Top News
The Sydney Sweeney-led “Barbarella” film is taking shape, with Edgar Wright in talks to direct the picture for Sony. Jane Goldman and Honey Ross are in talks to pen the script.
Wright, best known for making the satiric zombie film “Shaun of the Dead,” is next set to direct Glen Powell in an adaptation of Stephen King’s “The Running Man.” Wright’s other directorial credits include “Last Night in Soho,” “Hot Fuzz,” “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” and “Baby Driver.”
The project also marks another step in Sweeney’s continued relationship with Sony Pictures — she’s most recently starred in “Anyone but You” and “Madame Web” for the studio. While “Madame Web” was largely panned by critics, Sweeney says her involvement in the film was a “strategic business decision” that’s since paid off.
“To me, that film was a building block, it’s what allowed me to build a relationship with Sony,...
Wright, best known for making the satiric zombie film “Shaun of the Dead,” is next set to direct Glen Powell in an adaptation of Stephen King’s “The Running Man.” Wright’s other directorial credits include “Last Night in Soho,” “Hot Fuzz,” “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” and “Baby Driver.”
The project also marks another step in Sweeney’s continued relationship with Sony Pictures — she’s most recently starred in “Anyone but You” and “Madame Web” for the studio. While “Madame Web” was largely panned by critics, Sweeney says her involvement in the film was a “strategic business decision” that’s since paid off.
“To me, that film was a building block, it’s what allowed me to build a relationship with Sony,...
- 5/13/2024
- by Katcy Stephan
- Variety - Film News
Downton Abbey is coming back to the big screen.
Focus Features and Carnival Films are working on the latest Downton movie that will be written by Julian Fellowes, the scribe who created the acclaimed TV show that ran from 2010-15. Simon Curtis is returning to direct after helming 2022’s Downton Abbey: A New Era.
Along with Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, and Michelle Dockery, the returning cast includes: Laura Carmichael, Jim Carter, Phyllis Logan, Robert James-Collier, Joanne Froggatt, Allen Leech, Penelope Wilton, Lesley Nicol, Michael Fox, Raquel Cassidy, Brendan Coyle, Kevin Doyle, Harry Hadden-Paton, Sophie McShera and Douglas Reith.
Paul Giamatti, fresh off an Oscar nomination for The Holdovers, is reprising his role as Cora Grantham’s brother, Harold Levinson. Joely Richardson, Alessandro Nivola, Simon Russell Beale, and Arty Froushan are among the film franchise newcomers. Elsewhere, Dominic West will also reprise his role as Guy Dexter from Downton Abbey: A New Era.
Focus Features and Carnival Films are working on the latest Downton movie that will be written by Julian Fellowes, the scribe who created the acclaimed TV show that ran from 2010-15. Simon Curtis is returning to direct after helming 2022’s Downton Abbey: A New Era.
Along with Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, and Michelle Dockery, the returning cast includes: Laura Carmichael, Jim Carter, Phyllis Logan, Robert James-Collier, Joanne Froggatt, Allen Leech, Penelope Wilton, Lesley Nicol, Michael Fox, Raquel Cassidy, Brendan Coyle, Kevin Doyle, Harry Hadden-Paton, Sophie McShera and Douglas Reith.
Paul Giamatti, fresh off an Oscar nomination for The Holdovers, is reprising his role as Cora Grantham’s brother, Harold Levinson. Joely Richardson, Alessandro Nivola, Simon Russell Beale, and Arty Froushan are among the film franchise newcomers. Elsewhere, Dominic West will also reprise his role as Guy Dexter from Downton Abbey: A New Era.
- 5/13/2024
- by Mia Galuppo
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Disney and 20th Century’s “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” climbed to $72.5 million at the international box office in its first weekend of release.
The newest film in the long-running “Apes” series also notched No. 1 in North America with $58.5 million, bringing its initial global tally to a promising $131 million. Those ticket sales were above Sunday’s projections of $56.5 million domestically and $129 million worldwide. Like its predecessors, the $160 million-budgeted “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” is projected to earn the bulk of its revenues at the international box office.
Overseas, the movie enjoyed the biggest start in China with $11.4 million (a lackluster debut for the territory), France with $7.1 million, Mexico with $6.4 million and the United Kingdom with $4.8 million. Other top markets were Korea ($3.2 million), Australia ($2.7 million), Brazil ($2.6 million), Germany (2.2 million) and Spain ($2.2 million).
Audiences opted to watch the film in the best possible quality as premium formats represented 41% of global box office revenues.
The newest film in the long-running “Apes” series also notched No. 1 in North America with $58.5 million, bringing its initial global tally to a promising $131 million. Those ticket sales were above Sunday’s projections of $56.5 million domestically and $129 million worldwide. Like its predecessors, the $160 million-budgeted “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” is projected to earn the bulk of its revenues at the international box office.
Overseas, the movie enjoyed the biggest start in China with $11.4 million (a lackluster debut for the territory), France with $7.1 million, Mexico with $6.4 million and the United Kingdom with $4.8 million. Other top markets were Korea ($3.2 million), Australia ($2.7 million), Brazil ($2.6 million), Germany (2.2 million) and Spain ($2.2 million).
Audiences opted to watch the film in the best possible quality as premium formats represented 41% of global box office revenues.
- 5/12/2024
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety - Film News
German star August Diehl (Inglourious Basterds, A Hidden Life) and Oscar-nominated actress Andrea Riseborough (Birdman, To Leslie) have signed on to star in The Noise of Time, a new drama about the life of Russian composer Dimitri Shostakovich and his wife Nina, adapted from Julian Barnes’ book of the same name.
Two-time Oscar-winning screenwriter Christopher Hampton (The Father, Dangerous Liaisons) is adapting Barnes’ novel for the screen, with Polish director Jan Komasa (the Oscar-nominated Corpus Christi) attached to direct.
The film will trace the trajectory of Shostakovich’s life and career, beginning in 1936 when the 30-year-old composer first faced Stalin’s wrath after one of his operas is condemned as counter-revolutionary. He escapes execution but for decades Shostakovich is forced to be a cultural representative of the Soviet state, and struggles to maintain the integrity of his music.
Beta Cinema is handling world sales on the film and will be...
Two-time Oscar-winning screenwriter Christopher Hampton (The Father, Dangerous Liaisons) is adapting Barnes’ novel for the screen, with Polish director Jan Komasa (the Oscar-nominated Corpus Christi) attached to direct.
The film will trace the trajectory of Shostakovich’s life and career, beginning in 1936 when the 30-year-old composer first faced Stalin’s wrath after one of his operas is condemned as counter-revolutionary. He escapes execution but for decades Shostakovich is forced to be a cultural representative of the Soviet state, and struggles to maintain the integrity of his music.
Beta Cinema is handling world sales on the film and will be...
- 5/14/2024
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
ProSiebenSat.1 Group, which owns one of Germany’s leading broadcasters and one of its top streaming platforms, has had an encouraging start to 2024 after a rough 2023 financial year that saw revenues dip by 7%.
Financial results for the first quarter of 2024, reported on Tuesday, reveal that group revenues increased by 6% to €867 million ($935 million) in the first quarter of 2024 and adjusted Ebitda grew by 35% to €72 million ($77.6 million) despite higher programming expenses. The group said that in addition to revenue growth, the positive numbers are due to the cost program implemented in the previous year.
The group recorded growth of 5% in advertising revenues...
Financial results for the first quarter of 2024, reported on Tuesday, reveal that group revenues increased by 6% to €867 million ($935 million) in the first quarter of 2024 and adjusted Ebitda grew by 35% to €72 million ($77.6 million) despite higher programming expenses. The group said that in addition to revenue growth, the positive numbers are due to the cost program implemented in the previous year.
The group recorded growth of 5% in advertising revenues...
- 5/14/2024
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety - TV News
The first-look photo of Pierce Brosnan and Amir El-Masry on the set of “Giant,” written and directed by Rowan Athale, has been revealed. The sports drama is shooting in Leeds, England.
“Giant” is based on the true-life story of British-Yemeni boxer Prince Naseem “Naz” Hamed (El-Masry) and his rags to riches ascent to a world championship under the tutelage of his Irish-born boxing trainer Brendan Ingle (Brosnan).
The picture is financed by AGC Studios and BondIt Media Capital. The producers are Mark Lane of Tea Shop Productions, Kevin Sampson of White Star Productions and Stuart Ford, AGC Studios chairman and CEO.
Executive producers are Sylvester Stallone and Braden Aftergood of Balboa Productions, AGC Studios’ Miguel Palos, Zach Garrett and Anant Tamirisa, BondIt’s Matthew Helderman, Luke Taylor and Tyler Gould, Michael Ewing and True Brit Entertainment’s Zygi Kamasa.
True Brit has taken U.K. distribution rights with AGC International...
“Giant” is based on the true-life story of British-Yemeni boxer Prince Naseem “Naz” Hamed (El-Masry) and his rags to riches ascent to a world championship under the tutelage of his Irish-born boxing trainer Brendan Ingle (Brosnan).
The picture is financed by AGC Studios and BondIt Media Capital. The producers are Mark Lane of Tea Shop Productions, Kevin Sampson of White Star Productions and Stuart Ford, AGC Studios chairman and CEO.
Executive producers are Sylvester Stallone and Braden Aftergood of Balboa Productions, AGC Studios’ Miguel Palos, Zach Garrett and Anant Tamirisa, BondIt’s Matthew Helderman, Luke Taylor and Tyler Gould, Michael Ewing and True Brit Entertainment’s Zygi Kamasa.
True Brit has taken U.K. distribution rights with AGC International...
- 5/14/2024
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety - Film News
Sony Pictures Entertainment’s full fiscal-year 2023 operating income fell to $808 million from $894 million in dollar terms, with sales creeping up slightly to $10.315 billion from $10.141 billion.
Spe comprises motion pictures, television productions and media networks, and the fiscal-year 2023 performance of those three segments was impacted by the dual Hollywood strikes.
Sony’s fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, and in that period the film division booked revenue of $3.742 billion, up from $3.437 billion from a year ago. Spe released 17 films during the period including Insidious: The Red Door, Love Again, The Pope’s Exorcist, The Machine, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, No Hard Feelings, Gran Turismo, The Equalizer 3, Thanksgiving, Dumb Money, Napoleon, Anyone But You and Madame Web.
In Sony’s fiscal fourth quarter, the motion picture division saw income of $208 million, down from the $281 million operating income in the third quarter. In the latest quarter, the film division benefitted from the performance of the...
Spe comprises motion pictures, television productions and media networks, and the fiscal-year 2023 performance of those three segments was impacted by the dual Hollywood strikes.
Sony’s fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, and in that period the film division booked revenue of $3.742 billion, up from $3.437 billion from a year ago. Spe released 17 films during the period including Insidious: The Red Door, Love Again, The Pope’s Exorcist, The Machine, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, No Hard Feelings, Gran Turismo, The Equalizer 3, Thanksgiving, Dumb Money, Napoleon, Anyone But You and Madame Web.
In Sony’s fiscal fourth quarter, the motion picture division saw income of $208 million, down from the $281 million operating income in the third quarter. In the latest quarter, the film division benefitted from the performance of the...
- 5/14/2024
- by Abid Rahman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Bill Murray has joined the cast of “Riff Raff,” the upcoming crime comedy from director Dito Montiel set to feature Jennifer Coolidge (“The White Lotus”), Ed Harris (“Love Lies Bleeding”) Gabrielle Union (“The Inspection”), Lewis Pullman (“Top Gun: Maverick”), Emanuela Postacchini (“Robots”), Miles J. Harvey (“American Vandal”) and Pete Davidson (“The King of Staten Island”).
Signature Films, which is handling international sales on the title, has closed territory deals in Italy (Maestro Distribution), Scandinavia (Scanbox), the Middle East (Phoenicia), Eastern Europe (ProRom), Poland (Kino Siwiat), Taiwan (MovieCloud), airline rights (CineSky), Commonwealth of Independent States (Mgn), Greece (Tanweer), Portugal (Lusomundo) and Turkey (Vagon). Signature will distribute the film in the U.K., Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Based on a script by John Pollono (“Stronger”), “Riff Raff” centers on a former criminal’s ordinary life which is thrown upside down when his old family shows up for a long-awaited reckoning.
Signature...
Signature Films, which is handling international sales on the title, has closed territory deals in Italy (Maestro Distribution), Scandinavia (Scanbox), the Middle East (Phoenicia), Eastern Europe (ProRom), Poland (Kino Siwiat), Taiwan (MovieCloud), airline rights (CineSky), Commonwealth of Independent States (Mgn), Greece (Tanweer), Portugal (Lusomundo) and Turkey (Vagon). Signature will distribute the film in the U.K., Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Based on a script by John Pollono (“Stronger”), “Riff Raff” centers on a former criminal’s ordinary life which is thrown upside down when his old family shows up for a long-awaited reckoning.
Signature...
- 5/14/2024
- by Alex Ritman
- Variety - Film News
Francis Ford Coppola has released the first teaser trailer to his epic, self-funded passion project Megalopolis.
In the clip that dropped on Monday night, we see more of the scale and ambition of the project, with the large ensemble cast, dynamic shots of a utopian society and protests.
The film, which will premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on May 17, is a Roman epic set in an imagined modern America, according to early descriptions.
Adam Driver leads Megalopolis, and the film’s cast includes Aubrey Plaza, Shia Labeouf, Jon Voight, Jason Schwartzman, Laurence Fishburne, Kathryn Hunter, Grace VanderWaal, Chloe Fineman, James Remar, D.B. Sweeney and Dustin Hoffman.
Coppola first began writing Megalopolis in 1983, and the film reportedly cost $120 million to make, which was funded in part by the sale of a significant portion of the director’s wine empire. He hosted a screening of the project at the end of March for potential buyers,...
In the clip that dropped on Monday night, we see more of the scale and ambition of the project, with the large ensemble cast, dynamic shots of a utopian society and protests.
The film, which will premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on May 17, is a Roman epic set in an imagined modern America, according to early descriptions.
Adam Driver leads Megalopolis, and the film’s cast includes Aubrey Plaza, Shia Labeouf, Jon Voight, Jason Schwartzman, Laurence Fishburne, Kathryn Hunter, Grace VanderWaal, Chloe Fineman, James Remar, D.B. Sweeney and Dustin Hoffman.
Coppola first began writing Megalopolis in 1983, and the film reportedly cost $120 million to make, which was funded in part by the sale of a significant portion of the director’s wine empire. He hosted a screening of the project at the end of March for potential buyers,...
- 5/14/2024
- by Abid Rahman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Having starred in only his first Western films in the last few years with ‘The Old Way’ and ‘Butcher’s Crossing,’ Nicolas Cage is doubling down on the genre, having teamed up with Heather Graham (“Austin Powers”) and Stephen Dorff (“True Detective”) for “The Gunslingers.”
Costas Mandylor (“Saw”), Scarlet Stallone (“Tulsa King”), Tzi Ma (“The Farewell”), and Randall Batinkoff (“Dead Man’s Hand”) also star in the film, which is being launched in Cannes with Brilliant Pictures handling international sales. Grindstone has U.S. rights to the film.
Written and directed by prolific genre filmmaker Brian Skiba (“The 2nd,” “Dead Man’s Hand”), “The Gunslingers” is set in a rugged town named Redemption. Reformed gunslinger, Thomas Keller (Dorff) and mad genius Ben (Cage) are guided by spiritual leader Jericho (Mandylor) as they strive for vindication. Confronting his violent history, a brutal bar fight and deadly feud reignites between Thomas, Ben and the notorious Five Points Gang.
Costas Mandylor (“Saw”), Scarlet Stallone (“Tulsa King”), Tzi Ma (“The Farewell”), and Randall Batinkoff (“Dead Man’s Hand”) also star in the film, which is being launched in Cannes with Brilliant Pictures handling international sales. Grindstone has U.S. rights to the film.
Written and directed by prolific genre filmmaker Brian Skiba (“The 2nd,” “Dead Man’s Hand”), “The Gunslingers” is set in a rugged town named Redemption. Reformed gunslinger, Thomas Keller (Dorff) and mad genius Ben (Cage) are guided by spiritual leader Jericho (Mandylor) as they strive for vindication. Confronting his violent history, a brutal bar fight and deadly feud reignites between Thomas, Ben and the notorious Five Points Gang.
- 5/14/2024
- by Alex Ritman
- Variety - Film News
London- and Paris-based production, finance and international sales outfit Film Constellation has unveiled a first exclusive clip from Titus Kaphar’s well-received drama “Exhibiting Forgiveness.”
Film Constellation will screen the film for buyers in Cannes on Tuesday.
The film received glowing reviews after its January premiere at Sundance in the U.S. Dramatic Competition section, and was picked up for North American distribution by Roadside Attractions, with a theatrical release scheduled for the Fall awards season.
In the film, an artist finds his path to success derailed by an unexpected visit from his estranged father, a troubled man desperate to reconcile. Together they learn that forgetting may be harder than forgiving.
The directorial debut of visual artist Kaphar, “Exhibiting Forgiveness” stars Spirit Award winner and SAG nominee André Holland, Academy Award nominee, Golden Globes winner and Grammy Award winner Andra Day, Tony Award nominee John Earl Jelks, and Academy Award nominee Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor.
Film Constellation will screen the film for buyers in Cannes on Tuesday.
The film received glowing reviews after its January premiere at Sundance in the U.S. Dramatic Competition section, and was picked up for North American distribution by Roadside Attractions, with a theatrical release scheduled for the Fall awards season.
In the film, an artist finds his path to success derailed by an unexpected visit from his estranged father, a troubled man desperate to reconcile. Together they learn that forgetting may be harder than forgiving.
The directorial debut of visual artist Kaphar, “Exhibiting Forgiveness” stars Spirit Award winner and SAG nominee André Holland, Academy Award nominee, Golden Globes winner and Grammy Award winner Andra Day, Tony Award nominee John Earl Jelks, and Academy Award nominee Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor.
- 5/14/2024
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety - Film News
The feature “Tales of Taipei” is a tribute to the low-pressure, culturally rich city, which has been shaped by its regional neighbors, taken in diverse peoples and distilled the multiple competing influences into a messy, happy-go-lucky morass.
Produced by Bowie Tsang and Amy Ma, the film calls on 10 directors hailing from Malaysia, France, Bhutan and Hong Kong, and Taiwanese locals Yin Cheng-han and Remii Huang to contribute.
“Everything is possible in Taiwan, everything exits side by side,” says Tsang, who was born in Hong Kong. “We have old Chinese myths. We believe in the afterlife. Churches exist side by side with temples. We are still trying to figure out how to tell our stories.”
As in the film, juxtapositions exist throughout the Taiwan film industry. Theatrical B.O. improved last year, but from a low 2022 base. Last year, Taiwan productions increased market share from 10% to nearly 16%, helping to lift the...
Produced by Bowie Tsang and Amy Ma, the film calls on 10 directors hailing from Malaysia, France, Bhutan and Hong Kong, and Taiwanese locals Yin Cheng-han and Remii Huang to contribute.
“Everything is possible in Taiwan, everything exits side by side,” says Tsang, who was born in Hong Kong. “We have old Chinese myths. We believe in the afterlife. Churches exist side by side with temples. We are still trying to figure out how to tell our stories.”
As in the film, juxtapositions exist throughout the Taiwan film industry. Theatrical B.O. improved last year, but from a low 2022 base. Last year, Taiwan productions increased market share from 10% to nearly 16%, helping to lift the...
- 5/14/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety - Film News
“Our new film ‘Megalopolis’ is the best work I’ve ever had the privilege to preside over,” reads a quote attributed to iconic director Francis Ford Coppola attached to the official trailer for his new epic film.
The picture, which will premiere in competition on Thursday at the Cannes Film Festival, has been a project many years in the making for the director. He first began work on the screenplay in the 1980s.
The legendary filmmaker behind “The Godfather” and “Apocalypse Now” has invested $120 million of his own money into the film.
The trailer starts with a voice-over musing about the decline of empires – “when does an empire die? Does it collapse in one terrible moment? No, no. But there comes a time when people no longer believe in it” — before cutting to a Roman chariot race, a metropolitan skyscape and scenes of protest.
According to the official synopsis, “‘Megalopolis...
The picture, which will premiere in competition on Thursday at the Cannes Film Festival, has been a project many years in the making for the director. He first began work on the screenplay in the 1980s.
The legendary filmmaker behind “The Godfather” and “Apocalypse Now” has invested $120 million of his own money into the film.
The trailer starts with a voice-over musing about the decline of empires – “when does an empire die? Does it collapse in one terrible moment? No, no. But there comes a time when people no longer believe in it” — before cutting to a Roman chariot race, a metropolitan skyscape and scenes of protest.
According to the official synopsis, “‘Megalopolis...
- 5/14/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety - Film News
Sarah Paulson will never forget the actor who sent her six pages of unsolicited notes after watching her in a play.
Paulson recently appeared on the “Smartless” podcast, where she and hosts Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes and Will Arnett discussed the theater custom of celebrities coming backstage to meet with the cast.
When Bateman asked the group if they would accept criticism from these visitors, Paulson recalled the “outrageous” experience she had after a show.
“I did do a play once. The last time I was on stage, I did a play called ‘Talley’s Folly’ at the Roundabout, and the actress — and I’m going to say this, and I’m not going to ask you to cut this out, because I don’t f—ing care — this actress came to the play. Her name is Trish Hawkins — Hi, Trish! Hi, Trisha!” Paulson said. “Trish Hawkins came to the...
Paulson recently appeared on the “Smartless” podcast, where she and hosts Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes and Will Arnett discussed the theater custom of celebrities coming backstage to meet with the cast.
When Bateman asked the group if they would accept criticism from these visitors, Paulson recalled the “outrageous” experience she had after a show.
“I did do a play once. The last time I was on stage, I did a play called ‘Talley’s Folly’ at the Roundabout, and the actress — and I’m going to say this, and I’m not going to ask you to cut this out, because I don’t f—ing care — this actress came to the play. Her name is Trish Hawkins — Hi, Trish! Hi, Trisha!” Paulson said. “Trish Hawkins came to the...
- 5/14/2024
- by Michaela Zee
- Variety - Film News
Sarah Paulson will never forget the actor who sent her six pages of unsolicited notes after watching her in a play.
Paulson recently appeared on the “Smartless” podcast, where she and hosts Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes and Will Arnett discussed the theater custom of celebrities coming backstage to meet with the cast.
When Bateman asked the group if they would accept criticism from these visitors, Paulson recalled the “outrageous” experience she had after a show.
“I did do a play once. The last time I was on stage, I did a play called ‘Talley’s Folly’ at the Roundabout, and...
Paulson recently appeared on the “Smartless” podcast, where she and hosts Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes and Will Arnett discussed the theater custom of celebrities coming backstage to meet with the cast.
When Bateman asked the group if they would accept criticism from these visitors, Paulson recalled the “outrageous” experience she had after a show.
“I did do a play once. The last time I was on stage, I did a play called ‘Talley’s Folly’ at the Roundabout, and...
- 5/14/2024
- by Michaela Zee
- Variety - TV News
Berlin-based sales agency Films Boutique has closed first sales and released the first-look image from Oscar-nominated Polish filmmaker Agnieszka Holland’s biopic of the Czech novelist Franz Kafka, “Franz.”
The project has sold to September Film in Benelux, Filmin in Spain, Vertigo in Hungary, McF Megacom for the former Yugoslavia and Movies Inspired in Italy.
The film was previously acquired for theatrical distribution by Bac Films Distribution in France, X Verleih in Germany and Austria, Bioscop in Czech Republic and Tvp in Poland.
Kafka, a German-speaking Jewish Bohemian famous for surrealist and nightmarish visions, wrote “The Metamorphosis,” “The Trial” and “The Castle,” among others.
The film started shooting in Prague on April 12, including the Old Town near Kafka’s birthplace, and will continue there until the end of May, when the production moves for a week’s shoot in Berlin.
Šárka Cimbalová produces through Czech Republic’s Marlene Film Production,...
The project has sold to September Film in Benelux, Filmin in Spain, Vertigo in Hungary, McF Megacom for the former Yugoslavia and Movies Inspired in Italy.
The film was previously acquired for theatrical distribution by Bac Films Distribution in France, X Verleih in Germany and Austria, Bioscop in Czech Republic and Tvp in Poland.
Kafka, a German-speaking Jewish Bohemian famous for surrealist and nightmarish visions, wrote “The Metamorphosis,” “The Trial” and “The Castle,” among others.
The film started shooting in Prague on April 12, including the Old Town near Kafka’s birthplace, and will continue there until the end of May, when the production moves for a week’s shoot in Berlin.
Šárka Cimbalová produces through Czech Republic’s Marlene Film Production,...
- 5/14/2024
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety - Film News
Phoebe Dynevor is in talks to star in an untitled shark thriller at Sony Pictures with Tommy Wirkola (“Violent Night”) directing, Variety has confirmed.
While plot details are being kept under wraps, production is set to begin in Australia this summer. Adam McKay and Kevin Messick will produce the shark movie under their Hyperobject Industries banner.
Dynevor is best known for her role as Daphne Bridgerton in the first two seasons of the Netflix series “Bridgerton.” She recently starred opposite Alden Ehrenreich in the 2023 thriller “Fair Play,” which sold to Netflix in a massive $20 million deal following the film’s premiere at Sundance Film Festival.
In late April, Variety exclusively reported that Dynevor and Bella Ramsey star in the new short film “More Flames,” from McKay‘s Yellow Dot Studios and Climate Spring; the short marks the launch of the #FlipTheScript campaign aimed at changing the narrative around the climate crisis.
While plot details are being kept under wraps, production is set to begin in Australia this summer. Adam McKay and Kevin Messick will produce the shark movie under their Hyperobject Industries banner.
Dynevor is best known for her role as Daphne Bridgerton in the first two seasons of the Netflix series “Bridgerton.” She recently starred opposite Alden Ehrenreich in the 2023 thriller “Fair Play,” which sold to Netflix in a massive $20 million deal following the film’s premiere at Sundance Film Festival.
In late April, Variety exclusively reported that Dynevor and Bella Ramsey star in the new short film “More Flames,” from McKay‘s Yellow Dot Studios and Climate Spring; the short marks the launch of the #FlipTheScript campaign aimed at changing the narrative around the climate crisis.
- 5/14/2024
- by Michaela Zee
- Variety - Film News
From one Mr. Bridgerton to another: Luke Newton opened up about how he took inspiration from former Bridgerton leading man, Jonathan Bailey, before taking on one of the main roles in the hit Netflix series’ third season.
Newton and Bailey joined co-stars Nicola Coughlan, Claudia Jessie, Simone Ashley, Ruth Gemmell, Adjoa Andoh and more of the the show’s cast and crew on the blue carpet in New York City on Monday to celebrate the world premiere of Bridgerton season three.
While speaking with The Hollywood Reporter at the premiere, Newton — who portrays Colin Bridgerton, one of the main love interests this season — revealed that he began tuning into Bailey’s approach to Anthony Bridgerton last season.
“I watched Johnny like a hawk in season two and how he just sort of conducted himself so graciously uncertain and tried to take elements of that and also keep it true to myself,...
Newton and Bailey joined co-stars Nicola Coughlan, Claudia Jessie, Simone Ashley, Ruth Gemmell, Adjoa Andoh and more of the the show’s cast and crew on the blue carpet in New York City on Monday to celebrate the world premiere of Bridgerton season three.
While speaking with The Hollywood Reporter at the premiere, Newton — who portrays Colin Bridgerton, one of the main love interests this season — revealed that he began tuning into Bailey’s approach to Anthony Bridgerton last season.
“I watched Johnny like a hawk in season two and how he just sort of conducted himself so graciously uncertain and tried to take elements of that and also keep it true to myself,...
- 5/14/2024
- by Christy Piña
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Anya Taylor-Joy says she spent months on George Miller’s Furiosa set without delivering any lines, filming wordless action sequences over and over and studiously — sometimes emotionally — analyzing her acting choices. The result, she adds, was so intense she is still processing the experience even two years after filming.
“I’ve never been more alone than making that movie,” she told the New York Times this week. “I don’t want to go too deep into it, but everything that I thought was going to be easy was hard.”
Miller’s new Mad Max entry sees Taylor-Joy as Imperator Furiosa (taking over for Charlize Theron) and Chris Hemsworth as a devious warlord in a story that takes place 15 years before the previous film.
Taylor-Joy said she knew the movie was going to be intense (Miller’s films, in particular the Mad Max franchise, have a reputation as such). “I wanted to be changed,...
“I’ve never been more alone than making that movie,” she told the New York Times this week. “I don’t want to go too deep into it, but everything that I thought was going to be easy was hard.”
Miller’s new Mad Max entry sees Taylor-Joy as Imperator Furiosa (taking over for Charlize Theron) and Chris Hemsworth as a devious warlord in a story that takes place 15 years before the previous film.
Taylor-Joy said she knew the movie was going to be intense (Miller’s films, in particular the Mad Max franchise, have a reputation as such). “I wanted to be changed,...
- 5/14/2024
- by Zoe G Phillips
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Veteran Asian executive Buddy Marini has been appointed Gm of Warner Bros. Discovery in Japan.
The role covers all operations in Japan including home entertainment, digital & TV licensing, consumer products, anime production, franchise and pay-tv networks, but excluding theatrical and the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo: The Making of Harry Potter business.
Marini joins Wbd with 25+ years’ experience in leadership across media and technology companies in Japan, China and the U.S. Most recently, he founded global mobile platform Mangamo, offering one of the largest mobile manga libraries to fans worldwide. Prior to this, Marini was Gm, Japan for gaming company Supercell,...
The role covers all operations in Japan including home entertainment, digital & TV licensing, consumer products, anime production, franchise and pay-tv networks, but excluding theatrical and the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo: The Making of Harry Potter business.
Marini joins Wbd with 25+ years’ experience in leadership across media and technology companies in Japan, China and the U.S. Most recently, he founded global mobile platform Mangamo, offering one of the largest mobile manga libraries to fans worldwide. Prior to this, Marini was Gm, Japan for gaming company Supercell,...
- 5/14/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety - TV News
Veteran Asian executive Buddy Marini has been appointed Gm of Warner Bros. Discovery in Japan.
The role covers all operations in Japan including home entertainment, digital & TV licensing, consumer products, anime production, franchise and pay-tv networks, but excluding theatrical and the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo: The Making of Harry Potter business.
Marini joins Wbd with 25+ years’ experience in leadership across media and technology companies in Japan, China and the U.S. Most recently, he founded global mobile platform Mangamo, offering one of the largest mobile manga libraries to fans worldwide. Prior to this, Marini was Gm, Japan for gaming company Supercell, and CEO for Hulu Japan, where he successfully oversaw the streaming platform’s development and growth into one of the country’s leading services. He has held additional leadership positions at Avex Group Holdings Inc., Universal Studios and Mitsui-Sumitomo Investment Bank.
Wbd also confirmed the promotion of Nishi Chieko as VP,...
The role covers all operations in Japan including home entertainment, digital & TV licensing, consumer products, anime production, franchise and pay-tv networks, but excluding theatrical and the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo: The Making of Harry Potter business.
Marini joins Wbd with 25+ years’ experience in leadership across media and technology companies in Japan, China and the U.S. Most recently, he founded global mobile platform Mangamo, offering one of the largest mobile manga libraries to fans worldwide. Prior to this, Marini was Gm, Japan for gaming company Supercell, and CEO for Hulu Japan, where he successfully oversaw the streaming platform’s development and growth into one of the country’s leading services. He has held additional leadership positions at Avex Group Holdings Inc., Universal Studios and Mitsui-Sumitomo Investment Bank.
Wbd also confirmed the promotion of Nishi Chieko as VP,...
- 5/14/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety - Film News
Norman Lear not only knew about television, but the late TV icon was also an influential art collector along with his wife of 37 years, Lyn Davis Lear.
And now, several pieces from the Lears’ art collection will hit the Christie’s auction block, including David Hockney’s 1967 “A Lawn Being Sprinkled.” When the “All in the Family” creator bought the work in 1978 for $64,000, it marked the highest price paid for a piece by the British artist. Christie’s estimates it will bring in $25-$35 million after debuting during the 20th Century Evening Sale in New York City on May 16. “I...
And now, several pieces from the Lears’ art collection will hit the Christie’s auction block, including David Hockney’s 1967 “A Lawn Being Sprinkled.” When the “All in the Family” creator bought the work in 1978 for $64,000, it marked the highest price paid for a piece by the British artist. Christie’s estimates it will bring in $25-$35 million after debuting during the 20th Century Evening Sale in New York City on May 16. “I...
- 5/14/2024
- by Marc Malkin
- Variety - TV News
Samm-Art Williams, a Tony-nominated playwright, actor, director and the executive producer of NBC’s Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, has died. He was 78.
Williams died peacefully in Burgaw, North Carolina on Monday, his cousin Carol Brown confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter.
“Mr. Williams’ contributions to American theater and television will live on but he will be greatly missed,” Brown said via statement.
For the theater community, Williams was perhaps best known as the Tony-nominated playwright of Home, which was first directed by Douglas Turner Ward and produced on Broadway by the Negro Ensemble Company in 1980. The show is set to return to Broadway on June 5, with Kenny Leon directing this time.
Williams also wrote stage works such as Welcome To Black River, Friends, and other plays produced in New York, Los Angeles and beyond. In addition to its Tony nod for best Broadway play, Home won the Outer Critics Circle Award,...
Williams died peacefully in Burgaw, North Carolina on Monday, his cousin Carol Brown confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter.
“Mr. Williams’ contributions to American theater and television will live on but he will be greatly missed,” Brown said via statement.
For the theater community, Williams was perhaps best known as the Tony-nominated playwright of Home, which was first directed by Douglas Turner Ward and produced on Broadway by the Negro Ensemble Company in 1980. The show is set to return to Broadway on June 5, with Kenny Leon directing this time.
Williams also wrote stage works such as Welcome To Black River, Friends, and other plays produced in New York, Los Angeles and beyond. In addition to its Tony nod for best Broadway play, Home won the Outer Critics Circle Award,...
- 5/14/2024
- by Zoe G Phillips
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Steve Carell Weighs in on New ‘The Office’ Series: “I Will Be Watching But I Will Not Be Showing Up”
Steve Carell is giving his thoughts on the recently announced follow-up series to The Office.
“I will be watching but I will not be showing up. It’s just a new thing and there’s really no reason for my character [Michael Scott] to show up in something like that,” Carell told The Hollywood Reporter at the premiere of his new film If on Monday. “But I’m excited about it, it sounds like a great conceit. I love the idea — I guess it’s set in a failing newspaper company, and I worked with Domhnall Gleeson, who is one of the leads; I did [2022 series] The Patient with him and he’s an excellent actor and a super nice guy so I think it’ll be great.”
The new series, co-created by The Office’s Greg Daniels and Nathan for You co-creator Michael Koman, will be set in the universe of Dunder...
“I will be watching but I will not be showing up. It’s just a new thing and there’s really no reason for my character [Michael Scott] to show up in something like that,” Carell told The Hollywood Reporter at the premiere of his new film If on Monday. “But I’m excited about it, it sounds like a great conceit. I love the idea — I guess it’s set in a failing newspaper company, and I worked with Domhnall Gleeson, who is one of the leads; I did [2022 series] The Patient with him and he’s an excellent actor and a super nice guy so I think it’ll be great.”
The new series, co-created by The Office’s Greg Daniels and Nathan for You co-creator Michael Koman, will be set in the universe of Dunder...
- 5/14/2024
- by Kirsten Chuba
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Hacks star Hannah Einbinder is opening up about how the significant impact that starting and stopping the Adhd medication Adderall had on her comedic abilities, and how, until very recently and despite accumulating multiple Emmy and Golden Globe nominations, she dealt with imposter syndrome.
The 28-year-old comedian reflected on her life and career during a recording of The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast at Chapman University’s film school, from which she graduated in 2017.
“[This is] probably the number one worst group of people to be anti this thing, too,” Einbinder joked with the crowd, “but I had a bad experience with Adderall.” She shared that she has Adhd and took a “high prescription of Adderall” throughout high school, but that something felt off. “For many years, I felt like it kind of zombified me and took away my spark and stopped me from being present in my experience.”
The comedian credited Chapman’s improv troupe,...
The 28-year-old comedian reflected on her life and career during a recording of The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast at Chapman University’s film school, from which she graduated in 2017.
“[This is] probably the number one worst group of people to be anti this thing, too,” Einbinder joked with the crowd, “but I had a bad experience with Adderall.” She shared that she has Adhd and took a “high prescription of Adderall” throughout high school, but that something felt off. “For many years, I felt like it kind of zombified me and took away my spark and stopped me from being present in my experience.”
The comedian credited Chapman’s improv troupe,...
- 5/14/2024
- by Nicole Fell
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Spoiler Alert: This post contains spoilers from “Judgment Day,” finale of the limited series “A Man in Full,” now streaming on Netflix.
If you went into Netflix’s “A Man in Full” thinking about the 1998 novel by Tom Wolfe, the final episode was likely a shock. Although the series opened with the dead body of Charlie Croker (Jeff Daniels) lying lifeless on the floor, the events that led up to it were unexpected. Flashing back 10 days earlier, Charlie is shown at his 60th birthday, forcefully saying hello to Raymond Peepgrass (Tom Pelphrey) by gripping the back of his collar. The moment foreshadows the finale,...
If you went into Netflix’s “A Man in Full” thinking about the 1998 novel by Tom Wolfe, the final episode was likely a shock. Although the series opened with the dead body of Charlie Croker (Jeff Daniels) lying lifeless on the floor, the events that led up to it were unexpected. Flashing back 10 days earlier, Charlie is shown at his 60th birthday, forcefully saying hello to Raymond Peepgrass (Tom Pelphrey) by gripping the back of his collar. The moment foreshadows the finale,...
- 5/14/2024
- by Emily Longeretta
- Variety - TV News
The new Lord of the Rings anime movie and the first DC Universe title from James Gunn are among the Warner Bros. projects that will be highlighted during the Annecy International Animation Film Festival that takes place next month.
Warner Bros. Animation, Cartoon Network Studios and Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe shared their plans Monday for the annual animation fest held June 9-15 in Annecy, France.
Among the planned events include Andy Serkis hosting a filmmaker conversation and extended look at The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, the anime feature that hails from New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Animation. Director Kenji Kamiyama and producers Philippa Boyens, Joseph Chou and Jason DeMarco will take part in the discussion and present the first footage from the movie that Warner Bros. is set to release theatrically on Dec. 13.
The animation process is currently underway for The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim,...
Warner Bros. Animation, Cartoon Network Studios and Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe shared their plans Monday for the annual animation fest held June 9-15 in Annecy, France.
Among the planned events include Andy Serkis hosting a filmmaker conversation and extended look at The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, the anime feature that hails from New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Animation. Director Kenji Kamiyama and producers Philippa Boyens, Joseph Chou and Jason DeMarco will take part in the discussion and present the first footage from the movie that Warner Bros. is set to release theatrically on Dec. 13.
The animation process is currently underway for The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim,...
- 5/13/2024
- by Ryan Gajewski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Hannah Einbinder, the stand-up comedian and twice Emmy-nominated and twice Golden Globe-nominated star of Max’s Hacks, is the guest on this week’s episode of The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast, which was recorded in front of an audience at Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, from which Einbinder herself graduated in 2017.
Over the course of the conversation, the 28-year-old reflects on growing up as the daughter of funny people (her mother, Laraine Newman, was a member of the original Saturday Night Live cast, and her father is Chad Einbinder, a comedy writer and director); how she was changed by going on and then — just as she was getting into stand-up comedy — getting off of Adderall; and, as her first-ever acting gig, landing the role of comedy writer Ava opposite the legendary Jean Smart’s Deborah on Hacks, which is now rolling out its third season.
Over the course of the conversation, the 28-year-old reflects on growing up as the daughter of funny people (her mother, Laraine Newman, was a member of the original Saturday Night Live cast, and her father is Chad Einbinder, a comedy writer and director); how she was changed by going on and then — just as she was getting into stand-up comedy — getting off of Adderall; and, as her first-ever acting gig, landing the role of comedy writer Ava opposite the legendary Jean Smart’s Deborah on Hacks, which is now rolling out its third season.
- 5/13/2024
- by Scott Feinberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Michael Strahan, employee of The Walt Disney Company, logged more minutes than anyone during the Fox upfront on Monday afternoon. But the Fox NFL Sunday analyst wasn’t exactly the headliner. That honor went to his incoming colleague, Tom Brady.
Brady’s official addition to the Fox Sports family was teased throughout the hour-and-a-half pitch for advertisers — “investors,” as Strahan called them — before he finally took the stage for a funny bit that pitted his social media mantra “Lfg” against Fox star Gordon Ramsay’s unrivaled love for the f-word. Gordon implored the network and the advertising community to let Brady be himself and say “fuck” on air when he starts calling football games in the fall. And if anybody can afford to pay FCC fines, it’s Brady.
The host platform of the coming Super Bowl is always particularly giddy to remind the media-buying community of that fact during upfronts.
Brady’s official addition to the Fox Sports family was teased throughout the hour-and-a-half pitch for advertisers — “investors,” as Strahan called them — before he finally took the stage for a funny bit that pitted his social media mantra “Lfg” against Fox star Gordon Ramsay’s unrivaled love for the f-word. Gordon implored the network and the advertising community to let Brady be himself and say “fuck” on air when he starts calling football games in the fall. And if anybody can afford to pay FCC fines, it’s Brady.
The host platform of the coming Super Bowl is always particularly giddy to remind the media-buying community of that fact during upfronts.
- 5/13/2024
- by Mikey O'Connell
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Bradley Cooper, who has 12 Oscar nominations, might soon add his first Primetime Emmy nod to his resume for playing himself on ABC‘s “Abbott Elementary.” ABC and awards strategists confirm to Variety that the studio has submitted the actor for guest comedy actor consideration for this year’s awards.
Earlier this year, the Television Academy changed the rules for submitting in the guest acting categories, stating, “A brief cameo appearance is not eligible for entry.” However, the vague description doesn’t explicitly state whether an actor like Cooper or even Kevin Hart, who appeared in last week’s episode playing...
Earlier this year, the Television Academy changed the rules for submitting in the guest acting categories, stating, “A brief cameo appearance is not eligible for entry.” However, the vague description doesn’t explicitly state whether an actor like Cooper or even Kevin Hart, who appeared in last week’s episode playing...
- 5/13/2024
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety - TV News
The MTV Movie & TV Awards are on pause for 2024, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.
Sources told THR that the show will return next year with a “reimagined” format.
The show last aired in May 2023 amid the Writers Guild of America strike. Host Drew Barrymore dropped out in a show of solidarity with the writers.
The show aired but with numerous pretaped segments and acceptance speeches, clips from upcoming movies and TV shows and previous editions of the MTV Movie & TV Awards. Additionally the show, awards categories and nominees and winners were announced via a voiceover, which initially referred to the event as the “2023 MTV Movie & TV Awards special.”
When Barrymore dropped out, it was announced that she’d agreed to host the 2024 awards. It’s unclear if she’s still attached to host the 2025 installment.
“I have listened to the writers, and in order to truly respect them, I will...
Sources told THR that the show will return next year with a “reimagined” format.
The show last aired in May 2023 amid the Writers Guild of America strike. Host Drew Barrymore dropped out in a show of solidarity with the writers.
The show aired but with numerous pretaped segments and acceptance speeches, clips from upcoming movies and TV shows and previous editions of the MTV Movie & TV Awards. Additionally the show, awards categories and nominees and winners were announced via a voiceover, which initially referred to the event as the “2023 MTV Movie & TV Awards special.”
When Barrymore dropped out, it was announced that she’d agreed to host the 2024 awards. It’s unclear if she’s still attached to host the 2025 installment.
“I have listened to the writers, and in order to truly respect them, I will...
- 5/13/2024
- by Kimberly Nordyke
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Chris Hemsworth is sharing his thoughts on the criticism Marvel films have made, in particular from directors such as Francis Ford Coppola and Martin Scorsese.
In an interview with The Times of London, the Furiosa actor was asked about the comments made by the longtime directors. Scorsese had faced backlash at the time for describing Marvel films as “not cinema.” Meanwhile, Coppola took it further by describing the films as “despicable.”
“It felt harsh,” Hemsoworth said. “And it bothers me, especially from heroes. It was an eye-roll for me, people bashing the superhero space. Those guys had films that didn’t work too — we all have. When they talked about what was wrong with superheroes, I thought, cool, tell that to the billions who watch them. Were they all wrong?”
Hemsworth continued to argue that, “cinema-going did not change because of superheroes, but because of smartphones and social media.” And contrary to any beliefs,...
In an interview with The Times of London, the Furiosa actor was asked about the comments made by the longtime directors. Scorsese had faced backlash at the time for describing Marvel films as “not cinema.” Meanwhile, Coppola took it further by describing the films as “despicable.”
“It felt harsh,” Hemsoworth said. “And it bothers me, especially from heroes. It was an eye-roll for me, people bashing the superhero space. Those guys had films that didn’t work too — we all have. When they talked about what was wrong with superheroes, I thought, cool, tell that to the billions who watch them. Were they all wrong?”
Hemsworth continued to argue that, “cinema-going did not change because of superheroes, but because of smartphones and social media.” And contrary to any beliefs,...
- 5/13/2024
- by Lexy Perez
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Lizzo said Monday she wished to extend a “personal thank-you” to activists working against genocides in Palestine, Sudan and the Congo, also saying student protests in the United States are “deeply important.”
In a video posted to Instagram which the singer noted was “long overdue,” Lizzo said she wanted “to take a second and give a personal thank-you to all of the activists who have been working tirelessly to help the liberation and the freedom of the people who have been genocided all over the world, specifically Palestine, Sudan and the Congo.”
The “2 Be Loved” singer went on to note that she “has worked closely with activists” in the past and thus knows “the toll it can take on your mental and your physical [health], and it can feel thankless,” she said. “So if you haven’t heard today, thank you. Your work is not in vain. You have helped so...
In a video posted to Instagram which the singer noted was “long overdue,” Lizzo said she wanted “to take a second and give a personal thank-you to all of the activists who have been working tirelessly to help the liberation and the freedom of the people who have been genocided all over the world, specifically Palestine, Sudan and the Congo.”
The “2 Be Loved” singer went on to note that she “has worked closely with activists” in the past and thus knows “the toll it can take on your mental and your physical [health], and it can feel thankless,” she said. “So if you haven’t heard today, thank you. Your work is not in vain. You have helped so...
- 5/13/2024
- by Zoe G Phillips
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Andrew Garfield has tracked down a lead role opposite Julia Roberts in a new thriller from Luca Guadagnino that is set in the world of academia.
Garfield is in negotiations to star opposite Roberts in the forthcoming Amazon MGM Studios feature After the Hunt. Guadagnino (Challengers) is set to direct from a script by Nora Garrett, with the film aiming to start production this summer.
Hailing from Imagine Entertainment, After the Hunt focuses on a college professor who is forced to confront her own dark past when a prominent student makes an accusation against one of her colleagues.
Imagine’s Allan Mandelbaum brought the script to the production company and worked with CAA to land Roberts and Guadagnino. Guadagnino serves as a producer alongside Imagine’s Mandelbaum and Brian Grazer.
Garfield is a two-time Oscar nominee who can next be seen in A24 and Studio Canal’s romantic film We Live in Time...
Garfield is in negotiations to star opposite Roberts in the forthcoming Amazon MGM Studios feature After the Hunt. Guadagnino (Challengers) is set to direct from a script by Nora Garrett, with the film aiming to start production this summer.
Hailing from Imagine Entertainment, After the Hunt focuses on a college professor who is forced to confront her own dark past when a prominent student makes an accusation against one of her colleagues.
Imagine’s Allan Mandelbaum brought the script to the production company and worked with CAA to land Roberts and Guadagnino. Guadagnino serves as a producer alongside Imagine’s Mandelbaum and Brian Grazer.
Garfield is a two-time Oscar nominee who can next be seen in A24 and Studio Canal’s romantic film We Live in Time...
- 5/13/2024
- by Ryan Gajewski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Lionsgate will at long last launch its standalone film and TV studio business, Lionsgate Studios, on Nasdaq on Tuesday.
The studio, led by CEO Jon Feltheimer, said the transaction will see the spun-off company begin trading separate from Lionsgate’s Starz business and under the ticket symbol Lion. It expects to raise $350 million in proceeds. Lionsgate Studios is made up of Lionsgate’s Motion Picture Group and Television Studio business, along with a 20,000-strong film and TV library.
“This transaction reaffirms our longstanding belief in the value of premium content by enabling us to launch Lionsgate Studios as one of the world’s leading standalone, pure play, publicly-traded content companies,” Feltheimer and vice chair Michael Burns said in a statement ahead of the Nasdaq’s opening bell on Tuesday.
“It is an important step forward in the process of preparing strategically and financially for the full separation of our studio...
The studio, led by CEO Jon Feltheimer, said the transaction will see the spun-off company begin trading separate from Lionsgate’s Starz business and under the ticket symbol Lion. It expects to raise $350 million in proceeds. Lionsgate Studios is made up of Lionsgate’s Motion Picture Group and Television Studio business, along with a 20,000-strong film and TV library.
“This transaction reaffirms our longstanding belief in the value of premium content by enabling us to launch Lionsgate Studios as one of the world’s leading standalone, pure play, publicly-traded content companies,” Feltheimer and vice chair Michael Burns said in a statement ahead of the Nasdaq’s opening bell on Tuesday.
“It is an important step forward in the process of preparing strategically and financially for the full separation of our studio...
- 5/13/2024
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
During a recent Emmys FYC conversation in Atlanta with Bmf showrunner Heather Zuhlke, stars Demetrius “Lil Meech” Flenory Jr., Da’Vinchi, Michole Williams and Russell Hornsby — who respectively play Big Meech, Terry, and Flenory matriarch and patriarch Lucille and Charles — and executive producer Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, who had been less active with the network in recent years after several fallouts, was full of pride and commentary about the Starz drama’s current success and future plans.
There’s no denying that Jackson putting his hip hop fame and street cred behind Power, the series essentially about a drug kingpin named Ghost (Omari Hardwick) who wanted to get out the game and become a respectable businessman, changed the premium network’s fortune. Power reportedly increased Starz’s subscribers base by as much as 40 percent.
From that came three successful spinoffs — Power Book II: Ghost; Power Book III: Raising Kanan and Power Book IV: Force.
There’s no denying that Jackson putting his hip hop fame and street cred behind Power, the series essentially about a drug kingpin named Ghost (Omari Hardwick) who wanted to get out the game and become a respectable businessman, changed the premium network’s fortune. Power reportedly increased Starz’s subscribers base by as much as 40 percent.
From that came three successful spinoffs — Power Book II: Ghost; Power Book III: Raising Kanan and Power Book IV: Force.
- 5/13/2024
- by Ronda Racha Penrice
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
“Let’s Fucking Go.”
Tom Brady’s notorious catchphrase (“Lfg” is the PG version) was how Fox chose to end its upfront presentation Monday evening, with Brady on stage joined by his Fox NFL colleague Michael Strahan, and celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay (also known for using the F word), shouting it to the rafters.
Brady, who retired officially last year, confirmed that he will indeed join the Fox NFL broadcast booth this fall, working as an analyst alongside play-by-play man Kevin Burkhardt and reporters Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi.
Brady was the closing event for the upfront, appearing a week after his Netflix roast made global headlines (fellow roaster and Fox personality Rob Gronkowski was also in attendance).
Brady, speaking to Strahan on stage, said the decision to follow through on his deal two years ago to join Fox after he retired was a “no brainer.”
“Well it was the...
Tom Brady’s notorious catchphrase (“Lfg” is the PG version) was how Fox chose to end its upfront presentation Monday evening, with Brady on stage joined by his Fox NFL colleague Michael Strahan, and celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay (also known for using the F word), shouting it to the rafters.
Brady, who retired officially last year, confirmed that he will indeed join the Fox NFL broadcast booth this fall, working as an analyst alongside play-by-play man Kevin Burkhardt and reporters Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi.
Brady was the closing event for the upfront, appearing a week after his Netflix roast made global headlines (fellow roaster and Fox personality Rob Gronkowski was also in attendance).
Brady, speaking to Strahan on stage, said the decision to follow through on his deal two years ago to join Fox after he retired was a “no brainer.”
“Well it was the...
- 5/13/2024
- by Alex Weprin
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
A veteran crew member was killed early Saturday morning when his SUV left the freeway and flipped over, according to IATSE and the California Highway Patrol.
Rico Priem, 66, was driving home after a 14-hour day on the set of the ABC series “9-1-1” when the crash occurred, according to his union.
Priem was heading north on the 57 Freeway at Via Verde Drive in San Dimas, when his Toyota Highlander left the road, went up an embankment, and flipped onto its roof, according to the Chp. The crash was reported at 4:27 a.m.
The SUV came to rest in the right lane on its roof.
Rico Priem, 66, was driving home after a 14-hour day on the set of the ABC series “9-1-1” when the crash occurred, according to his union.
Priem was heading north on the 57 Freeway at Via Verde Drive in San Dimas, when his Toyota Highlander left the road, went up an embankment, and flipped onto its roof, according to the Chp. The crash was reported at 4:27 a.m.
The SUV came to rest in the right lane on its roof.
- 5/13/2024
- by Gene Maddaus
- Variety - TV News
The 2024 Fox upfront presentation featured an appearance by Jamie Foxx in one of his first public appearances since his health crisis last year.
Foxx took to the stage and did his best to crack up the crowd of advertisers, a tall order considering the bar had yet to open. He gave it his all though, showcasing his trademark wit and charisma, reminding the attendees “You got free alcohol after this. Let’s get f—ed up!”
The host of the Fox competition series “Beat Shazam,” Foxx not only took the chance to plug his own series but also Fox shows like “The Masked Singer,...
Foxx took to the stage and did his best to crack up the crowd of advertisers, a tall order considering the bar had yet to open. He gave it his all though, showcasing his trademark wit and charisma, reminding the attendees “You got free alcohol after this. Let’s get f—ed up!”
The host of the Fox competition series “Beat Shazam,” Foxx not only took the chance to plug his own series but also Fox shows like “The Masked Singer,...
- 5/13/2024
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety - TV News
In a new profile of “Furiosa” director George Miller published by The Telegraph, it’s revealed that Anya Taylor-Joy’s eponymous character only has around 30 lines of dialogue in the upcoming “Mad Max: Fury Road” prequel movie. That shouldn’t come as much of a surprise to fans of the road warrior franchise, as Tom Hardy and Mel Gibson barely had much to say in Miller’s previous “Mad Max” movies. However, Taylor-Joy did push Miller to let Furiosa get loud in the new movie.
In an interview with The New York Times, Taylor-Joy said she would go “months” on the movie’s set without speaking a single line of dialogue. She added: “I’ve never been more alone than making that movie. I don’t want to go too deep into it, but everything that I thought was going to be easy was hard.”
When asked what proved more...
In an interview with The New York Times, Taylor-Joy said she would go “months” on the movie’s set without speaking a single line of dialogue. She added: “I’ve never been more alone than making that movie. I don’t want to go too deep into it, but everything that I thought was going to be easy was hard.”
When asked what proved more...
- 5/13/2024
- by Zack Sharf
- Variety - Film News
Chris Hemsworth expressed frustration in an interview with The Times of London over Marvel criticisms made by some directors he considers to be personal heroes such as Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola. Hemsworth is one of the original Avengers in the MCU as Thor, debuting in a 2011 standalone movie before headlining three sequels and starring in several “Avengers” movies through 2022.
“It felt harsh, and it bothers me, especially from heroes. It was an eye-roll for me, people bashing the superhero space,” Hemsworth told The Times. “Those guys had films that didn’t work too — we all have. When they talked about what was wrong with superheroes, I thought, cool, tell that to the billions who watch them. Were they all wrong?”
Scorsese made his initial Marvel criticisms in fall 2019, infamously calling these movies a “theme park” and not real cinema. The Oscar winner later clarified that his frustration was...
“It felt harsh, and it bothers me, especially from heroes. It was an eye-roll for me, people bashing the superhero space,” Hemsworth told The Times. “Those guys had films that didn’t work too — we all have. When they talked about what was wrong with superheroes, I thought, cool, tell that to the billions who watch them. Were they all wrong?”
Scorsese made his initial Marvel criticisms in fall 2019, infamously calling these movies a “theme park” and not real cinema. The Oscar winner later clarified that his frustration was...
- 5/13/2024
- by Zack Sharf
- Variety - Film News
A crew member on 9-1-1 died early Saturday morning in a car accident on the highway following a 14-hour overnight shift.
Rico Priem, a grip for the Fox procedural and a member of the crew union IATSE Local 80, was involved in a car crash after working Friday night through Saturday morning on a location shoot in Pomona, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. IATSE and the show’s studio, 20th Television, confirmed the death in statements on Monday after crew members began posting about the tragedy on social media over the weekend.
“We are fully committed to the safety and the well-being of all our members and express our heartfelt condolences to the member’s family,” IATSE said in its statement. “Workers have a reasonable expectation that they can get to work and come home safely. No one should be put in unsafe circumstances while trying to earn a living.
Rico Priem, a grip for the Fox procedural and a member of the crew union IATSE Local 80, was involved in a car crash after working Friday night through Saturday morning on a location shoot in Pomona, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. IATSE and the show’s studio, 20th Television, confirmed the death in statements on Monday after crew members began posting about the tragedy on social media over the weekend.
“We are fully committed to the safety and the well-being of all our members and express our heartfelt condolences to the member’s family,” IATSE said in its statement. “Workers have a reasonable expectation that they can get to work and come home safely. No one should be put in unsafe circumstances while trying to earn a living.
- 5/13/2024
- by Katie Kilkenny
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The poster for the innocuously named “The Coffee Table” notes that it is “A Cruel Caye Casas Film.” The unique designation is certainly fitting, given the storm of controversy it’s stirring up among horror fans. The comically vague logline for the Spanish film — new parents buy a coffee table that will change their lives forever — hides a shocking incident that happens early on. Said incident is not for the faint of heart, and director and co-writer Casas is eager to not only lean into the controversy but take willing audiences on an emotional journey of horror without monsters or the supernatural.
Without spoiling the central incident, Casas explained his film to Variety, including how much he wanted to push audiences, the unique title and how he reacted when Stephen King recommended his work.
(Note: This interview was conducted over email for accuracy between the Spanish and Catalan-speaking Casas and the English-speaking author.
Without spoiling the central incident, Casas explained his film to Variety, including how much he wanted to push audiences, the unique title and how he reacted when Stephen King recommended his work.
(Note: This interview was conducted over email for accuracy between the Spanish and Catalan-speaking Casas and the English-speaking author.
- 5/13/2024
- by William Earl
- Variety - Film News
The East Coast portion of the 2024 GLAAD Media Awards was marked by two raucous moments at Saturday night’s Manhattan gala — one from Jennifer Lawrence, as she added some cutting, deadpan humor as she presented an achievement award and another when a drag artist and trans activist interrupted the gala’s proceedings to draw attention to the organization’s ties to Israel and its deadly military campaign in Gaza.
On Saturday at the Hilton hotel in Manhattan, Lawrence took the stage to present the Vito Russo Award to gay country singer Orville Peck. Before speaking of her friendship with Peck, the Oscar winner took a shot at former Vice President Mike Pence, who has been accused of, at one point, supporting gay conversion therapy.
“I love the gay community. In fact, I was in love with a homosexual,” she revealed. “ It was my first love. I tried to convert him for years,...
On Saturday at the Hilton hotel in Manhattan, Lawrence took the stage to present the Vito Russo Award to gay country singer Orville Peck. Before speaking of her friendship with Peck, the Oscar winner took a shot at former Vice President Mike Pence, who has been accused of, at one point, supporting gay conversion therapy.
“I love the gay community. In fact, I was in love with a homosexual,” she revealed. “ It was my first love. I tried to convert him for years,...
- 5/13/2024
- by Kevin Dolak
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Shares in AMC Theatres surged 80 percent on Monday after meme stock investor Roaring Kitty resurfaced online.
Stock in parent company AMC Entertainment Holdings, led by CEO Adam Aron, ended the day up $2.28, to close at $5.19. That’s a big jump after shares in AMC tumbled in value since the cinema giant during the pandemic used its meme stock mania to raise fresh cash to stay afloat.
The latest speculative buying of AMC shares followed Roaring Kitty, also known as Keith Gill, returning online after a 3-year absence and rekindling interest in the the cinema chain’s shares. His post on X, formerly Twitter, received over 18 million views and sent shares in GameStop up $12.99, or 74 percent on Monday to close at $30.45.
The return of meme stock mania for the video game retailer effectively helped AMC ride the latest wave of retail investor interest on Wall Street. Representatives for AMC Theatres offered...
Stock in parent company AMC Entertainment Holdings, led by CEO Adam Aron, ended the day up $2.28, to close at $5.19. That’s a big jump after shares in AMC tumbled in value since the cinema giant during the pandemic used its meme stock mania to raise fresh cash to stay afloat.
The latest speculative buying of AMC shares followed Roaring Kitty, also known as Keith Gill, returning online after a 3-year absence and rekindling interest in the the cinema chain’s shares. His post on X, formerly Twitter, received over 18 million views and sent shares in GameStop up $12.99, or 74 percent on Monday to close at $30.45.
The return of meme stock mania for the video game retailer effectively helped AMC ride the latest wave of retail investor interest on Wall Street. Representatives for AMC Theatres offered...
- 5/13/2024
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The premise of the drag makeover show “We’re Here” is that queer liberation hasn’t extended as far as it could. For three seasons, a group of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” alumni have traveled to small towns throughout the country, helping members of the local LGBTQ community assert their identity and visibility through gender-bending performances. But even a project that deliberately targets places where gay and trans people might feel cut off from a sense of camaraderie — many locations are scattered throughout the South and Midwest, with occasional detours to California and Hawai’i — didn’t anticipate their own art...
- 5/13/2024
- by Alison Herman
- Variety - TV News
Kevin Costner says he was ready and willing to move ahead with Yellowstone in accordance with his contract on the show — but that the production wasn’t ready at the appointed time.
Save for a few comments at April’s CinemaCon, Costner has kept quiet about his apparent departure from the Paramount Network hit. As he prepares to premiere the first part of his western epic Horizon: An American Saga at Cannes, however, the actor and filmmaker is offering a much more detailed account of his side of the dispute with Yellowstone’s producers, including showrunner Taylor Sheridan.
“I haven’t felt good about it the last year, what with the way they’ve talked about it. It wasn’t truthful. So now I’m talking about a little bit about what the real truth of it was,” Costner said in a lengthy interview with Deadline. “I made a contract for seasons five,...
Save for a few comments at April’s CinemaCon, Costner has kept quiet about his apparent departure from the Paramount Network hit. As he prepares to premiere the first part of his western epic Horizon: An American Saga at Cannes, however, the actor and filmmaker is offering a much more detailed account of his side of the dispute with Yellowstone’s producers, including showrunner Taylor Sheridan.
“I haven’t felt good about it the last year, what with the way they’ve talked about it. It wasn’t truthful. So now I’m talking about a little bit about what the real truth of it was,” Costner said in a lengthy interview with Deadline. “I made a contract for seasons five,...
- 5/13/2024
- by Rick Porter
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Roku has landed exclusive multiyear rights for Major League Baseball’s Sunday Leadoff live games, a package previously with NBCUniversal’s Peacock.
Starting May 19, Roku will stream Sunday MLB games for free on the Roku Channel. The company also will launch a new MLB Zone to help baseball fans find live and upcoming games, nightly recaps, highlights, a fully programmed MLB free, ad-supported streaming TV channel, and other content across the Roku platform. The game telecasts will be produced in collaboration with MLB.
On most Sundays throughout the MLB season, Roku will be the home for the league’s first games of the day,...
Starting May 19, Roku will stream Sunday MLB games for free on the Roku Channel. The company also will launch a new MLB Zone to help baseball fans find live and upcoming games, nightly recaps, highlights, a fully programmed MLB free, ad-supported streaming TV channel, and other content across the Roku platform. The game telecasts will be produced in collaboration with MLB.
On most Sundays throughout the MLB season, Roku will be the home for the league’s first games of the day,...
- 5/13/2024
- by Todd Spangler
- Variety - TV News
Jason Cloth, a Canadian financier with credits on dozens of films including “Babylon” and “Joker,” was hit with a $19.6 million verdict last week after failing to appear at a fraud trial in West Palm Beach, Fla.
A seven-member jury found that Cloth defrauded an investor on “The Pathway,” a TNT docuseries about the NBA draft, out of $6.6 million. The jury also awarded $13 million in punitive damages.
Cloth is also facing a class action suit in Chicago, where is accused of defrauding investors on “Ghostbusters: Afterlife,” “Monkey Man” and other films out of more than $80 million.
“He’s made a career of telling people whatever they want to hear in order to get what he wants,” said attorney David Jonelis, who represented the plaintiff in the Florida case.
At the two-day trial, Jonelis presented evidence that Cloth had solicited the investment on “The Pathway” by claiming that it had been greenlit for five seasons.
A seven-member jury found that Cloth defrauded an investor on “The Pathway,” a TNT docuseries about the NBA draft, out of $6.6 million. The jury also awarded $13 million in punitive damages.
Cloth is also facing a class action suit in Chicago, where is accused of defrauding investors on “Ghostbusters: Afterlife,” “Monkey Man” and other films out of more than $80 million.
“He’s made a career of telling people whatever they want to hear in order to get what he wants,” said attorney David Jonelis, who represented the plaintiff in the Florida case.
At the two-day trial, Jonelis presented evidence that Cloth had solicited the investment on “The Pathway” by claiming that it had been greenlit for five seasons.
- 5/13/2024
- by Gene Maddaus
- Variety - Film News
Jason Cloth, a Canadian financier with credits on dozens of films including “Babylon” and “Joker,” was hit with a $19.6 million verdict last week after failing to appear at a fraud trial in West Palm Beach, Fla.
A seven-member jury found that Cloth defrauded an investor on “The Pathway,” a TNT docuseries about the NBA draft, out of $6.6 million. The jury also awarded $13 million in punitive damages.
Cloth is also facing a class action suit in Chicago, where is accused of defrauding investors on “Ghostbusters: Afterlife,” “Monkey Man” and other films out of more than $80 million.
“He’s made a career...
A seven-member jury found that Cloth defrauded an investor on “The Pathway,” a TNT docuseries about the NBA draft, out of $6.6 million. The jury also awarded $13 million in punitive damages.
Cloth is also facing a class action suit in Chicago, where is accused of defrauding investors on “Ghostbusters: Afterlife,” “Monkey Man” and other films out of more than $80 million.
“He’s made a career...
- 5/13/2024
- by Gene Maddaus
- Variety - TV News
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