Posts by Addison Mehr
Deadline: Hyde Park Mounting Mohiro Kitoh Anime ‘Bokurano’ With Showrunner Charlie Craig

EXCLUSIVE: Ashok Amritraj’s Hyde Park Entertainment continues its expansion into television with a live-action adaptation of the acclaimed Japanese manga series Bokurano. The series was created by author Mohiro Kitoh and published by Shogakukan Inc.

Hyde Park has tapped veteran writer Charlie Craig (Pretty Little Liars and Freeform’s The Perfectionists) to be showrunner and executive producer. Amritraj will be executive producer, along with Rob Golenberg. Addison Mehr and Priya Amritraj will co-executive produce for Hyde Park.

Addison Mehr
Variety: Ashok Amritraj Decorated by French Government

Already the most famous Indian producer in Hollywood, Hyde Park Entertainment founder Ashok Amritraj was honored by the French government on Friday.

At a ceremony in Mumbai, Amritraj was presented with the Knight of the Order of Arts and of Letters (Chevalier de L’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres) medal. Minister of External Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian and France’s ambassador to India, Alexandre Ziegler, presided.

Addison Mehr
Deadline: Hyde Park International Boards CJ Entertainment’s Remake Of Korean B.O. Hit ‘Hide And Seek’

EXCLUSIVE: Ashok Amritraj’s Hyde Park International has come aboard CJ Entertainment’s horror/thriller remake Hide and Seek, which Joel David Moore adapted and is directing. Cameras roll on Nov. 26 in New York City. Hyde Park is handling all foreign rights.

Huh Jung directed and wrote the original 2013 movie (released by Korean distributor NEW) which clocked 5.6 million admissions and grossed over $35M in South Korea.

Addison Mehr
Variety: Ashok Amritraj on His New Role as India Goodwill Ambassador

Ashok Amritraj has already had two stellar careers: He was a tennis professional who played Grand Slam doubles with his brother Vijay and, after moving to L.A. from India in his early 20s, he set up Hyde Park Entertainment, a successful and prolific indie studio since 1999.

Now, the dapper 60-year-old has been recognized for his least-known role: as a committed agent of change in his native country. At a ceremony Jan. 27 in New Delhi, the United Nations appointed Amritraj as U.N. in India Goodwill Ambassador for the Sustainable Development Goals. He was honored for his work across 17 development programs, including poverty and hunger alleviation, improvements in water and sanitation, and promoting gender equality. U.N. officials praised him as “a powerful advocate” for development and “a pioneering force in bridging India and Hollywood through film and media.”

Addison Mehr
Deadline: Eviction Stunner ’99 Homes’ Electrifies Fest, Igniting Hot Distribution, Oscar Buzz

After its smash international World Premiere in Venice, director Ramin Bahrani’s 99 Homesan absolutely riveting drama about the 2008 home foreclosure crisis — had its North American premiere here at the Telluride Film Festival, and it has set this place ablaze. Despite lots of interest, as there should be, from domestic distributors, Bahrani told me immediately after this morning’s screening that the financiers behind the film are waiting until its Toronto debut next week to finalize anything. Starring Andrew Garfield and Michael Shannon in career-best performances, this movie is not only a no-brainer for a quick distribution deal, it could be the rare — here comes that five letter word you hate so much, studios — drama that also could be a commercial powerhouse. Few films I have seen in recent years have cut so close to the bone as this one does. Americans, in particular, will respond strongly, and if ever there was a word-of-mouth movie, this is it.

Addison Mehr
The Times: NOLA-shot '99 Homes' will, indeed, get an Oscar push

The good news for director Ramin Bahrani's New Orleans-shot drama "99 Homes" is that, fresh off its well-received screenings at the recent Toronto, Telluride and Venice film festivals, it has landed a U.S. distributor. The bad news is that any Oscar hopes for the film are going to have to wait for at least a year.

Broad Green Pictures has picked up the domestic distribution rights to Bahrani's film, starring Andrew Garfield and Michael Shannon, in a $3 million deal, according to Deadline. What's more, Broad Green is planning an Oscar push, but not until 2015, when it has scheduled the film for release.

Addison Mehr
IndiaWest: Indian American Film Producer Ashok Amritraj, Global Citizen Launch Philanthropic Campaign to End World Hunger

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Amidst what appears to be a divisive political climate in the United States is an effort to foster global unity and societal change through inspirational programming, thanks to a partnership between Indian American film producer Ashok Amritraj’s Hyde Park Entertainment and Global Citizen.

The two entities joined forces to produce a music film – “Louder Together” – to help address several sustainability development goals.

“Louder Together,” narrated by actor Hugh Jackman, aims to show the power of collective action around the world. The music festivals at the heart of “Louder Together” have raised billions of dollars to reach millions of people suffering from hunger, poverty and other sustainability ills, according to Global Citizen.

Addison Mehr
Deadline: Ken Jeong Dives Into Celebrity Death Pool Pic For Hyde Park, WWE Studios

EXCLUSIVE: The Hangover‘s Ken Jeong has signed on to star in a comedy currently known as Untitled Celebrity Death Pool, to be co-produced by Ashok Amritraj’s Hyde Park Entertainment, Image Nation Abu Dhabi, and WWE Studios. Jeong will play a struggling nightclub owner in debt to a loan shark who sets out to win his long-running celebrity death pool by offing his chosen celebrity: David Hasselhoff.

Addison Mehr