New Film Project News ?

[jo]

It looks like the new project that was mentioned in the article on Entertainment Weekly will involve Hugh Jackman, Ryan Reynolds and Shawn Levy as director!


www.timesnownews.com/entertainment-news/hollywood/deadpool-wolverine-co-stars-ryan-renolds-hugh-jackman-to-collab-again-soon-former-says-we-have-one-article-111537125

[jo]

I have not verified this from other sources --

The Cinemaholic



Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson to Star in Craig Brewer’s ‘Song Sung Blue’

of Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson to Star in Craig Brewer’s ‘Song Sung Blue’ Harsh Vardhan August 29, 2024

Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson will join forces for a moving musical drama! The Cinemaholic can reveal that they will headline Craig Brewer’s next feature ‘Song Sung Blue.’ The movie will start filming in New York and New Jersey on October 15. The project was developed at Focus Features and Davis Entertainment. Brewer wrote the screenplay based on the true story of Mike and Claire Sardina.




The film will depict the inspiring and tragic love story of Mike and Claire Sardina, a homegrown Milwaukee-based husband-and-wife singing duo who pays tribute to the music of Neil Diamond as Lightning & Thunder. For the couple, dreams are the fuel and music the engine of life. The narrative goes behind the curtain with this brave couple, from their humble beginnings over twenty years ago to the threshold of fame, from disaster to rebirth, depicting the final chapters in the lives of these authentic American dreamers.


The project will unite Jackman and Hudson in leading roles for the first time. The actor recently reprised his iconic role, Wolverine, in the blockbuster Marvel Studios film ‘Deadpool & Wolverine.’ He also lent his voice to characters in animated projects such as Adult Swim’s ‘Rick and Morty,’ Netflix’s ‘Human Resources,’ and Hulu’s ‘Koala Man.’ The actor headlined the cast of Florian Zeller’s psychological drama ‘The Son‘ as Peter, whose life with his new partner, Beth, and their baby is disrupted by the arrival of his ex-wife, Kate, and their teenage son, Nicholas.

Hudson most recently played Simone Cleary in ‘A Little White Lie,’ which centers on a handyman in New York City who is mistaken for a famous reclusive author and is invited to a university to deliver a keynote address to save its literary festival. She garnered immense attention with her performance as Birdie Jay in Rian Johnson’s murder mystery film ‘Glass Onion,’ a sequel to ‘Knives Out.’

Jackman has ample experience in music-based films, having played P.T. Barnum in ‘The Greatest Showman’ and Jean Valjean in ‘Les Misérables.’ Hudson’s past work includes music-themed projects like ‘Rock the Kasbah’ and Sia’s ‘Music.’ Brewer has previously delved into the same world multiple times. His 2011 romantic drama ‘Footloose’ is set in a world where rock music is banned. The 2005 crime drama ‘Hustle & Flow’ follows a Memphis pimp’s efforts to become a hip-hop emcee. The filmmaker is also known for directing ten episodes of FOX’s music drama ‘Empire.’ He displayed his skills in crafting a biopic with the Eddie Murphy-led Netflix film ‘Dolemite Is My Name,’ which is based on the life and career of Rudy Ray Moore.


Jackman’s films ‘The Son’ and ‘Bad Education‘ were shot in New York. Hudson’s film ‘Raising Helen’ was set against the backdrop of New Jersey.

Again, this project has not been verified from other sources!


Jo

[jo]

What gives this new film project news some credibility is the news that it was developed with FOCUS FEATURES, the indies arm of UNIVERSAL PICTURES. It is probably the most successful of all indies arms of legacy studios.


Look at this list of Focus Features's projects --


en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Focus_Features_films

[jo]

List of Focus Features movies with box office receipts info --

www.the-numbers.com/box-office-records/worldwide/all-movies/theatrical-distributors/focus-features

[jo]

Found out the following --

*There was a 2008 documentary on Mike & Claire Sardinia as a singing couple (Lightning & Thunder) who were exponents of Neil Diamond songs. Their life was dramatic. He was a recovering alcoholic and passed at age 55.


Storyline
SONG SUNG BLUE is the alternately inspiring and tragic love story of Lightning & Thunder, a homegrown Milwaukee husband & wife singing duo who pay tribute to the music of Neil Diamond. For Mike and Claire Sardina, aka Lightning & Thunder, dreams are the fuel and music the engine of life. SONG SUNG BLUE goes behind the curtain with this brave couple, from their humble beginnings over 20 years ago to the threshold of fame, from disaster to rebirth through to the final chapters in the lives of these authentic American dreamers.—Anonymous

********************



"Featured review
8/10
HOOPDREAMS for aspiring singers
The film is a documentary about Mike and Claire Sardina, song revivalists famous for performing the works of Neil Diamond and Patsy Cline respectively. It shows this loving couple and their passion for music and performing. We see the tragedies that befall Mike and Claire's family in ways only life can supply. We see them at their most irresponsible, their most fragile, their bravest, and their best. Does the film have a happy ending? Does any life have a happy ending? All that is to be said is that they lived life on their terms for good or bad. Whether they triumphed or not is up for debate. What is undeniable is that they persevered."



It could be that the film project now linked to Hugh will actually focus on the dramatic aspects of their lives. Aha - Oscar bait??

The Neil Diamond songs will be the calling card.


Jo

[jo]

[jo]

No firm news on the supposed film project "Song Sung Blue". It was supposed to start production on October 15, 2024... but no indication on IMDB of such a project... or even in the list of current or near-future projects for FOCUS FEATURES. Neither is it included in any of the projects for supposed co-producer Davis Entertainment.


www.focusfeatures.com/films

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davis_Entertainment

We'll see if there are any announcements by mid-October.

Jo