• Prizefighter: The Life Of Jem Belcher has been sold to Amazon. Matt Hookings stars in the Daniel Graham-directed pic “set at the turn of the 19th century” and centerd on “a gifted young boxer who fought his way to becoming champion of England under the watchful eye of trainer and surrogate father Bill Warr. The film also stars Ray Winstone, Marton Csokas, Jodhi May, Steven Berkoff and Julian Glover, and is also the current subject of internal pay disputes between crew and production. (Deadline)
• A week after inking a three-picture deal with Amazon, Alan Ritchson (“Titans”, “Reacher”) is reportedly in talks to join Universal’s May 19, 2023 release of Fast X. All details are light to nil as production is in early stages with Vin Diesel headlining the mix cast of new and returning characters. Louis Leterrier (The Transporter, The Incredible Hulk) is directing following franchise co-helmer Justin Lin’s unceremonious exit this month, remaining on board as producer. (The Wrap)
• Francis Lawrence’s The Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes, has cast Tom Blyth (Epix’s “Billy The Kid”) for the role of young Coriolanus Snow. The Lionsgate prequel/spin-off is set 64 years before the events of The Hunger Games movies starring Jennifer Lawrence, and is currently slated for a November 17, 2023 release. (The Wrap)
• Zack Snyder’s sci-fi action thriller, Rebel Moon, is adding Ed Skrein (Deadpool, Alita: Battle Angel), Fra Fee (Hawkeye, Les Misérables), Rhian Rhees (Halloween, Confession of a Child of the Century) and Cleopatra Coleman (Dopesick, In the Shadow of the Moon) to the cast, centered on a mysterious young woman and interplanetary warriors on a mission to defend a peaceful colony the edge of the galaxy from the tyrannical Regent Balisarius. They join Sofia Boutella (Hotel Artemis), Charlie Hunnam (Sons of Anarchy, Shantaram, The Gentleman, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword), Djimon Hounsou (The King’s Man, A Quiet Place Part II, Blood Diamond), Doona Bae (The Silent Sea, Jupiter Ascending, Sense8), and Ray Fisher (Zack Snyder’s Justice League, True Detective, Women of the Movement).