Hollywood
American supernatural thriller Voices from the Stone acquired by 13 Films
NEW DELHI: The supernatural thriller Voice from the Stone starring Emilia Clarke which is being produced by Dean Zanuck (Road To Perdition, Get Low fame) and Stefano Gallini-Durante (White Shadow, En La Caliente) and will be directed by Eric D. Howell has been acquired by leading international sales and finance company 13 Films.
13 Films president Tannaz Anisi announced this at the ongoing American Film Market. However, the film’s producers will retain rights for the United States.
Veteran sales agent Anisi will also be the executive producer of the project which is set to start principal photography in November in Italy.
Marton Csokas has also joined the cast alongside Clarke.
“I was immediately drawn to the unique and haunting script of Voice from the Stone and
am thrilled to be partnering with established producers Dean Zanuck and Stefani Gallini-Durante on the project. The beautiful and talented Emilia Clarke is the perfect actress to bring life and freshness to the role of Verena,” said Anisi.
Written by Andrew Shaw and based on the Italian novel La Voce Della Pietra by Silvio Raffo, Voice from the Stone marks Eric D. Howell’s feature film directorial debut.
Voice from the Stone is the haunting story of Verena (Clarke), a solemn nurse drawn to aid a young boy named Jakob who has fallen silent since the untimely death of his mother nearly a year ago. Living with his father (Csokas) in a massive stone manor in Tuscany, Jakob not only refuses to speak, he seems to be under the spell of a malevolent force trapped within the stone walls. As Verena’s relationship with the father and son grow, she becomes ensnared and consumed by Malvina’s severe force. If she is to save the boy, and free herself, she must face the phantom hidden inside the stone.
13 Films’ full slate at AFM also includes the romantic comedy Take Care starring Leslie Bibb and Thomas Sadoski, which made its market premiere yesterday and will be released theatrically in the US by Phase 4 Films on 5 December, crime thriller Manhattan Nocturne starring Oscar winner Adrien Brody, Yvonne Strahovski and Campbell Scott set to start shooting in December and Very Good Girls with Dakota Fanning, Elizabeth Olsen, Peter Sarsgaard and Demi Moore, which was released earlier this year by Tribeca Films.
Hollywood
Disney chair confident CEO Josh D’Amaro will ‘rise to the occasion’ in Trump–Kimmel row
Board backs new chief as ABC controversy tests leadership early on
NEW YORK: The Walt Disney Company has placed the responsibility of handling the escalating dispute between Donald Trump and late-night host Jimmy Kimmel squarely on its new chief executive, Josh D’Amaro.
Speaking at a business conference in Oslo, Disney chair James Gorman said it would be up to the CEO and his team to determine the company’s response to the controversy surrounding Jimmy Kimmel Live!. He noted that such challenges are not uncommon for large corporations and require careful handling at the leadership level.
The row intensified after both Donald Trump and Melania Trump publicly called for Kimmel’s dismissal following remarks made on his show. The comments, which referenced the First Lady, sparked backlash in the days leading up to a security incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
Kimmel addressed the issue on-air, clarifying that his joke was intended as a reference to the couple’s age difference and not an incitement to violence. He also expressed sympathy for those affected by the incident and reiterated his stance against violent rhetoric.
Despite mounting pressure, Gorman refrained from offering specific guidance on the future of the show or the host. Instead, he voiced confidence in D’Amaro’s leadership, describing him as “world class” and capable of navigating the situation effectively.
The episode presents an early and high-profile test for D’Amaro, who stepped into the top role just last month. How Disney balances editorial independence, public sentiment and political pressure will likely shape not just the outcome of this controversy, but also the tone of its leadership in the months ahead.
