"You have to stand up for yourself. The more submissive you are, the more they'll push you down." Curzon has revealed an official trailer for an Iranian filmmaker titled My Favorite Cake, one of the big breakout films from the 2024 Berlin Film Festival earlier this year. The film premiered in the competition and won a few side prizes but mostly earned some of the best reviews of the festival. It's a sweet, tender, heartfelt story of an Iranian woman living in Tehran. Seventy-year-old Mahin, solitary until now, chooses to revive her love life. A chance encounter becomes an unforgettable evening with the two. The wonderful Lily Farhadpour stars as Mahin, who has been living alone in Tehran for decades since her husband died and her daughter left for Europe. In a random chance encounter, she meets the humble, lonely taxi driver Esmail co-starring Esmail Mehrabi. This is the story of their brief time together.
- 8/28/2024
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
In 2019, Mr. Robot creator Sam Esmail announced that he was working on a reboot of Battlestar Galactica, the sci-fi series from the late 1970s about humanity struggling to survive after losing a brutal war with robots. Or maybe he was rebooting the early 2000s reboot of Battlestar Galactica, which revamped the story for modern audiences. Is it time to give the series yet another facelift, perhaps for the age of giant, big-budget genre series like Game of Thrones and Foundation?
Apparently not, because Variety reports that Peacock has turned down the chance to go forward with the rebooted reboot, which is now being shopped around to other studios. Might I suggest they hit up Apple TV+? Between Foundation, Silo, Severance, For All Mankind, Invasion and Time Bandits, they have an apparently bottomless appetite for all things sci-fi. Lots of nerds over there at Apple TV+.
In any case, it's a...
Apparently not, because Variety reports that Peacock has turned down the chance to go forward with the rebooted reboot, which is now being shopped around to other studios. Might I suggest they hit up Apple TV+? Between Foundation, Silo, Severance, For All Mankind, Invasion and Time Bandits, they have an apparently bottomless appetite for all things sci-fi. Lots of nerds over there at Apple TV+.
In any case, it's a...
- 8/7/2024
- by Dan Selcke
- Winter Is Coming
Mr Robot showrunner Sam Esmail’s Battlestar Galactica reboot needs a new home as streaming platform Peacock has reportedly passed on it.
A new take on the space opera TV series Battlestar Galactica is no longer in development at NBCUniversal’s streaming platform Peacock, it’s been reported.
Originally announced in 2019, the Battlestar reboot was being overseen by Sam Esmail, creator of hit series Mr Robot, who was executive producer under his own company, Esmail Corp. Various writers had come and gone over its long gestation, while 2023’s Hollywood strikes also delayed work on show.
Esmail told Deadline in October 2023 that development on the new Battlestar Galactica was still ongoing, however, and things still sounded positive in January, when Derek Simonds, who wrote and directed TV’s The Sinner, was announced as its new screenwriter.
According to Variety, however, Battlestar Galactica has ceased development at Peacock, and Universal Content Productions...
A new take on the space opera TV series Battlestar Galactica is no longer in development at NBCUniversal’s streaming platform Peacock, it’s been reported.
Originally announced in 2019, the Battlestar reboot was being overseen by Sam Esmail, creator of hit series Mr Robot, who was executive producer under his own company, Esmail Corp. Various writers had come and gone over its long gestation, while 2023’s Hollywood strikes also delayed work on show.
Esmail told Deadline in October 2023 that development on the new Battlestar Galactica was still ongoing, however, and things still sounded positive in January, when Derek Simonds, who wrote and directed TV’s The Sinner, was announced as its new screenwriter.
According to Variety, however, Battlestar Galactica has ceased development at Peacock, and Universal Content Productions...
- 8/1/2024
- by Ryan Lambie
- Film Stories
Variety reports that the Battlestar Galactica reboot series, which was in development for Peacock, is no longer moving forward. I smell a Cylon conspiracy.
The Battlestar Galactica reboot series was first announced in 2019 and has been in development ever since. The reboot was a passion project for Mr. Robot creator Sam Esmail, who was slated to executive produce. Michael Lesslie (The Little Drummer Girl) was originally attached to write the project, but he left and was replaced by The Sinner creator Derek Simonds in January, who was attached to serve as writer, executive producer, and showrunner of the series. However, this may not be the end of the project, as an individual with knowledge of the situation said that it will be shopped to other outlets.
Related Battlestar Galactica: Derek Simonds tapped as showrunner of Sam Esmail’s reboot series
Esmail provided an update on the project just last year,...
The Battlestar Galactica reboot series was first announced in 2019 and has been in development ever since. The reboot was a passion project for Mr. Robot creator Sam Esmail, who was slated to executive produce. Michael Lesslie (The Little Drummer Girl) was originally attached to write the project, but he left and was replaced by The Sinner creator Derek Simonds in January, who was attached to serve as writer, executive producer, and showrunner of the series. However, this may not be the end of the project, as an individual with knowledge of the situation said that it will be shopped to other outlets.
Related Battlestar Galactica: Derek Simonds tapped as showrunner of Sam Esmail’s reboot series
Esmail provided an update on the project just last year,...
- 7/31/2024
- by Kevin Fraser
- JoBlo.com
“Battlestar Galactica” will not chronicle its next chapter on Peacock. A planned reboot for the classic sci-fi hit is no longer in development at the streamer, an insider close to the decision-making told TheWrap.
The project had been in development since 2019, helmed by Sam Esmail (“Mr. Robot”). It was never officially picked up to series at Peacock, and though no plot details were revealed, the show was set to be set in the same timeline as the popular 2003 series.
The news comes months after “The Sinner” EP Derek Simonds was tapped to be writer, executive producer and showrunner. The reboot will now be shopped around to other outlets by its production company, UCP, with whom Esmail has an overall deal. The project was in development with UCP, Esmail Corp and Chad Hamilton.
“Battlestar Galactica” was first introduced in the ’70s as a single-season show starring Richard Hatch, Dirk Benedict and Lorne Greene.
The project had been in development since 2019, helmed by Sam Esmail (“Mr. Robot”). It was never officially picked up to series at Peacock, and though no plot details were revealed, the show was set to be set in the same timeline as the popular 2003 series.
The news comes months after “The Sinner” EP Derek Simonds was tapped to be writer, executive producer and showrunner. The reboot will now be shopped around to other outlets by its production company, UCP, with whom Esmail has an overall deal. The project was in development with UCP, Esmail Corp and Chad Hamilton.
“Battlestar Galactica” was first introduced in the ’70s as a single-season show starring Richard Hatch, Dirk Benedict and Lorne Greene.
- 7/31/2024
- by Jose Alejandro Bastidas
- The Wrap
A24 loved Zac Efron’s work in “The Iron Claw” so much, it’s tapping him to play not one but two roles in another upcoming thriller.
A24 has pre-bought the domestic distribution rights to “Famous,” a thriller that will star Efron in a dual role and will be directed by Jody Hill (“Eastbound and Down”), an individual with knowledge of the project told IndieWire.
“Famous” is also being produced by “Mr. Robot” creator Sam Esmail alongside Michael Sagol, and Chad Hamilton producing.
“Famous” is based on the book of the same name by Blake Crouch. It follows the life of Lancelot Blue Dunkquist, an overzealous fan and loser living above his parents’ garage and working a meaningless job but who is the spitting image of world famous movie star James Jansen. When Dunkquist loses his job, he decides to follow his dream to become famous at whatever cost. Efron...
A24 has pre-bought the domestic distribution rights to “Famous,” a thriller that will star Efron in a dual role and will be directed by Jody Hill (“Eastbound and Down”), an individual with knowledge of the project told IndieWire.
“Famous” is also being produced by “Mr. Robot” creator Sam Esmail alongside Michael Sagol, and Chad Hamilton producing.
“Famous” is based on the book of the same name by Blake Crouch. It follows the life of Lancelot Blue Dunkquist, an overzealous fan and loser living above his parents’ garage and working a meaningless job but who is the spitting image of world famous movie star James Jansen. When Dunkquist loses his job, he decides to follow his dream to become famous at whatever cost. Efron...
- 7/23/2024
- by Brian Welk
- Indiewire
Exclusive: Following the success of its wrestling drama The Iron Claw, A24 has teamed up with Zac Efron for his next project as Deadline is hearing the studio has landed domestic distribution rights to the thriller Famous, starring Efron. Jody Hill is on board to direct with Michael Sagol, Sam Esmail and Chad Hamilton producing. Esmail and Hamilton will produce through their Esmail Corp. banner.
WME Independent and CAA Media Finance brokered the sale. Black Bear is handling international sales.
The film will star Efron in dual roles, playing both overzealous fan, Lance Dunkquist, and Hollywood heartthrob, James Jansen. The film is based on the acclaimed novel by New York Times-bestselling author Blake Crouch and is adapted for the screen by Chad Hodge, who also adapted Crouch’s Wayward Pines trilogy into a series.
The story follows Dunkquist, who has one asset that’s about to change his life – he...
WME Independent and CAA Media Finance brokered the sale. Black Bear is handling international sales.
The film will star Efron in dual roles, playing both overzealous fan, Lance Dunkquist, and Hollywood heartthrob, James Jansen. The film is based on the acclaimed novel by New York Times-bestselling author Blake Crouch and is adapted for the screen by Chad Hodge, who also adapted Crouch’s Wayward Pines trilogy into a series.
The story follows Dunkquist, who has one asset that’s about to change his life – he...
- 7/23/2024
- by Justin Kroll
- Deadline Film + TV
Emmy Rossum, also known as Emmanuelle Grey Rossum, is 5 feet 6 ¾ inches (169.5 cm) tall.
For context, the average height of an American woman is approximately 5 feet 4 inches. Emmy Rossum is slightly taller than the average but significantly taller than Amanda Seyfried, who is 5ft 2 ½ inches (158.8 cm).
At the Apple TV+’s “The Crowded Room” New York Premiere on June 1, 2023, in New York City, Amanda Seyfried, standing at 5ft 2 ½ inches (158.8 cm), appeared notably shorter than Emmy Rossum, who stands at 5ft 6 ¾ inches (169.5 cm) (Credit: Marion Curtis/ StarPix for Apple / Startraksphoto)
Emmy Rossum’s Balanced Proportions and Shoe Size
Emmy Rossum’s shoe size is 8.5 in the US, a standard size for women. Other sizing systems include 6.5 in the UK, 39 in Europe, and approximately 25.5 in Japan.
With a height of 5 feet 6 ¾ inches and a shoe size of 8.5 US, Rossum’s proportions are well-balanced and in line with many women.
Emmy Rossum in a...
For context, the average height of an American woman is approximately 5 feet 4 inches. Emmy Rossum is slightly taller than the average but significantly taller than Amanda Seyfried, who is 5ft 2 ½ inches (158.8 cm).
At the Apple TV+’s “The Crowded Room” New York Premiere on June 1, 2023, in New York City, Amanda Seyfried, standing at 5ft 2 ½ inches (158.8 cm), appeared notably shorter than Emmy Rossum, who stands at 5ft 6 ¾ inches (169.5 cm) (Credit: Marion Curtis/ StarPix for Apple / Startraksphoto)
Emmy Rossum’s Balanced Proportions and Shoe Size
Emmy Rossum’s shoe size is 8.5 in the US, a standard size for women. Other sizing systems include 6.5 in the UK, 39 in Europe, and approximately 25.5 in Japan.
With a height of 5 feet 6 ¾ inches and a shoe size of 8.5 US, Rossum’s proportions are well-balanced and in line with many women.
Emmy Rossum in a...
- 5/15/2024
- by Anne De Guia
- Your Next Shoes
Following their collaboration on the Netflix horror drama Leave the World Behind, Julia Roberts and Sam Esmail are reportedly set to be reuniting on a new project. Directed and written by Esmail, and starring Roberts alongside Mahershala Ali, Ethan Hawke, Myha’la Herrold, and Kevin Bacon, the 2023 film follows a family on vacation, when two strangers bring news of a blackout on Long Island, prompting both families to navigate survival amidst escalating threats and personal introspection in a collapsing world.
Julia Roberts in her latest Netflix movie Leave the World Behind
Despite the absence of a film chief at Netflix, recent reports suggest that the streaming platform is actively pursuing another project with Roberts and Esmail, titled Panic Carefully, which is also attracting interest from major Hollywood studios.
Julia Roberts and Sam Esmail Are Reportedly Reuniting For a New Project
After the resounding success of the 2023 apocalyptic psychological thriller Leave the World Behind,...
Julia Roberts in her latest Netflix movie Leave the World Behind
Despite the absence of a film chief at Netflix, recent reports suggest that the streaming platform is actively pursuing another project with Roberts and Esmail, titled Panic Carefully, which is also attracting interest from major Hollywood studios.
Julia Roberts and Sam Esmail Are Reportedly Reuniting For a New Project
After the resounding success of the 2023 apocalyptic psychological thriller Leave the World Behind,...
- 2/21/2024
- by Laxmi Rajput
- FandomWire
The director and star of 2023’s Leave The World Behind – Sam Esmail and Julia Roberts – are reuniting for Panic Carefully.
Films that release straight to streaming can sometimes have a hard time when it comes to making a splash in the cultural conversation. One film that stylishly sidestepped that pitfall, however, was Leave The World Behind, the Sam Esmail-directed thriller that dropped at the tail-end of last year on Netflix.
The combination of a wonderful ensemble led by Julia Roberts, a nail-biting narrative and a sudden swerve of an ending meant that Leave The World Behind was a hot topic of conversation online. We’d bet the same was probably true offline too, as people went back to work after their Christmas hols and chatted with friends and colleagues about the movies they’d seen over the break.
Avoiding the plummet into streaming obscurity is no mean feat for any film,...
Films that release straight to streaming can sometimes have a hard time when it comes to making a splash in the cultural conversation. One film that stylishly sidestepped that pitfall, however, was Leave The World Behind, the Sam Esmail-directed thriller that dropped at the tail-end of last year on Netflix.
The combination of a wonderful ensemble led by Julia Roberts, a nail-biting narrative and a sudden swerve of an ending meant that Leave The World Behind was a hot topic of conversation online. We’d bet the same was probably true offline too, as people went back to work after their Christmas hols and chatted with friends and colleagues about the movies they’d seen over the break.
Avoiding the plummet into streaming obscurity is no mean feat for any film,...
- 2/19/2024
- by Dan Cooper
- Film Stories
‘Ironclaw’ star Zac Efron has been set to lead the comedy from Jody Hill ‘Famous.’
Efron will take on the role of Lance Dunkquist, a fame-hungry man who has one thing going for him: he looks exactly like Hollywood superstar James Jansen, who will also be played by Efron. Bent on using that coincidence to his advantage, Lance travels to Los Angeles determined to make it big no matter what it takes.
‘Mr. Robot’ creator Sam Esmail is attached as a producer. The project is adapted from the novel of the same name by Blake Crouch, with Chad Hodge handling the screenplay. Esmail and Chad Hamilton will produce through their Esmail Corp banner. Black Bear will present the package at EFM to international buyers with CAA Media Finance and WME Independent representing the U.S. rights.
Also in news – Aaron Taylor-Johnson cast in David Mackenzie’s ‘Fuze’
The film will...
Efron will take on the role of Lance Dunkquist, a fame-hungry man who has one thing going for him: he looks exactly like Hollywood superstar James Jansen, who will also be played by Efron. Bent on using that coincidence to his advantage, Lance travels to Los Angeles determined to make it big no matter what it takes.
‘Mr. Robot’ creator Sam Esmail is attached as a producer. The project is adapted from the novel of the same name by Blake Crouch, with Chad Hodge handling the screenplay. Esmail and Chad Hamilton will produce through their Esmail Corp banner. Black Bear will present the package at EFM to international buyers with CAA Media Finance and WME Independent representing the U.S. rights.
Also in news – Aaron Taylor-Johnson cast in David Mackenzie’s ‘Fuze’
The film will...
- 2/9/2024
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Exclusive: Here is another hot package set to hit the European Film Market next week as Deadline is hearing Zac Efron is attached to star in Famous with Jody Hill directing and Sam Esmail producing. Black Bear will introduce Famous to international buyers at the upcoming EFM with with CAA Media Finance and WME Independent representing the U.S. rights.
Efron will star in dual roles, playing both overzealous fan, Lance Dunkquist, and Hollywood heartthrob, James Jansen. The film is based on the acclaimed novel by New York Times bestselling author Blake Crouch and is adapted for the screen by Chad Hodge, who also adapted Crouch’s Wayward Pines trilogy into a series. Esmail will produce along with his producing partner Chad Hamilton through their Esmail Corp. banner. Esmail Corp.’s Nick Krishnamurthy will also exec produce.
The story follows Lance Dunkquist, who has one asset that’s about to...
Efron will star in dual roles, playing both overzealous fan, Lance Dunkquist, and Hollywood heartthrob, James Jansen. The film is based on the acclaimed novel by New York Times bestselling author Blake Crouch and is adapted for the screen by Chad Hodge, who also adapted Crouch’s Wayward Pines trilogy into a series. Esmail will produce along with his producing partner Chad Hamilton through their Esmail Corp. banner. Esmail Corp.’s Nick Krishnamurthy will also exec produce.
The story follows Lance Dunkquist, who has one asset that’s about to...
- 2/8/2024
- by Justin Kroll and Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Mr. Robot creator Sam Esmail assembled an impressive cast for his thriller Leave the World Behind that included Julia Roberts (Homecoming), Ethan Hawke (The Black Phone), and Mahershala Ali (True Detective) – but he also delivered a divisive movie that earned reactions that ranged from “wildly riveting and entertaining” and “absolutely amazing” to “hideously bad” and “absolutely awful”. JoBlo’s own Chris Bumbray gave the film a 5/10 review that you can read at This Link. I would have scored it higher, I was just left wanting a little more from the ending. Despite the wildly varying reactions, the movie has proven to be quite popular on the Netflix streaming service – in fact, the view count over its first couple months of release has landed it on Netflix’s Top 10 Most Popular Movies list!
Leave the World Behind lands at #8 on the list, ranking above Glass Onion and Extraction. Here’s the...
Leave the World Behind lands at #8 on the list, ranking above Glass Onion and Extraction. Here’s the...
- 2/1/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
More than four years after sci-fi fans heard that a new version of Battlestar Galactica was in development at Peacock, the project has new talent attached. Derek Simonds, creator of USA’s The Sinner, will serve as writer, executive producer, and showrunner of the updated Battlestar Galactica, according to Deadline. Simonds’ other writing credits include the TV series The Astronaut Wives Club and When We Rise, and he was an executive producer of the 2017 film Call Me By Your Name. Mike Pont/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival The new version of Battlestar Galactica is also executive-produced by Sam Esmail and Chad Hamilton, through their banner Esmail Corp, with the backing of Universal Content Productions. Esmail told Deadline in 2022 that he and his colleagues were “working” on the new BSG. “In fact, I just read a great outline, and it’s in great shape. Because the strike is over now...
- 1/6/2024
- TV Insider
According to Deadline, the upcoming Battlestar Galactica reboot has tapped The Sinner creator Derek Simonds to serve as writer, executive producer, and showrunner of the series. He replaces Michael Lesslie (The Little Drummer Girl), who was originally attached to write and executive produce.
The Battlestar Galactica reboot series has been a passion project of Mr. Robot‘s Sam Esmail for some time and he will be producing through UCP. Esmail provided an update late last year, saying, “We have a great outline and we’re probably going to go to pilot soon.” Esmail also explained why he wasn’t running the series himself.
“I know myself as a filmmaker and I don’t know if hard sci-fi is something I’m going to be the A-plus person to pull off,” Esmail said. “And Battlestar needs the cream of the crop. But I love the world and what Ron Moore did...
The Battlestar Galactica reboot series has been a passion project of Mr. Robot‘s Sam Esmail for some time and he will be producing through UCP. Esmail provided an update late last year, saying, “We have a great outline and we’re probably going to go to pilot soon.” Esmail also explained why he wasn’t running the series himself.
“I know myself as a filmmaker and I don’t know if hard sci-fi is something I’m going to be the A-plus person to pull off,” Esmail said. “And Battlestar needs the cream of the crop. But I love the world and what Ron Moore did...
- 1/6/2024
- by Kevin Fraser
- JoBlo.com
Exclusive: There is a new writer at the helm of Peacock’s long-gestating reboot of the popular sci-fi franchise Battlestar Galactica. The Sinner creator Derek Simonds has come on board as writer, executive producer and showrunner.
Battlestar Galactica, which remains in development at Peacock, has been a passion project for Mr. Robot creator Sam Esmail — a big fan of the original — whose company Esmail Corp. is producing the reboot through UCP where the company is based.
First announced as being in development at NBCUniversal’s streamer Peacock in 2019, the Battlestar Galactica reimagening previously had Michael Lesslie attached to write and executive produce.
A new take on the classic IP, the latest incarnation is executive produced by Simonds as well as Esmail Corp’s Sam Esmail and Chad Hamilton. UCP, a division of Universal Studio Group, is the studio.
“We are working on it,” Esmail told Deadline in October about the Battlestar Galactica series reboot.
Battlestar Galactica, which remains in development at Peacock, has been a passion project for Mr. Robot creator Sam Esmail — a big fan of the original — whose company Esmail Corp. is producing the reboot through UCP where the company is based.
First announced as being in development at NBCUniversal’s streamer Peacock in 2019, the Battlestar Galactica reimagening previously had Michael Lesslie attached to write and executive produce.
A new take on the classic IP, the latest incarnation is executive produced by Simonds as well as Esmail Corp’s Sam Esmail and Chad Hamilton. UCP, a division of Universal Studio Group, is the studio.
“We are working on it,” Esmail told Deadline in October about the Battlestar Galactica series reboot.
- 1/5/2024
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
It's hard to read the news these days without feeling a sense of existential dread flare up in your soul. Of course, we're nearly four decades removed now from Steve Martin picking up a newspaper and screaming in his classic '80s rom-com "Roxanne," so it's not as though fretting about the state of the world is a new sensation. Be that as it may, filmmakers have spent much of the 21st century postulating how human society might come toppling down. Perhaps global warming will do us in, like in "The Day After Tomorrow." Or maybe humanity's tampering with nature will produce a super-virus that plunges our global civilization into chaos, like in "Rise of the Planet of the Apes." That movie feels especially prescient in the wake of 2020.
In the Netflix-backed "Leave the World Behind," the apocalypse is triggered by a mysterious series of cyberattacks that seemingly culminates...
In the Netflix-backed "Leave the World Behind," the apocalypse is triggered by a mysterious series of cyberattacks that seemingly culminates...
- 12/24/2023
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
[This story contains major spoilers about the ending of Leave the World Behind, now streaming on Netflix.]
Plenty of people tried to talk Leave the World Behind director Sam Esmail out of his film’s controversial ending — even Esmail tried to talk himself out of his film’s controversial ending.
But the filmmaker responsible for projects including Mr. Robot ultimately stayed the course, and now, just as he anticipated, the ambiguous conclusion to his apocalyptic thriller has left audiences divided. Adapted from Rumaan Alam’s 2020 novel of the same name, Esmail’s iteration, which quickly topped Netflix’s top 10 list when it debuted Dec. 8, follows Amanda and Clay Sandford, played by Julia Roberts and Ethan Hawke, who take their children Rose (Farrah Mackenzie) and Archie (Charlie Evans) on a weekend getaway to Long Island. While there, the owners of their luxe home rental, Gh Scott (Mahershala Ali) and his daughter Ruth (Myha’la Herrold) return, citing a blackout back in the city.
Plenty of people tried to talk Leave the World Behind director Sam Esmail out of his film’s controversial ending — even Esmail tried to talk himself out of his film’s controversial ending.
But the filmmaker responsible for projects including Mr. Robot ultimately stayed the course, and now, just as he anticipated, the ambiguous conclusion to his apocalyptic thriller has left audiences divided. Adapted from Rumaan Alam’s 2020 novel of the same name, Esmail’s iteration, which quickly topped Netflix’s top 10 list when it debuted Dec. 8, follows Amanda and Clay Sandford, played by Julia Roberts and Ethan Hawke, who take their children Rose (Farrah Mackenzie) and Archie (Charlie Evans) on a weekend getaway to Long Island. While there, the owners of their luxe home rental, Gh Scott (Mahershala Ali) and his daughter Ruth (Myha’la Herrold) return, citing a blackout back in the city.
- 12/20/2023
- by Lacey Rose
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Well would you look at that, there's actually a good movie at the top of the Netflix charts. I kid, of course ... kind of. The biggest streaming platform in the world is notorious for the sheer volume of "content" it produces, and for the most part, that means a heck of a lot of, shall we say, forgettable films and shows — most of which you could swear you've seen but probably can't recall a single scene.
For instance, there was the time a truly abject Spanish slasher climbed the Netflix most-watched charts despite decidedly bland reviews. Or the time everyone watched the disappointing Michael Fassbender thriller "The Snowman" and seemingly proved that Netflix users will watch anything. Recently, we had a film that looked like it could actually be the real deal in the form of the Benicio Del Toro-led thriller "Reptile." Indeed, the movie had the Netflix charts...
For instance, there was the time a truly abject Spanish slasher climbed the Netflix most-watched charts despite decidedly bland reviews. Or the time everyone watched the disappointing Michael Fassbender thriller "The Snowman" and seemingly proved that Netflix users will watch anything. Recently, we had a film that looked like it could actually be the real deal in the form of the Benicio Del Toro-led thriller "Reptile." Indeed, the movie had the Netflix charts...
- 12/13/2023
- by Joe Roberts
- Slash Film
Sam Esmail made references to his previous work in 'Leave the World Behind'.The 46-year-old director has helmed the new Netflix apocalyptic thriller that stars Julia Roberts and Mahershala Ali and included nods to his previous projects – including the movie 'Comet' and the TV series 'Mr. Robot' - in the film's plot.Sam told The Hollywood Reporter: "It felt pretty natural, and to be honest with you, I didn't just do it with 'Mr. Robot'. There are little nods to everything I've worked on, from 'Homecoming' and 'Comet' to 'Robot'."I fancy myself as creating my own little universe whenever I make a film, so I thought to myself, 'Why not connect them all?' It's more fun that way."The movie tells the story of the Sandford family and their disastrous weekend getaway at the Long Island home of G.
- 12/12/2023
- by Joe Graber
- Bang Showbiz
[This story contains spoilers for Leave the World Behind.]
Sam Esmail’s Leave the World Behind currently ranks atop Netflix’s film chart, and longtime fans of the filmmaker are now decoding its place in his greater universe of storytelling.
Ten minutes into the thriller, Mr. Robot buffs likely picked up on a familiar site: a yellow emergency preparedness kit with the branding of the USA series’ villainous corporation, E-Corp. That bucket would serve as one of several early signals that a cyberattack would incite the film’s imminent disaster and systematic destabilization of the United States. Esmail had already wanted to make a disaster film that revolved around a cyberattack, and when he read Rumaan Alam’s novel, Leave the World Behind, he knew he could merge that idea with his existing universe of stories, not just Mr. Robot.
“It felt pretty natural, and to be honest with you, I didn’t just do it with Mr.
Sam Esmail’s Leave the World Behind currently ranks atop Netflix’s film chart, and longtime fans of the filmmaker are now decoding its place in his greater universe of storytelling.
Ten minutes into the thriller, Mr. Robot buffs likely picked up on a familiar site: a yellow emergency preparedness kit with the branding of the USA series’ villainous corporation, E-Corp. That bucket would serve as one of several early signals that a cyberattack would incite the film’s imminent disaster and systematic destabilization of the United States. Esmail had already wanted to make a disaster film that revolved around a cyberattack, and when he read Rumaan Alam’s novel, Leave the World Behind, he knew he could merge that idea with his existing universe of stories, not just Mr. Robot.
“It felt pretty natural, and to be honest with you, I didn’t just do it with Mr.
- 12/12/2023
- by Brian Davids
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Leave the World Behind Ending Explained: What Is Really Happening In Netflix’s New Mysterious Thriller?(Photo Credit –IMDb)
The new project coming from Sam Esmail, the creator of Mr. Robot, is a film full of mystery that might actually be tapping into the worst fears of the modern era and be more realistic than we think.
What Is The Origin Of Leave The World Behind?
The creation of Leave the World Behind comes from a very interesting source. The film is an adaptation of a novel written by Rumaan Alam. The novel is filled with even more mystery than the film, and in some ways, it makes the film look clearer and more forward in comparison. Alam’s novel follows a very similar series of events. However, the movie suggests a more direct explanation of what is happening. Meanwhile, the novel avoids even talking about what is really happening.
The new project coming from Sam Esmail, the creator of Mr. Robot, is a film full of mystery that might actually be tapping into the worst fears of the modern era and be more realistic than we think.
What Is The Origin Of Leave The World Behind?
The creation of Leave the World Behind comes from a very interesting source. The film is an adaptation of a novel written by Rumaan Alam. The novel is filled with even more mystery than the film, and in some ways, it makes the film look clearer and more forward in comparison. Alam’s novel follows a very similar series of events. However, the movie suggests a more direct explanation of what is happening. Meanwhile, the novel avoids even talking about what is really happening.
- 12/11/2023
- by Nelson Acosta
- KoiMoi
Rami Malek Once Saved Mr. Robot From A Potential Rewrite! ( Photo Credit – Flickr )
Rami Malek received his due credit with a Best Actor win at the Academy Awards for Bohemian Rhapsody (2018). However, one venture that helped him grow and explore his potential as an actor was Mr. Robot (2015–2019). Sam Esmail’s four-part series saw Malek play the role of Elliot Alderson, a cybersecurity engineer and hacker with social anxiety disorder, clinical depression, and dissociative identity disorder. For his brilliant acting chops in Mr. Robot, Rami was also honored with an Emmy for Best Drama Actor in 2016.
Mr. Robot can easily be termed one of the best shows of recent times. However, finding a potential Elliot was a laborious task for creator Sam Esmail. But once he found Rami Malek, Esmail could not help but be in complete awe of the actor, whose ability to take control of the character in...
Rami Malek received his due credit with a Best Actor win at the Academy Awards for Bohemian Rhapsody (2018). However, one venture that helped him grow and explore his potential as an actor was Mr. Robot (2015–2019). Sam Esmail’s four-part series saw Malek play the role of Elliot Alderson, a cybersecurity engineer and hacker with social anxiety disorder, clinical depression, and dissociative identity disorder. For his brilliant acting chops in Mr. Robot, Rami was also honored with an Emmy for Best Drama Actor in 2016.
Mr. Robot can easily be termed one of the best shows of recent times. However, finding a potential Elliot was a laborious task for creator Sam Esmail. But once he found Rami Malek, Esmail could not help but be in complete awe of the actor, whose ability to take control of the character in...
- 12/10/2023
- by Shivani Negi
- KoiMoi
Julia Roberts loved playing a complex character in 'Leave the World Behind'.The 56-year-old actress stars alongside Ethan Hawke, Mahershala Ali and Kevin Bacon in the psychological thriller film, and Julia has revealed that she relished the opportunity.Asked if she enjoyed the experience, Julia told Sky News' 'Backstage' podcast: "Absolutely - just more interesting and more complicated."And then you add in [the other characters] and then to create all the circumstances that Sam [Esmail, the director] has put us in, in this story, it's like a sandbox."In 'Leave the World Behind', the characters struggle to cope when they're cut off from technology.But Julia believes she would actually be fine in that scenario.She said: "I'm 56 years old - I grew up with, like, Triple A Triptychs where you turn the page on the map, and you're like, 'Oh, Dad, now we're going to get down...
- 12/9/2023
- by Josh Evans
- Bang Showbiz
As more and more of the season’s precursor prizes are announced, one major Oscar mainstay has made its way home. Block out a solid chunk of time — it’s a long one.
The contender to watch this week: “Killers of the Flower Moon“
Fresh off an AFI honor and four National Board of Review distinctions, including Martin Scorsese for Best Director and Lily Gladstone for Best Actress, “Killers of the Flower Moon” has arrived on VOD ahead of its Apple TV+ streaming debut. The ambitious crime epic adapted from David Grann‘s nonfiction book about white men killing Osage Nation residents and stealing their oil headrights will surely continue this awards-season upswing when the Golden Globe nominations are announced on Monday, so now is the perfect time to catch up. Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, and composer Robbie Robertson are among the movie’s other top candidates.
Other contenders:...
The contender to watch this week: “Killers of the Flower Moon“
Fresh off an AFI honor and four National Board of Review distinctions, including Martin Scorsese for Best Director and Lily Gladstone for Best Actress, “Killers of the Flower Moon” has arrived on VOD ahead of its Apple TV+ streaming debut. The ambitious crime epic adapted from David Grann‘s nonfiction book about white men killing Osage Nation residents and stealing their oil headrights will surely continue this awards-season upswing when the Golden Globe nominations are announced on Monday, so now is the perfect time to catch up. Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, and composer Robbie Robertson are among the movie’s other top candidates.
Other contenders:...
- 12/9/2023
- by Matthew Jacobs
- Gold Derby
Thrillers unfolding in isolation allow low-budget filmmakers to use limited locations to their advantage, as well as prioritize interpersonal drama over action and bombast. But Leave the World Behind, writer-director Sam Esmail’s adaptation of Rumaan Alam’s acclaimed 2020 novel of the same name, is determined to have it both ways, telling the story of a group of people seeking refuge, unbeknownst to them, at the end of the world, but telling it with a starry cast, a few big effects-driven sequences, and even a lot of big camera movements.
Leave the World Behind opens with misanthropic advertising executive Amanda Sandford (Julia Roberts) selling her media studies professor husband, Clay (Ethan Hawke), on the impromptu Long Island getaway that she’s already booked. Beginning with an “as you know,” she explains how Clay and their kids (Farrah Mackenzie and Charlie Evans) could stand to get out of the city. Her...
Leave the World Behind opens with misanthropic advertising executive Amanda Sandford (Julia Roberts) selling her media studies professor husband, Clay (Ethan Hawke), on the impromptu Long Island getaway that she’s already booked. Beginning with an “as you know,” she explains how Clay and their kids (Farrah Mackenzie and Charlie Evans) could stand to get out of the city. Her...
- 12/8/2023
- by Steven Scaife
- Slant Magazine
Leave the World Behind Movie Review Rating:
Star Cast: Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, Ethan Hawke, Myha’la, and Kevin Bacon.
Director: Sam Esmail
Leave the World Behind Movie Review(Photo Credit –IMDb)
What’s Good: Slick direction and gorgeous cinematography accompany a great premise and performances from the star cast.
What’s Bad: Some of the dialogue can be too on the nose, and the more questions than answers ratio might leave some people unsatisfied.
Loo Break: The film boasts very solid pacing, and each scene is important, so there are no breaks.
Watch or Not?: If you were a fan of Mr. Robot or you just want to watch a better version of Knock at the Cabin, this is for you.
Language: English (with subtitles).
Available On: Netflix
Runtime: 140 Minutes.
User Rating:
Sam Esmail made a splash on the TV landscape with Mr. Robot on the USA Network. The...
Star Cast: Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, Ethan Hawke, Myha’la, and Kevin Bacon.
Director: Sam Esmail
Leave the World Behind Movie Review(Photo Credit –IMDb)
What’s Good: Slick direction and gorgeous cinematography accompany a great premise and performances from the star cast.
What’s Bad: Some of the dialogue can be too on the nose, and the more questions than answers ratio might leave some people unsatisfied.
Loo Break: The film boasts very solid pacing, and each scene is important, so there are no breaks.
Watch or Not?: If you were a fan of Mr. Robot or you just want to watch a better version of Knock at the Cabin, this is for you.
Language: English (with subtitles).
Available On: Netflix
Runtime: 140 Minutes.
User Rating:
Sam Esmail made a splash on the TV landscape with Mr. Robot on the USA Network. The...
- 12/8/2023
- by Nelson Acosta
- KoiMoi
Sam Esmail sacrificed his hearing while making his new apocalyptic thriller Leave the World Behind. You see, in the Netflix adaption of Rumaan Alam’s 2020 novel, there’s a noise so terrifying that it incapacitates the entire country — and Esmail had to get it just right.
“As a filmmaker, I was so excited to explore that aspect because sound is everything to me,” Esmail says. “There’s a fine line of making a sound haunting without actually having the audience get up and leave. I pushed it so much initially in the beginning that,...
“As a filmmaker, I was so excited to explore that aspect because sound is everything to me,” Esmail says. “There’s a fine line of making a sound haunting without actually having the audience get up and leave. I pushed it so much initially in the beginning that,...
- 12/8/2023
- by Brenna Ehrlich
- Rollingstone.com
Plot: In the aftermath of a mysterious disaster, two wealthy New York families are forced to co-exist at a remote mansion.
Review: Sam Esmail’s Leave the World Behind is a mixed bag as far as apocalyptic thrillers go. While well-acted and peppered with some dazzling directorial flourishes, the movie is also undisciplined, with an indulgent run-time and characters that aren’t as compelling as high-profile stars might have you believe. It’s watchable and entertaining, but it spins its wheels too much in the final act and loses steam well before the credits roll.
If anything, Leave the World Behind is an excellent example of how sometimes a straightforward genre film can lose its way if puffed up with self-importance. Director Esmail (Mr. Robot), in his feature debut, is trying to make a classic, with the film an adaptation of the novel by Rumen Alam. It sports weighty themes...
Review: Sam Esmail’s Leave the World Behind is a mixed bag as far as apocalyptic thrillers go. While well-acted and peppered with some dazzling directorial flourishes, the movie is also undisciplined, with an indulgent run-time and characters that aren’t as compelling as high-profile stars might have you believe. It’s watchable and entertaining, but it spins its wheels too much in the final act and loses steam well before the credits roll.
If anything, Leave the World Behind is an excellent example of how sometimes a straightforward genre film can lose its way if puffed up with self-importance. Director Esmail (Mr. Robot), in his feature debut, is trying to make a classic, with the film an adaptation of the novel by Rumen Alam. It sports weighty themes...
- 12/8/2023
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
"Leave The World Behind" is a new 'apocalyptic thriller' directed by Sam Esmail, starring Julia Roberts, Ethan Hawke, Esmail, Lisa Roberts Gillan, Chad Hamilton and Marisa Yeres Gill, streaming December 8, 2023 on Netflix:
"...a family vacation on Long Island is interrupted by two strangers bearing news of a blackout.
“As the threat grows, both families must decide how best to survive the potential crisis, all while grappling with their own place in their collapsing world..."
Click the images to enlarge...
"...a family vacation on Long Island is interrupted by two strangers bearing news of a blackout.
“As the threat grows, both families must decide how best to survive the potential crisis, all while grappling with their own place in their collapsing world..."
Click the images to enlarge...
- 12/7/2023
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
It's the end of the world as we know it in "Leave the World Behind," Sam Esmail's odd apocalyptic adaptation of Rumaan Alam's novel. I guess you could classify this as a kind of disaster film, but Esmail has created a quirky, self-contained little saga that occasionally hints at something much, much larger lurking in the margins. It's bleak, it's weird, it's kind of funny. Full of swooping, spinning camera movements (Tod Campbell's off-kilter cinematography is a real highlight), "Leave the World Behind" isn't really interested in giving us answers. It drops us into a story and expects us to go along with all the weirdness on display. For the most part, it works, although I suspect some will take issue with the way the film all but shrugs its shoulders at providing any real answers. This is the way the world ends, the film is saying,...
- 12/7/2023
- by Chris Evangelista
- Slash Film
News of the looming apocalypse arrives with a nighttime rap at the door in this all-star thriller from writer-director Sam Esmail, who proved himself a master of depicting an unraveling society in Mr. Robot. Upwardly mobile Brooklynite Amanda Sandford is vacationing at a luxurious Long Island rental house — advertised as a place to “leave the world behind” — with her husband Clay (Ethan Hawke) and their teenagers Archie (Charlie Evans) and Rose (Farrah Mackenzie) when the ominous knock cracks their brie-and-cashmere cocoon. (Credit: JoJo Whilden / © Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection) Outside are two strangers, financier G.H. Scott (Mahershala Ali) and his daughter Ruth (Myha’la). They claim to own the rental and ask for refuge, explaining they can’t return to their Manhattan home because of a mysterious massive cyberattack. Amanda reluctantly lets them in, and the households uneasily hunker down together as the disaster quickly grows clearer and more terrifying.
- 12/3/2023
- TV Insider
"Leave The World Behind" is a new 'apocalyptic thriller' directed by Sam Esmail, starring Julia Roberts, Ethan Hawke, Esmail, Lisa Roberts Gillan, Chad Hamilton and Marisa Yeres Gill, streaming December 8, 2023 on Netflix:
"...a family vacation on Long Island is interrupted by two strangers bearing news of a blackout.
“As the threat grows, both families must decide how best to survive the potential crisis, all while grappling with their own place in their collapsing world..."
Click the images to enlarge...
"...a family vacation on Long Island is interrupted by two strangers bearing news of a blackout.
“As the threat grows, both families must decide how best to survive the potential crisis, all while grappling with their own place in their collapsing world..."
Click the images to enlarge...
- 12/2/2023
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
Zack Snyder’s latest big-budget effects-driven feature, an awards contender from Todd Haynes, Bradley Cooper’s sensitive portrayal of an American icon, a beloved follow-up to an Aardman classic and the conclusion of The Crown are some of the highlights of a jam-packed December schedule on Netflix.
Haynes’ drama May December debuts on Netflix on Dec. 1. Loosely inspired by the story of Mary Kay Letourneau, the film, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival this year, is led by A-listers Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore and also stars Charles Melton, who was named best supporting actor by New York critics this week.
Sam Esmail’s feature Leave the World Behind is another heavyweight addition to Netflix in December. Starring Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali and Ethan Hawke, the psychological thriller tells the story of survival in a world on the brink of collapse. Written, directed and produced by Esmail, the film...
Haynes’ drama May December debuts on Netflix on Dec. 1. Loosely inspired by the story of Mary Kay Letourneau, the film, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival this year, is led by A-listers Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore and also stars Charles Melton, who was named best supporting actor by New York critics this week.
Sam Esmail’s feature Leave the World Behind is another heavyweight addition to Netflix in December. Starring Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali and Ethan Hawke, the psychological thriller tells the story of survival in a world on the brink of collapse. Written, directed and produced by Esmail, the film...
- 12/1/2023
- by Abid Rahman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
It’s been four years since it was announced that Mr. Robot creator Sam Esmail would be developing a reboot of Battlestar Galactica, but the series has been slow moving forward. Thankfully, now that the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes are behind us, the series is back on track.
While speaking with THR, Sam Esmail gave an update on the Battlestar Galactica reboot series, saying, “We have a great outline and we’re probably going to go to pilot soon.” However, unlike Mr. Robot, Esmail won’t be running this series himself because he doesn’t believe he’s the best person to tackle hard sci-fi.
“I know myself as a filmmaker and I don’t know if hard sci-fi is something I’m going to be the A-plus person to pull off,” Esmail explained. “And Battlestar needs the cream of the crop. But I love the world and what Ron Moore...
While speaking with THR, Sam Esmail gave an update on the Battlestar Galactica reboot series, saying, “We have a great outline and we’re probably going to go to pilot soon.” However, unlike Mr. Robot, Esmail won’t be running this series himself because he doesn’t believe he’s the best person to tackle hard sci-fi.
“I know myself as a filmmaker and I don’t know if hard sci-fi is something I’m going to be the A-plus person to pull off,” Esmail explained. “And Battlestar needs the cream of the crop. But I love the world and what Ron Moore...
- 12/1/2023
- by Kevin Fraser
- JoBlo.com
"Leave The World Behind" is a new 'apocalyptic thriller' directed by Sam Esmail, starring Julia Roberts, Ethan Hawke, Esmail, Lisa Roberts Gillan, Chad Hamilton and Marisa Yeres Gill, streaming December 8, 2023 on Netflix:
"...a family vacation on Long Island is interrupted by two strangers bearing news of a blackout. As the threat grows, both families must decide how best to survive the potential crisis, all while grappling with their own place in their collapsing world..."
Click the images to enlarge...
"...a family vacation on Long Island is interrupted by two strangers bearing news of a blackout. As the threat grows, both families must decide how best to survive the potential crisis, all while grappling with their own place in their collapsing world..."
Click the images to enlarge...
- 11/30/2023
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
Sam Esmail is baffled by the desire for adaptations to be faithful to their source material. “That’s not the point,” says the man who brought us Mr. Robot and Homecoming. “The point is, you’re making a great film, and if you’re handcuffing yourself to the source material, you’re going to get into a lot of trouble.”
With Leave the World Behind, Esmail says he was eager to adapt Rumaan Alam’s examination of class and race relations because he knew he could tell a different version of the story for film. He immediately enlisted frequent collaborator Julia Roberts, who stars opposite Ethan Hawke and Mahershala Ali in what is, spoilers aside, a tale of two families as they fight for survival amid an inexplicable blackout. Netflix jumped aboard the apocalyptic thriller and will drop it on the service Dec. 8 after a brief run in theaters. Then,...
With Leave the World Behind, Esmail says he was eager to adapt Rumaan Alam’s examination of class and race relations because he knew he could tell a different version of the story for film. He immediately enlisted frequent collaborator Julia Roberts, who stars opposite Ethan Hawke and Mahershala Ali in what is, spoilers aside, a tale of two families as they fight for survival amid an inexplicable blackout. Netflix jumped aboard the apocalyptic thriller and will drop it on the service Dec. 8 after a brief run in theaters. Then,...
- 11/30/2023
- by Lacey Rose
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Actor Denzel Washington was cast in director Sam Esmail’s Leave the World Behind before he was replaced by Mahershala Ali. Initially, however, the author of the book that inspired the feature was very intrigued by Washington in the main role.
How ‘Leave the World Behind’ author Rumaan Alam felt about the Denzel Washington casting Denzel Washington | Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Director Esmail’s upcoming Leave the World Behind feature is based on the Alam novel of the same name. Although greatly inspired by the source material, Esmail shared that his movie might differ greatly from the novel. This was intentional, as Esmail didn’t want to create a complete duplicate of Alam’s work.
“I’m not a fan of making a carbon copy of the book,” Esmail said in a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly. “What I wanted was to create this standalone piece so that you could read...
How ‘Leave the World Behind’ author Rumaan Alam felt about the Denzel Washington casting Denzel Washington | Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Director Esmail’s upcoming Leave the World Behind feature is based on the Alam novel of the same name. Although greatly inspired by the source material, Esmail shared that his movie might differ greatly from the novel. This was intentional, as Esmail didn’t want to create a complete duplicate of Alam’s work.
“I’m not a fan of making a carbon copy of the book,” Esmail said in a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly. “What I wanted was to create this standalone piece so that you could read...
- 11/25/2023
- by Antonio Stallings
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
"Leave The World Behind" is a new 'apocalyptic thriller' directed by Sam Esmail, starring Julia Roberts, Ethan Hawke, Esmail, Lisa Roberts Gillan, Chad Hamilton and Marisa Yeres Gill, streaming December 8, 2023 on Netflix:
"...a family vacation on Long Island is interrupted by two strangers bearing news of a blackout. As the threat grows, both families must decide how best to survive the potential crisis, all while grappling with their own place in their collapsing world..."
Click the images to enlarge...
"...a family vacation on Long Island is interrupted by two strangers bearing news of a blackout. As the threat grows, both families must decide how best to survive the potential crisis, all while grappling with their own place in their collapsing world..."
Click the images to enlarge...
- 11/11/2023
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
Writer-director Sam Esmail premiered his latest film Leave the World Behind at the opening night of AFI Fest on Wednesday night, where he opened up about getting notes on the film from the Obamas — who served as producers — and comparisons of the project to his past work on Mr. Robot.
The film is based on the 2020 novel of the same name by Rumaan Alam, and unfolds as Amanda (Julia Roberts) books her family an impromptu staycation at a luxurious home in Long Island. As she and her husband Clay (Ethan Hawke) get settled in, two strangers — G.H. (Mahershala Ali) and his daughter Ruth (Myha’la) — upend their trip in the middle of the night, claiming ownership of the home. Together, they contend with the mysterious ramifications of a nationwide cyberattack that leaves them vulnerable to the earth’s elements and human nature’s darkness.
“It was a crazy time,...
The film is based on the 2020 novel of the same name by Rumaan Alam, and unfolds as Amanda (Julia Roberts) books her family an impromptu staycation at a luxurious home in Long Island. As she and her husband Clay (Ethan Hawke) get settled in, two strangers — G.H. (Mahershala Ali) and his daughter Ruth (Myha’la) — upend their trip in the middle of the night, claiming ownership of the home. Together, they contend with the mysterious ramifications of a nationwide cyberattack that leaves them vulnerable to the earth’s elements and human nature’s darkness.
“It was a crazy time,...
- 10/26/2023
- by Natalie Oganesyan
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Like “Testament” — the 1983 movie that imagined the fallout, both nuclear and psychological, after an atomic bomb is dropped on American soil — “Leave the World Behind” depicts a plausible doomsday scenario from the perspective of a handful of ordinary characters. Not military experts, not scientists, but two families obliged to shelter under the same roof out in the Hamptons while something scary unfolds a few hours away, off-screen, in New York.
As the stress-prone matriarch of one of these families, Julia Roberts utters a line that earns a big laugh near the start, partly because America’s sweetheart isn’t supposed to say something so dismissive of everyone else on the planet, but also because many audiences can probably relate. Staring out the window of her Park Slope apartment, she pronounces, “I fucking hate people.” The name of Roberts’ character is Amanda Sandford, but it might as well be Karen, such is the rush-to-judgment,...
As the stress-prone matriarch of one of these families, Julia Roberts utters a line that earns a big laugh near the start, partly because America’s sweetheart isn’t supposed to say something so dismissive of everyone else on the planet, but also because many audiences can probably relate. Staring out the window of her Park Slope apartment, she pronounces, “I fucking hate people.” The name of Roberts’ character is Amanda Sandford, but it might as well be Karen, such is the rush-to-judgment,...
- 10/26/2023
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
The opening scenes of Leave the World Behind show us a seemingly average American family hitting the road on a nice vacation getaway, and it all seems fine until a very strange thing occurs on an outing to the beach, where a very large ship called White Lion comes closer and closer and finally crashing to a halt when it hits the sand, causing everyone nearby to run frantically out of its way. Immediately you think, “Ok, this ship and whoever is on it is going to figure heavily into the fate of this family.” And while does to the extent that it is the first signal we get of something amiss in the world, it is only an obscure clue that disaster is looming in a more discernable form.
That family, as it turns out, has rented a handsomely appointed, plush and modern multi-level beach house and, despite the incident at the shore,...
That family, as it turns out, has rented a handsomely appointed, plush and modern multi-level beach house and, despite the incident at the shore,...
- 10/26/2023
- by Pete Hammond
- Deadline Film + TV
Mr. Robot creator Sam Esmail has assembled an impressive cast for his thriller Leave the World Behind that includes Julia Roberts (Homecoming), Ethan Hawke (The Black Phone), and Mahershala Ali (True Detective). Netflix will be giving the film a limited theatrical release on November 22nd, with the streaming release to follow on December 8th – but a premiere screening was recently held, and the embargo on reactions has been lifted. Judging by the first reactions that have made their way online, it looks like Leave the World Behind might make for a divisive viewing experience.
First, we have a few positive reactions that describe the film as “wildly riveting and entertaining” and “absolutely amazing”, saying it has a “smart script”:
Welp, I’m going to be obsessed with #LeaveTheWorldBehind. (Or I guess I already am?) What a uniquely and expertly crafted and photographed disaster/apocalyptic story. (I absolutely must read the book now.
First, we have a few positive reactions that describe the film as “wildly riveting and entertaining” and “absolutely amazing”, saying it has a “smart script”:
Welp, I’m going to be obsessed with #LeaveTheWorldBehind. (Or I guess I already am?) What a uniquely and expertly crafted and photographed disaster/apocalyptic story. (I absolutely must read the book now.
- 10/26/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
‘Leave the World Behind’ Review: Sam Esmail’s Apocalyptic Drama Is Taut, Terrifying and All Too Real
Apocalyptic thrillers are a dime a dozen these days. This year alone M. Night Shyamalan released his own take on the genre — also adapted from a popular novel — with this year’s “Knock at the Cabin.” But watching director/producer/screenwriter Sam Esmail’s “Leave the World Behind” makes Shyamalan’s film feel quaint by comparison, with the “Mr. Robot” creator telling a two-hour descent into chaos that is compelling and utterly terrifying.
Based on the novel by Rumaan Alam, the film follows Amanda and Clay (Julia Roberts and Ethan Hawke), a couple who decide on a whim to leave their New York home with their two children and go on a weekend vacation to the small “hamlet” of Point Comfort in Long Island. But things go south when the owner of the house they’ve rented, a man known as G.H. Scott (Mahershala Ali), arrives with his daughter.
Based on the novel by Rumaan Alam, the film follows Amanda and Clay (Julia Roberts and Ethan Hawke), a couple who decide on a whim to leave their New York home with their two children and go on a weekend vacation to the small “hamlet” of Point Comfort in Long Island. But things go south when the owner of the house they’ve rented, a man known as G.H. Scott (Mahershala Ali), arrives with his daughter.
- 10/26/2023
- by Kristen Lopez
- The Wrap
Sam Esmail, the creator of Mr. Robot, just had the trailer for his new Netflix movie debut. Leave the World Behind is an apocalyptic mystery thriller and sports a great ensemble, including Julia Roberts, Ethan Hawke, Mahershala Ali and Kevin Bacon. The film also recently had its premiere at the AFI Festival, where Esmail spoke with Deadline on the red carpet on a number of different topics, including working with the Obamas on their Netflix production company for this film as well as his working relationship with Mr. Robot star Rami Malek, and if they’ll re-collaborate on another project.
Esmail also spoke with Deadline about his upcoming reboot for the coveted sci-fi series, Battlestar Galactica. The space opera show had its genesis in the 70’s, then spawned a reboot in 2004 to great acclaim. Esmail’s newest incarnation is planned for streaming on Peacock and he gave a small update...
Esmail also spoke with Deadline about his upcoming reboot for the coveted sci-fi series, Battlestar Galactica. The space opera show had its genesis in the 70’s, then spawned a reboot in 2004 to great acclaim. Esmail’s newest incarnation is planned for streaming on Peacock and he gave a small update...
- 10/26/2023
- by EJ Tangonan
- JoBlo.com
Anyone who still needs convincing that we live in a fractured world may be startled by the futuristic nightmare drama Leave the World Behind, which had its world premiere at AFI Fest. Others might find something a bit stale in its portrait of racial suspicion and environmental catastrophe. Fine performances help to bolster a problematic picture written and directed by Sam Esmail, adapted from Rumaan Alam’s best-selling novel. The film will take its bow via Netflix in December, the streamer’s second release this year (after Rustin) that counts Barack and Michelle Obama among its executive producers.
The story starts with a New York family (Julia Roberts, Ethan Hawke and, as their teenage children, Farrah Mackenzie and Charlie Evans) leaving the city for a vacation in a Long Island rental home that advertised with the line “Leave the world behind.” The house and the grounds are indeed enticing, and...
The story starts with a New York family (Julia Roberts, Ethan Hawke and, as their teenage children, Farrah Mackenzie and Charlie Evans) leaving the city for a vacation in a Long Island rental home that advertised with the line “Leave the world behind.” The house and the grounds are indeed enticing, and...
- 10/26/2023
- by Stephen Farber
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Editor’s note: This review was originally published at the 2023 AFI Fest Film Festival. Netflix releases the film in select theaters on Wednesday, November 22; the film will start streaming on Netflix on Friday, December 8.
When Barack and Michelle Obama made the unusual post-presidential move of partnering with Netflix to launch Higher Ground Productions, it was often reported that they cited “Get Out” as the kind of film they were interested in making. Invoking Jordan Peele’s Oscar-winning debut, which uses horror tropes to make an unambiguously progressive point about race relations in America, sent a clear message to potential collaborators. The Obamas wanted it known that they had something to say, but weren’t interested in producing cinematic homework.
It was a lofty goal, but their first slate never quite achieved it. Since signing with Netflix in 2018, the Obamas have largely stuck to the kinds of projects you might expect...
When Barack and Michelle Obama made the unusual post-presidential move of partnering with Netflix to launch Higher Ground Productions, it was often reported that they cited “Get Out” as the kind of film they were interested in making. Invoking Jordan Peele’s Oscar-winning debut, which uses horror tropes to make an unambiguously progressive point about race relations in America, sent a clear message to potential collaborators. The Obamas wanted it known that they had something to say, but weren’t interested in producing cinematic homework.
It was a lofty goal, but their first slate never quite achieved it. Since signing with Netflix in 2018, the Obamas have largely stuck to the kinds of projects you might expect...
- 10/26/2023
- by Christian Zilko
- Indiewire
Sam Esmail’s years-in-the making adaptation of Fritz Lang’s classic 1927 sci-fi film Metropolis became one of the first major casualties of the 2023 Hollywood strikes. Seven weeks into the WGA work stoppage, the UCP studio, where Esmail has been under an overall deal, pulled the plug on the big-budget series, which had been prepping in Australia with a partial cast set, including Briana Middleton and Lindy Booth.
Because of the strike, Esmail could not comment on the cancellation at the time. He shared his reaction tonight on the red carpet for his upcoming Netflix movie Leave the World Behind starring Julia Roberts and Mahershala Ali.
“Obviously, it was heartbreaking,” he told Deadline. “But during the strike, we all understood. And I got to work with a lot of talented people out in Australia, where we were mounting the production. It was a really good experience, and I don’t regret it for a second.
Because of the strike, Esmail could not comment on the cancellation at the time. He shared his reaction tonight on the red carpet for his upcoming Netflix movie Leave the World Behind starring Julia Roberts and Mahershala Ali.
“Obviously, it was heartbreaking,” he told Deadline. “But during the strike, we all understood. And I got to work with a lot of talented people out in Australia, where we were mounting the production. It was a really good experience, and I don’t regret it for a second.
- 10/26/2023
- by Nellie Andreeva and Natalie Sitek
- Deadline Film + TV
Sam Esmail, the director of the Netflix post-apocalyptic film Leave the World Behind, spoke to Deadline Wednesday night on the red carpet at the film’s AFI Fest premiere.
Leave the World Behind, which starts streaming Dec. 8, stars Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, Ethan Hawke, Myha’la and Kevin Bacon in a thriller based on a novel by Rumaan Alam. In the film, a family’s vacation is upended when two strangers arrive at night, seeking refuge from a cyberattack that grows more terrifying by the minute, forcing everyone to come to terms with their places in a collapsing world.
Getting a great review from Esmail on their Leave the World Behind work were Barack and Michelle Obama, who produced the film for Netflix.
“They worked from top to bottom on this movie, from crafts to production to post,” Esmail said. “And, you know, look, it’s a dream working with these guys.
Leave the World Behind, which starts streaming Dec. 8, stars Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, Ethan Hawke, Myha’la and Kevin Bacon in a thriller based on a novel by Rumaan Alam. In the film, a family’s vacation is upended when two strangers arrive at night, seeking refuge from a cyberattack that grows more terrifying by the minute, forcing everyone to come to terms with their places in a collapsing world.
Getting a great review from Esmail on their Leave the World Behind work were Barack and Michelle Obama, who produced the film for Netflix.
“They worked from top to bottom on this movie, from crafts to production to post,” Esmail said. “And, you know, look, it’s a dream working with these guys.
- 10/26/2023
- by Natalie Sitek and Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
When Rumaan Alam released his third novel, Leave the World Behind, the world was six months into a deeply traumatizing — and claustrophobic — pandemic. The book opens on a white family vacationing at a rural Long Island Airbnb as the Black family who owns the home knocks at the door asking for refuge from a citywide blackout back in Manhattan, and deftly transitions between a provocative exploration of race and class into a new kind of disaster tale. As the two families navigate the politics within their four walls, the world outside is slowly nearing apocalypse; that blackout turns out to be much more serious. The book’s prescience struck a chord with audiences and critics, but months before its release its success was cemented further by Sam Esmail and Netflix, who scooped up the rights for a reported seven-figure sum.
Now, three years later, the final form of the thriller...
Now, three years later, the final form of the thriller...
- 10/25/2023
- by Seija Rankin
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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