ROMANTIC REUNION
India’s Zee Studios has set a late November theatrical release for “Dhadak 2,” a romance film challenging societal norms.
The film is a sequel to Nagraj Manjule’s 2016 Marathi-language hit “Dhadak,” that was itself a Hindi remake of the Marathi film “Sairat.” The 2016 title starred Ishaan Khatter and Janhvi Kapoor, as well as the late Sridevi. “Dhadak 2” is based on Mari Selvaraj’s 2018 Tamil-language hit “Pariyerum Perumal.”
The new film is directed by Shazia Iqbal (Prime Video’s “Love Storiyaan”) and stars Siddhant Chaturvedi (“Kho Gaye Hum Kahan”) and Triptii Dimri (“Animal”) in lead roles. Plot details were scarce, though Zee teased it with the logline: [the film] “explores barriers of class and status stitched in the minds of societies, underscoring a narrative of love that can never be fulfilled. Or can it?”
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Production is by Zee Studios, Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions, and Cloud 9 Pictures and is slated for release on Nov. 22, 2024, a slot that falls neatly between Diwali and Christmas.
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Watch the teaser here:
CALLING HER BLUFF
Production is set to start imminently in Australia on “The Bluff,” a 19th-century-set film about a female pirate who must protect her family as the consequences of her past catch up with her. It stars Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Karl Urban and is being produced by AGBO for Amazon’s Prime Video service.
The Bluff’ is set to be directed by Frank E. Flowers, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Joe Ballarini.
The producers includeChopra Jonas, AGBO’s Anthony Russo, Joe Russo, Angela Russo-Otstot and Michael Disco, Cinestar Pictures’ Cisely Saldana and Mariel Saldana.
‘The Bluff’ is the second collaboration between Chopra-Jonas, AGBO and Amazon MGM Studios, following the multinational crime action series “Citadel.”
Chopra Jonas posted Instagram pictures of herself and her daughter arriving Down Under for the start of production.
GIVING A FIG
Australia’s Sharmill Films is to give a theatrical release to “The Seed of the Sacred Fig,” the Cannes Special Award- and FIPRESCI Award-winning film by Iran’s Mohammad Rasoulof. The director was not permitted to leave his home country, but did so anyway to attend the Cannes Film Festival premiere of his picture.
Dubai-based pay-TV and streamer OSN has renewed its multi-year partnership with Warner Bros under an expanded deal that will bring all new first-run Max Originals and Warner Bros. Pictures movies exclusively to its OSN+ streamer and OSNTV customers across the Middle East and North African (MENA) region.
REUPPING
Dubai-based pay-TV and streamer OSN has renewed its multi-year partnership with Warner Bros. under an expanded deal that will bring all new first-run Max Originals and Warner Bros. Pictures movies exclusively to its OSN+ streamer and OSNTV customers across the Middle East and North African (MENA) region.
OSN subscribers will now have access to Warner Bros. Pictures’ film catalogue and exclusive Pay 1 features in MENA following their theatrical and home entertainment runs. High-profile titles include “Barbie”; “Wonka”; “Dune: Part Two” and “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,” as well as upcoming Max Originals “Dune: Prophecy” and “The Penguin.”
Joe ka*wkabani, group CEO at OSN commented: “Today we strengthen our longstanding partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery with yet another exclusive deal that will further expand OSN+ and OSNtv’s content libraries and bring the studio’s biggest global films and new Max Originals to our platforms first.”
SIGNING
Aneet Padda, star of Prime Video series “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” has been signed by leading Indian studio Yash Raj Films for a three-film deal, Variety understands. Padda is one of four emerging talents who are bing launched in films by studio head Aditya Chopra.
INVESTMENT
ScreenDog Productions, behind U.K. broadcaster Channel 4‘s hit “The Jury: Murder Trial,” has revealed a minority stake investment from Edition Capital. ScreenDog aims to leverage Edition’s funding to expand its lineup of shows. The funds will support a senior editorial hire to bolster development efforts.
Additionally, ScreenDog has appointed Mark Raeburn, former Channel 4 head of content finance, as CFO. Raeburn joins a senior team including MD Ed Kellie, head of production Fiona Fletcher and head of development Harry Smyth.
OSN REUPS WITH WARNER BROS.
