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In the "Gunsmoke" episode "The Jailer", Miss Kitty (Amanda Blake) and Matt Dillon (James Arness) are kidnapped by a bitter old woman in a black dress. Her name is Etta Stone, and she was played by the legendary Bette Davis (who was credited as "Miss Bette Davis"). Etta aims to hang Matt, as he killed her husband — a criminal — several years before. The old woman feels as if Matt himself committed a crime with his murder, however, and needed to face her own frontier justice. The episode also starred "Gunsmoke" regular-guest Bruce Dern (star of "Nebraska") as Etta Stone's son.

Working with a star of Davis' stature was, according to the trivia section on IMDb, intimidating for the "Gunsmoke" cast. Even though the show had been a hit for 12 seasons by the time "The Jailer" aired, there were still levels of fame that Arness and especially Blake weren't used to dealing with.

Dead for a Dollar, starring the iconic Willem Dafoe and Christoph Waltz, will arrive on Tubi this December. The underrated western debuted in 2022, to a mixed reception from critics.

Dead for a Dollar hits Tubi on December 1. Written and directed by Walter Hill, the Western thriller movie follows the bounty hunter Max Borlund, played by Waltz, on a search to find Rachel Kidd, the missing wife of a businessman. Dafoe plays Joe Cribbins, a card-sharp, armed robber and an old enemy of Borlund. Superman's Rachel Brosnahan plays Rachel Kidd as part of the ensemble that includes Batman: Caped Crusader's Hamish Linklater as Martin Kidd, Warren Burke as Sergeant Alonzo Poe, Brandon Scott as Elijah Jones, and Benjamin Bratt as Tiberio Vargas. Luis Chavez, Fidel Gomez, Guy Burnet, Alfredo Quiroz, Scott Peat, and Jackamoe Buzzell also star in the film.

Related Disney's Failed King Kong Replacement Will Stream for...

Exclusive: Guy Burnet (Oppenheimer), John Ross Bowie (Speechless), Adrian Rawlins (Mary & George) and Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson (Vikings: Valhalla) will round out the cast of Reykjavik, writer-director Michael Russell Gunn’s historical drama for Anyone But You producer Sk Global. Additionally, 2521 Entertainment has been set to produce and finance the film in partnership with Sk Global.

Others in the cast, as previously announced, include Jeff Daniels, Jared Harris, J.K. Simmons, Hope Davis, Branka Katic and Aya Cash.

Entering production in Iceland in early October, with extensive filming at Höfði House, the actual site of the 1986 Reykjavik summit, Reykjavik explains why the event marked one of the most significant diplomatic achievements of modern times. The film takes place at the most dangerous point of the Cold War, watching as political enemies Ronald Reagan (Daniels) and Mikhail Gorbachev (Harris) meet in Iceland over one long, tense weekend to decide if there will...

Actors such as John Wayne, James Stewart, and Randolph Scott easily rank among the Western genre's greatest stars. However, because these actors starred in movies during Hollywood's Golden Age, a time when movie ticket prices were well under $1, they do not account for the highest-grossing Western actors. Full of countless surprises, the list of cinema's highest-grossing Western actors features many unexpected stars, most of whom appeared in commercially successful Westerns within the past fifteen years.

At the dawn of the twenty-first century, the Western was one of cinema's least popular genres. Fortunately for fans of the genre, the Western made a triumphant comeback in the 2010s thanks to films such as True Grit, Django Unchained, and The Revenant. The Western has also experienced a resurgence on television due to the success of shows like Yellowstone, 1883, and 1923. A renewed interest in the Western genre has led stars such as Leonardo DiCaprio,...

Exclusive: Brandon Scott (Dead to Me) and Krsy Fox (Terrifier 3) are set to topline Big Baby, a new horror film from writer-director Spider One (Little Bites) and his horror-focused production company OneFox Productions, which counts screen icon Cher among its executive producers.

Adam Marcinowski (Allegoria) plays the title character, with Jordan Elsass (Little Fires Everywhere), Radek Lord (Ballers), Torio Van Grol, Catherine Corcoran (Terrifier), Kate Freund (Creepshow), Cameron Cowperthwaite (Station 19), Kirby Bliss Blanton (Project X), Nelson Leis (The Last of Us) and Chaz Bono (American Horror Story) rounding out the cast.

Big Baby tells the story of Adam Lewis (Scott), a successful horror screenwriter struggling for inspiration for his latest script. After a graphic and realistic nightmare of a hulking man dressed in a baby mask and onesie who axe murders his girlfriend Kate (Fox) in the middle of the night, Adam gets the inspiration...

Hamish Linklater has joined Season 2 of Gen V on Prime Video. Gen V, a spinoff of the popular series The Boys, centers on the students of Godolkin University as they train to become superheroes.

Linklater will portray Cipher, the new Dean of Godolkin University. Cipher is characterized as a charismatic and charming figure, trained as a scientist, and politically adept, enjoying the trust and admiration of high-ranking officials.

Related Gen V Starts Filming Second Season, Set Photos Revealed

Following the passing of series star Chance Perdomo, the second season of Gen V has now started filming.

Linklater's recent work includes his portrayal of US President Abraham Lincoln in the Apple TV+ series Manhunt. His other notable TV roles include appearances in Gaslit, Midnight Mass, Fargo, Legion and The New Adventures of Old Christine. Linklater also made his directorial debut with the feature adaptation of Chuck Klostermans Downtown Owl released by Sony Pictures.

Hamish Linklater has joined Season 2 of “Gen V” at Amazon Prime Video, Variety has learned.

Linklater will play the character Cipher, described as “the charismatic and charming newly-appointed Dean of Godolkin University. Trained as a scientist, he’s politically brilliant, and has the trust and admiration of officials at the highest level.”

The series, a spinoff of the popular Prime Video series “The Boys,” follows the students of Godolkin University as they train to become superheroes.

Linklater joins a cast that already includes Jaz Sinclair, Lizze Broadway, Maddie Phillips, London Thor, Derek Luh, and Asa Germann. Chance Perdomo had also starred in Season 1, but the actor died in a motorcyle accident in March. The producers of the series have stated his role will not be recast.

Linklater most recently appeared in the Apple TV+ series “Manhunt” in the role of US President Abraham Lincoln. His other TV roles include “Gaslit,...

Kicking off this news round-up is a small but notable update that Quentin Tarantino plans to launch production on his final feature The Movie Critic this fall in Los Angeles, according to Production Weekly. With Brad Pitt currently the only confirmed cast member, it’ll follow a movie critic in 1977 wherein Tararantino will reimagine the production of a number of films.

Lynne Ramsay has been developing a handful of projects following 2017’s You Were Never Really Here, and we now finally have an update on which one is likely to shoot first. As reported by Variety out of Reykjavik’s Stockfish Film & Industry Festival, Ramsay confirmed she’s prepping to shoot the Jennifer Lawrence-led Die, My Love, based on Ariana Harwicz’s novel “about a woman living in isolation in rural France who loses her mind amid marriage and motherhood.”

Walter Hill isn’t hanging up his directing hat,...

Screenwriter, director and producer Walter Hill will receive the 2024 Laurel Award for Screenwriting Achievement from the Writers Guild of America West.

Per the guild, the award is bestowed upon members who have “advanced the literature of motion pictures and made outstanding contributions to the profession of the screenwriter.” A few of Hill’s writing and co-writing credits include “The Getaway,” “48 Hrs.,” “Last Man Standing” and “Dead For A Dollar.”

“Walter Hill’s impact on our industry is undeniable,” said Wgaw president Meredith Stiehm. “His unique style influenced and educated generations of screenwriters who followed. He has had an enduring, renowned career, and the Guild is honored to present him with the Screen Laurel Award.”

In the early 1970s, Hill kicked off his writing career with “Hickey and Boggs,” “The Getaway,” “The Mackintosh” and “The Drowning Pool.” He stepped in the director’s chair for the first time with the 1975 Depression-era film “Hard Times.

The Writers Guild of America West announced on Tuesday that writer, producer and director Walter Hill has been named the recipient of the guild’s 2024 Laurel Award for screenwriting achievement.

The Guild’s lifetime achievement award is presented to members who have “advanced the literature of motion pictures and made outstanding contributions to the profession of the screenwriter.”

“Walter Hill’s impact on our industry is undeniable,” said Wgaw President Meredith Stiehm in a statement. “His unique style influenced and educated generations of screenwriters who followed. He has had an enduring, renowned career, and the Guild is honored to present him with the Screen Laurel Award.”

As a writer, Hill’s credits include Hickey and Boggs, The Getaway, The Drowning Pool, Aliens and Alien 3. Hill made his directorial debut in 1975 with Hard Times, which he also wrote, following that film up with the 1979 cult hit The Warriors. He also wrote and directed Southern Comfort,...

Walter Hill, who wrote and/or directed and produced such films as 48 Hrs., The Warriors, The Getaway and many more, will receive the WGA West’s 2024 Laurel Award. He will be presented with the career achievement honor April 14 during the strike-delayed Writers Guild Awards’ L.A. ceremony.

The award is presented to WGA members who have advanced the literature of motion pictures and made outstanding contributions to the profession of the screenwriter, per Wgaw.

Related: 2024 Awards Season Calendar – Dates For Writers Guild, Tonys & More

Hill began his screenwriting career in the early 1970s and made his directing debut with the 1975 Depression-set film Hard Times. He went on to co-write and direct the cult 1979 pic The Warriors and pen the first two Alien sequels. He later directed and wrote or co-wrote Eddie Murphy’s breakout film 48 Hrs., sequel Another 48 Hrs., The Long Riders, Southern Comfort and Last Man Standing. His...

Exclusive: Good Trouble star Michael Galante is leading a first-of-its-kind comedy series featuring a host of visually impaired and low vision actors.

The Don’t Look Now comedy pilot has been forged to showcase visually impaired actors in leading roles and has been financed by author and visually impaired advocate Rebecca S. Meadows.

Set in an underfunded non-profit training center for the visually impaired, Don’t Look Now revolves around a diverse group of dedicated teachers and staff as they navigate the daily challenges of their work.

Galante, who played Brian in Freeform’s Good Trouble and has also had roles in Will & Grace and Boy Meets Girl, stars alongside an ensemble including Nathan Hurd (She-Hulk: Attorney at Law), Hannah Taragan (Grown-ish), Nimo Liré (Gift of Fear), Jamie H. Jung (Them), Patrick Agada (Kappa Force), Mikaylee Mina (The Black Mass), Diana Villegas (Dead For a Dollar), Ramona Dubarry (The Curse), Olga Itsenko and Brian McCarthy.

Superman: Legacy star Rachel Brosnahan insists she will be putting her "own stamp" on Lois Lane as she gears up to play the Man of Steel's love interest in the upcoming DC Universe movie.

Speaking with Extra on the red carpet at the 81st Golden Globes on Jan. 7, Brosnahan offered her thoughts on portraying Lois and the creative direction of Legacy as the Dcu flick takes shape. According to Brosnahan, Legacy has a life of its own compared to previous Superman movies and has been encouraged by the conversations she's had with co-star David Corenswet and director/writer James Gunn. "We've been having a lot of great conversations, David [Corenswet] and I, with James Gunn the director, and we've been talking a lot about where this project fits into the canon of the 'Supermans' that we know, so hopefully this will be putting our own stamp on things," she said.

Exclusive: Vertical has picked up U.S. rights to Deadland, a thriller led by Roberto Urbina (TNT’s Snowpiercer), which world premiered at SXSW 2023. Marking the directorial debut of Lance Larson, the film is slated for a day-and-date release on November 3rd.

Urbina stars as U.S. Border agent Angel Waters, who comes across what would normally be a routine illegal crossing, but quickly spirals into his worst nightmare. In a tragic twist of fate, a detained immigrant is killed while being held at a remote border outpost. Days later, Angel is called back to the river where he is met with a terrifying sight — the same migrant that died is standing at the river’s edge. As strange phenomena begin to overtake his life, he soon learns that on this land, that which dies doesn’t always stay dead.

Starring alongside Urbina are McCaul Lombardi (American Honey), Julieth Restrepo...

The new DC universe has found its Lois Lane with Rachel Brosnahan’s official Superman: Legacy casting. The film was confirmed in January 2023 as the first entry in James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DC revamp, opening the Dcu’s first phase, “Chapter One: Gods and Monsters.” With director Gunn wanting the film to star a younger Clark Kent, the recasting of Superman and Lois Lane was a hot topic for many leading up to the official announcement.

After months of rumors, Gunn confirmed on Twitter that Brosnahan had been cast as Lois Lane alongside David Corenswet as Superman. Brosnahan had previously been one of the rumored frontrunners for the role, with the actress even reacting to the Lois Lane rumor on The View in May 2023. Her casting brings plenty of promise to the new Dcu with Emmy-award-winning actress proving herself to be more than capable of carrying the female lead.

First title in new DC Studios slate scheduled to open on July 11, 2025.

After a DC Studios search James Gunn (pictured) has found his stars for Superman: Legacy, casting David Corenswet as Clark Kent/Superman and Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane.

Corenswet broke out in Netflix’s The Politician and was recently seen in A24 horror Pearl, Netflix’s Look Both Ways and HBO miniseries We Own This City. He will next be seen opposite Natalie Portman in the Apple TV+ limited series The Lady In The Lake.

Brosnahan earned an Emmy and two Golden Globes for her lead role in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.

The next actors to play Clark Kent and Lois Lane on the big screen in Superman: Legacy have been revealed. It's been revealed that David Corenswet will play Clark, who secretly fights crime and saves the world as the Man of Steel, while his love interest, reporter Lois Lane, will be played by Rachel Brosnahan. There had recently been rumors that both were up for the part, and after multiple other hopefuls were tested, it seems writer-director James Gunn has made his decision.

According to Deadline, screen tests took place over two days. The casting had been narrowed down to three possibilities for Clark with another three for Lois. It's also reported that deals were put in place quickly to avoid potentially getting halted by a possible SAG-AFTRA strike, which could go into effect by midnight on June 30. With his two leads cast, Gunn is also reportedly looking to...

Stop the (Daily Planet’s) presses: James Gunn has found his Superman and Lois Lane. David Corenswet will play the lead of Clark Kent/Superman in Gunn’s “Superman: Legacy.” Rachel Brosnahan has been selected as Lois.

Corenswet broke out in the A24 horror hit “Pearl.” He’s also known for Netflix’s “Look Both Ways” and HBO miniseries “We Own This City.” Corenswet also wrote, directed, and starred in the web sketch-comedy series “Moe & Jerryweather.” He will next be seen opposite Natalie Portman in the upcoming Apple TV+ limited series “The Lady in the Lake.”

Brosnahan just ended her five-season run as the title star in “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” Brosnahan earned an Emmy Award and two Golden Globes for “Maisel.” She was nominated for an 2015 Emmy for “House of Cards.” Brosnahan recently starred opposite Benedict Cumberbatch in Lionsgate’s “The Courier,” and alongside Christoph Waltz and Willem Dafoe...

DC Studios has knighted a new Clark Kent and Lois Lane. David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan will play the coveted parts in James Gunn’s “Superman: Legacy.”

The latest on-screen iteration of the iconic comic book hero will largely be a workplace origin story, Gunn said when he and fellow DC steward Peter Safran laid out their narrative plans in January. Corenswet, who broke out in Ryan Murphy’s Netflix series “Hollywood,” will play cub reporter Kent at the fictional newspaper The Daily Planet. Brosnahan will be his coworker and co-lead.

Gunn is directing the project from his own screenplay, based on the character created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. Safran will produce. The project is set for release on July 11, 2025.

“It focuses on Superman balancing his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing,” Safran said earlier this year when he and Gunn unveiled a lengthy block of planned DC films and series.

David Corenswet has won the coveted role of Clark Kent and will be the new Man of Steel in DC Studios’ inaugural “Superman: Legacy,” the studio announced on Tuesday.

Rachel Brosnahan has also been cast as Lois Lane.

Corenswet replaces Henry Cavill, who had played the role since 2013’s “Man of Steel.”

“Superman: Legacy” tells the story of Superman’s (Corenswet) journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as Clark Kent of Smallville, Kansas. He is the embodiment of truth, justice and the American way, guided by human kindness in a world that sees kindness as old-fashioned.

Also Read:

Henry Cavill Was ‘Dicked Around by a Lot of People,’ James Gunn Says of Superman Actor’s DC Limbo

Corenswet earned widespread acclaim for his breakout performance in Netflix’s “The Politician.” He also recently starred in the acclaimed A24 indie “Pearl,” Netflix’s “Look Both Ways” and...

A mere 55 episodes after her triumphant appearance at our live show to mark episode 500, the wonderful Rachel Zegler returns to the Empire Podcast to talk Shazam! Fury Of The Gods, poster spoilers, cheap mic stands, George Lucas, and much, much more in a fun chat with Chris Hewitt. Guest-wise this week there's also an excerpt from James Dyer's forthcoming Andor S1 spoiler special interview with Tony Gilroy and Diego Luna, the creator and star of that most excellent Star Wars show respectively.

Either side of those, Chris and James are joined in the podbooth this week by Helen O'Hara to discuss the best seventh instalment in franchises, review Scream VI,Winnie The Pooh: Blood And Honey, Dead For A Dollar, and more, and, in a bumper movie news section, give their Oscar predictions, including speculation on which Best Picture nominees would be improved with a dildo fight. Answer: all of them.

Brooke Shields, Miranda Cosgrove and Benjamin Bratt will star in “Mother of the Bride,” a new romantic comedy from Netflix. Mark Waters, who previously helmed “Mean Girls” and “He’s All That,” directs from a script by Robin Bernheim, the writer of “The Princess Switch” franchise.

According to the official logline, “Mother of the Bride” is a generational comedy of errors. It reads: “When Lana’s daughter Emma returns from a year abroad in London, she drops a bombshell on her mother: she’s getting married. On an island. Next month! Things only get worse when Lana discovers that the mystery man who stole her daughter’s heart just so happens to be the son of the man who broke hers years ago.”

Shields is best known for her starring roles in “Pretty Baby” and “The Blue Lagoon,” as well as her long-running sitcom “Suddenly Susan.” She has been making headlines...

Christoph Waltz is warm, inviting, and disarmingly kind — as if he knows it can take a moment for people to adjust to his real-life persona compared to the mostly horrifying men he’s embodied onscreen. In truth, since his portrayal of SS Colonel Hans Landa in 2009’s Inglourious Basterds, Waltz has captivated through peculiar means. Whether rooting for his character’s demise or investing in their glory, there is no passive way to take in the two-time Oscar winner’s work. And so, whether he is orchestrating the death of...

Hey, "The Tonight Show With Host Jimmy Fallon" fans. Tonight, February 7, 2023, NBC is going to serve up a brand new episode of The Tonight Show with host Jimmy Fallon, and we've got a brief preview of who will be on tonight. You guys are going to see an actor, a comedian and a musical performance. Let's get into it. The first description lets us know that 66 year old Austrian/German actor Christoph Waltz. Christoph has been involved in productions like: "No Time To Die" movie, Horrible Bosses 2 movie, Django Unchained movie, The Three Musketeers, Water For Elephants movie, The Green Hornet movie, Inglourious Basterds movie, Gun-Shy and many more. Christopher's most recent productions include: Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio, Dead for a Dollar. Some future gigs he has coming up are: "The Portable Door" and "The Consultant." We might see Christoph discuss some of those projects with Jimmy tonight.

After working together on “The Lighthouse” and “The Northman,” Willem Dafoe and Robert Eggers are looking to team up for a third time. Dafoe is in talks to join Eggers’ next film, his previously announced “Nosferatu,” sources have told IndieWire.

Inspired by the iconic 1922 German silent film from F.W. Murnau, which itself was based heavily on Bram Stoker’s definitive vampire novel “Dracula,” Eggers’ film sees Bill Skarsgård play the central role of Count Orlok, an 18th-century Transylvanian vampire, made famous in the original film by Max Schreck. The film follows Orlok as he obsessively stalks a young woman (Lily-Rose Depp) across Germany, bringing horror and bloodshed with him.

Dafoe’s potential role is being kept under wraps, but in addition to the two leads, he would also join the already-cast Nicholas Hoult. Notably, Dafoe played Schreck in “Shadow of the Vampire,” a 2000 horror comedy about the making of the original “Nosferatu.

Rachel Brosnahan is attached to lead a new limited series in the works at Amazon, Variety has learned exclusively.

The series is currently titled “Lois & Varga” and is based on a short story by Lisa Taddeo. Miriam Battye is adapting the story for the screen, with “Bodies Bodies Bodies” director Halina Reijn attached to helm the pilot.

The official logline states that the show “follows a newly-married couple that moves to a small and vaunted island after inheriting a heavenly parcel of oceanfront property. But once they arrive, they meet Varga, the island’s only stripper and yoga teacher, who begins to sinisterly unravel their lives.

Brosnahan will also executive produce under her Scrap Paper Pictures banner along with Julie Waters, the company’s head of TV and film development. Battye also executive produces along with Reijn and Taddeo.

News of the series development keeps Brosnahan in business with Amazon,...

The holidays are here, Oscar voters. What are you going to watch?

At this point in the calendar, the answer could almost be “everything” – but maybe not everywhere, and definitely not all at once. The Academy Screening Room, the members-only portal where studios can place their films to be viewed by voters, has 178 films as of the beginning of Christmas week, including every major Best Picture contender except for a pair of three-hour epics only recently unveiled, Damien Chazelle’s “Babylon” and James Cameron’s “Avatar: The Way of Water.”

Those films, which beg to be seen on the largest and loudest screen possible, have yet to be added to the Academy Screening Room, a placement that costs 20,000 (albeit with a discount available to lower-budget productions). But while the Asr got off to a slow start this year, the other contenders are all now available for members to view, even...

"Dead for a Dollar" is a new 'Old West' feature, written and directed by Walter Hill ("The Warriors") starring Christoph Waltz, Willem Dafoe, Rachel Brosnahan, Brandon Scott, Warren Burke, Benjamin Bratt and Hamish Linklater, now streaming on Amazon Prime Video:

"...in 1897, in New Mexico Territory, bounty hunter 'Max Borlund' is hired to find 'Rachel Kidd', the politically progressive wife of businessman 'Martin Kidd', who is allegedly being held for ransom in Chihuahua, Mexico by 'Elijah Jones', a deserter. 

"During his search, Max discovers that Rachel willingly fled from an abusive husband to live with Elijah. He is also forced to confront his sworn enemy 'Joe Cribbens', a professional gambler and outlaw whom he sent to prison years before..."

Click the images to enlarge...

Quiver Distribution has acquired the U.S. rights for Toronto-premiering drama “Blueback,” starring Mia Wasikowska, Radha Mitchell and Eric Bana.

Directed by Robert Connolly, “Blueback” world premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival earlier this fall. Based on Tim Winton’s novel of the same name, the story follows novice diver Abby (Wasikowska), who befriends a magnificent wild blue groper, beginning her life-long journey to save the world’s coral reefs.

When the quiet reef at her coastal hometown starts to attract commercial fishing operators, it’s not long until she realizes that the fish she calls a friend is under threat. Taking inspiration from her activist mother, she takes on poachers and developers to save her friend.

The film’s screenplay is written by Connolly and Winton.

“We are thrilled to partner with an amazing filmmaker like Robert Connolly,” said Quiver Distribution co-president Berry Meyerowitz. “This mesmerizing film is one audiences will love.

Walter Hill has had a long and fruitful career, directing some of everyone’s favorite films. He recently put out his western, Dead for a Dollar (read our review) and made the press rounds (check out our interview here) leading to a revaluation of his work somewhat. His filmography encompasses a lot of classics and many genres as a writer and as a director. His work as a producer covers even more ground. Here we will take a look at his directorial work which started in 1975 with Hard Times, and is still going today, The man has had one good career with rare few lesser films. To select which films to put on this list, the weaker ones were crossed out, and then we just had to go with our favorites as they are all parts of the best of what’s out there for film fans.

The Warriors (1979)

A...

Screen Rant is pleased to present an exclusive clip from the upcoming adventure comedy 1-800-hot-nite which arrives in theaters as well as on digital platforms and On Demand on November 4. Circulating festivals since its successful premiere at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, the new coming-of-age story centers on the teenaged Tommy who finds a fairy godmother in the form of a phone sex operator after losing his parents to a drug raid.

1-800-hot-nite sees Young joined by Gerrison Machado and Mylen Bradford, who portray his best friends O'Neill and Steve. Together, they concoct a plan to escape the foster care system and embark on a youthful adventure. Other cast members include Ali Richey as Ava, DaJuan Johnson as Russ, Nicole Steinwedell as Jenny, Kimleigh Smith as Patty, and Brent Bailey as Officer Riden. The film was written and directed by Nick Richer, who has already made waves...

George Basha wrote, directed and stars for Gold Marquee Enterprises.

Myriad Pictures has acquired worldwide sales rights from Australia’s Gold Marquee Enterprises to action thriller Retreat and will launch sales at the AFM next week.

George Basha wrote, directed and stars alongside Maya Stange and Troy Honeysett (The Combination: Redemption) in the story about a retired special ops soldier who must save his family from a team of trained killers when they stumble across mysterious packages while on holiday. John Tedesco and Basha served as producers.

Myriad Pictures CEO Kirk D’Amico said, “We are thrilled to be returning to...

“The Fabelmans,” Steven Spielberg’s semi-autobiographical look at his movie-loving childhood, will kick off the 15th edition of “The Contenders” at The Museum of Modern Art.

The annual program, which features a wide range of many of the awards season’s most critically acclaimed films, along with some well-reviewed blockbusters, will run from Nov. 10, 2022, through Jan. 19, 2023. The lineup includes indie fare like Martin McDonagh’s “The Banshees of Inisherin” and Sarah Polley’s “Women Talking”; international features such as Santiago Mitre’s “Argentina, 1985” and Jerzy Skolimowski’s “Eo”; and more populist works like Rian Johnson’s “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” and Jordan Peele’s “Nope.” MoMA will also screen the year’s highest-grossing release, Joseph Kosinski’s “Top Gun: Maverick.” “The Fabelmans” gets things started on Nov. 10 and will be followed by a conversation with cast members Michelle Williams, Judd Hirsch, Seth Rogen and Gabriel Labelle.

“It...

Warriors, come out and play-ay! Walter Hill, the prolific director of the 1979 cult classic, The Warriors, has sat down with The Hollywood Reporter recently to reflect on the making of the film. While the movie had opened dismally and to controversy, with the subject matter depicting gang warfare in New York at a time when crime was rampant, the film would go on to gain fans and become a cult hit which has since sprouted acclaim and even merchandising.

In his interview, Hill opens up about a scene in the movie where a character named Fox was killed off by getting thrown in front of an approaching subway train. He reveals that the scene was written in when he decided to let go of the actor, Thomas G. Waites, as he could not come to terms with him. Hill explains,

I feel very bad about the whole thing. We weren’t getting along very well.

Exclusive: Guy Burnet, Luca Diaz and Daniella Pineda have been cast opposite Anna Konkle in Amazon Freevee’s Western, a half-hour period comedy pilot from Sony Pictures Television, Amazon Studios and Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s Sony TV-based Lord Miller.

Written by Michelle Morgan, Western is set in the 1800s. It follows Polly (Konkle), a young high-society woman from Philadelphia who travels out west on a desperate quest for a husband only to discover that she has been catfished by a teenage boy (Diaz). Now stranded in 1866 Montana, Polly, along with the town’s other inhabitants, must find their place in this ever-changing new world, confronting and defying all expectations society has of them along the way.

Burnet plays Dr. Conely. A handsome, soulful and tortured British doctor of this small town. After making a vow to his dearly departed wife, never to remarry again, he finds himself alone...

The closing title card of the new Western Dead for a Dollar includes the dedication “In Memory of Budd Boetticher.” Had director Walter Hill worked during Boetticher’s era, he too may have churned out exceptional, modestly budgeted Westerns at a clip of roughly one a year, like Boetticher did for Columbia Pictures in the 1950s. Instead, Hill has settled for being one of a handful of contemporary repeat practitioners of the Western, a disparate group ranging from Clint Eastwood to the Coen Brothers, Kevin Costner to Quentin Tarantino. Hill’s first Western, The Long Riders—a retelling of the Jesse James story that […]

The post “Don’t Shoot Too Many Takes”: Walter Hill on Dead for a Dollar first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.

Walter Hill’s The Warriors is a cult classic. Since its release in 1979, audiences have returned to this tightly woven tale of a gang of rebels stuck on a rival territory following a big gang meet-up gone awry. There’s so much quotable dialogue, and it kicked off a fantastic run for director Walter Hill, including 48 Hrs, Streets of Fire, Extreme Prejudice, and even the recent Dead for a Dollar. However, the film was rife with issues, including a leading man being fired early in production and full-scale riots that erupted after the movie opened.

The Warriors is a celebrated slice of cinema that taps into the urges of fans, letting them live a gang fantasy on the silver screen, unlike other films. People still dress as the warring factions for Halloween, and video game developers have used the movie as a template for territorial scuffles for generations. What...

Actor / Filmmaker Alex Winter joins Josh Olson and Joe Dante to discuss movies featuring a cog in the machine – the individual struggling to exist within the system.

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

Bill And Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989) – Alex Kirschenbaum’s Bill and Ted character power rankings

Bill And Ted’s Bogus Journey (1991)

Bill And Ted Face The Music (2020)

The Game (1997)

Showbiz Kids (2020)

The Panama Papers (2018)

Zappa (2020)

200 Motels (1971)

Modern Times (1936)

Metropolis (1927) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review

Avatar (2009)

Things To Come (1936) – Jesus Trevino’s trailer commentary

M (1931)

M (1951)

The Last Laugh (1924) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review

Brazil (1985)

Gremlins (1984) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review, Tfh’s Mogwai Madness

City Lights (1931)

Goin’ Down The Road (1970)

The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review

The Young And The Damned (1950)

Shock Corridor (1963) – Katt Shea’s trailer commentary

The Naked Kiss (1964)

Stroszek (1977)

Even Dwarves Started Small (1970)

Ikiru (1952) – Glenn Erickson’s trailer...

If you were an action fan in the 1970s, ’80s, or ’90s, one of the great pleasures of filmgoing was the experience, every year or two, of a new Walter Hill movie. No one else was really making movies like him, and no one had before; although his morally and philosophically oriented genre pictures owed something to the Westerns of Howard Hawks and the existential crime films of Jean-Pierre Melville, they weren’t really the same. Films like “The Driver,” “The Warriors,” and “48 Hours” were somehow both more heightened in their mythological resonances and more realistic in their behavior than the works of the American and European stylists on whose shoulders Hill stood.

Starting with “Hard Times” in 1975 and continuing on through masterpieces like “Southern Comfort,” “Streets of Fire,” “Johnny Handsome” and “Trespass,” Hill created a body of work that spoke to American culture both past and present, subtly...

Get in touch to send in cinephile news and discoveries. For daily updates follow us @NotebookMUBI.NEWSSacheen Littlefeather: Breaking the Silence.Sacheen Littlefeather, Native American actress and activist, has died at 75. At the 1973 Academy Awards, she declined Marlon Brando’s Oscar for The Godfather on his behalf to condemn the treatment of Native Americans by the film industry and bring attention to the Wounded Knee protests.After five years in charge of BFI Flare and the London Film Festival, Tricia Tuttle has stepped down from her role as Festivals Director at the British Film Institute.Feminist film journal Another Gaze has announced a publishing imprint. Another Gaze Editions launches in late 2022 with My Cinema, a collection of writings by and interviews with Marguerite Duras, and a new translation of The Sky Is Falling, Lorenza Mazzetti's first novel.Recommended VIEWINGHunt, the directorial debut from popular South Korean actor Lee Jung-jae (Squid Game), has a trailer.

After his recent appearance in Dead For a Dollar, Willem Dafoe's next big screen appearance is set thanks to Focus Features. The film distributor picked up the psychological thriller Inside, which stars Dafoe as an unfortunate art thief, and set a release date of March 10, 2023, for the film. It's also the feature debut of director Vasilis Katsoupis, who previously helmed the documentary My Friend Larry Gus.

Once the biggest staple of Hollywood filmmaking, the Western has seen ebbs and flows through the history of cinema. In recent decades you’d be hard-pressed to find many examples in multiplexes near you—especially ones that fit the traditional mold of the genre, rather than tongue-in-cheek revisionist takes. It’s fitting, then, that it would be Walter Hill who would deliver a new gift onto audiences eager for a journey into that gunslinging world.

Hill has said that all his films are Westerns, which can certainly be seen for anyone familiar with his oeuvre—from his directorial debut in 1975’s Hard Times through 1987’s neo-Western Extreme Prejudice, his own revisionist streak of Westerns in the early ‘90s with Geronimo: An American Legend and Wild Bill, and even into 21st century actioners like Bullet to the Head. Whether he’s in the traditional milieu of the genre or not, those...

Actor/writer/director Ethan Hawke discusses a few of his favorite films with Josh Olson and Joe Dante.

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

Explorers (1985) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review

The Verdict (1982)

The Color Of Money (1986) – Rod Lurie’s trailer commentary

Nobody’s Fool (1994)

Three Faces Of Eve (1957)

Mr. And Mrs. Bridge (1990)

North By Northwest (1959)

Torn Curtain (1966)

Psycho (1960) – John Landis’s trailer commentary

Frenzy (1972) – Joe Dante’s trailer commentary

Topaz (1969)

Boyhood (2014)

An Officer and a Gentleman (1982)

Blue Collar (1978) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary

First Reformed (2017) – Glenn Erickson’s trailer commentary

Taxi Driver (1976) – Rod Lurie’s trailer commentary

The Left Handed Gun (1958)

Hombre (1967)

Hud (1963)

Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid (1969)

The Life And Times Of Judge Roy Bean (1972) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary, Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review

Buffalo Bill And The Indians, Or Sitting Bull’s History Lesson (1976) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review

The Outrage (1964)

Rashomon (1950) – Brian Trenchard-Smith’s trailer commentary,...

Walter Hill’s Dead for a Dollar is the kind of movie they don’t make anymore. A rough and tumble Neo-western, despite a modest budget Hill’s assembled a strong Western programmer (read my review). He’s helped along by a top-shelf cast, including Christoph Waltz, Willem Dafoe, Benjamin Bratt, and Warren Burke. I recently spoke to all five guys in one interview block as part of the junket for the movie.

Christoph Waltz, who plays the bounty hunter hero Max Borlund is, as always, an eccentric interview, with a comment about his unique cowboy hat leading to a bit of a rant about hat makers and the chemicals they used to make them. Interesting.

As Joe Cribbens, Borlund’s lifelong enemy, Willem Dafoe discusses his first time making a western, while Walter Hill explains the movie’s dedication to his mentor, Western director Budd Boetticher. Meanwhile, the awesome...

Focus Features has picked up the Willem Dafoe psychological thriller Inside and set a theatrical release of March 10, 2023. Focus is handling Inside in the U.S. and Canada while Universal International will distribute overseas.

The movie, which reps the feature directorial debut of Vasilis Katsoupis, tells the story of Nemo, an art thief trapped in a New York penthouse after his heist doesn’t go as planned. Locked inside with nothing but priceless works of art, he must use all his cunning and invention to survive. Ben Hopkins wrote the screenplay based on an original idea by Katsoupis.

The film is produced by Giorgos Karnavas of Greek production and sales outfit Heretic, which is behind this year’s Cannes Palme d’Or winner Triangle of Sadness and Critics Week winner Feathers. Also producing are Marcos Kantis, and Dries Phlypo and executive produced by Katsoupis, Jim Stark, Konstantinos Kontovrakis, Charles E. Breitkreuz,...

Bankside represented filmmakers in the deal.

Focus Features has acquired worldwide rights from Bankside to the psychological thriller Inside starring Willem Dafoe and has set a March 10 2023 US release date.

Vasilis Katsoupis makes his feature directorial debut from a screenplay by Ben Hopkins based on an original idea by Katsoupis. Focus will distribute in the US and Universal Pictures International will release across the rest of the world.

Inside follows Nemo, an art thief who gets trapped in a New York penthouse after the heist doesn’t go as planned. Locked inside with nothing but priceless works of art, Nemo...

Legendary director Walter Hill has returned, after far too long, with a new western called “Dead for a Dollar” (in theaters and on PVOD now). But in a new interview with Moviemaker Magazine, he addressed the controversy that surrounded, and ultimately derailed, his last movie – 2016’s “The Assignment,” saying that the criticism of the film was “unfortunate.”

To explain: “The Assignment,” which was initially titled “Tomboy” and then “(Re) Assignment,” is a trashy little neo-noir. It was originally written back in 1978 and its story – of a hitman who becomes a woman (Michelle Rodriguez) thanks to an evil scientist (Sigourney Weaver) – might have been given a pass as recently as Hill’s stint on HBO’s “Tales From the Crypt.” But in 2016, it came across (to some) as callous and cruel. Critics objected (loudly) to its portrayal of trans people, which was seen as simplistic and overwrought.

When asked about “The Assignment,...

With the Academy Awards not arriving until March 12, 2023, the term “long lead time” takes on a whole new meaning. But that’s not stopping anyone from getting on the campaign trail early.

It’s time, time for the parade of Oscar winners and multiple-time nominees to reveal their latest work and start the drums beating across the industry to get the buzz going. Who knows if these early contenders can beat out the Christmas releases? Only time will tell. Meanwhile, TV networks and streaming services are hard at it, showcasing their stars in a profusion of places to keep their shows at front of mind. Join us on a trip exploring the most interesting parties and premieres in recent weeks.

“Amsterdam”

Alice Tully Hall, New York

Rami Malek, Andrea Riseborough, Margot Robbie and Christian Bale attend the European Premiere of 20th Century Studios and New Regency “Amsterdam” at Odeon Luxe...

Walter Hill is back with "Dead for a Dollar." The influential writer and director behind "48 Hrs," "Streets of Fire," Southern Comfort," "The Driver," and "The Warriors" has returned with another western. For Hill, all of his movies, in one way or another, are westerns. He tends to follow cowboys whether in the streets of New York, New Orleans, San Francisco, or in this case, Mexico. 

Hill's latest follows a bounty hunter (Christoph Waltz) sticking to his guns, both morally and literally. It's an ensemble film also starring Benjamin Bratt, Rachel Brosnahan, Willem Dafoe, and Warren Burke. Hill doesn't delight in the times he's depicting, only in the genre. "Dead for a Dollar" is now in good company with Hill's previous big-screen westerns, "Geronimo: An American Legend," "The Long Riders," and "Wild Bill." Recently, the filmmaker talked to us about his love of westerns and his exceptional contributions to the genre.

Imax is out this Sunday with Brandi Carlile: In The Canyon Haze – Live from Laurel Canyon on 31 screens nationwide, an encore of a live event that reps a milestone for the large format exhibitor.

The concert was broadcast Thursday from LA’s storied Laurel Canyon neighborhood to 87 Imax theaters (there would have been a few more if Hurricane Ian hadn’t taken out Florida locations). More than three dozen sold out for what is the company’s top-grossing live event. It featured Carlile and her band — no live audience — performing reimagined versions of songs from her new deluxe album “In The Canyon Haze”. Filmed for Imax using Imax digital cameras, it’s the first event of its kind Imax has staged.

Early this year, the company grossed 300k from its live stream of Kanye West’s Donda 2 concert event in Miami — the closest thing to date. (It released the...