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The world of Game of Thrones could finally end up on the big screen.

Warner Bros. has been quietly developing at least one film set in George R.R. Martin’s epic fantasy universe, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

Multiple sources describe the project as very early stage development, with no filmmaker, cast or writer yet attached. But the company is keen on exploring the idea of Westeros invading cinemas.

The move might represent a shift in the company’s strategy regarding the property. The showrunners of the original Game of Thrones series (David Benioff and Dan Weiss) famously wanted to conclude the series with three feature films instead of its 2019 final season. Martin was also keen on the idea of a movie and the author told The Hollywood Reporter back in 2014 that concepts were being kicked around. But for a long time, HBO strongly resisted the idea and instead wanted...

Die große Geschichte in Hollywood: Margot Robbie macht für ihre neue Produktion einen Deal mit Warner Bros., obwohl Netflix 70 Millionen Dollar mehr bietet. Ihre Ansage: „Wuthering Heights“, der neue Film von „Saltburn“-Regisseurin Emerald Fennell, soll mit entsprechendem Vorlauf exklusiv im Kino starten.

Margot Robbie (Credit: Imago / Abacapress)

In einem Jahr, in dem die Kinos in den USA trotz vorweisbarer Erfolge zunehmend unter Druck geraten und die Auswertungsfenster selbst bei Hits an den Kinokassen weiter schrumpfen, hat Margot Robbie mit ihrer ersten Filmproduktion seit dem Blockbuster-Erfolg von „Barbie“ im Sommer 2023 mit 1,45 Milliarden Dollar weltweitem Umsatz ein Ausrufezeichen gesetzt. In den harten Verhandlungen um die Auswertungsrechte für ihren ersten Film seit „Barbie“, der neuen Adaption von Emily Brontës Klassiker „Stürmische Höhen“ von „Saltburn“-Regisseurin Emerald Fennell mit Robbie sowie Jacob Elordi in den Hauptrollen, hatte Netflix 150 Millionen Dollar geboten – für eine klassische Netflix-Auswertung: kurzer Kinovorlauf, danach weltweites Streaming. Warner Bros. bot 80 Mio.

It’s all about the theatrical experience. Warner Bros. has secured the rights to Academy Award winner Emerald Fennell’s upcoming film adaptation of “Wuthering Heights” with Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, Deadline reports. The studio beat out Netflix in a competitive situation by committing to a global theatrical release for the film, which the streamer was unwilling to do.

Fennell, who won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay in 2021 for “Promising Young Woman,” is writing, directing, and producing the adaptation of Emily Brontë’s timeless 1847 novel. Robbie will star and produce through her company LuckyChap, along with Tom Ackerley and Josey McNamara. LuckyChap also produced Fennell’s “Promising Young Woman” and “Saltburn,” and Fennell appeared in “Barbie” alongside Robbie as Barbie’s friend Midge. It’s also a reunion with Fennell’s “Saltburn” star Elordi. The film is financed by MRC, who brought the package to market.

Netflix...

Warner Bros has acquired global rights to Emerald Fennell’s upcoming Wuthering Heights, after what the studio describes as a “fierce bidding war”.

The film, starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, will play in cinemas worldwide through Warner Bros.

Fennell has written and will direct and produce the feature adaptation of Emily Bronte’s novel. MRC is financing the film, which Robbie’s LuckyChap is producing. Production dates are not yet confirmed.

Run by Robbie, Tom Ackerley and Josey McNamara, LuckyChap has a multi-year first look feature film deal with Warner Bros. The companies collaborated on last year’s mega-hit Barbie.

After making history together with “Barbie,” Margot Robbie and Warner Bros. are at it again. The LuckyChap producer and star is set to lead frequent collaborator Emerald Fennell’s adaptation of “Wuthering Heights,” which is now officially a Warner Bros. Motion Pictures Group title. IndieWire can confirm that the studio won MRC’s highly-anticipated feature after what we’re told was “a fierce bidding war.”

As previously announced, MRC is the studio financing the film, with Robbie’s LuckyChap producing. Fennell wrote and will direct and produce the feature-film adaptation based on the Emily Brontë novel. Robbie leads the feature as Cathy, who becomes intoxicated with the brooding Heathcliff. Fennell’s “Saltburn” star Jacob Elordi is playing the iconic Heathcliff.

The film is now in pre-production, with UK shoot set for 2025. Writer/director Fennell already teased the project with an Instagram post featuring the title and the tagline “Be with me always.

Warner Bros. Motion Pictures Group has won the feature film adaptation package of Saltburn filmmaker’s Emerald Fennell take on Wuthering Heights.

Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi are attached to star in the feature project, which hails from MRC and generated intense interest from streamers and studios and a bidding war. Warners won out partially due to its commitment to launching Heights theatrically worldwide.

“We are thrilled to partner with MRC, Emerald Fennell, and LuckyChap for this feature film adaptation of Wuthering Heights,” said Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group’s Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy in a statement. “From the moment we were introduced to Emerald’s vision for the film, and with an incredible cast led by Margot and Jacob, we were instantly committed to forging a partnership with this team to ensure the movie was brought to theaters around the world.”

MRC is financing the project, with LuckyChap,...

Warner Bros. Motion Pictures Group has landed MRC’s feature film adaptation of “Wuthering Heights” from director Emerald Fennell. Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi are set to star in the project, which sparked a fierce bidding war.

MRC is the studio financing the film, LuckyChap is producing and Fennell wrote and will direct and produce the feature film adaptation based on the Emily Brontë novel. Warner Bros. Pictures will distribute “Wuthering Heights” in theaters globally.

“Wuthering Heights” marks the second collaboration between MRC, LuckyChap and Fennell after the breakout hit “Saltburn,” and the third collaboration with LuckyChap and Fennell (“Promising Young Woman”).

“We are thrilled to partner with MRC, Emerald Fennell, and LuckyChap for this feature film adaptation of ‘Wuthering Heights,'” Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group’s Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy said in a joint statement. “From the moment we were introduced to Emerald’s vision for the film,...

Warner Bros. Pictures will release Emerald Fennell’s next film “Wuthering Heights,” landing the adaptation after a bidding war that included Netflix. Ultimately Warner Bros.’ theatrical commitment won out, and the studio will distribute the MRC film that has Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi set to star for writer/director Fennell.

The Oscar-winning “Promising Young Woman” filmmaker is coming off the release of last year’s “Saltburn,” which starred Elordi and was released in theaters by Amazon MGM Studios.

Robbie’s Lucky Chap is producing and MRC is financing “Wuthering Heights,” which is an adaptation of the 1847 Emily Brontë novel that follows two families living on the moors.

“From the moment we were introduced to Emerald’s vision for the film, and with an incredible cast led by Margot and Jacob, we were instantly committed to forging a partnership with this team to ensure the movie was brought to theaters around the world,...

Exclusive: Score one for the theatrical film experience. After a fierce bidding war, Warner Bros Motion Pictures Group has won MRC’s feature adaptation of Wuthering Heights from Oscar winner Emerald Fennell and starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi. LuckyChap is producing, and Fennell wrote the script and will direct and produce the adaptation based on the Emily Brontë novel.

This was a hotly contested property, and its likely landing place might have been Netflix or Amazon, where Fennell’s last film Saltburn became one of its biggest ever streaming titles. The bids were dizzyingly high, but the problem was that Fennell and Robbie were determined to see this one go the theatrical route with P&a spend. In the continuing push and pull between theatrical, streaming and the will of artists, Netflix had the highest bid with a commitment rumored to be in the $150 million range, but the streamer...

Back in March, we got word that a new The Lord of the Rings movie titled The Hunt for Gollum is set to hit theaters in 2026, with Andy Serkis on board to direct and reprise the title role of Sméagol after first bringing the iconic character to life in Peter Jackson's trilogy.

Jackson and his writing partners Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens are also set to return as producers, and “will be involved every step of the way” according to Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav.

More recently, comments from Sir Ian McKellen seemed to suggest that the movie would be split into two parts, which Boyens has now debunked. However, a second film is in the works, which will most likely focus on Gandalf.

“I can tell you definitively it isn’t two films!” Boyens tells Empire. “That was a genuine misunderstanding that happened because we’ve begun to work,...

When Doug Liman’s sci-fi action film Edge of Tomorrow was released in 2014, it quickly became a fan favorite, praised for its unique premise, thrilling action sequences, and the dynamic on-screen chemistry between its two leads, Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt.

The movie revolved around Major William Cage and Sergeant Rita Vrataski as they repeatedly relive the same day to find a way to defeat the alien invaders. However, Cruise’s character eventually loses his time-warping powers because of a blood transfusion.

Tom Cruise as Major William Cage in Edge of Tomorrow | Credits: Warner Bros.

Luckily, that doesn’t stop Cage from defeating the aliens and resetting the timeline to before the invasion. The ending may have paved the way for a possible sequel. But screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie once revealed an alternate ending.

Christopher McQuarrie discusses an alternate ending for Tom Cruise’s Edge of Tomorrow

The official ending of...

Zach Braff is getting the “Garden State” gang back together – at least the bands featured on the movie’s Grammy-winning soundtrack.

A one-night concert celebrating the 20th anniversary of “Garden State” – which Braff wrote, directed and starred in – will take place March 29, 2025, at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. On the bill are the Shins, Iron & Wine, Frou Frou, Colin Hay, Thievery Corporation, Remy Zero, Cary Brothers, Bonnie Somerville and Sophie Barker from Zero 7. Special guests will be announced at a later date.

The evening will benefit the Midnight Mission, a homeless shelter and support organization for unhoused individuals in downtown Los Angeles.

“When I was first approached about doing a concert for the 20th anniversary, I was like, ‘I don’t know how we’re ever going to get all these bands together at the same time,’” Braff tells me. “But when the notion of doing it as a benefit for the Midnight Mission,...

Fans of Tim Burton’s quirky and gothic style are in for a treat with Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024), the long-awaited sequel to the cult classic. Opening the 81st Venice International Film Festival on August 28, 2024, the film reintroduces audiences to the Deetz family as they face Beetlejuice’s chaotic return. Three generations of the family are drawn back to Winter River after a family tragedy, only to find themselves caught up in supernatural hijinks when Lydia’s daughter stumbles upon a portal to the afterlife. In true Beetlejuice fashion, all it takes is someone to say his name three times, and mayhem is unleashed once again.

Starring a cast of beloved actors—Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, and Catherine O’Hara reprise their iconic roles, with new additions like Jenna Ortega and Justin Theroux—the film blends nostalgia with a fresh take. Tim Burton once again masterfully blends his signature visual style with eerie humor and macabre twists.

In 2020, the release of Christopher Nolan’s $200 million “Tenet” was in jeopardy, facing an indefinite delay as the Covid pandemic raged, leaving theaters shuttered. Over that summer, the director, a champion of the big-screen experience, wanted his espionage thriller to be the first major tentpole to debut in reopened cinemas. Former Warner Bros. Entertainment chief Ann Sarnoff and the studio’s motion picture chairman, Toby Emmerich, agreed to move forward with a theatrical release so long as Nolan forwent certain fees.

Following WarnerMedia’s 2022 merger with Discovery and ensuing regime change, newly installed motion picture group chiefs Michael DeLuca and Pamela Abdy were eager to see Nolan return to the studio; he had defected to Universal nine months before their arrival to make “Oppenheimer.” Nolan had a long history with the studio dating back to 2002’s “Insomnia.” As a goodwill gesture, Warner Bros. wrote him a seven-figure check, returning the “Tenet” fees he waived.

Ever since Christopher Nolan won the Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Director with his blockbuster historical drama "Oppenheimer" (four words you rarely read together), the entire film industry has been keeping a close eye on the filmmaker's next move. Nolan's creative whims have always driven speculation within the business, but this time around it wasn't just about what he would do next but where he would do it.

For almost a decade, this wasn't a concern. After his breakthrough neo-noir masterpiece "Memento" turned him into one of the hottest young directors in Hollywood, Christopher Nolan made his first studio effort, "Insomnia," at Warner Bros., and called the big house in Burbank his home for close to a decade. What changed? The Covid pandemic and then WB production chief Jason Kilar's decision in 2020, via his Project Popcorn initiative, to release the company's entire slate for the year day-and-date...

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles hosted their annual gala at the iconic International Ballroom at the Beverly Hilton on Thursday night.

“The Big Night Out” Gala honored mentors from the Bbbsla with a particular spotlight on their Women In Entertainment Mentorship Program, a joint effort between Bbbsla and The Hollywood Reporter to match high-ranking female entertainment executives with high school junior girls from underserved communities in the greater Los Angeles area.

“Mentorship has always been very important to me. I was raised that if you were able to accomplish something, you give back, and the way I’ve always chosen to give back is to help others come forward,” former BET CEO Debra Lee told THR moments before receiving her Defender of Potential award.

The night’s festivities began as Stacey Sher, the storied producer of films like Erin Brockovich, Django Unchained and Pulp Fiction, delivered an...

[Editor’s note: The following article contains spoilers for “Joker: Folie à Deux.”]

Hollywood is still reeling over why “Joker: Folie à Deux,” expected to be a sure-thing blockbuster, has not just struggled at the box office but has become one of the biggest bombs of the year.

It’s led to a lot of uncomfortable questions. And like Arthur Fleck bleeding out at the end of the film, the “Joker” sequel now seems to be dying a slow, painful death.

Hollywood trades have pointed the fingers at director Todd Phillips, at Warner Bros. Pictures film chiefs Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy, at the dance sequences Joaquin Phoenix literally dreamed up, and at the film’s quality itself for what the heck could’ve gone wrong. Reviews when it premiered at Venice — after the first “Joker” won the Golden Lion in 2019 no less — were dismal from the get go, but it would not be the first blockbuster or...

Joker: Folie à Deux Director Todd Phillips Reportedly Wanted 'Nothing to Do with DC' While Filming - Main Image

A new report claimed that Joker: Folie à Deux director Todd Phillips refused to work with DC Studios during the film's production.

Since its release, the sequel has been slammed by fans and critics, and its opening weekend box office was a massive disappointment compared to the first film. It also has the lowest CinemaScore ever for a comic book movie.

Despite featuring the most iconic villain in the DC library, fans took notice that James Gunn and Peter Safran's DC Studios is absent in the credits and there have been speculations on the level of involvement that they might had.

Todd Phillips Reportedly Refused to Work with DC While Filming Joker: Folie à Deux

A recent report that explored the behind-the-scenes of Joker: Folie à Deux in the aftermath...

The box office returns for Joker 2 – Joker: Folie A Deux – have come in short, and already, blame appears to be apportioned. A few thoughts.

The box office performance of Joker 2, or Joker: Folie A Deux to its friends, is hardly on the catastrophic side, but it’s also very clearly a sizeable disappointment for Warner Bros.

The original film was made for a modest sum of around $60m and went on to gross over $1bn. The sequel has cost more than three times the original to make, and looks set to top out at around $400m once its box office run is complete. The opening weekend in the US of some $37m came in below expectations, even if international box office held up okay.

Still, some are calling it a ‘box office bomb’, even if that seems on the dramatic side.

What is clear is that Warner Bros...

Joker: Folie à Deux wasn’t meant to be a gamble. After the first film grossed over $1 billion worldwide against a budget of just $60 million, a sequel was a no-brainer. However, the studio wound up spending $200 million (plus $100 million in marketing costs) for a sequel which the fanbase is largely rejecting. So what went wrong? According to a report from Variety, someone really needed to say “no” to Joker: Folie à Deux director Todd Phillips.

The report states that Phillips “wanted nothing to do with DC” during the production of the Joker sequel. Production began just months after James Gunn and Peter Safran took control of DC. It was expected that the pair would provide feedback, but Phillips refused and would only discuss the project with Warner Bros. motion picture group chiefs Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy. However, it seemed that Phillips always got his way.

Sources say that...

A lot of things went wrong with Joker: Folie à Deux. But the worst one of all was Todd Phillips’ misguided belief that marrying the maniacal Batman villain who revels in chaos, carves up his face for laughs, and kills people as an afterthought with La La Land would be a good idea. Joker 2 does not work as a fantasy derivative of some rom-com musical. The film only works if it remembers what, or rather who, it is marketing – the Joker.

Joaquin Phoenix as the Joker [Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures]

Meanwhile, Phillips, propelled by the success of his 2019 film, perhaps grew too lax to understand the weight of the sequel. The first film, made on a $60 million budget, earned $1.1 billion by the end of its theatrical run. The sequel, with a budget of $200 million, now ranks lower than Madame Web (which was laughable at best) and struggles to cross the $100 million ceiling,...

The 2023 Barbie movie became a cultural movement worldwide. The Margot Robbie starrer created several records and won various accolades. The world was taken by the Barbenheimer storm and no one could resist.

Ryan Gosling’s Ken became a vital part of the movie. The actor’s phenomenal performance charmed the viewers who couldn’t help but croon to I’m Just Ken. Recently, an inside source revealed that the actor has been pushing for a sequel and is allegedly seeking a bigger paycheck.

Possible sequel for one of 2023’s biggest movies

Greta Gerwig‘s Barbie swept the audience off their feet in 2023, the movie starred exceptional actors and won several accolades. The movie helped launch Margot Robbie’s career to new heights, but there was one actor no one could take their eyes off.

Margot Robbie in Barbie (2023) | Credits: Warner Bros.

Ryan Gosling portrayed Ken in the film, who is...

Love or hate Joker: Folie à Deux, there's simply no getting around the fact that it's an embarrassing misfire for Warner Bros. Discovery.

A critical and commercial flop, we've now reached a point where fingers are being pointed. In Variety's latest piece, they're aimed squarely at filmmaker Todd Phillips and very much away from DC Studios.

Noting that both James Gunn and Peter Safran were absent from the Joker sequel's premiere, it's said a "dysfunctional dynamic" behind the scenes saw Phillips decide he "wanted nothing to do with DC" during production. That allowed him to make the movie he wanted without anyone bringing up the comics or attempting to intervene.

"If the first movie was about some down-on-his-luck, mentally ill guy in a downtrodden city, it makes maybe $150 [million] worldwide. Not a billion," one insider tells the trade. "People showed up because that guy was Joker."

While a DC spokesperson claims...

The annual TCM Classic Film Festival is expanding to the East Coast, even if just for a day.

Turner Classic Movies is launching a fan event in partnership with The 92nd Street Y in New York ahead of the 2025 Los Angeles-based festival. IndieWire can confirm that TCM “will expand its festival footprint,” per an official press statement, with the “TCM Classic Film Festival: New York Pop-Up x 92Ny” taking place in collaboration with The 92nd Street Y, New York.

The one-day event will include three different programs on Saturday, January 25 in New York, leading up to the TCM Classic Film Festival kickoff in April.

The actual 2025 TCM Classic Film Festival will take place in Hollywood, CA, from Thursday, April 24 through Sunday, April 27. The theme will be “Grand Illusions: Fantastic Worlds on Film,” with features ranging from “enchanted worlds of fantasy and stories beyond belief, from myths and magical creatures to...

The TCM Classic Film Festival returns to Hollywood for its 16th edition on April 24-27 with a theme that would make Jean Renoir and Styx proud: “Grand Illusions: Fantastic Worlds on Film.”

Leading up to the popular event, TCM will expand its festival footprint by presenting what it’s calling TCM Classic Film Festival: New York Pop-Up x 92Ny, in collaboration with The 92nd Street Y in Manhattan.

That one-day affair will include three programs and take place on Saturday, Jan. 25. Lineup and on-sale information will be announced later, with updates available here.

Films showcased at the four-day TCM Hollywood flagship will “include enchanted worlds of fantasy and stories beyond belief — from myths and magical creatures to ghostly encounters and travels through time,” according to a release. “The greatest achievements in cinematic imagination will be on display.”

“Every year, the team at Turner Classic Movies pulls out all the stops...

On Sept. 30, Lady Gaga blew kisses to fans outside the Tcl Chinese Theatre ahead of the premiere of “Joker: Folie à Deux,” while Joaquin Phoenix dropped his typical solemn facade and flashed a few smiles from the red carpet. Meanwhile, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav dropped by the after-party at Sunset Tower and mingled with the film’s two high-paid lead actors as the meatless sliders (vegan Phoenix’s idea) made the rounds. For all the star wattage on display, there were some notable no-shows — namely, DC Studios toppers James Gunn and Peter Safran.

Insiders say the duo’s glaring absence for a film that is based on one of the biggest draws in the DC canon underscores a dysfunctional dynamic that played out behind the scenes on the ill-fated Warner Bros. musical. Todd Phillips “wanted nothing to do with DC” during the making of the film, says one...

The Hollywood Reporter has published an in-depth analysis of where things went wrong for Joker: Folie à Deux, detailing the movie's conception and who might be to blame for its failings. 

Under pressure from Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav, Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy - the co-heads of Warner Bros. Pictures - decided to give a Joker sequel the green light. Toby Emmerich had already got the ball rolling, and filmmaker Todd Phillips and lead star Joaquin Phoenix quickly nabbed themselves $20 million paydays.

As for Lady Gaga, she negotiated a deal which saw her paid $12 million to play a new version of Harley Quinn.

Unsurprisingly, De Luca and Abdy "were left reeling" (as was everyone at the studio) after Joker: Folie à Deux's disastrous $37.8 million opening weekend. As for Phillips, he's gone into hiding, "[spending] the weekend in seclusion on a ranch property he owns."

One source close...

Previously Warner Bros. used to be Christopher Nolan’s go-to production company for his iconic films. However, after Tenet, Nolan had a fallout with the company leading him to release Oppenheimer under Universal Pictures and Atlas Entertainment. This caused the whole Barbie (under Warner Bros.) vs Oppenheimer feud.

Christopher Nolan | image: BrokenSphere, licensed under Cc By-sa 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

However, after months since the release of the film and its Oscar milestone, Warner Bros. had become desperate to earn back Christopher Nolan. But on a recent note, following Todd Phillips’ Joker: Folie à Deux and his gutsy step against Nolan—which eventually turned into a failure—seemingly made it worse for the production company. Not only did Joker 2 cause a financial disaster for WB but also further messed up their possibility of winning back Nolan.

Warner Bros. Wishes to Get Christopher Nolan Back After Oppenheimer’s Oscar Win

Christopher...

Joaquin Phoenix Came Up with Idea for Joker: Folie à Deux from a Dream, Report Reveals - Main Image

A new report revealed that Joaquin Phoenix came up with the idea for Joker: Folie à Deux from a dream.

The sequel has been slammed by critics and the audience since its release with the musical elements being one of the reasons why it is being heavily criticized as they thought that it was not executed well.

While it was a daring move from the filmmakers to turn the sequel into a musical and blend it also with the courtroom drama genre, the audience scores have shown that it was an idea that the public heavily rejected.

Report Reveals Joker: Folie à Deux Was Inspired by Joaquin Phoenix's Dream

A new report that explored the disastrous aftermath of Joker: Folie à Deux's abysmal box office performance revealed the origins of...

When Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy took over as co-heads of Warner Bros.’ movie studio in early June 2022, one of the first decisions they made was to move forward with a sequel to Joker, the Oscar-winning, $1 billion hit that helped redefine the heights a comic book movie could reach.

Virtually all the key deals were already put in place by their predecessor, Toby Emmerich, with A-list director Todd Phillips and star Joaquin Phoenix getting $20 million paydays and the film landing a rich net budget of $190 million (the first film cost $55 million). Phillips is a huge asset for Warner, his home studio.

One small outstanding matter was Lady Gaga’s perk package. Within weeks, the papers were signed — her pay was $12 million — and she officially joined Joker: Folie à Deux.

Abdy and De Luca could have said no to making the film, but they would have been the laughing stocks of Hollywood,...

CAA Media Finance co-head Roeg Sutherland, FilmNation Entertainment CEO Glen Basner, Mediawan Pictures Elisabeth d’Arvieu and Constantin Film CEO Oliver Berben will be among the industry executives participating in the 10th Zurich Summit this weekend.

Dubbed by organizer the Zurich Film Festival (Zff) as “the Davos of the film industry”, in reference to the annual World Economic Forum in the Swiss Alps, the event will gather more than 100 top film professionals from North American and Europe at the city’s luxury Dolder Grand hotel.

Over the course of Saturday, they will discuss key issues including AI, monetization of indie films, financing, distribution, representation, and the awards season.

As the Zurich Summit’s official media partner, Deadline will be on the ground covering and moderating panels, as well as providing exclusive interviews with key executives via the Deadline Studio. We’ll also have video from key panels.

Sutherland, a long-time supporter of the meeting,...

Greta Gerwig expressed her gratitude for being a “show person” while accepting the prize as the 2024 Pioneer of the Year.

Gerwig was the recipient of this year’s honor from the Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation. The ceremony took place Wednesday at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills to celebrate Gerwig’s accomplishments that include writing and directing Lady Bird, Little Women and Barbie, all of which were nominated for the best picture Oscar.

“I’m mostly used to going to the Beverly Hilton to lose, so this is a nice change of pace,” Gerwig quipped at the start of her acceptance speech about the venue that has served for decades as home of the Golden Globe Awards.

She went on to thank the organization for supporting the moviegoing experience. “The work that you do for caring for this community that I’m part of, it’s just extraordinary,...

After creating a true cinematic phenomenon with “Barbie,” Greta Gerwig was the guest of honor at the 75th annual Pioneer of the Year Dinner at the Beverly Hilton on Wednesday, an annual charity event to benefit the Will Rogers Pioneer Assistance Fund.

“This is an extraordinary thing. I’m used to going to the Beverly Hilton to lose,” Gerwig quipped, referencing to the hotel’s status as the host of the Golden Globes, where she has been nominated four times without a win.

Started in 1947, the Pioneer of the Year dinner has served as an annual fundraising gala for the benefit of the Pioneer Assistance Fund, which provides financial aid and assistance to entertainment industry workers in need.

Now run by the Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation, the dinner has honored leading Hollywood figures such as Bob Hope, Donna Langley, Alan Horn, Barbara Broccoli, Michael G. Wilson and most recently,...

Greta Gerwig was beaming Wednesday night as she was honored as this year’s Pioneer Of The Year, and in the process also helped raised $1.4 million for the Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation at a sold-out dinner that packed the Beverly Hilton Hotel International Ballroom.

Gerwig seemed a bit overwhelmed by all the attention from the crowd and this organization dedicated to helping those in need from the motion picture distribution and exhibition community. And certainly for people involved in bringing movies to the masses, they were thrilled to stand up for Gerwig, who has been a major force at the boxoffice. Presenters, Co-Chairs and CEOs Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group Pamela Abdy and Michael DeLuca noted in their remarks that Gerwig had made more money at the boxoffice than any female filmmaker in history, including $80 million for Ladybird, $230 million for LIttle Women, and $1.4 billion for Barbie, the latter...

Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan’s fifth collaboration has been shrouded in secrecy since it was announced in January. Now eager film fans are getting their first look at “Sinners” — and all its bloody goodness. The film opens March 7, 2025 from Warner Bros.

The highly-anticipated horror thriller is based on an original script by Coogler, with the project set in the 1930s Jim Crow era-South and filmed earlier this year in the New Orleans area. But beyond those basic details, everything about the project — from the title to its plot — had been kept under wraps. Then, on Monday, the supernatural thriller was announced to be titled “Sinners.” Later, Jordan shared the film’s poster on social media, with the caption, “Dance with the devil…and he’ll follow you home.”

The film’s official description sets the scene: “Trying to leave their troubled lives behind, twin brothers (Jordan) return to their hometown to start again,...

Ryan Coogler’s new event movie at Warner Bros. starring Michael B. Jordan has landed a title, Sinners. The announcement was made on social media and also teased a trailer coming tomorrow. Coogler wrote and directed the pic with Jordan on board to star.

Coogler also penned the script with the plot being under wraps. The film is set to bow on March 7, 2025.

Coogler is producing with Zinzi Coogler and Sev Ohanian. The executive producers are two-time Oscar-winning composer Ludwig Goransson, Rebecca Cho and Will Greenfield.

Deadline first told you about the latest Coogler and Jordan project, which Warners won in a heated bidding war.

Coogler and Jordan began their collaboration on Fruitvale Station and continued through to Creed and Marvel’s Black Panther. The project also marks the second of Coogler and Jordan’s that Warner Bros Film Group co-chairs and CEOs Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy have championed,...

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice producer Tommy Harper has just helped Tim Burton return to the big screen with a bang after a five year absence, with the film grossing $264.3M worldwide in its first two weeks on release.

The seasoned producer – who is also a go-to for Tom Cruise, J.J. Abrams and Joseph Kosinski – is not resting on his laurels amid the congratulatory coverage.

After a whirlwind launch tour, which saw the film open Venice and then head to London for its UK premiere; followed by a quick trip to L.A. for Burton to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the pair are preparing to shoot the last two episodes of season 2 of Netflix hit show Wednesday.

“It’s been a very busy time,” says Harper. “We wanted to give all our attention to Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, to get it out into world, and then go to Dublin to finish up Wednesday.

Director Tim Burton’s decision to push for a theatrical release of the “Beetlejuice” sequel proved financially beneficial despite budget cuts. The film, titled “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” was facing a potential streaming release that would have given producers $48 million more to spend. However, Burton believed strongly in presenting the film to audiences in movie theaters.

Warner Bros. CEO Pamela Abdy said distributing the movie via streaming “was never going to work for Tim Burton.” Lengthy negotiations with the studio resulted in trimming the budget down to under $100 million. To make ends meet on the lower budget, Burton and the production team took pay reductions. Tax incentives also helped offset costs to keep the theatrical plans intact.

This gamble on theatrical exhibition has paid off. “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” has earned $264 million worldwide so far, surpassing its production budget. Typically, films need to make 2.5 times their budget to profit. The financial success validates Burton...

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Almost Went Straight to Streaming on Max - Main Image

While Beetlejuice Beetlejuice has been swiping records left and right at the box office, did you know the sequel movie was initially a streaming-only release? Here's how Tim Burton successfully brought the sequel to theaters.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice "Almost Died" Before Heading to Theaters

The highly anticipated Beetlejuice Beetlejuice comeback was one of the most unexpected sequels this 2024, and yet it didn't fail to make noise once its theatrical debut went on its cue.

However, a new report states that the sequel to Michael Keaton's Ghost with the Most nearly headed straight to streaming services instead of the big screens.

"Two months went by where every day the movie almost died," Burton's agent, Mike Simpson told The New York Times recently.

According to The Times, franchise helmer Tim Burton drove a hard bargain with Warner Bros. before...

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice has been blowing up the box office, having already grossed over $264 million less than two weeks after its release. It’s a much-needed win for Warner Bros., which makes it all the more surprising that the studio had originally planned to give the Beetlejuice sequel a streaming release on Max.

It’s been a long road for the Beetlejuice sequel, and according to a New York Times report, Warner Bros. didn’t have a lot of faith that the project would be a success. They still wanted the film but were pushing for it to be released exclusively on the Max streaming service. Director Tim Burton wasn’t a big fan of that idea. “That was never going to work for Tim,” said studio co-chair Pamela Abdy. “You’re talking about visionary artist whose films demand to be seen on a big screen.“

When Pamela Abdy and Michael De Luca...

While Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is one of Warner Bros’ biggest theatrical success stories of the year, at over $264 million in worldwide grosses and counting, there was a period in the decade-plus the studio was mulling the sequel in which execs advocated for the film to go straight to streaming on Max.

However, “that was never going to work for Tim,” says Pamela Abdy, Co-Chair of Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group, in a new interview with the New York Times. “You’re talking about a visionary artist whose films demand to be seen on a big screen.”

But while Abdy and Co-Chair Mike De Luca, who assumed the top film posts at Warner Bros in 2022, were highly enthusiastic about getting the Beetlejuice sequel made, they knew its budget would have to come down, for a theatrical release to make sense. While Burton and team had projected a $147M budget,...

Now this is spooky: Tim Burton’s long-awaited “Beetlejuice” sequel almost received a streaming-only release. But thanks to Burton’s budget cuts and negotiations with Warner Bros. Discovery executives, plans for a potential Max-exclusive were scrapped in favor of a full theatrical debut.

“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” which stars Michael Keaton reprising his role of the titular ghoul after the 1988 original, is a box-office hit — at least in the U.S. — following its world premiere at Venice 2024. “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” has grossed more than $264 million at the worldwide box office since its September 6 release. A weak international performance is presently sullying the results a bit.

But Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy took a victory lap in the New York Times all the same. The Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group co-chairs told the publication that Burton refused a to let “Beetlejuice 2” go streaming-only.

“That was never going to work for Tim,” Abdy said said.

Good things come to those who wait; just ask Warner Bros. The studio and Tim Burton spent close to four decades kicking around ideas for a sequel to the director's classic 1988 horror-comedy "Beetlejuice," ranging from the much ballyhooed 1990s "Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian" script to "Beetlejuice goes to ... outer space," or so Burton joked (?) in the weeks leading up to this month's "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice." The final version of the sequel has been widely hailed as a long-awaited return-to-form for the maestro of the zany and macabre, both critically and, as WB is no doubt happy to see, financially. But before executives finally said the B-word three times, it appears they came precariously close to scrapping the entire venture.

Much as it can feel like current WB CEO David Zaslav's approach to rejuvenating the legendary studio entails burning most of it down to collect the insurance money, it seems there...

Tim Burton’s “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” has grossed $264 million and counting at the worldwide box office in two weeks of release, making it a smash success not only for the director and his cast but also for Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group co-chairs Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy. The duo took over the film studio in 2022, and the long-awaited “Beetlejuice” sequel marked their first Warner Bros. film to be made entirely under their supervision, from development to release.

“Dancing in the hallways, smiles on faces,” De Luca recently told The New York Times about his reaction to the sequel’s success. “There is really nothing better for morale than a hit.”

Burton and the studio had been kicking ideas around for a “Beetlejuice” sequel for more than a decade (it’s been well reported that one axed idea was “Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian”), and according to The Times there was a...

Beim Zurich Summit ist Roeg Sutherland seit vielen Jahren fester Bestandteil. Viele der dort abgehaltenen Panels finden unter der Moderation des Co-Head der Abteilung Media Finance bei CAA statt. Dieses Jahr wird er dort mit dem Game Changer Award geehrt.

Roeg Sutherland (Credit: Tim Hughes für Zurich Film Festival)

Der Game Changer Award des Zurich Film Festival würdigt herausragende Leistungen in der Filmbranche. In den vergangenen Jahren gehörten Leonine-ceo Fred Kogel, Pamela Abdy von Warner und Michael Barker und Tom Bernard von Sony Classics zu den Rezipienten. Im 20. Jubiläumsjahr des Festivals geht die Auszeichnung an Roeg Sutherland, Co-Head der Abteilung Media Finance bei CAA und Co-Head der International Film Group. Über den diesjährigen Preisträger sagt Christian Jungen, Artistic Director des Zff: „Roeg ist ein leidenschaftlicher Cineast und Branchenführer, der die Karrieren unzähliger Künstlerinnen und Künstler nicht nur entdeckt, sondern auch gefördert und entwickelt hat. In den letzten Jahren hat er...

CAA’s Roeg Sutherland is set to be honored with the Zurich Film Festival’s Game Changer Award for his outstanding achievements and contributions within the film industry.

The co-Head of CAA’s Media Finance department as well as its International Film Group, will be presented with the award during the festival’s industry-focused Zurich Summit, which takes place in October within the framework of the 20th Zurich Film Festival (Zff).

As part of the recognition, FilmNation Entertainment CEO Glen Basner will host the Game Changer Award recipient conversation, in which he will speak with Sutherland about his journey.

“Roeg is a passionate cinephile and industry leader, who has not only discovered, but also nurtured and developed the careers of countless artists. In the past several years, he has secured financing and sold some of the most important and critically acclaimed films, both domestic and international,” commented Zff Artistic Director Christian Jungen.

Sir Ian McKellen recently confirmed that he has been approached to return as Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, and his Lotr co-star, Orlando Bloom, has now revealed that he's also spoken to director Andy Serkis about potentially reprising the role of Legolas.

Bloom played the Elven archer in Peter Jackson's original trilogy and The Hobbit movies, and some digital technology was used to shave a few years off the actor.

The Pirates of the Caribbean star was first asked if he would be interested in being a part of the new Lotr movies during an interview with Variety.

“Oh, man, those things are amazing. Yeah. I don’t know how they’d do it. I guess with AI you can do anything these days. But, if Pete [Peter Jackson] says jump, I say, ‘how high?’ I mean, he started my whole career.”

Bloom went on...

Paul Thomas Anderson is one of the finest directors in the industry and proved his worth with only a few films over the last two and a half decades. Anderson’s psychological dramas have starred the likes of Tom Cruise, Daniel Day-Lewis, Joaquin Phoenix, and Philip Seymour Hoffman. In his new project, he has collaborated with Leonardo DiCaprio.

Paul Thomas Anderson with Daniel Day-Lewis | Jürgen Fauth, licensed under Cc By-sa 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

However, there’s one actor whom the director wished to work with. Even after two decades of expressing his interest in working with the great Robert De Niro, Anderson has yet to find a project for the 81-year-old actor. De Niro is actively doing roles in films and television, with his next projects being Alto Knights and Netflix’s Zero Day.

Paul Thomas Anderson Considers Robert De Niro as The Most Talented Actor Robert de Niro played...

Tim Burton couldn’t have wished for a better return from the dead.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, the 36-years-in-the-waiting sequel to Burton’s 1988 cult horror-comedy hit, was greeted with a warm standing ovation at this year’s Venice Film Festival from the crowd upon its world premiere on Wednesday night.

As the audience applauded for a nearly four-minute standing ovation, the cast joined together in the balcony for bows as Burton clutched his girlfriend, Monica Bellucci. He then led the team to exit the theater together. Dafoe and Theroux went to the stairs first, followed by Ryder and Ortega who sat next to one another. As Warner Bros. chiefs Pam Abdy and Michael DeLuca exited behind the cast, they accepted congratulations and Abdy was overheard telling festival director Alberto Balbero “thank you for having us.”

Warm reception for Beetlejuice here at #Venezia81 as Tim Burton and crew receive nearly 4-minute standing ovation for the Warner Bros.

Director Doug Liman‘s time loop / alien invasion sci-fi adventure Edge of Tomorrow (watch it Here) did not set the box office on fire – in fact, compared to another notable under-performer starring Tom Cruise, it made less money than 2017’s The Mummy, on a higher budget. But that hasn’t stopped talk of a sequel from popping up every now and then over the ten years since the film’s release. Liman, Cruise, and co-star Emily Blunt have all dropped positive quotes about the possibility of an Edge of Tomorrow follow-up over the years… but one reason why it hasn’t made it into production yet (other than the fact that Cruise is incredibly busy) is that Liman and his collaborators still haven’t been able to crack the script.

Based on Hiroshi Sakurazaka’s manga All You Need Is Kill, the first Edge of Tomorrow was set in a...