (via Collider), who revealed during a recent Q&A session that while the script is done, stacked schedules mean that the action sequel won’t be prepped for production until late next year.
The script is done. We start shooting right after Labor Day, maybe right before Labor Day depending on Denzel’s schedule. So...
- 9/22/2016
- by Michael Briers
- We Got This Covered
The man killed in the fatal hit-and-run involving Marion “Suge” Knight was identified as Terry Carter.
Knight’s attorney, James Blatt, confirmed the victim’s name to TheWrap Friday. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department didn’t identify Carter, but said the deceased victim was 55 years old.
Media reports identified the second person injured as Cle “Bone” Sloan, an activist and actor who appeared in Antoine Fuqua‘s Oscar-winning film “Training Day.”
Also read: Suge Knight’s Bail Set at $2 Million After Murder Charge
In the film, Sloan portrayed “Bone.” He was one of the residents of a South...
Knight’s attorney, James Blatt, confirmed the victim’s name to TheWrap Friday. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department didn’t identify Carter, but said the deceased victim was 55 years old.
Media reports identified the second person injured as Cle “Bone” Sloan, an activist and actor who appeared in Antoine Fuqua‘s Oscar-winning film “Training Day.”
Also read: Suge Knight’s Bail Set at $2 Million After Murder Charge
In the film, Sloan portrayed “Bone.” He was one of the residents of a South...
- 1/30/2015
- by Alicia Banks
- The Wrap
When Vanessa spoke with director Antoine Fuqua earlier this year, and asked him about the status of his Suge Knight project, Fuqua said the film was almost done. But no news about it since that February interview. The project is one in a series of new documentaries produced by Showtime that will spotlight iconic and controversial figures to be overseen by filmmakers. Suge Knight will of course participate in the doc, which will discuss his rise to fame, why it fell apart and what’s next. The former CEO of Death Row Records is credited with launching the careers of Snoop Dogg and P Diddy, among others. The effort also doubles as Knight’s return to the...
- 7/19/2013
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
Olympus Has Fallen is a old-fashioned action movie that hearkens back to one of the grandest plot devices in the genre — the mission of saving the President of the United States. In this film, which riffs on the Die Hard setup better than A Good Day to Die Hard did, the White House is taken over by terrorists, Washington D.C. is a war zone, and the President is a hostage in his own bunker.
Playing the hero is Gerard Butler, an ex-secret service man who becomes the country’s last hope in saving the president’s (Aaron Eckhart) life, and also preventing nuclear devastation. Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the film also stars Morgan Freeman, Angela Bassett, Melissa Leo, Dylan McDermott, Rick Yune, and Ashley Judd.
While he is still best known for directing Training Day in 2001, Fuqua previously helmed Brooklyn’s Finest (2009), Shooter (2007), King Arthur (2004), Bait (2000), The Replacement Killers (1998), and more.
Playing the hero is Gerard Butler, an ex-secret service man who becomes the country’s last hope in saving the president’s (Aaron Eckhart) life, and also preventing nuclear devastation. Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the film also stars Morgan Freeman, Angela Bassett, Melissa Leo, Dylan McDermott, Rick Yune, and Ashley Judd.
While he is still best known for directing Training Day in 2001, Fuqua previously helmed Brooklyn’s Finest (2009), Shooter (2007), King Arthur (2004), Bait (2000), The Replacement Killers (1998), and more.
- 3/20/2013
- by Nick Allen
- The Scorecard Review
"If you want to be loved, go be a movie star," former Vice President Dick Cheney says in the trailer, below, for Showtime's upcoming documentary "The World According to Dick Cheney." The film will have its television debut on the premium cable network on Friday, March 15th, having had its world premiere at Sundance in January. Directed by R.J. Cutler, the filmmaker behind the "The September Issue" and the executive producer of "Nashville," "The World According to Dick Cheney" includes interviews with Cheney in which he directly and unapologetically addresses controversial aspects of his time as VP, from the war in Iraq to the use of "enhanced interrogation techniques." The film is the first in Showtime's new documentary strand "Sho Closeup" -- next up will be Antoine Fuqua's "Suge Knight: American Dream/American Knightmare," in April.
- 2/15/2013
- by Alison Willmore
- Indiewire
Showtime is launching a new documentary series showcase titled Closeup, which will give measured and complex looks at the lives of several notable public figures, with Richard Pryor being among the first to be profiled. Also scheduled to be "provocatively studied" early in the series' run are Suge Knight, Dick Cheney, and music mogul Tommy Mottola. It's all coming together now... you may recall that, last year, it was announced that Antoine Fuqua had signed on to direct and produce a new documentary project based on the life and exploits of Death Row Records co-founder Suge Knight, for Showtime. It was said that Knight...
- 8/1/2012
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
"Homeland" is Showtime's shiny new success story, but at a press event Monday, entertainment president David Nevins spent a fair amount of time talking about shows that are ending, or might be ending relatively soon.
After announcing that the Laura Linney vehicle "The Big C" has been canceled and will end its run with a series of four one-hour specials, Nevins added he's not quite clear when "Dexter" is ending.
Nevins left the door open future seasons of the serial killer drama. Season 7 of "Dexter" begins Sept. 30, and Nevins called it a "game-changing year" for the show. Showtime has commissioned an eighth season as well and Nevins acknowledged that the show is expected to go off the air after Season 8.
"That's the likely scenario," Nevins said. "I'm not making any announcements today, but plans can always change. I think everything has gotten rewired this year in a very interesting way,...
After announcing that the Laura Linney vehicle "The Big C" has been canceled and will end its run with a series of four one-hour specials, Nevins added he's not quite clear when "Dexter" is ending.
Nevins left the door open future seasons of the serial killer drama. Season 7 of "Dexter" begins Sept. 30, and Nevins called it a "game-changing year" for the show. Showtime has commissioned an eighth season as well and Nevins acknowledged that the show is expected to go off the air after Season 8.
"That's the likely scenario," Nevins said. "I'm not making any announcements today, but plans can always change. I think everything has gotten rewired this year in a very interesting way,...
- 7/31/2012
- by Maureen Ryan
- Huffington Post
Looking to get their in-development crime drama Chicagoland into production, New Line has been on the hunt for a fitting helmer. While little is known about the feature.other than that it's presumably set in Chicago.the studio has told Variety that it's in the vein of Training Day. So who better to helm it than Training Day director Antoine Fuqua? The trade revealed Fuqua has been signed to direct the picture, beating out handful hopefuls that included Stephen Gaghan, who wrote and directed the political thriller Syriana. Since his last theatrical outing, 2009's Brooklyn's Finest, Fuqua has been tirelessly developing new projects. At present he's in post-production on a documentary about Death Row Records co-founder Suge Knight and a historical drama about the tragic romance between Chinese Emperor Xuanzong and his imperial concubine Yang Guifei. Beyond that he's currently attached to direct Steel Town, Storming Vegas, and Southpaw and...
- 5/10/2012
- cinemablend.com
We're not sure how or why a thoroughly average director like Antoine Fuqua can keep stacking up projects, but dude keeps stacking up the movies on his schedule, and good thing too since another one has fallen to the wayside for a moment.
Variety reports that Fuqua will now take the helm of "Chicagoland," about which not much is known except that it's a heist flick at New Line. But this one was apparently attracting some big deal talent, as it boasts a Peter Morgan penned script, and Stephen Gaghan was one of the names chasing it down, but Fuqua won out. But Lord knows when this will get made. Let's take a look at what he's attached to shall we? There's "Steel Town" for Legendary (yeah, we just heard of this one too, guy never stops); a Suge Knight documentary for Showtime; the thriller "Storming Las Vegas"; a Chinese...
Variety reports that Fuqua will now take the helm of "Chicagoland," about which not much is known except that it's a heist flick at New Line. But this one was apparently attracting some big deal talent, as it boasts a Peter Morgan penned script, and Stephen Gaghan was one of the names chasing it down, but Fuqua won out. But Lord knows when this will get made. Let's take a look at what he's attached to shall we? There's "Steel Town" for Legendary (yeah, we just heard of this one too, guy never stops); a Suge Knight documentary for Showtime; the thriller "Storming Las Vegas"; a Chinese...
- 5/9/2012
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
Former Death Row Records honcho Suge Knight is no stranger to getting a bad rap. The erstwhile music mogul's crime record dates back to 1987 and includes a string of prison stints for drug possession, assault and probation violations, among other run-ins with the law. Knight (real name: Marion Knight Jr.), however, hit the news again today after rumors began circulating on Twitter that he had been arrested in Las Vegas for the murder of Tupac Shakur, who was signed to Knight's label when he was gunned down in a Las Vegas drive-by in 1996. Has Knight just logged a very serious new charge to his rap sheet? Don't jump to conclusions because the rumor is… So false! Las Vegas...
- 5/7/2012
- E! Online
The newly minted Mythology Entertainment formed by Brad Fischer, Laeta Kalogridis and James Vanderbilt, has obtained the movie rights to Richard Morgan’s science fiction novel Altered Carbon. Initially the film adaptation of Altered Carbon was to be developed by Warner Bros. and Joel Silver back in 2006, but has since been snatched up by Mythology Entertainment.
Variety reports that Fischer, Kalogridis and Vanderbilt will be producing the film, while Mike Medavoy and Arnie Messer will be executive producers. Kalogridis who has worked on films such as Shutter Island and Avatar will taking on the task of adapting Altered Carbon for the big screen along with David Goodman.
First published in 2002, Altered Carbon is described as a “hardboiled science fiction novel.” Set in a cyberpunk dystopian world, approximately five hundred years in the future, human personalities can be stored digitally and downloaded into new bodies, referred to as sleeves. Most people...
Variety reports that Fischer, Kalogridis and Vanderbilt will be producing the film, while Mike Medavoy and Arnie Messer will be executive producers. Kalogridis who has worked on films such as Shutter Island and Avatar will taking on the task of adapting Altered Carbon for the big screen along with David Goodman.
First published in 2002, Altered Carbon is described as a “hardboiled science fiction novel.” Set in a cyberpunk dystopian world, approximately five hundred years in the future, human personalities can be stored digitally and downloaded into new bodies, referred to as sleeves. Most people...
- 2/15/2012
- by Mina Kelly
- Boomtron
Showtime is making a major play in the documentary space. On the heels of the recent greenlight for a documentary about infamous rap mogul Suge Knight directed by Antoine Fuqua, the pay cable network today announced The World According To Dick Cheney, a documentary chronicling the life of the former Vice President, which will be directed by The War Room helmer R.J. Cutler. Additionally, Showtime is developing a Richard Pryor docu, through it is still in early stages, and talks with Pryor’s family for their cooperation are ongoing. The three projects are part of what Showtime calls “a new initiative to produce a slate of high-end, filmmaker-driven portraits of iconic figures.” “I had feeling we can have a real impact with documentaries,” Showtime entertainment president David Nevins said during the network’s TCA executive session this morning. The plan is to roll out the initiative slowly with a handful...
- 1/12/2012
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
Exclusive: Longtime Phoenix Pictures co-president Bradley J. Fischer has formed Mythology Entertainment in partnership with screenwriter/producers Laeta Kalogridis and James Vanderbilt. With backing from private investors, Mythology will develop and package projects internally before taking them to studios and financiers. The scope is film, TV and digital, and the slate will include projects scripted by Kalogridis and Vanderbilt. Mythology starts the venture with an Antoine Fuqua-directed Showtime documentary on Death Row Records mogul Suge Knight, and a feature rights deal to late author John Bellairs’ Lewis Barnavelt series of gothic horror novels for kids. Supernatural creator Eric Kripke has been hired to write the script and produce. First published in 1973, the book series has spanned 12 volumes, with illustrations from artist Edward Gorey. The books began with The House with a Clock in its Walls, which introduced the orphaned protagonist Lewis as he moves into his uncle’s spooky old Victorian mansion.
- 11/18/2011
- by MIKE FLEMING
- Deadline
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