Content In Deal With ‘Devil In The Deep Blue Sea'; ‘Spiral’ Unspools At Col-Coa – Global Briefs

Content Media has acquired international rights to romantic drama The Devil In The Deep Blue Sea starring Jason Sudeikis, Maisie Williams, Jessica Biel, Orlando Jones, Paul Reiser and Mary Steenburgen. Currently in post, it’s directed by Bill Purple (New Girl) from a script he wrote with Robbie Pickering and is described as a “deeply emotional, funny, and, ultimately, a life-affirming tale about the human spirit and the power of life and love.” Biel produced through her Iron Ocean Films banner with partner Michelle Purple, along with Mike Landry and Carlos Velazquez of C Plus Pictures and Chuck Pacheco of Nine Nights respectively. Biel’s husband, Justin Timberlake, is scoring the film. The first footage will screen in Cannes. CAA is on domestic.

The City of Lights City of Angels Festival currently going on in Los Angeles has for the first time added TV series to its lineup, with seven shows in competition including new and returning series Chefs, Templeton and Spiral. It’s a fine time for French television with dramas like The Returned making waves overseas while the just-launched Disappearancelooks promising. Spiral, which is heading into its 6th season has been compared to The Wire and been instrumental in raising the profile and the quality of French drama. Known as Engrenages at home where it is the longest-running and highest-rated original series on Canal Plus, it’s a look at the machinery of the French justice system through the eyes of a young deputy prosecutor, a police captain, a preliminary judge and a criminal lawyer. Created by Alexandra Clert and Guy-Patrick Saninderichin, and sold by AB International, it airs in 70 countries and was the first French series acquired by the BBC and the first non-English language series available on Netflix. Here’s a look at Season 5 which is having its U.S. premiere at Col-Coa:

Top Gear co-host James May has told The Guardian newspaper that he would not return to the BBC show without ousted host Jeremy Clarkson. “Me and (co-host Richard) Hammond with a surrogate Jeremy is a non-starter. It has to be the three of us.” The broadcaster has been pursuing a new incarnation of the popular motoring series since a decision was made not to renew Clarkson’s contract following a dust-up with a producer. May and Hammond’s contracts were also up at the end of March, but their future has been murky. May changed his Twitter account to say “former Top Gear presenter” on March 25, the day the BBC announced Clarkson would not be re-upped. May has also said there “might be an opportunity for three of us to get back together on the BBC to do Top Gear or a car show of some sort.” Indeed, the situation may be thawing somewhat. Following Clarkson’s ouster, he was invited to host satire program Have I Got News For You (he ultimately pulled out); Top Gear Live shows will go on although they’ll be stripped of BBC branding; and the BBC said this week that unaired footage of the last episodes of Top Gear which include Clarkson will be broadcast later this summer. “The BBC haven’t completely closed the door on Jeremy’s return,” May told The Guardian.

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