Global Showbiz Briefs: UMedia, ‘We Are Monsters’ Casting, Remstar, ‘Danni Lowinski’, Film Critics Circle Awards

uMedia To Remake Johnnie To’s ‘Don’t Go Breaking My Heart’
Brussels-based uMedia has secured the remake rights to Johnnie To’s Don’t Go Breaking My Heart for an English-language redo. The 2011 romantic comedy is a Hong Kong-set love triangle. UMedia, whose finance and production division, uFilm, has been involved with such pictures as The Artist and A Monster In Paris, is also currently working on Nicole Kidman-starrer Grace Of Monaco and animation feature Mariah Mundi And The Midas Box. They’re at this week’s Hong Kong Filmart eyeing deals on English-language remakes of commercial South East Asian titles to convert into films budgeted at $15M-$60M. The company also says it will soon be opening offices in Paris and LA. It launched a new sales arm last year under exec Peter Rogers who’s repped Italian hit The Best Offer at the EFM. Under development at uMedia are the adaptation of sci-fi graphic novel Universal War One, thrillers Maelstrom and The Scent Of Adam and actioner Fallen Cross.

Maisie Williams Joins ‘We Are Monsters’
Panic Button producer Movie Mogul Ltd has signed Game Of Thrones star Maisie Williams to play the lead in its sci-fi action film We Are Monsters. John Shackleton is writing and directing the film about a suburban schoolgirl who joins a mutant gang that uncovers a global conspiracy and fights to protect society. The £3M project has been raising money on Kickstarter. Gareth I. Davies produces the film that’s expected to go into pre-production later this year. Also starring is Doug Jones (Hellboy, Pan’s Labyrinth).

Remstar Unties Egoyan’s ‘Devil’s Knot’
Canada’s Remstar Films has acquired local rights on Atom Egoyan’s Devil’s Knot. Reese Witherspoon and Colin Firth star in the true story of the West Memphis Three. Witherspoon plays the mother of one of the murder victims and Firth is private investigator Ron Lax. The film also stars Dane DeHaan and Amy Ryan. Paul Harris Boardman and Scott Derrickson wrote the script. Remstar will distribute this year. Entertainment One is handling rights in all media for the film in Canada in collaboration with Remstar, with the exception of theatrical, VOD and French-language TV rights in Quebec.

Marathon Seeks ‘Danni Lowinski’s Services
France’s Marathon has taken remake rights to Red Arrow International’s dramedy Danni Lowinski. The German series is currently airing its fourth season at home. Produced by Markus Brunnemann/Phoenix Film and created by Marc Terjung, Danni Lowinski follows a lawyer and former hairdresser who provides legal services for 1 euro a minute, fighting for people in need. A Belgian remake last year was a hit for public broadcaster VTM. Local versions are also in production in the Netherlands, Ukraine and Russia.

Australian Critics Laud ‘Wish You Were Here’
Kieran Darcy-Smith’s debut film Wish You Were Here dominated the Film Critics Circle of Australia awards Tuesday night, winning five awards including best film, beating the more fancied The Sapphires. The thriller about two Australian couples whose South-East Asian holiday turns into a nightmare won gongs for lead actor Joel Edgerton, supporting actor Antony Starr (tied with Not Suitable For Children’s Ryan Corr), the screenplay by Darcy-Smith and his partner Felicity Price, and Jason Ballantine’s editing. eOne will open the film in the U.S. in June. The Sapphires was feted for Warwick Thornton’s cinematography and Cezary Skubiszewski’s original score. Lore took the trophies for director Cate Shortland and Saskia Rosendahl for best performance by a young actor. Sarah Snook was named best actress for Not Suitable For Children and Mental’s Rebecca Gibney was best supporting actress. Paul Kelly: Stories Of Me was judged best documentary. – Don Groves

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