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John C. Reilly and Johnny Flynn look contemplative in this first look image from “A Prayer for the Dying,” the survival thriller now in production outside Bratislava, Slovakia.

Anton and New Europe Films are co-repping worldwide rights on the film, and are continuing sales at the upcoming Toronto International Film Festival.

“A Prayer for the Dying” is written and directed by Dara Van Dusen and based on the novel by Stewart O’Nan. It takes place in 1870 in Friendship, Wisconsin, a small town of Scandinavian settlers still suffering the repercussion of the recent Civil War. When faced with a new and even deadlier threat, one man is forced to make a harrowing choice: save his young family or defend the community that gave him a second chance at life and meaning. Flynn will play Jacob Hansen, the sheriff responsible for the safety of the town, while Reilly will play the local doctor.

“Barons,” a surf and business drama series that plays this week at Series Mania, is a calling card for the newly re-structured Australian operations of TV giant Fremantle.

In recent weeks, leadership of the unscripted side of the business has been put in the hands of Eureka, a company in which it bought an increased shareholding last year. That leaves the remainder, under the management of Greg Woods, focused on high end drama and documentaries.

Insiders have called the new emphasis on premium drama and big factual pieces a new chapter for the company.

Other upcoming shows include the recently wrapped “Heartbreak High” for Netflix, “Significant Others” for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, and “Jump” for local streamer Stan.

“These guys with very humble origins, in this tin pot town in Australia, become like Cain and Abel. They’re kind of friends and rivals. That works as a kind of ceiling.

Cinemas

The Slovak government today declared a state of emergency will go into effect on Friday Nov. 25 in response to the deteriorating Covid-19 situation in the country. The state of emergency includes a curfew, with exceptions only for traveling to work, shopping and medical visits, and will run through Dec. 9. At that time, the government will re-evaluate the situation and decide whether to continue with the curfew.

In response to the notification that all cultural institutions, including cinemas, will be closed for at least two weeks as part of the curfew, Cinemax, the largest cinema operator in the country, announced across its social media profiles that it would pre-premiere Ridley Scott’s “House of Gucci” one day early for those interested in catching in the theater. The film was originally scheduled to premiere in the country on Friday, Nov. 25. Bratislava’s Slovak Film Week, scheduled for Nov. 29 – Dec. 5, has yet...

Exclusive: Writing duo Jordan Reddout and Gus Hickey are expanding their relationship with ABC Signature. The longtime writing partners have signed a multi-year overall deal with ABC Signature and have sold their first project under the pact — half-hour comedy Significant Others to ABC.

Written and executive produced by Reddout and Hickey, Significant Others is inspired by the pair’s real-life friendship. In Significant Others, two best friends narrate the story of their twenties in Los Angeles and how their friendships evolved into a new type of chosen family. ABC Signature is the studio.

Reddout and Hickey are currently co-executive producers on the new ABC series Queens, They recently wrapped as co-executive producers on ABC’s mixed-ish while developing a pilot reboot of the 1995 film Clueless for Peacock through CBS Studios.They previously served as co-executive producers on Hulu’s Dollface, as well as supervising producers on NBC’s Will & Grace.

Comedian Chris Spencer is developing a multi-camera comedy at Fox that boasts LeBron James among its executive producers, Variety has learned.

The series is currently titled “I Just Do” and is inspired by Spencer’s comedy. It’s about an African-American family therapist and his loving and expressive Latina wife living beyond their means in an upper-middleclass neighborhood, where they are raising twin teenagers with the “help” of their intrusive parents.

Fox has given the project a script commitment with a penalty attached. Spencer will star in the series in addition to serving as a writer and co-executive producer. John Beck and Ron Hart will also write in addition to executive producing. James and Maverick Carter will executive produce via their SpringHill Entertainment banner. J.P. Williams will also serve as a co-executive producer. Warner Bros. Television and SpringHill will produce.

In addition to his stand up, Spencer has appeared as...