Richard Leakey, a renowned Kenyan conservationist whose work was frequently featured in film and television documentaries, died today at age 77. Details on what he died from and where were not revealed.
The Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta issued the announcement of his death.
“I have this afternoon… received with deep sorrow the sad news of the passing away of Dr Richard Erskine Frere Leakey, Kenya’s former Head of Public Service,” said Kenyatta.
Leakey was the middle son of famed paleoanthropologists Louis and Mary Leakey. He had no formal archaeological training of his own, but led expeditions in the 1970s that made groundbreaking discoveries of early hominid fossils.
His work was frequently spotlighted on film and television programming. His appearances included PBS’s Nova, CBS’s 60 Minutes, several National Geographic specials, and the History Channel’s Ancient Aliens, among other programming.
Leakey’s most famous find came in 1984, when he...
The Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta issued the announcement of his death.
“I have this afternoon… received with deep sorrow the sad news of the passing away of Dr Richard Erskine Frere Leakey, Kenya’s former Head of Public Service,” said Kenyatta.
Leakey was the middle son of famed paleoanthropologists Louis and Mary Leakey. He had no formal archaeological training of his own, but led expeditions in the 1970s that made groundbreaking discoveries of early hominid fossils.
His work was frequently spotlighted on film and television programming. His appearances included PBS’s Nova, CBS’s 60 Minutes, several National Geographic specials, and the History Channel’s Ancient Aliens, among other programming.
Leakey’s most famous find came in 1984, when he...
- 1/2/2022
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Nearly 700 guests gathered on Wednesday evening at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers to honor one of America’s most dedicated and energetic art and education benefactors, Dorothy Lichtenstein, at the annual Stars of Stony Brook Gala.
The philanthropist and wife of the late artist Roy Lichtenstein was recognized for her long-running support of a host of arts, cultural and science initiatives at the University, including the Stony Brook Southampton creative writing and film program, one that provides a vital incubator for students and established writers and filmmakers at campuses on Long Island’s East End and in Manhattan.
Since its inception in 2000, the Stony Brook Foundation’s Stars of Stony Brook Gala had raised $50 million to support student scholarships and a featured academic program of excellence. This year’s Gala adds a new record with over $7.1 million raised, including a $5 million donation from Lichtenstein earmarked to support Stony Brook Southampton...
The philanthropist and wife of the late artist Roy Lichtenstein was recognized for her long-running support of a host of arts, cultural and science initiatives at the University, including the Stony Brook Southampton creative writing and film program, one that provides a vital incubator for students and established writers and filmmakers at campuses on Long Island’s East End and in Manhattan.
Since its inception in 2000, the Stony Brook Foundation’s Stars of Stony Brook Gala had raised $50 million to support student scholarships and a featured academic program of excellence. This year’s Gala adds a new record with over $7.1 million raised, including a $5 million donation from Lichtenstein earmarked to support Stony Brook Southampton...
- 4/17/2018
- Look to the Stars
Dr Richard Leakey, Chair of the Kenya Wildlife Service and Turkana Basin Institute Photo: Anne-Katrin Titze
The 2016 Tribeca Disruptive Innovation Awards, hosted by Perri Peltz and introduced by Tribeca Film Festival co-founder Craig Hatkoff (with Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal), holds an impressive list of activists: Brent Stapelkamp, 14 Minutes from Earth's Alan Eustace (featured in the film by Jerry Kolber, Adam "Tex" Davis, Trey Nelson and Erich Sturm);The Birth Of A Nation director Nate Parker who was also an actor in Mia Hansen-Løve's Eden and Amy Berg's Every Secret Thing; The Suskind family in Roger Ross Williams' Life, Animated; Louie Psihoyos,director of Racing Extinction and The Cove; Jennifer Jacquet and Dr. Richard Leakey. From Foo Fighters Learn To Fly to a remembrance of Prince and David Bowie, and past honorees that include Twyla Tharp, David Lynch, Rick Rubin, Kanye West and Keith Richards - creativity,...
The 2016 Tribeca Disruptive Innovation Awards, hosted by Perri Peltz and introduced by Tribeca Film Festival co-founder Craig Hatkoff (with Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal), holds an impressive list of activists: Brent Stapelkamp, 14 Minutes from Earth's Alan Eustace (featured in the film by Jerry Kolber, Adam "Tex" Davis, Trey Nelson and Erich Sturm);The Birth Of A Nation director Nate Parker who was also an actor in Mia Hansen-Løve's Eden and Amy Berg's Every Secret Thing; The Suskind family in Roger Ross Williams' Life, Animated; Louie Psihoyos,director of Racing Extinction and The Cove; Jennifer Jacquet and Dr. Richard Leakey. From Foo Fighters Learn To Fly to a remembrance of Prince and David Bowie, and past honorees that include Twyla Tharp, David Lynch, Rick Rubin, Kanye West and Keith Richards - creativity,...
- 4/24/2016
- by Anne-Katrin Titze
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
The director, producer and star of Sundance sensation The Birth Of A Nation is among honourees at the pioneers showcase set for April 22.
The Tribeca Disruptive Innovation Awards are held in collaboration with Harvard professor and father of the theory of disruptive innovation Clay Christensen and the Disruptor Foundation.
Festival co-founder Craig Hatkoff is the chief curator of the awards, designed to honour pioneers whose work has had a significant impact on such areas as media, healthcare, social justice, education, politics, sports, and philanthropy.
Past honourees have included Twitter founder Jack Dorsey, Kanye West, Uber, and Kickstarter.
The 2016 Lifetime Achievement Awards will go to British architect and designer of The Rolling Bridge, Thomas Heatherwick, and Kenya Wildlife Service chair and conservationist, Dr. Richard Leakey.
The 2016 honourees include: film-maker Nate Parker for the Theodore Parker Prize; Charity Water founder and CEO Scott Harrison; American Civil Liberties Union executive director Anthony D. Romero; The Cove director Louie Psihoyos; and environmental...
The Tribeca Disruptive Innovation Awards are held in collaboration with Harvard professor and father of the theory of disruptive innovation Clay Christensen and the Disruptor Foundation.
Festival co-founder Craig Hatkoff is the chief curator of the awards, designed to honour pioneers whose work has had a significant impact on such areas as media, healthcare, social justice, education, politics, sports, and philanthropy.
Past honourees have included Twitter founder Jack Dorsey, Kanye West, Uber, and Kickstarter.
The 2016 Lifetime Achievement Awards will go to British architect and designer of The Rolling Bridge, Thomas Heatherwick, and Kenya Wildlife Service chair and conservationist, Dr. Richard Leakey.
The 2016 honourees include: film-maker Nate Parker for the Theodore Parker Prize; Charity Water founder and CEO Scott Harrison; American Civil Liberties Union executive director Anthony D. Romero; The Cove director Louie Psihoyos; and environmental...
- 4/4/2016
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Word of mouth about Netflix must be pretty damn good in the Jolie-Pitt house. Almost two months after Brad Pitt shook hands with the company to have them distribute his upcoming star/producer project War Machine, a satirical comedy and departure-from-the-norm for Animal Kingdom/The Rover director David Michod, Angelina Jolie is teaming with the streaming site for her fourth directorial effort, the Loung Ung biography First They Killed My Father. amz asin="0060856262" size="small"The feature is an adaptation of Ung's best-selling memoir of the same name, who helped co-adapt the screenplay with Jolie. The two are reported to be very close friends from a bond beginning in 2001, one year after her book was published to wide-spread acclaim. The superstar reached out to her at the time with her love and praise for her words, and they've tried to turn this into a feature since. Jolie is also on board to produce the feature,...
- 7/24/2015
- by Will Ashton
- Rope of Silicon
Brad Pitt fought the undead in 2013's World War Z then more recently German soldiers in his epic World War II action-drama Fury. Now with piles of dead zombies and Nazis behind him, he may be ready to team-up with wife Angelina Jolie to battle animal poachers. The word on the street is that Pitt is in negotiations to embody the character of Richard Leakey in Jolie's fourth directorial effort Africa. According to The Wrap, the biopic will follow the highly-respected archaeologist, Leakey, who became famous for his devoted commitment to defending elephants from Kenyan poachers in the late 1980s. The script for Africa was penned by the very talented Eric Roth (Forrest Gump, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button). The poaching film will also reteam Jolie with her Unbroken cinematographer Roger Deakins, who's made a name for himself through his collaborations with the Coen Brothers (True Grit, No Country...
- 2/1/2015
- cinemablend.com
According to The Wrap, Brad Pitt is gearing up to be the main man in Angelina Jolie's upcoming movie Africa after appearing as her leading man in her next movie -- the recently filmed By the Sea, due in theaters later this year (and pictured below). Africa is based on the life of paleoanthropologist and conservationist Richard Leakey, a Kenyan man of many hats who became a key figure in preserving his nation's history and future. He led several...
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- 1/29/2015
- by affiliates@fandango.com
- Fandango
Brangelina may be joining forces yet again! Brad Pitt is in negotiations to star in Angelina Jolie's next directorial effort Africa, The Wrap reports. Written by Oscar winner Eric Roth (Ali, Forrest Gump), Africa is a biopic of Richard Leakey, the renowned archaeologist and Kenyan politician who became the first chairman of the Kenya Wildlife Service in 1990, and helped crack down on elephant poaching. In 2013, the American Humanist Association awarded him the Isaac Asimov Science Award. (Roth also wrote the screenplay for Pitt's 2008 drama The [...]...
- 1/29/2015
- Us Weekly
Angelina Jolie has been getting lots of praise for directing "In the Land of Blood and Honey" and the recent "Unbroken," which grossed $140 million worldwide. She is currently directing herself and her husband Brad Pitt in "By the Sea." Now comes word that Jolie is setting up her fourth directorial gig with "Africa," which is written by Oscar winner Eric Roth (Forrest Gump). The film is a biopic of famed archaeologist Richard Leakey, who became a staunch defender of elephants against poachers in Kenya in the late 1980s. Brad Pitt is in talks to play the lead role. "I've felt a deep connection to Africa and its culture for much of my life, and was taken with Eric's beautiful script about a man drawn into the violent conflict with elephant poachers who emerged with a deeper understanding of man's footprint and a profound sense of responsibility for the world around him,...
- 1/29/2015
- WorstPreviews.com
According to The Wrap, Brad Pitt is gearing up to be the main man in Angelina Jolie's next movie, Africa. Actually, he's already the leading man in her next movie -- the recently filmed By the Sea (pictured above) -- so technically this is her next, next movie. Africa is based on the real life of Richard Leakey, a Kenyan man of many hats who became a key figure in preserving his nation's history and future. He led several high-profile expeditions to recover key historical artifacts, and he even became the driving force behind a controversial, but effective, antipoacher movement wherein he hired people to shoot any elephant poachers on sight. It's this last part that appears to be the focus of the movie, as this is how Jolie described the project when it...
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- 1/29/2015
- by Peter Hall
- Movies.com
The dynamic duo may be at it again! Angelina Jolie and hubby Brad Pitt are rumored to be reuniting on set yet again for a new film. The Wrap reports that the hunky Hollywood star is in negotiations to play famed archeologist Richard Leakey, who became a defender of elephants against poachers in Kenya in the late '80s, in Jolie's upcoming drama Africa. The studio had no comment. "I've felt a deep connection to Africa and its culture for much of my life, and was taken with Eric's beautiful script about a man drawn into the violent conflict with elephant poachers who emerged with a deeper understanding of man's footprint and a profound sense of responsibility for the world around him," Jolie...
- 1/29/2015
- E! Online
Brad Pitt is in talks to star in wife Angelina Jolie's forthcoming poaching drama Africa.
The film dramatises conservationist Richard Leakey's showdown with ivory poachers in the 1980s.
As The Wrap reports, Academy Award-winning Forrest Gump screenwriter Eric Roth will pen Africa.
Jolie and Pitt recently collaborated on the upcoming drama film By The Sea.
They first appeared on screen together in Mr. & Mrs. Smith.
Africa is being produced by Skydance.
Gwyneth Paltrow recently discussed her former relationship with Pitt, insisting that "he was too good for me".
Watch a clip from Angelina Jolie's Unbroken below:...
The film dramatises conservationist Richard Leakey's showdown with ivory poachers in the 1980s.
As The Wrap reports, Academy Award-winning Forrest Gump screenwriter Eric Roth will pen Africa.
Jolie and Pitt recently collaborated on the upcoming drama film By The Sea.
They first appeared on screen together in Mr. & Mrs. Smith.
Africa is being produced by Skydance.
Gwyneth Paltrow recently discussed her former relationship with Pitt, insisting that "he was too good for me".
Watch a clip from Angelina Jolie's Unbroken below:...
- 1/28/2015
- Digital Spy
Some people have to wait months to even try to get a script to Brad Pitt, who is offered most of the high profile projects. And then there’s Angelina Jolie, who happens to be married to him and can probably just chuck a screenplay at him across the breakfast table and see if he wants to star in it. He’s now in negotiations for her fourth film as a director, Africa.Eric Roth has written the script, based on the true story of paleoanthropologist Richard Leakey and his battle with the ivory poachers who threatened the African elephant population in the 1980s.“I’ve felt a deep connection to Africa and its culture for much of my life, and was taken with Eric’s beautiful script about a man drawn into the violent conflict with elephant poachers who emerged with a deeper understanding of man’s footprint and...
- 1/28/2015
- EmpireOnline
We've already got one project coming up that will see actress turned filmmaker Angelina Jolie directing husband Brad Pitt with the relationship drama By the Sea (see the first look photos here). But it turns out they'll be working together again very soon as The Wrap reports Pitt is currently in talks to take the lead role in Africa, the new film that Jolie was announced to be directing last fall. Focusing on a subject close to her heart, the film is a biopic about Richard Leakey, a paleo-archaeologist known for battling with ivory poachers in Kenya in the 80s as hunters gravely threatened the African elephant population. More below! At least we know that if Brad Pitt should ever become undesirable by the rest of Hollywood, he'll still get acting work by starring in his wife's movies. Jolie is hoping to begin production this summer, and the film will...
- 1/28/2015
- by Ethan Anderton
- firstshowing.net
It’s not super huge news that Brad Pitt is in negotiations to star in Angelina Jolie‘s third directorial effort, Africa (the real story might be why he has to negotiate to star in his own wife’s movie). They’re both appearing together in her upcoming feature By the Sea, and it makes sense that they’d like to keep working together. But this is Brad and Angelina — Brangelina if anyone’s still calling them that — and a biopic now worth paying attention to. Not just because Jolie will again collaborate with director of photography Roger Deakins, who is currently Oscar-nominated for her second feature as director, Unbroken (but not shooting By the Sea), but because I can’t imagine Pitt playing the guy he’s playing — that’d be paleoanthropologist and conservationist Richard Leakey. The focus of Africa will be on Leakey’s work for the Kenya Wildlife Service, through...
- 1/28/2015
- by Christopher Campbell
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
Angelina Jolie has just booked a big A-list star for her next directorial effort: her husband, Brad Pitt. He’s just entered talks for Africa, a biopic of paleo-archaeologist Richard Leakey. More on the Brad Pitt Africa casting after the jump. TheWrap reports Pitt is currently in talks. Pitt and Jolie recently finished shooting By the […]
The post Brad Pitt to Lead Angelina Jolie’s ‘Africa’ appeared first on /Film.
The post Brad Pitt to Lead Angelina Jolie’s ‘Africa’ appeared first on /Film.
- 1/28/2015
- by Angie Han
- Slash Film
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are keeping it in the family. The actor is in negotiations to star in his wife's upcoming drama Africa, according to a report from The Wrap. The film centers on Richard Leakey, an archaeologist who became a champion against elephant poaching in the late '80s. "I've felt a deep connection to Africa and its culture for much of my life, and was taken with Eric [Roth]'s beautiful script about a man drawn into the violent conflict with elephant poachers who emerged with a deeper understanding of man's footprint and a profound sense of responsibility for the world around him,...
- 1/28/2015
- by Tara Fowler, @waterfowlerta
- PEOPLE.com
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are keeping it in the family. The actor is in negotiations to star in his wife's upcoming drama Africa, according to a report from The Wrap. The film centers on Richard Leakey, an archaeologist who became a champion against elephant poaching in the late '80s. "I've felt a deep connection to Africa and its culture for much of my life, and was taken with Eric [Roth]'s beautiful script about a man drawn into the violent conflict with elephant poachers who emerged with a deeper understanding of man's footprint and a profound sense of responsibility for the world around him,...
- 1/28/2015
- by Tara Fowler, @waterfowlerta
- PEOPLE.com
The hectic lives of two globe-trotting movie talents such as Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt means they probably don’t get as much time together as they’d like. Last year, the pair united for Jolie’s third film, By The Sea, in which they both star. In light of today’s news, it looks as if they had a jolly good time, as The Wrap now reports that Pitt has entered early negotiations to lead his wife’s next directorial effort, Africa.
Jolie committed to the project last September and will co-produce the biopic along with Skydance Productions’ David Ellison and Dana Goldberg. Penned by Forrest Gump‘s Oscar-winning screenwriter Eric Roth, Africa tells the story of famed paleo-archaeologist, Richard Leakey. Set in the late ’80s, the film will center around one of Leakey’s most infamous battles against a group of elephant poachers in Africa. Pitt is said...
Jolie committed to the project last September and will co-produce the biopic along with Skydance Productions’ David Ellison and Dana Goldberg. Penned by Forrest Gump‘s Oscar-winning screenwriter Eric Roth, Africa tells the story of famed paleo-archaeologist, Richard Leakey. Set in the late ’80s, the film will center around one of Leakey’s most infamous battles against a group of elephant poachers in Africa. Pitt is said...
- 1/28/2015
- by Gem Seddon
- We Got This Covered
While "Unbroken" failed to take off as an awards season machine, Angelina Jolie remains undefeated. She's already got the drama, "By The Sea," with her husband Brad Pitt, in the can, and now it looks like they'll be reteaming. The latter has joined Jolie's previously announced project, "Africa." Penned by Eric Roth ("Ali," "Munich," "The Good Shepherd"), the film is a biopic about Kenyan Richard Leakey, who came from a line of archaeologists, but turned his attentions to paleontology and most famously to anti-poaching efforts. Roger Deakins will lens the Jolie-directed movie and production aims to start this summer. [The Wrap] Matthew McConaughey is "Born To Run." The actor will star in an adaptation of Christopher McDougall's book, scripted by Matthew Michael Carnahan, about "how an award-winning journalist and often-injured runner headed for Mexico’s isolated, deadly Copper Canyons to...
- 1/28/2015
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
Brad Pitt is in talks to star in his wife Angelina Jolie's next directorial effort "Africa" at Skydance Productions. The pair just worked together on "By the Sea," Jolie's third film as director following "In the Land of Blood and Honey" and last year's "Unbroken".
"Africa" will be based on the true story of Richard Leakey and his fight in the late 1980s to stop Kenyan ivory poachers from killing elephants before they became extinct. He was also a paleo-archaeologist who helped find the bones of an early human man.
Jolie, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Jon Peters will produce the film, while Roger Deakins will serve as cinematographer. Production could begin as early as this Summer, and Paramount Pictures is expected to distribute.
Source: The Wrap...
"Africa" will be based on the true story of Richard Leakey and his fight in the late 1980s to stop Kenyan ivory poachers from killing elephants before they became extinct. He was also a paleo-archaeologist who helped find the bones of an early human man.
Jolie, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Jon Peters will produce the film, while Roger Deakins will serve as cinematographer. Production could begin as early as this Summer, and Paramount Pictures is expected to distribute.
Source: The Wrap...
- 1/28/2015
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Oscar winner Brad Pitt is in negotiations to play Richard Leakey in Angelina Jolie‘s drama “Africa,” an individual familiar with the Skydance project has told TheWrap.
Skydance declined to comment, while a representative for Pitt did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Pitt and wife Jolie recently teamed on her third feature as a director, “By the Sea.” They first worked together on “Mr. & Mrs. Smith.”
Oscar winner Eric Roth (“Forrest Gump”) wrote “Africa,” which is a biopic of Leakey, the famed archaeologist who became a staunch defender of elephants against poachers in Kenya in the late ’80s.
Skydance declined to comment, while a representative for Pitt did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Pitt and wife Jolie recently teamed on her third feature as a director, “By the Sea.” They first worked together on “Mr. & Mrs. Smith.”
Oscar winner Eric Roth (“Forrest Gump”) wrote “Africa,” which is a biopic of Leakey, the famed archaeologist who became a staunch defender of elephants against poachers in Kenya in the late ’80s.
- 1/28/2015
- by Jeff Sneider
- The Wrap
Angelina Jolie is reaching over the kitchen table to nab the star for her next project. Brad Pitt is in talks for Africa, a biopic of paleo-archaeologist Richard Leakey. The pair recently finished shooting By The Sea, their first movie together since Mr. & Mrs. Smith and Jolie’s third directorial effort. Africa, scripted by Eric Roth (Forrest Gump), follows Richard Leakey's clashes in the late ’80s with ivory poachers threatening the existence of the...
- 1/28/2015
- by Graham McMorrow
- JoBlo.com
She's already one of the most famous movie stars in the world, but Angelina Jolie is now poised to become one of our most prolific female directors, too. As she prepares to release Unbroken — her film based on the true story of Louis Zamperini, the World War II hero who endured weeks stranded at sea and then spent years suffering in Pow camps, where he endured torture at the hands of a cruel Japanese sergeant nicknamed "the Bird" — Jolie is already finishing up By the Sea, an intimate marital drama she helmed starring her husband Brad Pitt and herself, and prepping her next directorial effort Africa, an epic tale of conservationist Richard Leakey. Still, Jolie managed to carve out some time recently in Los Angeles (before she was felled by chicken pox) to speak to Vulture about how she cast up-and-coming British actor Jack O'Connell to star in Unbroken, why...
- 12/22/2014
- by Kyle Buchanan
- Vulture
"The Shawshank Redemption," "Fargo," "Kundun," "O Brother, Where Art Thou?," "The Man Who Wasn't There," "No Country for Old Men," "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford," "The Reader," "True Grit," "Skyfall," "Prisoners." Surely one of those films won the Oscar for Best Cinematography, right? Nope. Roger Deakins has 11 Oscar nominations but, to date, has not been granted access to the Dolby Theater stage (or the Kodak Theater…or the Shrine Auditorium…he's a veteran of multiple Oscar venues at this point). Could that change with Angelina Jolie's "Unbroken?" Possibly. Deakins pushed himself quite a bit on the film and played with a few aesthetic ideas he hadn't really dabbled in before. It's only the second time he's worked in the war genre (after 2005's "Jarhead"), but he paints Jolie's canvas with striking hues of contrast. For a film that could be a formidable prestige Oscar player,...
- 12/3/2014
- by Kristopher Tapley
- Hitfix
This story first appeared in the Oct. 3 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. For her next directorial project, Angelina Jolie will tackle famed paleoanthropologist Richard Leakey, whose quest to save elephants and rhinos put him in the crosshairs of violent poachers. But a drama playing out behind the scenes between once-married producers has left the Skydance film, titled Africa, hanging in the balance. According to Skydance's Sept. 19 news release, studio mogul-turned-producer Jon Peters will produce the "sweeping epic" alongside Jolie and Skydance's David Ellison and Dana Goldberg. Not mentioned was the fact that Peters' ex-
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- 9/24/2014
- by Tatiana Siegel
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Angelina Jolie is set to direct a biopic on the life of Kenya-born Richard Leakey (photo above), in a project titled, quite broadly, and even perplexingly profoundly, "Africa," as if the life of Leakey (who's white) is somehow representative, or all-encompassing of an entire continent's narrative. Suffice it to say that I take issue here. But maybe there's a method to this particular madness, which I'm anxious to learn more about. The film will tell the story of Leakey, a fossil hunter (best known for his discovery of the bones of early hominids), drawn into a violent battle with elephant poachers, who was appointed to the position after international outcry...
- 9/22/2014
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
While Angelina Jolie is still filming her "workingmoon," By the Sea, which she directs and stars in alongside husband Brad Pitt, she's taken on a project about Richard Leakey, a well-known anti-poaching paleoanthropologist. The movie is called Africa. Jolie said, "I’ve felt a deep connection to Africa and its culture for much of my life." She added that the film is "about a man drawn into the violent conflict with elephant poachers who emerged with a deeper understanding of man’s footprint and a profound sense of responsibility for the world around him." Leakey, currently the head of the Turkana Basin Institute at Stony Brook, is a Kenyan paleoanthropologist and former politician. So, we guess it makes total sense that the movie would be called Africa.
- 9/21/2014
- by E. Alex Jung
- Vulture
With her second directorial effort Unbroken set to hit cinemas later this year, Angelina Jolie is already at work on her third, By The Sea which co-stars hubby Brad Pitt. Now she has locked in a fourth, targeting another true-life story with Africa.Eric Roth has written the script, based on the true story of paleoanthropologist Richard Leakey and his battle with the ivory poachers who threatened the African elephant population. The emotional story appears to be part of a trend in Hollywood at the moment: Tom Hardy, Tobey Maguire and Leonardo DiCaprio are all developing another anti-poaching drama. But Jolie’s attachment to this Skydance Productions films means it could have an even higher profile.“I’ve felt a deep connection to Africa and its culture for much of my life, and was taken with Eric’s beautiful script about a man drawn into the violent conflict with elephant...
- 9/21/2014
- EmpireOnline
Angelina Jolie has been focusing more on directing than acting recently. She will release "Unbroken" this Christmas and is currently filming "By the Sea" with Brad Pitt. And now comes word that she found her next directing project. The new movie is called "Africa" and is based on a screenplay by Eric Roth (Forrest Gump, Munich) about paleo-archaeologist Richard Leakey's battle with ivory poachers that threaten the existence of the African elephant population and the very soul of Africa. "I've felt a deep connection to Africa and its culture for much of my life," said Jolie. "And was taken with Eric's beautiful script about a man drawn into the violent conflict with elephant poachers who emerged with a deeper understanding of man's footprint and a profound sense of responsibility for the world around him."...
- 9/20/2014
- WorstPreviews.com
Angelina Jolie has set up "Africa" at Skydance Productions as her next directorial project.
The film deals with paleo-archaeologist Richard Leakey who set out to stop the African ivory poachers whose practices nearly put the noble elephant on a path to extinction.
In a statement, Jolie says: "I've felt a deep connection to Africa and its culture for much of my life, and was taken with Eric's beautiful script about a man drawn into the violent conflict with elephant poachers who emerged with a deeper understanding of man's footprint and a profound sense of responsibility for the world around him."
Eric Roth ("Forrest Gump," "The Insider") is writing the screenplay while David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Jon Peters are producing. Roger Deakins will serve as cinematographer.
Jolie is currently shooting "By the Sea" in which she also stars alongside husband Brad Pitt.
Source: Variety...
The film deals with paleo-archaeologist Richard Leakey who set out to stop the African ivory poachers whose practices nearly put the noble elephant on a path to extinction.
In a statement, Jolie says: "I've felt a deep connection to Africa and its culture for much of my life, and was taken with Eric's beautiful script about a man drawn into the violent conflict with elephant poachers who emerged with a deeper understanding of man's footprint and a profound sense of responsibility for the world around him."
Eric Roth ("Forrest Gump," "The Insider") is writing the screenplay while David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Jon Peters are producing. Roger Deakins will serve as cinematographer.
Jolie is currently shooting "By the Sea" in which she also stars alongside husband Brad Pitt.
Source: Variety...
- 9/19/2014
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Jolie has lined up "Africa" as her next directorial project, based on Kenyan fossil hunter and politician Richard Leakey's longtime battle against ivory poaching on the continent. It will be produced by Skydance's David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, along with Jon Peters and Angelina Jolie. She will work from a screenplay by Oscar-winning "Forrest Gump" writer Eric Roth. Cinematographer Roger Deakins, who shot "Unbroken," is also on board to shoot "Africa." (Read our Deakins interview here.) Jolie had admired Roth's adaptation of Stacy Schiff bestseller "Cleopatra," which has been seeking a director. Is this now back-burnered at Sony as Jolie favors directing over acting? Jolie, who already had quite the year with box office hit "Maleficent" ($700 million and counting worldwide) is currently directing the mid-70s romance "By the Sea," in which she stars alongside Brad Pitt as a former dancer traveling in France....
- 9/19/2014
- by Anne Thompson and Ryan Lattanzio
- Thompson on Hollywood
The multi-hyphenate, expected to be an awards contender this season with the upcoming Unbroken, will direct Skydance Productions’ epic.
Africa will be based on Eric Roth’s screenplay about paleo-archaeologist Richard Leakey’s battle with ivory poachers that threaten the existence of the African elephant population.
Skydance head David Ellison will produce alongside Jolie, Dana Goldberg and John Peters. Jolie will reunite with her Unbroken cinematographer Roger Deakins.
“I’ve felt a deep connection to Africa and its culture for much of my life, and was taken with Eric’s beautiful script about a man drawn into the violent conflict with elephant poachers who emerged with a deeper understanding of man’s footprint and a profound sense of responsibility for the world around him,” said Jolie.
Jolie is currently in production on By The Sea for Universal, which she is directing from her original script. She will star alongside husband Brad Pitt, Mélanie Laurent and [link...
Africa will be based on Eric Roth’s screenplay about paleo-archaeologist Richard Leakey’s battle with ivory poachers that threaten the existence of the African elephant population.
Skydance head David Ellison will produce alongside Jolie, Dana Goldberg and John Peters. Jolie will reunite with her Unbroken cinematographer Roger Deakins.
“I’ve felt a deep connection to Africa and its culture for much of my life, and was taken with Eric’s beautiful script about a man drawn into the violent conflict with elephant poachers who emerged with a deeper understanding of man’s footprint and a profound sense of responsibility for the world around him,” said Jolie.
Jolie is currently in production on By The Sea for Universal, which she is directing from her original script. She will star alongside husband Brad Pitt, Mélanie Laurent and [link...
- 9/19/2014
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
She tackled the Bosnian war in her feature debut, "In The Land Of Blood And Honey," this holiday season she tells the WWII survival story "Unbroken," and now Angelina Jolie has lined up yet another directorial project, based on another true-life topic. With a script by Eric Roth ("Ali," "Munich," "The Good Shepherd"), Jolie is set to helm the biopic "Africa" based on the life of Kenyan Richard Leakey. Coming from a line of archaeologists, Leakey turned his attentions to paleontology and most famously to conversation efforts. He became the crucial face of the anti-poaching movement, working to save endangered African wildlife, but it also found him making enemies with those either within the illegal trade, or who couldn't handle his brusque manner. A fascinating subject to be sure, but this one is likely a bit of a way off. Jolie is currently helming "By The Sea" co-starring her husband Brad Pitt (first look.
- 9/19/2014
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
Angelina Jolie has only just offered a first look at her next project By the Sea, and her upcoming biopic Unbroken hasn’t yet hit theaters. But already the busy actor/writer/producer/director has lined up her next project.
Jolie has signed on to direct and produce Africa, which is written by Oscar-winner Eric Roth, whose last film was Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close before he delved into television with projects like Luck and House of Cards.
Africa is another biopic for Jolie, and will tell the story of Kenyan politician and paleoanthropoligst Richard Leakey, who battled with elephant...
Jolie has signed on to direct and produce Africa, which is written by Oscar-winner Eric Roth, whose last film was Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close before he delved into television with projects like Luck and House of Cards.
Africa is another biopic for Jolie, and will tell the story of Kenyan politician and paleoanthropoligst Richard Leakey, who battled with elephant...
- 9/19/2014
- by Jonathon Dornbush
- EW - Inside Movies
Angelina Jolie refuses to luxuriate in the Oscar buzz surrounding her upcoming WWII drama 'Unbroken.' On Sept. 8, the actress-turned-director started on her third feature, 'By the Sea,' a romantic drama touting her first self-directed leading role and her first pairing with husband Brad Pitt since 2005's "Mr. and Mrs. Smith". Showing no sign of slowing down, word is in that Jolie's fourth film has taken shape. According to Deadline, Jolie has signed on to helm "Africa," a drama based on paleo-archaeologist Richard Leakey’s fight against ivory poachers in Kenya. Oscar-winning screenwriter Eric Roth ("Forrest Gump," "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button") wrote the script, which Jolie plans to shoot soon after wrapping "By the Sea." David Ellison’s Skydance Productions, known for blockbusters like the "Mission: Impossible" series and the upcoming "Terminator: Genisys" trilogy, is behind the picture. “I've felt a deep connection to Africa and...
- 9/19/2014
- by Matt Patches
- Hitfix
Angelina Jolie has signed on to direct “Africa,” about the paleo-archaeologist Richard Leakey's battle with ivory poachers that threaten the existence of the African elephant population, Skydance announced on Friday. “Africa” is based on Eric Roth‘s screenplay. Roger Deakins, who just worked with Jolie on “Unbroken,” will be the director of photography. See photos: Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt First Look in ‘By the Sea’ “I've felt a deep connection to Africa and its culture for much of my life, and was taken with Eric's beautiful script about a man drawn into the violent conflict with elephant poachers who emerged with a deeper.
- 9/19/2014
- by Linda Ge
- The Wrap
Angelina Jolie has found her next movie to direct. The actress and now busy helmer has signed on to for Africa, an epic tale for David Ellison’s Skydance Productions. Written by Oscar winner Eric Roth, the pic is based on paleo-archaeologist Richard Leakey’s late-’80s battle with ivory poachers in Kenya that threatened the existence of the African elephant population and the soul of Africa.
Ellison, Jolie, Dana Goldberg and Jon Peters will produce. The pic also reteams cinematographer Roger Deakins and Jolie after the pair did the Louis Zamperini biopic Unbroken, which Universal releases on Christmas Day. The plan is to ramp up production on Africa soon after Jolie wraps her current gig, directing her script By The Sea for Universal in which she stars opposite husband Brad Pitt.
Her first feature helming effort, 2011’s In The Land Of Blood And Honey, served as her calling card...
Ellison, Jolie, Dana Goldberg and Jon Peters will produce. The pic also reteams cinematographer Roger Deakins and Jolie after the pair did the Louis Zamperini biopic Unbroken, which Universal releases on Christmas Day. The plan is to ramp up production on Africa soon after Jolie wraps her current gig, directing her script By The Sea for Universal in which she stars opposite husband Brad Pitt.
Her first feature helming effort, 2011’s In The Land Of Blood And Honey, served as her calling card...
- 9/19/2014
- by The Deadline Team
- Deadline
With the World War II drama Unbroken readying for a release later this year, Angelina Jolie has set her sights on her next directorial project. And just like her previous movies, it is another true-life drama. Jolie has signed on to direct Africa, Skydance Productions’ drama centering on paleo-archaeologist Richard Leakey and his battle to save the elephant. The script by Eric Roth is described as a “sweeping epic” which tells the story of African-born Leakey, a fossil hunter who helped find bones of early man but later turned his attention to combating elephant and rhino poaching. The
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- 9/19/2014
- by Borys Kit
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Angelina Jolie isn't giving up the director's chair any time soon. The multihyphenate just tossed another high-profile project onto her to-do pile, and it's serious business. "Africa" is about paleoanthropologist and conservationist Richard Leakey's fight against ivory poachers in the '80s.
When Leakey was the chairman of the Kenya Wildlife Service, the organization was given "presidential permission to shoot poachers on sight," which made Leakey a target himself. "When I was head of the Kenya Wildlife Service I had five bodyguards, night and day, 24/7," he told Newsweek. "And I needed them. There were many, shall we say, interesting incidents." Screenwriter Eric Roth, who won an Oscar for "Forrest Gump" and nominations for "The Insider," "Munich," and "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," will pen the script.
Of course, Jolie's got plenty to do before tackling "Africa." Her next film, "Unbroken," is a prestige picture about the life of...
When Leakey was the chairman of the Kenya Wildlife Service, the organization was given "presidential permission to shoot poachers on sight," which made Leakey a target himself. "When I was head of the Kenya Wildlife Service I had five bodyguards, night and day, 24/7," he told Newsweek. "And I needed them. There were many, shall we say, interesting incidents." Screenwriter Eric Roth, who won an Oscar for "Forrest Gump" and nominations for "The Insider," "Munich," and "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," will pen the script.
Of course, Jolie's got plenty to do before tackling "Africa." Her next film, "Unbroken," is a prestige picture about the life of...
- 9/19/2014
- by Jenni Miller
- Moviefone
Producer Christine Forsyth Peters has acquired big-screen rights to Richard Leakey's memoir Wildlife Wars: My Fight to Save Africa's Natural Treasures. Published in 2001, the book chronicles the famed paleoanthropologist and conservationist's efforts to stop elephant poaching in the Kenyan National Parks, a quest that put his life in danger. In 1993, Leakey was flying a small propeller-driven plane that crashed, crushing his lower legs, both of which were later amputated. Sabotage was suspected but never proved. Nairobi-born Leakey hails from scientific royalty as the son of renowned archeologist Louis Leakey and paleoanthropologist Mary Leakey. He is the author of such
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- 7/1/2013
- by Tatiana Siegel
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Owen Hoffmann/PatrickMcMullan.com Paul Simon (right), and Mark Stewart perform at a fundraiser for the Turkana Basin Institute Wednesday at the Highline Stages in Manhattan.
A fast-joking bid caller in a tuxedo and a Stetson cowboy hat was talking up the stakes for a Yamaha guitar signed by Paul Simon, as an audience filled with philanthropists such as David Rockefeller Jr. sat amused.
After the guitar sold for $19,000, and exotic trips including a Kenya safari and an Antarctic voyage were auctioned,...
A fast-joking bid caller in a tuxedo and a Stetson cowboy hat was talking up the stakes for a Yamaha guitar signed by Paul Simon, as an audience filled with philanthropists such as David Rockefeller Jr. sat amused.
After the guitar sold for $19,000, and exotic trips including a Kenya safari and an Antarctic voyage were auctioned,...
- 5/3/2012
- by Robert P. Walzer
- Speakeasy/Wall Street Journal
Dr. Richard Leakey is the first to admit that his friendship with Paul Simon is unlikely. "I really don't like music and he really doesn't like old bones," Leakey told the audience at last night's intimate fundraiser for the Turkana Basin Institute (T.B.I.), a non-profit organization dedicated to assembling a full fossil record of humanity's origins in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Still, the venerable paleontologist and conservationist -- who was introduced last night as "the man many believe responsible for saving the elephant population" of Kenya -- and the legendary folk-rock musician hit it off when the latter paid a visit to T.B.I. about four years ago. Simon's experience there inspired him to propose a benefit concert, which took place last night at the Highline Stages in Manhattan's Meatpacking District.
Real-estate developer Leonard Stern, philanthropist David Rockefeller Jr. and IMAX C.E.O. Richard Gelfond were among the...
Still, the venerable paleontologist and conservationist -- who was introduced last night as "the man many believe responsible for saving the elephant population" of Kenya -- and the legendary folk-rock musician hit it off when the latter paid a visit to T.B.I. about four years ago. Simon's experience there inspired him to propose a benefit concert, which took place last night at the Highline Stages in Manhattan's Meatpacking District.
Real-estate developer Leonard Stern, philanthropist David Rockefeller Jr. and IMAX C.E.O. Richard Gelfond were among the...
- 5/3/2012
- by Michael Hogan
- Huffington Post
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