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Back in 1995, in the midst of cinema’s brief fixation with Jane Austen, director Roger Michell made the definitive film of “Persuasion”: as literate and elegant as it was underestimated upon release. That same year, Amy Heckerling set the bar for modernized Austen adaptations with her lithely funny and era-defining “Emma” riff “Clueless.” A quarter-century later, the straightforwardly titled “Modern Persuasion” falls some way short of either benchmark. Refashioning Austen’s bittersweet final novel about love surmounting prickly English class politics as a peppy romantic comedy of missed connections among the moneyed New York media set, Alex Appel and Jonathan Lisecki’s film is both too innocuous and too flatly imagined to stir much feeling either way.

What it does have going for it is Alicia Witt, a likable, spirited star too little used by Hollywood of late, but recently a leading mainstay of Hallmark holiday movies — from which...

Pacific Northwest Pictures to release in Canada.

Myriad Pictures announced on Wednesday (September 30) that Samuel Goldwyn Films has acquired US rights to rom-com Modern Persuasion starring Alicia Witt.

Alex Appel and Jonathan Lisecki directed the Jane Austen adaptation from Tangerine Entertainment and Tortyfly Pictures, based on a screenplay by Lisecki (Gayby) and Barbara Radecki (Expecting).

Witt, stars with Shane McRae and Bebe Neuwirth in the contemporary tale about a New York workaholic whose firm is hired by an old flame.

Samuel Goldwyn Films will release Modern Persuasion in December.

Myriad Pictures president and CEO Kirk D’Amico said: “We are delighted...

Myriad Pictures has acquired worldwide rights to the Alicia Witt romantic comedy “Modern Persuasion,” which will premiere at the Cannes Virtual Market.

The film, an adaptation of Jane Austen’s 1817 novel “Persuasion,” is directed by Alex Appel and Jonathan Lisecki from a script by Lisecki and Barbara Radecki. The film also stars Liza Lapira, Daniela Pineda, Shane McRae and Bebe Neuwirth.

“Modern Persuasion” centers on Witt’s character, a happily single and self-confessed workaholic who, after steadfastly rising to the top of the ladder in the New York corporate publicity world, finds herself coming home every night to her cat. When her firm is hired by a previous love, long-lost feelings are stirred.

Myriad Pictures president and CEO Kirk D’Amico said: “We loved Alex’s and Jonathan’s modern day take on the Jane Austen classic and are excited to begin selling this delightful and clever romantic comedy. Alicia Witt...

Tangerine Entertainment and Tortyfly Pictures produced.

Myriad Pictures has acquired worldwide rights to the rom-com Modern Persuasion starring Alicia Witt and will launch sales and screen the film at the Cannes virtual market next week.

Alex Appel and Jonathan Lisecki directed the Jane Austen adaptation from Tangerine Entertainment and Tortyfly Pictures, based on a screenplay by Lisecki (Gayby) and Barbara Radecki (Expecting).

Witt, stars with Shane McRae and Bebe Neuwirth in the contemporary tale about a New York workaholic whose firm is hired by an old flame.

Tangerine Entertainment, founded by Amy Hobby and Anne Hubbell, works exclusively with female-identifying...

Ser’Darius Blain, last seen on the big screen in Sony’s blockbuster, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, has been cast in Against All Enemies, joining Kristen Stewart, Jack O’Connell, Vince Vaughn, and Anthony Mackie. Directed by Benedict Andrews, the political thriller follows iconic actress Jean Seberg (Stewart) who, in the late 1960s, was targeted by the illegal FBI surveillance program Cointelpro in retaliation for her support of the Black Panther Party. Blain will play Louis Lewis, a Black Panther who is arrested by the FBI. Fred Berger and Brian Kavanaugh-Jones of Automatik are producing alongside Kate Garwood and Stephen Hopkins, as well as Bradley Pilz, Alan Ritchson, and Marina Acton. The script is by Joe Shrapnel and Anna Waterhouse, both of whom will serve as executive producers. Blain, who up next stars in the CW’s Charmed reboot, is repped by Paradigm, Grandview, and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman,...

Exclusive: Another Jane Austen adaptation is on its way. Alicia Witt is set to star in the indie feature Modern Persuasion, a modern adaptation of Austen’s Persuasion to be directed by Alex Appel (The Death of Alice Blue) and Jonathan Lisecki (Gayby).

Witt’s numerous feature credits include this year’s Mississippi Requiem opposite James Franco and Topher Grace, 88 Minutes opposite Al Pacino, Two Weeks Notice opposite Sandra Bullock and Hugh Grant, Last Holiday with Queen Latifah.

From a script penned by Lisecki and Barbara Radecki (Expecting), Modern Persuasion centers on Wren Cosgrove (Witt), a happily single and self-confessed workaholic who, after steadfastly rising to the top of the ladder in the NY corporate publicity world, finds herself coming home every night to her cat. But when her firm is hired by the man who got away, Wren finds herself having to interact with her ex-boyfriend every day when...

The Canadian independent film The Death of Alice Blue will have a limited release in Canada on August 6.

In the film, we follow Alice Blue (Alex Appel). She's the new creative intern at Raven Advertising. Unfortunately for her the place is run by vampires. A group of eccentrics enlist her aid in thwarting their nefarious schemes but there's a complication. There's the possibility that she herself may be genetically predisposed to being the greatest vampire ever, and the only one who can save the dying breed. Alice is forced to confront herself and make a stand, whatever the outcome.

The film was directed and written by Park Bench.

The other stars are Park Bench, Kristen Holden-Ried, Gordon Currie, Barbara Radecki, Megan Fahlenbock, Veronica Hurnick, Carolyn Dunn, Amanda Brugel, Michael Caruana, Juno Mills Cockell, Ed Fielding, Katie Griffin and John Healy.

Not to be outdone by the 2010 Vancouver/Whistler Olympic Games on rival CTV, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. is set to roll out winter sports-themed TV programming.

The Canadian pubcaster has ordered a sitcom pilot from E1 Television and Serendipity Point Films based on the popular Canadian curling movie "Men With Brooms," the directorial debut for actor Paul Gross ("Due South").

The 2002 homegrown comedy starred Gross, Leslie Nielsen and Molly Parker as part of a curling team reuniting to capture the national trophy. Gross will share executive producer credits on the CBC pilot and co-star, while Paul Mather ("Corner Gas") will pen the script about four regular joes hanging out at the local curling rink.

"Curling is something everyone in Canada is familiar with, a strange sport in quirky rinks where people can come and go and tell different stories," Mather said of the sitcom's premise.

Kirstine Stewart, general manager of CBC Television,...