The sixth edition of the Joburg Film Festival wraps Sunday, putting a bow on a week that saw many in the host nation reflecting on South Africa’s long journey in the three decades since the end of apartheid. But among the filmmakers and executives taking part in the second Jbx content market the focus was squarely on the future, as Africa’s streaming wars and an eye toward global dealmaking highlighted how the tide has begun to shift in how the world perceives the continent. “What a time to be alive in Johannesburg,” said festival founder Timothy Mangwedi at Saturday’s award ceremony. “What a time to be alive in Africa.”
Here are five takeaways from a busy week in Johannesburg:
Streamers shift strategies but still drive growth
Amazon Prime Video’s abrupt pull-out from the African market in January has left many local producers frustrated and confused. “It...
Here are five takeaways from a busy week in Johannesburg:
Streamers shift strategies but still drive growth
Amazon Prime Video’s abrupt pull-out from the African market in January has left many local producers frustrated and confused. “It...
- 3/3/2024
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
Actor Idris Elba made his feature directorial debut with the 2018 crime drama Yardie, and earlier this year we heard that he would be following that up with an action thriller called Infernus. That movie was supposed to get started filming in October, but appears to have been disrupted by the strikes. So while we wait to hear what’s going to happen with Infernus, The Hollywood Reporter has broken the news that Elba is teaming up with Martin Owen (The Loneliest Boy in the World) to co-direct a survival thriller called Above the Below… and this one is already in production!
Above the Below started filming last week at Pinewood Studios, using two separate stages – including the studio’s underwater stage. In addition to co-directing, Elba also stars in the movie alongside Caitlin FitzGerald (Masters of Sex) and Hero Fiennes Tiffin (the After franchise).
Owen came up with the initial idea for the film,...
Above the Below started filming last week at Pinewood Studios, using two separate stages – including the studio’s underwater stage. In addition to co-directing, Elba also stars in the movie alongside Caitlin FitzGerald (Masters of Sex) and Hero Fiennes Tiffin (the After franchise).
Owen came up with the initial idea for the film,...
- 11/21/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
There had been rumblings of a Luther movie for close to a decade, and Idris Elba finally got his chance with Luther: The Fallen Sun. The film was released in select theaters and on Netflix earlier this year, but Elba is ready to jump back into Luther’s world.
While speaking with Collider, Idris Elba said that Luther: The Fallen Sun performed well on Netflix and that a sequel is a possibility. “Yeah, it did really well. Luther ended up being one of the top five most streamed films on Netflix, which is an incredible achievement, since it was the first film from the television show,” Elba said. “I’m hoping to make another one. I love Luther. I love that character, and I love where I can possibly take him, as a story and as a character. So, yeah, keep your fingers crossed.“
Related Idris Elba to star in...
While speaking with Collider, Idris Elba said that Luther: The Fallen Sun performed well on Netflix and that a sequel is a possibility. “Yeah, it did really well. Luther ended up being one of the top five most streamed films on Netflix, which is an incredible achievement, since it was the first film from the television show,” Elba said. “I’m hoping to make another one. I love Luther. I love that character, and I love where I can possibly take him, as a story and as a character. So, yeah, keep your fingers crossed.“
Related Idris Elba to star in...
- 7/6/2023
- by Kevin Fraser
- JoBlo.com
The last couple of years alone have seen Idris Elba showcase a rather broad range. From gunslinging villains (Rufus Buck in The Harder They Fall) and beloved yet destructive TV detectives given a big-screen moment (Luther in Luther: The Fallen Sun), via wish-granting genies (The Djinn in Three Thousand Years of Longing) to returning Norse gods (Heimdall in Thor: Love and Thunder), animated video game characters (Knuckles in Sonic the Hedgehog 2) and a man who takes on a lion with his bare hands (Dr. Nate Samuels in Beast), it’s been a rather eclectic mix.
Hijack is — also — something altogether different.
The seven-part series, which launches on Apple TV+ on Wednesday, June 28 and which Elba also exec produced via his Green Door production company (and the solitary projects from its now-ended deal with the streamer), sees him play Sam Nelson, a business negotiator on board a flight from Dubai...
Hijack is — also — something altogether different.
The seven-part series, which launches on Apple TV+ on Wednesday, June 28 and which Elba also exec produced via his Green Door production company (and the solitary projects from its now-ended deal with the streamer), sees him play Sam Nelson, a business negotiator on board a flight from Dubai...
- 6/27/2023
- by Alex Ritman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
I’ll admit to believing that the Sonic the Hedgehog movie would join the ranks of the many video-game movie failures, but here we are, with a sequel released last year and another on the way. There’s also a spin-off TV series centered around Knuckles with Idris Elba once again voicing the character. The cast of the Knuckles TV series has now added five new members.
Christopher Lloyd (Back to the Future), Cary Elwes (The Princess Bride), Stockard Channing (Grease), Paul Scheer (Veep), and Rob Huebel (Children’s Hospital) have joined the cast of the Knuckles TV series. The nature of their characters remains unknown at this time. Previously announced cast members include Adam Pally, who will be reprising the role of Wade Whipple, as well as Edi Patterson, Julian Barratt, Scott Mescudi, and Ellie Taylor. Rory McCann and Tika Sumpter will also guest star in the series, with...
Christopher Lloyd (Back to the Future), Cary Elwes (The Princess Bride), Stockard Channing (Grease), Paul Scheer (Veep), and Rob Huebel (Children’s Hospital) have joined the cast of the Knuckles TV series. The nature of their characters remains unknown at this time. Previously announced cast members include Adam Pally, who will be reprising the role of Wade Whipple, as well as Edi Patterson, Julian Barratt, Scott Mescudi, and Ellie Taylor. Rory McCann and Tika Sumpter will also guest star in the series, with...
- 6/14/2023
- by Kevin Fraser
- JoBlo.com
The stars are out at this year’s Cannes, and not just on the red carpet that leads up to the splashy premieres that make the festival the most glamorous celebration of movies in the world. From Daisy Ridley to Alicia Vikander, Angelina Jolie to Sylvester Stallone, Idris Elba to Jude Law, several A-list actors are attached to projects that are being brought to market at Cannes in what looks like its biggest edition in years. Will all that high-wattage talent lead to one mega-deal after another?
“It’s obviously going to be an outrageously busy market,” says Constantin Film’s Martin Moszkowicz. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen as much product, definitely not for the last couple of years, led by very high-profile movies with big cast, big directors, big budgets.”
Yet, the big question, Moszkowicz adds, is when and how all these projects will get made.
“It’s obviously going to be an outrageously busy market,” says Constantin Film’s Martin Moszkowicz. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen as much product, definitely not for the last couple of years, led by very high-profile movies with big cast, big directors, big budgets.”
Yet, the big question, Moszkowicz adds, is when and how all these projects will get made.
- 5/16/2023
- by John Hopewell, Elsa Keslassy and Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
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