Geek showbiz news was rolling in during the first week of February, and we round it up here.
Rawson Marshall Thurber will write, direct, and exec produce a pilot for Hasbro division eOne’s Dungeons & Dragons TV series, according to The Hollywood Reporter. John Wick writer Derek Kolstad wrote an earlier version of the script (see “John Wick Writer To Pen New ‘D&D’ Series“). The feature film based on the property and starring Chris Pine (see “Pine Cast for ‘D&D’ Movie“) recently wrapped production, according to the report.
Dakota Johnson (The Lost Daughter, 50 Shades of Grey) is in talks to play Madame Web in a Sony feature centered on the character, according to Variety. S.J. Clarkson (Jessica Jones) has been signed to direct, and Matt Sazama and Bruk Sharpless, the duo that wrote Morbius, will write the screenplay. Madame Web is a clairvoyant mutant who first appeared in Amazing Spider-Man #210.
Spider-Man was the top-performing superhero license in the U.S. in 2021, driven by anticipation for and the release of Spider-Man: No Way Home, according to NPD. Consumer spending on Spider-Man products was up 43% over 2020, according to the report, with apparel sales up 139%, book sales up 43%, and toy sales up 39%. Spider-Man: No Way Home will likely pass Avatar and become the #3 highest-grossing film in the U.S. this week.
A director and writer have joined the Universal adaptation of Jerry Craft’s bestselling kids graphic novel New Kid, according to Deadline. Prentice Penny (Insecure, Uncorked) will direct, and Eli Wilson Pelton (Insecure, Bridgerton) will write the adaptation. Pelton’s production company A Penny For Your Thoughts Entertainment will develop and produce with Lebron James’ The SpringHill Company (see “’New Kid’ Teams with Lebron and Universal“).
New Regency and TKO Studios are developing a TV series based on The Banks, by Roxane Gay and Ming Doyle, the company announced. Gay is set to write the adaptation. TKO signed a first-look deal with New Regency last year (see “TKO Signs with New Regency“). Back in 2020, the property was in development as a film (see “’The Banks’ Picked Up“).
Netflix has released a trailer for the Legendary sequel to Texas Chainsaw Massacre, which the streamer will drop on February 18. David Blue Garcia (Tejano) directed, with Elsie Fisher, Sarah Yarkin, Jacob Latimore, and Moe Dunford in the cast (see “Netflix Gets ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre’“). Source: ICv2
