Peter Farrelly’s ‘Balls Up’ With Mark Wahlberg & Paul Walter Heads To Queensland
Peter Farrelly’s Amazon MGM Studios and Skydance-backed action comedy Balls Up, starring Mark Wahlberg (The Family Plan) and Paul Walter Hauser (The Instigators), has set the Australian state of Queensland as its principal shooting location with cameras beginning to roll this month. Screen Queensland CEO Jacqui Feeney announced the shoot as good news for the state. “This production from Amazon MGM Studios and Skydance will generate an estimated $64.8M for the Queensland economy, employing approximately 250 local cast and crew, as well as utilising small businesses,” she said. Brad Carlson, EVP of Physical Production at Skydance, said the production had chosen Queensland for its “wide variety of urban and rural locations coupled with a robust incentive program and talented crew base.” The film follows two U.S. marketing executives who are fired for blowing a client sponsorship opportunity and decide to use their free tickets to a major soccer match. Their drunken debauchery leads them to be hunted by every person across the country. Producers include Skydance’s David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Don Granger, as well as Andrew Muscato, Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese.
MIP London Shaping Up
Next year’s inaugural MIP London is shaping up. In a move trailed by MIP boss Lucy Smith several months back, the smaller MIPDoc and MIPFormats will now follow MIPTV to the English capital when it launches next February. The pair of events will take place from 23-24 February at the Savoy Hotel venue where MIP London is taking place, showcasing new shows and providing networking opportunities. “The biggest international week in unscripted is now in London with MIP next February,” said Lucy Smith, Director of MIP London and MIPCOM Cannes. “We’ve had clear feedback from each genre community about the importance of maintaining MIPDoc and MIPFormats in the first half of the year.” Deadline revealed prior to this year’s MIPTV that the market would be shutting down and moving to London, to run concurrent with the London TV Screenings. It will take place February 24-27, bringing together smaller buyers who will be able to rent out areas, suites and join networking hubs in London’s Savoy Hotel and adjacent IET London conference centre.
‘Grendizer’/’Goldorak’ Reboot Acquired For MBC’s Shahid Platform
Grendizer U, a reboot of the popular 1970s Japanese Grandizer sci-fi anime about a huge robot, has been acquired by MBC’s Shahid streaming platform and will debut there this month. Tareq Al-Ibrahim, Director of Content at Shahid, and Director of MBC1 and MBC Drama, said the deal tapped into the strong regional audience for anime. “Our strategic partnership with Manga Productions brings significant value to our audiences,” he said. The resurrection of the cult show – titled Goldrake and Goldorak in other markets – has been spearheaded by Saudi anime company Manga Productions through a partnership with Dynamic Planning, the licensing company of manga artist Go Nagai who created the show. Under a deal struck in 2022, Manga licensed the right to use UFO Robo Grendizer IP in products and characters for cities and entertainment events worldwide, except Japan. “We are pleased to announce the continuation of our partnership with Shahid, confirming that this partnership is an extension of our previous successful collaborations,” said Manga Productions CEO Essam Bukhary, noting the platform has previously shown its titles The Journey, Future’s Folktales and the Captain Tsubasa series.
‘The Island’ Returning To France After Six Years
The Island is returning to France after six years. Commercial net M6 has ordered a celebrity version of the global format and the returning show will see contestants head to an all-new challenge in Thailand. Set in Thailand’s most remote island, celebrities must use their survival instincts to reach the extraction point, adding a layer of suspense and strategy never seen before on the show, producer Endemol France said. The survival series was last on French TV in 2018. It is based on the UK’s The Island with Bear Grylls, a version of which ran on NBC in the U.S. for one season before being axed. It was created by Banijay-backed Shine and Bear Grylls Ventures in 2014 and the French series will be made by Endemol France. “The Island’s authenticity and raw depiction of survival make it a standout show in the reality genre,” said Endemol France boss Jean-Louis Blot. “It captures the essence of human resilience within a challenging environment, providing unforgettable viewing for M6 viewers.”
