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Many years ago, onlookers watched with bated breath as Wyatt Earp marched out to confront ... Wyatt Earp. It was the mid-'90s, and two rival films about the legendary Wild West lawman were vying for the cinemagoer's buck: First up, on Christmas Day 1993, was George P. Cosmatos's "Tombstone," followed six months later by Lawrence Kasdan's "Wyatt Earp." Twin movies were a regular phenomenon in the '90s: You had "Deep Impact" versus "Armageddon," "Dante's Peak" versus "Volcano," and even "Antz" versus "A Bug's Life." But the dueling Westerns had a lot more at stake, because there was a significant beef between the two productions.

Kevin Costner was set to star in "Tombstone" before falling out with screenwriter Kevin Jarre, moving on to develop his own epic biopic of the frontier marshal with Lawrence Kasdan. Rather than let things lie, however, rumors circulated that Costner had tried using his...

For a long time, Kevin Costner had commanded Hollywood’s new frontier of Western cinema, be it through the lens of classics like Wyatt Earp or period crime thrillers about 20th-century outlaws like The Highwaymen. The actor’s string of poor luck in Hollywood since the late 90s defined his fall from grace and his insistence on not doing a sequel prevented his rise back up again.

Kevin Costner in Wyatt Earp [Credit: Warner Bros.]

After spending nearly two decades simmering in relative obscurity, it was Taylor Sheridan’s 21st-century neo-Western epic, Yellowstone that turned Kevin Costner into a legacy maker. Not only was the actor breathing life and soul into the story but his presence turned Yellowstone into a modern classic.

The late revival of Kevin Costner and Western genres Kevin Costner in Yellowstone [Credit: Paramount+]

Taylor Sheridan blew into town like a hurricane – cool, determined, precise to a fault, and...

Since 2018, Yellowstone has garnered a massive fanbase due to its expansive neo-Western story. The universe is ever-expanding, with plenty of spinoffs currently available and in production. Thus, while the show itself is soon coming to a close, the world will keep expanding. Much of the success of the show is due to the superbly written characters and the actors that play them perfectly.

While many actors have come and gone while Yellowstone has aired, a core cast of actors earned the show its fame, such as Kevin Costner as John Dutton and Gil Birmingham as Thomas Rainwater. Detailing the history of Yellowstone characters and the actors who play them provides insight into why the show has been so successful. Though many side characters have been introduced over Yellowstone's run, that core cast deserves explanation.

Updated on November 28, 2024, by Natasha Elder: Many changes have occurred during Yellowstone's fifth season. To provide accurate information,...

Denzel Washington is by far one of the greatest actors of our generation, but even the best have some duds. The Little Things, released in theaters and on streaming in 2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic, is a star-studded thriller that failed to enrapture audiences in its serial killer mystery. Featuring some head-scratching performances and a far too self-serious story, despite being so audacious, not even Washington could save The Little Things from becoming a forgotten part of the actor's recent filmography. Well, audiences can find that out for themselves before it leaves Netflix by the end of November.

The Little Things is set to leave Netflix by December 1, before it arrives back at its original streaming home, Max. The neo-noir period thriller certainly has its fans, so it is good to know that the Washington-led film will still have a place in the vast streaming world. The Little Things also...

Following Kevin Costner’s success in the highly acclaimed series Yellowstone, great things were expected from the actor, especially since he ventured into Western filmmaking with his 2024 two-part franchise starter Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1. However, although the sprawling Western epic had promised to be something fresh and groundbreaking, the film suffered a catastrophic blow at the box office.

Kevin Costner in Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 | image: Warner Bros.

This led netizens to express their disappointment in Kevin Costner, considering how the actor had previously created hype surrounding his Western epic. But surprisingly, when you look at the bigger picture, Horizon is far from an isolated failure. In the landscape of Hollywood cinema, where sequels and remakes are dominating the box office, there appeared several other original movies that sadly succumbed at the 2024 box office.

Kevin Costner’s Horizon Franchise Failed to Break Even in Theaters

Considering how Kevin...

Kris Kristofferson, a successful country singer-songwriter and Hollywood film and TV star, died Saturday at his home in Maui at the age of 88.

While no cause of death was given, he was described as passing away peacefully while surrounded by family.

In a statement given by Kristofferson’s family, his loved ones said, “It is with a heavy heart that we share the news our husband/father/grandfather, Kris Kristofferson, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Sept. 28 at home. We’re all so blessed for our time with him. Thank you for loving him all these many years, and when you see a rainbow, know he’s smiling down at us all.”

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The music star was born in Brownsville, Texas on June 22, 1936. His father, Lars Henry Kristofferson, was a U.S. Army Air Corps officer and Air Force general.

Kris Kristofferson has died at the age of 88.

The Country Music Hall of Fame singer-songwriter and Golden Globe-winning actor passed away “peacefully in his home in Maui, Hawaii on Saturday, September 28th, surrounded by family,” according to a spokesperson.

“We’re all so blessed for our time with him. Thank you for loving him all these many years, and when you see a rainbow, know he’s smiling down at us all,” his family said in a statement.

Kristofferson was best known for songs such as “Me and Bobby McGee”, his work in the supergroup The Highwaymen alongside Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Willie Nelson, and his starring roles in films like A Star Is Born, Blade, and Heaven’s Gate.

Hailing from the border town of Brownsville, Texas, Kristofferson was a true multi-dimensional talent. Prior to moving to Nashville to pursue songwriting, he was a star football player and Golden Gloves boxer,...

Kris Kristofferson has died at the age of 88.

The Country Music Hall of Fame singer-songwriter and Golden Globe-winning actor passed away “peacefully in his home in Maui, Hawaii on Saturday, September 28th, surrounded by family,” according to a spokesperson.

“We’re all so blessed for our time with him. Thank you for loving him all these many years, and when you see a rainbow, know he’s smiling down at us all,” his family said in a statement.

Kristofferson was best known for songs such as “Me and Bobby McGee”, his work in the supergroup The Highwaymen alongside Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Willie Nelson, and his starring roles in films like A Star Is Born, Blade, and Heaven’s Gate.

Hailing from the border town of Brownsville, Texas, Kristofferson was a true multi-dimensional talent. Prior to moving to Nashville to pursue songwriting, he was a star football player and Golden Gloves boxer,...

The Anne Rice Immortal Universe continues to expand on AMC.

According to Variety, AMC's The Talamasca, the latest entrant in the Anne Rice Immortal Universe, has found its lead in Nicholas Denton. He will be playing Guy Anatole in the highly anticipated series, which is set to start production in Manchester, England, starting next month. With an order of six episodes, the show is lined up for a 2025 premiere on AMC and AMC+.

Related Interview with the Vampire EP Reveals the Anne Rice Book the Series Will Adapt Next

Interview with the Vampire executive producer Rolin Jones reveals which of the Vampire Chronicles books the show will adapt next if it is renewed.

The Talamasca is set amidst Anne Rice's fully realized supernatural world and will make its debut alongside Interview With the Vampire and Mayfair Witches as AMC continues to build out its Anne Rice Immortal Universe. The...

Exclusive: Quiver Distribution has acquired North American rights to the upcoming erotic thriller, Love Bomb, directed by David Guglielmo and written by Kathy Charles.

Love Bomb centers on three strangers who are brought together by a mysterious dating app for one-night stands, which soon turns violent and deadly.

The film stars Jessie Andrews, the former adult film actress who had a supporting role in A24’s Hot Summer Nights, starring Timothée Chalamet, and a role in HBO’s Euphoria. Love Bomb will mark her first lead role.

Also starring are Zane Holtz (From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series) and Josh Caras (The Highwaymen), with Tom Williamson (Vfw), James Lorinz (Frankenhooker), Sienna Hubert-Ross (Terrifier 3), Grainger Hines (The Ballad of Buster Scruggs), Marc Senter (Starry Eyes) and Liana Wright-Mark (Old Man) rounding out the cast.

Quiver will release the movie on November 8, 2024. The deal was negotiated between Jordan Dykstra and Ellen Wander of Film Bridge International,...

Hillbilly Elegy features a star-studded cast including Amy Adams and Glenn Close. The main actors in Hillbilly Elegy have all been in many great projects over the years; The cast of Hillbilly Elegy has plenty of other movies that received much better reviews than the 2020 film.

Ron Howard's film Hillbilly Elegy has faced some controversy since its release in 2020, but its star-studded cast remains notable, and their other movies are certainly worth the watch. Hillbilly Elegy follows the true story of J.D. Vance's Appalachian childhood, alongside his wise grandmother and his addicted mother. Though the film's message has been brought into question, the cast led by Amy Adams and Glenn Close has been singled out as one of the film's undoubted strong suits.

Hillbilly Elegy's cast includes many big stars and relative newcomers. Amy Adams and Glenn Close are the most familiar faces, and therefore, take on the most pivotal roles.

Kevin Costner’s departure from Yellowstone marks a bittersweet end to an era defined by his dedication and star power. As the show’s leading man, Costner didn’t just act; he championed Yellowstone with relentless passion, promoting it in myriad ways that bolstered its success. His hands-on involvement extended beyond the screen, making his exit, following a rift with creator Taylor Sheridan, all the more poignant.

Kevin Costner as John Dutton in Yellowstone | Paramount

The heartbreak of his departure is felt deeply by fans and colleagues alike, underscoring the profound influence he had on making Yellowstone a television phenomenon.

Kevin Costner’s Unexpected Exit from Yellowstone Reveals His Deep Dedication to the Show Kevin Costner as John Dutton in Yellowstone | Paramount

Kevin Costner’s shocking exit from Yellowstone stings even more after learning how deeply he was dedicated to the show. Remember the drama series, Yellowstone that rocketed Costner back to the A-list?...

Its hard to overstate how significantly the 1967 crime movie classic Bonnie & Clyde changed the state of American filmmaking. With its striking visuals, inclusion of graphic sexual and violent content, emphasis on young protagonists, and surprisingly nihilistic themes, the film served as the gateway to the New Hollywood era of the 1970s. The film is still cited as a classic to this day, with many similar runaway crime thrillers utilizing the format that director Arthur Penn had perfected. The film grew so iconic that there was inherent trepidation about ever revisiting the material. However, the 2019 neo-Western The Highwaymen re-examined the Bonnie & Clyde story from the perspective of the lawmen tasked with bringing them to justice.

Netflix has tied up a deal in the $34M range for the John Lee Hancock-directed package Monsanto, we can reveal. The pic will star Glen Powell, Anthony Mackie and Oscar winner Laura Dern.

CAA Media Finance cut the presale after launching with Rocket Science last week. Netflix has been quieter at recent markets but is back at the table with the splashy deal.

This and Apple’s WW deal for Everest sherpa pic Tenzing are the two biggest deals to emerge from the Cannes market so far. The latter is understood to be in the $40M range.

Monsanto tells the true story of young, untried attorney Brent Wisner (Powell), who takes on a seemingly insurmountable case against the giant U.S. chemical company Monsanto on behalf of Dewayne “Lee” Johnson (Mackie) who used Monsanto’s best-known product Roundup, a wildly financially successful weed and grass pesticide killer, as part...

Glen Powell’s newfound star power continues to fuel movie projects.

The Anyone But You actor will lead a cast that includes Anthony Mackie and Laura Dern to headline Monsanto, a legal drama from writer-director John Lee Hancock.

Rocket Science, the company that has been integral to the financing and producing of movies such as All Quiet on the Western Front and Ricky Stanicky, will launch international sales out of the Cannes Film Market later this month. CAA Media Finance is handling the domestic rights.

Adam McKay and Kevin Messick are producing via their HyperObject Industries banner. Moritz Borman, Eric Kopeloff, Philip Schulz-Deyle and Jon Levin are also producing.

Per the producers, Monsanto tells the true story of young, untried attorney Brent Wisner (Powell), who takes on a seemingly insurmountable case against the giant U.S. chemical company Monsanto on behalf of Dewayne “Lee” Johnson (Mackie). Johnson used the company’s best-known product,...

Rocket Science and CAA Media Finance are launching foreign sales out of Cannes for the John Lee Hancock directed Monsanto starring Glen Powell, Anthony Mackie and Oscar winner Laura Dern.

Monsanto tells the true story of young, untried attorney Brent Wisner (Powell) who takes on a seemingly insurmountable case against the giant U.S. chemical company Monsanto on behalf of Dewayne “Lee” Johnson (Mackie) who used Monsanto’s best-known product Roundup, a wildly financially successful weed and grass pesticide killer, as part of his job as a high school groundskeeper. During the trial, Dr Melinda Rogers (Dern), the chief toxicologist of the Monsanto Company, testifies with certainty that Roundup is safe.

Pic’s screenplay was developed in association with Karl Spoerri’s Zurich Avenue and penned by Michael Wisner, Alexandra Duparc, Ned Benson and Hancock. Producers are Moritz Borman, Eric Kopeloff, Philip Schulz-Deyle and Jon Levin alongside HyperObject Industries’ Adam McKay and Kevin Messick.

Glen Powell, Anthony Mackie, and Laura Dern will star in the drama Monsanto from writer-director John Lee Hancock, which Rocket Science and CAA Media Finance will introduce to Cannes buyers next week.

Powell, coming off the box office hit Anyone But You and star of Richard Linklater’s upcoming Hit Man, will play Brent Wisner, a young untested attorney who agrees to represent Dewayne “Lee” Johnson (Mackie) in a case against Monsanto after Johnson was diagnosed with cancer following years of he using the agrochemical giant’s weed killer in his job as a high school groundsman.

During the trial,...

The Little Things features Denzel Washington in his 13th law enforcement role, showcasing his versatile talent in crime dramas over the years. Despite mixed reviews, The Little Things became a global hit on Netflix three years after its release, showcasing Washington's enduring appeal. Training Day and Inside Man stand out as Denzel Washington's best cop movies, with iconic performances and critical acclaim setting them apart.

The Little Things featured Denzel Washington in a familiar role despite its underwhelming critical reception. The Little Things, written and directed by John Lee Hancock, stars Washington alongside two fellow Oscar winners Jared Leto and Rami Malek in a tense crime drama set in Los Angeles. Washington plays Joe 'Deke' Deacon in The Little Things, a County Deputy Sheriff who becomes deeply ingrained in the search for a serial killer who is terrorizing Los Angeles.

Despite The Little Things divisive reception, it recently became...

Exclusive: After mounting the two-part Civil War epic Horizon: An American Saga for Warner Bros and New Line, Academy Award winner Kevin Costner has selected his next film to produce and star in, that being an as-yet-untitled picture that Ariel Vromen will direct from a script owned by the actor.

“I could not be more honored to be reunited with my friend and collaborator,” said Vromen in a statement to Deadline, “especially on Kevin’s longtime passion project.”

Pic’s plot is under wraps and further details are scarce, but production is expected to kick off in early 2025. This will be Costner and Vromen’s second film together, on the heels of the 2016 action thriller Criminal co-starring Gary Oldman and Tommy Lee Jones. News of the project comes as Vromen awaits the release of his latest, 1992 — a drama on the 1992 Los Angeles riots, starring Tyrese Gibson, Scott Eastwood and the late Ray Liotta,...

The true story of The Highwaymen stays relatively historically accurate, with some creative liberties taken. The film focuses on the real-life lawmen Frank Hamer and Maney Gault, rather than Bonnie and Clyde. The film's depiction of the prison break and the final shootout between the lawmen and the outlaws is accurate to the real events.

The true story of The Highwaymen — Netflix's 2019 crime thriller focusing on a pair of Texas rangers tasked with hunting down Bonnie and Clyde — is relatively historically accurate, though it does take some creative liberties. The Highwaymen is the true story of Frank Hamer (Kevin Costner) and Maney Gault (Woody Harrelson), the two Texas Rangers who hunted down and killed the notorious outlaws in the 1930s. Bonnie and Clyde only appeared briefly in The Highwaymen, with the Netflix movie instead focusing almost entirely on real-life lawmen played by Costner and Harrelson.

Both Frank Hamer and Maney Gaut were real people,...

The Archies, directed by Zoya Akhtar and released by streaming service Netflix, re-imagines Riverdale as an Anglo-Indian community in 1960s India, where bobby socks and sweater sets reign supreme. Idealistic, ambitious yet perpetually girl-crazy Archie Andrews (Agastya Nanda) is the frontman of his band, alongside his friends–the innocent girl-next-door Betty and the deadpan and food-driven Jughead.

The Lodges, with the spoiled yet honorable Veronica in tow, return to Riverdale with big plans for the little town -- a hotel complex and a whole bunch of new stores. However, the Lodges and their investors plan to build it in Green Park, taking down all the community's beloved trees, local businesses, and history. It's going to take everyone in Riverdale to save their town, and Archie and his friends hatch the perfect plan.

Related How Netflix Shattered Hollywood's Romantic Image Of Bonnie And Clyde Netflix's 2019 film, The Highwaymen, shatters Hollywood's romantic...

Denzel Washington's casting in Antoine Fuqua's upcoming Netflix movie as one of history's most iconic figures, the Carthaginian general Hannibal, has sparked controversy in the military leader's native country, Tunisia.

Per the French newspaper Courrier International via Variety, The Tunisian parliament and media have complained about the yet-to-be-titled film's depiction of Hannibal as a Black African. Parliament member Yassine Mami believes the Carthaginian general's heritage needs to be protected. "There is a risk of falsifying history: we need to take a position on this subject," he said. The parliamentarian pointed out that Hannibal, born in 247 BC in Carthage, now known as Tunis, the Tunisian capital, was of West Asian Semitic origin. La Presse, a French language newspaper, in its editorial, opined that Tunisians and other observers deemed Hannibal's depiction as a Black African a historical error.

Related How Netflix Shattered Hollywood's Romantic Image Of Bonnie And Clyde Netflix's 2019 film,...

Hollywood has glamorized Bonnie and Clyde for decades, portraying them as romantic heroes of the 1930s. However, Netflix's The Highwaymen offers a grittier look at their crime spree. The myth of Bonnie and Clyde has led to many glamorizations of crime in Hollywood The Highwaymen shows the true heroes of the Bonnie and Clyde story--and it isn't the killer couple.

During the Great Depression, the Deep South of the United States was rocked by a crime spree committed by Bonnie Parker, Clyde Barrow, and their Barrow Gang. The couple gained a reputation for robbing banks, something that helped craft an image of them as romantic Robin Hoods of the 1930s. This myth was revived by Hollywood in 1967's Bonnie and Clyde, a staple of the era's counter-culture. However, a 2019 Netflix movie pursued a more realistic look at the gang -- and shattered their glamorized image.

Between 1932 and 1934, the Deep...

The crime thriller genre is known for its clever writing and twists that keep audiences on the edge of their seats. There are many other movies in the crime thriller genre that are similar to Netflix's Reptile, with compelling stories and talented actors. Some crime thrillers similar to Reptile include The Black Book, The Guilty, Fractured, The Highwaymen, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile, and Zodiac.

While Netflix's Reptile is one of the top movies trending in the crime thriller genre, there are plenty of other films with similar themes and subject matter that are just as good. Known for its ability to keep viewers on the edges of their seats, films in the crime thriller genre often employ clever writing, nauseating twists and turns, and other reliable tactics intrinsic to the genre to deliver tons of heart-stopping drama. With Reptile's star-studded cast including Benicio del Toro, Justin Timberlake,...

Howdy pardners! Today, we’re galloping back to 1988, when Christopher Cain and a band of rootin’ tootin’ outlaws shot up the silver screen for the American Western action film Young Guns. Presented as a retelling of the adventures of Billy the Kid during the Lincoln Couty War, Young Gun features a murderers’ row of talent, including Emilio Estevez, Kiefer Sutherland, Lou Diamond Phillips, Charlie Sheen, Dermot Mulroney, Casey Siemaszko, Terence Stamp, Jack Palance, and Terry O’Quinn.

Cain directs from a script by John Fusco. Young Guns revolves around a group of young gunmen, led by Billy the Kid, who become deputies to avenge the murder of the rancher who became their benefactor. However, when Billy takes their authority too far, they become the hunted.

Historian Paul Hutton once called Young Guns the most historically accurate of all films focusing on the dirty deeds of Billy the Kid as of its year of release.

Jessie Andrews stars in Love Bomb, an erotic thriller about a mysterious dating app that links three strangers together with deadly consequences.

David Guglielmo directed the picture from a script by Kathy Charles (Jacob’s Wife).

In addition to Andrews, Love Bomb also stars Josh Caras (The Highway Men) and Zane Holtz (“From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series”) and is produced by Bobby Campbell (Blood for Dust), Lillian Campbell (An Autumn Summer), and Jordan Dykstra (Assassin Club).

Love Bomb will play festivals in the fall. A release date is still to be determined.

Bloody Disgusting has a first look at the film and its poster designed by Sarah Ford of Yippee.

The post ‘Love Bomb’ Poster Swipes Left For Thrills [Exclusive] appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Exclusive: Lbi Entertainment has signed BAFTA Award-nominated writer, director and producer John Lee Hancock for management, Deadline has learned.

Best known for such his gift for guiding big-name stars like Sandra Bullock, Tom Hanks and Michael Keaton toward major critical and commercial success with films like The Blindside, Saving Mr. Banks and The Founder, Hancock’s titles as a director have collectively grossed nearly $600M worldwide.

A sports drama written and directed by Hancock, which brought Bullock her first Oscar, The Blind Side adapted Michael Lewis’ 2006 book of the same name, which told the story of Michael Oher, a homeless youth who rose to NFL glory with the help of the caring family that took him in as their own.

The Hancock-helmed The Founder starred Keaton as ruthless McDonald’s empire builder Ray Kroc, while the director’s Disney drama Saving Mr. Banks told the story of author P.L.

AMC is developing a third series set in what they have dubbed the Anne Rice Immortal Universe, with the new show set to focus on the Talamasca.

Per the official description from AMC, the series “is set in the world of the Talamasca, a secretive organization featured in a number of Rice’s iconic novels that is devoted to studying the supernatural world and keeping mortals safe from its darkest elements.” John Lee Hancock will serve as writer and showrunner. His past credits include co-writing the films “The Blind Side” and “The Alamo” and directing films like “The Highwaymen” and “The Founder.”

The announcement was made by Dan McDermott, president of entertainment and AMC Studios for AMC Networks, during the AMC Networks upfront presentation in New York on Tuesday.

“The enthusiastic critical and fan reception to ‘Interview’ and ‘Mayfair’ is a great sign of what is yet to come in...

Exclusive: Prime Video’s Hitchcockian thriller Holland, Michigan continues to round out its cast with the addition of Rachel Sennott (Bodies Bodies Bodies), Lennon Parham (Minx), Isaac Krasner (Power Book III: Raising Kanan) and Jeff Pope (Interview with the Vampire).

The quartet joins an ensemble that also includes Nicole Kidman, Gael García Bernal, Matthew Macfadyen and Jude Hill, as we told you first.

The film helmed by Mimi Cave (Fresh) stems from a script by Andrew Sodroski which topped the Black List in 2013. It tells the story of a Midwestern housewife who uncovers a dark secret on the part of her husband, after coming to suspect that he’s having an affair.

Kidman and Per Saari are producing for Blossom Films, alongside 42’s Peter Dealbert, and Churchill Films’ Kate Churchill. The forthcoming film will stream on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

Sennott broke out with her...

The Hulu series adaptation of Rebecca Godfrey’s book “Under the Bridge” has added three series regulars to its cast, Variety has learned exclusively.

Chloe Guidry, Izzy G, and Ezra Faroque Khan will all star in the series alongside previously announced lead Riley Keough, who will play Godfrey.

Per the official logline, the series is “about the 1997 true story of fourteen-year-old Reena Virk who went to join friends at a party and never returned home. Godfrey takes us into the hidden world of the seven teenage girls and a boy accused of the savage murder, revealing startling truths about the unlikely killer.”

Guidry will star as Josephine Bell, described as “a striking ice-queen with a razor-sharp tongue. As a ward of the state, she’s the girl in charge at Seven Oaks Youth Home. She is leader of the Cmc and dreams of growing up to be a hitman for New York mobster John Gotti.

Exclusive: Richie Kern and Alysia Cotter Thomas have joined Paradigm Talent Agency as agents.

Kern comes to Paradigm as a media rights agent after seven years in New York as Head of Filmed Entertainment for Foundry Literary + Media. A veteran studio executive and producer most recently based in London, Thomas joins as a motion picture lit agent. Both new additions to Paradigm will be based out of its Los Angeles office.

“Alysia and Richie are both invaluable additions to our expanding roster of smart, entrepreneurial representatives,” said Paradigm Managing Partner Andrew Ruf. “As we launch our partnership with Paradigm Media Entertainment’s broadcast news, sportscaster, and culinary talent businesses, Richie’s wealth of experience in the world of book-to-screen adaptations enables him to identify unique, lucrative opportunities for our clients’ intellectual properties across all media. Alysia has served in key roles on award-winning and blockbuster feature films, with long-standing relationships...

At first, "Netflix & Chills" was very much a try-hard, "How do you do, fellow kids?" style of marketing line intended to promote Netflix's exclusive films and TV shows arriving in the annual lead-up to Halloween, be they horror-related or not. Since then, however, spooky season has become serious business for the streaming service.

Case in point: Halloween 2022 will see brand-new projects from the likes of horror extraordinaires Jordan Peele, Henry Selick, and Guillermo del Toro make their way onto Netflix in October, along with the latest spine-chilling series from "The Haunting" and "Midnight Mass" creator Mike Flanagan. That's on top of a slathering of docuseries covering (allegedly) paranormal activity, baffling unsolve mysteries, and supposedly haunted locations in the real-world. Really, whatever your preferred flavor of spookiness, Netflix is hoping to quench your thirst.

Should you find yourself in more of a throwback mood, Netflix will also make the James Gunn...

The Stephen King adaptation renaissance is showing no signs of slowing down, in large part thanks to Netflix, which has recently brought three of the author's short stories to our screens. Joining the streamer's library alongside Mike Flanagan's "Gerald's Game," Zak Hilditch's "1922," and Vincenzo Natali's "In The Tall Grass," Netflix has finally released a trailer for the upcoming film, "Mr. Harrigan's Phone," another movie based on a chilling story from the famed horror writer. This time around, the supernatural is clashing with one of the scariest concepts of all: growing up. The film comes from writer-director John Lee Hancock and stars Jaeden Martell and Donald Sutherland in the lead roles.

Coming-of-age drama takes center stage in this story about Craig (Martell), a teenage boy befriending a reclusive billionaire (Sutherland as the titular Mr. Harrigan). They form a bond so strong that not even death can split them...

Coming off the announcement that the upcoming Stephen King adaptation will drop on Netflix this October, the streamer has released first-look images for Mr. Harrigan's Phone. The film is based on a novella of the same name by King that was featured in his recent collection If It Bleeds, and tells the story of a young boy who stays in touch with an older recluse he befriended in life from beyond the grave via iPhone. Jaeden Martell and Donald Sutherland will appear in the leading roles, while Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Joe Tippett, Cyrus Arnold, Colin O’Brien, Thomas Francis Murphy, and Peggy J. Scott round out the rest of the cast. Mr. Harrigan's Phone is written and directed by The Highwaymen and The Little Things director John Lee Hancock.

Misery Oscar winner Kathy Bates and Liza on Demand actress Liza Koshy are joining the untitled Netflix romantic comedy which stars Oscar winner Nicole Kidman, Zac Efron and Joey King.

The Fisher King Oscar nominee Richard Lagravenese is directing off a screenplay he co-wrote with Carrie Solomon.

The story is set following a surprising romance which kicks off comic consequences for a young woman, her mother and her movie star boss as they face the complications of love, sex, and identity.

Producers for the pic are Joe Roth and Jeff Kirschenbaum for Roth/Kirschenbaum Films. EP is Alyssa Altman for Roth/Kirschenbaum.

Bates, who is repped by CAA, is starring in the upcoming Lionsgate adaptation of the Judy Blume classic, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, Ken Kwapis’ Thelma and The Miracle Club opposite Maggie Smith and Laura Linney. Other feature credits include The Highwaymen, Richard Jewell, Titanic,...

Exclusive: Courtney Eaton (Yellowjackets) and Thomas Mann (Me and Earl and the Dying Girl) will lead actor Brittany Snow’s feature directorial debut, September 17th, for Yale Entertainment. Gina Rodriguez (Jane the Virgin) and Joel McHale (Community) are also set, joining the previously announced Scott Mescudi (aka Kid Cudi) as part of the supporting cast.

The recently-wrapped September 17th centers around Riley (Eaton), who has recently been released from rehab after struggling with her addictions to food and body image. She soon meets Ethan (Mann) and finds herself navigating the line between unconditional love and a new addiction. Francesca Reale (Stranger Things), Jennifer Westfeldt (Younger), Ekaterina Baker (The Card Counter) and Kathryn Gallagher (You) round out the cast of the pic based on an original story by Snow, who wrote the script alongside Becca Gleason.

Jordan Yale Levine and Jordan Beckerman are producing under their Yale Entertainment banner, alongside Lizzie Shapiro...

Exclusive: Billy Slaughter (The Card Counter) has boarded Amazon Studios’ film The Burial, which is currently in production in New Orleans.

He joins an ensemble that also includes Jamie Foxx, Tommy Lee Jones, Jurnee Smollett, Mamoudou Athie, Bill Camp, Dorian Missick, Pamela Reed, Amanda Warren, Jim Klock and Alan Ruck, as previously announced.

Director Maggie Betts’ film is based on the New Yorker article by Jonathan Harr. It follows a charismatic personal injury lawyer famous for his impressive track record and loudly unconventional approach who decides to help a funeral home owner save his family business from a predatory corporate behemoth. In a move to bring emotional resonance to a dry contract law case, the lawyer digs up an unexpected and complex web of race, power and oppression that forces everyone to examine long-buried prejudices they didn’t know they had.

Details with regard to the character Slaughter is playing have not been disclosed.

My sincerest apologies to anyone who clicked on this headline and assumed there was going to be a new adaptation of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, "The Phantom of the Opera," but this news story is about the 1910 Gaston Leroux French novel of the same name that went on to inspire the Universal Monsters' 1925 film depiction featuring Lon Chaney, that later inspired Andrew Lloyd Webber (heretofore known as Alw). Thanks to a news break over at Deadline, Universal Pictures has acquired a spec script called "Phantom" from John Fusco as part of a...

The post A New Phantom of the Opera Adaptation Will be Set in the French Quarter appeared first on /Film.

Exclusive: Universal Pictures has acquired the John Fusco spec script Phantom, a package that includes producers Harvey Mason Jr of Harvey Mason Media, and John Legend and his Get Lifted Film Co producing partner Mike Jackson. Pic will be an adaptation of the 1910 Gaston Leroux novel Phantom of the Opera, set in contemporary New Orleans.

Ty Stiklorius is the executive producer.

Fusco, whose script work includes Crossroads and Hidalgo, came up with the idea after becoming reacquainted with the French Quarter music scene where he began, while shooting the Bonnie and Clyde pic The Highwaymen.

“I was in New Orleans with Costner, Woody and John Lee Hancock and found myself reconnecting with my old musical haunts, and the next generation of my music cronies,” he told Deadline. “I began playing with them again, writing music and recorded two albums and during the pandemic I reflected on that journey and wanted...

It's official: we can't stop watching Squid Game. As much as we're obsessed with dissecting every little detail of the Korean thriller, watching the cast guess each other's favorite Netflix films and shows is just as entertaining. In a recent video for Netflix, Squid Game cast members Jung Ho-yeon (Sae-Byeok), Lee Jung-jae (Seong Gi-hun), Wi Ha-jun (Joon-ho), and Park Hae-soo (Cho Sang-woo) got together to discuss their favorite Netflix originals, all while playing a classic game of bingo. Money Heist, Marriage Story, Roma, The Highwaymen, and Blackpink: Light Up the World are just some of the titles that were discussed among the actors. In case you're wondering, Ho-yeon came in first place, but unlike Squid Game, all participants made it out alive. Phew.

When asked to describe Squid Game in just one word, Hae-soo said, "It's the power of drama. I think it's indispensable." "The setting is adorable, in contrast to the people's lives,...

Samuel Goldwyn Films has acquired U.S. rights to “American Sausage Standoff” (“Gutterbee”), a comedy by Danish actor-turned-filmmaker Ulrich Thomsen who stars in “Banshee.” The movie is represented by REinvent International Sales.

Samuel Goldwyn Films plans to release the film as a day-and-date release on Aug. 7. Written and directed by Thomsen, “American Sausage Standoff” is set in a small American town and tells the story of two hopeless dreamers who join forces to launch the ultimate German sausage restaurant. The film is meant to be a thought-provoking social satire dealing with themes ranging from religion to racism and homophobia.

The key crew on “American Sausage Standoff” includes Anthony Dod Mantle, the Oscar-winning cinematographer of “Slumdog Millionaire” who also worked on Lars von Trier’s “Antichrist,” among other films.

“I’m so thrilled that my film will meet its American audience, and thrilled also to have done this film with my...

Jason Kothari, Hong Kong-born entrepreneur and film producer who was an executive producer on Vin Diesel-starring “Bloodshot,” has acquired all rights to The Silent Flute, the spiritual martial arts project co-written by martial arts icon Bruce Lee in 1970. The project is to be set up as a limited series with John Fusco (“Marco Polo”) as screenwriter and executive producer.

The story of “Silent Flute” is set in a dystopian future after mankind has suffered from pandemics, fires and civil wars, and where all weapons and combat arts are banned. It follows a raw fighter who overcomes grave obstacles and loss to reach enlightenment and become the best fighter in the world.

“The Silent Flute” film script was a five-year collaboration between Lee and his friends and martial arts students, Oscar-winning writer Stirling Silliphant and Oscar-winning actor James Coburn. It encapsulated Lee’s vision for the true essence of martial...

Crime thriller The Little Things brings together three Academy Award winners in Denzel Washington, Rami Malek and Jared Leto and could at one time could have been directed by another one, Steven Spielberg. The Little Things writer John Lee Hancock wrote the initial draft for the movie back in 1993, with the intention for Hollywood icon Steven Spielberg to helm the project.

"Steven really liked A Perfect World, my script for it. And so, before we ever went into production on A Perfect World, he came to me and said, 'Let's do a blind picture deal. ... Let's just do it at Warner Brothers. Something for you to write and meet to direct.' ... So, we started pitching ideas back and forth. I came up on this one, I can't remember exactly when, and fell in love with it. The twists and turns. I wrote a long outline and then talked to...

Chicago – There are over 500 episodes of “Law and Order” but I’m not about to embarrass myself publicly by revealing just how many of those I’ve seen; let’s leave it at “a lot.” In the age of binge television, I know I’m not the only one that has taken a deep dive into the show and other long-running shows like it, but I know we can all agree why we continue watching them: they keep things fresh. Like any television series that has aspirations of longevity, they can’t stay the same over time, especially when it comes to detective procedurals. The Little Things pays homage to everything we love from an old-fashioned detective procedural but aside from being socially tone-deaf, it also has the misfortune of doing it a couple decades too late.

Rating: 1.0/5.0

The story follows a local sheriff who is, of course, haunted by...

Denzel Washington leads an all-star cast in The Little Things; a slow burn period crime drama that's heavy on character development, but struggles to be entertaining. The serial killer storyline becomes muddied by secondary subplots. The mystery at the core of the film is overtaken by complex character exposition. The result is a well-acted ensemble in a sluggish narrative. The Little Things needed to be more concise. The performances are good, but the laborious pacing loses steam.

The Little Things is set in 1990 Southern California. A serial killer is preying on young women. Deputy Joe 'Deke' Deacon (Denzel Washington) arrives from Bakersfield to pick up evidence at his old Los Angeles precinct. He's greeted fondly by his former colleagues, but does not receive a warm welcome from the captain (Terry Kinney). He wants Deke back on the road as soon as possible. Detective Jim Baxter (Rami Malek), a young hotshot...

The inspiring true story of how renowned Star Trek actress Nichelle Nichols pioneered the NASA recruiting program to hire people of color and the first female astronauts for the space agency in the late 1970s and 1980s, Woman in Motion: Nichelle Nichols, Star Trek and the Remaking of NASA will open in movie theaters nationwide for one night only on February 2, 2021.

Directed by Todd Thompson, the film chronicles how Nichols transformed her sci-fi television stardom into a real-life science career when, in 1977, she embarked on a campaign to bring diversity to NASA. Nichols formed the company Women In Motion, Inc. and recruited more than 8,000 African American, Asian and Latino women and men for the agency. Nichelle and her program continue to influence the younger generation of astronauts as well, including Mae Jemison, the first female African American astronaut in space. Despite an uphill battle against a bureaucracy that was hesitant to let her get involved,...

Photo: 'The Highwaymen'/Netflix It’s been a long time since Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow went on a killing rampage, driving all across the country, evading the law. Even after they were murdered in 1934 by the cops, they went on to live forever through pop culture. They were icons, so much so that a movie was released about them 37 years later. Bonnie and Clyde (1967), starring Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway, is now regarded as a classic film. The movie romanticized the two outlaws, portraying them as a good-looking couple who were deeply in love, rather than monsters who went on a crime spree just for the thrill of it. 'The Highwaymen' (2019) is essentially a protest of that movie. Instead of telling the story of Bonnie and Clyde, it tells the story of Frank Hamer (Kevin Costner) and Maney Gault (Woody Harrelson), the two Texas Rangers...

The first trailer and images from upcoming thriller The Little Things have now been released, giving us a glimpse at the trio of Oscar winners at the centre of the story; Denzel Washington, Rami Malek, and Jared Leto. The eerie footage and handful of images show Washington looking every bit the grizzled, world-weary sheriff with a sixth sense and penchant for following his gut, while Leto sports a Charles Manson-esque beard and long hair look, his greasy appearance and sunken eyes doing their best to disguise his leading man visage.

The Little Things follows Oscar winning actor and Hollywood icon Denzel Washington as Deke Craven, a burned-out deputy sheriff with an eye for detail who teams up with Baxter, a crack Los Angeles detective, played by Rami Malek, to reel in a wily serial killer. Deke's nose for the "little things" proves eerily accurate, but his willingness to circumvent...

"How's the trunk space?" Warner Bros has released an official trailer for The Little Things, a serial killer investigative thriller from filmmaker John Lee Hancock - director of The Blind Side, Saving Mr. Banks, The Founder, The Highwaymen. This is currently set for release in January from Warner Bros - one of the first releases to try the dual theatrical + HBO Max debut. The Little Things centers around Deke, a burnt-out Kern County, CA deputy sheriff who teams with Baxter, a crack L.A. Sheriffs Department detective, to nab a serial killer who is terrorizing the city. Deke's nose for the "little things" often proves eerily accurate, but his willingness to circumvent the rules embroils Baxter in a soul-shattering dilemma. In addition, Deke must wrestle with a dark secret from his past. This one stars Denzel Washington, Rami Malek, and Jared Leto. Along with Natalie Morales, Terry Kinney, Chris Bauer,...

With Disney releasing several high-profile movies straight to streaming, skipping theaters entirely, it looks like Warner Bros. is considering following suit. Amid the ongoing global situation and theater closures, Warner Bros. is reportedly discussing moving multiple movies to a HBO Max release including Judas and the Black Messiah starring Daniel Kaluuya & Lakeith Stanfield, Denzel Washington and Rami Malek's The Little Things, and the live action Tom and Jerry.

Much like the change of release to Warner Bros' comic book sequel Wonder Woman 1984, which will now be released theatrically on December 25, 2020, and digitally on HBO Max simultaneously, Tom & Jerry, The Little Things, and Judas and the Black Messiah would also be released both to streaming and in select theaters on the same date, reports claim.

The studio also considered doing the same with the upcoming Mortal Kombat reboot, but ultimately decided that the highly anticipated video game adaptation...