Perro Verde wins at Cartoon Movie

LYON, France -- Manuel Cristobal's Perro Verde Films won European Producer of the Year at the 14th edition of Cartoon Movie, the animation mini-mart that wrapped Friday in Lyon. Perro Verde was competing against two Gallic companies, Moonscoop and Blue Spirit Animation. France's Remi Bezancon and Jean-Christophe Lie nabbed the European director nod for 2D adventure "Zarafa," beating Bibo Bergeron for EuropaCorp-produced "Monster in Paris," and the Danish trio, Thorbjorn Christoffersen, Philip Einstein Lipski and Kresten Vestbjerg Andersen, for "Ronal the Barbarian."Belgium's Cineart won the European distributor kudo over Romania's Transilvania Film and Pathe, which operates in France and the U.K. Marc Bonny, founder of leading French arthouse company, Gebeka Films, which is based in Lyon, was feted with a special tribute from the Rhone-Alpes region. Gebeka's slate includes Jean-Francois Laguionie's "The Painting" and "Couleur Miel," a hybrid live action-animation pic helmed by Laurent Boileau and Jung Henin.Galicia-based shingle Perro Verde was set up by Cristobal in 2007. It produced Ignacio Ferreras' feature debut "Wrinkles," which was pitched at Cartoon Movie last year and had its Gallic premiere at the mart on March 7. The pic, which is the company's fifth feature, is repped by 6 Sales. Cristobal told Variety that Perro Verde is developing a second toonpic with Ferreras.The company's credits also include "Going Nuts." "We aim to continue producing family features as well as films like 'Wrinkles' that push the boundaries of animation by addressing moving issues with humor and endearing characters," Cristobal told Variety. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Johnny Depp's First 'Lone Ranger' Photo Arrives

Double the "Lone Ranger," double the fun! Hot on the heels of our interview with Armie Hammer comes a first look at the lead actor and co-star Johnny Depp as The Lone Ranger and Tonto respectively. Check out the full photo after the break! Producer Jerry Bruckheimer tweeted this photo out earlier today, showing Hammer in full Ranger regalia, while Depp is... man, I don't know what he's doing, but I like it. Click the photo below for a bigger image. Earlier today, we posted an interview with Hammer, who told us: "[Depp] is a fantastic Tonto. And we have gotten to spend time together and work on the stuff, which is great," Hammer said. "And we're about to spend the next seven months together working on this stuff, so it's exciting." Meanwhile, Depp has talked about playing Tonto as well, telling MTV News late last year: "I like the character. I think I have interesting plans for the character, and I think the film itself could be entertaining and very funny. ... But also I like the idea of having the opportunity to make fun of the idea of the Indian as a sidekick which has always been [the case] throughout the history of Hollywood, the Native American has always been a second-class, third-class, fourth-class citizen, and I don't see Tonto that way at all. So it's an opportunity for me to salute Native Americans." Well, Depp's certainly saluting something with his new look. Tell us what you think about it in the comments section or hit us up on Twitter!

Michael Sucsy in talks to helm Beach Boys musical

Fox's 2000's untitled musical is set to the music of The Beach Boys.Michael Sucsy last directed Screen Gems' 'The Vow,' which has grossed over $100 million domestically."The Vow" helmer Michael Sucsy is in negotiations to direct Fox 2000's untitled musical scripted by Susannah Grant ("Erin Brockovich") that will be set to the music of The Beach Boys.Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, the team behind successful bigscreen musicals "Hairspray" and "Chicago," will produce with John Stamos.The original musical, which is based on a fictional story and characters created by Grant, will be driven by the music of The Beach Boys.Script was circulated to a handful of helmers several weeks ago, and Sucsy responded to the material. He recently sat down with Grant to discuss the project, which he has committed to direct. Studio acquired rights to use The Beach Boys' music in a bidding war with Universal back in October 2010.Meron and Zadan exec produced ABC's 2000 telepic "The Beach Boys: An American Family" with Stamos, who played with and remains close to the legendary band.Recent music-driven projects have a mixed track record at the box office, with Universal's ABBA-driven "Mamma Mia!" grossing $610 million worldwide, and Sony's Beatles-inspired "Across the Universe" earning only $29 million worldwide.Sucsy's feature helming debut "The Vow" has grossed over $100 million domestically for Screen Gems. He's currently developing "Rosaline" at Fox 2000, and previously directed HBO's award-winning telepic "Grey Gardens," which garnered him an Emmy win as well as nominations for co-writing and directing.Sucsy is repped by CAA and Anonymous Content. Contact Jeff Sneider at jeff.sneider@variety.com

Joel Kinnaman Offered Robocop

He may be not able to law enforcementWhile he burst to the worldwide scene playing a man taken up in crime in Daniel Espinosa's Snabba Cash, Joel Kinnaman remains trading plenty of his time becoming a police detective in the usa telly remake in the Killing. Everything police experience might yet prove helpful, as MGM has offered him charge inside the Robocop reboot.Elite Squad director Jose Padilha remains aboard to call the shots and he's been flipping using the usual go-to read searching to find the best star to fill Alex Murphy's metal helmet. There has been brief, unverified whispers floating around about Russell Crowe, and Michael Fassbender was mentioned to remain in the running.However Kinnaman, who last put their hands up in Espinosa's British language debut thriller Safe House alongside Ryan Reynolds and Denzel Washington, looks being the man for Murphy. While Padilha has been doing the script with Josh Zetumer, the latest word had Gran Torino's Nick Schenk taking a crack within the latest draft. If he's doing secure the part and start to preserve everyone trust, hopefully Kinnaman knows what he's looking for. A quick mobile call to original Robo Peter Weller might be in order so they can be fully alert to the burden in the part. Which we do not just mean fan anticipation...

Lythgoe, MY-Tupelo eye new dance format

MOSCOW -- MY-Tupelo Entertainment has acquired United States privileges to some popular Ukranian dance competition format from Star Media and can co-get the project with Nigel Lythgoe Prods. "Go Dance!" features massed troupes of youthful ballroom dancers -Up to 500 at any given time together for specifically choreographed programs -- facing off in Kiev's Maidan Square every week. In the finish from the 11-week contest, the winning troupe's city is known as the dance capital of the nation. Produced by Russian/Ukrainian Star Media Group and Studio Kvartal 95, the skein is within its second season. Viewer interest rates are spiked with a reality element towards the reveal that follows the lives from the ballroom dancers because they get ready for the brilliant programs which are broadcast live at the time from the dance-off. "We're very looking forward to this massive and exciting format that Nigel may bring to existence, like only he is able to,Inch MY-Tupelo prexy Michael Yudin stated. "We hope this to become the very first of numerous effective projects we all do with Star Media." Yudin, Star Media's worldwide sales consultant William Peck and Star Media mind of worldwide projects Maria Grechishnikova counseled me involved with closing its northern border American pact. "The offer is extremely significant for all of us,Inch Star Media Group mind Vlad Ryashin stated, "because Ukrainian method is rarely bought for that American market. We think that this truly worldwide show is going to be of great interest in lots of other nations." Star is at talks along with other potential purchasers in Asia and europe and was near to closing an offer in Russia, he added. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Scott Foley To Star In Goodwin Games, Powers Boothe Joins Nashville

Felicity alum Scott Foley has joined Becki Newton as one of the three leads in Goodwin Games, Fox’s single-camera comedy from the How I Met Your Mother trio of Carter Bays, Craig Thomas and Chris Harris. The 20th TV-produced project revolves around three siblings — two of them Newton and Foley — who reconnect after the death of their father when he leaves them his fortune — but only if they agree to his terms. The project reunites Foley with 20th TV after starring in the studio’s CBS military drama The Unit. The actor, repped by ICM and Brillstein Entertainment, most recently recurred on ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy. Deadwood alum Powers Boothe has been cast in ABCs musically driven drama pilot Nashville written by Callie Khouri and directed by RJ Cutler. The ABC Studios-produced pilot is centered around the Nashville music scene and its rising and fading stars. Boothe, repped by Paradigm and Brillstein Entertainment, will play the patriarchal, powerful and controlling Lamar Hampton, who disapproves of his daughter Rayna’s stellar career as a country singer. He recently wrapped feature Straight A’s and the History mini Hatfields And McCoys.

Netflix ink pact with Weinsteins

Netflix as well as the Weinstein Company Tuesday introduced a completely new multi-year certification agreement, their first, to produce language, documentary and certain other movies from TWC exclusively designed for Netflix people inside the U.S. to check out instantly."The Artist" could make its pay TV debut exclusively on Netflix rather than on traditional premium cable.The pic, written and directed by Michel Hazanavicius and starring Jean Dujardin and Berenice Bejo, remains sweeping the honours season, like the Golden Globe to find the best Picture/Comedy or Musical and greatest Picture Honours within the Producers Guild of America, British Academy of Film and television, the London Experts Circle and NY Film Experts Circle.Also making its pay TV premiere on Netflix is "Undefeated," nominated for just about any 2012 Academy Award to find the best Documentary Feature. Pic follows players around the Memphis, Tenn. inner-city secondary school football team since it attempts to win its first playoff game inside the school's history.An assorted slate of TWC niche films look exclusively on Netflix within twelve several weeks from the theatrical release, including World War Ii drama "Sarah's Key," "Intouchables," "W.E.," "Coriolanus" and "Bully."The offer, the initial between TWC and Netflix, weren't revealed. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com