Planned Productions

Despite the unprecedented challenges facing the film industry, wheels continue to turn on future projects. We learned this week that Chris Pine is in talks to star as criminal Simon Templar in Paramount's reboot of The Saint, a character previously played by Roger Moore and Val Kilmer. Dexter Fletcher (Rocketman) will direct the film, which is planned as the opener to a new franchise.

Elsewhere, Lionsgate have confirmed that they will adapt Suzanne Collins's forthcoming Hunger Games prequel novel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, published on 19 May. The tentpole, which will tell the story of the teenage Coriolanus Snow, who goes on to become the President of Panem, will be directed by Francis Lawrence, who helmed previous instalments Catching Fire, Mockingjay – Part 1 and Mockingjay – Part 2.

VOD Opportunities

As lockdown continues, the theatrical window is still largely holding firm, with studios choosing to shift release dates for films like Bond instalment No Time to Die and Fast & Furious 9 (known as F9). Some movies have, however, headed straight to VOD. Biggest among them so far is Universal's Trolls World Tour which has topped the charts across every digital platform since it debuted on April 6. Disney's upcoming Artemis Fowl, directed by Kenneth Branagh, will now be available on Disney+ from 12 June. Last week we learned that Josh Trank's Tom Hardy vehicle Capone (previously Fonzo) will premiere on VOD, in the US at least, on 12 May, while this week it was announced that Warner Bros. animation Scoob! will also try its luck on home entertainment on 15 May. Their UK release strategies have yet to be confirmed.

Distributors are also finding interactive ways to support new and archive titles coming to VOD. Curzon is running a packed schedule of live filmmaker / talent Q&As at curzonhomecinema.com – future events include Nick Rowland and Niamh Algar for Calm With Horses (27 April), Ruben Ostlund for Force Majeure (29 April) and Kitty Green for The Assistant (2 May).

Film Clubs and Watchlists

If you're struggling with what to watch in lockdown, a variety of famous film faces have been stepping up to help make things easier. Movie website Letterboxd is hosting personally curated watchlists from the likes of Baby Driver director Edgar Wright (his 100 favourite comedies), Knives Out director Rian Johnson (who picked 70s musicals) and Russian Doll creator Natasha Lyonne (giving us her cinematic nightmares).

On Twitter, British director Carol Morley (The Falling) is running a weekly #FridayFilmClub starting at 8pm and open to all, and filmmaker Guillermo del Toro has been soliciting film (and book / music) suggestions from a variety of his heavy hitting friends, including James Mangold, Taika Waititi, Darren Aronofsky and Ava DuVernay.

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