Washington, Longoria producing, starring in comedy ‘24-7’
Cruz’s ‘Queen of Spain’ lands at Samuel Goldwyn
LOS ANGELES, June 7, (RTRS): Kerry Washington and Eva Longoria are producing “24-7,” a workplace comedy that’s been set up at Universal, with the aim of starring in the project.
The project is based on a pitch by screenwriter Sarah Rothschild. The logline for “24-7” is being kept under wraps.
Longoria is producing through her Unbelievable Entertainment production company with Ben Spector. Washington is producing through her Simpson Street company.
Universal’s Sara Scott will oversee development for the studio. Will Rack will oversee development for Unbelievable. Pilar Savone is heading up development at Simpson Street.
Washington stars in ABC’s “Scandal,” which is in its sixth season. She’s been nominated twice for an Emmy for her role as crisis management expert Olivia Pope. The network announced last month that the show will conclude after its seventh season. Washington was also nominated for an Emmy for her portrayal of Anita Hill in HBO’s “Confirmation” last year.
Longoria starred in ABC’s “Desperate Housewives” during its eight-season run and was most recently seen in Ricardo de Montreuil’s Los Angeles drama “Lowriders” and the BBC Two miniseries “Decline And Fall.”
Rothschild is a writer on “Love, Unscripted” for Awesomeness TV. She also has credits on the Universal comedy “The Gauntlet” and “The Dog Walker.”
Rothschild is repped by Verve and attorney Kim Stenton. Longoria is repped by CAA and Brillstein Entertainment Group. Washington is repped by CAA, Washington Square Films and attorney Gretchen Rush. The news was first reported by Deadline Hollywood.
LOS ANGELES:
Also:
“The Mummy” star Sofia Boutella is set to join Michael B. Jordan and Michael Shannon in HBO’s film adaptation of the novel “Fahrenheit 451.” Ramin Bahrani is directing.
Based on Ray Bradbury’s classic novel, the TV film depicts a future where the media is an opiate, history is outlawed, and “firemen” burn books.
Jordan will play Montag, a young fireman who forsakes his world, battles his mentor, and struggles to regain his humanity. Shannon will play Beatty, Montag’s fireman captain and mentor.
Boutella will play Clarisse, an informant caught between the competing interests of Montag and Beatty.
Jordan will also serve as an executive producer on the project, producing through his Outlier Productions. Other exec producers are Sarah Green of Brace Cove Productions, Alan Gasmer, Peter Jaysen, and Bahrani, who is also co-writing with Amir Naderi. David Coatsworth is a producer.
Boutella already has a busy summer with “The Mummy,” where she plays the iconic monster opposite Tom Cruise, opening on June 9, and “Atomic Blonde” alongside Charlize Theron bowing in July. She is currently filming “Hotel Artemis” opposite Jodie Foster.
LOS ANGELES:
Samuel Goldwyn Films has bought US rights to Penelope Cruz’s comedy “The Queen of Spain,” which premiered at the Berlin Film Festival in February.
“The Queen of Spain,” directed by Fernando Trueba, also stars Chino Darin, Cary Elwes, Mandy Patinkin, Clive Revill and Antonio Resines. It will be available on Aug 29 on demand.
Cruz stars as the famous movie star Macarena Granada, who flees the glamour of 1950s Hollywood to return to her roots in Spain where she has signed on to star in an epic film as Queen Isabella of Spain. Elwes plays an American movie star cast opposite Cruz’s character in the film.
“The Queen of Spain” was theatrically released in Spain by Universal. The film was nominated for five Goya Awards, including a nomination for Cruz as best actress.
Trueba said, “This movie captures the era in the middle of ‘50s where we see the encounter of Spanish Cinema (under Franco) with American Films (at MacCarthy times). It’s a comedy that is a tribute to classical comedy, it’s my love letter to movies and its people.”