Cillian Murphy is once again mining the non-fiction space for his work. After winning a best actor Oscar for Oppenheimer, the actor is attached to star in and produce Blood Runs Coal, an adaptation of the non-fiction book that Universal has acquired.
The project is based on the 2020 book Blood Runs Coal: The Yablonski Murders and the Battle for the United Mine Workers of America. Author Mark A. Bradley’s book follows the 1969 murder of mining union organizer Joseph “Jock” Yablonski, who was killed at home with his wife and daughter. The killings followed Yablonski campaigning against a corrupt union leader, and sparked a lengthy investigation that unveiled shady dealings within the coal industry.
John Davis and Jordan Davis will produce via Davis Entertainment. Murphy and Alan Moloney will produce via Big Things Films. Bradley will executive produce.
Murphy is busier than ever following his leading role in Oppenheimer as J. Robert Oppenheimer,...
The project is based on the 2020 book Blood Runs Coal: The Yablonski Murders and the Battle for the United Mine Workers of America. Author Mark A. Bradley’s book follows the 1969 murder of mining union organizer Joseph “Jock” Yablonski, who was killed at home with his wife and daughter. The killings followed Yablonski campaigning against a corrupt union leader, and sparked a lengthy investigation that unveiled shady dealings within the coal industry.
John Davis and Jordan Davis will produce via Davis Entertainment. Murphy and Alan Moloney will produce via Big Things Films. Bradley will executive produce.
Murphy is busier than ever following his leading role in Oppenheimer as J. Robert Oppenheimer,...
- 3/25/2024
- by Aaron Couch
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Universal Pictures has pre-emptively landed an adaptation of Mark A. Bradley’s “Blood Runs Coal: The Yablonski Murders and the Battle for the United Mine Workers of America,” with newly-minted Oscar winner Cillian Murphy attached to star and produce.
Jez Butterworth and John-Henry Butterworth will adapt the screenplay. They previously collaborated on “Edge of Tomorrow.”
John Davis and Jordan Davis will produce through Davis Entertainment, while Murphy and Alan Moloney will produce through Big Things Films. Mark A. Bradley will executive produce. Universal’s Lexi Barta, who was recently elevated to senior vice president of production, will oversee the project for the studio.
“Blood Runs Coal” takes place in the late 1960s in Pennsylvania’s coal mines, chronicling a shocking assassination that altered the history of American labor unions.
Murphy’s credits include films such as “Oppenheimer,” “The Dark Knight,” “Red Eye, “Dunkirk” and “A Quiet Place Part II,” while...
Jez Butterworth and John-Henry Butterworth will adapt the screenplay. They previously collaborated on “Edge of Tomorrow.”
John Davis and Jordan Davis will produce through Davis Entertainment, while Murphy and Alan Moloney will produce through Big Things Films. Mark A. Bradley will executive produce. Universal’s Lexi Barta, who was recently elevated to senior vice president of production, will oversee the project for the studio.
“Blood Runs Coal” takes place in the late 1960s in Pennsylvania’s coal mines, chronicling a shocking assassination that altered the history of American labor unions.
Murphy’s credits include films such as “Oppenheimer,” “The Dark Knight,” “Red Eye, “Dunkirk” and “A Quiet Place Part II,” while...
- 3/25/2024
- by Katcy Stephan
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Two nights before Cillian Murphy won the Best Actor Oscar for the Universal Pictures blockbuster Oppenheimer, the studio completed a pre-emptive acquisition for the Mark A. Bradley book Blood Runs Coal: The Yablonski Murders and the Battle for the United Mine Workers of America. It’s an epic story of a corrupt union leader who murders a rival and is taken down by the lawyer son of the slain coal miner. It will be scripted as a starring and producing vehicle for Murphy.
Jez Butterworth will write the script with John-Henry Butterworth. That duo worked together on Edge of Tomorrow. There is a lot here for them to mine.
Blood Runs Coal takes place in the late 1960s in the coal mines of Pennsylvania and chronicles one of the most infamous crimes in the history of organized labor.
Jez Butterworth will write the script with John-Henry Butterworth. That duo worked together on Edge of Tomorrow. There is a lot here for them to mine.
Blood Runs Coal takes place in the late 1960s in the coal mines of Pennsylvania and chronicles one of the most infamous crimes in the history of organized labor.
- 3/25/2024
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Director Joe Wright and writers Jez and John-Henry Butterworth have all boarded the upcoming Paramount+ series “The Department.”
The Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios series, which was announced with a straight-to-series order in February 2023, is based on the French drama series “Le Bureau des Legendes” created by Eric Rochant. Wright will direct the first two episodes and executive produce, while the Butterworths will writer and executive produce all episodes. George Clooney was originally announced as directing the series. He and Grant Heslov remain onboard as executive producers via Smokehouse Pictures.
“Joe Wright is a visionary director with a gift of focusing on intricate details to craft immersive and visually striking stories,” said Chris McCarthy, President and CEO of Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios. “And, Jez and John-Henry are masterful writers whose witty and emotionally charged language dives deep into their characters’ moral complexities, while simultaneously creating a propulsive narrative. Bringing these powerhouse...
The Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios series, which was announced with a straight-to-series order in February 2023, is based on the French drama series “Le Bureau des Legendes” created by Eric Rochant. Wright will direct the first two episodes and executive produce, while the Butterworths will writer and executive produce all episodes. George Clooney was originally announced as directing the series. He and Grant Heslov remain onboard as executive producers via Smokehouse Pictures.
“Joe Wright is a visionary director with a gift of focusing on intricate details to craft immersive and visually striking stories,” said Chris McCarthy, President and CEO of Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios. “And, Jez and John-Henry are masterful writers whose witty and emotionally charged language dives deep into their characters’ moral complexities, while simultaneously creating a propulsive narrative. Bringing these powerhouse...
- 3/5/2024
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
Chadwick Boseman’s tragic death at the age of 43 shocked the world on August 28, 2020. The talented young actor, best known around the world for his portrayal of the superhero Black Panther, broke into Hollywood through a series of portrayals of black historical figures. Boseman was a versatile actor, capable of playing his roles with both a dignified stoicism and a manic energy. In honor of the late actor’s memory, let’s take a look back at his greatest film roles in our ranked photo gallery.
Boseman began his career as a theater actor and director, and shortly after starred in several small television roles, culminating in a recurring role on the show “Persons Unknown.” The actor got his big break when he was cast as baseball star Jackie Robinson in the biopic “42,” and was subsequently cast as singer James Brown in another biopic, “Get On Up.” Boseman received...
Boseman began his career as a theater actor and director, and shortly after starred in several small television roles, culminating in a recurring role on the show “Persons Unknown.” The actor got his big break when he was cast as baseball star Jackie Robinson in the biopic “42,” and was subsequently cast as singer James Brown in another biopic, “Get On Up.” Boseman received...
- 11/25/2023
- by Zach Moore, Chris Beachum and Zach Laws
- Gold Derby
More than 30 years after she made her most famous dash across America in Thelma & Louise, two-time Oscar winner Geena Davis has lined up another wild road trip movie with Cowgirl’s Last Ride.
The comedy adventure was originally announced back in 2019, but has now taken shape, with Scoot McNairy (Argo, 12 Years a Slave), Julia Sweeney (Saturday Night Live, Pulp Fiction) and Jill Scott (The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, Get On Up) joining the cast and HanWay Films launching sales at the upcoming American Film Market.
Described as a “comedic odyssey set against the vast landscapes of rural Texas,” the story follows retired Texas cowgirl Fay (Davis), who escapes her Dallas nursing home and journey’s back towards her native East Texas, first in a in a stolen pickup truck then on a horse, on a ride of rediscovery to reconnect with her former self, all while in...
The comedy adventure was originally announced back in 2019, but has now taken shape, with Scoot McNairy (Argo, 12 Years a Slave), Julia Sweeney (Saturday Night Live, Pulp Fiction) and Jill Scott (The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, Get On Up) joining the cast and HanWay Films launching sales at the upcoming American Film Market.
Described as a “comedic odyssey set against the vast landscapes of rural Texas,” the story follows retired Texas cowgirl Fay (Davis), who escapes her Dallas nursing home and journey’s back towards her native East Texas, first in a in a stolen pickup truck then on a horse, on a ride of rediscovery to reconnect with her former self, all while in...
- 10/23/2023
- by Alex Ritman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
In 2011, the summer box office had concluded with a mid-budgeted historical drama starring primarily women dominating the box office for about a month from August to September. The Help was a film adaptation of an international bestseller by Kathryn Stockett from director Tate Taylor, whose credits include the James Brown biopic, Get On Up, and the horror film, Ma. The movie featured an all-star cast, including Viola Davis, Emma Stone, Bryce Dallas Howard, Octavia Spencer, and Jessica Chastain.
Deadline reveals that one of the film’s stars, Jessica Chastain, has proposed her idea for a sequel to the film. While appearing on Entertainment Weekly’s Awardist Podcast, Chastain spoke about the film and responded to the notion of a sequel, “You know who I think about all the time, and I just wish I could play her [again]? Celia Foote. I just want to do something, Celia and Minny, and see what happened.
Deadline reveals that one of the film’s stars, Jessica Chastain, has proposed her idea for a sequel to the film. While appearing on Entertainment Weekly’s Awardist Podcast, Chastain spoke about the film and responded to the notion of a sequel, “You know who I think about all the time, and I just wish I could play her [again]? Celia Foote. I just want to do something, Celia and Minny, and see what happened.
- 8/15/2023
- by EJ Tangonan
- JoBlo.com
Biopics about star athletes or artists tend to have the same broad shape: the rise to achievement and fame, the fall from triumph (often fueled by some combination of addiction and ego), the restoration to a harder-won glory. A great biopic, like “Get on Up” or “I, Tonya,” will tease a profound portrait of the subject out of that form; a middling one will oversimplify the subject just to hit the right beats. But then there’s a film like “Big George Foreman: The Miraculous Story of the Once and Future Heavyweight Champion of the World.” That’s not a movie title — it’s the title of a parable. And it’s well chosen, since “Big George Foreman” is about a life that feels so outlandishly ready-made for the ups and downs, the lessons and inspirations, of the superstar biopic genre that you don’t even have to mess with it.
- 4/27/2023
- by Owen Gleiberman
- Variety Film + TV
February is Black History Month, and with such a wide array of streaming options, there’s no shortage of options for learning about Black heritage and celebrating Black excellence.
Amazon Prime Video
Among the programming being promoted in Prime Video’s “Celebrating Black History Month” lineup are the new second season of “Harlem,” which follows four female friends from Harlem as they navigate their love lives and careers. There’s also the new original unscripted series “Coach Prime,” which chronicles Deion Sanders in his third year coaching football at Jackson State. Other noteworthy selections include Regina King‘s Oscar-nominated “One Night in Miami,” the acclaimed documentaries “My Name is Pauli Murray” and “I Am Not Your Negro,” the Emmy-nominated romance “Sylvie’s Love,” Spike Lee‘s “Chi-Raq,” the Aretha Franklin biopic “Respect” starring Jennifer Hudson, the Oscar-winning stage adaptation “Fences” from Denzel Washington, who also stars in Prime offerings “Devil in a Blue Dress...
Amazon Prime Video
Among the programming being promoted in Prime Video’s “Celebrating Black History Month” lineup are the new second season of “Harlem,” which follows four female friends from Harlem as they navigate their love lives and careers. There’s also the new original unscripted series “Coach Prime,” which chronicles Deion Sanders in his third year coaching football at Jackson State. Other noteworthy selections include Regina King‘s Oscar-nominated “One Night in Miami,” the acclaimed documentaries “My Name is Pauli Murray” and “I Am Not Your Negro,” the Emmy-nominated romance “Sylvie’s Love,” Spike Lee‘s “Chi-Raq,” the Aretha Franklin biopic “Respect” starring Jennifer Hudson, the Oscar-winning stage adaptation “Fences” from Denzel Washington, who also stars in Prime offerings “Devil in a Blue Dress...
- 2/9/2023
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
Viola Davis is set to receive the 48th Chaplin Award as she is feted by Film at Lincoln Center.
After securing Egot status at the 2023 Grammys after she won the best audiobook, narration and storytelling recording award for her memoir, Finding Me, Davis will be honored at a gala evening on April 24 at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall in New York City.
“Viola Davis brings her tremendous skill and fierce emotional intelligence to everything she does. The range of her accomplishments is remarkable — as an actor in film, television, and theater; as a producer opening doors for new voices; and as an inspirational memoirist. She is truly a force. We are honored to dedicate an evening to celebrating her achievements and talents at the 48th Chaplin Award gala,” Lesli Klainberg, president of Film at Lincoln Center, said in a statement on Thursday.
The Help actress has netted four Academy Award nominations,...
After securing Egot status at the 2023 Grammys after she won the best audiobook, narration and storytelling recording award for her memoir, Finding Me, Davis will be honored at a gala evening on April 24 at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall in New York City.
“Viola Davis brings her tremendous skill and fierce emotional intelligence to everything she does. The range of her accomplishments is remarkable — as an actor in film, television, and theater; as a producer opening doors for new voices; and as an inspirational memoirist. She is truly a force. We are honored to dedicate an evening to celebrating her achievements and talents at the 48th Chaplin Award gala,” Lesli Klainberg, president of Film at Lincoln Center, said in a statement on Thursday.
The Help actress has netted four Academy Award nominations,...
- 2/9/2023
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
This year’s Disney Legends panel felt different than it did three years ago, when “Iron Man” himself, Tony Stark, admitted to smoking pot at Disneyland. With three years removed from the event due to Covid, and the awareness that several prominent actors were being given Disney Legend status, the air felt charged for anything.
And after several happy speeches from the likes of “Frozen” actresses Idina Menzel and Kristen Bell, and inspirational moments like “Black-ish” actress Tracee Ellis Ross discussing the significance of her ABC series, the final Legend was met with utter appreciation and reverence. The late Chadwick Boseman was honored with the award, and his brother Derrick sought to remind the audience that the honor of Disney Legend status went deeper than anyone could have expected. The “Black Panther” star was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer in 2016 and died in 2020 at the age of 43.
After announcing...
And after several happy speeches from the likes of “Frozen” actresses Idina Menzel and Kristen Bell, and inspirational moments like “Black-ish” actress Tracee Ellis Ross discussing the significance of her ABC series, the final Legend was met with utter appreciation and reverence. The late Chadwick Boseman was honored with the award, and his brother Derrick sought to remind the audience that the honor of Disney Legend status went deeper than anyone could have expected. The “Black Panther” star was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer in 2016 and died in 2020 at the age of 43.
After announcing...
- 9/9/2022
- by Kristen Lopez
- Indiewire
This article contains spoilers for What If… Season One, Episode Two
In another universe, Chadwick Boseman got to enjoy the awards he earned. To be sure, praise was heaped upon the actor for his breakout role as James Brown in Get On Up and for playing the titular superhero in the culture-defining Black Panther. But major nominations did not come in until after Boseman’s shocking death at age 43 in 2020. Boseman’s final two live-action performances, as an inspiring leader of a Vietnam platoon in Spike Lee’s Da 5 Bloods, and as an electric jazz musician in the film adaptation of Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, earned nominations and victories for an Academy Award, a British Film Academy Award, and other top prizes.
That trend continues with Boseman earning a Primetime Emmy Award for his final performance in his signature role. Boseman played Wakandan prince T’Challa one last time...
In another universe, Chadwick Boseman got to enjoy the awards he earned. To be sure, praise was heaped upon the actor for his breakout role as James Brown in Get On Up and for playing the titular superhero in the culture-defining Black Panther. But major nominations did not come in until after Boseman’s shocking death at age 43 in 2020. Boseman’s final two live-action performances, as an inspiring leader of a Vietnam platoon in Spike Lee’s Da 5 Bloods, and as an electric jazz musician in the film adaptation of Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, earned nominations and victories for an Academy Award, a British Film Academy Award, and other top prizes.
That trend continues with Boseman earning a Primetime Emmy Award for his final performance in his signature role. Boseman played Wakandan prince T’Challa one last time...
- 9/6/2022
- by Joe George
- Den of Geek
Far removed from music-industry cities like Los Angeles and Nashville, the seeds of American music were sown in Mississippi soil, where the pioneers of blues, country, and rock ‘n’ roll followed dusty roads through forests and flatlands to perform for locals.
Today, visitors from across the U.S. and abroad follow the Mississippi Blues Trail and Country Music Trail into the same communities to learn about the land that birthed Robert Johnson, Charley Patton, Muddy Waters, and Jimmie Rodgers and experience the roots of contemporary American music culture.
Before you...
Today, visitors from across the U.S. and abroad follow the Mississippi Blues Trail and Country Music Trail into the same communities to learn about the land that birthed Robert Johnson, Charley Patton, Muddy Waters, and Jimmie Rodgers and experience the roots of contemporary American music culture.
Before you...
- 8/1/2022
- by Jim Beaugez
- Rollingstone.com
The Prince of Tides is the latest high-profile feature film that is being eyed for a television spinoff.
Deadline understands that The Help director Tate Taylor is developing a small-screen adaptation of the 1991 Barbra Streisand-fronted film for Apple.
The project is believed to be in the very early stages of development.
The film tells the story of a New York psychiatrist (Streisand) who is treating Sally (Melinda Dillon), an emotionally scarred woman who finds it helpful to discuss her South Carolina family’s troubled history with her twin brother (Nick Nolte). He and the psychiatrist find themselves drawn together by their equally turbulent pasts, and they form an alliance that ultimately leads to romance.
Based on Pat Conroy’s book and adapted for screen by Conroy and Becky Johnston, the film was directed by Streisand.
The series project comes from Sony Pictures Television, whose sister movie arm Columbia Pictures released the film,...
Deadline understands that The Help director Tate Taylor is developing a small-screen adaptation of the 1991 Barbra Streisand-fronted film for Apple.
The project is believed to be in the very early stages of development.
The film tells the story of a New York psychiatrist (Streisand) who is treating Sally (Melinda Dillon), an emotionally scarred woman who finds it helpful to discuss her South Carolina family’s troubled history with her twin brother (Nick Nolte). He and the psychiatrist find themselves drawn together by their equally turbulent pasts, and they form an alliance that ultimately leads to romance.
Based on Pat Conroy’s book and adapted for screen by Conroy and Becky Johnston, the film was directed by Streisand.
The series project comes from Sony Pictures Television, whose sister movie arm Columbia Pictures released the film,...
- 5/4/2022
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Apple is developing a series version of “The Prince of Tides.”
The series would be a remake of the 1991 film of the same name, which was itself an adaptation of the 1986 novel by Pat Conroy. Like the film, the series would follow Tom Wingo, who travels to New York after his sister attempts suicide. While there, he develops a relationship with his sister’s therapist, Susan Lowenstein, while also delving into painful memories from his childhood.
Tate Taylor will write and executive produce the adaptation, with John Norris executive producing with Taylor under their Wyolah Entertainment banner. Craig Anderson and Sharon Hall also executive produce. Sony Pictures Television is the studio.
Sources say that scripts are still being completed for the series. Apple does not comment on projects in development.
“The Prince of Tides” film starred Nick Nolte as Wingo and Barbara Streisand as Lowenstein. Streisand also directed the film,...
The series would be a remake of the 1991 film of the same name, which was itself an adaptation of the 1986 novel by Pat Conroy. Like the film, the series would follow Tom Wingo, who travels to New York after his sister attempts suicide. While there, he develops a relationship with his sister’s therapist, Susan Lowenstein, while also delving into painful memories from his childhood.
Tate Taylor will write and executive produce the adaptation, with John Norris executive producing with Taylor under their Wyolah Entertainment banner. Craig Anderson and Sharon Hall also executive produce. Sony Pictures Television is the studio.
Sources say that scripts are still being completed for the series. Apple does not comment on projects in development.
“The Prince of Tides” film starred Nick Nolte as Wingo and Barbara Streisand as Lowenstein. Streisand also directed the film,...
- 5/4/2022
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: UTA has signed actor, producer, and podcast host Tika Sumpter in all areas.
In film, Sumpter will next be seen in Paramount Pictures’ Sonic the Hedgehog 2 reprising the role of Maddie Wachowski alongside James Marsden and Jim Carrey later this year.
Previously, she starred opposite Robert Redford, Casey Affleck, Danny Glover, and Sissy Spacek in David Lowery’s The Old Man and The Gun, which premiered at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival; in Southside With You, which Sumpter co-produced with John Legend and premiered at the Sundance Film Festival; and in Universal’s award-winning James Brown biopic Get On Up alongside Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, and Chadwick Boseman, among others.
On the small screen, she recently starred in the ABC comedy series Mixed-ish, where she played Alicia Johnson opposite Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Gary Cole. Previously, she co-starred with Queen Latifah in HBO’s Bessie,...
In film, Sumpter will next be seen in Paramount Pictures’ Sonic the Hedgehog 2 reprising the role of Maddie Wachowski alongside James Marsden and Jim Carrey later this year.
Previously, she starred opposite Robert Redford, Casey Affleck, Danny Glover, and Sissy Spacek in David Lowery’s The Old Man and The Gun, which premiered at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival; in Southside With You, which Sumpter co-produced with John Legend and premiered at the Sundance Film Festival; and in Universal’s award-winning James Brown biopic Get On Up alongside Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, and Chadwick Boseman, among others.
On the small screen, she recently starred in the ABC comedy series Mixed-ish, where she played Alicia Johnson opposite Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Gary Cole. Previously, she co-starred with Queen Latifah in HBO’s Bessie,...
- 4/8/2022
- by Rosy Cordero
- Deadline Film + TV
The entertainment world has always been filled with a wild bunch of characters. But we're not just talking about the iconic personas of Ferris Bueller, Lucy Ricardo, Tony Montana, or Ellen Ripley. Sometimes the people behind the scenes are just as interesting as the larger-than-life roles they present to the public. And this especially applies to musicians.
Over the years, musical biopics have told the remarkable true stories of the artists that created our favorite songs. "Selena," "La Bamba," "Amadeus," and "Sid & Nancy" immediately come to mind, but newer hits like "Get On Up," "Straight Outta Compton," and "Love & Mercy" are excellent...
The post Piano Man: Billy Joel is Getting the Biopic Treatment With New Film appeared first on /Film.
Over the years, musical biopics have told the remarkable true stories of the artists that created our favorite songs. "Selena," "La Bamba," "Amadeus," and "Sid & Nancy" immediately come to mind, but newer hits like "Get On Up," "Straight Outta Compton," and "Love & Mercy" are excellent...
The post Piano Man: Billy Joel is Getting the Biopic Treatment With New Film appeared first on /Film.
- 3/9/2022
- by Ben F. Silverio
- Slash Film
[Editor’s note: This article was originally published in November 2021 and has been updated.]
Don’t let the title fool you: While Reinaldo Marcus Green’s crowd-pleasing biopic Best Picture contender “King Richard” gets its name from the tongue-in-cheek nickname of the father of the iconic Williams sisters, it’s Aunjanue Ellis’ Oscar-nominated turn as their mother Oracene Price that feels like the real revelation. Green’s film, produced by both Venus and Serena Williams (along with their sister Isha Price), tracks the rise of the tennis champs through the teachings of their mercurial, driven father. And while Will Smith turns in one of the best performances of his career as the eponymous Richard Williams, Ellis matches him at every turn.
For Ellis, bringing the full truth of Oracene Price — that’s “Ms. Oracene” to her — wasn’t just essential to the role; it became nothing less than a mission for the actress. But first, she had to counter her own misconceptions.
Ellis admits...
Don’t let the title fool you: While Reinaldo Marcus Green’s crowd-pleasing biopic Best Picture contender “King Richard” gets its name from the tongue-in-cheek nickname of the father of the iconic Williams sisters, it’s Aunjanue Ellis’ Oscar-nominated turn as their mother Oracene Price that feels like the real revelation. Green’s film, produced by both Venus and Serena Williams (along with their sister Isha Price), tracks the rise of the tennis champs through the teachings of their mercurial, driven father. And while Will Smith turns in one of the best performances of his career as the eponymous Richard Williams, Ellis matches him at every turn.
For Ellis, bringing the full truth of Oracene Price — that’s “Ms. Oracene” to her — wasn’t just essential to the role; it became nothing less than a mission for the actress. But first, she had to counter her own misconceptions.
Ellis admits...
- 3/3/2022
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Apple TV Plus has greenlit “Mrs. American Pie,” a new comedy series starring Kristen Wiig. Laura Dern executive produces and is eyeing a key role.
Set in the early ‘70s, “Mrs. American Pie” follows Maxine Simmons (Wiig) as she attempts to secure her place within the high society of Palm Beach. As she navigates the line between the haves and the have-nots, the series focuses on questions of who gets a seat at the table and what people will sacrifice to get there.
The series, which has received a 10-episode order, is based on Juliet McDaniel’s novel “Mr. & Mrs. American Pie.” Abe Sylvia will serve as showrunner and executive producer. Tate Taylor serves as director and executive produces with John Norris under their Wyolah Entertainment banner. Dern developed and will executive produce with Jayme Lemons under their Jaywalker Pictures banner. Katie O’Connell Marsh executive produces for Boat Rocker.
Set in the early ‘70s, “Mrs. American Pie” follows Maxine Simmons (Wiig) as she attempts to secure her place within the high society of Palm Beach. As she navigates the line between the haves and the have-nots, the series focuses on questions of who gets a seat at the table and what people will sacrifice to get there.
The series, which has received a 10-episode order, is based on Juliet McDaniel’s novel “Mr. & Mrs. American Pie.” Abe Sylvia will serve as showrunner and executive producer. Tate Taylor serves as director and executive produces with John Norris under their Wyolah Entertainment banner. Dern developed and will executive produce with Jayme Lemons under their Jaywalker Pictures banner. Katie O’Connell Marsh executive produces for Boat Rocker.
- 2/7/2022
- by Selome Hailu
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Recent The Inheritance Tony nominee John Benjamin Hickey is set to play Father Callahan in New Line’s big feature adaptation of Stephen King’s bestselling novel Salem’s Lot which is hitting theaters in the Warner Bros. post Labor Day holiday corridor of Sept. 9, 2022.
Hickey joins previously announced Lewis Pullman (Ben Mears), Alfre Woodard (Dr. Cody), Makenzie Leigh (Susan Norton), Bill Camp (Matthew Burke), Spencer Treat Clark (Mike Ryerson), and Pilou Asbæk (Straker) in the Gary Dauberman adapted and directed feature.
In the movie, author Ben Mears returns to his childhood home of Jerusalem’s Lot in search of inspiration for his next book only to discover his hometown is being preyed upon by a bloodthirsty vampire. As we previously reported, New Line is reteaming with their Conjuring universe and It franchise content creators, including Dauberman, producers James Wan and Michael Clear for Atomic Monster and Roy Lee for Vertigo and Mark Wolper.
Hickey joins previously announced Lewis Pullman (Ben Mears), Alfre Woodard (Dr. Cody), Makenzie Leigh (Susan Norton), Bill Camp (Matthew Burke), Spencer Treat Clark (Mike Ryerson), and Pilou Asbæk (Straker) in the Gary Dauberman adapted and directed feature.
In the movie, author Ben Mears returns to his childhood home of Jerusalem’s Lot in search of inspiration for his next book only to discover his hometown is being preyed upon by a bloodthirsty vampire. As we previously reported, New Line is reteaming with their Conjuring universe and It franchise content creators, including Dauberman, producers James Wan and Michael Clear for Atomic Monster and Roy Lee for Vertigo and Mark Wolper.
- 9/30/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
The late Chadwick Boseman was honored today on the anniversary of his death by friends, colleagues and fans. The Black Panther star died from complications of colon cancer last year on this date, keeping his condition a secret from all but his closest associates and thus shocking the world with his untimely passing at age 43.
Marvel Entertainment and Marvel Studios posted the same tribute. “Honoring our friend, our inspiration, and our King, Chadwick Boseman.”
Black Panther actor Lupita Nyong’o, who played King T’Challa’s love interest Nakia, also shared an image of the two of them together out of costume. “I did not know that I could miss both his laughter and his silence in equal measure. I do. I do… One year after his passing, the memory of @chadwickboseman remains this alive in me,” Nyong’o wrote.
Boseman’s other notable roles included Jackie Robinson in 42, James Brown in Get On Up,...
Marvel Entertainment and Marvel Studios posted the same tribute. “Honoring our friend, our inspiration, and our King, Chadwick Boseman.”
Black Panther actor Lupita Nyong’o, who played King T’Challa’s love interest Nakia, also shared an image of the two of them together out of costume. “I did not know that I could miss both his laughter and his silence in equal measure. I do. I do… One year after his passing, the memory of @chadwickboseman remains this alive in me,” Nyong’o wrote.
Boseman’s other notable roles included Jackie Robinson in 42, James Brown in Get On Up,...
- 8/28/2021
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Chadwick Boseman will be honored in a special tribute during Stand Up to Cancer’s (SU2C) fundraising telecast and streaming event on Saturday.
The late actor’s wife Simone Boseman and SU2C host Anthony Anderson will honor him during the biennial fundraising telecast and streaming event. Boseman passed away last year, at the age of 43, after a private battle with colon cancer.
The Academy Award-nominated actor is beloved for his work as the superhero T’Challa in four films, including Marvel’s “Black Panther,” a cultural phenomenon which broke box office records and earned a best picture Oscar nomination. The actor’s final performance as T’Challa began airing Wednesday, when his voice was featured in the second episode of Marvel’s “What If…?” series, now streaming on Disney Plus.
Boseman stepped into the legendary shoes of Jackie Robinson in “42,” James Brown in “Get on Up” and Thurgood Marshall in “Marshall.
The late actor’s wife Simone Boseman and SU2C host Anthony Anderson will honor him during the biennial fundraising telecast and streaming event. Boseman passed away last year, at the age of 43, after a private battle with colon cancer.
The Academy Award-nominated actor is beloved for his work as the superhero T’Challa in four films, including Marvel’s “Black Panther,” a cultural phenomenon which broke box office records and earned a best picture Oscar nomination. The actor’s final performance as T’Challa began airing Wednesday, when his voice was featured in the second episode of Marvel’s “What If…?” series, now streaming on Disney Plus.
Boseman stepped into the legendary shoes of Jackie Robinson in “42,” James Brown in “Get on Up” and Thurgood Marshall in “Marshall.
- 8/20/2021
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
Update, Aug. 20 Stand Up To Cancer will honor Chadwick Boseman with a special tribute by the late actor’s wife Simone and host Anthony Anderson at this year’s fundraising special tomorrow. Boseman, who starred in 42, Get On Up and Black Panther, died last year at the age of 43 of colon cancer.
Previous, July 28 Stand Up To Cancer will return for its seventh biennial televised fundraising special with Anthony Anderson, Sofia Vergara, Ken Jeong & Tran Ho serving as co-hosts.
Set to air Saturday, August 21 at 8 p.m. Et, this year’s Stand Up To Cancer event will broadcast from Los Angeles and air simultaneously on more than 60 participating media platforms across the United States and Canada. The telecast will also be available to stream live and on-demand on several streaming platforms.
The event, co-executive produced by Reese Witherspoon and Jim Toth, will see performances by Common, Brittany Howard and more...
Previous, July 28 Stand Up To Cancer will return for its seventh biennial televised fundraising special with Anthony Anderson, Sofia Vergara, Ken Jeong & Tran Ho serving as co-hosts.
Set to air Saturday, August 21 at 8 p.m. Et, this year’s Stand Up To Cancer event will broadcast from Los Angeles and air simultaneously on more than 60 participating media platforms across the United States and Canada. The telecast will also be available to stream live and on-demand on several streaming platforms.
The event, co-executive produced by Reese Witherspoon and Jim Toth, will see performances by Common, Brittany Howard and more...
- 8/20/2021
- by Alexandra Del Rosario
- Deadline Film + TV
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Music biopics have a way of inspiring audiences by sharing stories about our favorite musicians overcoming extreme hardships to accomplish odds-defying dreams. And it doesn’t hurt that music biopics usually have amazing soundtracks as well. In honor of “Respect” — the Aretha Franklin biopic starring Jennifer Hudson as the Queen of Soul — we rounded up a handful of must-see music biopics depicting the lives of legendary stars.
From Judy Garland to James Brown, see below for a roundup of great biopics that are available on Blu-ray. For more recommendations, be sure to read our list of other music documentaries based on true stories available now for streaming.
“Ray”
Buy:
$9.35
Buy it
Jamie Foxx...
Music biopics have a way of inspiring audiences by sharing stories about our favorite musicians overcoming extreme hardships to accomplish odds-defying dreams. And it doesn’t hurt that music biopics usually have amazing soundtracks as well. In honor of “Respect” — the Aretha Franklin biopic starring Jennifer Hudson as the Queen of Soul — we rounded up a handful of must-see music biopics depicting the lives of legendary stars.
From Judy Garland to James Brown, see below for a roundup of great biopics that are available on Blu-ray. For more recommendations, be sure to read our list of other music documentaries based on true stories available now for streaming.
“Ray”
Buy:
$9.35
Buy it
Jamie Foxx...
- 8/19/2021
- by Angel Saunders
- Indiewire
There are three new wide releases this weekend, but the question is whether they can pull the box office out of the downward trend it has been on. Last weekend had an overall box-office total of $65 million which, despite the opening of a big budget comic book franchise film, was the weakest overall weekend gross since June. It’s not easy to say exactly how much the resurgence of Covid-19 has impacted the box office in recent weeks, as there are other variables to factor in, from shortened or nonexistent theatrical windows, to content that perhaps isn’t quite “Must See” status, to get people out the door.
However, at this point it’s hard to deny that the Delta variant could set back the industry’s recovery, as Covid cases are the highest they’ve been in over six months and double where they were just a few weeks ago.
However, at this point it’s hard to deny that the Delta variant could set back the industry’s recovery, as Covid cases are the highest they’ve been in over six months and double where they were just a few weeks ago.
- 8/12/2021
- by Sam Mendelsohn <mail@boxofficemojo.com>
- Box Office Mojo
We’ve had definitive biopics on legendary Black soul artists like James Brown (“Get On Up“), Miles Davis (“Miles Ahead“), Tina Turner (“What’s Love Got To Do With It“), and Ray Charles (“Ray“). And while she’s appeared in many films and there have been documentaries made about her, there’s never really been a definitive movie biopic about the Queen of Soul, at least one that’s stuck in the collective conscious.
Continue reading ‘Respect’ Trailer: Jennifer Hudson Is The Queen Of Soul at The Playlist.
Continue reading ‘Respect’ Trailer: Jennifer Hudson Is The Queen Of Soul at The Playlist.
- 5/19/2021
- by Edward Davis
- The Playlist
All products and services featured by IndieWire are independently selected by IndieWire editors. However, IndieWire may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
Chadwick Boseman didn’t win a posthumous Oscar on Sunday, but there’s much to celebrate in the career of the prolific actor who proved that not even a cancer diagnosis could stop him from living out his dreams. In the four years after Boseman was secretly diagnosed with colon cancer, he shot “Black Panther,” and six other films culminating with his final onscreen performance in Netflix’s “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” for which he earned SAG and Golden Globe awards in the best actor category, and an Oscar nomination.
To honor Boseman’s memory, we put together a list of his movies that you can buy on Blu-ray. The films listed are available through Amazon Prime,...
Chadwick Boseman didn’t win a posthumous Oscar on Sunday, but there’s much to celebrate in the career of the prolific actor who proved that not even a cancer diagnosis could stop him from living out his dreams. In the four years after Boseman was secretly diagnosed with colon cancer, he shot “Black Panther,” and six other films culminating with his final onscreen performance in Netflix’s “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” for which he earned SAG and Golden Globe awards in the best actor category, and an Oscar nomination.
To honor Boseman’s memory, we put together a list of his movies that you can buy on Blu-ray. The films listed are available through Amazon Prime,...
- 4/26/2021
- by Latifah Muhammad
- Indiewire
Hulu has released a new teaser for Nine Perfect Strangers, an upcoming limited series starring Nicole Kidman that’s set to premiere later this year.
Based on Liane Moriarty’s 2018 novel by the same name, Nine Perfect Strangers stars Kidman as Masha, the director of a boutique health-and-wellness center that promises unique treatments to cure whatever ails its visitors. And while the new 30-second spot doesn’t offer much in the way of specifics, it appears that Masha’s techniques are all about taking new age cures to their extremes (in one wild shot,...
Based on Liane Moriarty’s 2018 novel by the same name, Nine Perfect Strangers stars Kidman as Masha, the director of a boutique health-and-wellness center that promises unique treatments to cure whatever ails its visitors. And while the new 30-second spot doesn’t offer much in the way of specifics, it appears that Masha’s techniques are all about taking new age cures to their extremes (in one wild shot,...
- 4/26/2021
- by Jon Blistein
- Rollingstone.com
Chicago – In one of the crueler events during the cruel year of 2020, the actor Chadwick Boseman died from cancer at age 43. But he left us two prominent roles in 2020, as a pivotal character in Spike Lee’s “Da Five Bloods” and in his 2021 Oscar nominated performance as Levee in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.”
Boseman broke out in a sympathetic and courageous performance as Jackie Robinson in “42” (2013), which landed him other biographical roles as singer James Brown in “Get On Up” (2014) and Supreme Court justice Thurgood Marshall in “Marshall” (2017). But it was his unforgettable Marvel Universe turn as T’Challa/Black Panther (2018 in “Black Panther”) that uplifted Boseman to iconic status as an actor.
Chadwick Boseman in Chicago, circa 2017
Photo credit: Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto for HollywoodChicago.com
As Levee in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” Boseman was in the spotlight as a “modern” black man who plays horn...
Boseman broke out in a sympathetic and courageous performance as Jackie Robinson in “42” (2013), which landed him other biographical roles as singer James Brown in “Get On Up” (2014) and Supreme Court justice Thurgood Marshall in “Marshall” (2017). But it was his unforgettable Marvel Universe turn as T’Challa/Black Panther (2018 in “Black Panther”) that uplifted Boseman to iconic status as an actor.
Chadwick Boseman in Chicago, circa 2017
Photo credit: Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto for HollywoodChicago.com
As Levee in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” Boseman was in the spotlight as a “modern” black man who plays horn...
- 4/21/2021
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Netflix is giving Chadwick Boseman the documentary special treatment this month with the surprise release of “Chadwick Boseman: Portrait of an Artist,” billed as an “intimate look” at the late actor with interviews from some of his closest Hollywood collaborators. The special debuts this weekend but will only be streaming for a limited 30-day window.
The official synopsis from Netflix for the special reads: “‘Chadwick Boseman: Portrait of an Artist’ is an intimate look at the Oscar-nominated actor’s incomparable artistry, and the acting process which informed his transformative performances. Viola Davis, Denzel Washington, Spike Lee, George C. Wolfe, Branford Marsalis, Phylicia Rashad and more take us behind the scenes to explore Boseman’s extraordinary commitment to his craft.”
Boseman is the frontrunner to win the Oscar for Best Actor this year thanks to his performance in the Netflix original drama “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” The actor has already won the Screen Actors Guild Award,...
The official synopsis from Netflix for the special reads: “‘Chadwick Boseman: Portrait of an Artist’ is an intimate look at the Oscar-nominated actor’s incomparable artistry, and the acting process which informed his transformative performances. Viola Davis, Denzel Washington, Spike Lee, George C. Wolfe, Branford Marsalis, Phylicia Rashad and more take us behind the scenes to explore Boseman’s extraordinary commitment to his craft.”
Boseman is the frontrunner to win the Oscar for Best Actor this year thanks to his performance in the Netflix original drama “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” The actor has already won the Screen Actors Guild Award,...
- 4/13/2021
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
Chadwick Boseman’s Best Actor Oscar nomination this morning for Netflix’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom reps the seventh time that an actor has received such a posthumous honor in either the Best Actor or Supporting Actor category from the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences.
Boseman’s turn as ambitious cornet player Levee, who raises tensions with the white record label management and spars with his fellow jazz band members in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom reps his first Oscar nomination. Boseman’s nom today was one of five received by the George C. Wolfe directed feature.
Boseman, who made a huge splash as T’Challa in Disney/Marvel’s three-time Oscar winning $1.34 billion grossing feature Black Panther in 2018, died at 43 on Aug. 28, 2020, after a long, quiet battle with colon cancer. His death left the industry shocked and in despair. Not only did the actor play notable Black...
Boseman’s turn as ambitious cornet player Levee, who raises tensions with the white record label management and spars with his fellow jazz band members in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom reps his first Oscar nomination. Boseman’s nom today was one of five received by the George C. Wolfe directed feature.
Boseman, who made a huge splash as T’Challa in Disney/Marvel’s three-time Oscar winning $1.34 billion grossing feature Black Panther in 2018, died at 43 on Aug. 28, 2020, after a long, quiet battle with colon cancer. His death left the industry shocked and in despair. Not only did the actor play notable Black...
- 3/15/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Before Monday morning, the late actor Chadwick Boseman had somehow never been nominated for an Academy Award, despite his astonishing performances as Jackie Robinson in 2013’s “42” and as James Brown in 2014’s “Get on Up” — not to mention his iconic role as the superhero T’Challa in 2018’s “Black Panther.”
That was finally rectified with Boseman’s nomination for best actor as an ambitious jazz trumpeter in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” It also puts Boseman, who died from colon cancer in August at 43, in one of the rarest and most bittersweet Oscar categories: the posthumous acting nominee.
Deceased nominees are not all that uncommon at the Oscars; there have been 79 in total before this year. But prior to Boseman, only seven actors had ever earned Academy Award nominations after their deaths.
The first posthumous acting nominee, Jeanne Eagels, didn’t technically receive an official nomination — the second Academy Awards...
That was finally rectified with Boseman’s nomination for best actor as an ambitious jazz trumpeter in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” It also puts Boseman, who died from colon cancer in August at 43, in one of the rarest and most bittersweet Oscar categories: the posthumous acting nominee.
Deceased nominees are not all that uncommon at the Oscars; there have been 79 in total before this year. But prior to Boseman, only seven actors had ever earned Academy Award nominations after their deaths.
The first posthumous acting nominee, Jeanne Eagels, didn’t technically receive an official nomination — the second Academy Awards...
- 3/15/2021
- by Adam B. Vary
- Variety Film + TV
“Judas and the Black Messiah” has been named best film by the African American Film Critics Association (Aafca), leading the list of winners at the 12th Aafca awards with four awards, including accolades for stars Daniel Kaluuya and Dominique Fishback. Director Shaka King will also be honored with the breakout director prize.
“Serving alongside an all-Black producing team, “Judas and the Black Messiah” director Shaka King created a project that permanently enshrines pivotal Black Panther leader Fred Hampton as an American hero,” Aafca President/Co-Founder Gil Robertson said in a statement announcing the winners. “Released against the backdrop of the present-day Black Lives Matter movement, the film’s message of commitment and sacrifice to social justice is empowering.”
Describing Kaluuya’s portrayal of the late Black Panther Party Chairman Fred Hampton as “literally on fire” and Fishback as “an actress to watch,” Robertson added, “our members are thrilled to award...
“Serving alongside an all-Black producing team, “Judas and the Black Messiah” director Shaka King created a project that permanently enshrines pivotal Black Panther leader Fred Hampton as an American hero,” Aafca President/Co-Founder Gil Robertson said in a statement announcing the winners. “Released against the backdrop of the present-day Black Lives Matter movement, the film’s message of commitment and sacrifice to social justice is empowering.”
Describing Kaluuya’s portrayal of the late Black Panther Party Chairman Fred Hampton as “literally on fire” and Fishback as “an actress to watch,” Robertson added, “our members are thrilled to award...
- 3/9/2021
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
This story about Chadwick Boseman first appeared in the Oscar Nominations Preview issue of TheWrap’s awards magazine.
In the fall of 2014, Chadwick Boseman sat in the patio restaurant at the Sunset Marquis Hotel in West Hollywood. At 37 years old, with five movies under his belt, he was tired from a European tour to promote his performance as James Brown in “Get on Up” but energized at the way his career had exploded in the last couple of years: a breakthrough role as Jackie Robinson in “42,” then “Get on Up,” and next up a deal to play a Marvel Comics character, Black Panther, in a series of films.
“Opportunities like this don’t happen to everybody, and there’s no good reason why (they) should have happened to me,” he said with a grin. “I feel blessed.”
With Jackie and James under his belt, Boseman admitted that he wasn...
In the fall of 2014, Chadwick Boseman sat in the patio restaurant at the Sunset Marquis Hotel in West Hollywood. At 37 years old, with five movies under his belt, he was tired from a European tour to promote his performance as James Brown in “Get on Up” but energized at the way his career had exploded in the last couple of years: a breakthrough role as Jackie Robinson in “42,” then “Get on Up,” and next up a deal to play a Marvel Comics character, Black Panther, in a series of films.
“Opportunities like this don’t happen to everybody, and there’s no good reason why (they) should have happened to me,” he said with a grin. “I feel blessed.”
With Jackie and James under his belt, Boseman admitted that he wasn...
- 3/3/2021
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
Amidst Sunday night’s half-virtual/half-physical Golden Globes awards ceremony–which was riddled with technical glitches and overshadowed by controversy over the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s lack of Black representation in its cloistered ranks–one moment stood out as possibly the most powerful and clearly the most moving of the evening.
That was when Taylor Simone Ledward, the widow of late actor Chadwick Boseman, accepted a posthumous award on her husband’s behalf when he won Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama for his work in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.
Boseman was widely favored to win even with formidable competition from Anthony Hopkins (The Father), Gary Oldman (Mank), Tahar Rahim (The Mauritanian), and Riz Ahmed (Sound of Metal). Boseman’s fiery turn as the angry, tormented young trumpeter Levee Green in the Netflix adaptation of August Wilson’s play was his final screen appearance. The actor passed away...
That was when Taylor Simone Ledward, the widow of late actor Chadwick Boseman, accepted a posthumous award on her husband’s behalf when he won Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama for his work in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.
Boseman was widely favored to win even with formidable competition from Anthony Hopkins (The Father), Gary Oldman (Mank), Tahar Rahim (The Mauritanian), and Riz Ahmed (Sound of Metal). Boseman’s fiery turn as the angry, tormented young trumpeter Levee Green in the Netflix adaptation of August Wilson’s play was his final screen appearance. The actor passed away...
- 3/1/2021
- by Don Kaye
- Den of Geek
Chadwick Boseman picked up the best actor in a motion picture-drama prize for his performance as a talented jazz musician in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” at the Golden Globe Awards on Sunday, becoming only the second posthumous winner in the category’s history. His wife, Simone Ledward Boseman, gave an emotional acceptance speech on the late actor’s behalf.
Boseman died on August 18, 2020, of cancer at the age of 43. His death at such a young age shocked Hollywood, coming as the actor had summited the A-list with his performance in the Marvel box office smash “Black Panther.”
“He would thank God. He would thank his parents. He would thank his ancestors for their guidance and their sacrifices,” Ledward Boseman said. “He would say something beautiful, something inspiring, something that would amplify that little voice inside of all of us that tells you, ‘You can,’ that tells you to keep going,...
Boseman died on August 18, 2020, of cancer at the age of 43. His death at such a young age shocked Hollywood, coming as the actor had summited the A-list with his performance in the Marvel box office smash “Black Panther.”
“He would thank God. He would thank his parents. He would thank his ancestors for their guidance and their sacrifices,” Ledward Boseman said. “He would say something beautiful, something inspiring, something that would amplify that little voice inside of all of us that tells you, ‘You can,’ that tells you to keep going,...
- 3/1/2021
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
February is the cruelest month for new film releases, and director Tate Taylor’s “Breaking News in Yuba County” is easily one of the worst cinematic gestures of the year so far. Allison Janney, Regina Hall, Juliette Lewis, and a cast of many more familiar (and typically welcome) faces lead a big ensemble of unlikable, unsympathetic characters in . It’s the kind of movie that seems to suck your soul out while you’re watching it, variably crass and slapstick humor landing with a bloody thud.
Perhaps some audiences will jive to the plot holes visible from outer space that perforate this movie written by “South Park” story editor Amanda Idoko, but Taylor does not understand how to make a pileup of errors and misunderstandings amid a folksy collective work the same way that, say, the Coen brothers do. Still, actors clearly enjoy working with the “Get on Up” and “The Help” filmmaker,...
Perhaps some audiences will jive to the plot holes visible from outer space that perforate this movie written by “South Park” story editor Amanda Idoko, but Taylor does not understand how to make a pileup of errors and misunderstandings amid a folksy collective work the same way that, say, the Coen brothers do. Still, actors clearly enjoy working with the “Get on Up” and “The Help” filmmaker,...
- 2/11/2021
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
Chadwick Boseman’s tragic death at the age of 43 shocked the world on August 28, 2020. The talented young actor, best known around the world for his portrayal of the superhero Black Panther, broke into Hollywood through a series of portrayals of black historical figures. Boseman was a versatile actor, capable of playing his roles with both a dignified stoicism and a manic energy. In honor of the late actor’s memory, let’s take a look back at his greatest film roles in our ranked photo gallery.
SEEWill Chadwick Boseman break Oscar record held by James Dean?
Boseman began his career as a theater actor and director, and shortly after starred in several small television roles, culminating in a recurring role on the show “Persons Unknown.” The actor got his big break when he was cast as baseball star Jackie Robinson in the biopic “42,” and was subsequently cast as singer James Brown in another biopic,...
SEEWill Chadwick Boseman break Oscar record held by James Dean?
Boseman began his career as a theater actor and director, and shortly after starred in several small television roles, culminating in a recurring role on the show “Persons Unknown.” The actor got his big break when he was cast as baseball star Jackie Robinson in the biopic “42,” and was subsequently cast as singer James Brown in another biopic,...
- 1/16/2021
- by Zach Moore
- Gold Derby
Chadwick Boseman only made his feature film debut in 2008 and appeared in just fifteen movies before his passing earlier this year at the age of 43, but he looks set to leave behind an indelible legacy despite such a brief time at the top. It was Jackie Robinson biopic 42 that first brought him mainstream attention, while Get on Up proved he was a massively versatile talent and Black Panther turned him into a megastar. But new Netflix release Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom will likely go down as the best performance of a career cut short in the most tragic of circumstances.
There’s been awards buzz building around the adaptation of August Wilson’s play for months now, especially after the early reactions were throwing every superlative under the sun at George C. Wolfe’s drama. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom currently holds a 99% score on Rotten Tomatoes with...
There’s been awards buzz building around the adaptation of August Wilson’s play for months now, especially after the early reactions were throwing every superlative under the sun at George C. Wolfe’s drama. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom currently holds a 99% score on Rotten Tomatoes with...
- 12/19/2020
- by Scott Campbell
- We Got This Covered
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (2020): Viola Davis as Ma Rainey. Cr. David Lee / Netflix
Chadwick Boseman’s last performance is opposite Viola Davis in a gripping drama based on August Wilson’s play, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” Boseman gives a fiery, heartbreaking performance in this excellent film. It is as fine, and fitting, a final performance as one could hope for from the late actor.
Ma Rainey’S Black Bottom is set during a recording session in 1927, with blues legend Ma Rainey (Viola Davis) and her band, including new horn player Levee (Chadwick Boseman). As the band rehearses apart from the star, the conversation is wide-ranging, touching on human ambitions and the treatment of Black musicians by the white-dominated music industry in the 1920s. Meanwhile, the cagey star engages in power plays with the white recording studio manager and her own business manager, as well as her band, to stay in control of her career.
Chadwick Boseman’s last performance is opposite Viola Davis in a gripping drama based on August Wilson’s play, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” Boseman gives a fiery, heartbreaking performance in this excellent film. It is as fine, and fitting, a final performance as one could hope for from the late actor.
Ma Rainey’S Black Bottom is set during a recording session in 1927, with blues legend Ma Rainey (Viola Davis) and her band, including new horn player Levee (Chadwick Boseman). As the band rehearses apart from the star, the conversation is wide-ranging, touching on human ambitions and the treatment of Black musicians by the white-dominated music industry in the 1920s. Meanwhile, the cagey star engages in power plays with the white recording studio manager and her own business manager, as well as her band, to stay in control of her career.
- 12/18/2020
- by Cate Marquis
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
29 November 1976 – 28 August 2020
The Oscar-winning costume designer – who worked with the actor on Black Panther – recalls a kind, self-assured man who would rather crack a joke than talk about his illness
Andrew Weatherall remembered by David HolmesRead the Observer’s obituaries of 2020 in full
In 2015, I interviewed for the film Marshall, about the supreme court justice Thurgood Marshall in the 1940s, and they told me that Chadwick Boseman was playing the lead. I really loved his work in 42 [playing Jackie Robinson], and as James Brown in Get on Up, so I was excited to meet him. He walked in for his first fitting and I showed him images and black-and-white videos of people in the 40s doing the lindy hop and going out partying. He started doing some of his James Brown moves in the room, to get us into the mood – I was amazed at his dancing abilities. Thurgood Marshall would...
The Oscar-winning costume designer – who worked with the actor on Black Panther – recalls a kind, self-assured man who would rather crack a joke than talk about his illness
Andrew Weatherall remembered by David HolmesRead the Observer’s obituaries of 2020 in full
In 2015, I interviewed for the film Marshall, about the supreme court justice Thurgood Marshall in the 1940s, and they told me that Chadwick Boseman was playing the lead. I really loved his work in 42 [playing Jackie Robinson], and as James Brown in Get on Up, so I was excited to meet him. He walked in for his first fitting and I showed him images and black-and-white videos of people in the 40s doing the lindy hop and going out partying. He started doing some of his James Brown moves in the room, to get us into the mood – I was amazed at his dancing abilities. Thurgood Marshall would...
- 12/12/2020
- by Ruth E Carter
- The Guardian - Film News
Towards the end of Marvel Studios’ presentation at Disney Investor Day on Thursday, Marvel boss Kevin Feige paid tribute to the late, great Chadwick Boseman. While doing so, he confirmed that Boseman’s character of T’Challa will not be recast in Black Panther II.
“I wanted to acknowledge the devastating loss of a dear friend and member of the Marvel Studios family,” Feige said. “Chadwick Boseman was an immensely talented actor and an inspirational individual who affected all of our lives professionally and personally. His portrayal of T’Challa the Black Panther is iconic and transcends iteration of the character in any other medium from Marvel’s past.”
Feige continued, “To honor the legacy that Chad helped us build through his portrayal of the king of Wakanda, we want to continue to explore the world of Wakanda and all of the rich and varied characters introduced in the first film.
“I wanted to acknowledge the devastating loss of a dear friend and member of the Marvel Studios family,” Feige said. “Chadwick Boseman was an immensely talented actor and an inspirational individual who affected all of our lives professionally and personally. His portrayal of T’Challa the Black Panther is iconic and transcends iteration of the character in any other medium from Marvel’s past.”
Feige continued, “To honor the legacy that Chad helped us build through his portrayal of the king of Wakanda, we want to continue to explore the world of Wakanda and all of the rich and varied characters introduced in the first film.
- 12/11/2020
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
Chadwick Boseman was honored by his fellow Marvel costars on this Sunday's MTV Movie and TV Awards.
Robert Downey Jr and Don Cheadle reportedly paid a heartfelt tribute to the late actor by presenting him the Hero for the Ages Award during the special event.
The 'Black Panther' star, who died in August was posthumously named as the 'Hero for the Ages' at the virtual ceremony which aired Sunday night, reports The Hollywood Reporter.
The 'Avengers' actors appeared on a large screen during the virtual awards special and paid their respects to Chadwick Boseman.
"The second you first saw him onscreen or had the opportunity to meet him in person, his energy and intensity was undeniable," the Iron Man star said.
"There was something different and special about Chadwick Boseman. Mr Boseman truly embodied what it meant to be a superhero," he continued.
"His impact as a groundbreaking leading man,...
Robert Downey Jr and Don Cheadle reportedly paid a heartfelt tribute to the late actor by presenting him the Hero for the Ages Award during the special event.
The 'Black Panther' star, who died in August was posthumously named as the 'Hero for the Ages' at the virtual ceremony which aired Sunday night, reports The Hollywood Reporter.
The 'Avengers' actors appeared on a large screen during the virtual awards special and paid their respects to Chadwick Boseman.
"The second you first saw him onscreen or had the opportunity to meet him in person, his energy and intensity was undeniable," the Iron Man star said.
"There was something different and special about Chadwick Boseman. Mr Boseman truly embodied what it meant to be a superhero," he continued.
"His impact as a groundbreaking leading man,...
- 12/7/2020
- by Omkar Padte
- GlamSham
Chadwick Boseman To Be Honored As Hero For The Ages At ‘MTV Movie & TV Awards: Greatest Of All Time’
The late Chadwick Boseman will be honored as Hero for the Ages at the MTV Movie & TV Awards: Greatest of All Time retrospective special.
Don Cheadle and Robert Downey Jr. will present the posthumous award, which honors a star whose heroism on-screen was only surpassed by the true hero they were off-screen. Hosted by Vanessa Hudgens, the 90-minute special premieres Sunday, December 6th 8pm Et/Pt. It will honor the biggest and best moments in film and TV from the 80s until now.
A SAG award-winning actor, Boseman landed his first major role in Persons Unknown, but his breakout performance came in 2013 for his portrayal of baseball player Jackie Robinson in Warner Bros’ 42. He went on to star as singer James Brown in Get on Up and Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall in Marshall. He made history as the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s first Black superhero to headline a feature with Black Panther.
Don Cheadle and Robert Downey Jr. will present the posthumous award, which honors a star whose heroism on-screen was only surpassed by the true hero they were off-screen. Hosted by Vanessa Hudgens, the 90-minute special premieres Sunday, December 6th 8pm Et/Pt. It will honor the biggest and best moments in film and TV from the 80s until now.
A SAG award-winning actor, Boseman landed his first major role in Persons Unknown, but his breakout performance came in 2013 for his portrayal of baseball player Jackie Robinson in Warner Bros’ 42. He went on to star as singer James Brown in Get on Up and Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall in Marshall. He made history as the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s first Black superhero to headline a feature with Black Panther.
- 12/4/2020
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
First time IFP Gotham Awards will recognise two actors from same film.
The late Chadwick Boseman will be honoured with a posthumous Gothams Actor Tribute and fellow Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom star Viola Davis will receive the Actress Tribute.
It is the first time two actors from the same film have been honoured by the IFP Gotham Awards.
The 30th anniversary awards show on January 11, 2021, will be presented from Cipriani Wall Street New York in a hybrid format with virtual interactive tables in accordance with Covid-19 protocols.
Boseman died of cancer in August and gave his final performance in...
The late Chadwick Boseman will be honoured with a posthumous Gothams Actor Tribute and fellow Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom star Viola Davis will receive the Actress Tribute.
It is the first time two actors from the same film have been honoured by the IFP Gotham Awards.
The 30th anniversary awards show on January 11, 2021, will be presented from Cipriani Wall Street New York in a hybrid format with virtual interactive tables in accordance with Covid-19 protocols.
Boseman died of cancer in August and gave his final performance in...
- 12/3/2020
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” opens with a thundering blues performance and ends with a gut punch. Both moments inject fresh energy and righteous fury into the 1982 August Wilson play that launched his 10-part Pittsburgh Cycle, but in between, the movie hews to more familiar turf. , director George C. Wolfe’s reverential adaptation livens up the material with sizzling color and vivid closeups. Save for a few digressions, however, Wolfe and screenwriter Ruben Santiago-Hudson have put the play into the movie, rather than vice versa.
For Wilson devotees and newbies alike, that’s a sturdy enough combo to let this bittersweet ode to the Mother of Blues strut its stuff. The second adaptation of the Pittsburgh Cycle following Denzel Washington’s sturdy “Fences” treatment (he serves as a producer here), “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” embodies the frustrations of Black artists in a society rigged against them, with the boisterous singer and...
For Wilson devotees and newbies alike, that’s a sturdy enough combo to let this bittersweet ode to the Mother of Blues strut its stuff. The second adaptation of the Pittsburgh Cycle following Denzel Washington’s sturdy “Fences” treatment (he serves as a producer here), “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” embodies the frustrations of Black artists in a society rigged against them, with the boisterous singer and...
- 11/20/2020
- by Eric Kohn
- Indiewire
Star of stage and screen Jenna Ushkowitz joins Josh and Joe to discuss her favorite musical biopics.
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
Gremlins (1984)
Back To The Future (1985)
Pee Wee’s Big Adventure (1985)
Sixteen Candles (1984)
Some Kind of Wonderful (1987)
National Treasure (2004)
The Sound of Music (1965)
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Star Wars (1977)
La Bamba (1987)
Selena (1997)
The Buddy Holly Story (1978)
De-Lovely (2004)
Night and Day (1946)
All That Jazz (1979)
A Chorus Line (1985)
Star 80 (1983)
Psycho (1960)
Evita (1996)
Love and Mercy (2014)
Grace of My Heart (1996)
Get On Up (2014)
Ray (2004)
What’s Love Got To Do With It? (1993)
El Norte (1983)
The Wedding Planner (2001)
Out of Sight (1998)
Hustlers (2019)
Sweet Charity (1969)
Moulin Rouge! (2001)
Chicago (2002)
Moulin Rouge (1952)
Roxie Hart (1942)
The Greatest Showman (2017)
Other Notable Items
Glee TV series (2009-2015)
The Tony Awards
The Emmy Awards
The Academy Awards
Pee Wee’s Playhouse (1986-1990)
Eric Stoltz
Harry Potter film series
Marvel Cinematic Universe
The Dark Knight trilogy
Christopher Nolan
Julie Andrews...
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
Gremlins (1984)
Back To The Future (1985)
Pee Wee’s Big Adventure (1985)
Sixteen Candles (1984)
Some Kind of Wonderful (1987)
National Treasure (2004)
The Sound of Music (1965)
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Star Wars (1977)
La Bamba (1987)
Selena (1997)
The Buddy Holly Story (1978)
De-Lovely (2004)
Night and Day (1946)
All That Jazz (1979)
A Chorus Line (1985)
Star 80 (1983)
Psycho (1960)
Evita (1996)
Love and Mercy (2014)
Grace of My Heart (1996)
Get On Up (2014)
Ray (2004)
What’s Love Got To Do With It? (1993)
El Norte (1983)
The Wedding Planner (2001)
Out of Sight (1998)
Hustlers (2019)
Sweet Charity (1969)
Moulin Rouge! (2001)
Chicago (2002)
Moulin Rouge (1952)
Roxie Hart (1942)
The Greatest Showman (2017)
Other Notable Items
Glee TV series (2009-2015)
The Tony Awards
The Emmy Awards
The Academy Awards
Pee Wee’s Playhouse (1986-1990)
Eric Stoltz
Harry Potter film series
Marvel Cinematic Universe
The Dark Knight trilogy
Christopher Nolan
Julie Andrews...
- 11/3/2020
- by Kris Millsap
- Trailers from Hell
While “The Trial of Chicago 7” is earning critical acclaim for writer/director Aaron Sorkin and his all-star cast led by Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne, it is also being singled out for its attention to detail in capturing the look of the late 1960s. And that praise could well translate into recognition from three key branches of the academy: costume designers, hairstylists and makeup artists, and production designers.
The production designer for the film is Shane Valentino, the set decorator is Andrew Baseman, the costumer is Susan Lyall and the hair and makeup teams were headed by Nathan J. Busch II and Louise McCarthy. While none of them have been nominated at the Oscars or their respective guilds, Valentino did receive a BAFTA nomination for Best Production Design in 2016 for “Nocturnal Animals” (lost to “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”) and Busch was Emmy-nominated for Best Hairstyling for a Single-Camera...
The production designer for the film is Shane Valentino, the set decorator is Andrew Baseman, the costumer is Susan Lyall and the hair and makeup teams were headed by Nathan J. Busch II and Louise McCarthy. While none of them have been nominated at the Oscars or their respective guilds, Valentino did receive a BAFTA nomination for Best Production Design in 2016 for “Nocturnal Animals” (lost to “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”) and Busch was Emmy-nominated for Best Hairstyling for a Single-Camera...
- 10/20/2020
- by Charles Bright
- Gold Derby
Netflix unveiled the first trailer and preview for the upcoming “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” Monday morning along with a conversation with co-star Viola Davis and director George C. Wolfe. The movie version premieres Dec. 18 on Netflix
The acclaimed August Wilson play “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” is set in the late 1920s around the pioneering “queen of the blues” (played by Davis) and her band members.
Boseman, who died of colon cancer in August, plays Levee, a talented but troubled trumpet player who has an eye for Rainey’s girlfriend and is determined to stake his own claim on the music industry. Davis, who had played Boseman’s mother in “Get on Up,” said, “Chadwick was just an artist. That’s just who he was.”
Davis went on to say, “I don’t know that people understand the absolute impact of that statement. We are in the business, that a lot...
The acclaimed August Wilson play “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” is set in the late 1920s around the pioneering “queen of the blues” (played by Davis) and her band members.
Boseman, who died of colon cancer in August, plays Levee, a talented but troubled trumpet player who has an eye for Rainey’s girlfriend and is determined to stake his own claim on the music industry. Davis, who had played Boseman’s mother in “Get on Up,” said, “Chadwick was just an artist. That’s just who he was.”
Davis went on to say, “I don’t know that people understand the absolute impact of that statement. We are in the business, that a lot...
- 10/19/2020
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
Viola Davis is the first Black actress to win a Tony, Primetime Emmy and Oscar. Could a Grammy be in her future to complete that Egot? On the basis of this morning’s Netflix presentation of five clips from Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, its December 18 release of the film version of August Wilson’s first play in his Century Cycle of 10 plays, it could be possible. Although as director George C. Wolfe explained in a 40-minute conversation with Davis and moderator Nelson George, the musical aspects of this great blues story set in 1924 Chicago was indeed a collaboration led by the great Branford Marsalis, and included bringing in another singer to augment Davis’ own vocals on some of the songs.
That said, another Oscar nomination seems entirely possible for Davis, who won her Supporting Actress Academy Award, and a Tony on Broadway, for her performance opposite Denzel Washington in...
That said, another Oscar nomination seems entirely possible for Davis, who won her Supporting Actress Academy Award, and a Tony on Broadway, for her performance opposite Denzel Washington in...
- 10/19/2020
- by Pete Hammond
- Deadline Film + TV
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