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“Mickey 17”, the new R-rated live-action, outer space, science fiction feature, based on the 2022 novel “Mickey 7” by Edward Ashton, is directed by Oscar winner Bong Joon-ho, starring Robert Pattinson, Naomi Ackie, Steven Yeun and Toni Collette, releasung April 18, 2025 in theaters:

“…unlikely hero, ‘Mickey Barnes’ (Pattinson) has found himself in the extraordinary circumstance of working for an employer who demands the ultimate commitment to the job… ‘to die, for a living’.

“Mickey is someone who has the lowest expectations of his life, and yet the world keeps pushing those expectations, to the point where he has a job that tortures him every day,”

Click the images to enlarge…...

Will an animated movie ever win Best Picture at the Oscars? It’s a question many people have asked ever since Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” became the first nominated in the prestigious category 32 years ago. Since then, just two more have been nominated: “Up” in 2010 and “Toy Story 3” in 2011.

In 2020, “Parasite” made history as the first international film to win Best Picture. The victory for director Bong Joon-ho‘s South Korean thriller was a sign that the Academy’s concerted effort to become more diverse had paid off, resulting in new possibilities for what kind of film could claim Hollywood’s top prize.

SEEOscar Best Animated Feature gallery: Every winner in Academy Awards history

In a recent interview with Gold Derby, “Ultraman: Rising” directors Shannon Tindle and John Aoshima discussed why there hasn’t been an animated Best Picture winner yet, and if they think they’ll...

Bong Joon Ho will return with the sci-fi movie Mickey 17, and the sci-fi comedy has shifted into a later release date. Warner Bros. has now set course for Easter Weekend.

Mickey 17 now hits theaters on April 18, 2025, moving from its January 31 date.

Robert Pattinson stars alongside Toni Collette, Steven Yeun, Mark Ruffalo and Naomi Ackie in Mickey 17, a hybrid science fiction comedy movie based on a 2022 novel.

In the upcoming movie written and directed by Bong Joon Ho, “An unlikely hero, Mickey Barnes (Robert Pattinson) has found himself in the extraordinary circumstance of working for an employer who demands the ultimate commitment to the job… to die, for a living.”

The trailer indicates Pattinson will be turning in a memorable performance with multiple interations of his character to juggle. Not to mention that accent. Watch below.

The film is produced by Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Bong Joon Ho and Dooho Choi,...

It looks like Warner Bros. has shuffled the theatrical release of Bong Joon Ho’s “Mickey 17” again, but it’s to a much more favorable slot this time. THR reports that the Robert Pattinson-led film now opens on April 18, 2025, instead of its previous January 31, 2025 slot, which it’s held since earlier this year. The reason? It may be two-fold, as an April release over a January one hints that Warner Bros.

Continue reading ‘Mickey 17’: Warner Bros. Moves Up Bong Joon Ho’s Latest With Robert Pattinson To An April 18, 2025 Theatrical Release at The Playlist.

“Mickey 17”, the new R-rated live-action, outer space, science fiction feature, based on the 2022 novel “Mickey7” by Edward Ashton, is directed by Oscar winner Bong Joon-ho, starring Robert Pattinson, Naomi Ackie, Steven Yeun and Toni Collette, releasing April 18, 2025 in theaters:

“…unlikely hero, ‘Mickey Barnes’ (Pattinson) has found himself in the extraordinary circumstance of working for an employer who demands the ultimate commitment to the job… ‘to die, for a living’.

“Mickey is someone who has the lowest expectations of his life, and yet the world keeps pushing those expectations, to the point where he has a job that tortures him every day,”

Click the images to enlarge…...

Yesterday was a difficult day. A disappointing day. A day where millions of people's dreams were crushed, replaced by a mounting sense of dread and an overwhelming urge to ask, simply, "Why? Why? Why?!" After months of nervous anticipation, we had dared to believe it was finally happening, only to have hope snatched at the last second by an inexplicable twist of fate. We are of course referring to the profoundly dismaying announcement last night that Bong Joon Ho's Robert Pattinson starring sci-fi joint Mickey 17 has been delayed yet again. (What else could we have been talking about?)

Per Deadline's reporting, director Bong's take on Edward Ashton's book Mickey7 has been bumped from its planned 31 January, 2025 release date and is now slated to launch in cinemas worldwide on 18 April, where it will occupy all available IMAX screens. This is now the movie's second delay, with the Parasite...

Warner Bros has delayed Parasite director Bong Joon-ho’s Mickey 17 yet again. For once, this may not be a bad thing…

For those of you eagerly awaiting Bong Joon-ho’s follow up to the Oscar-winning Parasite, this might sting a little. Despite having to endure a delay of almost a year already, Warner Bros has pushed Mickey 17 back even further into 2025.

A quick recap: Mickey 17 puts Robert Pattinson in a weird but fun looking sci-fi satire. The film was originally set to release in March of this year before the film was removed from that scheduled slot. A hold-up in post-production work was the publicly-stated reason that we got at the time, but the project has been dogged by rumours that the studio was unhappy with Bong’s movie. Some stories even suggested he may have lost final cut.

Bong eventually came out and publicly denied that report, maintaining...

Robert Pattinson's new movie 'Mickey 17' has been delayed again.'Parasite' director's Bong Joon Ho's upcoming sci-fi flick has shifted three months from its January 31, 2025, release date to April 18, 2025.The new date means fans can now enjoy the film in IMAX.A Warner Bros. spokesperson told Variety: “When the April 18 date became available, we quickly moved to secure it for ‘Mickey 17'.“We’re thrilled with the new date, and very happy the film will be available to audiences in IMAX.”However, it's not the first time it's been pushed back as it was originally slated for release on March 29, 2024.The reason for the delay was due to production challenges related to last year's SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes. The movie is inspired by Edward Ashton's 2022 novel 'Mickey7' and follows Mickey Barnes (Pattinson) who is a disposable employee, known as an "expendable", on an...

Fragt sich nur, ob es positiv oder negativ zu werten ist, dass Warner Bros. den ersten Film von Bong Joon-ho seit seinem Cannes-Gewinner „Parasite“ abermals verschoben hat: „Mickey 17“ mit Robert Pattinson wandert nunmehr vom Januar auf den April 2025.

Bong Joon-hos „Mickey 17“ mit Robert Pattinson und Robert Pattinson (Credit: Warner Bros.)

Hat ein Filmemacher von Format eine kuriosere Reise nach dem Gewinn einer Goldenen Palme hinter sich als Bong Joon-ho? Nach „Parasite“, der sich 2019 zunächst in Cannes gegen Mitfavoriten wie „Once Upon a Time in… Hollywood“, „Porträt einer jungen Frau in Flammen“ oder „Leid und Herrlichkeit“ hatte durchsetzen können, im Anschluss als erste koreanische Produktion den Oscar als bester Film gewinnen konnte und Bong den Regie-Oscar bescherte (und in Deutschland im Verleih von Plaion Pictures als erster koreanischer Film mehr als eine Million Tickets verkaufen konnte), stand dem Koreaner die Welt offen.

Er entschied sich für seine erste Hollywoodproduktion,...

In a world dominated by Hollywood blockbusters, many films from beyond the English-speaking lands fly under the radar. From the most comforting and heartwarming films to awe-inspiring and thrilling movies are being made in different parts of the world. They fail to reach a widespread audience because of accessibility issues and because people are not welcoming to the idea of foreign-media consumption. With the boom of K-pop and Korean dramas, Korean media does not fall into the unwelcome category of things. However, many countries have made exceptional films.

Why Watch Non-English Movies?

When Hollywood as an entertainment industry churns out gems left, right, and center; American audiences are not very likely to tap into the international cinematic landscape. Frequently, foreign language cinema is passed up for pretentious people’s activity. This perception leads to many cinematic gems being undiscovered. As South Korean director Bong Joon Ho rightfully said in his...

Warner Bros Pictures has pushed the release of Bong Joon Ho’s Mickey 17 from January 31 next year to April 18, when the Robert Pattinson sci-fi comedy will get a global IMAX launch.

The move follows Lionsgate’s decision to push Michael Jackson biopic Michael from April 18 to October 3.

A Warner Bros Pictures spokesperson said: “When the April 18 date became available, we quickly moved to secure it for Mickey 17. We’re thrilled with the new date, and very happy the film will be available to audiences in IMAX.”

The film, Bong’s first since the breakout success of Parasite, had...

Robert Pattinson‘s new movie Mickey 17 has been pushed back several months.

The 38-year-old Batman actor is set to share the screen in the movie – from director Bong Joon Ho – with the likes of Naomi Ackie, Steven Yeun and Mark Ruffalo.

Mickey 17 was supposed to arrive in theaters on January 31, 2025. However, a new release date has been revealed.

Keep reading to find out more…

According to reporting by The Hollywood Reporter, Mickey 17 will now arrive in theaters on April 18, 2025. This was the date that Michael Jackson‘s biopic was originally expected to premiere. However, that will now arrive in theaters on October 3.

“When the April 18 date became available, we quickly moved to secure it for Mickey 17,” a spokesperson for Warner Bros. said in a statement shared with the outlet. “We’re thrilled with the new date, and very happy the film will be available to audiences in IMAX.

Unfortunately, we’ll have to wait a little longer to see Bong Joon-ho’s highly anticipated sci-fi movie Mickey 17, as Warner Bros. has pushed the release date back by three months. Mickey 17 was previously slated to hit theaters on January 31, 2025, but the film has been given a new release date of April 18, 2025, filling the slot previously held by Antoine Fuqua’s Michael Jackson biopic.

This shift will also allow the film to screen in IMAX. “When the April 18 date became available, we quickly moved to secure it for Mikey 17. We’re thrilled with the new date, and very happy the film will be available to audiences in Imax,” said a Warner Bros. spokesperson, “With January 31 now available with a full Imax footprint, we are also very happy to have Companion releasing on this new date.“

Related Mickey 17 receives an R rating from the MPA ratings board

The...

Bong Joon-ho’s sci-fi movie “Mickey 17” starring Robert Pattinson will now be released on April 18, 2025, Warner Bros. Discovery announced Wednesday.

The film was originally slated to be released on Jan. 31, 2025. Additionally, Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema’s “Companion,” previously set for Jan. 10, 2025, is now dated for Jan. 31, 2025. “Companion” will be released in Imax globally. “Mickey 17” will also screen in Imax over the Easter holiday.

Michael Jackson biopic “Michael” from Lionsgate, meanwhile, was initially slated to be released in the April 18 slot, but was pushed to Oct. 3, 2025, earlier this week.

Based on the 2022 novel “Mickey7” by Edward Ashton, the sci-fi thriller follows a down-on-his-luck Mickey (Pattinson), who signs up to die without reading the fine print. Mickey has donated his life to science, testing the limits of human nature and capabilities. But when one version of him dies, a clone is created in its place, retaining most...

Oscar-winning Parasite director Bong Joon Ho’s Mickey 17 is on the move again.

Warner Bros. announced Wednesday it is pushing back the film’s release from Jan. 31, 2025, to April 18, 2025. Mickey 17 will be released in Imax theaters globally.

The news came one day after Lionsgate said it is pushing back the release of its Michael Jackson biopic Michael from April 18 of next year to Oct. 3, 2025. The feature is directed by Antoine Fuqua. More and more, premium large-format screens are contributing a huge percentage of a film’s earnings, so are in high demand.

“When the April 18 date became available, we quickly moved to secure it for Mickey 17. We’re thrilled with the new date, and very happy the film will be available to audiences in IMAX,” a studio spokesperson said in a statement.

Robert Pattinson stars in the adaptation of the 2022 novel Mickey 7, from author Edward Ashton. In the novel,...

Bong Joon Ho’s “Mickey 17” is being pushed back on the release slate yet again, but this time the studio believes it’s moving it to a more competitive slot on the 2025 calendar.

“Mickey 17” was originally meant to open January 31 in theaters (originally pushed back from March 2024), but it will now open April 18, 2025, still with an IMAX release.

Studio Warner Bros. has also shifted the release date of New Line Cinema’s “Companion,” the latest horror film from the team behind “Barbarian,” into that January 31 window and given it too a global IMAX release. That film is just shifting back by a few weeks after originally being slated for January 10.

“When the April 18 date became available, we quickly moved to secure it for ‘Mickey 17.’ We’re thrilled with the new date, and very happy the film will be available to audiences in IMAX,” a Warner Bros. Pictures spokesperson said in a statement.

Bong Joon Ho fans will have to wait a little bit longer to see the director’s long-awaited return after “Parasite.” Warner Bros. has shifted the Robert Pattinson-led sci-fi film “Mickey 17” to April 18, 2025, three months after the previous release date of Jan. 31, 2025.

The new date allows the film to screen in IMAX and hopefully capture audiences over the Easter holiday. The upcoming Michael Jackson biopic “Michael” from director Antoine Fuqua was originally set for the April 18 slot, tying up IMAX and premium large format screens, but was pushed to Oct. 3 by Lionsgate earlier this week, prompting Warner Bros. to make the switch.

“When the April 18 date became available, we quickly moved to secure it for ‘Mickey 17,'” a Warner Bros. spokesperson said in a statement. “We’re thrilled with the new date, and very happy the film will be available to audiences in IMAX.”

Moving into the...

No studio was going to leave Easter weekend empty.

In the wake of Lionsgate pushing their Michael Jackson biopic, Michael, from April 18 to Oct. 3 next year, Warner Bros. is backfilling with Bong Joon Ho’s Robert Pattinson sci-fi movie Mickey 17; that movie flying from Jan. 31, 2025 to April 18. Warners will have all the Imax screens around the world for the movie. Duly note that Warners always had the Easter frame on hold for an untitled event movie; the studio enjoying big weekends over the holiday frame with movies such as Clash of the Titans, Godzilla X Kong, Ready Player One and the biggest Easter opener of all-time, Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice ($181M).

Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema’s Drew Hancock-directed horror movie Companion previously set for January 10, 2025 is now dated for January 31, 2025. Companion will be released in Imax worldwide.

“When the April 18 date became available,...

In what will certainly be the most disappointing news to break today—at least, for a small subset of experimental subjects who are only allowed information about Bong Joon-ho's upcoming sci-fi epic Mickey 17—Bong Joon-ho's upcoming sci-fi epic Mickey 17 has been delayed. And if you find yourself saying,...

Exclusive: A24’s Timothée Chalamet movie Marty Supreme, about ping-pong prodigy Marty Reisman, is one of the few blue-chip movies on offer at this week’s American Film Market in Las Vegas. It’s also shaping up to be the most expensive.

Word from buyers this past week has been that the movie — which is filming in New York — comes with an eyebrow raising $90M budget. We hear that’s exaggerated, however, and that $70M gross is more accurate.

That still makes the project the most expensive new package on sale at this year’s AFM and makes it A24’s joint most-expensive production to date alongside Dwayne Johnson starrer The Smashing Machine, which is in post-production (and is another ‘sports biopic’ that doesn’t obviously scream big-budget). Both movies are directed by a Safdie brother: Marty Supreme by Josh, and Smashing Machine by Benny. Both previously teamed on A...

Director of Save the Green Planet, which is getting US remake, says film industry suffering amid rise of streaming

When Parasite became the first non-English language film in Oscars history to win best picture in 2019, it marked a breakthrough moment for Korean cinema.

But the surge of interest that followed the director Bong Joon-ho’s international success has not translated into a thriving local film industry, according to another of its leading lights.

The London Korean film festival takes place at BFI Southbank, Ciné Lumière and Institute of Contemporary Arts (Ica) 1-13 November. Echoes In Time: Korean Films of The Golden Age and New Cinema is at BFI Southbank until 31 December...

It has been quite some time since we’ve seen one of Nicolas Cage’s movies earn an Oscar nod, but he’s certainly no stranger to winning the prestigious award. Despite being one of the older veterans in the movie game today, Cage has also been more active than some actors who regularly receive nominations for some of the biggest awards in the industry.

Nicolas Cage and Nicholas Hoult in Renfield | Credits: Universal Pictures

Between 2023 and this year, the 60-year-old starred in nine movies including Renfield alongside Nicholas Hoult, Flash, Arcadian, and Sympathy for the Devil. But his most recent release, Longlegs, has generated a lot of buzz online. Some also believe his performance is Oscar-worthy!

Neon launches a FYC campaign for Nicolas Cage’s performance in Longlegs Nicolas Cage in Longlegs | Credits: C2 Motion Picture Group/Neon

Longlegs was released earlier this year and since then, it has...

The Zellner brothers’ anticipated alien invasion comedy Alpha Gang, starring and produced by Cate Blanchett, just got buzzier with the unveiling of her co-stars.

Dave Bautista, Steven Yeun, Zoë Kravitz, Léa Seydoux, Riley Keough, and Channing Tatum have been confirmed for the cast as the movie’s international sales agent mk2 films gears up to ramp up pre-sales at the AFM.

Alpha Gang centers on a group of alien invaders sent to conquer Earth. Disguised in human form as a 1950s leather-clad biker gang, dubbed the Alpha Gang. They are ruthless in their mission, until they succumb to the most toxic and contagious human condition of all: emotions. The movie follows the Zellner brothers’ Sundance hit Sasquatch Sunset.

“These stellar new recruits are a powerhouse of comedic talent, adding even more excitement to this eagerly awaited film. This cast, just like the story and its filmmakers, is out of this world.

As the Singapore International Film Festival (Sgiff) marks its 35th edition, the nation’s largest and longest-running film event reinforces its position as a key reference point for Singapore and Asian cinema, while showcasing its unique perspective on contemporary trends in global cinema.

Held from 28 November to 8 December, this year’s lineup features 105 films from 45 countries, with 80% of the selections hailing from Asia. International highlights this year include the horror-comedy Nightbitch featuring Amy Adams, The Shrouds by master of body horror David Cronenberg, Grand Tour by Cannes-award winning director Miguel Gomes, and a newly restored version of Bong Joon-ho’s debut feature Barking Dogs Never Bite, which will have its international premiere at Sgiff.

In keeping with one of the festival’s core missions to nurture both local and regional cinema, this year’s Sgiff boasts an impressive lineup of works originating from both at home and abroad; many of...

“After the Quake,” a film adaptation of a Murakami Haruki story collection, has been picked up by Japan’s Bitters End for international rights sales.

Directed by Inoue Tsuyoshi (“Amachan”) and produced by “Drive My Car” producer Yamamoto Teruhisa, the film is based on four of the six short stories in Murakami’s 2000 book of the same title. The stories explore the complex aftermath of Japan’s earthquakes and other global crises.

The six short stories in the book were written in response to the Kobe earthquake and each one touches tangentially on the disaster. All were written in the third person and set in the narrow time period between the Feb. 1995 Kobe quake and the shocking poison gas attacks on the Tokyo metro system the following month.

The four short stories covered by the film are: “UFO in Kushiro”; “Landscape With Flatiron”; “All God’s Children Can Dance”; and “Super-Frog Saves Tokyo.

The 35th edition of the Singapore International Film Festival has unveiled its full lineup, which features 105 films from 45 countries, with 80% of the selections hailing from Asia.

Held from 28 November to 8 December, the festival will hold special gala presentations for two films, The Fable and The Unseen Sister, with selected talents from each film in attendance.

International highlights this year include the horror-comedy Nightbitch featuring Amy Adams, The Shrouds by David Cronenberg, Grand Tour by Cannes-award winning director Miguel Gomes, and a newly restored version of Bong Joon-ho’s debut feature Barking Dogs Never Bite, which will have its international premiere at Sgiff.

The festival will also present the Screen Icon Award, which recognises exceptional Asian talents, to Yang Kuei-mei and Lee Kang-sheng.

For the first time, each festival section will have an opening film that embodies the spirit of its category, with all of them hail from the Asian region.

The Singapore International Film Festival is marking its 35th edition with 105 films from 45 countries, with Asian titles comprising 80% of the program.

Running Nov. 28-Dec. 8, the fest will host three world premieres of Singapore features, including Ong Keng-Sen’s “The House of Janus,” Wong Chen-Hsi’s “City of Small Blessings,” adapted from Simon Tay’s novel, and Jason Soo’s documentary “Al Awda.”

Among the international highlights are Amy Adams-starrer “Nightbitch,” David Cronenberg’s “The Shrouds,” Miguel Gomes’ “Grand Tour,” and a restored version of Bong Joon-ho’s feature debut “Barking Dogs Never Bite.”

Two special gala presentations are scheduled: Raam Reddy’s “The Fable,” starring Indian actor Manoj Bajpayee, and Myanmar-born Taiwanese filmmaker Midi Z’s “The Unseen Sister,” featuring Zhao Liying and Xin Zhilei.

The fest will present its Screen Icon Award to Taiwanese talents Yang Kuei-mei and Lee Kang-sheng. Yang, a four-time Sgiff performance award winner, recently appeared in “Yen and Ai-Lee,...

Some things in life are just certain. Death. Taxes. Robert Pattinson affecting a weird accent in a movie. So, which ones are his absolute weirdest? The competition is pretty tough, if I'm being honest.

Pattinson's accent work isn't just some running bit; as he told Terry Gross and NPR in 2019, it's an essential part of his process. After saying that he and his friends spent their childhoods listening to American rap music and mimicking the accents, Pattinson continued, "And still to this day, I mean, whenever I'm doing a movie or a character in an English accent, I mean, I find -- I literally feel like I'm naked. And I can't -- I'm incapable of doing my normal voice in a character. It just doesn't come out at all. It's -- every single time I read something, the first thing to change is -- has something to do with my voice.

by Tiago Carneiro

Released in 1994 and preceding Gakuryu Ishii‘s more well-known “August in the Water” by just one year, “Angel Dust” represents a significant entry in Ishii’s career, showcasing his departure from his punk rock style as he transitions into the realm of psychological horror. While initially unknown outside of Japan, “Angel Dust” has since gained a little cult following and is now regarded as an essential and representative work of the Japanese horror genre, as well as an influencing piece for similar East Asian serial killer films.

“Angel Dust” offers a gripping detective/serial killer story that is as enigmatic as it is enjoyable. The story follows a female detective, named Setsuko Suma, investigating the connected murders of several young women who were all wearing red the night they were killed. It’s a mixture of goosebump-inducing moments and some more passive ones that are equally as unsettling.

Is the Netflix Oscar drought finally about to end?

The streamer has long been chasing the elusive Academy Award for best picture. After a series of near misses, 2024 might just be the year the streaming giant claims the coveted prize — thanks to Jacques Audiard’s critically lauded crime musical “Emilia Pérez.”

The Spanish-language drama premiered to fanfare at Cannes and has a star-studded cast, including Zoe Saldaña, Selena Gomez, Karla Sofía Gascón and Adriana Paz. The bold narrative, riveting performances and groundbreaking representation garnered critical acclaim, leading to a shared best actress prize for the four stars. Some pundits believe “Emilia” has the goods to go the way of Bong Joon Ho’s “Parasite,” which in 2020 became the first non-English-language film to win best picture. “Emilia” is also France’s submission for international feature, which further positions it as a viable Oscar darling.

Read: You can see all Academy Award...

Keke Palmer and Sza’s untitled comedy for Sony now has a title and a trailer. It’s called “One of Them Days,” and you can watch the trailer below.

In “One of Them Days,” Palmer and Sza play BFFs and roommates who are forced to scramble to come up with rent money. Over the course of one chaotic day in Los Angeles, they will try everything they can think of to close the gap. But will it be enough?

The trailer is extremely funny and charming, at points feeling like it’s channeling “Friday” for a new generation. The R-rated movie was directed by Lawrence Lamont and written by “Rap Sh!t” showrunner Syreeta Singleton, with producer Issa Rae. Its stacked supporting cast also includes Lil Rel Howery, Janelle James, Maude Apatow and Katt Williams.

This is Palmer’s first starring role since her breakout performance in Jordan Peele...

Buckle up, everyone: Bong Joon Ho is back. The Korean auteur finally returns after sweeping the Oscars with Parasite, and he’s going full-tilt into bonkers satirical sci-fi mode with Mickey 17, starring multiple Robert Pattinsons. Two of which – Mickey 17 and Mickey 18 – you’ll find on the cover of Empire’s December 2024 issue.

The issue doesn’t hit newsstands until Thursday 24 October. But in the meantime, here’s a sneak peek inside its pages.

Mickey 17

Parasite brought Bong Joon Ho into the big-leagues. Next, he’s going interstellar with a Hollywood budget in a space-bound genre-smasher. Empire speaks to Director Bong, stars Robert Pattinson, Steven Yeun, and Naomi Ackie about going bigger – and Bong-ier – than ever before.

The Future Of Cinema

Between the impact of Covid, rise of streaming, and dawn of AI, the entire medium of cinema is undergoing several major shifts right now. Empire conducts a major new poll...

Slamdance is celebrating the best indie films from 2024 with an inaugural awards ceremony aptly called The Indies. The Slamdance Film Festival announced Wednesday that its new annual ceremony will toast “the spirit of truly independent filmmaking” on December 9 at the DGA Theater in Los Angeles. Actor/comedians Nic Novicki and Steve Way (“Ramy”) will host.

An interesting caveat, though: For films to be eligible at the ceremony, features must not have held their world premieres at Sundance, SXSW, or Tribeca. However, nominees must have played at one or more domestic film festivals over the last calendar year leading into the ceremony. The Indies also are staying domestic, with a focus on narrative and documentary features from filmmakers only in North America.

“Independent U.S. and Indigenous filmmakers feel neglected and abandoned,” said co-founder Paul Rachman in a press statement. “The current landscape for recognizing fresh voices in cinema has never...

A24 is set to finance and produce “Primetime,” according to an insider with knowledge of the project. Robert Pattinson is set to produce through his production banner Icki Eneo Arlo alongside Brighton McCloskey, Range’s Brian Kavanaugh Jones and Fred Berger, Square Peg’s Lars Knudsen, Ari Aster and Tyler Campellone will also produce.

This project will be directed by acclaimed filmmaker Lance Oppenheim. The screenplay is written by Ajon Singh.

Project details are under wraps, but said to follow a journalist who takes on an underworld of crime and changes television forever.

Lance Oppenheim and Ajon Singh will executive produce, as well William Iannaccone and A.J. Bourscheid for Range and Emily Hildner for Square Peg.

Oppenheim most recently directed and produced the critically-acclaimed HBO Original hit series “Ren Faire,” and his sophomore feature documentary, “Spermworld,” for FX. Oppenheim’s first documentary feature, “Some Kind of Heaven,” produced by Darren Aronofsky & The New York Times,...

Lance Oppenheim, who recently directed the buzzy HBO documentary series “Ren Faire,” is working with A24 and Robert Pattinson to develop his first narrative feature film.

A24 is set to finance and produce “Primetime,” which follows a journalist who takes on an underworld of crime and ends up changing television forever. Additional details are under wraps but the project is said to be inspired by “To Catch a Predator,” the 2000s-era reality show in which host Chris Hansen aimed to expose alleged sexual predators. Hansen would use hidden cameras while orchestrating sting operations that lured culprits to homes under the pretense of having sex with a minor, only to have the suspect arrested.

Oppenheim, whose documentary credits also include “Some Kind of Heaven,” a look at the world’s largest retirement community, and “Spermworld,” following the story of sperm donors, recipients, and all that connects them, is directing from a screenplay by Ajon Singh.

Ren Faire director Lance Oppenheim is lining up his first scripted feature film, teaming up with producer Robert Pattinson and A24 for Primetime.

The project, which has a script by Ajon Singh, is said to center on a journalist who takes on the underbelly of crime in a unique way and changes television forever. At this stage, Pattinson does not have a deal to star, only produce.

Sources say that the film draws inspiration from To Catch a Predator, the popular and zeitgeist-buzzing 2000s reality TV show in which host Chris Hansen partook in sting operations luring adult men to homes under the pretense of sexual encounters with minors. A24 is not confirming any connection to the show.

Oppenheim will direct and exec produce with screenwriter Singh.

Sources say A24 is moving swiftly and could be in production in the early part of next year.

Pattinson produces via his Icki...

Exclusive: Veteran documentary filmmaker Lance Oppenheim (Ren Faire) is pivoting to fiction with his next project, Primetime, which will be financed and produced by A24, with Robert Pattinson among the producers.

While not much is known about the film’s genre or plot, it’s said to follow a journalist who takes on an underworld of crime and changes television forever. We’ve heard from multiple sources that the project takes inspiration from To Catch a Predator, the NBC program put on as part of Dateline, as well as its host Chris Hansen, though the studio wouldn’t confirm. Sources also had Pattinson attached to star, though others clarified that there’s no deal in that respect for the moment. Stay tuned.

Oppenheim will direct from a script by Ajon Singh. Pattinson produces through his production banner Icki Eneo Arlo alongside Brighton McCloskey, Range’s Brian Kavanaugh Jones and Fred Berger,...

Following rumours that Warner Bros wanted to recut Mickey 17, director Bong Joon-ho confirms the final cut is his.

Here’s a bit of reassuring news. Director Bong Joon-ho has been chatting to Empire and confirmed that the version of Mickey 17 soon to arrive in cinemas is his cut of the film. Originally, word circulated in June that Warner Bros wanted an alternative version of the film.

There were reportedly disputes between the Parasite filmmaker and Warner Bros as to whether Bong’s version of the film was acceptable for release in cinemas, with the studio said to be keen on cutting together a less weird take on the material.

We’re not sure if the studio cut ever got to the point of actually being assembled, but Bong’s version of the film was said to be less ‘accessible’ than Warner Bros was looking for. As such, the delayed release of the film,...

Great indie numbers this weekend as Anora turned out highest per-screen-average of 2024 at $90k on six screens for a $540k gross. We Live In Time, the best platform expansion of the year, grossed $4.2 million on 956 screens in week 2 for a $4.5 million cume. Newcomers Union and The Line fared well on one screen each, as did Goodrich on about 1,000.

“We’re incredibly excited about this weekend’s record-breaking results and the fantastic critical and audience response to Sean Baker’s Palme d’Or-winning film Anora. Baker is a singular director who truly understands the power of the theatrical experience and how important it is for films to be seen in the theater,” Neon said. “With Mikey Madison in her unparalleled performance as Anora, and the film’s strong awards potential, there’s no doubt it will continue to captivate a broad audience as we move into the fall.”

The highest PSA...

Blake Lively’s It Ends With Us made headlines ahead of its release but it was not positive publicity. The drama that surrounded the film’s out-of-touch marketing, the alleged rift between the cast, and the absence of Justin Baldoni from the majority of the appearances affected the movie’s reputation.

However, another new sci-fi movie had successfully escaped a similar conundrum from repeating. According to rumors, Lively had taken over postproduction of the movie and pushed for her final cut to be released in theatre. On the contrary, Mickey 17 director Bong Joon-ho stuck to his vision, and despite several conflicting opinions, got to create his cut for the film.

Too many cooks spoil the broth: Creative clash

Colleen Hoover‘s 2016 best-seller novel was adapted by Christy Hall as the infamous movie It Ends With Us. The film featured Blake Lively, Brandon Sklenar, and Justin Baldoni who also served as the director,...

Bong Joon Ho wants fans to rest assured knowing that “Mickey 17” will be his director’s cut.

The Oscar winner told Empire that he had final cut for the film built into his Warner Bros. contract. “Mickey 17” was first announced in 2022; filming took place from August to December 2022. The feature was originally set for a March 29, 2024 release before being pushed to January 31, 2025.

“With ‘Okja’ and now ‘Mickey 17,’ I was given the final cut as part of my deal,” Bong said. “The studio respected my final cut rights.”

He continued, “Of course, during the editing process there are many opinions and many discussions that happen. But this film is my cut, and I’m very happy about it. It was a long process, but it was always smooth and respectful.”

“Mickey 17” lead star Robert Pattinson added that Bong’s final cut made for an “incredibly unusual” film.

Coming off of the massive, award-winning success of Parasite, the delay of Bong Joon-ho's next film Mickey 17 has puzzled fans. It's a Bong Joon-ho movie, which tend to be a little weird, starring Robert Pattinson, who tends to be a little weird (the trailer for the movie eventually...

It’s been five years now since Bong Joon Ho released his last feature, the Oscar-dominating Parasite – making for the longest gap in his filmography to date. That’s not surprising, since his breakout genre-mashing thriller took on such a life of its own, and opened all kinds of new doors for what might come next. Director Bong settled on Mickey 17, his Robert Pattinson-starring adaptation of Edward Ashton’s sci-fi novel Mickey7, heading into major Hollywood studio territory with Warner Bros. Originally, the film was slated to arrive back in March this year, before being was delayed to 2025 – and reports had it that the reason for the hold-up was a wrangle with the studio over what cut of the film would see the light of day.

It wouldn’t be the first time – Director Bong famously wrestled with Harvey Weinstein over the cut of his first English-language film Snowpiercer.

Robert Pattinson may have been cast in Bong Joon Ho’s “Mickey 17” for the “crazy thing in his eyes,” according to director Bong, but it was Pattinson’s voice that soon went viral after the first trailer dropped.

Pattinson is now detailing the unexpected inspiration behind his unique vocal tone — and explaining why Bong shut down his original idea.

“My initial idea was to do impressions of Steve-o and Johnny Knoxville [from ‘Jackass’],” Pattinson told Empire . “I love Steve-o’s voice. We did it on the first read-through. And Bong was like, ‘That voice sounds like nails on a chalkboard.’ I was like, ‘Is that a good thing?’ He was like, ‘No.’”

Instead, Pattinson turned to animated series “Ren & Stimpy” for his voice as the titular Expendable Mickey 17 The Nickelodeon show “Ren & Stimpy” aired for five seasons starting in 1991. The series followed the misadventures of a psychotic chihuahua dog...

For a good while now, Robert Pattinson has been in his weird era. From Good Time, to High Life, to The Lighthouse and beyond, he’s long relished playing oddballs on the big screen. Even The Batman saw him go full-emo. And now, in Bong Joon Ho’s Mickey 17, he gets to take that instinct for eccentricity even further. Playing multiple ‘reprints’ of sadsack Mickey – an ‘expendable’, who has a new body created every time the previous one dies – he gets to dial up the unpredictability, sharing the screen with… himself. Because, in a mishap, Mickey 18 is created before Mickey 17 is actually dead – and their co-existance proves to be a dangerous thing.

Switching between portraying Mickeys 17 and 18, Pattinson had to find a way to differentiate them – including giving them unique accents, inspired by an unlikely source. “It’s a little like Stimpy,” he tells Empire of Mickey 17’s vocal tones,...

You never know quite what to expect from a Bong Joon Ho film. Parasite took the world – and the Oscars – by storm with its shapeshifting, genre-mashing narrative. Memories Of Murder was a largely sober serial-killer thriller, but with a higher-than-usual number of dropkicking detectives. Amid rip-roaring monster movie The Host comes a slapstick-comedy setpiece at a funeral. But under it all, Director Bong often picks at stories of people ekeing out life under the crushing weight of capitalism, heightening the absurdity of our everyday world. That continues in Mickey 17, starring Robert Pattinson – multiple times over, in fact – as Mickey, who agrees to be an ‘expendable’, sent on an intergalactic colonisation mission where he’ll be ‘reprinted’ every time he dies.

It is, Director Bong tells Empire in our world-exclusive Mickey 17 issue, “the most human story” he’s ever made. And, as with his previous work, it’s not...

With Parasite, Korean auteur Bong Joon Ho stormed into the Hollywood big-leagues – and he has no intention of leaving. Five years after winning Best Picture for his slyly satirical capitalist thriller, Director Bong is back with his third English-language feature, Mickey 17, boasting an A-list lead in none other than Robert Pattinson. But make no mistake: this isn’t Bong going mainstream. Like Snowpiercer and Okja before it, Mickey 17 tilts the filmmaker head-first into bonkers sci-fi territory. It’s a madcap story of mass capitalism, marauding monsters, and multiple R-Pattzes. This is Director Bong writ large. Everybody, meet Mickey 17.

The new issue of Empire takes a world-exclusive dive into Mickey 17’s wild world, speaking to Bong himself – plus his stars Pattinson, Naomi Ackie, and Steven Yeun – about following up his Oscars mega-smash, the changes he’s made to Edward Ashton’s novel Mickey7 (including those extra 10 Mickeys), and how to...

The second episode of “Horror’s Greatest,” titled “Giant Monsters,” promises to be an exciting exploration of the enduring fascination with colossal creatures. Set to air at 12:00 Am on Friday, October 25, 2024, on AMC, this episode dives deep into the legacy of giant monsters in film. Nearly a century after King Kong first captured the world’s imagination, these massive beings continue to thrill audiences around the globe.

This episode highlights the cultural impact of iconic monsters like Godzilla, who remains a beloved figure in cinema. The show will discuss how modern filmmakers, including Bong Joon-ho, J.J. Abrams, and Jordan Peele, have brought their own unique styles to the genre. Each director has added fresh perspectives and innovative storytelling techniques that keep the giant monster narrative alive and relevant.

Viewers can expect a mix of interviews, film clips, and insightful commentary. The episode will not only celebrate the classic giant monsters...

Even though director Wei Shujun’s Chinese neo-noir crime thriller Only the River Flows is adapted from writer Yu Hua’s novella, Mistakes by the River, genre fans can’t help but notice the myriad similarities the movie shares with Bong Joon-ho’s masterpiece, Memories of Murder—be it through its narrative and visual composition, moody and atmospheric small town aesthetics, or its exploration of themes of ethics, social consciousness, and scope of morality through investigation of serial killings. But aside from all this, what’s going to excite genre fans—the subtle use of dark humor to poke at the decrepit administrative system and the degenerated state of conscience among people in power—are some of the major signifiers that the movie shares with its South Korean spiritual predecessor. Gorgeously shot in 16-mm film to capture the Chinese rural town in the mid-90s it uses as its setting,...

After working with some of the top directors in the region like South Korea’s Yeon Sang-ho and Japan’s Hirokazu Kore-eda, Uprising‘s Gang Dong-won told Deadline that he would like to work with directors Bong Joon-ho and Guillermo del Toro in the future, among others.

In Uprising, Gang plays a slave named Cheon-yeong, who develops a close friendship with his master (and nobleman) Jong-ryeo, who is played by Park Jeong-min.

Uprising premiered on Netflix this week after screening as the opening film at the Busan International Film Festival (Biff).

Netflix’s Uprising is set in 1592, against the backdrop of Joseon’s war against Japanese invasions. King Seonjo flees the capital to escape from the advancing Japanese army.

Gang got involved in the film after veteran director Park Chan-wook — who co-wrote Uprising with Shin Cheol — gave him a call. Gang admitted that he was curious about the project...