New Republic Pictures has won the auction for “Family Jewels,” a comedy pitch starring Goldie Hawn, Bette Midler and Diane Keaton, who have not appeared on screen together since 1996’s “The First Wives Club.”Peter Hoare is writing the screenplay, while New Republic principals Brian Oliver and Bradley Fischer are producing alongside Alan Nevins. Tracey Nyberg is executive producing. Fischer and Nevins packaged the project and brought in Hoare with Nyberg.
The film, which is eyeing a 2020 production start, is a multigenerational family comedy in which Hawn, Midler and Keaton are forced to spend the Christmas holidays together along with their kids and grandkids — after the man they were all once married to suddenly dies in a department store.
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“The chemistry of Diane, Bette and Goldie is unmatched and irresistible, and I’m thrilled to help reunite them on screen for generations of fans,” Fischer said.
“This movie fits perfectly in our plan to finance and produce four to six major studio theatricals a year and puts movie stars back where they ought to be — on the big screen” Oliver added.
Hoare most recently had one of the biggest deals out of Cannes where he sold his original spec “Down Under Cover” to Paramount, with Chris Hemsworth and Tiffany Haddish starring. His new feature, “Standing Up, Falling Down” is being released on Friday.
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“Brad and I always wanted Peter for this project but he was constantly busy,” Nevins said. “To our great joy, after the Cannes sale, we were able to get the three of us united. I, and the public, have waited many years for these three ladies to star in another film together.”
Hoare is repped by Kailey Marsh at Brillstein, and Hayes Robbins at Goodman, Genow, Schenkman, Smelkinson & Christopher. The deal was negotiated for New Republic by Michael Moskowitz with Manatt, Phelps and Phillips.
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