- Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling will be making her screenwriting debut with her first movie series, which will be based on the Hogwarts textbook Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. The films will focus on Newt Scamander, author of the fictional book that was mentioned in the Harry Potter series. “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is neither a prequel nor a sequel to the Harry Potter series, but an extension of the wizarding world,” Rowling said in a release posted to her Facebook page. For more on the project, click here.
- AMC and Sony Pictures TV have announced that they are moving forward with a Breaking Bad spinoff entitled Better Call Saul. The series will be a prequel and will center on “Saul Goodman,” played by Bob Odenkirk. The series finale of Breaking Bad will air on September 29 on AMC. For more information on the spinoff, click here.
- Wuthering Heights director Andrea Arnold has been named the 2013 Filmmaker in Residence for this year’s New York Film Festival. Arnold is the first to score the residency, which is part of a new program launched by the Film Society of Lincoln Center and Jaeger-LeCoultre that aims to give filmmakers a chance to develop new work while participating in various career development opportunities. For more on Arnold’s career and on this year’s festival, click here.
- This year’s Kennedy Center honors will go to actress Shirley MacLaine, singer/songwriter Billy Joel, musician Carlos Santana, jazz legend Herbie Hancock, and opera singer Martina Arroyo. The five honorees will be feted on December 8 at a Kennedy Center gala, which will be broadcast on December 29 on CBS. For more information on the honorees’ careers and on the gala, click here.
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