In 2014, Naomi Watts voiced an animated version of herself in the “BoJack Horseman” episode “One Trick Pony.” The Watts in Hollywoo — the “BoJack” stand-in for the entertainment industry’s epicenter, inhabited mostly by anthropomorphic animals — is starring opposite BoJack in a biopic about his frenemy, Mr. Peanutbutter. She appears on set preparing to play Diane, a burgeoning writer. The meta joke is the actress accepted the part to get a break from emotionally draining, praiseworthy performances.
“I just keep getting pigeonholed as these complex characters in highly acclaimed movies,” the animated Watts bemoans to a character who is a parody of host Ryan Seacrest (A Ryan Seacrest Type). “For once, I would just love to phone it in and play a two-dimensional girl in a rom-com with no inner life of her own. That’s kind of the reason I got into this business.”
Ten years later, that tongue-in-cheek guest appearance now feels almost prophetic.
“I just keep getting pigeonholed as these complex characters in highly acclaimed movies,” the animated Watts bemoans to a character who is a parody of host Ryan Seacrest (A Ryan Seacrest Type). “For once, I would just love to phone it in and play a two-dimensional girl in a rom-com with no inner life of her own. That’s kind of the reason I got into this business.”
Ten years later, that tongue-in-cheek guest appearance now feels almost prophetic.
- 5/16/2024
- by Carlos Aguilar
- Indiewire
Jacob Tremblay is all grown up and just graduated high school early!
The 17-year-old actor finished his schooling recently, but won’t be walking in a graduation ceremony for a while.
While making an appearance on the Today show to promote his new Netflix movie Orion and the Dark, Jacob got a special surprise from none other than Mark Hamill!
Keep reading to find out more…
While the hosts surprise Jacob with a cap and gown, Al Roker noted, “Usually there’s a salutatorian who’s going to speak. We couldn’t get that, but we got maybe then next best thing,” followed by a video message from Mark.
“Hey Jacob, it’s your old pal Mark Hamill here, and I want to congratulate you on your graduation. I can’t believe it, where does the time go? I’ve known you since you were much, much shorter than me,...
The 17-year-old actor finished his schooling recently, but won’t be walking in a graduation ceremony for a while.
While making an appearance on the Today show to promote his new Netflix movie Orion and the Dark, Jacob got a special surprise from none other than Mark Hamill!
Keep reading to find out more…
While the hosts surprise Jacob with a cap and gown, Al Roker noted, “Usually there’s a salutatorian who’s going to speak. We couldn’t get that, but we got maybe then next best thing,” followed by a video message from Mark.
“Hey Jacob, it’s your old pal Mark Hamill here, and I want to congratulate you on your graduation. I can’t believe it, where does the time go? I’ve known you since you were much, much shorter than me,...
- 2/2/2024
- by Just Jared
- Just Jared
Sarah Silverman has inked a deal with Lemonada Media for a new season of her podcast, The Sarah Silverman Podcast.
The latest podcast will premiere on the banner on Oct. 19, with new episodes available weekly. Silverman’s comedy podcast debuted in 2020 via Kast Media and has the comedian, actress and writer continuing to dish on her personal and professional lives, politics and other headline news.
She also responds to listener voicemails with her signature sharp wit. “When life gives you lemons, make (a deal with) Lemonada. Can’t wait to start my new life with them!” Silverman said in a statement on Wednesday.
“We’re so honored that Sarah and her team are bringing her hit podcast and engaged audience over to the Lemonada community. Her show has been a salve for so many, and we can’t wait to help make it and bring it into the world each week,...
The latest podcast will premiere on the banner on Oct. 19, with new episodes available weekly. Silverman’s comedy podcast debuted in 2020 via Kast Media and has the comedian, actress and writer continuing to dish on her personal and professional lives, politics and other headline news.
She also responds to listener voicemails with her signature sharp wit. “When life gives you lemons, make (a deal with) Lemonada. Can’t wait to start my new life with them!” Silverman said in a statement on Wednesday.
“We’re so honored that Sarah and her team are bringing her hit podcast and engaged audience over to the Lemonada community. Her show has been a salve for so many, and we can’t wait to help make it and bring it into the world each week,...
- 9/20/2023
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Former child dancer Maddie Ziegler shared how she feels about growing up on television.
“I have blocked out so much of my childhood that I actually don’t know what my life was like before I was working,” Ziegler told High Low with EmRata podcast.
She also said that she doesn’t remember the things that she’s done as a child, even when other people post old videos of her dancing, calling the gap in memory a “weird” experience.
As she recalled her childhood perfectionism, she talked about how she had to unlearn that mentality because she “was so hard on [herself].” The dancer-turned-actress won numerous awards and titles throughout her dance competition days.
“They’re plastic trophies and crowns,” Ziegler said. “Where are they now? I don’t want anything to do with them. Why was I working so hard for those?”
On being on Dance Moms, Ziegler recounted...
“I have blocked out so much of my childhood that I actually don’t know what my life was like before I was working,” Ziegler told High Low with EmRata podcast.
She also said that she doesn’t remember the things that she’s done as a child, even when other people post old videos of her dancing, calling the gap in memory a “weird” experience.
As she recalled her childhood perfectionism, she talked about how she had to unlearn that mentality because she “was so hard on [herself].” The dancer-turned-actress won numerous awards and titles throughout her dance competition days.
“They’re plastic trophies and crowns,” Ziegler said. “Where are they now? I don’t want anything to do with them. Why was I working so hard for those?”
On being on Dance Moms, Ziegler recounted...
- 7/2/2023
- by Rose Anne Cox-Peralta
- Uinterview
Maddie Ziegler has come a long way since her reality TV days. While it was clear that she shined on Dance Moms, the competition-based show was only the tip of the iceberg for her. Her performances on the show helped capture Sia’s attention and began a long-standing collaboration. But these days, Ziegler is known for more than just her dancing career. She has successfully transitioned her talents to the big screen and has starred in a handful of movies. But what are critics saying about her latest performance?
‘Dance Moms’ alum Maddie Ziegler | Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images What TV shows and movies has Maddie Ziegler been in?
Interestingly enough, Ziegler started building her acting resume when she was still on Dance Moms. Some of her most well-known TV credits include: Drop Dead Diva, Pretty Little Liars, and Nicky, Ricky, Dicky, and Dawn. But the 20-year-old also has some...
‘Dance Moms’ alum Maddie Ziegler | Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images What TV shows and movies has Maddie Ziegler been in?
Interestingly enough, Ziegler started building her acting resume when she was still on Dance Moms. Some of her most well-known TV credits include: Drop Dead Diva, Pretty Little Liars, and Nicky, Ricky, Dicky, and Dawn. But the 20-year-old also has some...
- 4/2/2023
- by Abeni Tinubu
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Sam Neill’s new memoir “Did I Ever Tell You This?” has offered movie fans a look down memory lane with anecdotes from some of the 20th century’s biggest movies, including “Jurassic Park” and “The Piano.” But the book also finds time to look to the future, as Neill offers a hint about a new project that might be on the way.
Neill briefly touches on his experience filming “Jurassic World: Dominion,” the 2022 sequel that also saw Jeff Goldblum and Laura Dern reprising their original “Jurassic Park” roles. He also teases that a new, longer cut of the film could be in the works.
“Colin Trevorrow, the director of ‘Jurassic World Dominion,’ a very nice man, dropped me a line recently,” Neill wrote. “He is working on a longer cut, for the fans. I thought it was quite long already, with a lot of characters and even more dinosaurs,...
Neill briefly touches on his experience filming “Jurassic World: Dominion,” the 2022 sequel that also saw Jeff Goldblum and Laura Dern reprising their original “Jurassic Park” roles. He also teases that a new, longer cut of the film could be in the works.
“Colin Trevorrow, the director of ‘Jurassic World Dominion,’ a very nice man, dropped me a line recently,” Neill wrote. “He is working on a longer cut, for the fans. I thought it was quite long already, with a lot of characters and even more dinosaurs,...
- 3/26/2023
- by Christian Zilko
- Indiewire
The director of “Jurassic World” and one of the writers and co-executive producers on “House of the Dragon” are teaming up for a big-budget sci-fi fantasy for Sundance. Director Colin Trevorrow and writer Charmaine DeGraté’s “Atlantis,” which was previously in development at Universal, concerns the fabled civilization that allegedly sank into the sea and was lost due to divine intervention of wrathful gods.
Trevorrow, who also helmed “Safety Not Guaranteed” and “The Book of Henry,” will produce via his Metronome Film Company alongside David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Don Granger’s Skydance. Trevorrow is coming off “Jurassic World Dominion,” which earned just over 1 billion worldwide, including 375 million domestically and 159 million in China, last summer.
Also Read:
Superheroes Are Finally Losing Their Grasp on Moviegoers – and That’s Good for the Box Office
“Jurassic World” was an even bigger hit in 2015, earning decent reviews and grossing 652 million domestically and 1.671 billion worldwide.
Trevorrow, who also helmed “Safety Not Guaranteed” and “The Book of Henry,” will produce via his Metronome Film Company alongside David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Don Granger’s Skydance. Trevorrow is coming off “Jurassic World Dominion,” which earned just over 1 billion worldwide, including 375 million domestically and 159 million in China, last summer.
Also Read:
Superheroes Are Finally Losing Their Grasp on Moviegoers – and That’s Good for the Box Office
“Jurassic World” was an even bigger hit in 2015, earning decent reviews and grossing 652 million domestically and 1.671 billion worldwide.
- 2/4/2023
- by Scott Mendelson
- The Wrap
Click here to read the full article.
In the latest film adaptation of one of his works, Stephen King again demonstrates his uncanny knack for deriving tension from the unlikeliest sources. In this case, it’s technology, specifically cell phones, one of which proves an instrument of communication between the living and the dead. Unfortunately, despite its intriguing premise, Mr. Harrigan’s Phone lacks the necessary ingredient to make it truly memorable; it simply isn’t very scary.
Based on a novella from King’s 2020 collection If It Bleeds, the film, premiering on Netflix, takes place in the sort of seemingly idyllic, small New England town that has provided the backdrop for so many of his works. In the prologue set in 2003, we’re introduced to the young boy Craig (Colin O’Brien), who is left to be raised alone by his loving, working-class father (Joe Tippett) after his mother dies.
In the latest film adaptation of one of his works, Stephen King again demonstrates his uncanny knack for deriving tension from the unlikeliest sources. In this case, it’s technology, specifically cell phones, one of which proves an instrument of communication between the living and the dead. Unfortunately, despite its intriguing premise, Mr. Harrigan’s Phone lacks the necessary ingredient to make it truly memorable; it simply isn’t very scary.
Based on a novella from King’s 2020 collection If It Bleeds, the film, premiering on Netflix, takes place in the sort of seemingly idyllic, small New England town that has provided the backdrop for so many of his works. In the prologue set in 2003, we’re introduced to the young boy Craig (Colin O’Brien), who is left to be raised alone by his loving, working-class father (Joe Tippett) after his mother dies.
- 10/3/2022
- by Frank Scheck
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
For better or for worse, the "Jurassic World" saga drew to a close with "Jurassic World Dominion." It's a film that promised to explore the battle between humans and dinosaurs to become Earth's dominant species, only to take a hard turn right and focus instead on a plot that involves giant locusts. The whole thing comes across as an attempt to bring the "Jurassic" movies back to the ideas about chaos (in a scientific sense) and ecosystems that pervade Michael Crichton's original "Jurassic Park" novel and its sequel, "The Lost World."
It, uh, didn't work.
On the plus side, the "Jurassic" films ending (for now) frees up "Jurassic World" trilogy co-lead Bryce Dallas Howard to go and work on other projects. In-between playing Claire Dearing in those movies, Howard kicked her directing career into gear, doing a stellar job calling the shots on multiple episodes of "The Mandalorian" and "The Book of Boba Fett.
It, uh, didn't work.
On the plus side, the "Jurassic" films ending (for now) frees up "Jurassic World" trilogy co-lead Bryce Dallas Howard to go and work on other projects. In-between playing Claire Dearing in those movies, Howard kicked her directing career into gear, doing a stellar job calling the shots on multiple episodes of "The Mandalorian" and "The Book of Boba Fett.
- 9/22/2022
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
Exclusive: Tonya Pinkins (Jelly’s Last Jam) has signed with The Rosenzweig Group for management in all areas.
Pinkins is a Tony Award-winning actress and filmmaker who will next be seen in the Public Theater’s upcoming production of A Raisin in the Sun, directed by Tony nominee Robert O’Hara (Slave Play).
Best known for her work on Broadway, Pinkins has earned three Tony noms in total, winning in 1992 for her performance as Sweet Anita in Jelly’s Last Jam. Over the course of the actress’ career in theater, she has also been recognized with Opie, Lortel, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Audleco, Garland, LA Drama Critics Circle, Clarence Derwent and NAACP Theater awards.
Pinkins recently starred opposite Adrienne Warren in the ABC limited series Women of the Movement. The actress has also been seen in recurring roles on such series as God Friended Me, Fear the Walking Dead, Gotham,...
Pinkins is a Tony Award-winning actress and filmmaker who will next be seen in the Public Theater’s upcoming production of A Raisin in the Sun, directed by Tony nominee Robert O’Hara (Slave Play).
Best known for her work on Broadway, Pinkins has earned three Tony noms in total, winning in 1992 for her performance as Sweet Anita in Jelly’s Last Jam. Over the course of the actress’ career in theater, she has also been recognized with Opie, Lortel, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Audleco, Garland, LA Drama Critics Circle, Clarence Derwent and NAACP Theater awards.
Pinkins recently starred opposite Adrienne Warren in the ABC limited series Women of the Movement. The actress has also been seen in recurring roles on such series as God Friended Me, Fear the Walking Dead, Gotham,...
- 9/1/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
This past weekend saw the release of Colin Trevorrow’s final chapter in the “Jurassic World” trilogy. While the film earned nearly 150 million at the domestic box office this weekend, reviews weren’t kind (including IndieWire’s own) and the film currently sits at a dismal 30 percent on Rotten Tomatoes (the lowest of any film in this trilogy or the previous one). While the return of the original trilogy’s core trio delighted plenty of audience members, fans and critics alike balked at the film’s convoluted story, its resistance to digging into more dino-centric action, and a truly bizarre choice to make some other creepy animal its main baddie.
Both IndieWire executive editor and VP of editorial strategy Eric Kohn and executive editor, film Kate Erbland emerged from the latest jaunt to the underworld of dino DNA gone wild feeling increasingly worried about the current state of blockbusters. But...
Both IndieWire executive editor and VP of editorial strategy Eric Kohn and executive editor, film Kate Erbland emerged from the latest jaunt to the underworld of dino DNA gone wild feeling increasingly worried about the current state of blockbusters. But...
- 6/13/2022
- by Kate Erbland and Eric Kohn
- Indiewire
“Jurassic World Dominion” is the new apex predator at the box office.
Universal’s dino-sequel is expected to earn 142.6 million from 4,676 theaters across North America over the weekend, which would mark the highest domestic opening for a non-superhero film since Covid-19 lockdowns were first introduced. That dethrones the 126 million benchmark set by the debut of “Top Gun: Maverick” only two weeks ago.
After taking home 18 million in Thursday previews, Universal had projected the sixth installment in the “Jurassic Park” franchise to earn 132.5 million moving into the weekend.
Stretching back to Steven Spielberg’s 1993 original, which was the highest grossing domestic earner ever upon release, the “Jurassic Park” franchise has a storied box office legacy. The previous two films — “Jurassic World” in 2015 and sequel “Fallen Kingdom” in 2018 — debuted to 208 million and 150 million, respectively.
With a 185 million production price tag before marketing and distribution costs, “Jurassic World Dominion” will need to continue...
Universal’s dino-sequel is expected to earn 142.6 million from 4,676 theaters across North America over the weekend, which would mark the highest domestic opening for a non-superhero film since Covid-19 lockdowns were first introduced. That dethrones the 126 million benchmark set by the debut of “Top Gun: Maverick” only two weeks ago.
After taking home 18 million in Thursday previews, Universal had projected the sixth installment in the “Jurassic Park” franchise to earn 132.5 million moving into the weekend.
Stretching back to Steven Spielberg’s 1993 original, which was the highest grossing domestic earner ever upon release, the “Jurassic Park” franchise has a storied box office legacy. The previous two films — “Jurassic World” in 2015 and sequel “Fallen Kingdom” in 2018 — debuted to 208 million and 150 million, respectively.
With a 185 million production price tag before marketing and distribution costs, “Jurassic World Dominion” will need to continue...
- 6/11/2022
- by J. Kim Murphy
- Variety Film + TV
While the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted many parts of Hollywood’s movie-making apparatus, from closed theaters to delayed (or even outright canceled) productions, a number of much-hyped blockbusters forged right ahead. One of the biggies: Colin Trevorrow’s “Jurassic World: Dominion,” which endured both production delays and rejiggered release dates, and now finally arrives in theaters more than a year after its original release date.
As Trevorrow’s trilogy-capper readies for a massive theatrical release, the filmmaker admits to being both pleased for this film, and a little worried about the theatrical landscape in general. For a guy who got his start with a popular indie feature that debuted at Sundance and rocketed him to stardom, those concerns seem both well-founded and very personal indeed.
“Universal really wanted to make sure that we held the movie for the moment that theaters came back, and we did,” Trevorrow...
As Trevorrow’s trilogy-capper readies for a massive theatrical release, the filmmaker admits to being both pleased for this film, and a little worried about the theatrical landscape in general. For a guy who got his start with a popular indie feature that debuted at Sundance and rocketed him to stardom, those concerns seem both well-founded and very personal indeed.
“Universal really wanted to make sure that we held the movie for the moment that theaters came back, and we did,” Trevorrow...
- 6/9/2022
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
To say that “Jurassic World: Dominion” squanders its potential would imply it had much to begin with. Perhaps some other, theoretical sequel to J.A. Bayona’s serviceable “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” may have had promise, as a follow-up to that haunted-house creature-feature that ends with a human clone setting dinosaurs loose upon our world. However, “Dominion” director and co-writer Colin Trevorrow (the man responsible for “The Book of Henry”) is the opposite of an idea guy. His apparent “Jurassic” finale goes by the way of “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” — ironic, since that was Trevorrow’s job — and brushes aside every promise made by its predecessor. It’s a sequel whose images convey little meaning, other than that which they borrow from other movies, and
To introduce us to this new era of humanity, in which dinosaurs live among humans and alter our relationship to mother Earth, “Dominion” begins...
To introduce us to this new era of humanity, in which dinosaurs live among humans and alter our relationship to mother Earth, “Dominion” begins...
- 6/8/2022
- by Siddhant Adlakha
- Indiewire
HBO Max is putting together an all-star cast for the upcoming original film “The Parenting.”
On Wednesday, the streamer announced that Brian Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Edie Falco and Dean Norris had been cast to star in the horror-comedy, which focuses on a young queer couple who rent a countryside cottage to host a weekend getaway with their parents, only to discover that it is inhabited by a 400-year-old poltergeist. The roles that Cox, Kudrow, Falco and Norris will be playing have yet to be announced.
“The Parenting” is directed by Craig Johnson, and written by Kent Sublette. Chris Bender and Jake Weiner produce the film for Good Fear Content. New Line Cinema co-produces the film. A release date has yet to be announced.
Cox is a recent Screen Actors Guild Award and Golden Globe winner for his role as Logan Roy in the HBO hit “Succession,” which aired its third season last year.
On Wednesday, the streamer announced that Brian Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Edie Falco and Dean Norris had been cast to star in the horror-comedy, which focuses on a young queer couple who rent a countryside cottage to host a weekend getaway with their parents, only to discover that it is inhabited by a 400-year-old poltergeist. The roles that Cox, Kudrow, Falco and Norris will be playing have yet to be announced.
“The Parenting” is directed by Craig Johnson, and written by Kent Sublette. Chris Bender and Jake Weiner produce the film for Good Fear Content. New Line Cinema co-produces the film. A release date has yet to be announced.
Cox is a recent Screen Actors Guild Award and Golden Globe winner for his role as Logan Roy in the HBO hit “Succession,” which aired its third season last year.
- 3/16/2022
- by Wilson Chapman
- Variety Film + TV
New Line Cinema has cast the ensemble comedy The Parenting for HBO Max with a murderers’ row of TV stars including Succession‘s Brian Cox, The Sopranos’ Edie Falco, Friends alum Lisa Kudrow and Breaking Bad‘s Dean Norris.
Craig Johnson is directing from Kent Sublette’s script, which follows a young couple, Graham and Josh, who host a “meet the parents” weekend at a cozy rental house in the country, only to find it is already haunted by a 400-year old poltergeist. Chris Bender and Jake Weiner are producing for their Good Fear Content label.
Cox plays Logan Roy in the Emmy-winning HBO series Succession, for which he won a Golden Globe Award and SAG Award. His memoir, Putting the Rabbit in the Hat, was recently published in the UK and U.S., and he has starring roles in the upcoming films The Independent, Prisoner’s Daughter, and Mending the Line.
Craig Johnson is directing from Kent Sublette’s script, which follows a young couple, Graham and Josh, who host a “meet the parents” weekend at a cozy rental house in the country, only to find it is already haunted by a 400-year old poltergeist. Chris Bender and Jake Weiner are producing for their Good Fear Content label.
Cox plays Logan Roy in the Emmy-winning HBO series Succession, for which he won a Golden Globe Award and SAG Award. His memoir, Putting the Rabbit in the Hat, was recently published in the UK and U.S., and he has starring roles in the upcoming films The Independent, Prisoner’s Daughter, and Mending the Line.
- 3/16/2022
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Oscar-winning composer Michael Giacchino today unveiled a main theme for Matt Reeves’ The Batman, which is set for release in the U.S. on March 4.
The upcoming superhero film picks up with the Caped Crusader (played by Robert Pattinson) in his second year of fighting crime, watching as he uncovers corruption in Gotham City that connects to his own family while facing a serial killer known as the Riddler (Paul Dano). Zoë Kravitz is playing the role of Catwoman, with Colin Farrell transforming himself into the Penguin. Barry Keoghan, Peter Sarsgaard, Amber Sienna, Andy Serkis, Jeffrey Wright and John Turturro round out the cast.
Reeves wrote the pic with Peter Craig and produced it with Dylan Clark, with Simon Emmanuel, Walter Hamada, Michael E. Uslan and Chantal Nong Vo serving as its exec producers, and Toby Hefferman as associate producer. Deadline confirmed today that...
The upcoming superhero film picks up with the Caped Crusader (played by Robert Pattinson) in his second year of fighting crime, watching as he uncovers corruption in Gotham City that connects to his own family while facing a serial killer known as the Riddler (Paul Dano). Zoë Kravitz is playing the role of Catwoman, with Colin Farrell transforming himself into the Penguin. Barry Keoghan, Peter Sarsgaard, Amber Sienna, Andy Serkis, Jeffrey Wright and John Turturro round out the cast.
Reeves wrote the pic with Peter Craig and produced it with Dylan Clark, with Simon Emmanuel, Walter Hamada, Michael E. Uslan and Chantal Nong Vo serving as its exec producers, and Toby Hefferman as associate producer. Deadline confirmed today that...
- 1/21/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Paramount Players has optioned eight novels from author Gregg Hurwitz’s “Marked Man” series of books, with plans to adapt them for a series of feature films.
The division of the ViacomCBS-owned studio, run by Jeremy Kramer, is eyeing lower budgets for the contemporary noir thrillers and specifically looking for diverse and perhaps first-time writers and directors to create the world.
Hurwitz is the bestselling author of “Orphan X” and will produce the films alongside Emmy winner Scott Frank, producer of Netflix’s “The Queen’s Gambit.” The latter brought the books to the studio. While not connected by a central character, Hurwitz’s novels are among the most praised of the pot-boiler genre — usually invoking heinous crimes or geopolitical intrigue. The film adaptations are said to be connected thematically.
Full titles being optioned include “Do No Harm,” “The Crime Writer,” “Trust No One,” “They’re Watching,” “You’re Next,” “The Survivor,...
The division of the ViacomCBS-owned studio, run by Jeremy Kramer, is eyeing lower budgets for the contemporary noir thrillers and specifically looking for diverse and perhaps first-time writers and directors to create the world.
Hurwitz is the bestselling author of “Orphan X” and will produce the films alongside Emmy winner Scott Frank, producer of Netflix’s “The Queen’s Gambit.” The latter brought the books to the studio. While not connected by a central character, Hurwitz’s novels are among the most praised of the pot-boiler genre — usually invoking heinous crimes or geopolitical intrigue. The film adaptations are said to be connected thematically.
Full titles being optioned include “Do No Harm,” “The Crime Writer,” “Trust No One,” “They’re Watching,” “You’re Next,” “The Survivor,...
- 10/26/2021
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
Where to start with a movie like “Sweet Girl?” Its co-screenwriter is Gregg Hurwitz, the scribe of the infamous 2017 feature “The Book of Henry,” and, really, “Sweet Girl” feels like a sister to that movie. Both features espouse a dark narrative rooted in the social issues of the day before a big right turn onto “Are You Kidding Me?” Avenue. Things get weird and that weirdness probably seemed unique to everyone involved.
The “sweet girl” in question is Rachel Cooper (Isabela Merced), the daughter of Ray Cooper (Jason Momoa). Ray and Rachel have been struggling in the wake of family matriarch Amanda’s (Adria Arjona) death from cancer. To add insult to injury, Amanda’s death could have probably been prevented had a generic drug been made available to her instead of being indefinitely delayed by a competing drug company led by Simon Keeley (Justin Bartha).
Yep, “Sweet Girl” is...
The “sweet girl” in question is Rachel Cooper (Isabela Merced), the daughter of Ray Cooper (Jason Momoa). Ray and Rachel have been struggling in the wake of family matriarch Amanda’s (Adria Arjona) death from cancer. To add insult to injury, Amanda’s death could have probably been prevented had a generic drug been made available to her instead of being indefinitely delayed by a competing drug company led by Simon Keeley (Justin Bartha).
Yep, “Sweet Girl” is...
- 8/20/2021
- by Kristen Lopez
- Indiewire
Sarah Silverman is set to star opposite Blair Underwood in the upcoming psychological thriller “Viral” from York Films.
The independent film, written by Joe McClean, centers on Andrew (Underwood), a man dealing with the disappearance of his wife. As Andrew falls deeper into paranoia, he finds that the only way out of the self-destructive cycle seems to be through his new girlfriend Emilia (Silverman), a victims advocate and self-help blogger he meets in group therapy, who is dealing with her own demons from her past. The drama will explore if they are strong enough to get past their own nightmares and mental illnesses to find true happiness together.
Underwood will direct and produce the indie feature, which was originally supposed to shoot in 2020, but was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Production will begin in New York this summer.
“A true artist thrives in all genres. Most people know of...
The independent film, written by Joe McClean, centers on Andrew (Underwood), a man dealing with the disappearance of his wife. As Andrew falls deeper into paranoia, he finds that the only way out of the self-destructive cycle seems to be through his new girlfriend Emilia (Silverman), a victims advocate and self-help blogger he meets in group therapy, who is dealing with her own demons from her past. The drama will explore if they are strong enough to get past their own nightmares and mental illnesses to find true happiness together.
Underwood will direct and produce the indie feature, which was originally supposed to shoot in 2020, but was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Production will begin in New York this summer.
“A true artist thrives in all genres. Most people know of...
- 5/4/2021
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
Jacob Tremblay is set to co-star alongside Peter Dinklage in Legendary’s “Toxic Avenger” film, a reboot of Troma Entertainment’s 1984 low-budget action-comedy splatter film.
The reboot will follow a mild-mannered janitor at a health club who’s pushed out of a second-story window by bullies into a vat of toxic waste. The chemicals cause him to transform into a hideously deformed mutant gifted with superhuman size and strength. He must go from shunned outcast to underdog hero as he races to save his son, his friends and his community from the forces of corruption and greed.
The original film generated four sequels: “The Toxic Avenger Part II,” “The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie” and “Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV.” The franchise expanded into an animated children’s TV series spin-off called “Toxic Crusaders,” a musical stage production and a Marvel comic book series.
Making...
The reboot will follow a mild-mannered janitor at a health club who’s pushed out of a second-story window by bullies into a vat of toxic waste. The chemicals cause him to transform into a hideously deformed mutant gifted with superhuman size and strength. He must go from shunned outcast to underdog hero as he races to save his son, his friends and his community from the forces of corruption and greed.
The original film generated four sequels: “The Toxic Avenger Part II,” “The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie” and “Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV.” The franchise expanded into an animated children’s TV series spin-off called “Toxic Crusaders,” a musical stage production and a Marvel comic book series.
Making...
- 4/14/2021
- by Antonio Ferme
- Variety Film + TV
The latest in our series of writers sticking up for hated films is a defense for the starry noir with a ridiculed big twist
It happens about once a year. A film is released, often featuring major stars and a shockingly large budget, that is so mind-numbingly bad that the critical response is akin to a ritual killing: its flaws must be dissected, its creative choices mocked and its actors shamed for their poor judgment. Recent entries in this contemptible canon include The Snowman, The Book of Henry and, wrongly, Serenity, the unhinged 2019 Matthew McConaughey mystery about a guy named Dill, a fish named Justice and a tropical island made up of ones and zeroes.
Related: Hear me out: why 2017's Ghost in the Shell isn't a bad movie...
It happens about once a year. A film is released, often featuring major stars and a shockingly large budget, that is so mind-numbingly bad that the critical response is akin to a ritual killing: its flaws must be dissected, its creative choices mocked and its actors shamed for their poor judgment. Recent entries in this contemptible canon include The Snowman, The Book of Henry and, wrongly, Serenity, the unhinged 2019 Matthew McConaughey mystery about a guy named Dill, a fish named Justice and a tropical island made up of ones and zeroes.
Related: Hear me out: why 2017's Ghost in the Shell isn't a bad movie...
- 4/5/2021
- by Noah Gittell
- The Guardian - Film News
Time and time again during this year’s pandemic, movie studios have had to make the best of a bad situation. HBO Max’s list of new releases for December 2020 comes along with the most extreme example yet.
WarnerMedia undoubtedly had big plans for Wonder Woman 1984 when it scheduled it for a holiday release last year. After moving it to the summer, however, the conglomerate had to delay its theatrical release time and time again. Now HBO Max is the lucky winner of the saga, as it gets to premiere the long-awaited sequel on its servers on Dec. 25.
While Wonder Woman 1984 is definitely the headline this month, there are some other intriguing streaming options for HBO Max in December. The month plays host to a whole host of high-powered documentaries like Heaven’s Gate: The Cult of Cults (Dec. 3), Alabama Snake (Dec. 9), and the Tiger Woods documentary Tiger (Dec.
WarnerMedia undoubtedly had big plans for Wonder Woman 1984 when it scheduled it for a holiday release last year. After moving it to the summer, however, the conglomerate had to delay its theatrical release time and time again. Now HBO Max is the lucky winner of the saga, as it gets to premiere the long-awaited sequel on its servers on Dec. 25.
While Wonder Woman 1984 is definitely the headline this month, there are some other intriguing streaming options for HBO Max in December. The month plays host to a whole host of high-powered documentaries like Heaven’s Gate: The Cult of Cults (Dec. 3), Alabama Snake (Dec. 9), and the Tiger Woods documentary Tiger (Dec.
- 11/30/2020
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
We’ve now got just a few days left of November, so it’s time to take a look ahead at everything that’s headed to the major streaming networks in December. As it’s Christmas, Netflix, Disney Plus, HBO Max, Hulu and Prime Video have extra special hauls ready to gift to their subscribers this holiday season, with literally hundreds of new movies and TV shows dropping over the course of the month.
All the various sites – excepting Disney Plus – are serving up a ton of newly licensed films on December 1st. Netflix, for instance, is adding such classics as E.T., Little Nicky and the first three Jurassic Parks. Meanwhile, HBO Max is offering up The Shawshank Redemption, Shaun of the Dead and a bunch of Final Destinations, while Hulu and Prime Video, which share a lot of the same movies, are treating users to a host of iconic...
All the various sites – excepting Disney Plus – are serving up a ton of newly licensed films on December 1st. Netflix, for instance, is adding such classics as E.T., Little Nicky and the first three Jurassic Parks. Meanwhile, HBO Max is offering up The Shawshank Redemption, Shaun of the Dead and a bunch of Final Destinations, while Hulu and Prime Video, which share a lot of the same movies, are treating users to a host of iconic...
- 11/28/2020
- by Christian Bone
- We Got This Covered
Just like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon and Disney Plus, HBO Max is adding a ton of great new titles to give you some festive treats this holiday season. The Warner streaming service’s December haul isn’t necessarily full of Christmas content – there’s a lot of that already available – but there are definitely a ton of must-see films and TV shows on the lineup, so let’s take a look at the highlights.
December 1st brings a glut of newly licensed titles, including everything from horror prequel Annabelle: Creation to the original Westworld movie. In terms of franchises, you’ll be able to find a bunch of The Crown films, some Final Destinations and the whole Free Willy trilogy on the site next month. And if you’re looking to chow down on some of the best movies around, you won’t be disappointed. Just a few of the acclaimed...
December 1st brings a glut of newly licensed titles, including everything from horror prequel Annabelle: Creation to the original Westworld movie. In terms of franchises, you’ll be able to find a bunch of The Crown films, some Final Destinations and the whole Free Willy trilogy on the site next month. And if you’re looking to chow down on some of the best movies around, you won’t be disappointed. Just a few of the acclaimed...
- 11/25/2020
- by Christian Bone
- We Got This Covered
Soundtrack to include 10 new songs by Australian singer-songwriter.
UK-based HanWay Films has boarded international sales on Music, the debut directorial feature from pop icon Sia that stars Kate Hudson and Maddie Ziegler.
The film was written by Australian singer-songwriter Sia (full name Sia Furler) and Dallas Clayton, based on a short story by the former. It will include 10 new Sia tracks performed as musical numbers by the cast.
Music centres on a woman estranged from her family who suddenly finds herself the sole guardian of her autistic teenager half-sister, who is called Music.
Hudson and Ziegler play the two lead roles,...
UK-based HanWay Films has boarded international sales on Music, the debut directorial feature from pop icon Sia that stars Kate Hudson and Maddie Ziegler.
The film was written by Australian singer-songwriter Sia (full name Sia Furler) and Dallas Clayton, based on a short story by the former. It will include 10 new Sia tracks performed as musical numbers by the cast.
Music centres on a woman estranged from her family who suddenly finds herself the sole guardian of her autistic teenager half-sister, who is called Music.
Hudson and Ziegler play the two lead roles,...
- 10/12/2020
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
When Sam Bloom (Naomi Watts) fell from the balcony of her family’s holiday home in Thailand, leaving her paralysed, the successful mother-of-three thought she would never get her life back. Penguin Bloom is the story of Sam’s arduous road to recovery and the magpie which became an unlikely, but much-needed, companion.
If that premise sounds a little formulaic, Penguin Bloom never transcends the modest ambitions it sets for itself. Despite stellar work from Watts that has come to be an expectation, director Glendyn Ivin is unable to lift the rest of his film above just okay. File it under “Naomi Watts Outdoes All Others”, an increasingly substantial list which also includes King Kong, J Edgar, The Impossible, Diana, The Book of Henry and too many more.
Penguin Bloom isn’t nearly as bad as some of those, mind. It is beautifully photographed and does involve Andrew Lincoln in...
If that premise sounds a little formulaic, Penguin Bloom never transcends the modest ambitions it sets for itself. Despite stellar work from Watts that has come to be an expectation, director Glendyn Ivin is unable to lift the rest of his film above just okay. File it under “Naomi Watts Outdoes All Others”, an increasingly substantial list which also includes King Kong, J Edgar, The Impossible, Diana, The Book of Henry and too many more.
Penguin Bloom isn’t nearly as bad as some of those, mind. It is beautifully photographed and does involve Andrew Lincoln in...
- 9/28/2020
- by Adam Solomons
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
An Australian family moves on from tragedy with the help of a bird in a modest and warm-hearted true story
Naomi Watts, an adept and at times electrifying actor, has found herself adrift in recent years. The star who shone bright in Mulholland Drive and King Kong has dimmed with each rotten project, from the disastrous schmaltz of The Book of Henry (a film so bad it was rumoured to have cost director Colin Trevorrow a Star Wars gig), to Gus Van Sant’s maudlin suicide mystery The Sea of Trees (a film that was met with a chorus of boos at Cannes) to clumsy, barely released trans drama 3 Generations. Even her small-screen projects have underwhelmed, whether it be the swiftly cancelled Netflix thriller Gypsy or her role as Gretchen Carlson in the buzz-free Fox News drama The Loudest Voice that was quickly overshadowed by Bombshell (her Game of Thrones...
Naomi Watts, an adept and at times electrifying actor, has found herself adrift in recent years. The star who shone bright in Mulholland Drive and King Kong has dimmed with each rotten project, from the disastrous schmaltz of The Book of Henry (a film so bad it was rumoured to have cost director Colin Trevorrow a Star Wars gig), to Gus Van Sant’s maudlin suicide mystery The Sea of Trees (a film that was met with a chorus of boos at Cannes) to clumsy, barely released trans drama 3 Generations. Even her small-screen projects have underwhelmed, whether it be the swiftly cancelled Netflix thriller Gypsy or her role as Gretchen Carlson in the buzz-free Fox News drama The Loudest Voice that was quickly overshadowed by Bombshell (her Game of Thrones...
- 9/12/2020
- by Benjamin Lee
- The Guardian - Film News
In today’s film news roundup, three projects — “The Culling,” “Atlantis” and “A Savannah Haunting” — are unveiled; “Transhood” wins the Audience Award at AFI Docs; the WGA East announces 15 candidates; and the Visual Effects Society honors five members.
Project Launches
Universal Pictures is developing the thriller “Atlantis with “Jurassic World” director Colin Trevorrow and his Metronome Film Co. with Trevorrow directing and producing.
The project is based on a story about the mythical city of Atlantis by Trevorrow and Matt Charman. Dante Harper, who wrote the original spec script that became Tom Cruise’s “Edge of Tomorrow,” will write the script for “Atlantis.”
Metronome and Universal are also collaborating on “Space Opera,” a musical with producer Marc Platt based on Catherynne Valente’s book.
Treverrow’s directing credits include “Safety Not Guaranteed,” “The Book of Henry” and the upcoming “Jurassic World: Dominion.” The news was first reported by Deadline Hollywood.
Project Launches
Universal Pictures is developing the thriller “Atlantis with “Jurassic World” director Colin Trevorrow and his Metronome Film Co. with Trevorrow directing and producing.
The project is based on a story about the mythical city of Atlantis by Trevorrow and Matt Charman. Dante Harper, who wrote the original spec script that became Tom Cruise’s “Edge of Tomorrow,” will write the script for “Atlantis.”
Metronome and Universal are also collaborating on “Space Opera,” a musical with producer Marc Platt based on Catherynne Valente’s book.
Treverrow’s directing credits include “Safety Not Guaranteed,” “The Book of Henry” and the upcoming “Jurassic World: Dominion.” The news was first reported by Deadline Hollywood.
- 6/23/2020
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
P.S. I Still Love You reunites much of the cast of To All The Boys I've Loved Before, plus adds a few new faces. The most important new addition to the franchise is, of course, Jordan Fisher as John Ambrose, but there's a surprising actor in the second installment of the series we need to point out: Dance Moms alumna and Sia favorite Maddie Ziegler.
Ziegler pops up in a lunchroom scene, telling Lara Jean to expect some Valentine's Day extravagance from boyfriend Peter Kavinsky. "Get ready, Lara Jean. Last year, Peter sent [a singing valentine] to Gen every period," she confides. Although the actress and dancer doesn't have a big part, it's a fun surprise for longtime fans to see her play a cheerleader in P.S. I Still Love You.
While her part in the Netflix favorite is more of a cameo, this is just the beginning for Ziegler's movie appearances this year.
Ziegler pops up in a lunchroom scene, telling Lara Jean to expect some Valentine's Day extravagance from boyfriend Peter Kavinsky. "Get ready, Lara Jean. Last year, Peter sent [a singing valentine] to Gen every period," she confides. Although the actress and dancer doesn't have a big part, it's a fun surprise for longtime fans to see her play a cheerleader in P.S. I Still Love You.
While her part in the Netflix favorite is more of a cameo, this is just the beginning for Ziegler's movie appearances this year.
- 2/13/2020
- by Amanda Prahl
- Popsugar.com
Santa Monica, CA – Rian Johnson’s Academy Award®-nominated (Best Original Screenplay) and Golden Globe®-nominated whodunnit with an all-star ensemble cast exposes its secrets when Knives Out arrives on Digital February 7 and on 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack (plus Blu-ray and Digital), Blu-ray Combo Pack (plus DVD and Digital), DVD, and On Demand February 25 from Lionsgate and Mrc Film.
Written, produced, and directed by filmmaker Rian Johnson (Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Looper), and produced by Ram Bergman (Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Looper) and Johnson through T-Street, the film is Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes at 97% (as of 1/21/20) and has received awards from AFI, National Board of Review, New York Film Critics, Philadelphia Film Festival, The Hollywood Critics Association, Rotten Tomatoes’ Golden Tomatoes Awards, and more. Knives Out stars Daniel Craig (James Bond franchise, Logan Lucky, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), Chris Evans (The Avengers franchise, Captain America,...
Written, produced, and directed by filmmaker Rian Johnson (Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Looper), and produced by Ram Bergman (Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Looper) and Johnson through T-Street, the film is Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes at 97% (as of 1/21/20) and has received awards from AFI, National Board of Review, New York Film Critics, Philadelphia Film Festival, The Hollywood Critics Association, Rotten Tomatoes’ Golden Tomatoes Awards, and more. Knives Out stars Daniel Craig (James Bond franchise, Logan Lucky, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), Chris Evans (The Avengers franchise, Captain America,...
- 1/24/2020
- by ComicMix Staff
- Comicmix.com
Kylo Ren’s mask is as good a symbol as any for the way Disney’s Sequel Trilogy went down. Established as imposing in The Force Awakens, deconstructed in The Last Jedi and then haphazardly reassembled in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Kylo abandoning his mask in one movie only to revert to it in the next is a great example of the lack of planning that went into this trilogy, but now we see that things could’ve been quite different.
Yesterday we got a treasure trove of cool concept art from Colin Trevorrow’s version of The Rise of Skywalker. His movie would have been titled Duel of the Fates and while it shared some elements in common with Abrams’ pic, a lot of it is very different. For example, Trevorrow was planning a scene in which Kylo Ren would have a vision quest similar to Luke...
Yesterday we got a treasure trove of cool concept art from Colin Trevorrow’s version of The Rise of Skywalker. His movie would have been titled Duel of the Fates and while it shared some elements in common with Abrams’ pic, a lot of it is very different. For example, Trevorrow was planning a scene in which Kylo Ren would have a vision quest similar to Luke...
- 1/24/2020
- by David James
- We Got This Covered
Have you noticed that we never obsessive over casting decisions for bad movies? We don’t spend a lot of time going back and looking at, say, Colin Trevorrow‘s “The Book of Henry” and discussing the actors who auditioned for various roles. Revisiting casting decisions is only fun when the movies themselves stand up on their own, and their choices did not damage the actors’ careers. And since both the actor and the director are beloved by all, we can learn more about Edward Norton‘s decision to pass on Terrence Malick‘s “The Thin Red Line” without tarnishing either person’s legacy.
Continue reading Edward Norton Shares How Close He Came To Starring In ‘The Thin Red Line’ at The Playlist.
Continue reading Edward Norton Shares How Close He Came To Starring In ‘The Thin Red Line’ at The Playlist.
- 1/11/2020
- by Matthew Monagle
- The Playlist
Colin Trevorrow Earned A ‘Rise Of Skywalker’ Writing Credit & Reveals Palpatine Wasn’t In His Script
For a prominent Hollywood director, there’s probably nothing worse than being publicly fired, removed, or replaced on a “Star Wars” movie, though the list of filmmakers on that list is relatively long and potentially growing.
Read More: Colin Trevorrow Exits ‘Star Wars: Episode IX’
Following the quit/firing of Josh Trank on a ‘Boba Fett’ film, the move-over replacement of Gareth Edwards on ‘Rogue One,’ and the firing of Lord and Miller from “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” Colin Trevorrow—coming off the billion-dollar hit of “Jurassic World,” but also the flop of “The Book Of Henry”—parted ways/was fired from “Star Wars: Episode IX.” J.J.
Continue reading Colin Trevorrow Earned A ‘Rise Of Skywalker’ Writing Credit & Reveals Palpatine Wasn’t In His Script at The Playlist.
Read More: Colin Trevorrow Exits ‘Star Wars: Episode IX’
Following the quit/firing of Josh Trank on a ‘Boba Fett’ film, the move-over replacement of Gareth Edwards on ‘Rogue One,’ and the firing of Lord and Miller from “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” Colin Trevorrow—coming off the billion-dollar hit of “Jurassic World,” but also the flop of “The Book Of Henry”—parted ways/was fired from “Star Wars: Episode IX.” J.J.
Continue reading Colin Trevorrow Earned A ‘Rise Of Skywalker’ Writing Credit & Reveals Palpatine Wasn’t In His Script at The Playlist.
- 11/24/2019
- by Rodrigo Perez
- The Playlist
The announcement that David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, the creators of “Game of Thrones,” would be departing from the “Star Wars” universe before they’d barely had a chance to climb aboard it looms as the most high-profile breakdown yet between Lucasfilm and the roster of filmmakers it keeps recruiting — and kicking out of — “Star Wars.” (It was reported in Variety that Benioff and Weiss were “summarily dismissed.”)
You could say that each of the three previous departures had an air of infamy about it. In 2015, director Josh Trank was fired from a stand-alone “Star Wars” adventure, rumored to be a Boba Fett movie, in the wake of the critical and box-office debacle of his crashed-and-burned superhero film “Fantastic Four.” In 2017, Phil Lord and Chris Miller were dismissed during the shooting of “Solo” due to clashes between them and the Lucasfilm executives over the film’s tone; the makers of...
You could say that each of the three previous departures had an air of infamy about it. In 2015, director Josh Trank was fired from a stand-alone “Star Wars” adventure, rumored to be a Boba Fett movie, in the wake of the critical and box-office debacle of his crashed-and-burned superhero film “Fantastic Four.” In 2017, Phil Lord and Chris Miller were dismissed during the shooting of “Solo” due to clashes between them and the Lucasfilm executives over the film’s tone; the makers of...
- 11/3/2019
- by Owen Gleiberman
- Variety Film + TV
First-time filmmaker Kevin McMullin drew on his own background to tell a Jersey Shore story in “Low Tide,” and the personal connection shows. His coming-of-age tale doesn’t break new ground, but it does set the stage for continued potential.
McMullin was heavily inspired by both the setting and stories of his childhood, and convincingly blends the mix of menace and adventure found in films like “The Goonies” and “Stand by Me.”
He’s set his own movie somewhere around the mid-1980s, near Point Pleasant, New Jersey. It’s summer, and we can see immediately the clash between the suspicious “townies” and the vacationing “Bennies.” Most resentful among the locals is Red, who is both a few years older and a whole lot angrier than the teens he leads in undercover acts of class warfare.
Also Read: 'Bully. Coward. Victim. The Story of Roy Cohn' Film Review: 2019's Second...
McMullin was heavily inspired by both the setting and stories of his childhood, and convincingly blends the mix of menace and adventure found in films like “The Goonies” and “Stand by Me.”
He’s set his own movie somewhere around the mid-1980s, near Point Pleasant, New Jersey. It’s summer, and we can see immediately the clash between the suspicious “townies” and the vacationing “Bennies.” Most resentful among the locals is Red, who is both a few years older and a whole lot angrier than the teens he leads in undercover acts of class warfare.
Also Read: 'Bully. Coward. Victim. The Story of Roy Cohn' Film Review: 2019's Second...
- 10/2/2019
- by Elizabeth Weitzman
- The Wrap
A passion project Rian Johnson has been mentioning since at least 2010, Knives Out will presumably be a cornerstone of some future retrospective on movies made after fulfilling the imperative to successfully execute a blockbuster, alongside Ridley Scott’s The Counselor and Colin Trevorrow’s The Book of Henry. In 2010, Johnson pegged it as “an old fashioned murder mystery, like an Agatha Christie,” and I’d be curious to read the earliest draft to compare/contrast with the final product — the world has worsened considerably since, and the present is unavoidably imprinted. This begins as a locked-room mystery, concerning the suicide (or is it murder, etc. […]...
- 9/9/2019
- by Vadim Rizov
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
A passion project Rian Johnson has been mentioning since at least 2010, Knives Out will presumably be a cornerstone of some future retrospective on movies made after fulfilling the imperative to successfully execute a blockbuster, alongside Ridley Scott’s The Counselor and Colin Trevorrow’s The Book of Henry. In 2010, Johnson pegged it as “an old fashioned murder mystery, like an Agatha Christie,” and I’d be curious to read the earliest draft to compare/contrast with the final product — the world has worsened considerably since, and the present is unavoidably imprinted. This begins as a locked-room mystery, concerning the suicide (or is it murder, etc. […]...
- 9/9/2019
- by Vadim Rizov
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Exclusive: As part of Netflix’s growing slate of live-action family films aimed at kids and teens, the streamer has started production on the Ld Entertainment production The Sleepover directed by Pitch Perfect 3 filmmaker Trish Sie.
Pic, written by Sarah Rothschild, follows two siblings who discover their seemingly normal mom is a former thief in witness protection. Mom is forced to pull one last job, and the kids team up to rescue her over the course of an action-packed night. Marino will play Glen Finch, the father of the kids and the husband who learns many unexpected new facts about his wife.
Boasted by a large ensemble cast, The Sleepover stars Sadie Stanley (Kim Possible), Maxwell Simkins, Ken Marino, Cree Cicchino, Lucas Jaye, Karla Souza, Enuka Okuma...
Pic, written by Sarah Rothschild, follows two siblings who discover their seemingly normal mom is a former thief in witness protection. Mom is forced to pull one last job, and the kids team up to rescue her over the course of an action-packed night. Marino will play Glen Finch, the father of the kids and the husband who learns many unexpected new facts about his wife.
Boasted by a large ensemble cast, The Sleepover stars Sadie Stanley (Kim Possible), Maxwell Simkins, Ken Marino, Cree Cicchino, Lucas Jaye, Karla Souza, Enuka Okuma...
- 8/26/2019
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Karlovy Vary – It would make perfect sense that Jaeden Martell would have a teenage girl fanbase, right? The 16-year-old actor has made waves since he first appeared in “St. Vincent” five years ago. Roles in “Midnight Special” and “The Book of Henry” followed but, yeah, it was 2017’s global smash “It” that likely got their attention.
Review: Jaeden Martell Breaks Through The Makeup In ‘The True Adventures of Wolfboy’
The Karlovy Vary Film Festival is in a town a good hour and a half away from Prague, the largest city in the Czech Republic.
Continue reading Jaeden Martell Teases ‘It Chapter Two,’ ‘Knives Out’ & ‘Defending Jacob’ [Kviff] at The Playlist.
Review: Jaeden Martell Breaks Through The Makeup In ‘The True Adventures of Wolfboy’
The Karlovy Vary Film Festival is in a town a good hour and a half away from Prague, the largest city in the Czech Republic.
Continue reading Jaeden Martell Teases ‘It Chapter Two,’ ‘Knives Out’ & ‘Defending Jacob’ [Kviff] at The Playlist.
- 7/5/2019
- by Gregory Ellwood
- The Playlist
Fans can’t wait until Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker arrives this Christmas and we get to see how J.J. Abrams will conclude the Sequel Trilogy. Initially, though, we were set for a totally different Episode IX, as Jurassic World‘s Colin Trevorrow was pegged to co-write and direct for a good few years there. He parted ways with Lucasfilm back in 2017 though, due to creative differences, and Abrams was then hired on the back of his work on The Force Awakens.
There was once rumors of bad blood between the filmmaker and the studio, but Trevorrow seems to taking his Star Wars split in good humor nowadays, as his latest post about it on social media shows. In response to one fan imagining a wacky alternate version of the Rise trailer featuring Jurassic Park‘s Dennis Nedry, Trevorrow shared the tweet and wrote: “Why Do You Guys Keep Spoiling My Plans.
There was once rumors of bad blood between the filmmaker and the studio, but Trevorrow seems to taking his Star Wars split in good humor nowadays, as his latest post about it on social media shows. In response to one fan imagining a wacky alternate version of the Rise trailer featuring Jurassic Park‘s Dennis Nedry, Trevorrow shared the tweet and wrote: “Why Do You Guys Keep Spoiling My Plans.
- 4/21/2019
- by Christian Bone
- We Got This Covered
If you enjoyed the just-released trailer for “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,” you’re not alone. Rian Johnson, who wrote and directed 2017’s “The Last Jedi” and is also set to create a trilogy of his own in a galaxy far, far away, took to Twitter to praise the preview for the third and final installment in the current trilogy: “I Love Everything About This and I just melted back into being a happy kid,” he wrote. “If you need me I’ll be spending the rest of the day smiling dreamily.”
Among the surprises he might be especially happy about: the return of Billy Dee Williams as Lando Calrissian, who was played by Donald Glover in last year’s “Solo,” and the apparent return of arch-villain Emperor Palpatine, whose cackle rings out as the trailer ends.
Though a financial success to the tune of $1.3 billion in box-office returns and praised by critics,...
Among the surprises he might be especially happy about: the return of Billy Dee Williams as Lando Calrissian, who was played by Donald Glover in last year’s “Solo,” and the apparent return of arch-villain Emperor Palpatine, whose cackle rings out as the trailer ends.
Though a financial success to the tune of $1.3 billion in box-office returns and praised by critics,...
- 4/12/2019
- by Michael Nordine
- Indiewire
Back when J.J. Abrams’ The Force Awakens hit cinemas, Disney spelt out their plans for their Sequel Trilogy. Episodes VIII and IX were set to be directed by two well-regarded young talents who’d proven their worth in indie cinema. Rian Johnson had directed the excellent Brick and would go on to prove his blockbuster credentials with Looper, while Colin Trevorrow had directed oddball comedy Safety Not Guaranteed and mega-hit revival Jurassic World.
It sounded like a pretty ironclad plan… and then Trevorrow decided to squeeze in a little passion project before entering pre-production on Star Wars: Episode IX. That was The Book of Henry, a film so incredibly terrible that it got him quickly and unceremoniously fired.
Disney and Lucasfilm needed a replacement fast, and there was one obvious candidate: J.J. Abrams. Having stewarded the return of the franchise, he’d proven his credentials, but the only problem...
It sounded like a pretty ironclad plan… and then Trevorrow decided to squeeze in a little passion project before entering pre-production on Star Wars: Episode IX. That was The Book of Henry, a film so incredibly terrible that it got him quickly and unceremoniously fired.
Disney and Lucasfilm needed a replacement fast, and there was one obvious candidate: J.J. Abrams. Having stewarded the return of the franchise, he’d proven his credentials, but the only problem...
- 4/9/2019
- by David James
- We Got This Covered
“Downton Abbey” alum Michelle Dockery and “It” star Jaeden Martell have signed on for lead roles in the Apple limited series “Defending Jacob,” Variety has learned.
They join previously announced series lead Chris Evans. The series is based on the 2012 best-selling novel of the same name by William Landay. It tells the story of Andy Barber (Evans), a father whose 14 year old son Jacob (Martell) is accused of murder. Dockery will star as Laurie Barber, Andy’s wife and Jacob’s mother.
In addition to her Emmy-nominated role as Lady Mary Crawley on “Downton Abbey,” Dockery also received an Emmy nod for her role in the Netflix western limited series “Godless.” She most recently starred in the TNT series “Good Behavior. She will also reprise her role for the “Downton Abbey” film, which is set to be released later this year, and will star in Guy Ritchie’s upcoming film “Bush.
They join previously announced series lead Chris Evans. The series is based on the 2012 best-selling novel of the same name by William Landay. It tells the story of Andy Barber (Evans), a father whose 14 year old son Jacob (Martell) is accused of murder. Dockery will star as Laurie Barber, Andy’s wife and Jacob’s mother.
In addition to her Emmy-nominated role as Lady Mary Crawley on “Downton Abbey,” Dockery also received an Emmy nod for her role in the Netflix western limited series “Godless.” She most recently starred in the TNT series “Good Behavior. She will also reprise her role for the “Downton Abbey” film, which is set to be released later this year, and will star in Guy Ritchie’s upcoming film “Bush.
- 3/20/2019
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
Joseph Baxter Mar 11, 2019
The trailer for comedy Good Boys takes the wonder of childhood and adds copious cursing and an array of explicit stuff.
Good Boys appears to be knocking on the genre door of the coarse comedies of the 2000s, notably the bellwether romp, Superbad; a notion that is especially emphatic with Seth Rogen – a producer on the film with repertory partner Evan Goldberg – appearing in an introduction to the comedy’s Red Band trailer.
While the main cast of this comedy – led by Room’s Jacob Tremblay – aren’t even teenagers, there’s a certain innate irony to the film, since, as Rogen points out in his preface, the young stars are not even close to being old enough to watch the trailer for their own movie – due to the things that they do in the film.
Gene Stupnitsky stepped into the Good Boys director’s chair, making his feature film debut.
The trailer for comedy Good Boys takes the wonder of childhood and adds copious cursing and an array of explicit stuff.
Good Boys appears to be knocking on the genre door of the coarse comedies of the 2000s, notably the bellwether romp, Superbad; a notion that is especially emphatic with Seth Rogen – a producer on the film with repertory partner Evan Goldberg – appearing in an introduction to the comedy’s Red Band trailer.
While the main cast of this comedy – led by Room’s Jacob Tremblay – aren’t even teenagers, there’s a certain innate irony to the film, since, as Rogen points out in his preface, the young stars are not even close to being old enough to watch the trailer for their own movie – due to the things that they do in the film.
Gene Stupnitsky stepped into the Good Boys director’s chair, making his feature film debut.
- 3/11/2019
- Den of Geek
Exclusive: Entertainment 360 has made its first overall producer deal, setting longtime executive and producer Carla Hacken and her Paper Pictures shingle to a first look deal.
After serving as Fox 2000 exec veep for 15 years and supervising films including The Devil Wears Prada, Walk The Line and Unfaithful, Hacken moved to Sidney Kimmel Entertainment and was producer or exec producer of films including Hell or High Water, The Book of Henry, Demolition and Brad’s Status. She recently transitioned to producer under her Paper Pictures banner and has developed films including Seuss, based on the life of Theodor Geisel, a film that will be directed by Wonder helmer Stephen Chbosky and financed by Endeavor Content and Sierra Affinity.
Entertainment 360 is a TV studio formed by Management 360 and Mrc. Current series on its roster include Game of Thrones, AMC’s The Terror, the Kiefer Sutherland-starrer Designated Survivor and the...
After serving as Fox 2000 exec veep for 15 years and supervising films including The Devil Wears Prada, Walk The Line and Unfaithful, Hacken moved to Sidney Kimmel Entertainment and was producer or exec producer of films including Hell or High Water, The Book of Henry, Demolition and Brad’s Status. She recently transitioned to producer under her Paper Pictures banner and has developed films including Seuss, based on the life of Theodor Geisel, a film that will be directed by Wonder helmer Stephen Chbosky and financed by Endeavor Content and Sierra Affinity.
Entertainment 360 is a TV studio formed by Management 360 and Mrc. Current series on its roster include Game of Thrones, AMC’s The Terror, the Kiefer Sutherland-starrer Designated Survivor and the...
- 2/22/2019
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
When a movie receives terrible reviews, typically it doesn't get green-lighted for a sequel. That's why we were never tortured by Gigli 2, or a follow-up to The Book of Henry. But apparently Ja Rule either doesn't believe in this logical process, or is out of his damn mind (or both), because he recently teased a second installment of the worst "luxury" music festival that never was: Fyre Fest.
As a reminder, festival-goers - some of whom had paid thousands for their tickets - arrived at the festival site in the Bahamas and discovered a barren, unorganized, trash-covered space strewn with Fema tents that were leftover from the devastation of Hurricane Michael. The doomed event was so bad that it not only inspired two documentaries about the whole disaster but also destroyed the livelihoods of innocent bystanders and landed the festival's chief fraudster, Billy McFarland, in prison.
Ja Rule, who collaborated on Fyre Fest with McFarland,...
As a reminder, festival-goers - some of whom had paid thousands for their tickets - arrived at the festival site in the Bahamas and discovered a barren, unorganized, trash-covered space strewn with Fema tents that were leftover from the devastation of Hurricane Michael. The doomed event was so bad that it not only inspired two documentaries about the whole disaster but also destroyed the livelihoods of innocent bystanders and landed the festival's chief fraudster, Billy McFarland, in prison.
Ja Rule, who collaborated on Fyre Fest with McFarland,...
- 2/19/2019
- by Quinn Keaney
- Popsugar.com
Exclusive: Gregg Hurwitz, author of the best-selling Orphan X series, has inked what’s described as a “significant seven-figure deal” with publisher Minotaur Books for the next three volumes in the series. The next book in the series, Out of the Dark: The Return of Orphan X, hits shelves on Tuesday, Jan. 29.
The series kicked off in 2016 with Orphan X, followed by The Nowhere Man and Hellbent. The Orphan X series follows Evan Smoak, who, after being pulled from his home at the age of 12, is trained in the Orphan Program as a secret government assassin. After he escapes the program he creates a new life for himself, until he is forced to complete one last mission: saving the final Orphan, as the same shadowy government forces that ran the Orphan Program attempt to wipe out any shred of evidence that it ever existed.
The Orphan X series often draws...
The series kicked off in 2016 with Orphan X, followed by The Nowhere Man and Hellbent. The Orphan X series follows Evan Smoak, who, after being pulled from his home at the age of 12, is trained in the Orphan Program as a secret government assassin. After he escapes the program he creates a new life for himself, until he is forced to complete one last mission: saving the final Orphan, as the same shadowy government forces that ran the Orphan Program attempt to wipe out any shred of evidence that it ever existed.
The Orphan X series often draws...
- 1/25/2019
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
‘Room’ and ‘Wonder’ star, Jacob Tremblay has signed up for ‘The Shining’ sequel ‘Doctor Sleep’ for an unknown role.
Trembley joins the cast with Ewan McGregor leading as the adult Danny Torrance; the son of Jack Torrance as played by Jack Nicholson in the Kubrick film. Rebecca Ferguson also stars as the leader of the cult while Carl Lumbly, Bruce Greenwood, Alex Essoe and Zahn McClarnon have supporting roles.
The current synopsis making the rounds reads:
Also in news – Disney+ confirm spin-off ‘Star Wars’ TV and ‘Loki’ limited series
Danny Torrance (Ewan McGregor) carries the trauma of the Overlook Hotel into adulthood and has become a reflection of his murderous father, with lingering rage and a drinking problem that dulls his pain as well as his ‘shining’ powers.
Those powers return when he embraces sobriety and uses his gift to help the dying at a hospice. He establishes a psychic...
Trembley joins the cast with Ewan McGregor leading as the adult Danny Torrance; the son of Jack Torrance as played by Jack Nicholson in the Kubrick film. Rebecca Ferguson also stars as the leader of the cult while Carl Lumbly, Bruce Greenwood, Alex Essoe and Zahn McClarnon have supporting roles.
The current synopsis making the rounds reads:
Also in news – Disney+ confirm spin-off ‘Star Wars’ TV and ‘Loki’ limited series
Danny Torrance (Ewan McGregor) carries the trauma of the Overlook Hotel into adulthood and has become a reflection of his murderous father, with lingering rage and a drinking problem that dulls his pain as well as his ‘shining’ powers.
Those powers return when he embraces sobriety and uses his gift to help the dying at a hospice. He establishes a psychic...
- 11/13/2018
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
After 18 years under Film Independent, the Los Angeles Film Festival is no more.
Film Independent announced Wednesday that it was ending the festival — which had been moved this year from June to September — and replace it with year-round events aimed at building community and broadening its support of visual storytellers. Josh Welsh, president of the nonprofit, admitted that the event had “struggled to thrive.”
“We took a hard look at the healthy growth of Film Independent’s year-round programs and events over the past six years: the Spirit Awards, our film series curated by Elvis Mitchell, membership, labs, workshops, filmmaker grants and international programs,” said Mary Sweeney, chair of the Film Independent board of directors. “In the end, we concluded that the organization should explore a more nimble, sustainable form of exhibiting and celebrating independent film artists year round.”
Film Independent assumed control of the festival in 2001 after it first...
Film Independent announced Wednesday that it was ending the festival — which had been moved this year from June to September — and replace it with year-round events aimed at building community and broadening its support of visual storytellers. Josh Welsh, president of the nonprofit, admitted that the event had “struggled to thrive.”
“We took a hard look at the healthy growth of Film Independent’s year-round programs and events over the past six years: the Spirit Awards, our film series curated by Elvis Mitchell, membership, labs, workshops, filmmaker grants and international programs,” said Mary Sweeney, chair of the Film Independent board of directors. “In the end, we concluded that the organization should explore a more nimble, sustainable form of exhibiting and celebrating independent film artists year round.”
Film Independent assumed control of the festival in 2001 after it first...
- 10/31/2018
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
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