ITV Casting American Lead For New U.K. Drama Series Mr. Selfridge

The UK’s ITV has announced a new 10-part drama series in a move that looks to build on the mega-success of its Downton Abbey. Mr. Selfridge will trace the life of the flamboyant and visionary American entrepreneur, Harry Gordon Selfridge, who created the famed London department store Selfridges. Contrary to Downton, which is made by NBCUniversals Carnival Films, Mr. Selfridge will be an in-house ITV Studios production. Created by writer Andrew Davies (Brideshead Revisted, Bridget Jones Diary), Mr. Selfridge is set in London in 1909 at a time when wealthy women were enjoying a new sense of freedom. ‘Mile a Minute Harry’ wanted to indulge, empower and celebrate these women; making shopping as thrilling as sex, according to ITV. Based on the book Shopping, Seduction And Mr Selfridge by Lindy Woodhead, the series will shine a light on hidden moments of the history of women through fashion, cosmetics, technology and domestic affairs. Production starts in April in London with the series to air in 2013. Chrissy Skinns is producer with Kate Lewis executive producing. Jon Jones will direct. ITV is currently out to cast an American actor in the lead role. In related news, ITV announced preliminary 2011 results with external revenues up 4% to 2.14 billion and non-advertising revenues up 11% to 922 million. The group puts the increases down to growth from its UK and international studios businesses. ITV CEO Adam Crozier, who inherited 612 million worth of debt when he took over in 2010, noted: Were now almost two years into our five-year Transformation Plan and our continued growth in revenue and profit – at a time when the advertising market is broadly flat – demonstrates that were performing in line with our strategic priorities. The increase in non-advertising revenues of 93m, driven by our studios and online businesses, is clear evidence of progress in rebalancing the Company and our ability to grow new revenue streams.

Roush Review: Bearing Witness towards the Amish Life-style

Ok, large hugs for you if you are still hanging inside with Smash. Following a stellar pilot, a powerful second episode along with a strangely uneven visit to a Area karaoke bar a week ago, NBC's splashy rankings-deterrent returned to being fabulous using the kick-from rehearsals for Marilyn: The Musical last evening. A lot of music, a not-hateful guest place from one of these there Jonas Siblings, an indication concerning the falling-out between former buds Tom and Derek...really, the only real factor missing would be a good Eileen martini-toss and also the violent, sudden and fatal run-among a runaway taxi and awful Ellis that people continue to be praying for. Find Out More > Other Links From TVGuide.com Katharine McPheeNick JonasSmash

Tribeca nabs 'Collaborator'

'Collaborator'Tribeca Film has acquired U.S. privileges to Martin Donovan's "Collaborator," the comedy-drama that bowed this past year in the Karlovy Vary Film Festival. Written and directed by thesp Donovan in the directorial debut, pic focuses on a playwright who's held hostage in the childhood home by his old neighbor. Donovan leads a cast which includes David Morse and Olivia Williams. Julien Favre, Ted Hope, Luca Matrundola and Pascal Vaguelsy created the film. Tribeca's Nick Savva inked the distribution cope with Hope with Charlotte now Mickie of Entertainment One, the organization which will handle some U.S. homevid distribution privileges. Tribeca, the Gotham-based distributor loosely associated with the Tribeca Film Festival, plans a summer time release on multiple platforms, with specifics still to become set. Contact Gordon Cox at gordon.cox@variety.com

New Horizons finds 'Jesus'

Reaching beyond its usual festivals and distribution ops, Poland's New Horizons Assn. has boarded "Comrade Jesus," from helmer Urszula Antoniak. New Horizons, which oversees the New Horizons Film Festival in Wroclaw, Poland, also has Przemyslaw Wojcieszek's "Secret" world premiering in the Berlinale Forum. It's Wojcieszek's third film to unspool in the section. New Horizons produced along with Dynamo Karuzela. New Horizons is producing "Comrade Jesus," starring Andrzej Chyra. Pic tells the story of Jesus Christ, who, while visiting a nouveau riche Polish family, refuses to leave and causes many problems for the family. New Horizons is currently looking for a co-producer on the project. The last film of the Polish-born and Holland-based Chyra was "Code Blue," which played in Directors' Fortnight in Cannes in 2011. New Horizons distributed it in Poland. Contact Carole Horst at carole.horst@variety.com

Gamers in freeville

"Farmville" is Zynga's wildly popular game played through Facebook. The ranks of casual gamers continues to grow at a rapid rate, with the number of people playing videogames in the U.S. rising 141% since 2008. According to a new study by market research firm Parks Associates, 135 million people play a videogame at least one hour per month compared to 56 million four years ago. While that's a positive sign for the $16 billion a year games industry, there's a catch: 80% of gamers prefer free titles like "Angry Birds" and "FarmVille" available on sites like Facebook and other platforms, opting to avoid subscription fees and pay only for add-ons and upgrades. Still, they're spending on average $21 a month on virtual goods or other perks, Parks Associates said, which added that occasional gamers with videogame consoles spend up to $27 per month. Hasbro is looking to take advantage of those digital dollars by pairing up with social gaming giant Zynga to turn its toys into mobile games. Deal, announced Thursday, also encompasses co-branded merchandising that will intermingle Hasbro and Zynga brands. First products should be available in the fall. "It's exciting to partner with Hasbro as we share a common vision for play and a mission to connect the world through games," said Mark Pincus, founder, CEO and chief product officer of Zynga. As a result of the move to play more games online, publishers are focusing more attention on building online communities for their top titles to entice players to open their wallets for more content, similar to "Call of Duty Elite" that Activision Blizzard launched around its "Call of Duty" franchise. "Instead of ending support of customers after they buy individual game titles, game companies now focus on building gamer communities and developing ongoing relationships with their customers," said Parks research analyst and study author Pietro Macchiarella. "The positive effect of this approach is that game monetization can be extended beyond the point of sale. Unlike traditional offline games, the online world allows the industry to earn revenue even when people play the same game repeatedly." In its most recent quarterly report, Activision, industry's largest vidgame publisher, generated 26% of its sales from digital platforms, while 60% came from traditional channels. With more people carrying smartphones, 17% of all consumers downloaded a game on their mobile devices, up from 7% in 2008. Contact Marc Graser at marc.graser@variety.com

Canana launches genre pic franchise

Marking its entry into British-language production, Mexican production-distrib Canana is starting a genre franchise directed by Russia's enigmatic Makinov. The very first film within the franchise, "Child's Play," is within publish-production. "Play" stars Vinissa Shaw ("Two Enthusiasts") and Ebon Moss ("Damages") like a husband and the pregnant wife who visit Mexico for many quiet, simply to be assaulted by maniacal children.Canana is developing an actioner along with a thriller with Makinov, stated Canana producer Pablo Cruz.The mysterious Makinov is referred to by Canana like a Russian-American that has resided in Mexico. On set, he wears a mask along with a heavy worker jacket known as a Makinov."Through anonymity I'm able to do anything whatsoever, tackle any genre and never hesitate to fail," Makinov is cited as saying.Televisa has all Mexican privileges and can release "Play" in Mexico via distrib arm Videocine.Getting repped Gerardo Naranjo's Canana-created "Miss Bala," Fox Intl. Prods. will handle worldwide sales outdoors Mexico on "Child's Play," presenting it to purchasers in the European Film Market. Canana operates by actor-helmers Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna and producer Pablo Cruz. "Genre enables a freedom you don't get when you're telling a tale of the country in poverty or even the mountain existence of two kids," Cruz told Variety.He added: "Also, it's fun, and we have to build more powerful brands, make movies with worldwide appeal which don't always define us like a Mexican production company." Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Wolfe Delivering nabs 'Mosquita y Mari'

Wolfe Delivering has acquired U . s . States rights to Indion Entertainment/Maya Entertainment's transitional phase story "Mosquita y Mari," which examined at Sundance.The Film Collaborative will probably be delivering the pic theatrically this year and Wolfe expects to produce the film on VOD and DVD in 2013."Mosquita," author/director Aurora Guerrero's debut feature, focuses on an in-depth, but complicated love between two youthful Latinas maturing in East L.A.'s immigrant community."Mosquita y Mari" was produced by Chad Burris and written and directed by Aurora Guerrero and stars Fenessa Pineda and Venecia Troncoso since the love struck teens. Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com

'Smash' Expanded polystyrene on 'Glee': 'The World Is Large Enough for These Shows'

A Broadway pedigree. Nine award-winning executive producers, including Steven Spielberg. A financial budget called at $3.5 million per episode. And also the about a whole broadcast network riding onto it. Much was already stated about NBC's "Smash" prior to its Monday premiere.Starring Debra Playing and Christian Borle as playwrights preparing a Broadway musical about Lana Turner, "Smash" takes an insider's consider the theater world -- such as the fight that develops whenever a newcomer ("American Idol's" Katharine McPhee) goes mind-to-mind having a stage vet ("Wicked's" Megan Hilty) for that lead role."The Hollywood Reporter" sitting lower with creator Theresa Rebeck, songwriters Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman recently to go over the building of a drama series about the building of a Broadway play, being named "'Glee' for grown ups" and the way they contacted creating the initial series. Listed here are five things to understand about the series.1. Original tunes: Tony-winning "Hairspray" duo Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman composed between 15 and 17 original tunes for "Smash," investing numerous hrs researching Lana Turner. The duo came from a lot more than 80 books concerning the icon and contacted the procedure as though these were really writing a musical about Monroe. "Starting free associating words which come from your perspective,Inch Shaiman states. "We do not ever start writing an audio lesson until Scott has the thought of what that song must accomplish."One of the original tracks, plenty of Joe DiMaggio-Marilyn tunes one about Marilyn's famous "The Seven Year Itch" along with a song for Monroe throughout her "bad" phase, that was the greatest "mind f---" of all of the tunes, Shaiman states. "To stay in a theater, shooting a musical number for any Television show, the musical number is really a number for any Broadway musical however the number is happening on the soundstage," he states.2. Broadway bound? Is the Marilyn musical at the middle of "Smash" mind to Broadway? Shaiman, Wittman and Rebeck aren't in a rush to reply to that. "We would need to update the fabric in the event that ever were to become real musical," Shaiman states, observing that NBC Entertainment topper Robert Greenblatt stated from the beginning that the background music featured around the series would need to naturally fit making sense within an actual musical. Adds Rebeck: "I believe that individuals are planning on it though, but for the time being my focus is creating a great show. Request me that question again each year and find out what I only say."3. The "Glee" effect: Named "'Glee' for grown ups," the executive producers credit the Fox series for paving the way in which for "Smash." "Really, it is a perfect description," Shaiman states. "To express it's 'Glee' for adults isn't any type of a search at 'Glee' it simply means out figures are older." The musical duo, who labored with "Glee's" Matthew Morrison as he starred as "Hairspray's" Link on Broadway, are even available to welcoming him -- along with other "Glee" cast -- to "Smash." "[Morrison] just texted us and stated, 'Could I direct 'Smash'?' I believe that might be a good idea, someone from 'Glee' pointing our episodes," Shaiman states. "The planet is large enough for these shows. Nobody states, 'Oh, there's enough you cannot have another cop procedural on television.A " 4. Who's "Smash" designed for? Series creator Rebeck -- a proficient TV author ("NYPD Blue"), playwright ("The Understudy") and author ("Three Women as well as their Brother") -- states she'd some trepidation about doing Marilyn the musical first emerged. Ultimately, she states, it had been her method of "Smash" like a TV series that pressed the concept forward. "There have been many people who have been nervous concerning the idea," she states. "I finally stated, 'I have no idea basically could write an excellent musical about Lana Turner, however i know I possibly could write an excellent tv program about people attempting to write a musical about Lana Turner.InchShaiman and Wittman, meanwhile, say they approach the songwriting as though these were writing for his or her kind of audience. "The figures described by Debra Playing and Christian Borle are type of our alternatives within the show," Wittman states. "We attempt to create something that might be their vocabulary."5. Changes for broadcast: "Smash" was initially developed at Showtime so when Robert Greenblatt departed premium cable network to mind NBC's entertainment unit, he introduced the project -- a 70-page script -- with him.Because the network -- and subsequent audience change -- Rebeck states authors "lopped off" about 20 pages from the script and break the storyline sooner. "There is more language and nudity plus some slightly more dark behavior designs, although i was type of building to that particular,Inch she states. A lot of the fabric which was removed from the pilot Rebeck states went into subsequent episodes. "The pilot is, with techniques, extended through Episodes 2 and three.InchInchBreakInch premieres Monday at 10 p.m. on NBC. The Hollywood Reporter