As a veteran of what we now call the “old internet,” I remember a time when the scariest media you could find online consisted of seemingly innocent image macros containing sinister details lurking in the background. Known as “mindf*ck” images, half the fun of sharing these spooky memes was the anticipation of finding whatever poorly photoshopped demon face that awaited you in the dark.
Years later, I still find myself fascinated by hidden horrors and I’m clearly not the only one – as we can see by the success of films like Osgood Perkins’ Longlegs, which features its own set of demonic background scares. And in honor of this specific kind of subliminal fright, we’ve decided to come up with a list celebrating six of the freakiest hidden scares in film.
For the purposes of this list, we’ll be classifying “hidden horrors” as any easily missable background...
Years later, I still find myself fascinated by hidden horrors and I’m clearly not the only one – as we can see by the success of films like Osgood Perkins’ Longlegs, which features its own set of demonic background scares. And in honor of this specific kind of subliminal fright, we’ve decided to come up with a list celebrating six of the freakiest hidden scares in film.
For the purposes of this list, we’ll be classifying “hidden horrors” as any easily missable background...
- 7/25/2024
- by Luiz H. C.
- bloody-disgusting.com
I'm of two minds about "Welcome to Marwen." Robert Zemeckis' 2018 live-action/motion-capture creation is everything that Jeff Malmberg's 2010 documentary "Marwencol," the film that inspired it, isn't. Yet, as "shockingly bad" as "Welcome to Marwen" is, to quote Chris Evangelista's review for /Film, its failure seemed to turn Zemeckis away from taking big swings. Instead, he subsequently retreated into boring familiarity with his live-action remakes of "The Witches" and "Pinocchio," both of which earned lackluster reviews and vanished into the direct-to-streaming void, never to be spoken of again. I've since found myself wishing he would take on something challenging and experimental once more.
Well, in classic cautionary tale fashion, it appears my wish has led to a finger curling on the monkey's paw. Zemeckis is coming back this year with "Here," a film based on Richard McGuire's graphic novel about the events that take place in the same...
Well, in classic cautionary tale fashion, it appears my wish has led to a finger curling on the monkey's paw. Zemeckis is coming back this year with "Here," a film based on Richard McGuire's graphic novel about the events that take place in the same...
- 6/26/2024
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
Where are all my witches at?
I, like many women of my age, spent a formative part of my youth enamored with the idea of witches. While Buffy the Vampire Slayer wasn’t quite my bag, I adored Charmed. My VHS copy of Practical Magic got more play than a yo-yo. And, of course, I was an avid viewer of Sabrina the Teenage Witch.
Did I myself dabble in magical arts, though? No, and I won’t pretend I did either. But man, did I so often wish that one day I’d just wake up with magical powers. I also wished I’d wake up one day and have a twin, too, as I also voraciously devoured the T*Witches novel series.
When it came to classic Halloween tropes, witches often received the lightest treatment for a long time. Witch media, post the long-standing green-face, wart-nosed, pointy-hat likeness instead...
I, like many women of my age, spent a formative part of my youth enamored with the idea of witches. While Buffy the Vampire Slayer wasn’t quite my bag, I adored Charmed. My VHS copy of Practical Magic got more play than a yo-yo. And, of course, I was an avid viewer of Sabrina the Teenage Witch.
Did I myself dabble in magical arts, though? No, and I won’t pretend I did either. But man, did I so often wish that one day I’d just wake up with magical powers. I also wished I’d wake up one day and have a twin, too, as I also voraciously devoured the T*Witches novel series.
When it came to classic Halloween tropes, witches often received the lightest treatment for a long time. Witch media, post the long-standing green-face, wart-nosed, pointy-hat likeness instead...
- 6/13/2024
- by Jamie L. Rotante
- DailyDead
Demi Moore’s new film, the feminist body horror “The Substance,” sees her bare it all, with several scenes featuring full nudity. At the Cannes Film Festival press conference for the film on Monday, the 61-year-old actor discussed the “vulnerable experience.”
“Going into it, it was really spelled out — the level of vulnerability and rawness that was really required to tell the story,” Moore said. “And it was a very vulnerable experience and just required a lot of sensitivity and a lot of conversation about what we were trying to accomplish.”
In the film from “Revenge” helmer Coralie Fargeat, Moore plays a fading celebrity who uses a black market drug the film is named for — a cell-replicating device that winds up creating a young, better version of herself (Margaret Qualley). Not only must she share a space with this new creature, she has to spend half her time in a...
“Going into it, it was really spelled out — the level of vulnerability and rawness that was really required to tell the story,” Moore said. “And it was a very vulnerable experience and just required a lot of sensitivity and a lot of conversation about what we were trying to accomplish.”
In the film from “Revenge” helmer Coralie Fargeat, Moore plays a fading celebrity who uses a black market drug the film is named for — a cell-replicating device that winds up creating a young, better version of herself (Margaret Qualley). Not only must she share a space with this new creature, she has to spend half her time in a...
- 5/20/2024
- by Matt Donnelly and Ellise Shafer
- Variety Film + TV
Festival, Market
The first edition of India’s Cinevesture International Film Festival and market will feature a range of masterclasses and panels headlined by a range of luminaries including filmmakers Shekhar Kapur (“What’s Love Got to Do with It?”) and Karan Johar (“Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani”).
The lineup also includes actors Jaideep Ahlawat (“Paatal Lok”), Roshan Mathew (“Paradise”), Suvinder Vicky (“Kohrra”), Rajshri Deshpande (“Trial by Fire”), Boman Irani (“Dunki”), Rasika Dugal (“Mirzapur”), Abhay Deol (“Trial by Fire”), actor-producers Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal (“Girls Will be Girls”), filmmakers Tahira Kashyap (“Sharmajee Ki Beti”), Sudhir Mishra (“Tanaav”), Ajitpal Singh (“Tabbar”), Anurag Singh (“Kesri”) and Saugata Mukherjee, head of content at streamer SonyLiv.
As previously announced, the India premieres of France’s “The Taste of Things” and Korea’s “Exhuma” will open and close the festival. Former Cannes film market director Jerome Paillard, Indian actor and producer Rana Daggubati and...
The first edition of India’s Cinevesture International Film Festival and market will feature a range of masterclasses and panels headlined by a range of luminaries including filmmakers Shekhar Kapur (“What’s Love Got to Do with It?”) and Karan Johar (“Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani”).
The lineup also includes actors Jaideep Ahlawat (“Paatal Lok”), Roshan Mathew (“Paradise”), Suvinder Vicky (“Kohrra”), Rajshri Deshpande (“Trial by Fire”), Boman Irani (“Dunki”), Rasika Dugal (“Mirzapur”), Abhay Deol (“Trial by Fire”), actor-producers Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal (“Girls Will be Girls”), filmmakers Tahira Kashyap (“Sharmajee Ki Beti”), Sudhir Mishra (“Tanaav”), Ajitpal Singh (“Tabbar”), Anurag Singh (“Kesri”) and Saugata Mukherjee, head of content at streamer SonyLiv.
As previously announced, the India premieres of France’s “The Taste of Things” and Korea’s “Exhuma” will open and close the festival. Former Cannes film market director Jerome Paillard, Indian actor and producer Rana Daggubati and...
- 3/26/2024
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Stars: Darren McAree, Zane Hopkins, Sarah Wynne Kordas, Holly Laura Platt, James Whitehurst, Charles O’Neill | Written and Directed by John Williams
Stoke-on-Trent filmmaker John Williams follows his 2022 low-budget horror anthology, Tales of the Creeping Death, which also screened at that year’s Romford Horror Festival, with Watch Me Sleep – another low-budget affair that deals with death, loss and addiction in terrifying fashion.
The film follows Sean, a recovering alcoholic who, after the death of his abusive mother, pays a company to insert a camera inside his mother’s coffin – a service that’s “normally” done for a couple of months but Sean, who is unperturbed by his mother’s death thanks to her abuse towards him, wants camera access for a year. Why? To make sure his mother stays dead because for some reason Sean is struggling to believe that is the case.
Let’s get this out of the way first.
Stoke-on-Trent filmmaker John Williams follows his 2022 low-budget horror anthology, Tales of the Creeping Death, which also screened at that year’s Romford Horror Festival, with Watch Me Sleep – another low-budget affair that deals with death, loss and addiction in terrifying fashion.
The film follows Sean, a recovering alcoholic who, after the death of his abusive mother, pays a company to insert a camera inside his mother’s coffin – a service that’s “normally” done for a couple of months but Sean, who is unperturbed by his mother’s death thanks to her abuse towards him, wants camera access for a year. Why? To make sure his mother stays dead because for some reason Sean is struggling to believe that is the case.
Let’s get this out of the way first.
- 2/28/2024
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
The Boiling Point TV series, The Banshees of Inisherin, Rye Lane and Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical are among the U.K. Casting Directors’ Guild Awards winners for 2024.
The sixth CDG Casting Awards, handed out Wednesday evening in London, also honored the likes of the theater play Dear England, a TV adaptation of which Sky has just unveiled.
Competing for the awards were productions that premiered between Sept. 1, 2022 and Dec. 31, 2023 and they were selected as nominees by members of the guild. The Casting Directors’ Guild represents casting directors in the film, television, theater and commercials industries in the U.K. and Ireland.
Its awards celebrate “the incredible work achieved by casting teams across film, television, theater and commercials,” in partnership with global casting platform Spotlight.
“Casting directors are often the unsung storytellers of the industry. Their vision and skills that help orchestrate an ensemble of characters bring a script to life in every medium,...
The sixth CDG Casting Awards, handed out Wednesday evening in London, also honored the likes of the theater play Dear England, a TV adaptation of which Sky has just unveiled.
Competing for the awards were productions that premiered between Sept. 1, 2022 and Dec. 31, 2023 and they were selected as nominees by members of the guild. The Casting Directors’ Guild represents casting directors in the film, television, theater and commercials industries in the U.K. and Ireland.
Its awards celebrate “the incredible work achieved by casting teams across film, television, theater and commercials,” in partnership with global casting platform Spotlight.
“Casting directors are often the unsung storytellers of the industry. Their vision and skills that help orchestrate an ensemble of characters bring a script to life in every medium,...
- 2/22/2024
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
There will be spoilers ahead for "Star Wars: The Bad Batch" season 3, episode 2, "Paths Unknown."
"Star Wars: The Bad Batch," the animated series that followed the popular show "Star Wars: The Clone Wars," enters its third and final season today. Throughout the show, we've been treated to incredible cameos and recurring characters familiar to fans of movies and television. One of the biggest came in the form of Rhea Perlman of "Cheers" fame, who took on the role of the Trandoshan Cid during the first two seasons. Wanda Sykes has appeared repeatedly as a treasure hunting scoundrel named Phee Genoa. Héctor Elizondo voiced a one-off character in the first season named Romar Adell. Ernie Hudson made an appearance, as did Taran Killam and Ben Schwartz. There has been no shortage of star power coming to the world of "Star Wars," but in the three-episode premiere of the third season of "The Bad Batch,...
"Star Wars: The Bad Batch," the animated series that followed the popular show "Star Wars: The Clone Wars," enters its third and final season today. Throughout the show, we've been treated to incredible cameos and recurring characters familiar to fans of movies and television. One of the biggest came in the form of Rhea Perlman of "Cheers" fame, who took on the role of the Trandoshan Cid during the first two seasons. Wanda Sykes has appeared repeatedly as a treasure hunting scoundrel named Phee Genoa. Héctor Elizondo voiced a one-off character in the first season named Romar Adell. Ernie Hudson made an appearance, as did Taran Killam and Ben Schwartz. There has been no shortage of star power coming to the world of "Star Wars," but in the three-episode premiere of the third season of "The Bad Batch,...
- 2/21/2024
- by Bryan Young
- Slash Film
Carrie Fisher took the virginity of Indiana Jones. At least, that's how she told it while she was alive. Specifically, that's what she told me. In her own words: "I wrote it with George [Lucas.] We wrote Indiana Jones losing his virginity to Mata Hari. It went very well."
I had been asking about her work on the "Star Wars" prequel trilogy, so this answer came a bit out of left field. However, it's a little-known fact that Fisher worked as a writer on many George Lucas projects, doing an uncredited polish on the scripts for the prequels and even coming up with adventures for Indiana Jones to go on in his TV series, "The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles."
So, how did Indiana Jones actually lose his virginity, and what part did Fisher play?
Read more: The 18 Best Action Movie Actors Ranked
Bigger Than Life
"She was a bigger-than-life character and...
I had been asking about her work on the "Star Wars" prequel trilogy, so this answer came a bit out of left field. However, it's a little-known fact that Fisher worked as a writer on many George Lucas projects, doing an uncredited polish on the scripts for the prequels and even coming up with adventures for Indiana Jones to go on in his TV series, "The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles."
So, how did Indiana Jones actually lose his virginity, and what part did Fisher play?
Read more: The 18 Best Action Movie Actors Ranked
Bigger Than Life
"She was a bigger-than-life character and...
- 2/13/2024
- by Bryan Young
- Slash Film
Exclusive: Starring an electrifying Nicole Scherzinger, Sunset Boulevard ends its limited run at London’s Savoy Theatre on January 6. However, Deadline can reveal in its 2024 West End look ahead that the singer will lead the Andrew Lloyd Webber show to Broadway in November, according to insiders connected with the production.
Scherzinger, who won the Evening Standard’s best musical performance prize for her show-stopping turn as Norma Desmond, has indicated to producers that she will commit to a six-month season in New York, we understand. The Es also recently named the show’s helmer Jamie Lloyd as Best Director [Disclosure: this writer is a member of the Es judging panel].
Nicole Scherzinger in ‘Sunset Boulevard’
Meanwhile, another Es winner, Jack Thorne’s glorious drama The Motive and the Cue, staged by Sam Mendes, has transferred from London’s National Theatre to the Noël Coward, and we can also reveal The Motive and the Cue is in the early stages of discussions for a run in NYC.
Scherzinger, who won the Evening Standard’s best musical performance prize for her show-stopping turn as Norma Desmond, has indicated to producers that she will commit to a six-month season in New York, we understand. The Es also recently named the show’s helmer Jamie Lloyd as Best Director [Disclosure: this writer is a member of the Es judging panel].
Nicole Scherzinger in ‘Sunset Boulevard’
Meanwhile, another Es winner, Jack Thorne’s glorious drama The Motive and the Cue, staged by Sam Mendes, has transferred from London’s National Theatre to the Noël Coward, and we can also reveal The Motive and the Cue is in the early stages of discussions for a run in NYC.
- 12/21/2023
- by Baz Bamigboye
- Deadline Film + TV
The BBC are showing a bunch of great family films over the Christmas period. They’re also showing House Of Gucci. Check out the full list below.
Nothing says Christmas like watching Adam Driver and Lady Gaga getting steamy on a building site. The BBC clearly know that, because they’re putting House Of Gucci on over the holidays. We’ll definitely be tuning in for that one.
Dodgy Italian accents aside, there’s a whole host of pretty recent cinema coming onto the Beeb this Christmas – if you missed any of these at the time and don’t want to shell out on a dozen streaming services, then this is the list for you!
We’ll update this list with timings and such when we have them. In the meantime, check out our list of all the BBC telly on its way over mince pie season, and check out...
Nothing says Christmas like watching Adam Driver and Lady Gaga getting steamy on a building site. The BBC clearly know that, because they’re putting House Of Gucci on over the holidays. We’ll definitely be tuning in for that one.
Dodgy Italian accents aside, there’s a whole host of pretty recent cinema coming onto the Beeb this Christmas – if you missed any of these at the time and don’t want to shell out on a dozen streaming services, then this is the list for you!
We’ll update this list with timings and such when we have them. In the meantime, check out our list of all the BBC telly on its way over mince pie season, and check out...
- 11/28/2023
- by James Harvey
- Film Stories
You know Anne Hathaway as an onscreen princess, but did you know she's also a mom of two? Since marrying her husband, Adam Shulman, in 2012, the actor has welcomed two boys. Although Hathaway's incredibly private about her home life, she's shared snippets about her little ones here and there.
On July 24, 2019, Hathaway announced that she was officially expecting her second child. In an emotional Instagram post, she shared that it "was not a straight line" to either of her pregnancies, alluding to struggles conceiving, and encouraged other women who are experiencing infertility to hang in there.
In October 2022, Hathaway opened up about how having kids has made her pickier when selecting projects. "I have to say, the 'kids' thing has been the biggest shift," she told SiriusXM's "The Jess Cagle Show," per People. "That's kind of reprioritized everything, so it's actually made me a bit choosier because something really...
On July 24, 2019, Hathaway announced that she was officially expecting her second child. In an emotional Instagram post, she shared that it "was not a straight line" to either of her pregnancies, alluding to struggles conceiving, and encouraged other women who are experiencing infertility to hang in there.
In October 2022, Hathaway opened up about how having kids has made her pickier when selecting projects. "I have to say, the 'kids' thing has been the biggest shift," she told SiriusXM's "The Jess Cagle Show," per People. "That's kind of reprioritized everything, so it's actually made me a bit choosier because something really...
- 10/5/2023
- by Murphy Moroney
- Popsugar.com
This article contains The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar spoilers.
“The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar” is only the second time in Wes Anderson’s career that he’s adapted another writer’s work. To put a finer point on it, “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar” is also the second time he’s adapted a single author’s work: Roald Dahl. Yet with Anderson’s first foray into streaming, via his 41-minute short film soufflé on Netflix, Anderson is tackling Dahl in a very different manner, and we do not mean simply because “Henry Sugar” is live-action.
One of the most beloved children’s authors of the 20th century, Dahl has intermittently proved a wellspring for filmmakers over the decades, sometimes to Dahl’s personal chagrin. He infamously regretted the film version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which couldn’t bother to even get the title right when...
“The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar” is only the second time in Wes Anderson’s career that he’s adapted another writer’s work. To put a finer point on it, “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar” is also the second time he’s adapted a single author’s work: Roald Dahl. Yet with Anderson’s first foray into streaming, via his 41-minute short film soufflé on Netflix, Anderson is tackling Dahl in a very different manner, and we do not mean simply because “Henry Sugar” is live-action.
One of the most beloved children’s authors of the 20th century, Dahl has intermittently proved a wellspring for filmmakers over the decades, sometimes to Dahl’s personal chagrin. He infamously regretted the film version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which couldn’t bother to even get the title right when...
- 9/28/2023
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
Netflix typically refuses to release its actual viewership numbers to the public, making its weekly top-10 lists a fascinating peek into how streaming services actually operate. Netflix may pour millions into their original programs, but their ten most popular films or TV tend to (at least partly) be 25-year-old movies experiencing a seemingly random renaissance. Case in point: one of the hottest films on Netflix right now is Danny DeVito's 1996 family film "Matilda" based on the 1988 novel by Roald Dahl.
"Matilda," critically acclaimed upon its release, is about the titular young girl (Mara Wilson) who lives with caustic, greedy, tacky, and abusive parents. Her new school is a bleak, Dickensian nightmare overseen by the bestial, cruel Mrs. Trunchbull (Pam Ferris). The only person who treats Matilda with kindness is the put-upon Miss Honey (Embeth Davidtz) who sees how bright and gentle Matilda is.
Matilda sees little respite from her...
"Matilda," critically acclaimed upon its release, is about the titular young girl (Mara Wilson) who lives with caustic, greedy, tacky, and abusive parents. Her new school is a bleak, Dickensian nightmare overseen by the bestial, cruel Mrs. Trunchbull (Pam Ferris). The only person who treats Matilda with kindness is the put-upon Miss Honey (Embeth Davidtz) who sees how bright and gentle Matilda is.
Matilda sees little respite from her...
- 9/16/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
The film world's favorite persnickety stylist, Wes Anderson, is back! Already! Anderson's most recent feature film, "Asteroid City," premiered in wide release just three months ago. It garnered rave reviews (Lex Briscuso wrote in these very pages that the film is "a top-tier Wes Anderson original that brings back the carefree fun and charm of some of his best works") and continues to be a box office force to be reckoned with, which is more or less par for the course for Anderson.
But eager Andersonians won't have to wait two to three years for the next one. A dazzling new adventure from the mind behind "Moonrise Kingdom" and "The Royal Tenenbaums" lies right around the corner. On September 27, Anderson will premiere a new short film on Netflix titled "The Wonderful Life of Henry Sugar." In fact, September 27 doesn't just mark the premiere of a new Anderson film, it's...
But eager Andersonians won't have to wait two to three years for the next one. A dazzling new adventure from the mind behind "Moonrise Kingdom" and "The Royal Tenenbaums" lies right around the corner. On September 27, Anderson will premiere a new short film on Netflix titled "The Wonderful Life of Henry Sugar." In fact, September 27 doesn't just mark the premiere of a new Anderson film, it's...
- 9/14/2023
- by Ryan Coleman
- Slash Film
Severin Films is celebrating the late Peter Cushing with an unprecedented box set highlighting the most unexpected gems from the filmography of the legendary horror actor.
Cushing Curiosities, releasing August 29, presents 6-discs of rarely seen feature films and television broadcasts restored and scanned from original vault sources, plus a curated plethora of Special Features that celebrate Cushing’s unique career like never before.
From Hammer Films to Star Wars, he remains one of genre films’ best-loved actors. Now celebrate six of the most unexpected, rarely seen and decidedly curious performances from the legendary career of Peter Cushing: Cushing delivers a rare villain turn in the 1960 aviation thriller Cone Of Silence. That same year, Cushing brought gentle dignity to The Boulting Brothers’ cold-war drama Suspect. In 1962’s The Man Who Finally Died, Cushing co-stars opposite Stanley Baker as a former Nazi hiding a grave post-war secret.
Cushing returns to his...
Cushing Curiosities, releasing August 29, presents 6-discs of rarely seen feature films and television broadcasts restored and scanned from original vault sources, plus a curated plethora of Special Features that celebrate Cushing’s unique career like never before.
From Hammer Films to Star Wars, he remains one of genre films’ best-loved actors. Now celebrate six of the most unexpected, rarely seen and decidedly curious performances from the legendary career of Peter Cushing: Cushing delivers a rare villain turn in the 1960 aviation thriller Cone Of Silence. That same year, Cushing brought gentle dignity to The Boulting Brothers’ cold-war drama Suspect. In 1962’s The Man Who Finally Died, Cushing co-stars opposite Stanley Baker as a former Nazi hiding a grave post-war secret.
Cushing returns to his...
- 8/16/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
There were always two sides to the Jim Henson Company during Henson's lifetime. On one of them, you have the puppets they created for "Sesame Street" and "Fraggle Rock," shows that are as wholesome and earnest as their googly-eyed stars. On the other one, you have the often frightening and twisted puppets that Henson and his crew invented for "The Dark Crystal" and "Labyrinth," as well as those for even creepier fantasy movies like director Nicolas Roeg's "The Witches." The Muppets, in case you were wondering, straddled the line between the two sides.
More than 30 years after its founder's death, however, Henson's legendary Creature Shop is now working on the "Five Nights at Freddy's" movie. As anyone even remotely familiar with the premise for the original "Fnaf" video games could tell you, Blumhouse's film adaptation is a far cry from even the darkest projects Henson's company developed under his watch.
More than 30 years after its founder's death, however, Henson's legendary Creature Shop is now working on the "Five Nights at Freddy's" movie. As anyone even remotely familiar with the premise for the original "Fnaf" video games could tell you, Blumhouse's film adaptation is a far cry from even the darkest projects Henson's company developed under his watch.
- 8/7/2023
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
Warner Bros. Pictures’ official Wonka trailer reveals how Willy became Wonka…which makes much more sense after you’ve watched the trailer. Oscar nominee Timothee Chalamet (Call Me By Your Name) charms his way through the trailer onto 2023 must-see movie lists by transforming into a young man with a huge imagination and the courage to take on the chocolate cartel.
Joining Timothee Chalament in the fantasy film are Calah Lane (The Day Shall Come), Emmy winner Keegan-Michael Key (Schmigadoon), Paterson Joseph (Noughts + Crosses), Matt Lucas (Paddington), Mathew Baynton (The Wrong Mans), Oscar nominee Sally Hawkins (The Shape of Water), Rowan Atkinson (Johnny English), Jim Carter (Downton Abbey), and Oscar winner Olivia Colman (The Favourite). Additional stars include Natasha Rothwell (White Lotus), Rich Fulcher (Marriage Story), Rakhee Thakrar (Sex Education), Tom Davis (Paddington 2), and Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (Zack Snyder’s Justice League).
Paddington‘s Paul King directs and co-wrote the screenplay with Simon Farnaby,...
Joining Timothee Chalament in the fantasy film are Calah Lane (The Day Shall Come), Emmy winner Keegan-Michael Key (Schmigadoon), Paterson Joseph (Noughts + Crosses), Matt Lucas (Paddington), Mathew Baynton (The Wrong Mans), Oscar nominee Sally Hawkins (The Shape of Water), Rowan Atkinson (Johnny English), Jim Carter (Downton Abbey), and Oscar winner Olivia Colman (The Favourite). Additional stars include Natasha Rothwell (White Lotus), Rich Fulcher (Marriage Story), Rakhee Thakrar (Sex Education), Tom Davis (Paddington 2), and Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (Zack Snyder’s Justice League).
Paddington‘s Paul King directs and co-wrote the screenplay with Simon Farnaby,...
- 7/11/2023
- by Rebecca Murray
- Showbiz Junkies
Bet you weren’t expecting the eyebrow-raising TV news of the day to involve a new adaptation of beloved children’s author Enid Blyton’s Famous Five series. But the surprising twist in the BBC’s announcement today didn’t concern the bestselling series of whimsical, jolly-hockey-sticks children’s adventure novels from the 1940s-1960s – rather the creator behind this new series: Nicolas Winding Refn.
Considering this Danish director is famous for stylish but graphically violent films like The Neon Demon, Only God Forgives and Drive, The Famous Five will be somewhat of a left turn for him.
The series will have three 90-minute episodes drawing on Blyton’s 21 Famous Five novels, which detailed the adventures of five daring young explorers – Julian, Dick, Anne, George and their dog Timmy – as they spend their school holidays gallivanting around the English countryside and coastline, solving mysteries, finding treasure and catching criminals. Filming...
Considering this Danish director is famous for stylish but graphically violent films like The Neon Demon, Only God Forgives and Drive, The Famous Five will be somewhat of a left turn for him.
The series will have three 90-minute episodes drawing on Blyton’s 21 Famous Five novels, which detailed the adventures of five daring young explorers – Julian, Dick, Anne, George and their dog Timmy – as they spend their school holidays gallivanting around the English countryside and coastline, solving mysteries, finding treasure and catching criminals. Filming...
- 6/26/2023
- by Lauravickersgreen
- Den of Geek
The latest all-singing version of Matilda, now on Netflix, joins an impressive library of thoughtful film versions of seminal kids’ books, from Paddington to Kes
The common wisdom that “the book is usually better than the film” is as true of children’s literature as of its adult counterpart: cinema is stacked with adaptations of children’s classics that may be perfectly proficient, but haven’t the inspired individuality of the works at their source.
Devotees of Roald Dahl have learned this a lot over the years. His offbeat humour and offhand storytelling style, so irresistible to kids, rarely translates all the way to screen — it’s thwarted such titans as Steven Spielberg, who whiffed with The Bfg (Netflix), though Wes Anderson’s droll Fantastic Mr Fox succeeded by inventing eccentricities of its own. Best of all, Nicolas Roeg’s very adult sense of the macabre proved a delicious fit...
The common wisdom that “the book is usually better than the film” is as true of children’s literature as of its adult counterpart: cinema is stacked with adaptations of children’s classics that may be perfectly proficient, but haven’t the inspired individuality of the works at their source.
Devotees of Roald Dahl have learned this a lot over the years. His offbeat humour and offhand storytelling style, so irresistible to kids, rarely translates all the way to screen — it’s thwarted such titans as Steven Spielberg, who whiffed with The Bfg (Netflix), though Wes Anderson’s droll Fantastic Mr Fox succeeded by inventing eccentricities of its own. Best of all, Nicolas Roeg’s very adult sense of the macabre proved a delicious fit...
- 6/24/2023
- by Guy Lodge
- The Guardian - Film News
Helmut Berger, the Austrian actor and regular Luchino Visconti collaborator who become one of the most recognizable faces of European arthouse cinema in the 1960s, has died at the age of 78. The news was announced by the actor’s agent, who wrote that he died “peacefully but nevertheless unexpectedly” on his management company’s website.
Born in Austria in 1944, Berger moved to Rome and began pursuing an acting career after expressing disinterest in following his parents into the hospitality industry. He initially found work as an extra before meeting Visconti in 1964. The “Rocco and His Brothers” director gave Berger a small part in his 1967 film “The Witches,” an omnibus film also directed by the likes of Vittorio De Sica and Pier Paolo Pasolini. Berger and Visconti began a professional and romantic relationship that would go on to shape the European cinema landscape of the subsequent decade.
Berger’s most significant...
Born in Austria in 1944, Berger moved to Rome and began pursuing an acting career after expressing disinterest in following his parents into the hospitality industry. He initially found work as an extra before meeting Visconti in 1964. The “Rocco and His Brothers” director gave Berger a small part in his 1967 film “The Witches,” an omnibus film also directed by the likes of Vittorio De Sica and Pier Paolo Pasolini. Berger and Visconti began a professional and romantic relationship that would go on to shape the European cinema landscape of the subsequent decade.
Berger’s most significant...
- 5/18/2023
- by Christian Zilko
- Indiewire
The magic is turned up to eleven on Fantasy Island Season 2 Episode 13, with Elena bringing in Ruby's daughter to combat Isla's mermaid-siren song and a trio of guests wielding a spellbound poppet.
We've never seen Isla frightened before, but Mj's presence on the Island puts her fins in a twist as she senses Ruby's enthrallment may not hold up against a mother's love.
Meanwhile, the trio of Gavin Beck's wives, past and present, prove formidable in their vengeance.
Classic mythology and literature are rife with trios of powerful female figures.
Greek mythology has the Fates, Furies, and Graces. Hinduism, the Tridevi. Shakespeare's Macbeth, the Witches.
Gavin Beck didn't have a chance.
Granted, the Beck Wives come at their collective fantasy with some wrongheadedness.
Sue: Our fantasy is to get revenge on our husband.
Jenna: We want him to feel as awful as he made us feel.
Brooklyn: We want him to hurt.
We've never seen Isla frightened before, but Mj's presence on the Island puts her fins in a twist as she senses Ruby's enthrallment may not hold up against a mother's love.
Meanwhile, the trio of Gavin Beck's wives, past and present, prove formidable in their vengeance.
Classic mythology and literature are rife with trios of powerful female figures.
Greek mythology has the Fates, Furies, and Graces. Hinduism, the Tridevi. Shakespeare's Macbeth, the Witches.
Gavin Beck didn't have a chance.
Granted, the Beck Wives come at their collective fantasy with some wrongheadedness.
Sue: Our fantasy is to get revenge on our husband.
Jenna: We want him to feel as awful as he made us feel.
Brooklyn: We want him to hurt.
- 5/9/2023
- by Diana Keng
- TVfanatic
Steven Spielberg is looking back on removing guns from “E.T.”
The Oscar-winning director revealed during a master class at the Time 100 Summit that he regrets editing out guns from the 20th anniversary re-release of the coming-of-age film. The 1982 theatrical cut includes a scene of police officers chasing the lead children with firearms; the re-release replaces the weapons with walkie talkies.
“That was a mistake. I never should have done that,” Spielberg said (via Variety). “‘E.T.’ is a product of its era. No film should be revised based on the lenses we now are, either voluntarily, or being forced to peer through.”
The “Fabelmans” director continued, “‘E.T.’ was a film that I was sensitive to the fact that the federal agents were approaching kids with firearms exposed and I thought I would change the guns into walkie talkies. Years went by and I changed my own views. I should have never...
The Oscar-winning director revealed during a master class at the Time 100 Summit that he regrets editing out guns from the 20th anniversary re-release of the coming-of-age film. The 1982 theatrical cut includes a scene of police officers chasing the lead children with firearms; the re-release replaces the weapons with walkie talkies.
“That was a mistake. I never should have done that,” Spielberg said (via Variety). “‘E.T.’ is a product of its era. No film should be revised based on the lenses we now are, either voluntarily, or being forced to peer through.”
The “Fabelmans” director continued, “‘E.T.’ was a film that I was sensitive to the fact that the federal agents were approaching kids with firearms exposed and I thought I would change the guns into walkie talkies. Years went by and I changed my own views. I should have never...
- 4/26/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Exclusive: There’s some seriously scary stuff going on at London’s National Theatre as the venue prepares for a musical version of Roald Dahl’s The Witches that will feature book and lyrics by playwright Lucy Kirkwood, who’s also an executive consultant on Succession.
Music and lyrics are by Dave Malloy, who won acclaim for the book and score he wrote for Broadway show Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812.
The show is a co-production between the National and the Roald Dahl Story Company.
Katherine Kingsley (The Larkins) will play the Grand High Witch, whose only objective is to eliminate all children from the planet and turn them into mice. “She’s a tyrannical narcissist, truly she’s really evil. There’s no escaping the fact that she’s a bad person,” Kingsley told us.
“It’s a great role,” she laughed. “There’s a lot of fun to be had with her,...
Music and lyrics are by Dave Malloy, who won acclaim for the book and score he wrote for Broadway show Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812.
The show is a co-production between the National and the Roald Dahl Story Company.
Katherine Kingsley (The Larkins) will play the Grand High Witch, whose only objective is to eliminate all children from the planet and turn them into mice. “She’s a tyrannical narcissist, truly she’s really evil. There’s no escaping the fact that she’s a bad person,” Kingsley told us.
“It’s a great role,” she laughed. “There’s a lot of fun to be had with her,...
- 4/19/2023
- by Baz Bamigboye
- Deadline Film + TV
There are so many different streaming services in play that it’s impossible to keep track of them all, but we find it’s good to at least be aware of what’s *leaving* the ones you’re subscribing to. This way you can make sure to knock things off your list before they’re gone.
On that note, a couple hundred movies will be leaving HBO Max in April 2023, including several that horror fans may want to watch before they can no longer be found on there.
That list of horror movies leaving HBO Max next month includes James Wan’s Malignant, as well as last year’s holiday horror movie Adult Swim Yule Log (don’t miss that one!).
Here’s all the horror leaving HBO Max in April 2023…
April 11
Adult Swim Yule Log (aka The Fireplace)
April 27
Malignant, 2021 (HBO)
April 30
Blade, 1998 Blow Out, 1981 (HBO) Deep Blue Sea,...
On that note, a couple hundred movies will be leaving HBO Max in April 2023, including several that horror fans may want to watch before they can no longer be found on there.
That list of horror movies leaving HBO Max next month includes James Wan’s Malignant, as well as last year’s holiday horror movie Adult Swim Yule Log (don’t miss that one!).
Here’s all the horror leaving HBO Max in April 2023…
April 11
Adult Swim Yule Log (aka The Fireplace)
April 27
Malignant, 2021 (HBO)
April 30
Blade, 1998 Blow Out, 1981 (HBO) Deep Blue Sea,...
- 3/27/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
The chemistry between Charlotte and George is off the charts in the full trailer for Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, which you can check out above.
The sneak peek at the Bridgerton prequel, released by Netflix on Thursday, promises a complicated romance at Buckingham, with the titular heroine initially reluctant to marry the king and eventually falling in love with him.
More from TVLineNetflix's Power Rangers Reunion Trailer Addresses Trini's Death -- WatchXO, Kitty First Look: To All the Boys Spinoff Sets May Premiere on NetflixShadow and Bone Bosses Say There Will Be 'Palpable' Tension Between Kaz and Inej...
The sneak peek at the Bridgerton prequel, released by Netflix on Thursday, promises a complicated romance at Buckingham, with the titular heroine initially reluctant to marry the king and eventually falling in love with him.
More from TVLineNetflix's Power Rangers Reunion Trailer Addresses Trini's Death -- WatchXO, Kitty First Look: To All the Boys Spinoff Sets May Premiere on NetflixShadow and Bone Bosses Say There Will Be 'Palpable' Tension Between Kaz and Inej...
- 3/23/2023
- by Keisha Hatchett
- TVLine.com
The Roald Dahl purists have won.
After a week of controversy and outrage over imposed sensitivity changes to the words of the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory author, publisher Puffin has announced that a collection of 17 Dahl works will be re-released untouched as part of the Roald Dahl Classic Collection.
Netflix, which purchased the Roald Dahl Story Company in 2021 in a rumored $1 billion deal, had no comment on the development.
“We’ve listened to the debate over the past week, which has reaffirmed the extraordinary power of Roald Dahl’s books and the very real questions around how stories from another era can be kept relevant for each new generation,” says Francesca Dow, managing director of Penguin Random House Children’s.
“As a children’s publisher, our role is to share the magic of stories with children with the greatest thought and care,” Dow continues.
“Roald Dahl’s fantastic books...
After a week of controversy and outrage over imposed sensitivity changes to the words of the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory author, publisher Puffin has announced that a collection of 17 Dahl works will be re-released untouched as part of the Roald Dahl Classic Collection.
Netflix, which purchased the Roald Dahl Story Company in 2021 in a rumored $1 billion deal, had no comment on the development.
“We’ve listened to the debate over the past week, which has reaffirmed the extraordinary power of Roald Dahl’s books and the very real questions around how stories from another era can be kept relevant for each new generation,” says Francesca Dow, managing director of Penguin Random House Children’s.
“As a children’s publisher, our role is to share the magic of stories with children with the greatest thought and care,” Dow continues.
“Roald Dahl’s fantastic books...
- 2/24/2023
- by Seth Abramovitch
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Publisher Puffin U.K. will release “The Roald Dahl Classic Collection,” which will have the author’s original texts.
“The Roald Dahl Classic Collection” will be available alongside the newly released Puffin Roald Dahl books for young readers, “which are designed for children who may be navigating written content independently for the first time,” Puffin said. “Readers will be free to choose which version of Dahl’s stories they prefer.”
Last week, Puffin was in the eye of a storm when it emerged that the works of Dahl, who died in 1990, had been rewritten, with the phrase “enormously fat” edited to just “enormous” and “most formidable female” to “most formidable woman” among numerous other examples from his most famous books. People who opposed the edits include author Salman Rushdie, who described it as “absurd censorship,” and U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
The original versions will be released under the Penguin...
“The Roald Dahl Classic Collection” will be available alongside the newly released Puffin Roald Dahl books for young readers, “which are designed for children who may be navigating written content independently for the first time,” Puffin said. “Readers will be free to choose which version of Dahl’s stories they prefer.”
Last week, Puffin was in the eye of a storm when it emerged that the works of Dahl, who died in 1990, had been rewritten, with the phrase “enormously fat” edited to just “enormous” and “most formidable female” to “most formidable woman” among numerous other examples from his most famous books. People who opposed the edits include author Salman Rushdie, who described it as “absurd censorship,” and U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
The original versions will be released under the Penguin...
- 2/24/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
This past weekend, anti-“cancel culture” activists got new ammunition after British newspaper The Telegraph reported that new editions of British children’s writer (and notorious antisemite) Roald Dahl have edited and changed the author’s original text to remove objectionable elements and make the books more inclusive.
Changes include removing the word “fat” from descriptions of characters like Augustus Gloop in “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” making language in “The Twits” and “Matilda” more gender neutral, and adding lines like “There are plenty of other reasons why women might wear wigs and there is certainly nothing wrong with that” to “The Witches.” Although Dahl is notorious for his racist, sexist, and antisemitic writing over the course of his life, the alterations to his work rubbed many the wrong way, with authors like Salman Rushdie calling it “censorship.”
Since the changes made to the new editions were reported, some commentators...
Changes include removing the word “fat” from descriptions of characters like Augustus Gloop in “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” making language in “The Twits” and “Matilda” more gender neutral, and adding lines like “There are plenty of other reasons why women might wear wigs and there is certainly nothing wrong with that” to “The Witches.” Although Dahl is notorious for his racist, sexist, and antisemitic writing over the course of his life, the alterations to his work rubbed many the wrong way, with authors like Salman Rushdie calling it “censorship.”
Since the changes made to the new editions were reported, some commentators...
- 2/23/2023
- by Wilson Chapman
- Indiewire
Los Angeles, Feb 19 (Ians) Editors at Penguin’s children’s imprint Puffin have taken a red pencil to the works of iconic, but divisive British writer Roald Dahl, known for “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and “Matilda”, reports “Variety”.
It cited an extensive report by UK newspaper ‘The Telegraph’, which says “language related to weight, mental health, violence, gender and race has been cut and rewritten”.
In the 1964 novel “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”, which has been adapted twice as films in 1971 and 2005, starring Gene Hackman and Johnny Depp respectively, for example, the phrase “enormously fat” has been edited to just “enormous”.
As per ‘Variety’, the same phrase in the 1970 book “Fantastic Mr Fox”, adapted as an animated film by Wes Anderson with a voice cast of George Clooney and Meryl Streep in 2009, has also been edited to “enormous”.
The report compares the 2001 editions of Dahl’s children’s books...
It cited an extensive report by UK newspaper ‘The Telegraph’, which says “language related to weight, mental health, violence, gender and race has been cut and rewritten”.
In the 1964 novel “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”, which has been adapted twice as films in 1971 and 2005, starring Gene Hackman and Johnny Depp respectively, for example, the phrase “enormously fat” has been edited to just “enormous”.
As per ‘Variety’, the same phrase in the 1970 book “Fantastic Mr Fox”, adapted as an animated film by Wes Anderson with a voice cast of George Clooney and Meryl Streep in 2009, has also been edited to “enormous”.
The report compares the 2001 editions of Dahl’s children’s books...
- 2/19/2023
- by News Bureau
- GlamSham
Editors at Penguin’s children’s imprint Puffin have taken a red pencil to the works of iconic, but divisive British writer Roald Dahl, known for “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and “Matilda” among many others.
An extensive report by U.K. newspaper The Telegraph says “language related to weight, mental health, violence, gender and race has been cut and rewritten.”
In 1964 novel “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” which has been adapted twice as films in 1971 and 2005, starring Gene Wilder and Johnny Depp respectively, for example, the phrase “enormously fat” has been edited to just “enormous.” The same phrase in 1970 book “Fantastic Mr. Fox,” adapted as an animated film by Wes Anderson with a voice cast of George Clooney and Meryl Streep in 2009, has also been edited to “enormous.”
The report compares the 2001 editions of Dahl’s children’s books to the 2022 editions and finds that the word “fat” has been systematically edited out,...
An extensive report by U.K. newspaper The Telegraph says “language related to weight, mental health, violence, gender and race has been cut and rewritten.”
In 1964 novel “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” which has been adapted twice as films in 1971 and 2005, starring Gene Wilder and Johnny Depp respectively, for example, the phrase “enormously fat” has been edited to just “enormous.” The same phrase in 1970 book “Fantastic Mr. Fox,” adapted as an animated film by Wes Anderson with a voice cast of George Clooney and Meryl Streep in 2009, has also been edited to “enormous.”
The report compares the 2001 editions of Dahl’s children’s books to the 2022 editions and finds that the word “fat” has been systematically edited out,...
- 2/19/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
We finally know when Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story will premiere.
Netflix announced Tuesday during a virtual Bridgerton fan event that the prequel series will launch on Thursday, May 4.
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The streamer also unveiled a new teaser, which you can check out above, as well as several first-look photos (see below).
Centered on Queen Charlotte’s rise to prominence and power,...
Netflix announced Tuesday during a virtual Bridgerton fan event that the prequel series will launch on Thursday, May 4.
More from TVLineHeartstopper Creator Teases a Larger Role for [Spoiler] and Drops a Big Hint About the Netflix Hit's Inevitable EndArrested Development Leaving Netflix: Will Revival Seasons Simply Vanish?Sex/Life Season 2: Billie Has a New Man (and It's Not Brad) in Full Trailer
The streamer also unveiled a new teaser, which you can check out above, as well as several first-look photos (see below).
Centered on Queen Charlotte’s rise to prominence and power,...
- 2/14/2023
- by Keisha Hatchett
- TVLine.com
NYC Weekend Watch is our weekly round-up of repertory offerings.
Japan Society
A series celebrating Seijun Suzuki’s centennial begins with imported 35mm prints.
Roxy Cinema
35mm showings of Happiness continue; a Sara Driver series brings Stranger Than Paradise and Sleepwalk on 35mm, as well as Boom for Real.
Museum of Modern Art
A series on Claudia Cardinale begins, including Rocco and His Brothers this Saturday.
Film Forum
Dino Risi’s Una Vita Difficile has begun playing in a 4K restoration, while Howl’s Moving Castle screens on Sunday.
Museum of the Moving Image
A series on awards-snubbed films continues with Sirk, Cukor, and The Night of the Hunter.
IFC Center
28 Days Later, The Big Lebowski, Eraserhead, The Witches, and Psycho play.
The post NYC Weekend Watch: Seijun Suzuki, Sara Driver, Claudia Cardinale & More first appeared on The Film Stage.
Japan Society
A series celebrating Seijun Suzuki’s centennial begins with imported 35mm prints.
Roxy Cinema
35mm showings of Happiness continue; a Sara Driver series brings Stranger Than Paradise and Sleepwalk on 35mm, as well as Boom for Real.
Museum of Modern Art
A series on Claudia Cardinale begins, including Rocco and His Brothers this Saturday.
Film Forum
Dino Risi’s Una Vita Difficile has begun playing in a 4K restoration, while Howl’s Moving Castle screens on Sunday.
Museum of the Moving Image
A series on awards-snubbed films continues with Sirk, Cukor, and The Night of the Hunter.
IFC Center
28 Days Later, The Big Lebowski, Eraserhead, The Witches, and Psycho play.
The post NYC Weekend Watch: Seijun Suzuki, Sara Driver, Claudia Cardinale & More first appeared on The Film Stage.
- 2/3/2023
- by Nick Newman
- The Film Stage
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story: Here's Your First Look at Young Lady Danbury in Netflix Prequel
Lady Danbury may not have a crown, but she has always been royalty.
That especially rings true in our first look at young Agatha Danbury (played by newcomer Arsema Thomas) in the Bridgerton prequel Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story. See her looking as regal as ever in the above photo. (Note: Adjoa Andoh portrays Lady Danbury in Bridgerton.)
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Queen Charlotte, due out sometime in 2023 and...
That especially rings true in our first look at young Agatha Danbury (played by newcomer Arsema Thomas) in the Bridgerton prequel Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story. See her looking as regal as ever in the above photo. (Note: Adjoa Andoh portrays Lady Danbury in Bridgerton.)
More from TVLineOuter Banks Gets Season 3 Release Date at Netflix -- See John B. and Pals Rule 'Poguelandia' in First PhotosGinny & Georgia Recap Video: What You Need to Remember Ahead of Season 21899 Cancelled at Netflix
Queen Charlotte, due out sometime in 2023 and...
- 1/1/2023
- by Keisha Hatchett
- TVLine.com
Plot: Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical is an inspirational musical tale of an extraordinary girl who discovers her superpower and summons the remarkable courage, against all odds, to help others change their stories, whilst also taking charge of her own destiny. Standing up for what’s right, she’s met with miraculous results.
Review: Roald Dahl’s novels have long made for wonderful cinematic adaptations from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory to James and the Giant Peach, The Fantastic Mr. Fox, The Witches, and The Bfg. While Danny DeVito’s 1996 adaptation has remained a cult and nostalgiac favorite for many, the 2011 stage musical brought a more faithful and expansive take on Dahl’s beloved novel about a little girl with big brains and bigger superpowers. In the decade since it hit the stage, an adaptation of Matilda The Musical has been in the works and now has debuted...
Review: Roald Dahl’s novels have long made for wonderful cinematic adaptations from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory to James and the Giant Peach, The Fantastic Mr. Fox, The Witches, and The Bfg. While Danny DeVito’s 1996 adaptation has remained a cult and nostalgiac favorite for many, the 2011 stage musical brought a more faithful and expansive take on Dahl’s beloved novel about a little girl with big brains and bigger superpowers. In the decade since it hit the stage, an adaptation of Matilda The Musical has been in the works and now has debuted...
- 12/29/2022
- by Alex Maidy
- JoBlo.com
The Marvel Cinematic Universe will officially enter its fifth phase with "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania" in February. After that, we'll know, barring final adjustments, the rough shape of this arc. Along with the rise of Kang (Jonathan Majors), we'll see stories focused on new kinds of paranoia. Captain America's "New World Order" is an ominous phrase to any conspiracy theorist and a version of the comic event "Secret Invasion," which saw villainous shape-shifting Skrulls throw the world into chaos.
But those aren't the only stories to come out of this phase. Kang's story is just the beginning, with his dynasty on the rise from 2024 onward. Even with all we know about this coming phase, there'll be surprises. Who will be our new faves from Agatha Harkness' (Kathryn Hahn) "Coven of Chaos?" What mysterious cameos will come from Daredevil's return in "Born Again"? We know a few upcoming characters,...
But those aren't the only stories to come out of this phase. Kang's story is just the beginning, with his dynasty on the rise from 2024 onward. Even with all we know about this coming phase, there'll be surprises. Who will be our new faves from Agatha Harkness' (Kathryn Hahn) "Coven of Chaos?" What mysterious cameos will come from Daredevil's return in "Born Again"? We know a few upcoming characters,...
- 12/27/2022
- by Margaret David
- Slash Film
The mean-spirited children’s books of Roald Dahl have, rather oddly, become indelible classics. That’s probably because Dahl — a former British espionage agent, and writer of even grimmer short stories for adults — was under no illusion that childhood was a wonderful time.
Books like “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “Matilda” and “The Witches” confirm what most children already suspected: that adults have a general disdain for kids, and that if kids were going to survive, they’d have to save themselves. At their best, adaptations of Dahl’s work capture that cynical spirit. At their worst, they fall prey to Dahl’s basest instincts, an unfortunate tendency towards bigoted portrayals and unhealthy themes.
When exploring every Roald Dahl movie, however, you can’t stop at the kids’ films. Dahl was also a screenwriter who adapted the works of other authors to the big screen, and not every filmmaker was...
Books like “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “Matilda” and “The Witches” confirm what most children already suspected: that adults have a general disdain for kids, and that if kids were going to survive, they’d have to save themselves. At their best, adaptations of Dahl’s work capture that cynical spirit. At their worst, they fall prey to Dahl’s basest instincts, an unfortunate tendency towards bigoted portrayals and unhealthy themes.
When exploring every Roald Dahl movie, however, you can’t stop at the kids’ films. Dahl was also a screenwriter who adapted the works of other authors to the big screen, and not every filmmaker was...
- 12/25/2022
- by William Bibbiani
- The Wrap
Nordoff Robbins, the UK’s largest music therapy charity, is delighted to announce that Nile Rodgers and Chic will now headline its annual fundraising Christmas Carol Service at St Luke’s Church, Chelsea on Tuesday 13th December, with support from fellow Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee, Richie Sambora.
Sadly, The Who will no longer be performing due to unforeseen circumstances. They have been incredible supporters and champions of Nordoff Robbins for almost 50 years and the charity looks forward to doing something special with them next year.
Nile Rodgers joins the line-up fresh from receiving the Lifetime Achievement award at last week’s Mobo Awards. The legendary songwriter, producer, arranger and guitarist has been making waves in music since co-founding Chic in the 1970s and his music has been an inspiration to generations that have followed. Over more than 50 years in the music industry,...
Sadly, The Who will no longer be performing due to unforeseen circumstances. They have been incredible supporters and champions of Nordoff Robbins for almost 50 years and the charity looks forward to doing something special with them next year.
Nile Rodgers joins the line-up fresh from receiving the Lifetime Achievement award at last week’s Mobo Awards. The legendary songwriter, producer, arranger and guitarist has been making waves in music since co-founding Chic in the 1970s and his music has been an inspiration to generations that have followed. Over more than 50 years in the music industry,...
- 12/7/2022
- Look to the Stars
Netflix has offered up a first look at the upcoming comedy film “You People” — and if you can’t handle cringe, this teaser trailer may be a tough watch for you.
Jonah Hill stars in and co-wrote the screenplay for the 2023 comedy with Kenya Barris (“black-ish”), which is loosely based on the 1967 romantic comedy “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” and follows a young couple as they clash cultures and generational differences when they meet each other’s families.
Barris makes his directorial debut with the film after creating and showrunning the series “black-ish,” while also writing the scripts for the films “Coming 2 America,” “Shaft” and “The Witches.”
In this short teaser, Hill is explaining to Eddie Murphy why he and Murphy’s daughter are a good fit, but keeps putting his foot in his mouth.
Also Read:
The 25 Best New Movies to Stream in December 2022
Lauren London plays Hill’s girlfriend,...
Jonah Hill stars in and co-wrote the screenplay for the 2023 comedy with Kenya Barris (“black-ish”), which is loosely based on the 1967 romantic comedy “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” and follows a young couple as they clash cultures and generational differences when they meet each other’s families.
Barris makes his directorial debut with the film after creating and showrunning the series “black-ish,” while also writing the scripts for the films “Coming 2 America,” “Shaft” and “The Witches.”
In this short teaser, Hill is explaining to Eddie Murphy why he and Murphy’s daughter are a good fit, but keeps putting his foot in his mouth.
Also Read:
The 25 Best New Movies to Stream in December 2022
Lauren London plays Hill’s girlfriend,...
- 12/5/2022
- by Adam Chitwood
- The Wrap
Get ready to get your hopes up again (hopefully without the usual heartbreak this time) about one of Guillermo del Toro's most notorious and tragic passion projects that never saw the light of day. The man has given us some of the greatest films of the century with the likes of "Pan's Labyrinth," "Crimson Peak," "The Devil's Backbone" and "The Shape of Water," but for every movie he has completed, there are dozens of projects that didn't get made, from an adaptation of "The Witches" to "Justice League Dark" to a remake of "Fantastic Voyage."
Of course, there is one doomed project that has eluded del Toro for years, the one everyone turns to when the topic comes up — "At The Mountains Of Madness." The Oscar-winning Mexican director has been trying to make an adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft's 1936 horror story since the mid-2000s, but the project quickly became too big,...
Of course, there is one doomed project that has eluded del Toro for years, the one everyone turns to when the topic comes up — "At The Mountains Of Madness." The Oscar-winning Mexican director has been trying to make an adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft's 1936 horror story since the mid-2000s, but the project quickly became too big,...
- 11/30/2022
- by Rafael Motamayor
- Slash Film
‘She Said’, ’Strange World’ and ’Bones And All’ also debuted this weekend.
RankFilm (distributor) Three-day gross (Nov 25-27)Total gross to date Week 1. Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical (Sony) £4.1m £4.1m 1 2. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Disney) £2.7m £27m 3 3. Strange World (Disney) £717,074 £832,815 1 4. The Menu (Disney) £429,244 £2m 2 5. She Said (Universal) £349,513 £444,806 1
Gbp to Usd conversion rate: 1.21
Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical is leader of the pack at this weekend’s UK-Ireland box office, with £4.1m from 668 locations for Sony.
This meant an average of £6,138, way outperforming its recent Sony family musical stablemate Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile, which took £1.7m in its October opening weekend,...
RankFilm (distributor) Three-day gross (Nov 25-27)Total gross to date Week 1. Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical (Sony) £4.1m £4.1m 1 2. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Disney) £2.7m £27m 3 3. Strange World (Disney) £717,074 £832,815 1 4. The Menu (Disney) £429,244 £2m 2 5. She Said (Universal) £349,513 £444,806 1
Gbp to Usd conversion rate: 1.21
Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical is leader of the pack at this weekend’s UK-Ireland box office, with £4.1m from 668 locations for Sony.
This meant an average of £6,138, way outperforming its recent Sony family musical stablemate Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile, which took £1.7m in its October opening weekend,...
- 11/28/2022
- by Mona Tabbara
- ScreenDaily
Anjelica Huston will join Ana de Armas in “Ballerina,” a spinoff set in the “John Wick” universe. Huston is reprising her role as the Director, the head of the Ruska Roma, which she originated in 2019’s “John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum.”
“The idea of Ballerina was formed around the scenes with Anjelica in ‘John Wick 3,” producer Erica Lee said. “Anjelica Huston is an icon and is nothing less than Hollywood royalty. The world of Wick is always made richer by her commanding screen presence.”
“Ballerina” stars de Armas as a young female assassin who seeks revenge against those who killed her family. Len Wiseman is directing the film, which was written by Shay Hatten. It’s currently in production.
Along with Huston, another franchise favorite, Ian McShane, will return in “Ballerina” as Winston, the manager of the Continental Hotel, while John Wick himself, Keanu Reeves, is expected (though...
“The idea of Ballerina was formed around the scenes with Anjelica in ‘John Wick 3,” producer Erica Lee said. “Anjelica Huston is an icon and is nothing less than Hollywood royalty. The world of Wick is always made richer by her commanding screen presence.”
“Ballerina” stars de Armas as a young female assassin who seeks revenge against those who killed her family. Len Wiseman is directing the film, which was written by Shay Hatten. It’s currently in production.
Along with Huston, another franchise favorite, Ian McShane, will return in “Ballerina” as Winston, the manager of the Continental Hotel, while John Wick himself, Keanu Reeves, is expected (though...
- 11/21/2022
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
Photo: 'Matilda the Musical' Matilda has been a very popular children’s book as well as one of Roald Dahl's most recognizable works. The story focuses on a scholarly-gifted young girl with telekinetic powers who is treated poorly by her ignorant parents and attends a school that is controlled by an abusive headmistress. However, she finds solitude in her class due to the caring nature of her kind teacher, Miss Honey. Roald Dahl is also famous for writing stories such as ‘James and The Giant Peach’ and ‘The Witches.’ All these books by the same author actually have one big thing in common: they all earned a movie adaptation of their own during the 1990s. ‘James and the Giant Peach’ was directed by Henry Selick (‘Nightmare Before Christmas’). ‘The Witches’ has been made by Nicolas Roeg (‘Don’t Look Now’). Danny DeVito directed the first adaptation of ‘Matilda’ in 1996 and...
- 11/18/2022
- by Marco Castaneda
- Hollywood Insider - Substance & Meaningful Entertainment
Warner Bros. Pictures has promoted Jesse Ehrman to president of production and development overseeing the studio’s live-action development team and budget, the studio’s co-chairs Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy announced Thursday.
Along with Ehrman, Warner Bros. has also promoted Cate Adams, Peter Dodd and Sheila Walcott all to the role of senior vice president of production. Ehrman will also work closely with both De Luca and Abdy on the studio’s overall slate development.
Additionally, studio veteran Kevin McCormick will continue in his role as executive vice president of production, working closely with Ehrman.
Also Read:
‘Black Adam’ Is Dwayne Johnson’s Biggest Box Office Test Yet
“This new leadership team highlights a new era at Warner Bros. Pictures,” DeLuca and Abdy said in a statement. “These executives are all smart, super-talented and have great taste and instincts. Over his career at the studio, Jesse has compiled...
Along with Ehrman, Warner Bros. has also promoted Cate Adams, Peter Dodd and Sheila Walcott all to the role of senior vice president of production. Ehrman will also work closely with both De Luca and Abdy on the studio’s overall slate development.
Additionally, studio veteran Kevin McCormick will continue in his role as executive vice president of production, working closely with Ehrman.
Also Read:
‘Black Adam’ Is Dwayne Johnson’s Biggest Box Office Test Yet
“This new leadership team highlights a new era at Warner Bros. Pictures,” DeLuca and Abdy said in a statement. “These executives are all smart, super-talented and have great taste and instincts. Over his career at the studio, Jesse has compiled...
- 10/20/2022
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Warner Bros. Pictures has named longtime executive Jesse Ehrman as president of production and development, Variety has learned exclusively.
The 16-year studio executive steps into the role vacated by Courtenay Valenti. He will report to Michael DeLuca and Pamela Abdy, co-chairs and CEOs, Warner Bros. Pictures Group. Ehrman will oversee and manage the division’s live-action development team and budget, and also work closely with DeLuca and Abdy on overall slate development.
Ehrman’s elevation also sees three others in the film group promoted to senior V.P.: Cate Adams, Peter Dodd and Sheila Walcott.
Additionally, studio veteran Kevin McCormick will continue in his role as Executive V.P., Production, working closely with Ehrman.
“This new leadership team highlights a new era at Warner Bros. Pictures,” DeLuca and Abdy told Variety. “These executives are all smart, super-talented and have great taste and instincts. Over his career at the studio,...
The 16-year studio executive steps into the role vacated by Courtenay Valenti. He will report to Michael DeLuca and Pamela Abdy, co-chairs and CEOs, Warner Bros. Pictures Group. Ehrman will oversee and manage the division’s live-action development team and budget, and also work closely with DeLuca and Abdy on overall slate development.
Ehrman’s elevation also sees three others in the film group promoted to senior V.P.: Cate Adams, Peter Dodd and Sheila Walcott.
Additionally, studio veteran Kevin McCormick will continue in his role as Executive V.P., Production, working closely with Ehrman.
“This new leadership team highlights a new era at Warner Bros. Pictures,” DeLuca and Abdy told Variety. “These executives are all smart, super-talented and have great taste and instincts. Over his career at the studio,...
- 10/20/2022
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
The witches will take flight in 2023. AMC+ today announced the start date for Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches that stars Alexandra Daddario, Harry Hamlin, Jack Huston and Tongayi Chirisa.
The series will stream exclusively on AMC+ on Thursday, January 5, 2023, with the first two episodes available that same night. Subsequent episodes will rollout weekly.
Based on Rice’s best-selling trilogy, Lives of the Mayfair Witches, the 8-episode series focuses on an intuitive young neurosurgeon, Dr. Rowan Fielding (Daddario), who discovers that she is the unlikely heir to a family of witches. As she grapples with her newfound powers, she must contend with a sinister presence that has haunted her family for generations.
Written and executive produced by showrunner Esta Spalding and Michelle Ashford Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches is the second series in an expanding Anne Rice universe,...
The series will stream exclusively on AMC+ on Thursday, January 5, 2023, with the first two episodes available that same night. Subsequent episodes will rollout weekly.
Based on Rice’s best-selling trilogy, Lives of the Mayfair Witches, the 8-episode series focuses on an intuitive young neurosurgeon, Dr. Rowan Fielding (Daddario), who discovers that she is the unlikely heir to a family of witches. As she grapples with her newfound powers, she must contend with a sinister presence that has haunted her family for generations.
Written and executive produced by showrunner Esta Spalding and Michelle Ashford Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches is the second series in an expanding Anne Rice universe,...
- 10/7/2022
- by Lynette Rice
- Deadline Film + TV
What children love about Roald Dahl’s books is the very thing other writers tend to dodge when adapting them: that icy, unapologetic streak of misanthropy, so exhilarating to kids who have been instructed to see the good in everyone, opening their eyes to the nastier, more ironic adult world that awaits them. Even the craftiest, classiest Dahl adaptations tend to mollify that cruelty somewhat: Nicolas Roeg’s “The Witches” is viciously frightening but tacks on an unmitigatedly happy ending, while Wes Anderson’s “Fantastic Mr. Fox” muffles the violent survivalism of its source tale with its director’s more gently quirky world-building. Already based on one of his kindlier stories, “Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical” further softens matters by pruning the presence of its funniest adult grotesques to accommodate more child’s-eye exuberance. The long-late author probably would have grumbled; young viewers will be delighted nonetheless.
And yet,...
And yet,...
- 10/5/2022
- by Guy Lodge
- Variety Film + TV
Image Source: Everett Collection
Freeform's spookiest viewing season has started. The network is airing its beloved Halloween lineup, 31 Nights of Halloween, and you can plan ahead with the full schedule.
The month-long marathon includes spooky classics like "The Addams Family," "Ghostbusters," and "Hocus Pocus." On the schedule this year, there's content for the younger set, like "Hotel Transylvania" and "Halloweentown," but also downright scary horror films, including "A Quiet Place" and "Happy Death Day." Fans of fall can also watch how Walt Disney World gets transformed with pumpkins and leaves in the "Decorating Disney: Halloween Magic" special. Many of the movies this year are Freeform premieres, aka totally new additions to the channel's annual Halloween slate!
So while it's just starting to be crisp fall weather in most of the country, it's never too early to start planning for cozy nights in to enjoy a good jump scare. Read...
Freeform's spookiest viewing season has started. The network is airing its beloved Halloween lineup, 31 Nights of Halloween, and you can plan ahead with the full schedule.
The month-long marathon includes spooky classics like "The Addams Family," "Ghostbusters," and "Hocus Pocus." On the schedule this year, there's content for the younger set, like "Hotel Transylvania" and "Halloweentown," but also downright scary horror films, including "A Quiet Place" and "Happy Death Day." Fans of fall can also watch how Walt Disney World gets transformed with pumpkins and leaves in the "Decorating Disney: Halloween Magic" special. Many of the movies this year are Freeform premieres, aka totally new additions to the channel's annual Halloween slate!
So while it's just starting to be crisp fall weather in most of the country, it's never too early to start planning for cozy nights in to enjoy a good jump scare. Read...
- 10/3/2022
- by Lindsay Kimble
- Popsugar.com
October has arrived, bringing the official start of spooky season with it. And with that comes Freeform’s 31 Nights of Halloween schedule.
As expected, “Hocus Pocus” reigns supreme in the 31 Nights line-up of Halloween movies on Freeform in 2022 You can go back and watch the Kenny Ortega-directed film 13 times this month, after “Hocus Pocus 2” premieres on Disney+ on September 30.
Of course, a few other mainstays return to the programming block this year, including “Maleficent” and “Beetlejuice.”
You can check out the full schedule below.
Also Read:
‘Halloween Ends’ to Be Released Same Day in Theaters and on Peacock Saturday, Oct. 1
7:00a/6:00c – Edward ScissorHands
9:10a/8:10c – The Witches (1990)
11:20a/10:20c – The Haunted Mansion (2003)
1:25p/10:20c – Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas
3:05p/2:05c – Hotel Transylvania
5:10p/4:10c – Hotel Transylvania 2
7:15p/6:15c – Hocus Pocus...
As expected, “Hocus Pocus” reigns supreme in the 31 Nights line-up of Halloween movies on Freeform in 2022 You can go back and watch the Kenny Ortega-directed film 13 times this month, after “Hocus Pocus 2” premieres on Disney+ on September 30.
Of course, a few other mainstays return to the programming block this year, including “Maleficent” and “Beetlejuice.”
You can check out the full schedule below.
Also Read:
‘Halloween Ends’ to Be Released Same Day in Theaters and on Peacock Saturday, Oct. 1
7:00a/6:00c – Edward ScissorHands
9:10a/8:10c – The Witches (1990)
11:20a/10:20c – The Haunted Mansion (2003)
1:25p/10:20c – Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas
3:05p/2:05c – Hotel Transylvania
5:10p/4:10c – Hotel Transylvania 2
7:15p/6:15c – Hocus Pocus...
- 10/1/2022
- by Andi Ortiz
- The Wrap
It’s officially spooky season. Freeform’s annual October programming, “31 Nights of Halloween,” is back with a lineup of Halloween-inspired films, including both beloved classics and recent hit films. In addition to fan favorites like the “Ghostbusters,” “Hocus Pocus” and “Halloweentown,“ this year’s lineup will also add “Get Out,” 2018’s “Halloween,” “Happy Death Day” and the sequel and “A Quiet Place.”
October 13 will be honoring Tim Burton, with a plethora of his films airing including “Frankenweenie,” “Edward Scissorhands,” “Corpse Bride,” “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and “Beetlejuice,” among others. Of course, his hits will also be sprinkled throughout the month.
Scroll through for the full schedule, kicking off this weekend.
Saturday, Oct. 1
7:00 a.m. Et – “Edward Scissorhands”
9:10 a.m. Et – “The Witches” (1990)
11:20 a.m. Et – “The Haunted Mansion” (2003)
1:25 p.m. Et – “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas”
3:05 p.m. Et – “Hotel Transylvania”
5:10 p.
October 13 will be honoring Tim Burton, with a plethora of his films airing including “Frankenweenie,” “Edward Scissorhands,” “Corpse Bride,” “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and “Beetlejuice,” among others. Of course, his hits will also be sprinkled throughout the month.
Scroll through for the full schedule, kicking off this weekend.
Saturday, Oct. 1
7:00 a.m. Et – “Edward Scissorhands”
9:10 a.m. Et – “The Witches” (1990)
11:20 a.m. Et – “The Haunted Mansion” (2003)
1:25 p.m. Et – “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas”
3:05 p.m. Et – “Hotel Transylvania”
5:10 p.
- 9/30/2022
- by Emily Longeretta
- Variety Film + TV
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