Dev Patel’s action thriller “Monkey Man” will arrive on Peacock on June 14, the streamer announced.
The film will also get a digital release on June 11, as well as 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD versions on June 25. Those physical releases will feature an alternate opening, alternate ending and a handful of deleted or extended scenes.
“Monkey Man,” Patel’s directorial debut, world premiered at SXSW in March before landing in theaters on April 5, where it collected $34 million worldwide.
Produced by Jordan Peele, the movie follows a young man (Patel) who spends his nights at an underground fight club in India, where he makes money being beaten up by more popular fighters. After years of rage bubbling up to the surface, the man embarks on a bloody quest for revenge against the city’s shady elite, and the powerful official responsible for the murder of his mother.
Variety chief film...
The film will also get a digital release on June 11, as well as 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD versions on June 25. Those physical releases will feature an alternate opening, alternate ending and a handful of deleted or extended scenes.
“Monkey Man,” Patel’s directorial debut, world premiered at SXSW in March before landing in theaters on April 5, where it collected $34 million worldwide.
Produced by Jordan Peele, the movie follows a young man (Patel) who spends his nights at an underground fight club in India, where he makes money being beaten up by more popular fighters. After years of rage bubbling up to the surface, the man embarks on a bloody quest for revenge against the city’s shady elite, and the powerful official responsible for the murder of his mother.
Variety chief film...
- 6/3/2024
- by Ethan Shanfeld
- Variety Film + TV
Atlas is a sci-fi action thriller film directed by Brad Peyton from a screenplay by Leo Sardarian and Aron Eli Coleite. The Netflix film follows the story of Atlas Shepherd, a brilliant but unsociable data analyst with a deep distrust for A.I. as she goes on a mission to capture a rogue robot that could destroy humanity but when the mission goes and her only hope to save humanity is to trust the robot, she must break down the walls she has built around her heart over the years. Atlas stars Jennifer Lopez in the lead role with Simu Liu, Sterling K. Brown, Gregory James Cohan, Mark Strong, Abraham Popoola, and Lana Parrilla starring in supporting roles. If you loved the futuristic visuals, intense drama, and explosive action in Netflix’s Atlas here are some similar movies you could watch next.
The Creator (Hulu & Rent on Prime Video) Credit...
The Creator (Hulu & Rent on Prime Video) Credit...
- 5/24/2024
- by Kulwant Singh
- Cinema Blind
The Mandalorian & Grogu: Next Star Wars Film Adds Alien & Avatar Star Sigourney Weaver In Major Role
Some exciting Star Wars news this morning as The Mandalorian & Grogu has cast its first major supporting role.
As per The InSneider newsletter (and confirmed by multiple trades), 3x Academy Award-nominee Sigourney Weaver has joined the cast of Disney and Lucasfilm's next Star Wars film, which is expected to begin production at the tailend of this year.
The Mandalorian creator Jon Favreau (Iron Man; Iron Man 2; The Lion King) will helm and produce the upcoming feature, with Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy and Lucasfilm chief creative officer Dave Filoni also serving as producers.
Weaver will join a cast headlined by series leading man Pedro Pascal (Game of Thrones; The Last of Us; Wonder Woman 1984), who is expected to reprise his role as Din Djarin for the film. However, the extent of his involvement is yet-to-be-determined as the 3x Primetime Emmy-nominated actor also has Marvel Studios' The Fantastic Four, where he plays Reed Richards,...
As per The InSneider newsletter (and confirmed by multiple trades), 3x Academy Award-nominee Sigourney Weaver has joined the cast of Disney and Lucasfilm's next Star Wars film, which is expected to begin production at the tailend of this year.
The Mandalorian creator Jon Favreau (Iron Man; Iron Man 2; The Lion King) will helm and produce the upcoming feature, with Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy and Lucasfilm chief creative officer Dave Filoni also serving as producers.
Weaver will join a cast headlined by series leading man Pedro Pascal (Game of Thrones; The Last of Us; Wonder Woman 1984), who is expected to reprise his role as Din Djarin for the film. However, the extent of his involvement is yet-to-be-determined as the 3x Primetime Emmy-nominated actor also has Marvel Studios' The Fantastic Four, where he plays Reed Richards,...
- 5/11/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
Monkey Man is directed by Actor Dev Patel and Produced by Jordan Peele ( Photo Credit – YouTube )
Dev Patel’s much-awaited directorial debut, Monkey Man, has hit silver screens worldwide except for India. Fans are disappointed and left in disarray, without confirmation of a certain release date.
Bollywood actors Sobhita Dhulipala and Sikander Kher join Patel in this Action-thriller, which the acclaimed Academy Award winner and filmmaker Jordan Peele produced.
Patel, who garnered fame and acknowledgment for Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire, has continued to deliver exceptional performances in projects like The Newsroom, Chappie, the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, and The Second-best Exotic Marigold Hotel and Lion. He received nominations for Oscars and Baftas for his roles in Slumdog Millionaire and Lion, and won a BAFTA for his role in Lion.
Trending The Office (US) Co-Stars Reunite: John Krasinski Directs, & Steve Carell Acts In Upcoming Movie ‘If’ Angelina Jolie Accuses...
Dev Patel’s much-awaited directorial debut, Monkey Man, has hit silver screens worldwide except for India. Fans are disappointed and left in disarray, without confirmation of a certain release date.
Bollywood actors Sobhita Dhulipala and Sikander Kher join Patel in this Action-thriller, which the acclaimed Academy Award winner and filmmaker Jordan Peele produced.
Patel, who garnered fame and acknowledgment for Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire, has continued to deliver exceptional performances in projects like The Newsroom, Chappie, the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, and The Second-best Exotic Marigold Hotel and Lion. He received nominations for Oscars and Baftas for his roles in Slumdog Millionaire and Lion, and won a BAFTA for his role in Lion.
Trending The Office (US) Co-Stars Reunite: John Krasinski Directs, & Steve Carell Acts In Upcoming Movie ‘If’ Angelina Jolie Accuses...
- 4/5/2024
- by Aayushi Hemnani
- KoiMoi
“The Witcher” Season 4 has cast Sharlto Copley, James Purefoy, and Danny Woodburn, Variety has learned exclusively.
Copley will play the infamous bounty hunter Leo Bonhart from “The Witcher” novels. Purefoy will play Skellen, a high-ranking spy and court advisor to Emhyr who is also a prominent figure in the novels. Woodburn will play Zoltan, a fan favorite dwarf character from the novels and “Witcher” video games.
The trio join previously announced cast members Liam Hemsworth, who takes over the lead role of Geralt of Rivia from Henry Cavill, as well as Anya Chalotra, Freya Allan, Joey Batey, and Laurence Fishburne.
Copley is best known for his breakout role in the sci-fi film “District 9.” He has since starred in features such as “The A-Team,” “Elysium,” “Chappie,” and “Hardcore Henry.” He also stars in Dev Patel’s upcoming film “Monkey Man” and appeared in multiple episodes of the Netflix series “Russian Doll.
Copley will play the infamous bounty hunter Leo Bonhart from “The Witcher” novels. Purefoy will play Skellen, a high-ranking spy and court advisor to Emhyr who is also a prominent figure in the novels. Woodburn will play Zoltan, a fan favorite dwarf character from the novels and “Witcher” video games.
The trio join previously announced cast members Liam Hemsworth, who takes over the lead role of Geralt of Rivia from Henry Cavill, as well as Anya Chalotra, Freya Allan, Joey Batey, and Laurence Fishburne.
Copley is best known for his breakout role in the sci-fi film “District 9.” He has since starred in features such as “The A-Team,” “Elysium,” “Chappie,” and “Hardcore Henry.” He also stars in Dev Patel’s upcoming film “Monkey Man” and appeared in multiple episodes of the Netflix series “Russian Doll.
- 4/3/2024
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
They say “In space no one can hear you scream.” Buuuuuuuut we’ve seen through eight Alien films that if you’re in a spaceship plenty of people can hear you scream. The Xenomorphs have no problem causing their victims a lot of pain. Even though we’ve seen them in a lot of films, fans will mostly agree that after Aliens, the franchise was never the same. But did you know that District 9 director Neill Blomkamp almost made an Aliens sequel?
In 2015, filmmaker Blomkamp announced he had been working on a new Alien project. This was even a surprise to Fox, which owned the series. Fans seemed excited by the prospect of the director taking on the project after the imaginative sci-fi films he had been releasing. Ultimately, after some starts and stops, the film would fall apart. Let’s find out exactly why here on What Happened To This Unmade Movie?...
In 2015, filmmaker Blomkamp announced he had been working on a new Alien project. This was even a surprise to Fox, which owned the series. Fans seemed excited by the prospect of the director taking on the project after the imaginative sci-fi films he had been releasing. Ultimately, after some starts and stops, the film would fall apart. Let’s find out exactly why here on What Happened To This Unmade Movie?...
- 3/17/2024
- by Bryan Wolford
- JoBlo.com
Dev Patel is hopped up on the visual language and legacy of action cinema in Monkey Man, a walloping sucker punch of a debut feature from the star of Slumdog Millionaire and The Green Knight. Based on Patel’s original story, written alongside Paul Angunawela and John Collee, and produced by Jordan Peele through Monkeypaw Productions, the film is a blood and sweat slicked coming out party not just for a sharp new directorial talent, but a self-styled action star that no one expected.
Set in the fictional city of Yatana, Patel stars as Kid, a haunted young man who barely makes a living in an underground fighting ring. Drawing strength from the tale of Hanuman, the Hindu ape deity his mother told him tales of as a child, Kid dons a gorilla mask and takes falls against more popular fighters to make cash to scrape by. After years of suppressing his rage,...
Set in the fictional city of Yatana, Patel stars as Kid, a haunted young man who barely makes a living in an underground fighting ring. Drawing strength from the tale of Hanuman, the Hindu ape deity his mother told him tales of as a child, Kid dons a gorilla mask and takes falls against more popular fighters to make cash to scrape by. After years of suppressing his rage,...
- 3/13/2024
- by Rocco T. Thompson
- DailyDead
Dev Patel's feature directorial debut "Monkey Man" hit the ground running with its world premiere at South By Southwest ... but before the movie about an underground brawler hell-bent on revenge became a reality, the actor-turned-filmmaker says it was an idea he was hesitant to bring to life himself. /Film's Ryan Scott is attending SXSW in Austin this week, where Patel spoke about how he went from an actor and co-writer on the project to the man behind the camera.
"I was just trying to find a way to tell this story," Patel explained. "I wanted it out there. Originally, I hired a friend to write it." Paul Angunawela ("Keith Lemon: The Film") and John Collee ("Hotel Mumbai") are both credited as co-writers on the final product, but initially, Patel says two of them worked on it during an intense year-long process. "I ended up co-writing it and then we,...
"I was just trying to find a way to tell this story," Patel explained. "I wanted it out there. Originally, I hired a friend to write it." Paul Angunawela ("Keith Lemon: The Film") and John Collee ("Hotel Mumbai") are both credited as co-writers on the final product, but initially, Patel says two of them worked on it during an intense year-long process. "I ended up co-writing it and then we,...
- 3/12/2024
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
Flying Lotus has directed the experimental comedy Kuso and the Ozzy’s Dungeon segment of the horror anthology V/H/S/99, and next up for the rapper and filmmaker (who is a.k.a. Steven Ellison) is the sci-fi thriller Ash, starring Eiza González (Baby Driver) and Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad). When González and Paul were cast in the film, Flying Lotus released a statement saying, “We are building something fresh and unique with Ash and having Eiza and Aaron in this world just makes it flames. They are absolute magic makers, brave and equally inspiring. All that to say… We ‘bout to kill this shit.” And apparently they did kill it, because Deadline reports that Amazon’s Prime Video has just secured the international rights to the film in a high-seven figure pact, nearing $10 million. The film is currently in post-production, so we don’t know when Prime Video will be releasing it.
- 2/16/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Director Gareth Edwards returned after a nearly seven-year absence with his original sci-fi film "The Creator" over the weekend. It was his first movie since 2016's $1 billion hit "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story," which was his second hit franchise blockbuster in a row following 2014's "Godzilla." Unfortunately, it looks like his attempt to make a massive-scale sci-fi film outside the confines of established IP isn't going to pan out, as Edwards' latest was a big letdown on opening weekend.
"The Creator" faced heavy competition as both "Saw X" and "Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie" also opened over the weekend, with "Dumb Money" additionally expanding after a few weeks in limited release. In the end, "Paw Patrol" took the top spot with a $23 million haul, while "Saw X" also had a very solid debut with $18.3 million. Sadly, that left Edwards' latest, which hails from Disney's 20th Century Studios, settling for third place with $14 million,...
"The Creator" faced heavy competition as both "Saw X" and "Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie" also opened over the weekend, with "Dumb Money" additionally expanding after a few weeks in limited release. In the end, "Paw Patrol" took the top spot with a $23 million haul, while "Saw X" also had a very solid debut with $18.3 million. Sadly, that left Edwards' latest, which hails from Disney's 20th Century Studios, settling for third place with $14 million,...
- 10/3/2023
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
Monday Update: It looks like Denzel Washington can now lay claim to having the 2nd biggest Labor Day box office debut, with The Equalizer 3 shooting up an estimated $42 million over the long weekend. Not bad at all if you consider that Denzel hasn’t been able to market the film due to the strike. It’s the best opening a movie’s posted since Barbenheimer, and seems likely to be the biggest until, coincidently, Denzel’s son John David Washington, opens his own potential blockbuster, The Creator, later this month.
Original Post:
Denzel Washington returned to theaters this weekend with his first ever threequel, The Equalizer 3, which saw an opening weekend of $34.5 million and a 4-day expected to hit $42 million, slightly above where we predicted it on Thursday. That number securely makes it the second highest grossing Labor Day release of all time behind Marvel’s Shang-Chi and...
Original Post:
Denzel Washington returned to theaters this weekend with his first ever threequel, The Equalizer 3, which saw an opening weekend of $34.5 million and a 4-day expected to hit $42 million, slightly above where we predicted it on Thursday. That number securely makes it the second highest grossing Labor Day release of all time behind Marvel’s Shang-Chi and...
- 9/4/2023
- by Brad Hamerly
- JoBlo.com
South African filmmaker Neill Blomkamp has directed five major feature films to date: the Oscar-nominated "District 9" in 2009, the class-conscious sci-fi tragedy "Elysium" in 2013, the oddball "Short Circuit"/"RoboCop" mashup "Chappie" in 2015, the low-budget stinker "Demonic" in 2021, and now the video-game-adjacent biography "Gran Turismo" in 2023.
With the exception of "Demonic," each of Blomkamp's films is explicitly or implicitly about class. "District 9" is about alien visitors who are forced to live in a run-down shanty town outside of Johannesburg. "Elysium" features a posh space station where the wealthy live in comfort while the impoverished live on the overheated, overpopulated Earth below. "Chappie" is an Acab movie about a police robot coming to fight for the people and against its corporate creators.
"Gran Turismo," meanwhile, is about Jann Mardenborough (Archie Madekwe), an expert player of the titular racing video game, who is tapped by Nissan to become a race car driver for real.
With the exception of "Demonic," each of Blomkamp's films is explicitly or implicitly about class. "District 9" is about alien visitors who are forced to live in a run-down shanty town outside of Johannesburg. "Elysium" features a posh space station where the wealthy live in comfort while the impoverished live on the overheated, overpopulated Earth below. "Chappie" is an Acab movie about a police robot coming to fight for the people and against its corporate creators.
"Gran Turismo," meanwhile, is about Jann Mardenborough (Archie Madekwe), an expert player of the titular racing video game, who is tapped by Nissan to become a race car driver for real.
- 8/26/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Neill Blomkamp’s Gran Turismo races into theaters this week. It’s a video game adaptation, but an interesting twist on one. It’s also a change of pace for the filmmaker, as he’s known for his career in sci-fi movies with social messages. Blomkamp hit instant recognition for his debut with District 9, and his filmography since has been divisive. However, the filmmaker had set his sights on a couple of franchises that he was once attached to, then both ultimately fell through. Most famously, he was to helm an Alien 5 sequel off the strength of his proposed concept art. Then, he was slated to make a direct sequel to Robocop until that project fell by the wayside as well.
His Alien 5 was jettisoned in favor of Ridley Scott, the director of the original 1979 film, when he decided to pursue his sequel to Prometheus, which also served as an Alien prequel.
His Alien 5 was jettisoned in favor of Ridley Scott, the director of the original 1979 film, when he decided to pursue his sequel to Prometheus, which also served as an Alien prequel.
- 8/25/2023
- by EJ Tangonan
- JoBlo.com
Neill Blomkamp’s Gran Turismo is unlike most video game movies. It’s actually the true story of Jann Mardenborough (played here by Archie Madekwe), a gifted Gran Turismo player who parlayed his skills into a professional race car driving career. It’s a fascinating tale that’s anchored by Madekwe and co-star David Harbour’s performances, as well as Blomkamp’s immersive style. We actually had a chance recently to sit down with the director and talk about his latest, which is a pretty huge departure from his earlier work like District 9, Elysium or Chappie.
One of the things that I guess I found most refreshing about Gran Turismo is that when you think of a video game movie, you don’t often think of the term based on a true story.
Nb: I think that was one of the main things that drew me to it. It...
One of the things that I guess I found most refreshing about Gran Turismo is that when you think of a video game movie, you don’t often think of the term based on a true story.
Nb: I think that was one of the main things that drew me to it. It...
- 8/25/2023
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
Warning: This article contains spoilers (and not the ones you find on cars) for "Gran Turismo."
In many ways, the most shocking thing about "Gran Turismo," the based-on-a-true-story sports drama/biopic of how Jann Mardenborough transformed from a gamer to a full-fledged racer, is the fact that such a grounded and straightforward film ended up with director Neill Blomkamp ("District 9," "Elysium," and "Chappie") behind the wheel. Competently directed and following much of the same formula as several other films in this genre have done before (you can check out my comprehensive review for /Film here), "Gran Turismo" wouldn't seem like the obvious choice to act as a lightning rod for potential controversy. An obsessive racing simulation gamer enters a competition, qualifies for Gt Academy, and relies on the support of friends, family, peers, and his trainer to become an actual, professional driver. Simple enough, no?
Well, it is, aside...
In many ways, the most shocking thing about "Gran Turismo," the based-on-a-true-story sports drama/biopic of how Jann Mardenborough transformed from a gamer to a full-fledged racer, is the fact that such a grounded and straightforward film ended up with director Neill Blomkamp ("District 9," "Elysium," and "Chappie") behind the wheel. Competently directed and following much of the same formula as several other films in this genre have done before (you can check out my comprehensive review for /Film here), "Gran Turismo" wouldn't seem like the obvious choice to act as a lightning rod for potential controversy. An obsessive racing simulation gamer enters a competition, qualifies for Gt Academy, and relies on the support of friends, family, peers, and his trainer to become an actual, professional driver. Simple enough, no?
Well, it is, aside...
- 8/25/2023
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
Hey, as the Summer movie season races (hint) to that Labor Day finish line (again), the studios aren’t quite done with toy-based stories. In that aspect, a new box office champ has been crowned with the “pink princess” zooming past those video game plumbing icons. Now, this new release leans into the latter’s territory as its roots are in the gaming world. Oh, and like the “under the radar” Tetris flick, it is actually based on a true story, This isn’t a twist on the old “Cold War Cloak and Daggar” thriller like that one or even an “origin story” of the game’s creation. Instead, this is closer to an old-fashioned, grit and glory, sports underdog fable, Yes sports, as we follow one determined young man whose dreams become reality when he enters the world of Gran Turismo.
I should clarify that the film does begin...
I should clarify that the film does begin...
- 8/25/2023
- by Jim Batts
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Neill Blomkamp is back.
The director, best known for a trio of films that effortlessly blend startling futurism with barbed social commentary, has returned with “Gran Turismo,” his first studio film since 2015’s “Chappie” and his first movie since the pandemic-shot, micro-budgeted “Demonic” in 2021. And it marks a kinder, gentler Blomkamp. All of his filmmaking hallmarks are still there, from elaborately staged action sequences to relatable characters to the kind of camerawork that captures the immediacy of real life, but this time it’s in serve of an elegant – and, crucially, feel-good – sports movie.
Based on a true story about the PlayStation video game franchise, “Gran Turismo” follows Jann Mardenborough (Archie Madekwe), a young, working-class Englishman who wins a “Gran Turismo” tournament that allows him to become a real-life racecar driver. That’s when he starts to bond with David Harbour’s Jack Salter, his flinty (but still caring) trainer.
The director, best known for a trio of films that effortlessly blend startling futurism with barbed social commentary, has returned with “Gran Turismo,” his first studio film since 2015’s “Chappie” and his first movie since the pandemic-shot, micro-budgeted “Demonic” in 2021. And it marks a kinder, gentler Blomkamp. All of his filmmaking hallmarks are still there, from elaborately staged action sequences to relatable characters to the kind of camerawork that captures the immediacy of real life, but this time it’s in serve of an elegant – and, crucially, feel-good – sports movie.
Based on a true story about the PlayStation video game franchise, “Gran Turismo” follows Jann Mardenborough (Archie Madekwe), a young, working-class Englishman who wins a “Gran Turismo” tournament that allows him to become a real-life racecar driver. That’s when he starts to bond with David Harbour’s Jack Salter, his flinty (but still caring) trainer.
- 8/24/2023
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
After two dismal weekends at the box office, any chance of things recovering for the last weekend of August doesn’t seem likely, although one daring movie (and this year’s “National Cinema Day“) will try to make an impact. Read on for Gold Derby’s box office preview.
On Sunday, August 27, many North American theaters will be offering $4 movie tickets in hopes of keeping the burst of movie attendance thanks to “Barbenheimer” going into September. It will be hard to tell what sort of effect it has this year, because studio estimates on Sunday might not be able to account for any bump from National Cinema Day.
With that in mind, Sony is releasing the racing movie “Gran Turismo,” which isn’t based on the Sony Playstation driving simulator as much as it tells the true story of Jann Mardenborough, as played by Archie Madekwe (“Midsommar”), a gamer whose...
On Sunday, August 27, many North American theaters will be offering $4 movie tickets in hopes of keeping the burst of movie attendance thanks to “Barbenheimer” going into September. It will be hard to tell what sort of effect it has this year, because studio estimates on Sunday might not be able to account for any bump from National Cinema Day.
With that in mind, Sony is releasing the racing movie “Gran Turismo,” which isn’t based on the Sony Playstation driving simulator as much as it tells the true story of Jann Mardenborough, as played by Archie Madekwe (“Midsommar”), a gamer whose...
- 8/23/2023
- by Edward Douglas
- Gold Derby
Director Neill Blomkamp burst onto the scene all the way back in 2009 with "District 9." 14 years later, it remains one of the most beloved feature directorial debuts in recent memory — if not ever. The problem for Blomkamp is that he's yet to have an unqualified hit ever since his first film became a smash, taking in $210 million worldwide against a $30 million budget, en route to a Best Picture Oscar nomination. But Blomkamp is getting another shot at the big time with his latest film, "Gran Turismo." Part video game adaptation, part biopic, the filmmaker is looking to break his mixed bag of a streak. Can this be the movie to get the job done?
Box Office Pro currently has "Gran Turismo" taking in anywhere between $17 and $22 million on its opening weekend domestically. The movie was initially supposed to come out much earlier in August but was pushed back a couple...
Box Office Pro currently has "Gran Turismo" taking in anywhere between $17 and $22 million on its opening weekend domestically. The movie was initially supposed to come out much earlier in August but was pushed back a couple...
- 8/18/2023
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
Neill Blomkamp's "District 9" put the fledgling South African director on the mainstream map in 2009. With a $30 million budget and "The Lord of the Rings" director Peter Jackson in his corner as a producer, Blomkamp expanded his fascinating social sci-fi short film "Alive in Joburg" into a feature-length discussion about racial divisions and the violence inherent in anti-immigration sentiments.
Wikus van de Merwe (Sharlto Copley) learns in the hardest way possible what South Africa's alien newcomers, derisively called "prawns," have been going through at the hands of men like him. With stunning effects and CGI characters, the film ends on a tailor-made hook for a follow-up. His ally, the alien Christopher Johnson (Jason Cope), promises to return with a cure for Wikus in three years, although it's unclear if he'll also return with an angry force at his back. Meanwhile, a fully transformed Wikus languishes at the new District 10 camp,...
Wikus van de Merwe (Sharlto Copley) learns in the hardest way possible what South Africa's alien newcomers, derisively called "prawns," have been going through at the hands of men like him. With stunning effects and CGI characters, the film ends on a tailor-made hook for a follow-up. His ally, the alien Christopher Johnson (Jason Cope), promises to return with a cure for Wikus in three years, although it's unclear if he'll also return with an angry force at his back. Meanwhile, a fully transformed Wikus languishes at the new District 10 camp,...
- 8/13/2023
- by Margaret David
- Slash Film
District 9 director Neill Blomkamp’s true-life tale is unable to swerve the cliches yet delivers pedal-to-the-metal entertainment
South African-Canadian director Neill Blomkamp arrived with a bang in 2009 thanks to District 9, an urgent sci-fi fable that used modern fears of extraterrestrial invaders to tell an old-as-time story of racism and segregation. Blomkamp’s interest in wryly satirical socioeconomic sci-fi continued through the big-budget ecocide parable Elysium (2013) and the altogether more anarchically scrappy Chappie (2015) in which a sentient armoured police robot is led into a life of crime.
On the surface, this “based on a true story” account of video gamer turned race car driver Jann Mardenborough may seem like a left turn for a film-maker whose career has been built on adventurous fantasy. But if the story of a Darlington-born son of a former professional footballer parlaying video-gaming skills into international racetrack success is not the stuff of fantasy,...
South African-Canadian director Neill Blomkamp arrived with a bang in 2009 thanks to District 9, an urgent sci-fi fable that used modern fears of extraterrestrial invaders to tell an old-as-time story of racism and segregation. Blomkamp’s interest in wryly satirical socioeconomic sci-fi continued through the big-budget ecocide parable Elysium (2013) and the altogether more anarchically scrappy Chappie (2015) in which a sentient armoured police robot is led into a life of crime.
On the surface, this “based on a true story” account of video gamer turned race car driver Jann Mardenborough may seem like a left turn for a film-maker whose career has been built on adventurous fantasy. But if the story of a Darlington-born son of a former professional footballer parlaying video-gaming skills into international racetrack success is not the stuff of fantasy,...
- 8/13/2023
- by Mark Kermode
- The Guardian - Film News
While writer-director Neill Blomkamp’s expertise with genre material — from his international breakthrough, sci-fi revelation District 9 (2009), to dystopian dramas Elysium (2013) and Chappie (2015) — makes him a good fit for an action-oriented sports biopic, it’s perhaps his background as a visual effects artist that proves his greatest asset in bringing Gran Turismo to the screen.
Marshaling a well-integrated combination of innovative digital camera techniques, compelling production design choices and an impressive visual style, Blomkamp’s visceral directing emphatically reinforces the film’s dynamic pacing.
Since it’s “based on a true story” (as the title insistently emphasizes), there’s limited potential for dramatic license with the available material. And while subject Jann Mardenborough has an inspiring backstory, the filmmakers don’t manage to wring much tension from a series of fairly predictable plot developments. But video game enthusiasts, including a sizable audience of Gran Turismo devotees and motorsports fans motivated...
Marshaling a well-integrated combination of innovative digital camera techniques, compelling production design choices and an impressive visual style, Blomkamp’s visceral directing emphatically reinforces the film’s dynamic pacing.
Since it’s “based on a true story” (as the title insistently emphasizes), there’s limited potential for dramatic license with the available material. And while subject Jann Mardenborough has an inspiring backstory, the filmmakers don’t manage to wring much tension from a series of fairly predictable plot developments. But video game enthusiasts, including a sizable audience of Gran Turismo devotees and motorsports fans motivated...
- 8/8/2023
- by Justin Lowe
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
After such adaptations like the Uncharted movie or HBO’s wildly popular The Last of Us, Sony has a great list of titles from their Playstation library that could easily translate to the big screen. However, when it comes to sports games, there isn’t much of a narrative from which to draw source material. The closest option would likely be to do an adaptation of a story mode, like in Madden or Fight Night Champion. However, Sony would interestingly take a unique approach in bringing a game like Gran Turismo to life in movie theaters. The second trailer for Gran Turismo has just dropped from Sony. And while a sports game would include real-life athletes or participants to be made playable for the gamers, it would be inevitable to draw from real life when adapting to a live-action film. The synopsis for the film reads, “Based on the true story of Jann Mardenborough,...
- 7/20/2023
- by EJ Tangonan
- JoBlo.com
Neil Blomkamp first made his big splash in Hollywood with 2009’s “District 9.” But his other sci-fi follows-ups, 2013’s “Elysium” and 2015’s “Chappie,” didn’t fare as well with either critics or audiences. Now, after a brief (and underwhelming) pitstop into horror with 2021’s “Demonic,” Blomkamp tries another genre on for size with the summer blockbuster in the coming-of-age racing movie “Gran Turismo.”
Read More: Summer 2023 Movie Preview: 52 Must-See Films To Watch
Based on the hit PlayStation videogame series, “Gran Turismo” takes on the story of Jann Mardenborough, a player so good at the racing simulation game he ended behind the wheel of a real race car — and did well there, too.
Continue reading New ‘Gran Turismo’ Trailer: Sony’s Racing Film With David Harbour & Orlando Bloom Hits Theaters On August 11 at The Playlist.
Read More: Summer 2023 Movie Preview: 52 Must-See Films To Watch
Based on the hit PlayStation videogame series, “Gran Turismo” takes on the story of Jann Mardenborough, a player so good at the racing simulation game he ended behind the wheel of a real race car — and did well there, too.
Continue reading New ‘Gran Turismo’ Trailer: Sony’s Racing Film With David Harbour & Orlando Bloom Hits Theaters On August 11 at The Playlist.
- 7/20/2023
- by Ned Booth
- The Playlist
Nine months ago, it was announced that Tessa Thompson and Joseph Gordon-Levitt had signed on to star in Ash, a sci-fi thriller from rapper and filmmaker Flying Lotus, a.k.a. Steven Ellison. Then, two months ago, we learned that Thompson and Gordon-Levitt both had to drop out of the project and were replaced by Eiza González (Baby Driver) and Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad). Filming on Ash is now underway, with González and Paul in the lead roles – and Deadline has revealed that they’re being joined in the cast by Beulah Koale (Hawaii Five-o), Kate Elliott (The Gulf), and Iko Uwais of the Raid films.
González will be playing a woman who wakes on a far-flung planet to find her crew mysteriously murdered. When a man (Paul) comes to investigate the scene, she must decide if she can trust him or if he’s responsible for her series of unfortunate events.
González will be playing a woman who wakes on a far-flung planet to find her crew mysteriously murdered. When a man (Paul) comes to investigate the scene, she must decide if she can trust him or if he’s responsible for her series of unfortunate events.
- 5/16/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Ready, set, race.
The PlayStation video game franchise “Gran Turismo” inspired the real-life story of Jann Mardenborough, a young teenager who began a racing career. Now, director Neill Blomkamp (“District 9”) is bringing that story to the big screen.
“Gran Turismo” stars Archie Madekwe as the aforementioned teen who aspires to become a professional race car driver with the help of his trainer (David Harbour) and a motorsport marketing executive (Orlando Bloom). Djimon Hounsou portrays Mardenborough’s father, while Darren Barnet plays a Gt Academy driver threatened by his new opponent.
“Top Gun: Maverick” director Joseph Kosinski was originally set to helm the feature in 2015. Also that same year, Blomkamp was attached to a fifth “Alien” film starring Sigourney Weaver.
The “Gran Turismo” video game is a racing simulation from developer Polyphony Digital, led by Kazunori Yamauchi. The original game featured recreations of real-life vehicles and spurred a 14-installment franchise...
The PlayStation video game franchise “Gran Turismo” inspired the real-life story of Jann Mardenborough, a young teenager who began a racing career. Now, director Neill Blomkamp (“District 9”) is bringing that story to the big screen.
“Gran Turismo” stars Archie Madekwe as the aforementioned teen who aspires to become a professional race car driver with the help of his trainer (David Harbour) and a motorsport marketing executive (Orlando Bloom). Djimon Hounsou portrays Mardenborough’s father, while Darren Barnet plays a Gt Academy driver threatened by his new opponent.
“Top Gun: Maverick” director Joseph Kosinski was originally set to helm the feature in 2015. Also that same year, Blomkamp was attached to a fifth “Alien” film starring Sigourney Weaver.
The “Gran Turismo” video game is a racing simulation from developer Polyphony Digital, led by Kazunori Yamauchi. The original game featured recreations of real-life vehicles and spurred a 14-installment franchise...
- 5/2/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
The new trailer for Sony and PlayStation’s Gran Turismo movie has finally dropped. This is the same trailer many of us caught at CinemaCon last week in Las Vegas, and it teases director Neill Blomkamp’s fact-based take on the classic video game. Like the recent Tetris, it departs from the standard formula in that it doesn’t try to adapt the video game itself but instead tells a fact-based story centred around the game, and the one they have for Gran Turismo is a doozy. Some years ago, Nissan and Sony partnered on Gt Academy, which allowed champion Gran Turismo players the opportunity to train as race car drivers. One of them, Jann Mardenborough, actually became a professional race car driver following his training at the Gt Academy, and this is his story.
Newcomer Archie Madekwe plays Mardenborough, with David Harbour as the professional racing coach brought in...
Newcomer Archie Madekwe plays Mardenborough, with David Harbour as the professional racing coach brought in...
- 5/2/2023
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
If I had a nickel for every time Hollywood developed a video game movie that isn't technically a video game movie, I'd have two nickels -- which isn't a lot, but it's weird that it's happened twice recently.
Yes, "Tetris" isn't the only 2023 movie that focuses more on a video game's real-world impact than the game itself. The other one is Neill Blomkamp's "Gran Turismo," a true story drama about Jann Mardenborough (played by "Midsommar" and "Beau Is Afraid" actor Archie Madekwe) and how he went from a kid playing "Gran Turismo" video games to becoming a professional race car driver. The footage shown at Sony's CinemaCon panel presented the film -- which was penned by "American Sniper" scribe Jason Hall and "King Richard" writer Zach Baylin -- as a "Top Gun"-styled rah-rah depiction of a U.S. institution crossed with a real-life underdog sports biopic. That certainly tracks,...
Yes, "Tetris" isn't the only 2023 movie that focuses more on a video game's real-world impact than the game itself. The other one is Neill Blomkamp's "Gran Turismo," a true story drama about Jann Mardenborough (played by "Midsommar" and "Beau Is Afraid" actor Archie Madekwe) and how he went from a kid playing "Gran Turismo" video games to becoming a professional race car driver. The footage shown at Sony's CinemaCon panel presented the film -- which was penned by "American Sniper" scribe Jason Hall and "King Richard" writer Zach Baylin -- as a "Top Gun"-styled rah-rah depiction of a U.S. institution crossed with a real-life underdog sports biopic. That certainly tracks,...
- 5/2/2023
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
Harrison Ford is returning to the “Indiana Jones” franchise in the upcoming “Dial of Destiny,” marking a return to the character he’s now played for 42 years. It’s been 44 years since Sigourney Weaver first played Ellen Ripley in Ridley Scott’s “Alien,” but don’t expect her to pull a Ford/”Dial of Destiny” and return to the role that made her an action movie icon. In a new interview with Total Film magazine, Weaver said her days as Ripley are over.
“There are all kinds of younger actors taking this kind of role,” Weaver said. “And there was an ‘Alien’ [film] that I really wanted to do with Neill Blomkamp and we didn’t get to do that, but, you know, that ship has sailed. I’m very happy doing what I’m doing. I put in my time in space!”
“District 9” filmmaker Blomkamp scripted and prepped for...
“There are all kinds of younger actors taking this kind of role,” Weaver said. “And there was an ‘Alien’ [film] that I really wanted to do with Neill Blomkamp and we didn’t get to do that, but, you know, that ship has sailed. I’m very happy doing what I’m doing. I put in my time in space!”
“District 9” filmmaker Blomkamp scripted and prepped for...
- 4/26/2023
- by Zack Sharf
- Variety Film + TV
Neill Blomkamp, the director of District 9, Elysium, Chappie, Demonic, and the upcoming Gran Turismo, is preparing to go into production on his fifth feature directorial effort – and The Hollywood Reporter has broken the news that Joel Kinnaman of The Suicide Squad and the RoboCop remake has signed on to star in the film, an alien abduction thriller called They Found Us.
Although Blomkamp had written the screenplays for his previous films (co-writing District 9 and Chappie with Terri Tatchell), he didn’t write Gran Turismo, and he hasn’t written They Found Us either. This time he’ll be working from a script written by Jeremy Slater (Moon Knight).
They Found Us will see Kinnaman taking on the role of a father who takes his daughter Kaylee on a camping trip in the Utah wilderness, in an effort to heal their broken relationship. When they are attacked by a hostile extraterrestrial lifeform,...
Although Blomkamp had written the screenplays for his previous films (co-writing District 9 and Chappie with Terri Tatchell), he didn’t write Gran Turismo, and he hasn’t written They Found Us either. This time he’ll be working from a script written by Jeremy Slater (Moon Knight).
They Found Us will see Kinnaman taking on the role of a father who takes his daughter Kaylee on a camping trip in the Utah wilderness, in an effort to heal their broken relationship. When they are attacked by a hostile extraterrestrial lifeform,...
- 4/26/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Seven months ago, it was announced that Tessa Thompson (Thor: Love and Thunder) and Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Looper) had signed on to star in Ash, a sci-fi thriller from rapper and filmmaker Flying Lotus, a.k.a. Steven Ellison. But Thompson and Gordon-Levitt have since moved on from the project, and Deadline reports that they have been replaced by Eiza González (Baby Driver) and Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad).
González will be playing a woman who wakes on a far-flung planet to find her crew mysteriously murdered. When a man (Paul) comes to investigate the scene, she must decide if she can trust him or if he’s responsible for her series of unfortunate events.
Flying Lotus is directing the film from a screenplay by Jonni Remmler and will also be composing the score. XYZ Films and Gfc Films are producing Ash, with Neill Blomkamp and Echo Lake serving as executive producers.
González will be playing a woman who wakes on a far-flung planet to find her crew mysteriously murdered. When a man (Paul) comes to investigate the scene, she must decide if she can trust him or if he’s responsible for her series of unfortunate events.
Flying Lotus is directing the film from a screenplay by Jonni Remmler and will also be composing the score. XYZ Films and Gfc Films are producing Ash, with Neill Blomkamp and Echo Lake serving as executive producers.
- 3/28/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
South by Southwest is back for another year of the rootin’-est, tootin’-est, most queso-heavy film festival on the planet, as it invades Austin, Texas, alongside the music component of the festival.
The entire experience is now called the South by Southwest Conference and Festivals and takes place in Austin from March 10-18. If you’ve never been, it is an absolute blast, like Sundance but with better weather, better food and nicer people (though without the skiing and snowboarding). And this year’s line-up is no different, featuring splashy Hollywood premieres, hotly tipped indies and a ton of stuff you’ve never, ever heard of.
The entire thing kicks off with a bang – the premiere of Paramount’s hotly anticipated “Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves,” directed and co-written by the “Game Night” team of Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley.
“We are thrilled to announce the first...
The entire experience is now called the South by Southwest Conference and Festivals and takes place in Austin from March 10-18. If you’ve never been, it is an absolute blast, like Sundance but with better weather, better food and nicer people (though without the skiing and snowboarding). And this year’s line-up is no different, featuring splashy Hollywood premieres, hotly tipped indies and a ton of stuff you’ve never, ever heard of.
The entire thing kicks off with a bang – the premiere of Paramount’s hotly anticipated “Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves,” directed and co-written by the “Game Night” team of Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley.
“We are thrilled to announce the first...
- 1/11/2023
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
The first sneak peek at Neill Blomkamp’s adaptation of Gran Turismo has pulled in, showcasing what looks to be incredible action cinematography and thrilling race sequences.
Through weaved interview clips, main cast members tell us that Gran Turismo is “a movie based on a true life story with heart-pounding action and drama…And it’s badass race car action you’re gonna feel like you’re in the middle of…The audience is gonna feel every jolt, every thrill of this racing at 200 miles per hour.” And based on the accompanying clips, it may not be just hype.
Gran Turismo is based on the popular video game series, which debuted in 1997 and has several entries under its hood, with the most recent coming out last year.
“Based on the true story of Jann Mardenborough, the film is the ultimate wish fulfillment tale of a teenage Gran Turismo player whose...
Through weaved interview clips, main cast members tell us that Gran Turismo is “a movie based on a true life story with heart-pounding action and drama…And it’s badass race car action you’re gonna feel like you’re in the middle of…The audience is gonna feel every jolt, every thrill of this racing at 200 miles per hour.” And based on the accompanying clips, it may not be just hype.
Gran Turismo is based on the popular video game series, which debuted in 1997 and has several entries under its hood, with the most recent coming out last year.
“Based on the true story of Jann Mardenborough, the film is the ultimate wish fulfillment tale of a teenage Gran Turismo player whose...
- 1/5/2023
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
David Harbour will star in Sony and PlayStation Productions’ upcoming video game adaptation “Gran Turismo,” which will be directed by Neill Blomkamp, the filmmaker behind sci-fi hits like “District 9,” “Elysium” and “Chappie.”
The film will be released on Aug. 11, 2023. “Gran Turismo” is a racing video game series that dates back to 1997. The most recent entry, “Gran Turismo 7,” launched in March 2022. In total, the “Gran Turismo” franchise has sold more than 80 million copies worldwide.
The movie’s logline is as follows: “Based on a true story, the film is the ultimate wish fulfillment tale of a teenage ‘Gran Turismo’ player whose gaming skills won a series of Nissan competitions to become an actual professional race car driver.”
Jason Hall and Zach Baylan wrote the screenplay, with PlayStation Production’s Asad Qizilbash and Carter Swan, Doug Belgrad and Dana Brunetti producing. “Gran Turismo” video game creator Kazunori Yamauchi and Hall are executive producing.
The film will be released on Aug. 11, 2023. “Gran Turismo” is a racing video game series that dates back to 1997. The most recent entry, “Gran Turismo 7,” launched in March 2022. In total, the “Gran Turismo” franchise has sold more than 80 million copies worldwide.
The movie’s logline is as follows: “Based on a true story, the film is the ultimate wish fulfillment tale of a teenage ‘Gran Turismo’ player whose gaming skills won a series of Nissan competitions to become an actual professional race car driver.”
Jason Hall and Zach Baylan wrote the screenplay, with PlayStation Production’s Asad Qizilbash and Carter Swan, Doug Belgrad and Dana Brunetti producing. “Gran Turismo” video game creator Kazunori Yamauchi and Hall are executive producing.
- 9/14/2022
- by Jordan Moreau
- Variety Film + TV
May 2022 represents the calm before the storm for Amazon Prime Video. Early June will see the arrival of the much-hyped third season of The Boys. Before all that, however, Prime has some other streaming goodies to tide you over.
This month is highlighted by a handful of intriguing original series. Season two of Amazon’s sleeper hit The Wilds premieres on May 6. This pulpy mystery series about a group of teenage girls marooned on an island is Prime Video’s version of Lost or Yellowjackets so give it a watch if that kind of thing sounds up your alley. Also arriving on May 6 is the true crime docuseries The Unsolved Murder of Beverly Lynn Smith.
Canada’s finest comedy goobers The Kids in the Hall return in a rebooted version of their sketch series on May 13. The week after that J.K. Simmons will try his hand at sci-fi once again...
This month is highlighted by a handful of intriguing original series. Season two of Amazon’s sleeper hit The Wilds premieres on May 6. This pulpy mystery series about a group of teenage girls marooned on an island is Prime Video’s version of Lost or Yellowjackets so give it a watch if that kind of thing sounds up your alley. Also arriving on May 6 is the true crime docuseries The Unsolved Murder of Beverly Lynn Smith.
Canada’s finest comedy goobers The Kids in the Hall return in a rebooted version of their sketch series on May 13. The week after that J.K. Simmons will try his hand at sci-fi once again...
- 5/1/2022
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
New Release Wall
One of the best films of 2021, the Oscar-nominated “West Side Story” (20th Century) arrives on 4K, Blu-ray, and DVD and earns an immediate place in your library. This first release is a little lean on extras, but it does include a new documentary from Laurent Bouzereau, the king of “making-of,” offering a look at Steven Spielberg’s process in crafting this electrifying musical.
Also available:
“The 355” (Universal Home Entertainment) An impressive line-up of stars can’t save this spy thriller from being more by-the-numbers than a Sudoku.
“Belfast” (Focus/Universal) Kenneth Branagh racked up Oscar nods and very mixed notices for his nostalgic coming-of-age drama.
“Coming 2 America” (Paramount Home Entertainment) Were you a fan of the original “Coming to America”? Enjoy seeing every gag repeated if not cut-and-pasted from the first movie.
“Cosmic Dawn” (Kino Lorber) After witnessing her mother’s alien abduction as a child,...
One of the best films of 2021, the Oscar-nominated “West Side Story” (20th Century) arrives on 4K, Blu-ray, and DVD and earns an immediate place in your library. This first release is a little lean on extras, but it does include a new documentary from Laurent Bouzereau, the king of “making-of,” offering a look at Steven Spielberg’s process in crafting this electrifying musical.
Also available:
“The 355” (Universal Home Entertainment) An impressive line-up of stars can’t save this spy thriller from being more by-the-numbers than a Sudoku.
“Belfast” (Focus/Universal) Kenneth Branagh racked up Oscar nods and very mixed notices for his nostalgic coming-of-age drama.
“Coming 2 America” (Paramount Home Entertainment) Were you a fan of the original “Coming to America”? Enjoy seeing every gag repeated if not cut-and-pasted from the first movie.
“Cosmic Dawn” (Kino Lorber) After witnessing her mother’s alien abduction as a child,...
- 3/9/2022
- by Alonso Duralde
- The Wrap
Exclusive: Famke Janssen (X-Men franchise), Brett Gelman (Stranger Things), Sharlto Copley (District 9), Quinn Copeland (Peacock’s Punky Brewster) and twins Cameron and Nicholas Crovetti (Big Little Lies) have joined the cast of Boy Kills World, an upcoming action-thriller produced by Sam Raimi and more.
They’re set to star alongside previously announced cast members including Bill Skarsgård, Yayan Ruhian, Jessica Rothe, Andrew Koji and Isaiah Mustafa.
Based on an original idea by German filmmaker Moritz Mohr, who here makes his feature directorial debut, Boy Kills World is billed as a one-of-a-kind action spectacle set in a dystopian fever dream reality. It centers on Boy (Skarsgård), a deaf mute with a vibrant imagination. When his family is murdered, Boy escapes to the jungle and is trained by a mysterious shaman (Ruhian) to repress his childish imagination and become an instrument of death. Portraying the film’s antagonists—the Van Der Koy...
They’re set to star alongside previously announced cast members including Bill Skarsgård, Yayan Ruhian, Jessica Rothe, Andrew Koji and Isaiah Mustafa.
Based on an original idea by German filmmaker Moritz Mohr, who here makes his feature directorial debut, Boy Kills World is billed as a one-of-a-kind action spectacle set in a dystopian fever dream reality. It centers on Boy (Skarsgård), a deaf mute with a vibrant imagination. When his family is murdered, Boy escapes to the jungle and is trained by a mysterious shaman (Ruhian) to repress his childish imagination and become an instrument of death. Portraying the film’s antagonists—the Van Der Koy...
- 3/7/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Learning to skin a bunny, actor Sharlto Copley says, is “not pleasant.”
Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, and now living in Los Angeles, the longtime character actor considers himself a city dweller. Six-foot-tall and bearded, he has a gentle, mountain man–like presence, but Zooming out of his L.A. home in the hills, he’s a far cry from Ted Kaczynski, aka the Unabomber, whom he plays in the new film “Ted K.” For director Tony Stone’s imagining of the Harvard-educated math prodigy who ran afoul of civilized life to live off the land in the 1970s and meticulously carry out a string of executions and bombings, Copley had to learn how to do things like skin rabbits, chop wood, and survive in freezing, hypothermia-approaching temperatures.
“I grew up in South Africa where we used to go out in the bush quite a lot, in my generation.
Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, and now living in Los Angeles, the longtime character actor considers himself a city dweller. Six-foot-tall and bearded, he has a gentle, mountain man–like presence, but Zooming out of his L.A. home in the hills, he’s a far cry from Ted Kaczynski, aka the Unabomber, whom he plays in the new film “Ted K.” For director Tony Stone’s imagining of the Harvard-educated math prodigy who ran afoul of civilized life to live off the land in the 1970s and meticulously carry out a string of executions and bombings, Copley had to learn how to do things like skin rabbits, chop wood, and survive in freezing, hypothermia-approaching temperatures.
“I grew up in South Africa where we used to go out in the bush quite a lot, in my generation.
- 2/17/2022
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
From the mind of acclaimed director and cinematographer. Tony Stone comes “Ted K,” a bracing, cinematic journey into the tortured mind of The Unabomber. And of course, that Unabomber is played by South African actor Sharlto Copley, known for his work with Neill Blomkamp in films like “District 9,” “Elysium,” “Chappie” and more.
Continue reading ‘Ted K’ Red-Band Trailer: Sharlto Copley Plays The Unabomber Out For Revenge at The Playlist.
Continue reading ‘Ted K’ Red-Band Trailer: Sharlto Copley Plays The Unabomber Out For Revenge at The Playlist.
- 2/3/2022
- by The Playlist
- The Playlist
Since his departure from Alien 5 and 2015’s Chappie, Neill Blomkamp made a feature-length film. However, the small indie movie was a massive departure from what Blomkamp usually releases, which was a horror film called Demonic. The high-concept movie is about Carly, who learns that her estranged mother Angela is being kept in an asylum that’s doing experimental works with its comatose patients. Hoping to gain some closure with her mother, the young woman agrees to do a digital simulation of her mother’s consciousness; however, she quickly finds a supernatural and dangerous being in Angela’s head, explaining her violent behavior in
Why Neill Blomkamp’s First Film In Six Years Was Mostly Ignored...
Why Neill Blomkamp’s First Film In Six Years Was Mostly Ignored...
- 10/3/2021
- by Jeffrey Bowie Jr.
- TVovermind.com
Ah, September. A time of endings and beginnings. Summer is coming to a close as the kids go back to school, but a new broadcast TV season awaits, while cinephiles everywhere start sniffing something new in the air after these fetid summer months: quality. Yes, Telluride, Venice, and TIFF are set to unspool a season’s worth of awards contenders, but even on Netflix you can fire up a few higher-toned offerings, including one of Sundance 2020’s most acclaimed dramas, “Worth,” finally making its debut.
Not that everything’s looking up at the streamer: how could it when the Ryan Reynolds-starring “Green Lantern” is coming to the service? And “The Blue Lagoon.” And “Chappie.” But for every “Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles” hitting Netflix in September there’s a “School of Rock.” No, the beloved Richard Linklater comedy didn’t make our Top Seven below. That’s because it’s on our new,...
Not that everything’s looking up at the streamer: how could it when the Ryan Reynolds-starring “Green Lantern” is coming to the service? And “The Blue Lagoon.” And “Chappie.” But for every “Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles” hitting Netflix in September there’s a “School of Rock.” No, the beloved Richard Linklater comedy didn’t make our Top Seven below. That’s because it’s on our new,...
- 9/3/2021
- by Christian Blauvelt
- Indiewire
A great first film can jumpstart a filmmaker's career and show the world what makes them unique. For example, the conversational dialogue, '70s soundtrack, and nonlinear narrative of Quentin Tarantino's first film "Reservoir Dogs" established tropes that the director still relies on today.
Not every great director starts out strong, though. Although he's one of the greatest filmmakers working today, David Fincher's career nearly imploded after his disastrous debut, "Alien 3." Similarly, some directors never reach the same highs as their promising debuts. There was lots of interest in Neil Blomkamp after the phenomenal "District 9," but his later films -- "Elysium," "Chappie," and "Demonic" -- failed to...
The post The 15 best debut films from directors appeared first on /Film.
Not every great director starts out strong, though. Although he's one of the greatest filmmakers working today, David Fincher's career nearly imploded after his disastrous debut, "Alien 3." Similarly, some directors never reach the same highs as their promising debuts. There was lots of interest in Neil Blomkamp after the phenomenal "District 9," but his later films -- "Elysium," "Chappie," and "Demonic" -- failed to...
The post The 15 best debut films from directors appeared first on /Film.
- 8/31/2021
- by Liam Gaughan
- Slash Film
The director’s latest film – in which a daughter enters the virtual mind of her serial killer mother – is so-so compared to his earlier efforts
After the mega-budget blowouts of 2013’s Elysium (which had some tried-and-tested ideas rattling around inside it) and 2015’s Chappie (which had Die Antwoord), this so-so shocker finds mooted multiplex saviour Neill Blomkamp recalibrating his disc space and career prospects. Operating with TV-movie production values and nary a single familiar face among its 10-strong cast, it’s a small, manageable, patchily inspired genre piece that unpicks the fraught relationship between a daughter, her convict mother, and a medical tech firm instigating an altogether unhappy reunion.
Much of Demonic suggests a sometime “visionary director” who has turned to streaming-bound work-for-hire to make ends meet; it’s cautiously compiled, competent work-for-hire, but the wild swings and grand designs of this film-maker’s earlier output are sorely missed. It...
After the mega-budget blowouts of 2013’s Elysium (which had some tried-and-tested ideas rattling around inside it) and 2015’s Chappie (which had Die Antwoord), this so-so shocker finds mooted multiplex saviour Neill Blomkamp recalibrating his disc space and career prospects. Operating with TV-movie production values and nary a single familiar face among its 10-strong cast, it’s a small, manageable, patchily inspired genre piece that unpicks the fraught relationship between a daughter, her convict mother, and a medical tech firm instigating an altogether unhappy reunion.
Much of Demonic suggests a sometime “visionary director” who has turned to streaming-bound work-for-hire to make ends meet; it’s cautiously compiled, competent work-for-hire, but the wild swings and grand designs of this film-maker’s earlier output are sorely missed. It...
- 8/26/2021
- by Mike McCahill
- The Guardian - Film News
We’re calling on our readers to vote on the Best DC live-action movie out there!
DC has been making films for over five decades and now it’s time to pick the cream of the crop! Vote for your favorite DC movies in our DC Mayhem bracket, pitting 32 different films against each other with the chance to be crowned the best DC movie of all time! Follow on our social media to follow along with the bracket and decide who advances to the next round.
Vote on Twitter
The rise and fall of District 9 director Neil Blomkamp.
“When Chappie premiered in March 2015, the movie landed with a thud, mostly because the charming story of a robot that learns to think for itself couldn’t measure up to the director’s visceral sci-fi debut, District 9. But Chappie made history just a couple of weeks later when a clever joke...
DC has been making films for over five decades and now it’s time to pick the cream of the crop! Vote for your favorite DC movies in our DC Mayhem bracket, pitting 32 different films against each other with the chance to be crowned the best DC movie of all time! Follow on our social media to follow along with the bracket and decide who advances to the next round.
Vote on Twitter
The rise and fall of District 9 director Neil Blomkamp.
“When Chappie premiered in March 2015, the movie landed with a thud, mostly because the charming story of a robot that learns to think for itself couldn’t measure up to the director’s visceral sci-fi debut, District 9. But Chappie made history just a couple of weeks later when a clever joke...
- 8/25/2021
- by Lee Parham
- Den of Geek
With “Demonic” getting released recently, filmmaker Neill Blomkamp has been making the publicity rounds talking about his new thriller. And you can’t really talk to Blomkamp about filmmaking without talking about one of the biggest films that he was attached to that famously fell apart— “Alien 5.” And according to a new interview with The Guardian, Blomkamp posits a theory that the not-so-great reception “Chappie” received when it was released led to Ridley Scott pulling the plug on his ‘Alien’ sequel.
Continue reading Neill Blomkamp Thinks ‘Chappie’ Might Have Caused Ridley Scott To Lose Faith In His ‘Alien’ Sequel at The Playlist.
Continue reading Neill Blomkamp Thinks ‘Chappie’ Might Have Caused Ridley Scott To Lose Faith In His ‘Alien’ Sequel at The Playlist.
- 8/23/2021
- by Charles Barfield
- The Playlist
Twelve years ago, South African-Canadian filmmaker Neill Blomkamp burst on the scene with “District 9,” the rare sci-fi film that was appreciated in its time, landing four Oscar noms, including one for best picture. Now, Blomkamp is wading into horror territory with “Demonic,” which follows a woman named Carly (Carly Pope) who uses technology to delve into her troubled history with her mother — and begins to realize evil forces might have been at play. “Demonic” hits theaters and VOD on Aug. 20.
You shot this film last year at the height of the pandemic. Can you talk about where the idea came from
This movie is highly, highly unusual in the way that it was made, in the sense that when Covid began, it was clear that many huge Hollywood productions were on pause. I was always inspired by “Paranormal Activity,” and I love the idea of a filmmaker that just shot something in their house,...
You shot this film last year at the height of the pandemic. Can you talk about where the idea came from
This movie is highly, highly unusual in the way that it was made, in the sense that when Covid began, it was clear that many huge Hollywood productions were on pause. I was always inspired by “Paranormal Activity,” and I love the idea of a filmmaker that just shot something in their house,...
- 8/20/2021
- by Jenelle Riley
- Variety Film + TV
South African filmmaker Neill Blomkamp returns with his first feature film since Chappie tomorrow with Demonic, a horror film with something of a technological twist. We here are really looking forward to it but we also love looking back at filmmakers' humble beginnings.
Many people think Blomkamp's first short film was Alive in Joberg which eventually became District 9, but it's actually a short faux ad called Tetra Vall about a new kind of robot.
The robots in the ad look familiar, the design showing up in...
Many people think Blomkamp's first short film was Alive in Joberg which eventually became District 9, but it's actually a short faux ad called Tetra Vall about a new kind of robot.
The robots in the ad look familiar, the design showing up in...
- 8/19/2021
- QuietEarth.us
Back in the ’30s, ’40s, ’50s, and ’60s, what we used to call monster movies had simple concepts and catchy, explicit titles that mirrored them. “Dracula.” “The Werewolf.” “King Kong.” “Mothra vs. Godzilla.” “Invasion of the Body Snatchers.” “Creature from the Black Lagoon.” “The Blob.” When you watch a movie like “Demonic,” you only wish it had that kind of tantalizing, wide-eyed simplicity.
This, however, is low-budget pretentious indie horror, written and directed by no less than Neill Blomkamp (“District 9”), and so it’s got to come with its own convoluted psychedelic metaphysic. In order for the main character, Carly (Carly Pope), to be traumatized in about four different ways at once (for that look!-you’re-getting-your-rental’s-worth feeling), she is summoned to the offices of Therapol, a corporate medical-imaging facility that turns out to be a front for the Vatican. There, creepy “physicians” hook her up to a...
This, however, is low-budget pretentious indie horror, written and directed by no less than Neill Blomkamp (“District 9”), and so it’s got to come with its own convoluted psychedelic metaphysic. In order for the main character, Carly (Carly Pope), to be traumatized in about four different ways at once (for that look!-you’re-getting-your-rental’s-worth feeling), she is summoned to the offices of Therapol, a corporate medical-imaging facility that turns out to be a front for the Vatican. There, creepy “physicians” hook her up to a...
- 8/18/2021
- by Owen Gleiberman
- Variety Film + TV
It’s been 12 years since Neill Blomkamp made one of the splashiest feature film debuts ever by way of District 9. The South African-Canadian director’s sci-fi action film garnered four Academy Award nominations, including best picture, and made seven times its production budget at the box office, tallying $212 million. As a protege of Peter Jackson, Blomkamp has since released 2013’s Elysium and 2015’s Chappie, and he’s also had brushes with several franchises including Alien, RoboCop and Halo at various points. But as of now, Blomkamp recognizes that original storytelling is where he’s best suited.
“I think I feel ...
“I think I feel ...
- 8/17/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
It’s been 12 years since Neill Blomkamp made one of the splashiest feature film debuts ever by way of District 9. The South African-Canadian director’s sci-fi action film garnered four Academy Award nominations, including best picture, and made seven times its production budget at the box office, tallying $212 million. As a protege of Peter Jackson, Blomkamp has since released 2013’s Elysium and 2015’s Chappie, and he’s also had brushes with several franchises including Alien, RoboCop and Halo at various points. But as of now, Blomkamp recognizes that original storytelling is where he’s best suited.
“I think I feel ...
“I think I feel ...
- 8/17/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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