Tag Archives: tommy oliver

Confluential Films Brings the graphic novel Killer Bee to Life

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Killer Bee

Tommy Oliver’s Confluential Films, the award-winning, Black-owned and Black-founded film, television, and documentary production company, and financier, has acquired the rights to Killer Bee, the next graphic novel from David Crownson (Harriet Tubman: Demon Slayer) and Kingwood Comics. Confluential will co-finance, the multi-hyphenate Tommy Oliver will produce, and DeWanda Wise (Jurassic World Dominion) will star in the action film. 

The script will be penned by the dynamic writing duo Kevin Arbouet and Terry Rossio. Rossio, a veteran in blockbuster screenwriting, is known for such mega-hits as Pirates of the Caribbean, Godzilla vs. Kong, and Shrek. Arbouet recently garnered attention for his work on the Audible true-crime series MOVE: The Untold Story of an American Tragedy.

In Killer Bee, Wise will portray a retiring assassin who takes on an underground criminal network after being tasked to kill the man she’s recently fallen in love with. The project marks another bold move for Wise, who has solidified her reputation as a versatile actress unafraid to tackle complex roles across genres.

Confluential Films is quickly becoming a powerhouse in independent cinema, with a focus on diverse, groundbreaking stories. The company’s recent slate includes the 2024 Emmy-winning, and Sundance Grand Jury-winning Going To Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project (HBO); Fancy Dance, starring Lily Gladstone (Apple TV+); and AFI Fest-winning Juice Wrld: Into The Abyss documentary (HBO). Confluential Films also recently launched a horror genre label, New Fear Unlocked Productions, with its film Goons starring Michael Rainey Jr. and Chloe Bailey recently wrapping production.  

Joining as executive producers are Wise, Crownson, and Jack Coburn, along with Sean Mik’ael Butler and Patrick Strøm of Cultivate Entertainment Partners. Cultivate, with a history of bringing a strategic lens to creative development, brought the material to Confluential and worked alongside them to build the package. 

Justin Simien and Christopher Yose are adapting Heist: Or How to Steal a Planet for Confluential Films

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Heist: Or How to Steal a Planet

Tommy Oliver’s Confluential Films is developing a feature film adaptation of Heist: Or How to Steal a Planet, a science fiction crime thriller published by Vault Comics. Filmmaker Justin Simien is attached to direct the adaptation and Christopher Yost is writing the screenplay, with Oliver producing. Wayne Horton, who brought the project in, is also producing through his production deal with Confluential Films.

The comic, created by writer Paul Tobin and artist Arjuna Susini, is set on the planet Heist, home to billions of the worst criminals in the galaxy. The Pan-Galactic government has no idea what to do with the planet, but conman Glane Breld and his band of thieves know exactly what to do with Heist. They’re going to steal it. The story follows Glane on his madcap scheme to pull off the biggest heist in the history of the galaxy.

Newly hired SVP, Film & TV, Liliane Bedford will oversee the project for Confluential Films. Damian Wassel and F.J. DeSanto will executive produce for Vault. Simien and Kyle Laursen will executive produce for Culture Machine.

Justin Simien is represented by CAA and Grandview. Christopher Yost is represented by Verve and Industry. Vault is represented by UTA, Industry and Weintraub Tobin. The deal was negotiated by Confluential’s Head of Business and Legal Affairs, Alexa Camarena.