News

Paramount Global’s decision to shutter its namesake TV studio means the loss of dozens of jobs, the shifting of several series to another banner and a consolidation of power within the company’s two remaining TV studios — at least until a potential Skydance-Paramount merger is complete.

Paramount TV Studios ceased operations Aug. 16 as part of heavy layoffs at the parent company. Paramount is cutting 15 percent of its U.S.-based employees in an effort to lop $500 million off its balance sheet. The studio’s current productions, including the Prime Video hit Reacher and Apple TV+’s Time Bandits, along with upcoming shows Cross (Prime Video), Before and Murderbot (both at Apple TV+) and any projects in development, will move to corporate sibling CBS Studios.

What the shutdown won’t affect, at least in the immediate aftermath, is Paramount+, the streaming platform that Paramount is looking to make sustainably...

How do you get The Roku Channel to compete with the likes of Pluto TV? Maybe you buy Pluto TV. And Paramount+. Hell, buy the whole company while you’re at it.

The Wall Street Journal on Thursday reported that Seagram’s heir Edgar Bronfman Jr., the chairman of Fubo, has not yet given up on acquiring control of Paramount Global. And he’s recruiting: In his ragtag group are Fortress Investment Group, “Baby Geniuses” producer Steven Paul, and Roku, the number 1 manufacturer of streaming devices.

Wait, Roku — where did you come from?

A combination could make some sense here. For starters, Paramount+ is available on Roku platforms already. And they’re probably already hanging out at the Walton Family Christmas parties: Both Paramount and Roku have deals with Walmart. Ad-supported Paramount+ is included with a Walmart+ membership, while Roku is the operating system in Walmart’s own branded TVs.

The long-gestating Nautilus live action series has swum to Prime Video in the UK and Ireland.

Based on Jules Verne’s beloved Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, the series was initially in with Disney+ UK before it was culled as part of its notorious streaming content removal plan last year. It wound up with AMC in the States and is now with Amazon in the UK and Ireland.

Nautilus tells the origin story of Captain Nemo: an Indian Prince robbed of his birthright and family, joining him as he steals a formidable prototype submarine and escapes into the Indian Ocean with a ragtag crew, determined to enact revenge against the ruthless East India Mercantile Company. It stars Shazad Latif, Georgia Flood, Thierry Fremont and Céline Menville, with guest appearances from Richard E Grant, Anna Torv and Noah Taylor.

Deadline revealed Disney was ditching Nautilus around a year ago and...

Als jüngste Maßnahme des Kostenreduzierungsprogramms, das Einsparungen in Höhe von 500 Mio. Dollar einbringen soll, hat Paramount Global die Schließung des 2013 gegründeten TV-Studios angekündigt.

Nicole Clemens, President von Paramount Television Studios (Credit: Paramount)

Im Rahmen des Kostenreduzierungsprogramms, mit dessen Hilfe 500 Mio. Dollar eingespart werden sollen, hat Paramount Global die Schließung des 2013 gegründeten Paramount Television Studios angekündigt. Wie US-Branchenmedien berichten, sollen alle Serien, die dort derzeit in Entwicklung sind, bei CBS Studios weitergeführt werden.

Nicole Clemens, President von Paramount Television Studios, schreibt in einem Memo ihre Mitarbeiter: „Dies ist eine herausfordernde und transformative Zeit für die gesamte Branche und leider ist auch unser Studio nicht immun“. In den vergangenen elf Jahren hat das Studio scheinbar unüberwindbare Hindernisse durch eine Kombination aus Stärke, Entschlossenheit und unerschütterlichem Engagement überwunden. Wir haben diese Herausforderungen mit unglaublicher Widerstandsfähigkeit, Kreativität und Leidenschaft für unsere Arbeit gemeistert und ich könnte nicht stolzer auf unser Team sein. Wir hatten auch das Privileg,...

The Paramount Pictures lot in Southern California. (Photo by Patrick Pelster via Wikimedia Commons)

Paramount Global is doing away with its Paramount Television Studios (Ptvs) business and will move all projects over to CBS Studios as part of broader cost cuts at the company.

Ptvs is expected to be fully shut down by Friday, according to memos penned by high-level executives that were sent to employees on Tuesday, a move that will impact series like “Reacher,” “Time Bandits” and the television adaptation of “Interview with the Vampire.” All three of the series are developed by Paramount but distributed by other broadcasters.

“As you’re all aware, Paramount Global has made the difficult decision to close Paramount Television Studios as part of the company’s broader restructuring plans,” Nicole Clemens, the President of Ptvs, said in a memo to employees. “This has been a challenging and transformative time for the entire industry,...

Paramount Television Studios, which has produced shows such as “Reacher” on Amazon Prime Video, Showtime’s “A Gentleman in Moscow,” HBO’s “Station Eleven,” the “Sonic” spinoff “Knuckles,” the series remake of “Fatal Attraction,” and more, is shutting down amid layoffs and cost cuts at Paramount Global, IndieWire has learned.

Paramount is on Tuesday, August 13 beginning layoffs of up to 15 percent of its global workforce, with many of those coming from the U.S. and eliminating other redundant roles. The current Office of the CEO wants to find $500 million in cost-savings, and this is part of an overall $2 billion that new owner Skydance wants to make in cuts once the transaction to merge the two companies closes.

Paramount Television Studios has also had a hand in making series such as “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan” on Amazon Prime Video, “The Spiderwick Chronicles” on Roku, and most recently “Time Bandits” on...

There have been two major rounds of layoffs at Paramount Global this year, with Paramount Television Studios as a primary target in both. After its team was gutted in the February 13 cuts, as part of today’s reductions, the division is being shuttered altogether. It will cease operations after 11 years at the end of this week. Paramount TV Studios President Nicole Clemens and CBS President and CEO George Cheeks, who oversees the division, announced the decision in separate memos (You can read both below.)

Ftvs’ shutdown will result in the exit of 20-30 employees. All current Ptvs series and development projects will be folded into CBS Studios.

“To be clear, this is not a decision based on how Ptvs performed. This move is the result of significant changes in the TV and streaming marketplace and the need to streamline our company,” Cheeks said. “Under Nicole’s leadership, this studio consistently...

Paramount Global is shutting down its namesake TV studio as the company embarks on a major round of layoffs.

Paramount Television Studios will cease operations at the end of the week, president Nicole Clemens and Paramount co-ceo George Cheeks told staff Tuesday morning. Clemens will exit the company, and all current series and projects in development at Paramount TV Studios — including Reacher, Apple’s Time Bandits and the upcoming Cross at Prime Video — will move under the CBS Studios umbrella.

Paramount announced last week that it would lay off 15 percent of its U.S. employees — on top of about 800 layoffs six months ago — as part of an effort to save $500 million in costs ahead of a planned merger with Skydance. Cheeks and fellow CEOs Brian Robbins and Chris McCarthy told staff earlier Tuesday that layoffs would begin that day and take place in three phases over the remainder of the year.

Paramount Television Studios will cease operations by the end of the week, impacting about 20-30 individuals. The move is part of a long-term strategic plan being carried out by co-CEOs Brian Robbins, George Cheeks and Chris McCarthy.

Going forward, all current Ptvs series and development projects — such as Prime Video’s “Cross” and Apple TV+’s “Before” and “Murderbot” — will transition to CBS Studios.

“To be clear, this is not a decision based on how Ptvs performed. This move is the result of significant changes in the TV and streaming marketplace and the need to streamline our company,” Cheeks wrote in an internal memo to staff on Tuesday. “I want to thank Ptvs president Nicole Clemens and the talented team she built for the many signature hits they produced. Under Nicole’s leadership, this studio consistently punched above its weight in attracting top storytellers and stars to create best-in-class series.

Paramount Television Studios, a production facility originally aimed at getting Paramount Pictures back into the business of making TV series, will shut down, the latest bout of cost cutting by parent corporation Paramount Global as it seeks to eliminate $500 million amid a chaotic shift in the entertainment industry.

“This has been a challenging and transformative time for the entire industry, and sadly, our studio is not immune,” said Nicole Clemens, president of the unit, which debuted in 2013, in a memo to staffers. “Over the past 11 years, she said, the studio “has weathered seemingly insurmountable obstacles through a combination of strength, determination, and unwavering commitment. We met these challenges with incredible resilience, creativity, and passion for what we do, and I could not be prouder of our team. We’ve also had the privilege to collaborate with some of the most brilliant creative talent in the industry to help tell incredible stories seen around the world,...

Get ready for an adventurous family adventure film starring the guy from Shazam and Chuck, Zachary Levi. Based on a 1955 children’s picture book of the same name by Crockett Johnson, Harold, and the Purple Crayon is directed by Carlos Saldanha from a screenplay co-written by David Guion and Michael Handelman and it follows the story of a grown-up Harold, who can make anything come true by drawing it with his crayon in his book. When he draws himself into real life he goes on numerous comedic adventures but his power soon falls into the wrong hands. If you loved the comedic hijinks, fantastical adventures, and imagination in Harold and the Purple Crayon here are some similar movies you could watch next.

Christopher Robin (Disney+ & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – Walt Disney Studios

Christopher Robin is a live-action and animated hybrid fantasy comedy-drama film directed by Marc Forster from a...

About three years ago, we heard that Lethal Weapon franchise star (and potential Lethal Weapon 5 director) Mel Gibson had signed on to star in a fantasy adventure / family horror film that was going by the title Boys of Summer. That project has since been given a new title, Monster Summer, and it’s set to reach theatres on October 4th. The marketing has now officially begun, as a trailer for Monster Summer has made its way online, and you can check it out in the embed above! A poster has also been unveiled, and that can be found at the bottom of this article.

Directed by David Henrie (This Is the Year) from a script written by Cornelius Uliano and Bryan Schulz (The Peanuts Movie), Monster Summer follows a local boy, who after his best friend is mysteriously taken, begins to suspect that a supernatural entity may be hunting the children of Martha’s Vineyard.

The Black Phone star Mason Thames is gearing up for a Monster Summer, a spooky family adventure from director David Henrie (“Wizards of Waverly Place”). A brand new trailer debuted today, introducing a supernatural coming-of-age story.

Monster Summer arrives in theaters on October 4, 2024.

In the film, “When a mysterious force begins to disrupt their big summer fun, Noah and his friends team up with a retired police detective to embark on a monstrous adventure to save their island.”

The new trailer below leans into the nostalgia of childhood summers with a suspenseful twist, while giving nothing away. It’s also packed with familiar faces.

Lorraine Bracco, Nora Zehetner (“The Right Stuff”), Noah Cottrell (“The Spiderwick Chronicles), Abby James Witherspoon (Secret Headquarters), Lilah Pate (“Outer Banks”), Julian Lerner (“The Wonder Years”), Patrick Renna (The Sandlot), and Mel Gibson also stars.

The spooky family adventure movie, formerly titled Boys of Summer, was...

Exclusive: Awesomeness has launched development on Blue Bloods (wt), a series adaptation of the best-selling same-name book series from Melissa de la Cruz, for which Jacquie Walters will serve as writer and executive producer.

Additional executive producers of the series will include Richard Abate and Katie Newman Krandel for 3 Arts Entertainment, Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, Jeremy Bell, Sarah Jones and DJ Goldberg for The Gotham Group, and De La Cruz.

In the universe of Blue Bloods, New York City is secretly ruled by an elite class of immortal vampires. But when one of their own disappears, they are faced with an existential threat: an ancient and evil breed of vampire has returned. Amidst this chaos, 17-year-old Sky, the first half-human-half-vampire, faces her own challenges as a newcomer to the prestigious Duchesne Institute. Previously exiled from the Blue Bloods,...

About three years ago, we heard that Lethal Weapon franchise star (and potential Lethal Weapon 5 director) Mel Gibson had signed on to star in a fantasy adventure / family horror film that was going by the title Boys of Summer. That project has since been given a new title, Monster Summer, and Coming Soon reports that it will be reaching theatres just in time for Halloween! The specific release date is October 4th.

Directed by David Henrie (This Is the Year) from a script written by Cornelius Uliano and Bryan Schulz (The Peanuts Movie), Monster Summer follows a local boy, who after his best friend is mysteriously taken, begins to suspect that a supernatural entity may be hunting the children of Martha’s Vineyard. After seeking the help of an aging detective (Gibson), they soon discover they’re on the path of a witch who has recently retired to their island.

Exclusive: Gersh has signed actor Lyon Daniels (The Spiderwick Chronicles) for representation in all areas.

Currently, Daniels can be seen starring opposite Christian Slater and more in The Roku Channel’s adaptation of The Spiderwick Chronicles, the bestselling fantasy book series by Tony Diterlizzi and Holly Black.

Created by Aron Eli Colleite, the series watches as Helen Grace (Joy Bryant) relocates to her family’s ancestral home, Spiderwick, with her children: 15-year-old twins Jared (Daniels) and Simon (Noah Cottrel), and their sister Mallory (Mychala Lee). There, Jared stumbles upon a boggart and learns that magical creatures truly exist, though his great-aunt Lucinda (Charlayne Woodard) is the only one who believes him. Subsequently, she tasks Jared with finding her father’s field guide to magical creatures and protecting it from the ruthless Ogre, Mulgarath (Slater).

Watched by millions of viewers during its opening weekend, the series was crowned as the #1 most-watched...

[This story contains spoilers for Atlas]

A movie begins, and Jennifer Lopez opens a suitcase to reveal a robotic head, which she proceeds to interrogate.

How’d that head get in the suitcase? Why is Jennifer Lopez talking to it? The audience doesn’t yet know, but hopefully they are intrigued.

That’s how screenwriter Aron Eli Coleite started one draft of Atlas, the sci-fi movie starring Lopez that hit Netflix May 24. The introduction had shades of the first scene of 1982’s Blade Runner, and was designed to keep an audience engaged in the age of streaming, in which there are near infinite opportunities to click away. “You just don’t want the audience to tune out at any point of like, ‘Oh, I can check out,’ says Coleite. “The danger of Netflix is you have a remote control.”

Ultimately, the team — including director Brad Peyton and producer Joby Harold — felt that while the opening was fun,...

After watching J.Lo’s latest film, I began to wonder: Is Atlas the first pro-artificial intelligence movie of the decade? A prominent issue today is the use of AI. Atlas comes across as a movie from a studio trying to convince the public that AI is good for society. Initially, you might say no because Atlas spends so much time trying to destroy AI rather than protect it.

However, as the film progresses, the subtext and themes become so blatant that they’re impossible to miss. Atlas is the first pro-artificial intelligence film of its kind, practically propaganda. One of the film’s hidden messages is that AI doesn’t hurt society; the people who create it do. The other is that AI can be helpful if used in the right way.

The message from Atlas is on par with “guns don’t kill people, people don’t kill people,...

The “Dexter” prequel series at Paramount+ with Showtime has found its three leads.

Variety has learned that Patrick Gibson, Christian Slater, and Molly Brown are all set to star in the show, which is now titled “Dexter: Original Sin.” Gibson will play Dexter Morgan, while Slater will play Harry Morgan, Dexter’s adoptive father. Brown will play Debra Morgan, Dexter’s sister. The three roles were played by Michael C. Hall, James Remar, and Jennifer Carpenter respectively in the original series.

The 10-episode prequel was originally announced in February 2023. It is set in 1991, 15 years before the events of “Dexter.” The official logline states that the new show “follows Dexter (Gibson) as he transitions from student to avenging serial killer. When his bloodthirsty urges can’t be ignored any longer, Dexter must learn to channel his inner darkness. With the guidance of his father, Harry (Slater), he adopts a Code designed...

A new cast will learn Dexter Morgan’s Code.

Patrick Gibson (Shadow and Bone[/link]), Christian Slater (Mr. Robot) and Molly Brown (Senior Year) have been tapped to star in Dexter: Original Sin, a prequel to Showtime’s Dexter.

Originally ordered to series in February 2023 and titled Dexter: Origins, Original Sin is set in 1991 Miami and revolves around Dexter (Gibson) as he goes from student to avenging serial killer. With guidance from his father, Harry (Slater), Dexter adopts a Code designed to help him find and kill people without being discovered by law enforcement at the same time as he begins a forensics internship at the Miami Metro Police Department.

Original Dexter showrunner Clyde Phillips, who returned to finish off Michael C. Hall’s on-screen journey as Dexter in the 2021 limited series Dexter: New Blood, will serve in the same capacity on Original Sin.

Exec producers include Phillips, Hall, Scott Reynolds,...

Leaving fans stunned and emotional through the seven-season journey, Freddie Highmore’s The Good Doctor came to an end on May 21, tying up loose ends and offering a satisfying ending to the surgeons at San Jose St. Adapted from the 2013 K-drama, as David Shore and Liz Friedman’s show concluded, the showrunners sat to dissect the finale.

Freddie Highmore in The Good Doctor | Sony Pictures Television and ABC Studios

Addressing all the shocking events that happened in the series finale, The Good Doctor showrunners alongside Freddie Highmore broke the silence on the ending. Particularly dissecting the fate of the beloved characters, Dr. Aaron Glassman, David Shore, and Liz Friedman explained why the events happened.

The Good Doctor Showrunners Break Silence on a Beloved Character’s Fate

Adapted from the 2013 K-drama by the same name, ABC’s hit series The Good Doctor eventually ended its seven-season run on May 21, with Part 2 of its two-hour finale.

Jerry Seinfeld’s highly touted (and largely panned) feature directorial debut, “Unfrosted,” spent four days leading Netflix’s top 10 movie chart before another Netflix original, “Mother of the Bride” starring Brooke Shields, took the slot before the thematically appropriate weekend holiday.

“Unfrosted” led for just four days, with “Shrek” from 2001 leading midweek before the debut of “Bride.” The Dreamworks animated classic is still in second place, while Seinfeld’s Pop-Tarts comedy dropped to fourth.

“Bride” comes from director Mark Waters. Perhaps best known for his “Freaky Friday” remake and the original “Mean Girls,” Waters went on to direct “The Spiderwick Chronicles,” “Vampire Academy,” and “Bad Santa 2.” In the new rom-com, Shields is a mom who realizes the father of her future son-in-law broke her heart decades ago.

“Bride” and “Unfrosted” are the sole Netflix originals on its weekly list of the top 10 domestic movies. Reflecting the start of summer’s school vacations,...

Exclusive: ScreenCraft has finalized the lineup for its annual Virtual Writers Summit.

The summit, which is expected to span the entire month of June this year, will feature creatives including Richard Linklater, Issa Lopez, Lulu Wang, Quinta Brunson, Nkechi Okoro Carroll, and Sean Wang.

Typically, the summit has occurred over one weekend. However, this year boasts the largest lineup ever, thus resulting in panels over the course of the month on June 8, 15, 22, and 29.

“This marks the fifth year we have organized our annual writers summit virtually and, undeniably, the strongest lineup we have ever put together,” Thomas Dever, VP of Business Development for Industry Arts, ScreenCraft’s parent company, said in a statement. “We are thrilled to hear from these incredible speakers and bring them together with our audience to educate and inspire.”

See the full schedule below.

June 8

Headline Speaker – Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary) Letting Authenticity Guide Your Story,...

From Jaws leaving him scarred at the age of 5 to The Shining inspiring his performance in The Spiderwick Chronicles, the horror genre has had a huge impact on Christian Slater over the years. However, when it comes to real life, the actor never believed in the supernatural until spending one night in a hotel in Miami, which slightly changed his stance on the subject.

While he and his wife had plans to spend six days in the hotel, the Interview with the Vampire star recounted leaving The Biltmore Hotel just after their first night.

Christian Slater Recalled His Weird Night in The Biltmore Hotel in Miami Christian Slater | Credit: The Spiderwick Chronicles (via Paramount Television Studios)

Appearing on The Kelly Clarkson Show, Christian Slater recounted his experience in The Biltmore Hotel in Miami, when asked about his stance on the supernatural. While the actor was initially warned about the hotel...

Roku also remained the largest TV operating system in the United States.

As the costs of streaming services continue to climb higher and higher, free streaming platforms are routinely showing growth that dwarfs their subscription-based competitors. That continued to be the case on Thursday as Roku released its first quarter 2024 earnings. The leading streaming platform in the United States reported that in the first three quarters of the year, 81.6 million households used Roku to stream video content, and they did so to the tune of 30.8 billion hours of viewing.

Key Details: Roku reported adding 1.6 million new households to its platform in Q1 2024. With over 30 billion hours streamed, the company is on pace to shatter last year’s record. The Roku operating system remains the most used in both the United States and Mexico. Watch Now Free roku.com

Both of those streaming metrics represented impressive increases for Roku. The 81.6 million...

The Spiderwick Chronicles creeped out of the woodwork to become a resounding success for The Roku Channel.

Debuting on April 19, the series became the most-watched on demand title to ever debut on The Roku Channel, including both Roku Originals and acquired content, according to the company.

While Roku didn’t give any viewership figures, it did say that “millions” had tuned in to watch The Spiderwick Chronicles in its opening weekend.

According to Roku, The Spiderwick Chronicles has tallied the highest reach and most hours streamed of any title in the platform’s history during an opening weekend. It also also earned the highest daily reach and most hours streamed of any title to ever to debut The Roku Channel in a singular day.

“What’s clear is that great IP, great talent, [and] clear titles thrive on the Roku platform,” Brian Tannenbaum, Roku’s Head of Originals, told Deadline. “We...

Atlas Photo: Netflix The logline for Netflix’s upcoming film, Atlas, reads, “Atlas Shepherd (Jennifer Lopez), a brilliant but misanthropic data analyst with a deep distrust of artificial intelligence, joins a mission to capture a renegade robot with whom she shares a mysterious past. But when plans go awry, her...

AtlasPhoto: Netflix

The logline for Netflix’s upcoming film, Atlas,reads, “Atlas Shepherd (Jennifer Lopez), a brilliant but misanthropic data analyst with a deep distrust of artificial intelligence, joins a mission to capture a renegade robot with whom she shares a mysterious past. But when plans go awry, her only...

The Spiderwick Chronicles‘ first season debuted on Roku this past Friday and, as part of the show’s press junket, I recently got to sit down and chat with three of the show’s stars. Lyon Daniels, previously known for the Netflix film We Can Be Heroes, who plays main character Jared Grace, Noah Cottrell, whose past works include the 2021 Punky Brewster reboot and the Dwayne Johnson film Skyscraper, who plays Jared’s twin brother Simon, and Mychala Lee, who previously starred in shows like 9-1-1: Lone Star and the Apple TV+ original Truth Be Told, who plays the twins’ older sister, Mallory.

Also Read: The Spiderwick Chronicles (2024) Review – A Fantastical Pleasant Surprise Featured Video:

Lyon Daniels as Jared Grace in The Roku Channel’s The Spiderwick Chronicles

“Simon’s trying to find his independence and crawl out of Jared’s shadow and Jared is trying to pull him back in.

The Spiderwick Chronicles made its debut on Roku this past Friday and for the show’s press junket, I got to sit down and have a brief but delightful conversation with two of the show’s stars. Jack Dylan Grazer, best known for the two Shazam films and Pixar’s Luca, who voices the mischevious boggart Thimbletack, and Alyvia Alyn Lind, whose previous work includes The Young and The Restless as well as the Chucky TV series, who plays Mulgarath’s adopted daughter Calliope.

Also Read: The Spiderwick Chronicles (2024) Review – A Fantastical Pleasant Surprise Featured Video:

Alyvia Alyn Lind as Calliope in The Spiderwick Chronicles

“Everything she does is just slightly off.” – Alyvia Alyn Lind

The main thing I discussed with both of these actors is the challenge of playing sympathetic yet antagonistic characters. For instance, Calliope starts the series off as a devoted acolyte of Mulgarath eager to see humanity devoured,...

The Spiderwick Chronicles released on Roku this past Friday and as part of the show’s press junket, I got to sit down and talk with two of the show’s stars. Beloved character actor Christian Slater, known for classic 80s and 90s movies like Heathers and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and recent TV hits like Mr. Robot and Inside Job, who plays the show’s villain Mulgarath; and the lovely and talented Joy Bryant, known for films like Honey and Get Rich or Die Tryin’, who plays Helen Grace.

Also Read: The Spiderwick Chronicles (2024) Review – A Fantastical Pleasant Surprise Featured video:

“We had just as much fun, in a kid-like kind of way, as the kids did.” – Joy Bryant

The Grace family in The Spiderwick Chronicles (2024)

The first thing I asked them, given that The Spiderwick Chronicles is a show and a story about, for, and largely starring kids,...

In 2003, Tony Diterlizzi and Holly Black introduced the world to the Grace family. After they move into the Spiderwick Estate, things get fantastical for twins Simon and Jared, as well as older sister Mallory. It was only the beginning of this magical story. With the books and a feature film release in 2008, the stories are back. After originally being produced for Disney Plus, The Spiderwick Chronicles series has found a home this weekend on Roku. Showrunner Aron Eli Coleite looked to expand on the world, with the help of its creators. And the impressive cast led by Christian Slater and Joy Bryant, are all in on the fantasy.

Recently, we had the great joy of speaking with the fine folks that brought Spiderwick to life. First up, we sat down with Diterlizzi and Black. The authors discussed the excitement of expanding the world they created. During the conversation, Mr. Diterlizzi...

Christian Slater currently stars in Roku’s The Spiderwick Chronicles as Mulgarath, an extremely powerful ogre who can shape-shift into any form he wants, whether human or animal. The actor recently revealed that he had no idea about the creator’s inspiration behind the character, but it turned out to be something that he loved for years.

The Spiderwick Chronicles

The franchise was helmed as a movie in 2008 starring Freddie Highmore and was based on the book series The Spiderwick Chronicles by Tony Diterlizzi and Holly Black. It received generally favorable reviews, though it’s quite sad that it has long been forgotten by people as the years went by.

Christian Slater Discovers Inspiration Behind Mulgarath Christian Slater in The Spiderwick Chronicles

During Screen Rant’s interview with actor Christian Slater, he found out that the creator of the show looked into Jack Nicholson’s character in The Witches of Eastwick...

After Martin Short’s 2008 The Spiderwick Chronicles, the novel by the same name, by Tony Diterlizzi and Holly Black got adapted once again in the form of a TV series. Starring Jack Dylan Grazer, the recently released Spiderwick show became the talk of the town when the show’s Thimbletack actor Grazer shared his take on his performance.

Jack Dylan Grazer in a still from It

Comparing his role as Thimbletack in the 2024 show to Martin Short’s role in the 2008 The Spiderwick Chronicles, Jack Dylan Grazer claimed to be a fan of the actor. Claiming that he prefers Short’s version better, Grazer expressed his admiration for Short.

The Spiderwick Chronicles is Back on Screen as a TV Show

Following the storyline of the New York Times bestselling series The Spiderwick Chronicles from Tony Diterlizzi and Holly Black, Mark Waters initially helmed a film by the same name in...

The iconic child-fantasy novel series The Spideriwick Chronicles received a TV adaptation on the Roku Channel. The fantasy series is created by showrunner Aron Eli Coleite, who is known for working on the shows Locke & Key and Daybreak, both Netflix shows. Authors of the novel series, Tony Diterlizzi and Holly Black are also part of the development process.

Joining the show is Coleite’s Daybreak star Alyvia Alyn Lind as Calliope, an original character that was not present in the novel series. Before fans take up arms for messing with the source material, the showrunner explained why he and authors Diterlizzi and Black chose to create a new character for the show.

Why Did Roku’s The Spiderwick Chronicles Create An Original Character? A still from The Spiderwick Chronicles

The children’s fantasy novel series The Spiderwick Chronicles has already received one cinematic adaptation. The film version of the...

The Spiderwick Chronicles has once again returned to the screens to remind fans of the mesmerizing story of the twin brothers Jared and Simon Grace and the magical Spiderwick Estate. However, this time, the storyline has been helmed a bit differently to make it all the more interesting and exciting in the eight-episode miniseries from the mastermind creator, Aron Eli Coleite.

The Spiderwick Chronicles (2024).

Yet, even with the twists and turns setting all the more intriguing climacterics for the story, this series wanted to repeat one key element from the original film as well: Have one actor play the role of the twins just like the 2008 masterpiece did. But things had to unfold differently this time for the casting process, and the showrunner felt it all eventually turned out to be a win-win situation for them.

The Spiderwick Chronicles Show Wanted to Copy This One Thing from the Film

The...

The Spiderwick Chronicles, based on the fantasy adventure novels by Tony Diterlizzi and Holly Black, premiered on Roku on April 19th, 2024. The extremely successful children’s books has been adapted into a series consisting of 8 episodes and stars Joy Bryant and Christian Slater as the central characters.

A still from The Spiderwick Chronicles (image credit: Roku)

Interestingly, the show was originally picked up by Disney+ before the platform decided to step back reportedly owing to cost-cutting measures and differences of opinion regarding the content. Despite high expectations, the show has unfortunately failed to impress critics who do not seem to have felt the impact of the novels.

Why Did Disney Plus Let Go Of The Spiderwick Chronicles?

Much like the Harry Potter novels, The Spiderwick Chronicles, written by Tony Diterlizzi and Holly Black, have transported children and young adults into a fantasy world of adventure and mystery. The books have...

The Spiderwick Chronicles dropped on The Roku Channel on Friday and the reviews have been mixed, at best. The series, based on Holly Black and Tony Diterlizzi’s novels of the same name, did not live up to the magic of the original source material. Critics generally found that the series tried telling a modernized version of the story but failed to execute the integral fantasy element. Some fans accuse the series of going too woke, without consideration for the myth and the magic.

The Spiderwick Chronicles race-swapped the central characters from the books

Fans call it the Dei Harry Potter, as The Spiderwick Chronicles race-swaps the central sibling trio of Mallory, Jared, and Simon. These characters, originally White in the book, were played by Black actors Noah Cottrell, Lyon Daniels, and Mychala Lee respectively.

Fans Say The Spiderwick Chronicles TV Series Could Fail Due To Its Wokeness Fans say...

Magic is all around in the world of The Spiderwick Chronicles. Most of it is hidden away from the eyes of humans, tucked into obscure corners or shielded from human eyes by glamours. Still, those with hearts and minds open enough to see what’s in front of them — like our 15-year-old hero Jared (Lyon Daniels) — might find in the sleepy town of Henson, Michigan, a veritable haven of otherworldly life. Unicorns frolic in a glen. Sprites flutter alongside fireflies at dusk. Just outside the doors of a nondescript grocery, a goblin market trades in mythical weapons and pumpkin spice lattes.

But if such extraordinary sights are everywhere, the sense of wonder that ought to accompany them proves to be in disappointingly short supply. Even as The Spiderwick Chronicles‘ head drifts into the clouds, powered by fantasies of faeries and ogres and witches and dragons, the Roku Channel adventure is...

Plot: The Grace family moves from Brooklyn, New York, to their ancestral home in Henson, Michigan, the Spiderwick Estate. Helen makes the move with her 15-year-old fraternal twin boys, Jared and Simon, and her older daughter, Mallory. Shortly after moving to the Spiderwick Estate, Jared discovers a boggart and realizes that magical creatures are real! The only one to believe him is his great-aunt Lucinda, who implores Jared to find the pages of her father’s field guide to magical creatures and protect them from the murderous Ogre, Mulgarath.

Review: Based on the popular young adult novel series of the same name, The Spiderwick Chronicles comes a decade-and-a-half after Paramount Pictures’ big-screen adaptation was a moderate success at the box office and with critics. Taking a cue from other YA films like A Series of Unfortunate Events, Harry Potter, and other similar early 21st-century franchises, The Spiderwick Chronicles books combines fantasy,...

"The Spiderwick Chronicles" supernatural, fantasy book series by Tony Diterlizzi and Holly Black, previously a 2008 live-action feature, directed by Mark Waters, is now a live-action TV series, from Paramount Television Studios & 20th Television, starring Christian Slater and Joy Bryant, streaming now on The Roku Channel:

"...'The Spiderwick Chronicles' follows the 'Grace' family, as they move from New York to Michigan and into their family's ancestral home. 

"Upon arrival, the family not only uncovers mysteries hidden inside their great grandfather's 'Spiderwick Estate', but also discovers a secret, fantastical world around them..."

Cast also includes Noah Cottrell, Lyon Daniels, Mychala Lee and  Jack Dylan Grazer.

Click the images to enlarge...

One of the most beloved children’s novel series of the past few decades is getting a brand-new adaptation! “The Spiderwick Chronicles” will debut all eight episodes of its first season on The Roku Channel on Friday, April 19. The series follows three children who move to their ancestral home with their mother, only to discover when they arrive that magical creatures are as real as they are! You can watch with a free sign-up to Roku Channel.

How to Watch 'The Spiderwick Chronicles' Season 1 When: Friday, April 19, 2024 Where: Roku Channel Stream: Watch with a free sign-up to Roku Channel. Watch NowFree roku.com About 'The Spiderwick Chronicles' Season 1

It’s time for the Grace family to start over. Matriarch Helen decides to pack up her daughter Mallory, as well as her twin boys Jared and Simon and get out of New York City. She removes them from their urban confines to the Spiderwick Estate,...

I’ll be honest, I had no idea what to expect going into The Spiderwick Chronicles. The original books, despite likely being right up my Percy Jackson-loving alley, completely passed me by as a kid. And while I have vague memories of the trailers for the 2008 film adaptation, I never actually saw the film for myself.

As such, I cannot speak to how the new series, originally produced for Disney+ and nearly thrown in the bin as a cost-cutting measure before being rescued by The Roku Channel, plays as an adaptation or how faithful it is to the source material; though given that the original authors are executive producers, I imagine it’s at least faithful enough.

What I can say is that as an urban fantasy series, The Spiderwick Chronicles is utterly delightful. A creative and consistently captivating show that when it’s not giving you a new...

Netflix has shared the trailer and poster for Mother of the Bride, which will begin streaming globally on May 9, 2024.

The film was directed by Mark Waters, who is known for Freaky Friday, Mean Girls, Just Like Heaven, The Spiderwick Chronicles, Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, Mr. Popper’s Penguins, Vampire Academy, and Bad Santa 2.

In Mother of the Bride, Lana’s daughter Emma returns from abroad and drops a bombshell: She’s getting married—in Thailand—in a month! Things only get worse when Lana learns that the man who captured Emma’s heart is the son of the man who broke her heart years ago.

The film stars Brooke Shields, Miranda Cosgrove (iCarly), Sean Teale, and Chad Michael Murray, with Rachael Harris and Benjamin Bratt.

Written by Robin Bernheim Burger, the Netflix movie also stars Michael McDonald, Wilson Cruz, Tasneem Roc, and Dalip Sondhi.

Brad Krevoy produces, and the executive producers include Brooke Shields,...

Exclusive: Scott Foley (Scandal) has signed on to star in La Dolce Villa, a new romantic comedy for Netflix. Others cast in the film, from director Mark Waters (Mean Girls), include Violante Placido (The American), Maia Reficco (Do Revenge) and Giuseppe Futia.

La Dolce Villa follows successful businessman Eric (Foley) as he travels to Italy to stop his daydreaming daughter Olivia (Reficco) from blowing her life savings on restoring a crumbling villa she purchased for €1. Italy, however, has different plans for him as it delivers on its legendary promise of beauty, magic, and romance.

Script was written by Elizabeth Hackett & Hilary Galanoy. Pic’s producers are Robyn Snyder, Deborah Evans, and Nicola Rosada. Hackett & Galanoy are serving as executive producers.

Best known for roles on shows like Scandal, Scrubs, Whiskey Cavalier and The Big Leap, Foley will next be seen on the Max political...

"What kind of creature's lurking inside Spiderwick?" The Roku Channel is premiering their own adaptation of The Spiderwick Chronicles series coming up in April this spring. Roku has revealed a teaser for the series adapted for TV by the writer Aron Eli Coleite. The Spiderwick Chronicles book series was already adapted into a movie once before, directed by Mark Waters in 2008 with Freddie Highmore starring, and even a video game. The story follows the Grace Family, as they move into their ancestral home and unravel a dark mystery about their great-great Uncle who discovered the parallel, secret faerie world to their own. Their son Jared discovers a boggart and realizes that magical creatures are real! Off into the parallel universe he goes... The Roku series stars Lyon Daniels as Jared, Noah Cottrell, Joy Bryant, Mychala Lee, Jack Dylan Grazer, Christian Slater as Mulgarath, Momona Tamada, & Alyvia Alyn Lind. This certainly...

Exclusive: The Baby-Sitters Club breakout Momona Tamada and Alyvia Alyn Lind (Coat Of Many Colors) are set for heavily recurring roles opposite Lyon Daniels, Noah Cottrell and Christian Slater in Disney+’s live-action series The Spiderwick Chronicles.

Based on the popular series of bestselling books by Tony Diterlizzi and Holly Black, The Spiderwick Chronicles is a contemporary American gothic coming-of-age story that addresses kids and families dealing with mental health issues among other relevant topics. Upon leaving New York and moving to Michigan and into their run-down ancestral home—The Spiderwick Estate—with their mother, twin brothers Jared (Daniels) and Simon (Cottrell) Grace, along with their sister Mallory, find themselves pulled into an alternate, fantastical world.

Tamada will play Emiko. A local teenager in Henson, she’s a member of the out-patient group therapy at the Meskwaki Psychiatric Hospital. Diagnosed as a pathological liar it’s hard to know...

The upcoming “Spiderwick Chronicles” TV series at Disney+ has cast Joy Bryant, Variety has learned exclusively.

Bryant joins previously announced cast members Lyon Daniels and Noah Cottrell as well as Christian Slater. The show is based on the popular book series of the same name by Tony Diterlizzi and Holly Black.

In the show, upon leaving New York and moving to Michigan and into their run-down ancestral home—The Spiderwick Estate—with their mother, twin brothers Jared (Daniels) and Simon Grace (Cottrell), along with their sister Mallory, find themselves pulled into an alternate, fantastical world.

Bryant has been cast as Helen Grace. Helen is described as smart, loving, and strong. In the wake of her divorce, Helen uproots her family from their home in Brooklyn to her grandfather Arthur Spiderwick’s estate in Michigan. A mother of three teenagers, she is doing everything she can to provide for her family...

Exclusive: Christian Slater has been tapped as a major lead in The Spiderwick Chronicles, Disney+’s live-action series adaptation of the popular fantasy books.

Slater will play Mulgarath (alter ego Dr. Dorian Brauer), a capital-v Villain who does what all ogres do — he eats people, an insatiable desire to consume. Mulgarath wants the secrets contained in Arthur Spiderwick’s Field Guide to the Natural World for a nefarious scheme that will satisfy his hunger.

The Spiderwick Chronicles book series follows the Grace Family — twin brothers Jared and Simon, their sister Mallory and mother Helen — as they move into their dilapidated ancestral home and begin to unravel a dark mystery about their great-great Uncle who once discovered the secret and maybe foreboding faerie world existing parallel to their own.

Kat Coiro will direct the first two episodes of the series, a modern coming-of-age story combined with fantasy adventure, produced by Paramount Television Studios and 20th Television.