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Failure is the stepping stone to success, but we haven’t thought that even Hollywood’s juggernauts like Brad Pitt, Robert Downey Jr., and Keanu Reeves would occasionally stumble while climbing the ladder of stardom? Back in the early ‘90s, a $152 million action-packed ride called Backdraft beckoned these iconic actors with the lure of an adrenaline-fueled lead role.

Didn’t we all assume that the path to their success was a bed of roses? Alas, the auditions were a doozy, and the trio found themselves in the unusual position of watching William Baldwin snag the role instead. Makes us wonder if failure, in Tinseltown, is just another rite of passage, like bad haircuts in high school.

When Ron Howard held the matches, legends missed the flame William Baldwin, Donald Sutherland in Backdraft. Credit: Universal Pictures

Back in the early ’90s, Backdraft wasn’t just another studio action flick—it was Ron Howard’s baby.

It is very rare to see a child actor successfully become a larger part of Hollywood once they grow up, which is rarely the case. But with Ron Howard, things looked a little different. He has been a part of the industry way before he even turned 5. He became a household name with his role in the series The Andy Griffith Show.

He was just 6 when he joined the series, and by the age of 14, he had completed his stint with the show. What started as a small start in front of the camera ended up with him behind the cameras, making him one of the best directors in the world. He is the legend behind blockbusters like A Beautiful Mind and Apollo 13.

Sure, he did not become one of the flashy directors of Hollywood, but his directorial range when it comes to trying out different genres is impressive.

On April 29, Jayson Dumenigo will get the recognition he and his fellow stunt performers have been wanting for decades from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences — but he had to set fire to a bunch of people to get it.

Dumenigo will receive an Academy plaque for developing a hydrogel that allows daredevils like himself to burn hotter on camera for longer periods of time. His product, through his Action Factory shingle, isn’t exactly new — he created the clear gel that can be smeared on skin or clothes 15 years ago — but his spectacular fire work on the upcoming John Wick spinoff Ballerina prompted Dumenigo to finally submit himself for the Academy’s Scientific and Engineering Awards.

Make no mistake, Dumenigo is beyond proud of the performance of his gel that is widely used in film and TV. The Santa Clarita Valley dad sounds like Donald Sutherland’s...

Scott Glenn almost never played Jim Hollinger in season three of HBO’s The White Lotus, dismissing the role he was offered as just another old guy part until he sat down and watched the show.

Appearing on Thursday’s episode of The Daily Show, Glenn revealed that when he was first offered the part of Hollinger, he turned it down. “I just finished a film called Eugene the Marine that was tons of martial arts and dancing and shit like that, and it was basically about ageism and how you deal with it when you’re old and still have a life left in the tank,” the actor said. “And [The White Lotus producers] sent me a description of this old guy with a cane, and I thought fuck that.”

The veteran actor, who starred in classic films like The Right Stuff, Silverado, Nashville, and Backdraft, quickly changed his mind,...

Is there anything Kurt Russell can't do? There are obviously things he has yet to do. He hasn't won the Nobel Prize for economics, nor has he landed on the Moon. He hasn't cured cancer, and, last I checked, he hasn't set the land speed record for driving a Chevy Nova in reverse. But because he is Kurt Russell, we assume he'll get around to these things in between rounds of golf.

What has Kurt Russell done to merit such confidence in his abilities? Need I say list the titles? "Used Cars," "Escape from New York," "The Thing" "Big Trouble in Little China," "Tango & Cash," "Backdraft," "Tombstone"... the man is the patron saint of afternoon dad cinema. He's a self-deprecating John Wayne — a big, blustery, bluffing tough guy who, despite his occasional oafishness, always comes through in the clutch. He's not afraid to make himself look silly; in fact,...

German composer Hans Zimmer began his career playing keyboards for various New Wave bands around Europe. He played with Krakatoa in his native Germany, with The Buggles (of "Video Killed the Radio Star" fame) in England, with Krisma in Italy, and with Mecano in Spain. In the early '80s, he started to produce pop singles as well, overseeing "History of the World, Part 1" for the punk band The Damned. About the same time, he started to write commercial jingles and TV theme tunes, effectively giving him an "in" into film-scoring work. His first film as a composer was 1982's "Moonlighting," one of Jerzy Skolimowski's movies. 

For there, Zimmer's output increased exponentially, and he brought his unique, sweeping sensibilities (but with a pinch of New Wave) to over 20 features. He scored Stephen Frears' "My Beautiful Laundrette," (soon to be remade) and Bernard Rose's underrated "Paperhouse." In 1988, he...

When Ben Affleck took home a best picture Oscar for his film "Argo," he was asked to weigh in backstage on awards season punditry. In a video shared by CNN, Affleck opted out of the way people closely track the race. "I don't get into the Oscarology, and the pontificating," he said, though he acknowledged that many people enjoy following the process. "I hope people are interested in the Oscars, because it helps our industry, and it helps make better films," he added, "but it doesn't help me."

If that's the case, Affleck may not know that he belongs to a relatively exclusive club: Actors who have won Oscars for something other than acting. Many actors who have spent decades on film sets eventually get the urge to try their hand at other aspects of the business, from producing to writing to directing. Many try, that is, but fewer succeed,...

Concourse Media has bulked up its EFM sales slate with the action thriller Eugene The Marine starring Scott Glenn, Annette O’Toole, and Jim Gaffigan.

Hank Bedford directed the completed film about a military veteran and widower living in his tidy home who invites trouble when he begins to open up his life to those around him, including a new friend, a potential love interest, his son, and a sleazy realtor.

Bedford co-wrote the screenplay with Cesare Gagliardoni and the cast includes Shioli Katsuna and Jeremy Bobb. Eugene The Marine was produced by Stephen Vincent.

“Eugene The Marine is a visceral...

Welp, it’s January. That special time of year where everyone is simultaneously recovering from the holidays and trying to kick off the new year by putting their best foot forward. TV shows that have been on break will soon return and mid-season premieres quickly follow thereafter, but for film, January is often looked at as slow period for new releases, with offerings like “Den of Thieves 2: Pantera,” Leigh Whannell’s “Wolf Man,” and Steven Soderbergh’s “Presence” being unveiled. Films that have had awards-qualifying runs like Mike Leigh’s “Hard Truths” and Gia Coppola’s “The Last Showgirl” will also expand wider, boosting their profiles in time for Oscar voting, but generally, there’s not much going on to excite the average movie-goer this month. So what better time to say, “Out with the new, in with the old!”

Repertory theaters in New York and Los Angeles have...

The intense 1997 thriller Breakdown, starring Kurt Russell, is making its way to Paramount+.

Starting Jan. 1, 2025, subscribers can stream this gripping film about desperation, deceit, and survival on Paramount+. Directed by Jonathan Mostow (Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines), Breakdown follows a man’s harrowing quest to rescue his missing wife, blending nail-biting suspense with riveting performances. The film’s relentless pacing and tense atmosphere make it a standout entry in the thriller genre and Russell's iconic career.

A Classic Thriller That Keeps You Guessing

Breakdown remains one of Kurt Russell’s most gripping performances, playing Jeff Taylor, a man whose wife mysteriously vanishes after their car breaks down in the middle of the desert. As Jeff digs deeper into her disappearance, he uncovers a sinister conspiracy and is forced to fight for his life. Praised for its relentless pacing and taut direction, the film has become a standout entry in the thriller genre,...

Kurt Russell's underrated 2018 Christmas comedy is climbing up the Netflix charts six years after its original release. Russell may be best-known as an action star, thanks to career-defining movies like Escape from New York, The Thing, Tango & Cash, Tombstone, Backdraft, Stargate and many more. But over the years Russell has also carved out a space for himself in lighter fare, taking on both comedy and family-friendly roles.

The star’s work in family-friendly projects indeed began early on when he toiled as a lovable child and teen actor in Disney titles like The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band, The Horse in the Grey Flannel Suit, The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes and Now You See Him, Now You Don’t. Success as a grown-up comedy performer was in the offing for Russell starting in the 1980s, when he starred alongside wife Goldie Hawn in the hit movie Overboard.

The Knight and Day cast featured some recognizable faces as NCIS featured a new episode on Monday night.

The episode began with a defense billionaire named Freddie Martin (Travis Schuldt) having an affair with a woman named Sheila (Alisa Allapach).

Intruders descend upon the apartment, leading to Freddie shooting one of the assailants. The NCIS team is interviewing the couple as his wife, Melinda Martin (Brianna Brown), arrives.

They discover that it was a kidnapping attempt rather than a robbery and that Melinda was the target. Later, we learn that Melinda’s real name is April Day, and she has been hiding from the Kansas City mob.

April was dating the son (Jason Marino) of the mob boss (Carla Marino), and they were fleeing because she was pregnant and he wanted nothing to do with the family business.

Jason was killed after being hit by a car, and April gave...

It's a common lament that there aren't enough original movies anymore, and that every film not belonging to a franchise is born of a pre-existing intellectual property that's likely been mined before. How many trips are we going to take back to Middle-earth? Are we really doing Harry Potter again? And another "Wuthering Heights" with a white Heathcliffe (when he's written as Black in Emily Brontë's novel)?

Yet some yarns are more durable than others. There's always room for another "Hamlet," because part of the thrill is in watching great actors and directors tackle one of the greatest plays ever written -- one that can be shifted from Denmark to locales like New York City, the Elsinore brewery, or Pride Rock. And no one's mad when one of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes mysteries gets dusted off, even though we all know how the plot shakes out.

John Carpenter's 1981 dystopian sci-fi action movie Escape From New York is about to come home in a new Limited Edition 4K Steelbook. Starring Kurt Russell as the iconic anti-hero Snake Plissken, the cult classic has received the new 4K restoration by Studio Canal, and comes with a host of extras including multiple audio commentaries, Dolby Atmos sound and several featurettes, as well as a cool Steelbook with new design. This limited release will be available from November 5.

Escape from New York takes place in a dystopian future where Manhattan has been converted into a maximum-security prison. When Air Force One crashes into the chaotic and dangerous zone, Russells Plissken is given little choice but to save the president within 24 hours, otherwise an explosive device implanted in his neck will be detonated.

The movie came just a few years after John Carpenter cemented himself as a force to be reckoned...

Thanks to the likes of Liam Neeson, Denzel Washington, and Jeff Bridges, as well as the old guard like Sylvester Stallone, Jackie Chan, Harrison Ford, and more still going strong, the aged action hero has now become a staple of the genre. Well, its time for all of them to move over, as Scott Glenn, the 85-year-old Hollywood icon and star of Daredevil, the Bourne franchise, and Backdraft, joins the ranks in the upcoming action thriller Eugene the Marine. The actor, who is himself a former marine, will lead the action movie as Gene Lee Grady, a man fighting not only to keep his son from forcing him out of his family home, but also to stop a mysterious murderer who has begun killing those closest to him.

No, action movie fan, youre not dreaming, this does indeed sound like the ultimate aged action outing. And with Glenn, who is...

Some gritty action films from the 1990s are worth revisiting as many of them have slowly begun to slip from the minds of the general public in recent years. The '90s introduced some of the most influential action films, like Total Recall, Heat, and The Matrix. Such films have taken over pop culture discussions, leaving gritty action films like Crimson Tide and New Jack City to take the back seat.

Gritty action films from the decade show a darker side to criminal activity, such as drug trading and arson. Some films like Desperado have a comedic approach to the dark material, while films like New Jack City aim to incorporate social commentary into their narrative. Though they were moderate successes at the time of their release and weren't torn apart by critics, certain '90s action films aren't as heavily discussed and merit a rewatch.

Related 10 Underrated '90s...

Ron Howard's acting career was part of a family legacy, as his father, Rance, was already a prolific performer when he was born in 1954. Howard's first professional acting credit is for the 1959 feature "The Journey," with Yul Brynner and Deborah Kerr. That same year, the five-year-old Ron infiltrated TV, appearing as precocious moppets in multiple hot shows.

More notably, beginning in 1960, Ron -- credited as Ronny -- began starring on "The Andy Griffith Show," playing Opie, the son of Griffith's character. Howard would appear in 243 of the show's 249 episodes, over the course of eight seasons. While appearing on "Andy Griffith," Howard would continue to be a TV presence, appearing in dozens of additional hot shows, as well as several notable B-pictures.

Even in his teen years, Howard continued to act, proving that he was no mere child prodigy. He appeared in George Lucas' nostalgia film "American Graffiti," and...

This post contains spoilers for "Vanilla Sky."

Cameron Crowe's bafflingly convoluted yet intriguing "Vanilla Sky" opens with affluent businessman David Aames (Tom Cruise) in prison. Donning a prosthetic mask to hide his supposed facial disfigurement, David is initially reluctant to open up to court psychologist Dr. Curtis McCabe (Kurt Russell), only to end up recounting the events that led up to his arrest and confinement in prison. The narrative structure of the film unwinds like a labyrinth with no exits, mirroring David's inexplicable brush with strange visions that overlap and shift around to create unreliable memories -- that is, until the last 10 minutes introduces a twist that renders everything crystal clear.

Lucid dreams and cryonic suspensions emerge as a part of David's reality, revealing that a chunk of his experiences are products of his muddled subconscious, including McCabe, whose insistent proclamations of being "real" start to feel hollow with every step David takes.

As Hollywoods hottest leading man right now, Glen Powell seems to be everywhere these days, with a couple of exceptions: a Marvel or DC movie. One would assume that with all his star power the two studios would be eager to cast him in some form or fashion, but according to him, he has yet to receive a phone call from either Kevin Feige or James Gunn. Powell is fresh off the success of the summer blockbuster, Twisters, and is set to begin filming Edgar Wrights reboot of The Running Man this fall.

Appearing on The Discourse Podcast (via The Playlist), Powell mentioned that while hes a big fan of the current crop of superhero movies, he hasnt been in contact with anyone at Marvel or DC about possibly appearing in an upcoming film. Still, that didnt stop him from heaping praise upon the newest highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time,...

Glen Powell debunks his supposed involvement in the Backdraft remake, clarifying it's just a rumor, despite producer Brian Grazer's previous comments. Fans of the Kurt Russell-led firefighter thriller were divided on the announcement of a remake, lamenting th lack of original movies in Hollywood. Though he has a few recent original movies and some upcoming, Powell's recent trend of starring in legacy sequels and remakes could lead to career pigeonholing if he were to also star in the Backdraft remake.

Despite initial reports indicating he was all lined up to lead the new version of the movie, Glen Powell clarifies his involvement in the Backdraft remake. Kurt Russell led Ron Howard's original 1991 thriller, starring as Chicago Fire Lieutenant Bull McCaffrey as he and his team of firefighters, including his hotheaded younger brother, investigate a series of fires carried out by a serial arsonist. Reports of the...

Hollywood megastar Glen Powell is no stranger to reboots, remakes, and sequels. Having just come off the hugely successful summer blockbuster Twisters, he seemed to have come out of nowhere in 2022 thanks to Top Gun: Maverick, despite being in the business for nearly 20 years up to that point. Now, Powell is teasing his next project, Edgar Wrights The Running Man, calling it an amalgamation of Stephen Kings classic novel and the offbeat style of Wright.

Speaking with ScreenRant to promote The Best Mans Ghostwriter, an original podcast courtesy of Audible, Powell teased that hes been "doing a lot of sprinting" to get ready for The Running Man, which begins filming this fall. Jokes aside, Powell would go on to say that not only has he wanted to work with Wright for years now, but that the director of the Three Flavors Cornetto trilogy is bringing his own flair to the project.

When Kurt Russell shed his Disney child star image once and for all as the leathery, laconic renegade Snake Plissken in John Carpenter's dystopian action hit "Escape from New York," he seemed poised for a long career as a handsome, rough-and-tumble leading man, the John Wayne-Steve McQueen hybrid America needed now that both had hit the soil. Russell, however, had other plans.

For starters, Russell didn't dig the laconic shtick. After a tonally similar performance as the perpetually cheesed-off R.J. MacReady in Carpenter's "The Thing," the actor sought to send up his tough-guy persona in goofball action flicks like "Big Trouble in Little China" and "Tango & Cash." He also gleefully made a fool of himself in broad comedies (memorably/infamously in "Overboard" and "Captain Ron"), while playing in-over-their-heads everymen in thrillers like "The Mean Season" and "Unlawful Entry." He could still do the gruff act when...

Glen Powell's rising popularity leads him to headline a remake of the 1991 hit movie Backdraft, following a string of successful films. The Backdraft remake may not include original stars like Kurt Russell, but a perfect co-star reunion with Wyatt Russell is still possible. Powell and Wyatt Russell previously showcased great chemistry in Everybody Wants Some!!, making their potential on-screen reunion in Backdraft exciting.

Glen Powell is set to star in a remake of Kurt Russell's hit movie Backdraft, and the project sets up a perfect reunion for the actor. Powell has rocketed to stardom in recent years thanks to the incredible string of hits with Top Gun: Maverick, Anybody But You, Hit Man, and Twisters. His newfound popularity has meant Hollywood has been eager to put many Glen Powell movies in development, as every studio wants to be in business with the rising star. The latest project is a Backdraft remake starring Powell,...

Powell's trend of remakes and sequels to '80s/'90s films continues in Backdraft. Powell risks being typecast as just an action star if he continues with nostalgic projects. Hopefully, Powell will make more original films to showcase his talent beyond action roles.

High-octane, nostalgia-driven movies have fueled Glen Powell's seemingly meteoric rise, but his new remake plan continues a potentially dangerous trend for the actor. It was recently announced that Powell would star in a remake of Backdraft, the 1991 thriller starring Kurt Russell. While the project promises to bring attention back to a somewhat forgotten thriller, the movie also means that Glen Powell is continuing to pursue a particular type of movie role something I'd like to see him move away from.

Glen Powell is the embodiment of an '80s or '90s leading man. His Texas swagger resembles Hollywood actors from years past, so...

Word on the street is that Glen Powell is being looked at for a role in a reboot of the 1991 firefighter movie “Backdraft.” Brian Grazer, who co-founded Imagine Entertainment, hinted at this during a recent interview. While nothing is set in stone yet, people are already talking about what this could mean for Powell’s career.

Powell has had some huge successes lately in movies like “Top Gun: Maverick” and “Twisters.” Both of those brought back nostalgic franchises from the 80s and 90s. If he signs on for “Backdraft” too, it’ll keep that trend going. Some think staying tied to remakes of old classics could box Powell in as an actor. But others point to his funny performance in “Hit Man” on Netflix as proof he can do more than just action movies.

It’s a balancing act for Powell. Big name remakes like “Backdraft” are hugely popular and get people talking.

Quick Links The Backdraft Remake Is Confirmed The Backdraft Remake Cast Details The Backdraft Remake Story Details The Backdraft Remake: Further News & Info The Backdraft remake, announced in 2024, has actor Glen Powell attached, following the trend of legacy sequels and rebooted 80s and 90s movies. Even though details about the remake are scarce, it could capitalize on modern filmmaking improvements to elevate the disaster scenes like the original. Producer Brian Grazer hinted at the modern adaptation being successful with allusions to the cast and legacy sequels, leaving much to be anticipated.

The classic 1990s disaster film Backdraft is getting a modern remake, and the new take on the Oscar-nominee already has Glen Powell attached to the cast. Released in 1991, Backdraft stars William Baldwin and Kurt Russell as a pair of competitive brothers who work as firefighters and must team up to crack the case of a deadly arsonist. With its slick production and big-budget appeal,...

Glen Powell is becoming a part of many major franchises, and an Oscar-nominated firefighting drama could be next. The Twisters star is reportedly planned to star in a new take on Backdraft.

During an interview with CNBC Television (per ScreenRant), Imagine Entertainment producer Brian Grazer shared some big news about a Backdraft remake. He claimed that a new take on Backdraft is in the works with Powell, but Grazer didn't share any additional details beyond having the Top Gun: Maverick star in the lead. Grazer initially mentioned the project in passing, also sharing that a 24 film is in development, though he later reiterated that the new Backdraft is happening.

Related Glen Powell Honors 'Great Friend' Bill Paxton as Twisters Debuts in Theaters

Glen Powell posts a loving tribute to his late friend, Bill Paxton, as Twisters finally hits theaters.

"Imagine [Entertainment] has always played in that zone where there is that chance,...

The Glen Powell business is booming in Hollywood, and if “Twisters” does well in theaters this weekend, expect the actor’s ascension to superstardom to happen even more swiftly than it already is. “Twisters” is Powell’s last big release of 2024, but he has Ari Aster‘s “Huntington“ and Edgar Wright‘s “The Running Man” remake on the way, too.

Continue reading ‘Backdraft’: Glen Powell May Star In An Upcoming Remake Of Ron Howard’s 1991 Firefighting Film at The Playlist.

A Backdraft remake with Glen Powell is in development, seemingly announced by producer Brian Grazer. The original film was praised for its special effects, though its belated sequel did not perform well. The remake aims to improve on its special effects using AI and digital technology.

A Backdraft remake is seemingly in development with a Top Gun: Maverick star. Directed by Ron Howard, with a script by Gregory Wilden, the 1991 action thriller follows two rival firefighters and brothers who team up to investigate a series of fires involving oxygen-induced infernos called backdrafts in Chicago. Kurt Russell leads the film's ensemble cast alongside William Baldwin, Scott Glenn, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Rebecca De Mornay, Donald Sutherland, Robert De Niro, Jason Gedrick, and J.T. Walsh.

Now, over 30 years after the original movie, a Backdraft remake with Glen Powell is seemingly in development, as announced by Brian Grazer, a producer and co-founder of Imagine Entertainment,...

"Backdraft" is a deluxe dad movie. It's a dad movie with daddy issues wherein the un-dad protagonist attains maximum manhood by becoming his dad. That all these dads and potential dads are not just firemen, but Chicago firemen blasts this dad movie into the Daddysphere.

Now that a whole generation of moviegoers that grew up watching "Backdraft" with their dads are themself dads, it's time for Hollywood to tempt dad movie fate with a dad movie remake. Why are dad movie remakes such a perilous undertaking? Because dad movies only become dad movies by becoming couch worthy. This takes years of rewatches on casual Saturday and Sunday afternoons. And there are dad movie tiers. Some dad movies are bad movies that contain enough dad-friendly elements to justify the sit in a chore-less situation. Others are good enough to make a little nagging worth it.

"Backdraft" is an "I thought you...

A film based on 2000s hit TV show 24 is in the works at 20th Century Studios as confirmed by Brian Grazer.

Back in 2002, was there anything better than tuning in to a TV show where Kiefer Sutherland chased bad guys over the course of 24 hours? Probably, but it was still such a treat to watch 24 each week.

Variety now reports that a film based on 24 is in the works over at 20th Century Studios. Imagine Entertainment co-founder Brian Grazer confirmed the project during an appearance on MSNBC’s Squawk Box in June, but the news have only now been picked up.

“Imagine has always played in that zone where there is that high probability chance that it will be successful in movie theaters. It’s great for us, because we’ve built, over 30 years, over 100 different products and brands, whether it’s ‘Backdraft,’ which I’m now...

Have you got any salt handy? You may want to take a pinch of it for this one. Following recent star turns in Top Gun: Maverick, Anyone But You, Richard Linklater's Hit Man, and buzzy summer disaster movie blockbuster Twisters, it would be fair to say that Glen Powell is very hot right now. But he could be about to get hotter — quite literally. In a recent interview with CNBC posted to the broadcaster's YouTube channel, Imagine Entertainment co-founder Brian Grazer said not once, but twice, that a remake of Ron Howard's 1991 firefighting classic Backdraft is in the works, with none other than Powell set to star. Check out the interview clip below (feel free to scrub through to 1:20 and 2:20);

Now, as we say, some salt-pinching is required at this stage because neither Powell nor original Backdraft director Howard are on the record as saying this film is happening just yet.

The iconic TV series 24 may be coming to the big screen. Producers at 20th Century and Imagine Entertainment are in the early stages of making a 24 movie.

For almost a decade starting in 2001, 24 was a huge hit. Each season followed agent Jack Bauer over 24 episodes in real-time as he tried to stop terrorists. Actor Kiefer Sutherland became famous for playing the intense Jack Bauer.

Imagine Entertainment co-founder Brian Grazer let it slip that a 24 film is in the works. He was talking to CNBC about plans to reboot another action movie called Backdraft too.

No details have emerged yet about the 24 movie’s plot. And it’s unclear if Sutherland would return as Bauer. His intense performance is a big reason fans loved the show so much.

Making 24 into a movie shows it still has popularity years later. Putting it in theaters means it could reach an even wider audience.

Glen Powell is hoping to dominate the box office this coming weekend in Twisters, a sequel to the 1996 classic which starred Helen Hunt and the late Bill Paxton, and with his star currently on the rise in Hollywood, it seems everyone wants him for their next project. This includes Academy Award-winning producer and co-founder of Imagine Entertainment, Brian Grazer, who has revealed that Powell is attached to star in a remake of another 90s hit, the Ron Howard firefighter film Backdraft. Featuring an ensemble cast which included the likes of Kurt Russell, William Baldwin, Robert De Niro, and the late Donald Sutherland, Backdraft was an unexpected hit in 1991, earning $152 million at the box office and three Oscar nominations.

Appearing on CNBC to talk about the current state of Hollywood, Grazer who has been in the business for more than 40 years and seen it all was asked if people were really...

Ron Howard is reportedly developing a sequel to the 1991 hit film Backdraft, and Glen Powell is said to be considering joining up.

Here’s an interesting story which suggests that Backdraft, the 1991 firefighting drama may be getting a sequel. Well, another sequel that is given that Universal Pictures Home Entertainment released a direct-to-video follow-up in 2019. Given that Ron Howard’s production company are involved this time though, we’d imagine that should this come to fruition, this one would be a proper bells and whistles sequel with a sizeable budget and lots of movie stars.

One movie star whose name was almost certain to pop up was that of Glen Powell.

He’s the man of the moment right now and he’s not averse to putting in a turn in legacy follow-ups either. Powell is currently appearing in Twisters, a loose follow-up to the 1996 film, Twister. He’s also...

Let’s flashback to the summer of ’95 when movies were more than flicks—they were cultural events, grand spectacles that had everyone buzzing. That year, theaters were ablaze with standout blockbusters that defined the summer movie season. Michael Bay’s explosive Bad Boys kicked off the buddy cop genre into high gear with Will Smith and Martin Lawrence turning the charm up to eleven. Then there was Die Hard with a Vengeance, where Bruce Willis teamed up with Samuel L. Jackson in a thrilling game of cat and mouse through the streets of New York, which, for my money, is the best of the bunch. But let’s save that for another day. Even Disney threw its hat in the ring with Pocahontas, captivating audiences with its lush animation and heartfelt storytelling.

In this arena of heavyweights, Apollo 13 carved out its niche, offering a different kind of thrill. This...

With a whopping six decades of acting under his belt, Kurt Russell is among his or any generation's most prolific and recognizable performers. From his formative years with Disney to collaborations with filmmakers John Carpenter and Quentin Tarantino, the legendary actor has a big bag to pull from when considering the work he's most proud of, but ranking high on the list is his performance in Backdraft. A story of Chicago firefighters, Ron Howard's thriller was proudly declared by Russell at the time of its release as "the best thing I've ever done."...

Any regular theme park attendee probably has a list of their favorite roller coasters and rides (and maybe a go-to churro stand or two). But what about the hyper-specific category of special effects shows? Live stunt shows don't count, because those are too well-known. Instead, we're talking about more obscure attractions, the ones people might wander into on a whim between waiting in line for the park's ultra-popular rides.

In these special effects shows, most of which have since been closed down or revamped into other attractions altogether, park visitors were essentially herded into a controlled area to witness some kind of bombastic demonstration. Younger visitors may not even remember these, but they experienced their heyday in the 1990s, and were often based on a popular movie from the time.

One of the most notable examples was inspired by Ron Howard's 1991 blockbuster "Backdraft," the firemen-centric action thriller starring Kurt Russell,...

Brian Grazer and Ron Howard are exploring a sale of their Imagine Entertainment, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Imagine has reportedly hired investment bank Jp Morgan to strategise. According to other reports, Imagine made the move after receiving acquisition or merger offers.

Imagine representatives could not immediately be reached for comment.

In 2016 Imagine attracted a reported investment of $100m from US merchant bank The Raine Group. In 2022 the company was involved in talks with UK investment firm Centricus Asset Management about what was reported at the time as a $700m deal, though the talks came to nothing after six months of negotiation.

Brian Grazer and Ron Howard are exploring a sale of their Imagine Entertainment, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.

The Journal said Imagine has hired investment bank Jp Morgan to strategise. According to other reports, Imagine made the move after receiving acquisition or merger offers. Imagine representatives could not immediately be reached for comment.

In 2016 Imagine attracted a reported investment of $100m from US merchant bank The Raine Group. In 2022 the company was involved in talks with UK investment firm Centricus Asset Management about what was reported at the time as a $700m deal, though the talks...

You know, in some film circles, Ron Howard gets a lot of guff for being a "boring" director. But I think that's unfair. Sure, Howard has some duds in his directorial career, but he also has some home runs. "Apollo 13" is an exciting "based on a true story" flick, "The Paper" is a nifty look at the world of newspaper journalism, the underrated "Cinderella Man" is a stellar boxing drama. And then there's "Backdraft," Howard's 1991 thriller about firefighters. To be fair, the "Backdraft" script is a bit weak, but the film itself is action-packed and boasts some incredible visual effects that use real fire. The film also has a killer cast, including Robert De Niro, the late, great Donald Sutherland, Jennifer Jason Leigh, J.T. Walsh, Scott Glenn, and, of course, Kurt Russell. 

Russell plays Lieutenant Stephen "Bull" McCaffrey, a really cool guy who is also a damn good firefighter.

Donald Sutherland's versatile acting made him a standout in ensemble pieces and cameos. The Great Train Robbery is based on a historical 19th-century heist and an underrated gem with a strong cast. Sutherland's performance as a loyal partner in the heist provided a necessary contrast and connection for the audience.

The late Donald Sutherland was a true actor's actor, in that he looked for good roles rather than starring ones. While he headlined his share of movies -- good and bad -- he never shied away from ensemble pieces, or even walk-off cameos if they piqued his interest. His scene-stealing pyromaniac in Backdraft is an excellent example, as is his out-to-lunch professor in National Lampoon's Animal House. Some of his best performances came out of such roles, and even when the film wasn't brilliant, he would make it better with his presence.

Michael Crichton's The Great Train Robbery is a terrific film,...

Kurt Russell's first acting gig was in the 1963 Elvis Presley vehicle "It Happened at the World's Fair," wherein he played an unnamed young boy hired to kick Elvis in the shin. Elvis, you see, wanted to romance a nurse at the Fair, and wanted to approach her with an injury as a way of breaking the ice. Russell was 12.

This early gig was parlayed into a successful career as a teen actor, and throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Russell appeared in multiple high-concept comedies for Disney. He was in three of the Medfield College movies — "Now You See Him, Now You Don't," "The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes," and "The Strongest Man in the World" — as well as "Superdad," "Charley and the Angel," and "The Barefoot Executive." It wouldn't be until Robert Zemecki's 1980 comedy "Used Cars" that Russell would begin to shed his squeaky-clean teen image and begin appearing in more mature films,...

Donald Sutherland passed on 24 to avoid playing a father trying to kill his own son. Donald didn't want the first time he acted onscreen with his real son Kiefer to be his antagonist. Sutherland and Kiefer only shared scenes in one movie, Forsaken, directed by Jon Cassar.

Donald Sutherland passed on a major role in 24 alongside his son Kiefer, but he did it for the sweetest of reasons. Donald Sutherland passed away at the age of 88 in July 2024 and despite having (somehow) never been nominated for an Academy Award, he was seen as one of the best actors of his generation. During the 1970s, Sutherland went on a positively eye-watering run of great movies, fronting Robert Altman's Mash, Don't Look Now, Klute, 1978's Invasion of the Body Snatchers and more.

Sutherland had no shortage of great roles in the decades that followed, from his incredible cameo as a pyromaniac...

Award-winning Canadian film actor Donald Sutherland has died:

Sutherland rose to fame after starring in films including “The Dirty Dozen” (1967), “M*A*S*H” (1970), and “Kelly's Heroes” (1970). He subsequently starred in many films both in leading and supporting roles, including “Klute” (1971), “Don't Look Now” (1973)…

…“The Day of the Locust” (1975), “Fellini's Casanova” (1976), “The Eagle Has Landed” (1976), “1900” (1976), “Animal House” (1978), “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” (1978), “Ordinary People” (1980), “Eye of the Needle” (1981)…

…”A Dry White Season” (1989), “Backdraft” (1991), “JFK” (1991), “Six Degrees of Separation” (1993), “Without Limits” (1998), “The Italian Job” (2003) and “Pride & Prejudice” (2005).

More recently, Sutherland portrayed ‘President Snow’ in “The Hunger Games” with TV work including “Citizen X” (1995) and “Uprising (2001).

Click the images to enlarge…...

Kiefer Sutherland announced the passing of his legendary father, Donald Sutherland, with a heartfelt tribute on social media. Director Edgar Wright and co-star Helen Mirren also shared their admiration for Donald Sutherland's intelligence and talent. Tributes continued to pour in from Hollywood stars like Ron Howard, Rob Lowe, and Nancy Sinatra, honoring Sutherland's remarkable legacy.

Widely considered one of the most prolific and talented performers of his generation, Canadian actor Donald Sutherland accumulated quite a number of noteworthy entries to his filmography. And, now that he's passed, there are just as many tributes from fellow well-respected celebrities as there were films well-worth watching.

As reported earlier, Sutherland's son Keifer, with whom he starred in 1983's Max Dugan Returns, 1996's A Time to Kill, and 2015's Forsaken, broke the news of his father's passing. The younger Sutherland released the following lovely statement via his X (formerly Twitter) account:

With a heavy heart,...

Donald Sutherland, the Canadian actor who delivered memorable turns in films like Don’t Look Now, Klute, and The Hunger Games, has died. He was 88.

Sutherland’s son, the actor Kiefer Sutherland, announced the death on social media. ”I personally think one of the most important actors in the history of film,” Sutherland wrote. ”Never daunted by a role, good, bad, or ugly. He loved what he did and did what he loved, and one can never ask for more than that. A life well lived.”

Sutherland passed away in Miami after a long, unspecified illness and leaves an indelible impression on the arts.

Hollywood stars took to social media on Thursday after it was announced that Donald Sutherland died at the age of 88.

Sutherland died Thursday in Miami after a long illness, CAA’s Missy Davy told The Hollywood Reporter.

The renowned actor had an illustrious six-decade career, starring in varied roles with his breakthrough performances including the 1967 film The Dirty Dozen and Robert Altman’s M*A*S*H. Throughout his career, the actor starred in such films as Klute, Kelly’s Heroes, Don’t Look Now, Ordinary People, 1900, The Hunger Games series and Ad Astra.

In 2017, he received an Honorary Award from the Academy.

Sutherland is survived by his wife, Francine Racette; sons Roeg, Rossif, Angus and Kiefer; daughter, Rachel; and four grandchildren.

Kiefer paid tribute to his late father online, writing, “With a heavy heart, I tell you that my father, Donald Sutherland, has passed away. I personally think one of...

Late star Donald Sutherland is being remembered by his peers.

The iconic actor died at age 88, as announced on June 20. Sutherland starred in films such as “Ordinary People,” “The Dirty Dozen,” “Mash,” “JFK,” and “Klute,” as well as “Pride & Prejudice” and “The Hunger Games.” Among his extensive filmography was also TV series “Citizen X,” “The Undoing,” and “Trust.”

Sutherland won an honorary Oscar in 2017 and was an Emmy winner for “Citizen X.”

Sutherland’s son, actor Kiefer Sutherland, tweeted to confirm his passing.

“With a heavy heart, I tell you that my father, Donald Sutherland, has passed away,” Kiefer Sutherland wrote. “I personally think one of the most important actors in the history of film. Never daunted by a role, good, bad or ugly. He loved what he did and did what he loved, and one can never ask for more than that. A life well lived.”

Helen Mirren...

Sad news out of Hollywood today, as one of the industry's most beloved stars, Donald Sutherland, has passed away at the age of 88.

Sutherland accumulated more than 180 film and television credits in a career that spanned seven decades.

He is often cited as one of the best actors to have never won an Academy Award.

After rising to fame in the late '60s and early '70s with memorable roles in films such as The Dirty Dozen (1967), M*A*S*H (1970), and Kelly's Heroes (1970), Sutherland branched out with a wide array of films that ran the gamut from high drama to slapstick comedy.

With Klute (1971), Don't Look Now (1973), The Day of the Locust (1975), Animal House (1978), Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978), and Ordinary People (1980), Sutherland established himself as one of the most versatile stars in Hollywood.

Related: Will Movies and Shows of Today Be Classics Tomorrow?

His star continued to rise throughout the...