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“Breaking Bad” star Aaron Paul has signed on to star in psychological thriller “The Midnight Pool” for James McTeigue.

The film — which comes from producers Traction, McTeigue and Gramercy Park Media, which is also financing — is heading to Cannes, where it’s being introduced by newly-launched company Stoic alongside CAA Media Finance and UTA Independent Film Group.

The 2022 Black List script comes from Jonathan Easley (“Red Right Hand”) and centers on Johnny Black (Paul), a jaded journalist whom, after a personal tragedy, is lured into the shadows of an elite, exclusive society, where the pursuit of a career-defining story becomes a descent into illusion, manipulation and altered realities.

“The moment Midnight Pool landed on my desk I knew I had to sit down with James,” said Paul. “The world created by Jonathan Easley really stayed with me long after I put the script down. The idea of James holding the...

In Gillian McKercher‘s first feature, “Lucky Star”, there is no escapist fantasy or whiff of bicoastal elitism. Instead, there are only temptations: Lucky (Terry Chen), an ex-gambler, starts to reach for the cards after he falls for a tax scam; his wife Noel (Olivia Cheng) wrestles with returning a lost watch amounting to the tens of thousands; their eldest, Grace (Conni Miu), wonders if she should confess her academic dishonesty. All the while, their youngest, Jenny (Summer Ly) presides over the family discord. As the characters’ internal struggles spill into their interpersonal relationships, “Lucky Star” captures an entangled mess of love and lies amid the bone-chilling cold of Alberta winter.

We brought together Gillian McKercher and three of her cast on the occasion of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival (Sbiff) over Zoom. Together, we talked about moving beyond stereotypes, the infamous Canadian cold, and Alberta Asians.

This interview...

Most of us just love curling up on the couch, munching on chips or popcorn, and getting lost in our favorite shows. It’s simple, it’s cozy, and it’s the perfect way to relax. But while we’re busy binge-watching, hardly anyone stops to think about how much cash gets poured into making these TV masterpieces.

Over time, TV shows have seriously leveled up — not just with better effects and storytelling, but also with bigger, bolder, and riskier budgets. Top-tier actors, movie-quality special effects, and elaborate sets are now pretty much the norm. In fact, a lot of TV shows today look and feel just as grand as big-screen blockbusters, something that would’ve been almost impossible a few decades ago.

With the stakes and the price tags higher than ever, let’s jump into the mind-blowing world of TV’s most expensive episodes and see where all that cash is going.

Quick LinksBritish Dramas Lead The Pack On NetflixBritain Has Dominated Netflix's Reality Television

There are many streaming services available for audiences to consume, but Netflix remains the most successful. The streaming giant has provided several of the internet's biggest hits, like Stranger Things and Wednesday. Netflix's big-budget productions bring Hollywood production values to the small screen, ensuring viewers do not need to pop into theaters to witness cinematic spectacles. Although its prices have risen, it is showing no signs of slowing down, continuing to pump out an impressive amount of content. However, the most engaging releases on Netflix are not glossy U.S. productions, but rather the imports from other countries. Korean shows like Squid Game and Legends Of The Blue Sea have garnered big fan followings, while programs from Japan like Alice In Borderland and House Of Ninjas have sparked plenty of discussion. The jewel in the crown...

Quick LinksProgressive Themes Has Been Doctor Who's Core Message Since The 60sBBC Studios, Russell T Davies, and Ncuti Gatwa Are Confident In Doctor Who's Future

Doctor Who's 2005 revival has gone from strength to strength, captivating viewers with its excellent Doctor and companion pairings. The show's continued success has seen it conquer America, and its recent deal with Disney Plus for international streaming rights has given Doctor Who its biggest platform. The current actor to play the Doctor, Ncuti Gatwa, has been a hit with fans, offering an incarnation who's fashion-conscious and unafraid to show his emotions. Despite its popularity, Doctor Who has recently been the subject of an unfavorable report by one of the UK's biggest tabloid newspapers. The Sunhas recently claimed that Doctor Who is being shelved for "at least five years." Its report cites "abysmal ratings" as one of the reasons behind the show's supposed axing,...

One star of the Yellowstone spinoff, 1923, is ready to ride into the modern day with his latest Western venture. Acclaimed actor Brandon Sklenar is set to feature in the upcoming Western movie, The Rescue.

According to Deadline, Sklenar has been cast in an undisclosed role in The Rescue, which will be helmed by Old Henry director Potsy Ponciroli and distributed by Skydance. The Rescue will be produced by Ponciroli alongside Skydance's David Ellison and Dana Goldberg. John Fusco, best known for creating Netflix's Marco Polo and penning several Western films, is the screenwriter.

Related 1923 Stars Tease Season 2 Storylines, First Look Revealed

Brandon Sklenar and Julia Schlaepfer tease Season 2 of 1923, which is a prequel to Yellowstone.

Details about The Rescue are being kept under wraps. However, the Western film will center around a rodeo cowboy's skills being put to the test outside the arena. Production on the Skydance title is expected to begin this summer.

The Bold and the Beautiful recaps for December 30 – January 3 covers a shocking week in Los Angeles. Luna duped Bill into bringing her home, Electra learned who Remy really is, Brooke felt Ridge’s wrath and so, so much more!

What Happened In Los Angeles

Check out the daily summary recap of each episode below.

Monday, December 30, 2024

After a tense confrontation, Remy (Christian Weissman) tried to explain his actions to a terrified Electra (Laneya Grace). He apologized but still expressed his love for her, blaming her departure to Dallas and involvement with Will (Crew Morrow). When Electra tried to leave, Remy blocked her path, locking the door, insisting he couldn’t live without her. He proposed they run away to New York together, but Electra was repulsed by his threats and the fake photos he created to ruin her. She warned him of the consequences, claiming he would end up in jail.

While the episode's original footage may be lost, the '60s Doctor Who story "The Savages" is set to be brought back to life as the next classic animated recreation for the sci-fi series. The long-running BBC sci-fi series was first led by William Hartnell from 1963 to 1966, who portrayed the first incarnation of the Time Lord in the first series. A number of its earliest Doctor Who episodes were lost due to past practices, leading to a concerted effort by officials of the organization and fans to reclaim any surviving footage for preservation.

Following the partly-animated recreation of "The Celestial Toymaker" being released on home media, the official Doctor Who website has confirmed that another story from Hartnell's tenure will be brought back to life with a four-part animated reconstruction of "The Savages." The official Doctor Who YouTube channel also uploaded a trailer. Check it out below:

Airing in May...

The Chinese actress Joan Chen, who is this week’s guest on The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast, has had a career unlike any other.

Nearly 50 years ago, as a teen in Shanghai, Chen was plucked out a classroom and thrown into the movies. Against all odds, she became an award-winning mega-star — but then, in 1981, she turned her back on fame and moved to the U.S. She arrived at a time when virtually no Asians were getting parts of substance in American films. And yet, after essentially starting from scratch, she helped to shatter that glass ceiling, landing leads in big-budget productions, most notably one that took her back to China: Bernardo Bertolucci’s 1987 epic The Last Emperor, which ended up being nominated for and winning nine Oscars, including best picture.

Over the ensuing 37 years, Chen has experienced tremendous professional ups and downs. She has acted in notable projects of all sorts,...

“Agent 86,” a rare China-Tunisia coproduction film, will have its world premiere on Friday in Tunisia, ahead of a commercial release in Tunisian theaters from Sept. 25.

The film is pitched as “a fast-paced action thriller following an international Special Task Force that comes together to fight cross border drug trafficking after a devastatingly addictive drug named Devil’s Breath goes on sale in Hong Kong.”

The driving force behind the movie is Tunisian actor-director Bassem Khayati, who produced and directed the film and also appears as its co-lead.

Khayati is a veteran of several Jackie Chan movies including “Dragon Blade,” “Kung Fu Yoga” and “Vanguard,” as well as action roles in numerous other Chinese titles including “Fox Hunting,” “Mojin, The Lost Legend” and “Go Away Mr. Tumor.” In the west, Khayati has had various action and stunt roles in the John Cena-starring “Hidden Strike,” the Scott Adkins-starring “Abduction” and...

Netflix canceled Marco Polo season 3 despite a five-season arc planned by creator John Fusco, leaving fans disappointed and hopeful for a revival. The original cast, including Benedict Wong and Joan Chen, would likely have reprised their roles if Marco Polo returned for a third season. Netflix turned down a pitch for a movie to close out the show.

After Marco Polo season 2 ended with many loose ends, fans waited for Marco Polo season 3 for years. The historical drama series created by John Fusco premiered on Netflix in December 2014. Set in the 13th century, the show chronicles the adventures of the Venetian merchant Marco Polo (Lorenzo Richelmy) in the court of Kublai Khan (Benedict Wong). Despite being one of Netflix's best period dramas with its rich historical backdrop, compelling characters, and lavish production, the series struggled to find a sustainable audience.

Without a steady audience, it was hard for Netflix to justify keeping the series going.

Hip hip hooray! This year, an underrated Netflix original series will be celebrating its 10-year anniversary. Can you guess what show it is? I'll give you a hint. The show's title shares the same exact name of a game you play with friends in a pool. Drum roll, please. It's none other than the period drama, Marco Polo!

The first season was released on Netflix on Dec. 12, 2014. This means that on Dec. 12, 2024, the period drama will be turning 10. Naturally, it would make sense to rewatch the series to celebrate its upcoming anniversary, and that's exactly what we're going to do. You should as well!

Created by John Fusco, Marco Polo is loosely based on the adventures of the real-life Venetian explorer Marco Polo. The story takes place during the 13th century and focuses on Marco Polo's time in the court of Kublai Khan, the Mongolian emperor, to whom he becomes a trusted advisor and friend.

Those About to Die is an epic sword-and-sandal historical drama series created by Robert Rodat. Based on the 1958 novel of the same name by author Daniel P. Mannix, the Peacock series revolves around the lives of the gladiators and citizens of the Roman Empire in Ancient Rome, where violence, greed, and lust run rampant. Those About to Die stars Anthony Hopkins, Iwan Rheon, Sara Martins-Court, Tom Hughes, Jojo Macari, Moe Hashim, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, Rupert Penry-Jones, Gabriella Pession, Dimitri Leonidas, and Emilio Sakraya. So, if you loved the epic fights, brutal violence, and historical drama in Those About to Die here are some similar shows you could watch next.

Rome (Max & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – HBO

Rome is a historical drama series created by John Milius, William J. MacDonald, and Bruno Heller. The HBO series is set in the 1st century BC during Ancient Rome’s transition from Republic to Empire,...

Benedict Wong's rise in Hollywood includes standout roles in popular Netflix epics like 3 Body Problem and Marco Polo. Wong's portrayal of Da Shi in 3 Body Problem and Kublai Khan in Marco Polo has garnered critical acclaim for his authenticity and emotion. From early TV roles to joining the MCU, Wong's career continues to thrive with upcoming projects like Avengers: Secret Wars in 2027.

Before his success as Da Shi in 3 Body Problem, Benedict Wong previously starred in another popular big-budget Netflix epic. Beginning his acting career in a 1992 episode of Screenplay, Wong has played in many sci-fi and historical shows. Since his early roles, Wongs career has continued to rise, as he joined the cast of 3 Body Problem and the MCU. 3 Body Problem was initially released on Netflix in March 2024. By June 2024, Netflix confirmed that 3 Body Problem will have two additional seasons. In addition to those upcoming projects,...

The 25-time Emmy-nominated Shgun is an old-fashioned historical epic that outshines shows like Marco Polo, which tried to have a similar scope. Although the two series share thematic and narrative similarities, Shgun is the far superior series, besting Marco Polo in many ways. Shgun centers on its Japanese characters more than the source material does, all while prizing authenticity and detail.

The Emmy-nominated FX series Shgun is not only an incredible series, but a massive improvement over Marco Polo, Netflix's historical epic from 10 years ago. Although the series trace vastly different historical moments in their respective settings, both Shgun and Marco Polo are large-scale dramas that pit ambitious men against ech other one an outsider and one entrenched in the ongoing upheaval. With a staggering 25 Emmy nominations under its belt, the Japanese-language Shgun has made TV history. However, the series made its mark before the awards season as, arguably,...

Marco Polo was Netflix's costly answer to Game of Thrones, but it failed to make a cultural impact. Despite a high budget, Marco Polo was poorly received by critics and ultimately canceled after two seasons. Netflix's model shifted after Marco Polo's failure, opting for smaller shows and established IP over big-budget epics.

Marco Polo was initially billed as the next Game of Thrones, but sank after just two seasons. The show was created by John Fusco and debuted on Netflix in 2014. The streamer's historical epic quickly became one of the most expensive TV shows of all time. A truly massive series that was largely filmed on location with elaborate sets, huge casts, and impressive fight scenes, the series was designed to compete directly with HBO's Game of Thrones, which at the time was at the height of the show's cultural impact. On paper, the concept seemed like a hit for Netflix.

Into the Badlands is “a high-octane sci-fi martial arts series” created by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar. The AMC series is set in a dystopian future with humanity in ruins because of wars, and it follows the story of Sunny, a fierce warrior who rescues a teenager with a bounty on his head. They both journey through a dangerous territory known as the Badlands to survive. Into the Badlands stars Daniel Wu in the lead role, with Orla Brady, Sarah Bolger, Aramis Knight, Emily Beecham, Oliver Stark, Madeleine Mantock, Ally Ioannides, Marton Csokas, and Nick Frost starring in supporting roles. Into the Badlands is a unique series with a unique setting, and that’s why it is hard to find a series with a similar setting and story elements, but we have tried very hard to find shows with similar story elements and many high-octane action sequences.

Warrior Credit – Max...

Bloodline, Netflix's fourth-ever original series, won an Emmy and had the potential for more great seasons. The show had a star-studded ensemble cast and was character-driven and atmospheric, similar to Big Little Lies. Season 3's quality declined due to cancelation and cost considerations, missing out on planned seasons 4-6.

I still can't get over the fact that Netflix only gave Bloodline three seasons before canceling it. Bloodline was one of the very first original series that Netflix had ever produced, second only to House of Cards (2013), Orange is the New Black (2013), and Marco Polo (2014). While Marco Polo only ran for two seasons, House of Cards had six seasons across 73 episodes and Orange is the New Black had seven seasons across 91 episodes. Combined, Netflix's two first-ever original series earned 11 Emmy Awards and 72 nominations, with House of Cards earning 56 of those nominations.

Bloodline won one Emmy for Ben Mendelsohn's performance...

Tony Lo Bianco, who played the key role of Sal Boca in Best Picture Oscar winner The French Connection and appeared in more than 100 films and TV shows during a 60-year screen career, died Tuesday of prostate cancer at his home in Maryland. He was 87.

A rep confirmed his death to Fox News today.

Lo Bianco got his start guesting on 1960s TV series including The Doctors, Get Smart! and N.Y.P.D. before landing a big-screen star turn in 1970’s The Honeymoon Killers. That led to his signature role as Salvatore “Sal” Buco in William Friedkin’s seminal New York crime drama The French Connection the following year. His character is at the center of a drug deal followed by NYPD Detective Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle (Gene Hackman). The film won five Oscars including Best Picture and Lead Actor for Hackman.

Roy Scheider, left, and Tony Lo Bianco in ‘The French Connection,...

Alex G has shared his original score for A24’s coming-of-age horror film I Saw the TV Glow. Stream it below.

Featuring 20 tracks, the score marks Alex G’s first full-length instrumental release. It’s a companion project to the film’s star-studded original soundtrack, which features contributions from Sloppy Jane featuring Phoebe Bridgers, Caroline Polachek, Bartees Strange, Jay Som, and more.

Get Alex G Tickets Here

Helmed by We’re All Going to the World’s Fair director Jane Schoenbrun, I Saw the TV Glow revolves around two teenagers — portrayed by Justice Smith and Brigitte Lundy-Paine — who bond over their shared obsession with a Buffy the Vampire Slayer-inspired TV series titled The Pink Opaque.

The cast of I Saw the TV Glow also includes Fred Durst and Snail Mail’s Lindsey Jordan alongside Ian Foreman, Helena Howard, and Danielle Deadwyler. The film opened in select cities on May...

Director James McTeigue has signed with Gersh for representation in all areas.

McTeigue is the filmmaker behind several major features and series, including his 2005 directorial feature debut “V for Vendetta,” the cult favorite dystopian comic book adaptation starring Natalie Portman, John Hurt and Hugo Weaving. He followed that film with the 2009 martial arts film “Ninja Assassin,” led by Korean star Rain. His other films include the Edgar Allan Poe detective thriller “The Raven,” starring John Cusack, Luke Evans and Brendan Gleeson, as well as “Survivor,” starring Milla Jovovich and Pierce Brosnan.

More recently, McTeigue produced the 2021 sci-fi revival “The Matrix Resurrections” and the commercially successful Gabrielle Union thriller “Breaking In,” which he also directed. His TV directorial credits include episodes across two seasons of “Sense8,” the political thriller “Messiah” and the historical series “Marco Polo.” McTeigue has also directed commercials for Heineken, Samsung, Powerade, Rexona, Deutsche Bank and Guild Wars 2, amongst several other brands.

Benedict Wong's iconic performance as Wong in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has made him a major star globally. Wong delighted fans by using his natural Mancunian accent in FX's What We Do In the Shadows cameo. Before his Marvel fame, Wong had notable roles in quirky British comedies like The It Crowd and The Wrong Mans.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has propelled Benedict Wong into the Hollywood spotlight. Wong's iconic performance as... well, Wong has become so beloved that many fans don't actually know the actor is British. Having appeared in both Doctor Strange and its sequel, as well as Avengers: Infinity War, Endgame, and Spider-Man: No Way Home, Wong has become synonymous with the character. Wong has also had notable roles in Ridley Scott's The Martian and Netflix's Marco Polo.

Fans were delighted and surprised to hear Wong acting in his natural Mancunian accent when...

Marco Polo was a short-lived TV series that aired on Netflix between 2014 and 2016, and despite the fact it only had two seasons, the show cost Netflix a whopping $200 million. While Marco Polo was met with relatively positive reviews, critics panned the performance of Italian lead actor Lorenzo Richelmy, with others calling the story dull and unimaginative.

Poor performances from the cast weren't the only reasons the show was canceled back in 2016, with other reasons being that it was too expensive for the small amount of success it was experiencing, in addition to the fact it had boring writing, convoluted story arcs, and was not accurate enough to be called historical television. Marco Polo was an unfortunate series that didn't quite know what it was or who it was appealing to.

Updated March 2, 2024 by Joshua M. Patton: This article has been updated to comport to Cbr's current formatting standards.

The Netflix...

Shōgun is one of the best beautiful and intense action drama series ever. Based on a 1975 novel of the same name by James Clavell, the FX series is adapted for television by Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks. Set in the year 1600 in Japan, the historical series follows the story of Lord Yoshii Toranaga as enemies unite and come to take his life, but he sees an opportunity when a mysterious European ship is found marooned in a village nearby. Shōgun has a brilliant ensemble cast including Hiroyuki Sanada, Cosmo Jarvis, Anna Sawai, Néstor Carbonell, and Fumi Nikaido. So, if you loved the beautiful imagery and ruthless action of Shōgun, then you should check out these shows next.

Medici: Masters of Florence (Netflix) Credit – Rai

Medici: Masters of Florence is not big on action but if you loved all the politics and scheming in Shōgun, then it might be right up your alley.

Expensive doesn't always mean successful: Supertrain, Camelot, and Inhumans were all costly shows that flopped in terms of quality and viewership. The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is the most expensive TV show ever made, but its high budget doesn't necessarily reflect its overall quality. Shows like Joey, The Get Down, Hemlock Grove, Marco Polo, and Terra Nova had high production costs but failed to make a lasting impact or justify their budgets.

As the decades go on and TV becomes a bigger, more profitable industry, studios invest more in new shows, but bigger investments don't always make better shows. Making TV shows is never exactly cheap. To produce one show, several teams of people need to be recruited and paid in order to simply pull an idea together, before getting actors involved, cameraman, lighting, wardrobe, make-up, editing, and so on. The costs rack up quickly, but for the most part,...

Marco Polo, Emerald City, and Black Sails all tried to replicate the success of Game of Thrones but failed due to factors like high cost, mismatched genres, and lack of compelling characters. True Detective and Westworld showed promise as potential successors to Game of Thrones with their dark and intricate narratives, but couldn't maintain the same level of quality in subsequent seasons. The Witcher, Watchmen, The Wheel of Time, and Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power all had elements that could have made them successful, but none of them reached the same level of mainstream popularity as Game of Thrones. House of the Dragon remains to be seen if it can live up to the original series' legacy.

Ever since Game of Thrones managed to become the most talked about show on TV, every new big-budget television spectacle was lauded as “the next Game of Thrones” only to quietly fail.

The Brothers Sun starring Michelle Yeoh has been determined Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with an 80% score. The Netflix original series follows the story of a gangster protecting his family after his father's assassination. The show combines action and comedy genres and has received largely positive reviews from 25 different critics.

Michelle Yeoh's new Netflix project The Brothers Sun is already scoring big on Rotten Tomatoes. The show, which was co-created by Byron Wu and Glee's Brad Falchuk, stars Yeoh as Mama Sun, the protective mother of Bruce Sun (Sam Song Li), whose normal life in California is thrown into disarray when his older brother Charles (Justin Chien) comes to visit from Taipei. Bruce then finds out that their father is part of a powerful gangster family, and assassins may be on the way to target him and his mother.

Rotten Tomatoes has now calculated an official score for The Brothers Sun...

Take a dip in the murky waters of supernatural horror with Night Swim! Director Bryce McGuire makes a splash in his feature directorial debut, turning a suburban backyard into a supernatural battleground. The film, swimming upstream against the frigid release waters of January, stars Wyatt Russell and Kerry Condon as parents grappling with more than just adjusting to a new home, uncovering the aquatic enigma of a potentially haunted pool. For someone like me, who spent childhood summers playing Marco Polo and avoiding sewer gators in the shadowy depths at night, Night Swim hits close to home.

Night Swim introduces us to the Wallers, a family yearning for stability as they settle into a new home, with their patriarch Ray Waller (Wyatt Russell) seeking to stay afloat amidst the challenges of his waning health. The property’s unique feature, a seemingly invigorating pool, becomes a centerpiece of their daily life,...

Night Swim turns a children's game into a terrifying experience, echoing a recent trend in horror movies. The movie builds tension effectively by utilizing a game of Marco Polo in a dark and unreliable pool. Other horror movies, such as Truth or Dare and Ready or Not, have successfully transformed innocent games into sinister and bloody experiences.

One of the most memorable scenes in Blumhouse's latest horror movie Night Swim continues a clever horror movie trend that has become increasingly popular in the genre over the last few years. The new movie stars Wyatt Russell and Kerry Condon, and follows a family that moves into a new house, seeking a fresh start, only to be plagued by an ancient evil that dwells in the backyard pool. Based off a 2014 short film of the same name, Night Swim carries a PG-13 rating mainly due to the scariness of some of its gruesome apparitions.

This article contains major spoilers for "Night Swim."

It's January, which means it's time for another Blumhouse horror movie with a wild premise that looks to be a heck of a lot of fun. Bryce McGuire's "Night Swim" centers on the Waller family of Ray (Wyatt Russell), his wife Eve (Kerry Condon), and children Izzy (Amélie Hoeferle) and Elliot (Gavin Warren) who unknowingly move into a home with a haunted pool. Okay, so "haunted" might not be the operative word to describe these wanton waters, but there's something seriously sinister about their swimming pool, and their lives may be at stake if they're not careful.

The film was produced by horror master James Wan and shares a bit of spiritual energy with his bonkers masterpiece "Malignant," but doesn't quite similarly fly off the rails. Whether or not this is a positive or negative attribute will differ from person to...

Top to bottom: Kerry Condon in Night Swim (courtesy Universal Pictures), Kathryn Newton and Cole Sprouse in Lisa Frankenstein (courtesy Focus Features), Imaginary (courtesy Lionsgate)Graphic: The A.V. Club

After wrapping up a great year of horror cinema in 2023, the genre shows no signs of resting on its laurels in...

Night Swim is a horror movie that explores the hidden terrors lurking in a family's swimming pool. The film expands on the 2014 short that inspired it, adding more mystery, mythology, and story elements. Director Bryce McGuire received valuable advice from James Wan about prioritizing important scenes and making creative compromises to stay on schedule.

From Blumhouse and Atomic Monster come Night Swim, a horror movie that aims to make viewers remember the last time they pondered what may lurk in a hidden corner of their local swimming pool. The film stars Wyatt Russell, Kerry Condon, Amélie Hoeferle, and Gavin Warren as the Waller family, who move into a new house complete with a swimming pool. Little do they know, there is more than they could imagine beneath the surface of the water.

The Night Swim trailer reveals a creature lurking in the pool, which is one of the movie’s...

We're sad to report that actress Suzanne Shepherd has passed away at the age of 89, as confirmed by her agent and her daughter Kate Shepherd. A character actress who had roles in movies and TV stretching back to the 1980s, two of Shepherd's parts were practically the same role.

In "Goodfellas," Shepherd played the mother of Karen Hill (Lorraine Bracco). She has a short but memorable scene where she scolds her daughter for letting Henry (Ray Liotta) stay out so late and for marrying a Gentile man in the first place. When Henry finally comes home at the crack of dawn, she snaps at him and he walks off. This leads to the scene's comedic capstone, in which Tommy (Joe Pesci) mocks Karen's mother by nagging Henry in the same voice.

Many "Goodfellas" alums later showed up on "The Sopranos," including Bracco and Shepherd. Bracco, wanting to play a...

Doctor Who enthusiasts are thrilled by the unexpected return of two classic episodes, but legal concerns have made the finders hesitant to hand them over. The loss of episodes from the show's early seasons has been a subject of lament for fans and historians, disrupting the narrative flow of the series. The potential return of these episodes would not only be a gift to fans but also a significant addition to the archival history of television, inching closer to completing the collection and raising broader questions about media preservation and rights.

Doctor Who enthusiasts have been thrilled by the unexpected return of two episodes from the show's classic period, a discovery that has energized the science fiction community. This revelation has sparked excitement among fans but is also shrouded in uncertainty due to legal concerns expressed by the finders.

Since its 1963 inception, Doctor Who has anchored British television, epitomizing creative storytelling.

Two lost Doctor Who episodes have been found, but they may never be released to the public due to fears of prosecution by the BBC. Previous efforts to recreate lost episodes through animated reconstructions have taken place. The episodes, featuring William Hartnell as the Doctor, have been lost for decades and the owners of the recordings remain anonymous.

Two classic Doctor Who episodes have been found, but they may never reach the public. The hunt for the long-lost episodes has been ongoing since the BBC purged their copies of many episodes from the William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton, and Jon Pertwee eras. There has been an ongoing effort to recreate the episodes through animated reconstructions, but some secret recordings have been discovered over the years.

Just a few weeks before the Doctor Who 60th Anniversary specials, The Guardian has revealed that two more lost episodes have been found. The episodes, which...

Doctor Who fans can look forward to more animated reconstructions of missing episodes as the 60th anniversary approaches. These reconstructions provide a chance for younger viewers to experience the purged early episodes of the show. The dedicated fanbase's efforts in rediscovering and reconstructing the missing episodes have helped to preserve the legacy of Doctor Who.

There will soon be more animated reconstructed episodes of Doctor Who. Originally played by William Hartnell, the Doctor first appeared in 1963, and the show has been an international success ever since. Those early episodes reveal key aspects of the Doctor's nature, including his relationship with his granddaughter, Gallifrey, and even the planet Earth. Unfortunately, many of those episodes were lost to time after the BBC deleted them in a routine effort to save space. Some recordings have been found over the years, but many serials have only been saved through reconstruction.

As the Doctor Who 60th Anniversary approaches,...

"Our goal is scary and original," Jason Blum said of Blumhouse at New York Comic Con 2023. "Even when we're doing IP or sequels, we always try to do something new."

Blum is a curator of the bloodcurdling, often with a dash of comedic rib-cracking. After all, he told his fans that "comedy and horror are cousins in many ways." The timing of a scare is linked to the timing of a joke. His producing credits include the likes of "M3GAN" and the "Halloween" trilogy. With that in mind, a house of horror-heads gathered at New York Comic Con's "Blumfest" to splash into more Blum-produced films, from the time travel hijinks of "Totally Killer," an evil swimming pool in "Night Swim," and the highly anticipated video game adaptation "Five Nights at Freddy's." The respective directors for each of these films joined Blum on the stage, with each of them having something...

Before he became one of Shaw Brothers’ foremost fight choreographers, Lau Kar Leung used to work as an extra besides choreographing the old black and white Wong Fei Hung series. Together with fellow choreographer Tang Chia, he would spend many years working for director Chang Cheh until they had a fallout while doing “Marco Polo”. So it was only natural that he would eventually evolve into a director during the early 70s when the martial arts films were in full swing. Furthermore, after Shaw Brothers Studio stopped making films, he would continue to choreograph, direct and even act in films like “Drunken Master II” with Jackie Chan and Tsui Hark’s “Seven Swords” in 2005.

on Amazon by clicking on the image below

Filmed during the time when Chang Cheh was in Taiwan making films under his own Long Bow studio, “The Spiritual Boxer”, a comedy with kung...

A family learns they’ll need more than pool noodles and floaties to survive a dip in their backyard swimming pool in Night Swim. Based on Rod Blackhurst and Bryce McGuire’s short film, Night Swim‘s first trailer shows a nighttime swim and an innocent game of Marco Polo quickly devolving into a terrifying fight for survival.

Wyatt Russell (The Falcon and the Winter Soldier), Oscar nominee Kerry Condon (The Banshees of Inisherin), Amélie Hoeferle (The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes), and Gavin Warren (Fear the Walking Dead) star in the supernatural thriller from Atomic Monster and Blumhouse.

Bryce McGuire wrote the screenplay and directed, with James Wan (The Conjuring franchise) and Jason Blum producing. Blumhouse’s Ryan Turek and Atomic Monster’s Michael Clear and Judson Scott executive produce.

“Night Swim is a very spooky haunted pool movie,” said executive producer Turek in a recent interview with EW.

Giuliano Montaldo, the admired Italian filmmaker who wrote and directed Sacco & Vanzetti, the John Cassavetes-starring Machine Gun McCain and every episode of the big-budget 1982 miniseries Marco Polo, has died. He was 93.

Montaldo died Wednesday at his home in Rome, his family announced.

His big-screen résumé also included The Reckless (1965), starring Renato Salvatori; Grand Slam (1967), starring Janet Leigh; Giordano Bruno (1973), starring Gian Maria Volonté and Charlotte Rampling; And Agnes Chose to Die (1976), starring Ingrid Thulin; and The Gold Rimmed Glasses (1987), starring Philippe Noiret, Rupert Everett, Stefania Sandrelli and Valeria Golino.

Of the 20 films Montaldo helmed, 16 were set to music by Ennio Morricone; no other director collaborated with the famed composer more.

Montaldo also served as president of Italy’s Rai Cinema from 1999-2004.

Montaldo’s gangster tale Machine Gun McCain (1969), which also starred Britt Ekland, Gena Rowlands and Peter Falk, and Sacco & Vanzetti (1971), about the Massachusetts trial and 1927 execution of...

Giuliano Montaldo, the prolific Italian director, actor and film industry executive, whose works comprise powerful political drama “Sacco and Vanzetti” about the Massachusetts trial and execution in 1927 of accused Italian anarchists Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti, has died at his home in Rome. He was 93.

His death was announced Wednesday by his family and reported by multiple Italian media outlets. No cause of death was revealed.

Born in 1930 in Genoa, Montaldo was still a Turin university student when, in 1950, director Carlo Lizzani gave him a role in the film “Achtung Banditi!.” Montaldo then moved to Rome in 1954, where he worked as a journalist for Italian newspaper Il Tempo and after a few years decided to pursue a filmmaking career.

Montaldo cut his teeth as a director working as an assistant to Lizzani and then to Gillo Pontecorvo, Sergio Leone, and Francesco Rosi, learning the ropes from some of the masters of Italian cinema.

Chicago, Il – Asian Pop-Up Cinema (Apuc) announces its upcoming Season 17 lineup, running between September 8 and October 7 in Chicago. For the first time, this year's programming will include film selections from Mongolia, Iran and Afghanistan, along with entries from Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea and more. This season's special guests attending with their films include Amarsaikhan Baljinnyham, Ben Yuen, Dornaz Hajiha, Lawrence Kan, Lee Won Suk, Ng Siu Hin, Park Dong-Hee, Rachel Leung, Roya Sadat and Wong You Nam. South Korean actor Lee Sun-Kyun will be Apuc's Excellent Achievement in Film Award recipient and will receive his award before the feature presentation of closing night film Killing Romance.

Apuc's Season 17 opens with a screening of director Masayuki Suzuki's Yudo, following architect Shiro Miura's (Toma Ikuta) attempts to modernize his outdated public bathhouse family business. As he immerses himself in the new role, Shiro connects with customers and begins to...

Due to the BBC's policy of 'junking' archival programs, there are 97 missing episodes of Doctor Who from the Hartnell and Troughton eras. Tele-snap reconstructions and narrated audio versions have been created to preserve and fill the gaps of these missing episodes. Efforts have been made to recover lost episodes, but fans are still waiting for an update on the remaining 97 episodes.

Due to a combination of behind-the-scenes factors, there are 97 missing episodes of Doctor Who from the William Hartnell and Patrick Troughton eras. In the late 1960s and 1970s, the British Broadcasting Corporation had a policy of "junking" archival programs like Doctor Who. There were multiple reasons for this ranging from lack of space to scarcity of material, but the policy led to numerous First and Second Doctor episodes being wiped from the archives. The same fate befell a handful of Jon Pertwee serials too, but thankfully overseas sales...

Season 17 (September 8 – October 7) kicks off with a screening of director Masayuki Suzuki's Yudo, architect Shiro Miura's (Toma Ikuta) and his return to his family-owned public bathhouse. Intent on modernizing the outdated establishment, Shiro faces unexpected challenges from both his brother Goro (Gaku Hamada) and a fire that lands him as the bathhouse's temporary manager. As he immerses himself in the role, Shiro connects with customers and begins to understand the happiness and democratizing power the place offers. The film will be presented at AMC Newcity 14, 1500 N. Clybourn, (September 8).

Centerpiece film Harvest Moon is Mongolian actor Amarsaikhan Baljinnyam's debut feature as director. An award-winning screenwriter, he adapted this father-son story from a short novel by T. Bum-Erden, following a city chef who must fulfill the harvesting in his village after his father dies. Representing Mongolia in the international feature 2022 Oscar submission, the film will be presented at AMC Newcity...

Back in 1974, Shaw Brothers director Chang Cheh together with a crew of around fifty people including his favorites David Chiang, Ti Lung and Fu Sheng, left Hong Kong and started producing films in Taiwan. His newfound team under the name of Long Bow Company would continue to produce films till 1976. Although Chang was making films independently, he was still related to Shaw Brothers which gave his full support.

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As it turns out, one of those Long Bow's early films “Five Shaolin Masters” was the one which eventually became their highest box office hit in Hong Kong, followed by “Heroes Two”, “Disciples of Shaolin”, “Shaolin Martial Arts”, “Marco Polo” and “Boxer Rebellion”. Among all of their Taiwanese productions, these six films made over one million dollars in Hong Kong but “The Fantastic Magic Boy” (1975) was their worst performer.

Set during the Great Qing,...

Historical fiction shows based on characters who lived centuries ago are always intriguing to watch. The history presented in the form of a television show allows us to understand the nuances of those real-life people who carried out good and bad acts for the sake of power and nothing else. It also helps us to see them from a gray perspective, for each of them had their own intentions and journeys to justify their acts. The Tudors, The Serpent Queen, Rome, Vikings, Downton Abbey, and Marco Polo are names of some of the many shows in this genre. Domina is about the Roman Dictator Augustus’ wife, Livia, who managed to stay in power for years even though she could not give him an heir, which was crucial for any family ruling a vast empire.

Domina season three officially has not been announced yet by the studio or the network. This...

Over the decades, viewers have enjoyed many historical-fiction shows, as it is not just a great way to learn about the subject matter, but the indulgence factor works well in such shows. There is drama, treachery, lust, love, killing, and, most of all, historical accuracy as well. Vikings, Marco Polo, The Tudors, Reign, Downton Abbey, Versailles, and Barbarians are some examples of popular television shows in the historical fiction genre, and all of them have one thing in common: a focus on the politics and the drama of the era. Domina, created and written by Simon Burke for Sky Atlantic (UK and Italy), is about the infamous Roman Empire, which in its early turbulent period was ruled by Augustus Caesar and his wife Livia Drusilla, the protagonist of this show. The power of this woman made sure she and her husband would remain undefeated for a long time.

For your context,...

Forget the Chris Rock live-standup success or the “Love Is Blind” reunion’s epic failure: The real benchmark to Netflix exploring live sports should be based on… Universal “Sing 2.”

That’s the argument made Thursday morning by media analysts at MoffettNathanson; before you think we subscribe to some quack research, let Michael Nathanson explain his position.

Though you may know (and subscribe to) Netflix for original hits like “Stranger Things,” “Wednesday,” and “Bridgerton,” its massive library is comprised primarily of acquired film and TV content. Those third-party leftovers account for more than half of the time viewed on Netflix in the U.S. Compared to your average original series or movie, libraries are a stable, predictable, safe, and successful setup.

“The main value of acquired is its dependability,” Nathanson wrote in a note to clients (and obtained by IndieWire). “Titles are already made and already proven… There is little...

Actor and comedian Mike Batayeh, best known for his role in “Breaking Bad,” where he played laundromat manager Dennis Markowski, has died at the age of 52.

Batayeh’s sister shared the news via Facebook on June 4. “He will be greatly missed by those who loved him and his great ability to bring laughter and joy to so many,” the statement read. According to TMZ, the performer died of a heart attack while in his sleep on June 1. He passed in his Michigan home.

The comedian appeared in three episodes of the award-winning AMC drama as the manager of Gus Fring’s (Giancarlo Esposito) industrial laundromat. In the series, the laundromat was a cover for what was actually a super meth lab used by Walt (Bryan Cranston) and Jesse (Aaron Paul).

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Batayeh started his acting career...

While most Doctor Who companions over the past 60 years have been young women, the ages of companions actually varies widely. The first several Doctor Who seasons almost always had a teenage girl as one of the main companions, as an audience surrogate when the series was more aimed at children. The actresses, however, were all over 18.

Modern Doctor Who companions trend a little older, but new Doctor Who companion Ruby Sunday will be the youngest yet. Millie Gibson was just 18 years old when she began filming Doctor Who season 14 last year. Though some companions have been younger in fiction, none of the actors have been younger than 19 until now.

Related: Doctor Who: Every Doctor's True Companion

Susan Foreman

The Doctor's granddaughter, Susan Foreman, appeared to be a teenager when she and the First Doctor appeared in Doctor Who's first episode, "An Unearthly Child." In the "Marco Polo" serial...