Mike joined Deadline in 2010 after working at Variety for 20 years as a reporter, writer and columnist. He was not only nationally recognized as Variety's premiere film reporter but also for his “Dish” and “The Buzz” columns. Mike is known for his industry relationships and his ability to break news wherever it happens, including on the ground at festivals like Sundance, Cannes and Toronto. He also is an author: Doubleday published his book about The Three Stooges, "From Amalgamated Morons to American Icons," which ABC turned into a telepic executive produced by Mel Gibson. One of Mike’s early jobs in journalism was editor of the well-known Media Industry Newsletter (MIN). He then joined New York Newsday as a columnist, reviewer and entertainment writer. During his career, he has written for numerous magazines including Playboy, Details, TV Guide and Esquire.
EXCLUSIVE: It doesn’t happen often, but Ron Howard is here in Toronto today to unveil at the Toronto Film Festival his new film Eden. What’s unusual for the Oscar winner whose films have grossed billions, is that the film is up for grabs for distribution as an acquisition title. Eden might seem a close…
As his Horizon: An American Saga — Part 2 premieres Saturday at the Venice Film Festival, Oscar-winner Kevin Costner graces the final installment of The Film That Lit My Fuse, in a special extended segment. We hatched this video feature in the teeth of the pandemic several years ago as a way to give a…
EXCLUSIVE: The 60th Chicago International Film Festival has named the Netflix film The Piano Lesson as its opener, and the fest award first time director and co-writer Malcolm Washington its Breakthrough Award. The film's star, John David Washington, will be presented the Spotlight Award "in recognition…
The crowds of film sellers and buyers are still rolling into Toronto from Venice and Telluride, but the puck dropped Thursday night on the acquisitions marketplace with the premiere of Nutcrackers.
David Gordon Green has taken a detour from genre to serve up a Ben Stiller-starrer that proved a…
EXCLUSIVE: This is a bit early, but The Dish hears momentum is building on the Smokehouse-produced next installment of the Warner Bros caper film franchise that started with Ocean’s Eleven. Sources said that George Clooney and Brad Pitt are coming back, and they are courting Edward Berger to take over…
EXCLUSIVE: Dan Magnante has been hired by 2AM, the production/ management company founded by Christine D'Souza Gelb, David Hinojosa and Kevin Rowe. Magnante will join as a producer with a focus on television.
Overseen by Hinojosa, 2AM's film and TV production division just launched with a Venice Film…
EXCLUSIVE: Netflix has won an auction for the Stephen Chbosky-directed comedy Nonnas in a deal Deadline hears is $20 million-plus for worldwide rights. Several bidders were in the mix on a film that had been invited to be part of the Toronto International Film Festival slate. That has changed and the film…
EXCLUSIVE: The Donald Trump-Roy Cohn film The Apprentice might be late out of the gate because of all the backroom controversies and legal threats by the Republican presidential nominee. Led by Tom Ortenberg’s distribution outlet Briarcliff Entertainment, they’re making up for lost…
Director Suzanne Bier’s latest is the Netflix limited series The Perfect Couple that drops Thursday, with Nicole Kidman and Eve Hewson starring. Bier has a considerable track record of hit films and series. It all began in Denmark, where she matriculated from music video and commercials to early feature…
"Speaking hypothetically, what would happen if a Yankees fan yelled ‘Bucky Fucking Dent’ as you are in your windup to throw out the first pitch today,” I ask Matt Damon as he marinates in the anxiety of Jason Bourne screwing it up on the mound in front of a sellout crowd at Fenway Park.
He doesn't…
EXCLUSIVE: In advance of its Monday Toronto Film Festival World Premiere, the Dito Montiel-directed Riff Raff has been acquired for U.S. rights by Lionsgate’s Grindstone Entertainment Group and Roadside Attractions which made the deal with Capstone, the domestic sales agent. Roadside Attractions plans a…
In films like Boogie Nights, Drugstore Cowboy, The Hangover, Austin Powers and many others, actress Heather Graham exudes a vulnerability to go with a confidence. Here on one of the final installments of The Film That Lit My Fuse, Graham discusses finding an early refuge from a dysfunctional family and…