Global Showbiz Briefs: Rebekah Brooks Pleads Not Guilty; Screen Media Brings ‘Paris’ To US; ‘Thirteenth Tale’ To BBC Two
Rebekah Brooks Pleads Not Guilty To Multiple Charges
Rebekah Brooks, the former chief executive of Rupert Murdoch’s News International, pleaded not guilty Wednesday to criminal charges stemming from her tenure at the company. Brooks entered her plea at the Southwark crown court in London today. She has been charged with various offenses under three separate investigations that were convened following the phone-hacking scandal at the News Of The World tabloid. According to reports, she pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiring to hack phones and conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office by paying officials for stories. She also entered a not guilty plea on two charges connected to conspiring to pervert the course of justice. Several other defendants, including Brooks’ husband, also pleaded not guilty to charges leveled at them. Brooks is expected to stand trial in September.
Screen Media Imports French Thriller ‘Paris Countdown’
Screen Media Films has acquired U.S. rights to French crime thriller Paris Countdown, the directorial debut of writer Edgar Marie. An October theatrical release is planned with VOD available in September. Olivier Marchal and Jacques Gamblin star as co-owners of a Paris nightclub who are lured into a drug deal that goes bad. Tortured by police, they negotiate their freedom while their liaison goes to prison. Six years later, the nightmare begins again when the psychopath is released from jail. Cyril Hauguel, Jean Labadie, Cyril Colbeau-Justin, Jean-Baptiste Dupont and Matthieu Guillot are producers. The deal was negotiated by Screen Media’s Suzanne Blech and Seth Needle and Yohann Comte of Gaumont.
‘The Thirteenth Tale’ Headed To BBC Two Via Heyday
BBC Two has commissioned a 90-minute drama from Heyday Films that will be adapted from Diane Setterfield’s novel, The Thirteenth Tale. David Heyman (the Harry Potter franchise) will co-produce with Norma Heyman. Vanessa Redgrave and Olivia Colman (Broadchurch) are to star in the contemporary psychological mystery that incorporates flashbacks starting in 1940. Colman plays a biographer interviewing Redgrave’s legendary writer who has, until now, refused to divulge the dark secrets of her past at Angelfield, her childhood home. Oscar winner Christopher Hampton penned the adaptation. James Kent (The White Queen) directs with shooting to start this month and an airdate set for later this year. Executive producers are Polly Hill for the BBC and Rosie Alison for Heyday Films.
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