The European Film Market has only just started to warm up but Alliance Films is bringing the heat, snapping up rights to Scarlett Johansson starrer “Can A Song Save Your Life,” Anton Corbijn’s “A Most Wanted Man” and Kate Hudson starrer “Everly.”

Late Thursday night, Alliance snapped up U.K. and Canadian rights to “Everly” from Nick Meyer’s Sierra/Affinity outfit.

Deal, which marked the second major deal in Berlin this year, is estimated to be north of $1 million and saw a number of other foreign buyers at the table, notably eOne, which was also in the final running for the female-driven actioner.

Pic, which is produced by Adam Ripp and Rob Paris’ Crime Scene Pictures, also sold to Splendid for Germany, Switzerland and Benelux for just north of $1 million.

The Alliance pick up for “Everly” clocks up a feeling of deja-vu from last year’s Berlinale, when the distrib acquired multi-territory rights (Blighty, Canada and Spain) to Crime Scene’s debut feature “Gambit,” toplining Colin Firth and Cameron Diaz.

Sierra/Affinity has been shopping the $10 million actioner, helmed by Joe Lynch, with Hudson as a down-on-her-luck woman stuck in her apartment, fending off waves of assassins sent by her ex, a dangerous mob boss.

Story is based on a concept created by Lynch (“Knights of Badassdom”). Yale Hannon penned the script, which was featured on the Hollywood Black List.

Anonymous Content’s Luke Rivett is producing “Everly” alongside Ripp and Paris, who are also financing the pic. Rizal Risjad and Philip Elway exec produce.

- Variety

(Feb 1st) Kate Hudson is set to star in Joe Lynch’s actioner “Everly,” the new project from Adam Ripp and Rob Paris’ Crime Scene Pictures.

Pic, which is being sold by Nick Meyer’s Sierra/Affinity, will be unveiled to buyers at the European Film Market at the Berlin Film Festival next week.

Hudson will star as a down-on-her-luck woman, stuck in her apartment, fending off waves of assassins sent by her ex, a dangerous mob boss.

Pic is based on a concept created by Lynch (“Knights of Badassdom”). Yale Hannon penned the script, which was featured on the Hollywood Black List.

It’s the second picture to come out of Crime Scene and the second time it has launched a pic at Berlinale. Last year, its “Gambit,” starring Colin Firth and Cameron Diaz, was one of the hottest tickets at the EFM, where it quickly sold to a raft of territories.

Anonymous Content’s Luke Rivett is producing “Everly” alongside Ripp and Paris, who are also financing the pic.

Rizal Risjad and Philip Elway exec produce.

Sierra/Affinity will also sell “Wer,” the new horror project from “The Devil Inside” producers, at the EFM.

Hudson is repped by CAA.

- Variety.com

Kate Hudson to Star in ‘Everly’ for Crime Scene Pictures & Anonymous Content

Kate Hudson has signed on to star in the action-thriller “Everly” for Crime Scene Pictures and Anonymous Content, the companies said Wednesday.

Yale Hannon wrote the script, which was included on the 2010 Black List of Best Unproduced Scripts.

Joe Lynch is producing.

The movie — set in one room — is about a woman who breaks up with her boyfriend, a dangerous mob boss, and has to fend off assassins he sends to kill her.

Adam Ripp and Rob Paris are financing and will produce through their Crime Scene Pictures. Anonymous Content is also producing.

Sierra/Affinity is handling international sales beginning at the European Film Market in Berlin.

Hudson, who was nominated for an Academy Award for the 2000 “Almost Famous,” is best known as a comic actress. The role offers her the opportunity to develop her action chops.

- Reuters.com

DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. today (Feb 1st) announced that Tony Award(TM) nominee Josh Gad (Love and Other Drugs), who currently appears on Broadway in The Book of Mormon, will star as Stanley, Bill Hader (Saturday Night Live, Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs) as his shadow, and Academy-Award® nominee Kate Hudson (Almost Famous, Something Borrowed) as Heidi in Me & My Shadow, coming to the big screen on November 13, 2013. In this original feature film conceived at DreamWorks Animation, the studio will pioneer a groundbreaking combination of both CG and traditional animation techniques, which will be used seamlessly to create a never-before-seen movie experience.

Animation veteran Alessandro Carloni, who most recently served as head of story on DreamWorks Animation’s Academy Award®-nominated How to Train Your Dragon, will make his directorial debut on Me & My Shadow. Melissa Cobb (Kung Fu Panda, Kung Fu Panda 2) will produce and Jeff Hermann (Kung Fu Panda, Kung Fu Panda 2) will co-produce. Tom J. Astle and Matt Ember (Get Smart) are writing the screenplay. The original script was written by Steve Bencich and Ron J. Friedman.

“The hilarious chemistry between Josh Gad, Bill Hader and Kate Hudson couldn’t be more exciting to watch as they bring to life our trio of lead characters in Me & My Shadow,” said DreamWorks Animation Chief Creative Officer Bill Damaschke. “Alessandro has proven to be a creative genius at DreamWorks Animation for over a decade and we look forward with a huge amount of enthusiasm as he takes on his feature film directing debut with us.”

“I cannot begin to express my excitement over the opportunity to direct Me & My Shadow, an original movie that makes innovative use of both cutting edge CGI technology and time-honored animated techniques in an inventive new way,” added Carloni.

Prior to his work on How to Train Your Dragon, Carloni worked with DreamWorks Animation in a number of capacities, including supervising animator on the Academy Award®-nominated Kung Fu Panda. Carloni joined DreamWorks Animation in 2002, bringing with him a wide variety of award-winning experience within the animation industry, creating feature and short animated films as well as commercials and music videos. He has served as animator, co-director, animation director, sculptor, special effects supervisor, storyboard and visual development artist and designer throughout his career.

Me & My Shadow reveals the once secret world of shadows and their human counterparts. Stan, our hero’s shadow, yearns for a more exciting life but happens to be stuck with Stanley Grubb, a timid guy with an extreme aversion to adventure. When a crime in the shadow world puts both of their lives in danger, Stan is forced to take control of Stanley. They go on a madcap adventure to investigate the crime and stop the shadow villain from leading a rebellion where shadows take over the human world. During this adventure, Stan empowers Stanley to let go of his fears and embrace life. Through their adventure, they both learn that one cannot be whole without a true friend.

- Press Release

Ever since we became aware of Kate Hudson in her turn as ditzy groupie Penny Lane in “Almost Famous,” the actress has managed to a) not age, b) never look like she’s wearing a lick of makeup and c) look all the better for it. No easy feat. While it seems effortless (being Goldie’s daughter helps), Hudson truly is a master of the no-makeup makeup look, even more so since teaming up with Almay in mid-2010. “I usually keep it simple: for easy, five minute makeup, I use eyeliner, blush, mascara and call it a day,” says the actress. “If I’m going out, maybe I’ll touch up a little bit.” We caught up with the “Something Borrowed” star recently to get the hard and fast details on makeup staples, style icons and her simplified routine. And take a look below at Hudson’s glowy beauty evolution.

What everyday products do you rely on to not look overly done?
Almay Smart Shade Makeup. It’s so easy, I put it on like moisturizer. It is not heavy or cakey. I love their eyeliner, too.

What skincare products have you have always been faithful to since you were young?
Pond’s Cold Cream.

How did your beauty routine change when you were pregnant?
I didn’t really change anything. I’m not fussy, my face just got a little fuller. As far as products, I’m a big advocate of natural. Ren Skincare is great.

What’s the one makeup staple you always have in your bag?
Usually lip gloss and concealer.

Favorite red carpet looks?
I loved this Pucci dress at the SAG Awards, and Roberto Cavalli at the London premiere of “The Skeleton Key.”

Who inspires you beauty-wise?
Anita Pallenberg and Julie Christie.

2011 saw the release of two new Kate films (at least, for the UK anyway) – A Little Bit Of Heaven and Something Borrowed – and I have to admit I loved them both! Kate displayed her usual sparkly charm in both, and reminded us what a pleasure she is to watch on screen. 2011 also saw the arrival of a little bundle of joy in the form of Bingham Bellamy to Kate and Matt Bellamy, along with a shiny new accessory for Kate’s wedding finger. In terms of her personal life in particular, this has been a huge and very happy year for Kate, and we couldn’t be happier for her!

Thank you for visiting Kate Hudson Heaven in 2011 – the site has continued to go through it’s up and down moments, but I hope you’ve enjoyed what we have provided, and stick with us in 2012. I promise to try even harder to get this site back on track in 2012, to get back to bringing you the best possible resource for Miss Hudson!

This week, The Reluctant Fundamentalist, starring Liev Schreiber, Kate Hudson, and Kiefer Sutherland, began filming in the Atlanta, Georgia area, where it will continue shooting through October 7th before moving to New York and India for the duration of filming.

The movie follows Changez, a Princeton graduate from Pakistan, succeeds on Wall Street, thriving in his adopted city. But in the wake of September 11, Changez finds his position in his adopted city suddenly overturned and his relationships tested. His involvement with pro-Pakistan demonstrations are called into question as is his connection to a possibly extremist student. After another attack, Changez’s link to the student implicates him indirectly to the group responsible. A thriller unfolds as Changez is forced to choose – a country, a way of life, where he belongs. The movie is based on the the novel of the same name by Mohsin Hamid.

(Reluctant Fundamentalist will be filming a scene at 229 Bradbury St in the Castleberry Hill neighborhood of Atlanta on Friday, Sept.23rd from approx 6am–2pm.)

- onlocationvacations.com

It’s been a while since we’ve heard from Mira Nair. The celebrated director behind “Salaam Bombay!,” “Monsoon Wedding” and “The Namesake” flopped pretty hard in 2009 with the tepid prestige pic “Amelia” and she’s been laying low since. Or so we thought. She’s not only already set the cast for her next film, it’s already in front of cameras.

A pretty solid group led by Riz Ahmed, Kate Hudson, Liev Schreiber and Kiefer Sutherland will star in “The Reluctant Fundamentalist” and it sounds like an ambitious tale. Based on the novel by Mohsin Hamid, with shooting to take place in Atlanta, New York, Lahore, Delhi and Istanbul, the story will follow Changez, a young Pakistani man (Ahmed) chasing working on Wall Street whose life is forever changed by the events of 9/11 causing “a seismic shift in his own attitude, unearthing allegiances more fundamental than money, power, and maybe even love.” Here’s the full book synopsis from Amazon:

At a café table in Lahore, a bearded Pakistani man converses with an uneasy American stranger. As dusk deepens to night, he begins the tale that has brought them to this fateful meeting . . .

Changez is living an immigrant’s dream of America. At the top of his class at Princeton, he is snapped up by the elite “valuation” firm of Underwood Samson. He thrives on the energy of New York, and his infatuation with elegant, beautiful Erica promises entry into Manhattan society at the same exalted level once occupied by his own family back in Lahore.

But in the wake of September 11, Changez finds his position in his adopted city suddenly overturned, and his budding relationship with Erica eclipsed by the reawakened ghosts of her past. And Changez’s own identity is in seismic shift as well, unearthing allegiances more fundamental than money, power, and maybe even love.

There’s no word yet on the roles of the other actors, but we presume it’s a safe bet that Hudson will play Erica, the object of affection in the story. No word yet on a release date, but the indie production will likely turn up on the festival circuit next year. Back by the Doha Film Institute, we figure it’ll aim for a premiere at the Doha Tribeca Film Festival in 2012 following the path of the Antonio Banderas starrer “Black Gold,” which DFI backed and will bow there this year. Nair could’ve come back with something easy, but we like that she’s taking another big swing and we’ll be eager to see this one come together.

- blogs.indiewire.com

Mira Nair’s ‘The Reluctant Fundamentalist’ Gets Doha Film Institute Cash

Filmmaker Mira Nair’s ambitions to bring Mohsin Hamid’s novel The Reluctant Fundamentalist to the big screen is being backed with cash from the Doha Film Institute.

Adapted by Bill Wheeler, Hamid, and Ami Boghani and produced by Lydia Dean Pilcher, The Reluctant Fundamentalist, is the second international production to garner financial backing from the Doha Film Institute (DFI).

The movie starts shooting this week on location in Atlanta, New York, Lahore, Delhi and Istanbul.

Fundamentalist details the story of Changez, a young Pakistani man chasing corporate success on Wall Street in the era of globalization.

After 9/11, Changez experiences a seismic shift in his own attitude, unearthing allegiances more fundamental than money, power, and maybe even love.

Riz Ahmed stars as Changez alongside Kate Hudson, Liev Schreiber and Kiefer Sutherland.

A Mirabai Films and Cine Mosaic production Fundamentalist, marks DFI’s first financing involvement in an independent feature film.

Nair said: “My father lived in Lahore before the partition of India and Pakistan. I am inspired to make a contemporary film about Pakistan, especially in this day and age when the perceived schism between Islamists and the Western World becomes more pronounced each day. In the Doha Film Institute, I have a like-minded partner who shares a common belief in this story and its ability to affect change, having supported this project from the very beginning. In this day and age to have creative freedom to make a film that is political, timely and multi layered is a gift.”

DFI’s first ventured into international production earlier this year with Black Gold, alongside Quinta Communications.

- hollywoodreporter.com

Mira Nair’s reluctant fundamentalist will go to Pakistan

Mira Nair’s controversial adaptation of Mohsin Hamid’s novel ‘The Reluctant Fundamentalist’ is ready to roll this week in Atlanta, New York, Istanbul and Delhi.

Interestingly, Mira has managed to get permission to shoot in Lahore where the novel is largely set.

Riz Ahmed (Four Lions, Black Gold) stars in the lead role of Changez alongside Kate Hudson (Bride Wars, Nine, Something Borrowed), Liev Schreiber (Salt, X-Men: Origins, The Manchurian Candidate) and Kiefer Sutherland (24). Also appearing in the film are Nelsan Ellis, Martin Donovan.

From India, Om Puri and Shabana Azmi who are regulars abroad but have never worked with Mira Nair, are also on board. Haluk Bilginer and Meesha Shafi also feature in prominent parts.

Commenting on The Reluctant Fundamentalist, Nair said: “My father lived in Lahore before the partition of India and Pakistan. I am inspired to make a contemporary film about Pakistan, especially in this day and age when the perceived schism between Islamists and the Western World becomes more pronounced each day. In Doha Film Institute, I have a like-minded partner who shares a common belief in this story and its ability to affect change, having supported this project from the very beginning. In this day and age to have creative freedom to make a film that is political, timely and multi-layered is a gift.”

Author Moshin Hamid is often cited in the media regarding Pakistani politics and culture. He adds, “Right now in Pakistan there is a feeling of intense isolation. So this film means a great deal to me – It is a rare case of artistic collaboration between Pakistanis, Americans and Indians. It tries to humanise what too often is stereotyped. And it tries to break down the walls that separate us, to expand our sense of empathy, and to let us reconnect as artists, as people and as citizens of a shared planet.”

Other team members in the film include cinematographer Declan Quinn (Monsoon Wedding, In America, Rachel Getting Married), costume designer Arjun Bhasin (The Namesake, Monsoon Wedding, Life of Pi), production designer Michael Carlin (The Last King of Scotland, The Duchess, In Bruges), and Shimit Amin as the editor.

- bollywoodhungama.com

I’ve added a few photos from this sighting to the Gallery, and I hope to be able to find some more soon – Kate looks so gorgeous we need a really good look at this look!

And in honour of Stella’s birthday, here are some (old) words from Kate about her friend’s designing talents:

“Stella McCartney dresses me. What I love about her is that everything she designs is comfortable. She understands where women want to cover themselves, where they want things to be flattering.”

• September 13th, London x6