Natalie Burns Joins Anthony Hopkins Sci-Fi Flick; Thunderbird “Closely Watching” Toon Union Talks; ‘Mystery Road: Origins’ S2 Nears; Prime Video India Adds K-Content Channel — Global Briefs

Natalie Burns Joins Anthony Hopkins In ‘Eyes In The Trees’

EXCLUSIVE: Natalie Burns (Til Death Do Us Part) has joined Anthony Hopkins, Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Ashley Greene in sci-fi thriller Eyes in the Trees. She will play the role of Marcy, a seasoned military veteran who reluctantly agrees to join former teammates for a final mission. They are dispatched to investigate the work of Dr Moreau’s enigmatic successor, Dr. Addis, a brilliant yet mysterious geneticist. Soon, the team finds their resolve tested as they delve into a world of chilling and dangerous experiments taking place on a remote island. Shooting is taking place on location in Thailand. Burns recently starred opposite Jason Patric and Cam Gigandet in action-comedy Til Death Do Us Part and was in period action flick Redemption, which stars Angus Macfadyen and Kevin Sorbo. She also completed shooting on comedy Dashing Through the Snow and horror thriller The Movers with Terrence Howard and Christopher Lloyd. Burns is represented by Bobby Moses at Mavrick Artists Agency and manager Scott Karp at The Syndicate.

Thunderbird “Watching” AMPTP-Toon Union Talks “Closely”

Canadian content group Thunderbird Entertainment says it is “closely watching” the ongoing negotiations south of the border between Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 839, which represents animators and other related professionals. The talks restarted this week after a previous round ended without a deal, putting many on edge. However, Thunderbird CEO Jennifer Twiner McCarron noted in the company’s first financial quarter results for 2025 (confusingly covering the June-Sept 2024 period) that, “We understand that they are making progress towards a new three-year deal, and hope for an equitable solution.” In Thunderbird’s Q1 financial quarter, the Toronto-listed firm saw revenue grow 36% year-on-year from C$33.6M ($24.1M) to C$45.7M, with the increase down to more production services engagements. Adjusted earnings increased 64% from C$2.5M to C$4.1M thanks to the improved revenues and lower general and administrative costs. Net income was C$1.6M, compared with a C$700,000 loss last year. Thunderbird’s board officially ended a plan to sell the company last month after ACF Investment Bank had overseen a strategic review on the behest of shareholder Voss Capital. “With a 36% increase in revenue, a 64% rise in AEBITDA, and a substantial boost in free cash flow, we are not only navigating industry headwinds but beginning to thrive once again,” said McCarron.

Australia’s ABC Puts ‘Mystery Road: Origin’ S2 Into Production

Mystery Road: Origin, the Australian drama series based on the early years of Aboriginal Australian detective Jay Swan, gone back into production. Season 2 of the show, which stars ACCTA winner Mark Coles Smith, was ordered back in 2022, and is now moving towards a 2025 launch date in Australia. The season will see Jay and his partner Mary (Tuuli Narkle) attempting to forge a new life in the fading town of Loch Iris. However, when Jay begins to investigate an unfolding case, the town closes ranks around him and he realises it hides a shadowy past that is still rippling in the present. Cast includes Robyn Malcolm, Clarence Ryan, Geoff Morrell, Nicholas Bell, Luke Carroll, Helen Morse, Aswan Reid, Steve Le Marquand, Pippa Grandison, Rarriwuy Hick, Shantae Barnes-Cowan, Tammy Lee Rock, Marley Sharp, Alex Malone, Greg Tait and Eloise Hart. Series is from Bunya Productions with major production investment from Screen Australia’s First Nations Department in association with Screenwest and Lotterywest and the Western Australian Regional Screen Fund. It was financed in association with Screen NSW, with All3Media International handling international sales. Writers are Steven McGregor, Jada Alberts, Erica Glynn, Samuel Paynter and Gary Hamaguchi, with the ABC’s Rachel Okine and Brett Sleigh exec producers. Bunya’s Greer Simpkin is producing. The original Mystery Road ran for two seasons between 2018 and 2020 with Aaron Pedersen in the Jay Swan role. Pedersen also played the character in a film of the same name from 2013 and its sequel, Goldstone, three years later.

Prime Video India Adds K-Content Channel

K-content is resonating in India, and Prime Video is capitalizing. The streamer is adding Channel K, a premium Korean content network from Interactive Media Mix, as an add-on subscription. The service will offer “an immersive Hallyu experience” through series such as Summer Strike and Personal Taste, movies including Our Season, Joint Security Area (JSA) and The Battle: Roar to Victory, NCT Nation and Made in Korea: The K-Pop Experience. Genres will span K-pop concerts to reality. Channel K will be offered at a rate of ₹79 (93¢) per month, with a limited-time introductory offer of ₹1 for the first month. “Over the past few years, we have seen tremendous increase in the popularity of Korean content on Prime Video in India, including series like Marry My Husband, No Gain No Love, Jinny’s Kitchen, and more, that were loved by our customers,” said Gaurav Bhasin, Head of Marketplace for Prime Video India. “We are now thrilled to launch Channel K in India and give Prime members an opportunity to get an even wider selection of scripted and unscripted Korean content with this new add-on offering.”