John Wells

Showtime Turning ANIMAL KINGDOM Into a TV Series

by Ethan Anderton    Posted: December 16th, 2011 at 2:26 pm

Though Showtime already has a fantastic crime drama in the form of Dexter and a great family drama with a bit of criminal mischief with Shameless, another felonious family will be heading to the cable network. THR has word that the cable network is working with Shameless writer John Wells to turn the Sundance selected, Grand Jury Prize winning drama Animal Kingdom into an hour-long TV series. Wells will executive produce the series which will follow a family of criminals as they struggle with the police and deal with their ordinary lives stuck in the middle of their criminal activities. Southland writer and co-executive producer Jonathan Lisco will script the series, but it’s going to take some hard work to measure up to the performances and quality filmmaking that made the big screen story so fantastic. Hit the jump to watch the trailer for the film.

HBO Plans Strange Family Drama CHINA DOLL and Mike O’Malley Lines Up PRODIGY/BULLY at Fox

by Ethan Anderton    Posted: October 17th, 2011 at 5:03 pm

With Big Love all wrapped up at HBO, the creators are poised to start work on another series at the cable network about an even more unconventional family. Mark V. Olsen and Will Scheffer are working on a new series called China Doll about a mixed-race family that has a humanoid robot living with them. It almost sounds like it could be a new series from Seth MacFarlane, but Olsen says, ““It is about China, Chinese Americans, robots, the effect of technology on our lives and the China moment in American consciousness.” The latter element refers to China’s positioning as an even bigger economic power that is influencing the relationship between our two countries. More specifically the series follows a successful California construction subcontractor, his Asian American wife, a university professor, and a robot, as they are straddling both sides of the Pacific with extended families on two continents. Obviously it’s more of a family drama than a sci-fi show, but the presence of a robot just seems strange.

Details on a new series from Glee and Yes, Dear star Mike O’Malley after the jump.

Comic-Con 2011: Showtime Panel Recap – New Trailers for DEXTER and HOMELAND; SHAMELESS Will Diverge from the UK Original in Season 2

by Tommy Cook    Posted: July 23rd, 2011 at 10:37 am

Comic Con 2011: At the Showtime Preview Panel, Michael C. Hall and company talked up the 6^th season of Dexter; William H. Macy, Emmy Rossum and John Wells teased the second season of Shameless; Morena Baccarin and Howard Shore discussed their new show Homeland. For all this, plus new trailers for Dexter and Homeland, hit the jump.

THE MESSENGER Director Oren Moverman Scripting Brian Wilson Biopic

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: June 23rd, 2011 at 8:01 pm

Writer/director Oren Moverman (The Messenger) go-to guy for biopics about musical icons.  Todd Haynes brought him on to co-write the avant-garde Bob Dylan tribute I’m Not There.  Moverman will strike out on his own to write and direct a Kurt Cobain biopic.  Now, 24 Frames Moverman has signed on to write a film about the life of Beach Boys leader Brian Wilson, the deeply troubled genius responsible for some of the world’s most beautiful music.  Bill Pohlad (The Tree of Life) and John Wells (ER) hired Moverman shortly after acquiring the life rights from Wilson and his wife, Melinda.

The producers have secured the rights to much of Wilson’s catalogue, but don’t expect the soundtrack to top the charts.  Said Pohlad, “We’re not thinking about this as the hit parade.”  More quotes from Pohlad after the break.

Comic-Con 2011: Showtime Announces Panel for DEXTER and SHAMELESS

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: June 22nd, 2011 at 11:28 am

Showtime has announced which of its series will be making appearances at this year’s Comic-Con. The pay-channel’s panel will include the hit show Dexter and their new series Shameless, as well as a first look at their brand new drama series Homeland. The Dexter panel will include Michael C. Hall, C.S. Lee, David Zayas and season six guest star Colin Hanks. Appearing from Shameless are William H. Macy, Emmy Rossum and more, including executive producer John Wells. Homeland stars Claire Danes and Mandy Patinkin.

Hit the jump to read the full press release. The Showtime panel will take place on Thursday, July 21^st. Expect many more Comic-Con announcements in the coming weeks, leading up to our full coverage from the convention starting July 20^th.

Julia Roberts and Meryl Streep to Star in AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY; John Wells to Direct

by Ramses Flores    Posted: September 30th, 2010 at 6:03 pm

Julia Roberts and Meryl Streep are in talks to star in an adaptation of Tracy Letts’ Pulitzer and Tony award-winning play, August: Osage County. According to THR:

The play focuses on the buried pains and present conflicts of a family after its patriarch dies. Streep would take the role of the drug-addicted matriarch and Roberts that of the eldest daughter, whose estranged husband has had an affair with one of his students.

John Wells (The Company Men) will be directing the film from a screenplay by Letts and the plan is to shoot next summer.  When you think about it, it is kind of odd that it has taken this long to pair up the two powerhouse actresses.  You can hit the jump to read the full synopsis for August: Osage County.

Showtime Is SHAMELESS In Ordering William H. Macy Series

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: April 7th, 2010 at 6:51 pm

In news that further proves pay cable gets all the best movie stars, THR reports that Showtime has ordered 12 episodes of Shameless, an hourlong drama headlined by the indelible William H. Macy.  The series co-stars Emmy Rossum, whom I best remember as the lead in the 2004 Phantom of the Opera update: please let me know if I should update my cognitive database six years after the fact.  Promisingly, creator John Wells (ER) has alotted a recurring role for his former West Wing co-worker Allison Janney, who had a guest spot in the pilot.

The show is an adaptation of a British dramedy of the same name that revolves around the antics of a large single-parent family headed by an alcoholic (Macy).  More after the break:

Tommy Lee Jones and Chris Cooper Sundance Video Interview THE COMPANY MEN

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: February 2nd, 2010 at 6:49 pm

Just a few minutes ago I posted my video interview with writer/director John Wells for The Company Men, and now I’ve got two of the stars, Tommy Lee Jones and Chris Cooper.  During the interview, Jones and Cooper talked about being at Sundance, how they got involved in the film, working for John Wells on his first film, Tommy Lee Jones talks about The Sunset Limited (which he directed), and a lot more.  Hit the jump to watch two great actors talk about their upcoming movie:

Writer/Director John Wells Sundance Video Interview THE COMPANY MEN

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: February 2nd, 2010 at 6:13 pm

At this year’s Sundance Film Festival, I had the opportunity to interview a ton of the filmmakers that attended the Festival.  Now that I’m back in L.A. and have the time to edit the videos, it’s time to start posting a lot of great conversations.  And up first…writer/director John Wells for his directorial debut The Company Men.

While many of you know who Wells is as he’s written and/or been a producer on shows like The West Wing, Third Watch, and ER (just to name a few),  The Company Men marks his first time behind the camera.  The very realistic drama stars Ben Affleck, Chris Cooper, Tommy Lee Jones, Kevin Costner and Rosemary DeWitt.  It’s about around three men that attempt to survive a round of corporate downsizing while trying to fend off its effects on their families and their identities.  As you can tell by the synopsis, it’s something many people are going through right now.

During the interview, Wells says it was not a film Hollywood wanted to make, so he had to get the financing on his own.  Hit the jump for a great conversation about his movie and the state of Hollywood:

Ben Affleck and Rosemarie DeWitt Sundance Video Interview THE COMPANY MEN

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: January 25th, 2010 at 7:03 pm

One of the many things I love about Sundance is how interviews are run.  Unlike interviews in Los Angeles, which can have many people following a big star around, when you speak to almost any celebrity in Park City, they are almost always alone and willing to do just about anything to promote their movie.  It’s a great atmosphere.

So when I got to participate in a roundtable interview with Ben Affleck and Rosemarie DeWitt for John Wells directorial debut The Company Men here at Sundance, I asked the two stars if they’d mind if I used my HD camera.  To my surprise, they had no problems with it.  So instead of having to transcribe the conversation, after the jump you can watch it!

Again, in L.A., this would have NEVER happened.

During the interview they talked about the movie, jobs they’ve lost, the indie scene in Hollywood, filming in Boston, their next projects like Earthbound and The Town, and Affleck talked about his new production company with Matt Damon and his Africa documentary.  It’s a great interview so take a look:

Sundance 2010: First Images from John Wells’ THE COMPANY MEN Starring Ben Affleck, Tommy Lee Jones, Kevin Costner, and Chris Cooper

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: December 7th, 2009 at 12:17 pm

The first images from The Company Men have come online in advance of the film’s premiere at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival.  Directed by John Wells, the drama revolves around three company men attempt to survive a round of corporate downsizing while trying to fend off its effects on their families and their identities.  The description from All Movie Guide [via Fandango] gets slightly more specific by saying that Ben Affleck stars as a businessman whose life is thrown into ruin when he’s affected by company layoffs and has to work at his brother-in-law’s (Kevin Costner) construction site.  Tommy Lee Jones and Chris Cooper also star.  For those who don’t know, John Wells was the co-creator of ER and The West Wing and took full control of the latter after Aaron Sorkin and Thomas Schlamme left at the end of the fourth season.

Check out the images after the jump.  The 2010 Sundance Film Festival will run from January 21-31^st.

2010 Sundance Film Festival Out-of-Competition Films: Premieres

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: December 3rd, 2009 at 2:34 pm

Yesterday we gave you a list of all the films playing in-competition at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival.  We now have the list of the films playing out-of-competition and they’re divided up into four categories: Premieres, Next, Spotlight, and Park City at Midnight. Since combining these lists would be a lot to read for just one article, we’ve broken it up to make it easier on your eyes.  You’re welcome.

Know that while there are a lot of films playing in-competition, most of the films to get buzz will be coming from the out-of-competition categories.  First up are the premiers which include John Wells’ The Company Men starring Ben Affleck, Tommy Lee Jones and Kevin Costner; Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini’s The Extra Man starring Katie Holmes, John C. Reilly, and Paul Dano; Get Low starring Robert Duvall and Bill Murray; Michael Winterbottom’s The Killer Inside Me starring Casey Affleck, Kate Hudson, and Jessica Alba; and more.  Hit the jump to check out all of the films with brief synopsis for each.

The 2010 Sundance Film Festival will run from January 21-31^st.

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