Gunpowder & Sky, Mandalay Team Up for Sports-Horror Movie ‘Lucky Number’ – Variety

Gunpowder & Sky and Mandalay Sports Media are teaming to create sports-themed horror movies and have unveiled their first film in the genre titled Lucky Number.

Digital audiences are devouring horror films and sports entertainment so it only seemed natural to create content that caters to both passions, at the same time, said Van Toffler, CEO and co-founder of Gunpowder & Sky.

The films, dubbed sporror as a new genre, will be set in and star celebrities from the world of sports. Lucky Number, to be written by Aaron Cooley (Shaken Not Stirred), centers around a pro basketball superstar who must pay up on a deal he made with the devil, transforming into the most athletic and frightening killer in cinematic history.

Mike Tollin and I go back to 1999 when we made Varsity Blues together so Im happy to be working with him again not to mention Dick Glover, maestro of all great things at Funny Or Die,' Toffler said.

Tollin and Jon Weinbach, Mandalay Sports Medias executive VP, are executive producers on the project, with Toffler serving as exec producer for Gunpowder & Sky. The companies are currently meeting with potential directors.

There are few places more frightening than a dark, empty arena, and the sports landscape is full of strange and authentically frightening characters, said Weinbach. Weve never seen a mash-up between horror and sports, where everything from a hockey skate to a nacho cheese vat can be dangerous or even deadly.

Mandalay Sports Media is a producer on IFCs Chuck, starring Liev Schreiber, Naomi Watts, Elisabeth Moss and Ron Perlman. Its NFL Network series, Undrafted, was recently nominated for its second Emmy Award for best documentary series. Netflix will premiere premiere MSMs boxing documentary CounterPunch in June.

MSM is currently in production on two films for ESPNs 30 for 30 franchise, and has also partnered with Frank Marshall to produce a five-episode documentary series for the International Olympic Committees global digital platform, the Olympic Channel.

Gunpowder & Sky acquired full control of Supergravity Pictures, the startup in which it had previously held a minority investment, earlier this year.G&S last fall acquired independent content sales and distribution company FilmBuff. The company wasfounded in 2015 by Toffler, former CEO of Viacoms Music Group, and Floris Bauer, former head of corporate development and strategy at Endemol, together with Otter Media.

Gunpowder & Sky recently launched its international headquarters in London, under the leadership of former Endemol Shine executive, Randel Bryan. He will report to Bauer.

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Gunpowder & Sky, Mandalay Team Up for Sports-Horror Movie 'Lucky Number' - Variety