“Safety Not Guaranteed” Getting Stage Musical Adaptation

Nkeki Obi-Melekwe and Taylor Trensch will star in the world premiere of Safety Not Guaranteed, the new musical adapted from the 2012 indie film. Obi-Melekwe and Trensch will play Darius and Kenneth, respectively—the characters played by Aubrey Plaza and Mark Duplass in the film. The show, adapted for the stage by Nick Blaemire and directed by Lee Sunday Evans, will play at BAM’s Harvey Theater from September 17 through October 20.

Obi-Melekwe made her Broadway debut as Tina Turner in Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, after starring in the West End production. She recently appeared in the new musical Redwood at the La Jolla Playhouse. Trensch’s Broadway credits include Dear Evan Hansen Camelot, Hello, Dolly!, To Kill a Mockingbird, Matilda, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and Wicked. He was last seen off-Broadway in The Seven Year Disappear.

They lead a cast that features Ashley Pérez Flanagan (Freestyle Love Supreme) as Liz, Pomme Koch (The Band’s Visit) as Jeff, Rohan Kymal (Private Party at the Public Theater) as Arnau and John-Michael Lyles (A Strange Loop) as Tristan.

This new musical reimagines Derek Connolly’s award-winning film with new songs by Ryan Miller of alt-rock group Guster. The story follows Darius, a low-level journalist who is assigned to report on a local classified ad offering the opportunity to go back in time, and the complicated relationship that ensues.

“I’ve been a fan of the film for years and always thought it could work as a musical,” said Blaemire in a statement, “but the way it’s come together has been a series of serendipitous moments you can’t plan.” He added, “And this wonderful cast and band have elevated the show beyond my wildest dreams.”

Safety Not Guaranteed features set design by Krit Robinson, costume design by the Sarita Fellows, lighting design by Reza Behjat and sound design by Drew Levy. Isabel Perry serves as the assistant directior. Illusions are by Steve Cuffio and fight direction is by Drew Leary.

Performances of Safety Not Guaranteed will begin September 17 at the Brooklyn Academy Of Music for a limited run through October 20.

Source: Broadway

Upcoming Projects Gallery Updates

I have added some new images from some of Aubrey Plaza’s upcoming projects to our gallery! There’s trailer screen captures from the films My Old Ass and Megalopolis, as well as screencaps from the Agatha All Along teaser trailer.

You can see all the images by clicking on the preview links below – enjoy!

“My Old Ass” Trailer

Growing up is a trip. #MyOldAss, written and directed by Megan Park, is in select theaters September 13.

In this fresh coming-of-age story, an 18th birthday mushroom trip brings free-spirited Elliott (Maisy Stella) face-to-face with her wisecracking 39-year-old self (Aubrey Plaza). But when Elliott’s “old ass” starts handing out warnings about what her younger self should and shouldn’t do, Elliott realizes she has to rethink everything about family, love, and what’s becoming a transformative summer.

The studio plans to open the film in limited theaters on September 13 with a national rollout to follow.

“Megalopolis” UK Release Date Confirmed For September

If you’ve kept an ear to the ground this year, cinematically-speaking, you’ll likely have heard about Megalopolis – the latest opus from Francis Ford Coppola, long in the making, largely self-funded, and, by all accounts, an absolutely wild watch. The legendary filmmaker behind The Godfather trilogy (and Apocalypse Now, and The Conversation, and Bram Stoker’s Dracula – we could go on) has spoken for decades about his desire to make a film set in a modern-day America styled like the Roman Empire, as society collapses; this year, Megalopolis finally arrives, with Coppola having poured much of his own wine fortune into its production. After a split reception at Cannes, it’s officially confirmed to hit UK cinemas at the end of the summer.

Having secured a distribution deal, Megalopolis will hit cinemas in the UK and Ireland on 27 September – meaning audiences will get to make their own minds up on whether Coppola’s latest epic is a uniquely unmissable oddity, or a gigantic swing-and-miss. Either way, it boasts a sprawling and starry cast – led by Adam Driver as futuristic architect Cesar Catalina, joined by the likes of Giancarlo Esposito, Aubrey Plaza, Laurence Fishburne, Nathalie Emmanuel, Jason Schwartzman, and Talia Shire.

Here’s the official synopsis: “Megalopolis is a Roman Epic fable set in an imagined Modern America. The City of New Rome must change, causing conflict between Cesar Catilina (Adam Driver), a genius artist who seeks to leap into a utopian, idealistic future, and his opposition, Mayor Franklyn Cicero (Giancarlo Esposito), who remains committed to a regressive status quo, perpetuating greed, special interests, and partisan warfare. Torn between them is socialite Julia Cicero (Nathalie Emmanuel), the mayor’s daughter, whose love for Cesar has divided her loyalties, forcing her to discover what she truly believes humanity deserves.”

Stay tuned this September to see if Megalopolis is mega-top-olis, or a mega-flop-olis.

Source: Empire

“Megalopolis” Coming to Theaters in September

Lionsgate will be releasing Francis Ford Coppola‘s $120M epic production Megalopolis stateside on Septembr 27 following its premiere at Cannes last month. This will be a wide release.

Deadline hears this is a distribution deal for Lionsgate. Coppola will own the movie, which is the case for many of his films under his American Zoetrope banner.

Lionsgate already has a theatrical release on that date, the Halle Berry horror movie Never Let Go. Universal has the DreamWorks Animation title The Wild Robot and Paramount the tenth anniversary re-release of the Christopher Nolan Warner Bros co-production Interstellar.

Coppola, as Deadline previously told you, already secured Imax theaters for the all-star ensemble which stars Adam Driver, Nathalie Emmanuel, Aubrey Plaza, Giancarlo Esposito, Jon Voight, Shia LaBeouf, and more.

The studio is already in business with Coppola’s American Zoetrope banner have released the Oscar winning filmmaker’s previous director’s cuts, i.e. Apocalypse Now Final Cut, The Conversation, The Cotton Club Encore, Tucker: The Man and His Dream, and One From the Heart: Reprise. Lionsgate Studios will also handle the distribution of Megalopolis across all home entertainment platforms.

There’s a live-bit during the movie which involves an actual actor stepping in front of the screen. This occurred at Cannes, and the notion was that it would be implemented for Imax screens. I understand that Lionsgate wants to fulfill Coppola’s vision when it comes to the fourth wall facet.

Megalopolis received a 7 minute standing ovation out of its Cannes premiere, preceded by a three-minute-plus standing ovation for Coppola before the film hit the screen at the Grand Theatre Lumiere. Megalopolis stands at 52% with critics on Rotten Tomatoes.

Already secured per Deadline for Megalopolis were a slew of offshore territories, i.e. in the UK (Entertainment Film Distributors Limited), France (Le Pacte), Germany, Austria, and Switzerland (Constantin Film), Italy (Eagle Pictures), Spain (Tripictures), Australia (Madman Entertainment), Benelux (September Films), Bulgaria (Profilm), the Czech Republic and Slovakia (Film Europe), Ex-Yugoslavia (MCF Megacom Film), Greece (Feelgood Entertainment), Hungary (Mozinet), Israel (Lev Cinemas), Morocco (Facility Event), Portugal (Midas Filmes), Romania (Independenta Film), Scandinavia (Njutafilms), and Turkey (Bir Film). Recently added territories are the Middle East (Cinewaves), Poland (Gutek), Ukraine and Baltics (Ad Astra), Tunisia (Retinia), Indonesia (Prima Cinema), and the Philippines (Pioneer). Goodfellas is in advanced negotiations for Latin America and Brazil, and in negotiations with the rest of Asia.

Coppola’s producer and longtime lawyer, Barry Hirsch of Hirsch Wallerstein Hayum Matlof + Fishman, oversaw the deal on behalf of American Zoetrope. Lauren Bixby and Christopher Davis oversaw the deal for Lionsgate.

Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Chair Adam Fogelson said, “Francis is a legend. For many of us, his gifts to cinema were one of the inspirations to devote our own careers to film. It is a true privilege to work with him, and to bring this incredible, audacious, and utterly unique movie to theatrical audiences. At Lionsgate, we strive to be a home for bold and daring artists, and Megalopolis proves there is no one more bold or daring than the maestro, Francis Ford Coppola.”

Coppola added, “One rule of business I’ve always followed and prioritized (to my benefit) is to continue working with companies and teams who over time have proven to be good friends as well as great collaborators. This is why I am thrilled to have Adam Fogelson and Lionsgate Studios release Megalopolis. I am confident they will apply the same tender love and care given to Apocalypse Now, which is currently in its 45th year of astounding revenue and appreciation.”

Megalopolis also stars Laurence Fishburne, Talia Shire, Jason Schwartzman, Kathryn Hunter, Grace VanderWaal, Chloe Fineman, James Remar, D.B. Sweeney, and Dustin Hoffman.

Coppola’s producer and longtime lawyer, Barry Hirsch of Hirsch Wallerstein Hayum Matlof + Fishman, oversaw the deal on behalf of American Zoetrope. Lauren Bixby and Christopher Davis oversaw the deal for Lionsgate.

Source: Deadline

“Megalopolis” Sells To Major International Buyers Ahead Of Cannes Premiere

Francis Ford Coppola‘s Megalopolis has sold to key independent buyers in Europe’s top five territories, we can reveal.

Ahead of its anticipated world premiere at this week’s Cannes Film Festival the movie has sold to Constantin Film for Germany and all German-speaking territories, including Switzerland and Austria; Eagle Pictures for Italy; Tripictures for Spain; and Entertainment Film Distributors Limited for the U.K. A deal with Le Pacte for France was announced last week.

The movie debuts on Thursday 16th in Cannes with cast Adam Driver, Giancarlo Esposito, Nathalie Emmanuel, Aubrey Plaza, Shia LaBeouf, Jon Voight, Laurence Fishburne, Talia Shire, Kathryn Hunter, Grace VanderWaal, Chloe Fineman, D.B. Sweeney, and Dustin Hoffman set to tread the red carpet.

Aubrey Plaza to Star in New John Waters Film “Liarmouth”

Well, after a flurry of rumors, Aubrey Plaza is officially cast in John Waters‘ first film in 20 years: “Liarmouth.”

Waters will write and direct the “feel-bad romance” adapted from his novel of the same name. “Liarmouth” will be Waters’ first film since 2004’s “A Dirty Shame.” Plaza is set to play con artist Marsha Sprinkle, who is described as “a suitcase thief, scammer, and master of disguise. Dogs and children hate her. Her own family wants her dead. She’s smart, she’s desperate, she’s disturbed, and she’s on the run with a big chip on her shoulder. They call her Liarmouth ― until one insane man makes her tell the truth.”

The feature was first announced in December 2022 with Village Roadshow Pictures has optioned the novel and Steve Rabineau producing. Waters recently provided an update to the project.

“The book was optioned. I turned in the script. They like the script, but we don’t have the money to make it,” Waters told Variety, saying of Plaza, “I’m thrilled that she’s going to [star in it], but we don’t have the money yet.”

Plaza herself told Dazed in 2022 that she emailed Waters “immediately” upon the announcement of the “Liarmouth” adaptation and begged him for an audition.

“You better let me audition for you. I even look like the girl on the cover [of the book he’s adapting],’” Plaza said. “I exclusively only audition for John Waters. He told me I’m on his list, but I want to be top of the list. I want to be the only person on his list. They’ve told me I’m this generation’s Kathleen Turner. I mean, come on — I’m a shoo-in. I need that movie.”

“Megalopolis” Will Premiere in Competition at Cannes

Francis Ford Coppola‘s passion project “Megalopolis” will officially premiere in competition at the Cannes Film Festival, according to an individual familiar with the project. The film will debut in a gala slot on May 17.

“Megalopolis” boasts an all-star cast, including Adam Driver, Giancarlo Esposito, Nathalie Emmanuel, Jon Voight, Laurence Fishburne, Shia LaBeouf, Coppola’s sister Talia Shire, Jason Schwartzman (Shire’s son), Chloe Fineman, Kathryn Hunter, Dustin Hoffman, D.B. Sweeney, Baily Ives, Grace VanderWaal and James Remar.

Coppola wrote the screenplay in the 1980s and has finally brought the film to fruition, investing over $100 million of his own money into the project.

Last week, Cannes Film Festival director Thierry Fremaux told Variety that he’d been courting Coppola to bring his latest film to the Croisette after the famed director presented “Apocalypse Now Redux” during Fremaux’s first year at the festival in 1995.

“‘Megalopolis’ is a project that he wanted to achieve for so long and he did it independently, in his own way, as an artist,” Fremaux said. “He built the legend of the Cannes Film Festival and it would be an honor to welcome him back, as a filmmaker who comes to present his new film.”

“Megalopolis” wrapped production last year and, on March 28, screened for the first time before a star-studded guest list of studio heads, distributors and buyers at the Universal CityWalk IMAX Theater in L.A.

While plot details for the film remain vague, with Coppola often calling it an indescribable enigma, the official logline reads: “The fate of Rome haunts a modern world unable to solve its own social problems in this epic story of political ambition, genius and conflicted love.” The story is reportedly set in an alternate reality version of New York City dubbed “New Rome.”

“My Old Ass” Acquired By Amazon MGM Studios

Amazon MGM Studios is in final negotiations to acquire Megan Park’s sophomore feature “My Old Ass,” starring Aubrey Plaza and Maisy Stella, following its Sundance Film Festival debut.

The high-concept film — which was produced by LuckyChap’s Margot Robbie, Tom Ackerley and Josey McNamara, with Indian Paintbrush’s Steven Rales — made its world premiere on Saturday night in a sold-out screening at the Eccles Theatre in Park City, UT. The deal is for roughly $15 million. It is one of a handful of high-profile Sundance movies that are fielding offers from several bidders, including “Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story” and “Will & Harper,” a road trip documentary with Will Ferrell and his best friend, Harper Steele.

Amazon MGM is targeting a wide theatrical release for the film in the U.S. and Canada, with international territories still to be determined. Like all of its titles, the ultimate home will be Prime Video. “My Old Ass” landing at Amazon MGM comes after LuckyChap’s successful collaboration with the studio on Emerald Fennell’s “Saltburn,” a sexually charged look at the British class system. The critically acclaimed film, which grossed $20 million at the box office, blossomed into a bonafide pop culture phenomenon when it was released on Prime Video.

Described as a “sweet teenage love story, a lively contemporary comedy and a riff on time-travel films all in one,” “My Old Ass” follows the bright-yet-irreverent Elliott (Stella, in her feature film debut), who the summer before college, comes face-to-face with her older self (Plaza) during a mushroom trip. Elliott finds herself questioning her life choices and the relationships around her, while she prepares to leave her childhood home. Percy Hynes White, Maddie Ziegler and Kerrice Brooks also star in the coming of age comedy.

Source: Variety

Aubrey Plaza Joins Film “Honey Don’t!”

Aubrey Plaza has joined the cast of the upcoming comedy film, Honey Don’t!, starring Margaret Qualley.

Details as to the film’s plot are currently under wraps, though Deadline understands it’s a comedy in the same vein as Drive-Away Dolls.

Source: Deadline