THE BIG SCREEN/MOVIES
Matthew Michael Carnahan (Mosul) is set to direct The Gatekeeper for Amazon MGM Studios and Di Bonaventura Pictures. The project is based on bestselling author James Byrne‘s novel, Deadlock, and is being adapted by Oscar-winning L.A. Confidential scribe Brian Helgeland. The story follows Desmond "Dez" Aloysius Limerick, an unconventional multi-talented ex-operative. After a chance meeting saving the life of a reporter, Dez stumbles across a vast conspiracy and now must stop the forces intent on keeping their secrets safe.
The Sopranos creator, David Chase, is developing a feature film based on the CIA's MKUltra program. The controversial program was an effort to weaponize LSD as a mind control substance, which the film juxtaposes along with the triumphant rollout of the polio vaccine. Set in the 1950s and inspired by a true story shared by one of Chase’s friends, the untitled film follows a family connected to both worlds.
Bleecker Street has taken U.S. rights to the psychological thriller, NDA, which Audrey Ellis Fox will helm in her feature directorial debut. Ellis Fox also wrote the script, which landed a spot on the 2024 Black List and was selected for the 2023 Women in Film X Black List’s Feature Residency program. NDA follows Dana (Rachel Zegler) during a maddening day of mediation for an office harassment claim she filed, and as the clock ticks towards an immutable deadline, she questions the price of her silence, sanity, and the truth. Penn Badgley and Amy Ryan also star.
Noomi Rapace, Ron Funches, Michael Biehn, Roland Møller, Laz Alonso, Basil Eidenbenz, and Dan Fogler are joining The Kellys, from Amazon MGM Studios and Thunder Road. They join the previously announced Arnold Schwarzenegger, Liam Hemsworth, Kelsey Asbille, Abby Elliot, and Geena Davis in the cast. Brad Peyton is directing from Tze Chun’s screenplay. The story follows Jack Kelly, a disgraced NYC cop whose wife, Molly, is taken hostage by terrorists inside an old armory building. To save her, he’ll have to join forces with the people he fears most: his family.
Sony Pictures Classics has acquired North American, Southeast Asian, and worldwide airline rights (excluding France) to the drama-thriller Bunker, written and directed by Oscar-winner Florian Zeller (The Father). The project stars Javier Bardem (No Country For Old Men), Penélope Cruz (Vicky Cristina Barcelona), Stephen Graham (Adolescence), Paul Dano (There Will Be Blood), and Patrick Schwarzenegger (The White Lotus). When an architect accepts a morally ambiguous project — building a survivalist bunker for a tech billionaire — his wife begins to question their marriage after 17 years together. The film is described as "a thriller that delves into the emotional and moral challenges a couple faces amid the tensions of the world around them, exploring the fears, doubts, and dilemmas that define our era."
TELEVISION/STREAMING
Colin Woodell (The Continental) has been set as the lead of the new Netflix drama series Myron Bolitar, inspired by Harlan Coben’s longest-running book series. David E. Kelley (Big Little Lies) and Kyle Long (Suits) will co-showrun the drama. Woodell will play Myron Bolitar, a former college basketball star whose NBA career came to an abrupt end. Myron reinvented himself as a sports agent. He built his agency, MB Sports, on an unwavering belief in overlooked athletes, with the same heart and fierce competitive drive he once brought to the court. KJ Apa (Riverdale) will play Win Lockwood. Born into extraordinary privilege, Win walked away from the family business to build something of his own alongside his closest friend, Myron. Unflappable, endlessly resourceful and fiercely loyal, he’s the one Myron turns to when clients find themselves in trouble. Diane Guerrero (The Lincoln Lawyer) will play Esperanza Diaz, a former professional wrestler-turned-Myron’s indispensable right hand at MB Sports. Armed with endless grit and razor-sharp wit, Esperanza is the backbone of the agency and the steady force keeping both Myron and clients in check.
Morgan Spector is in talks to headline Netflix's series adaptation of Dan Brown‘s latest novel, The Secret of Secrets, tackling the role of Professor Robert Landgon played by Tom Hanks in the film versions. Rebecca Hall (The Town) is also in talks for the female lead opposite Morgan. Spector already stars in HBO’s The Gilded Age as railroad tycoon George Russell, but sources say he would be able to do both series with proper scheduling should Gilded Age get renewed for a fifth season. In The Secret of Secrets, symbologist Robert Langdon (Spector) races against ancient forces and time to rescue his girlfriend, missing scientist Katherine Solomon (Hall), and her groundbreaking manuscript whose discoveries have the power to forever change humanity’s understanding of the mind. If the deals come to fruition, it will mark the first TV series acting collaboration for real-life couple Spector and Hall who have starred together in a handful of plays and movies, including the Broadway revival of Machinal, Christine, and Permission.
Disney+ is developing Spy School, a series based on Stuart Gibbs's bestselling books, with Chuck co-creator Chris Fedak writing the adaptation. Spy School revolves around Ben Ripley, who may only be a teenager, but he’s already pegged his dream job: CIA or bust. Ben is not surprised when he is recruited for a magnet school with a focus on science — but he’s entirely shocked to discover that the school is a front for a CIA academy
Apple TV‘s drama series Nocturne has set Friday, October 30, for its premiere date and released first-look photos. Known previously as Lazarus, the series is based on the Lars Kepler novels, Lazarus and The Sandman. The 10-episode drama tells the story of Jonah Lynn (Liev Schreiber), an ex-soldier turned homicide detective who, tired of working the tough streets of Philadelphia, moves to a small town in Western Pennsylvania for a quiet life. But as the town and his family come under attack from the diabolically cunning serial killer Jurek Walter (Stephen Graham), Jonah must protect all that he holds dear. When the desperate search for Jurek’s last missing victim forces Jonah to send his surrogate daughter, FBI Agent Saga Bauer (Zazie Beetz), up against Jurek, how far will Jonah go? The ensemble cast also includes Bill Camp, Rory Culkin, Chrissy Metz, Poorna Jagannathan, and Gary Carr.
HBO is developing Dorothea, a true crime drama starring and executive produced by Oscar-winner Geena Davis. Written by Joshua Michael Stern, who serves as showrunner, from a story co-written by Michael Rosenbaum and Jane Whitney, Dorothea is inspired by the real-life story of Dorothea Puente, California’s most notorious female serial killer. Dorothea centers on a Sacramento woman (Davis) who ran a boarding house for the less fortunate in the 1980s, but her seemingly benevolent actions belied her sinister motives. In reality, she was murdering her boarders and continuing to cash their social security checks. After evading suspicion for years, in part because of her disarming, matronly demeanor, Puente was ultimately arrested. After a wild trial, she was convicted for three of the murders and spent her last years in prison.
Channel 5 in the UK has announced a new six-part thriller led by MobLand star Emmett J. Scanlan and titled An Impossible Way to Die, which is expected to air in 2027. Described as a "character-driven, unpredictable crime drama exploring themes of identity, protection, power and corruption," the series follows a local detective whose life is upended when she must investigate a mysterious murder. The synopsis reads: "Four people sat around a table seemingly set for a dinner party – except they are all dead. The only clue is a scorpion crawling out of one of the victim’s mouths…" Sharon Rooney (Barbie) also stars as DS Katie Salter, who is partnered with lead investigator DI Niall Conway (Scanlan) to try to solve the seemingly impossible case, with the pair's different approaches to their job leading to clashes between them.
Whitstable Pearl will not return for a fourth season after Acorn TV canceled the cozy crime drama. Kerry Godliman stars as Pearl Nolan, a restaurant owner who doubles as a private detective. She investigates crimes across the picturesque Kent seaside town of Whitstable. Howard Charles portrays DCI Mike McGuire, who frequently works alongside Pearl throughout the series. The drama is based on the Whitstable Pearl novel series written by author Julie Wassmer. Despite losing the role, Godliman already has another crime drama lined up for viewers, playing Detective Inspector Andrea Dalziel in ITV’s upcoming reboot of Dalziel and Pascoe alongside Nina Singh.
PODCASTS/RADIO/AUDIO
NPR's Mary Louise Kelly talked with Irish writer Tana French on All Things Considered about the author's books and other writing that immerses readers in Ireland.
Crime Cafe welcomed thriller author Jennifer Lycette to talk about her medical thrillers, The Algorithm Will See You Now and The Committee Will Kill You Now.
Killer Women chatted with Jennifer Pashley, author of award-winning novels, The Scamp and The Watcher, as well as two short story collections.
On Outliers' Get to Know podcast, Dr. DP Lyle was in conversation with best-selling author Robert Bailey, author of the Max Ringo series, the Jason Rich series, the McMurtrie and Drake legal thrillers, and the Bocephus Haynes series.
On the Pick Your Poison podcast, Dr. Jen Prosser profiled which ancient remedy was a byword for treating madness in ancient Greece and was used to treat Heracles after he murdered his wife and children, and what flower contains the same toxin as poisonous toads.
Whitstable Pearl being cancelled is horrible news. I liked that deal a lot.
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