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Exclusive: Constant speculation has been circling The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum pertaining to whether iconic Lord of the Rings actors will reprise their roles, and original star John Rhys-Davies just gave a hopeful answer. Andy Serkis' The Hunt for Gollum movie is expected in December 2027, with the great actor directing and returning to his famous role. The movie is widely expected to depict Aragorn and Gandalf tracking Gollum, therefore overlapping with The Fellowship of the Ring in the Lord of the Rings timeline.

Viggo Mortensen and Ian McKellen returning as Aragorn and Gandalf, respectively, seems like it would be vital to this story (neither actor is confirmed for Hunt for Gollum), but other classic Lord of the Rings characters have the potential to appear as well. And, in an interview with Screen Rant's Joe Deckelmeier at Fan Expo Philadelphia, Gimli actor John Rhys-Davies apparently confirmed...

The third day of Cannes was noticeably sleepier, but what could compete with Tom Cruise and the cast and crew of “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” storming the Croisette?

Broken silence

On the first day of the Cannes Film Festival, a letter was published condemning the silence of the Hollywood film industry over Israel’s military action in Gaza. Now, more A-listers have added their names to the list, including Joaquin Phoenix (whose “Eddington” premieres at the festival Friday), jury president Juliette Binoche, Riz Ahmed, Jim Jarmusch, Michael Moore and Guillermo del Toro, whose long-awaited take on “Frankenstein” opens later this year.

“Since the terrible massacres of 7 October 2023, no foreign journalist has been authorised to enter the Gaza Strip. The Israeli army is targeting civilians. More than 200 journalists have been deliberately killed. Writers, filmmakers and artists are being brutally murdered,” the letter stated.

What spurred the letter, specifically, was...

Exclusive: Here’s a very cool project bubbling at this year’s Cannes market.

We can reveal that Jacob Elordi and Lily-Rose Depp, two of the industry’s buzziest young names, are set to star in Outer Dark, a film based on iconic author Cormac McCarthy’s (No Country For Old Men) dark 1968 novel.

The “dark fairytale”, which is being lined up to shoot in 2026, will mark the English-language debut of Oscar-winning Son Of Saul filmmaker Laszlo Nemes.

Outer Dark is set in Appalachia during the Great Depression and tells of a young woman who bears her brother’s baby. The brother leaves the nameless infant in the woods to die, but tells his sister that the newborn died of natural causes and had to be buried. The sister discovers this lie and sets out to find the baby for herself. But as both brother and sister separately move through the countryside,...

The Cannes world premiere of Sepideh Farsi’s documentary “Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk” turned into a moving tribute to its protagonist Fatma Hassona, who was killed by an Israeli missile just weeks earlier.

An emotional Farsi fought back tears as she introduced the film and afterwards held aloft a photo of Hassona.

Hassona, a 25-year photojournalist who based in Gaza, was killed with her family by an Israeli missile that targeted her building in April, just a day after the film had been selected for Cannes.

In the film, it was revealed that Farsi and Hassona had spoken about the possibility of her leaving Gaza and attending the festival.

On the first day of Cannes, Hassona was named in a letter signed by more than 370 industry figures that condemned her death and also criticized “silence” from the cinema industry over Gaza.

Signed by names such as Mark Ruffalo,...

Joaquin Phoenix, Juliette Binoche, Pedro Pascal, Riz Ahmed and Guillermo del Toro are among a group of figures to have added their names to a letter condemning the film industry for its “silence” over the ongoing and deadly impact of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.

The letter, published on the first day of Cannes and initially signed by more than 370 actors and filmmakers, also condemned Israel’s killing of Fatma Hassona, the protagonist of festival-bound doc “Put Your Soul in Your Hand and Walk.”

The new signatories also includes the likes of Rooney Mara, Jim Jarmusch, Omar Sy, Peter Straughan, Camille Cottin, Michael Moore, Boots Riley and Alice Rohrwacher.

The letter urged cinema — which it said was a “breeding ground for socially committed works” — to use its art form to “draw lessons from history, to make films that are committed” and to be “present to protect oppressed voices.”

The...

A group of more than 350 international actors, directors and producers have signed a letter published on the first day of Cannes condemning the killing of Fatma Hassona, the Palestinian photojournalist and protagonist of the festival-bound documentary “Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk,” in an Israeli airstrike.

The letter, signed by names such as Mark Ruffalo, Guy Pearce, Ralph Fiennes, Melissa Barrera, Yorgos Lanthimos, Javier Bardem, Hannah Einbinder, Pedro Almodóvar, David Cronenberg, Alfonso Cuarón, Mike Leigh, Alex Gibney, Viggo Mortensen, Cynthia Nixon, Tessa Ross and many more, also called out the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences’ for its “lack of support” for “No Other Land” co-director Hamdan Ballal.

Just three weeks after winning the Oscar for the documentary, Ballal was assaulted by settlers and kidnapped by the Israeli army. After being criticized for its silence over the incident, AMPAS eventually publicly apologized. “We are ashamed of such passivity,...

More than 350 film world figures, including Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon and Javier Bardem, have published an open letter on the eve of the Cannes Film Festival condemning “silence” over the deadly impact of Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza.

The letter, published on the website of France’s Libération newspaper on Monday evening, was headed “In Cannes, the horror Gaza must not be silenced”. It was addressed “For Fatem”, in memory of 25-year-old Gaza artist and photojournalist Fatima Hassouna.

The young woman was killed in an Israeli airstrike in mid-April just 24 hours after it was announced a documentary exploring her life in the Gaza Strip would world premiere in the Cannes. Ten of her relatives, including her pregnant sister, were killed in same strike.

“She was a Palestinian freelance photojournalist. She was targeted by the Israeli army on 16 April, 2025, the day after it was announced that Sepideh Farsi’s...

Austin Butler has been attached to star in an adaptation of Don Winslow’s City on Fire for the last two years, but the project is finally moving forward as it now has a director. Deadline reports that Matt Ross (Captain Fantastic) has been tapped to direct City on Fire for Sony’s 3000 Pictures.

The novel is the first installment of a trilogy that “focuses on two criminal empires — one Irish, the other Italian — that control all of New England, until a modern-day Helen of Troy tears them apart and starts a brutal war. The main character, Danny Ryan, is forced to grow from a street soldier into a ruthlessly efficient leader to protect his friends, his family and the home he loves. Fighting the Mafia, the local cops, the feds – everyone – Danny builds a dynasty or will die trying.” Should the film be successful, I’d imagine that the other two novels,...

Exclusive: Sony’s 3000 Pictures adaptation of Don Winslow’s best-selling crime novel City On Fire is gaining some steam as sources tell Deadline Captain Fantastic director Matt Ross is coming on to helm the pic starring Austin Butler. Butler will also produce along with David Heyman of Heyday Films and Shane Salerno and The Story Factory. Challengers writer Justin Kuritzkes adapted the script.

The trilogy focuses on two criminal empires — one Irish, the other Italian — that control all of New England, until a modern-day Helen of Troy tears them apart and starts a brutal war. The main character, Danny Ryan, is forced to grow from a street soldier into a ruthlessly efficient leader to protect his friends, his family and the home he loves. Fighting the Mafia, the local cops, the feds – everyone – Danny is out to build a dynasty or will die trying.

A modern retelling of the Iliad,...

Chicago – In the pantheon of filmmaker breakthroughs from the 1980s, David Cronenberg is a “name above the title” … along with Spielberg, Scorsese, Cameron, Stone, Carpenter and Lynch … in his distinct style and influence. His latest film – currently in select theaters – is “The Shrouds.” Patrick McDonald got the privilege of talking to the master.

In “The Shrouds,” the angular Vincent Cassel is Karsh, a bereaved widower who is also a tech financier. In memoriam to his wife Becca, Karsh has built a new style of memorial called GraveTech, in which the bodies of the deceased are enmeshed in a digital shroud, which uses it’s camera chips to project an image of the decaying corpse on a screen embedded in the gravestone. This morbid technique gets some interest for other uses by the Chinese and the Russians, as well as Karsh’s tech expert Maury (Guy Pearce). It is a vandalism...

Last March, we got word that a new The Lord of the Rings movie titled The Hunt for Gollum was set to hit theaters in 2026, with Andy Serkis on board to direct and reprise the title role of Sméagol after first bringing the iconic character to life in Peter Jackson's acclaimed trilogy.

The project was later hit with a significant delay (that original date always seemed like a long shot), and Warner Bros. has now announced that the next live-action Lotr film will be with us on December 17, 2027.

Jackson and his writing partners Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens are set to return as producers, and “will be involved every step of the way,” according to Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav.

Boyens recently confirmed that the story will be set "after the birthday party of Bilbo and before the Mines Of Moria.”

This time period is mentioned in both Tolkien's novels and Jackson's films,...

'Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum' will be released on December 17 2027.The spin-off movie of the hit franchise - which is based on the book series by J.R.R. Tolkien - will see Andy Serkis reprise his role as the titular monster, and on Thursday (08.05.25) developers New Line Cinema and Warner Bros announced the official release date.As well as starring, Serkis will take on the role of director, whilst Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, and Philippa Boyens will serve once again as producer on the project.Jackson previously explained that it it made sense to explore Gollum/Sméagol more than the likes of Aragorn (Viggo Mortenson) and Legolas (Orlando Bloom) with the upcoming film. He told Deadline: "The Gollum/Sméagol character has always fascinated me because Gollum reflects the worst of human nature, whilst his Sméagol side is, arguably, quite sympathetic."I think he connects with readers and film audiences alike,...

It's official: we're going back to Middle-earth. Today Warner Bros. Discovery confirmed the release date for its next Lord of the Rings film, The Hunt for Gollum: December 17, 2027. We'll be spending Christmas with Sméagol!

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens are working together again on The Hunt for Gollum and a second, as yet unnamed Lord of the Rings movie. They're part of the team that made the legendary trilogy of movies in the early 2000s, so obviously their involvement in The Hunt for Gollum bodes well.

Andy Serkis will of course return to the role of Gollum, which he played in both The Lord of the Rings movies as well as the first movie in The Hobbit trilogy. He's also the director for The Hunt for Gollum, which I imagine means we're going to be getting quite deep into Sméagol's psyche in this new movie.

Lord Of The Rings: The Hunt For Gollum will head to cinemas in December 2027 as a Christmas treat. More on the film and its release plans below.

We’ve been waiting eagerly for more news about Andy Serkis’ return to Middle Earth as the director has been busy working on Lord Of The Rings: The Hunt For Gollum.

The film, following the titular fan-favourite character, was announced in May 2024 and Warner Bros. has now dated it for 17th December 2027, as Deadline reports.

Serkis will not only direct, but star as Gollum as he did in the original Lord Of The Rings trilogy. The original team behind the award-hoarding trilogy, Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, are heavily involved in The Hunt For Gollum, which is written by Walsh, Boyens, Phoebe Gittins and Arty Papageorgiou.

Aside from that, we know very little about the film at this stage. Plot details...

The Lord of the Rings spin-off movie, The Hunt for Gollum, has now been given a release date by Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema. The movie will adapt the appendices of J. R. R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings" book, and finds the wizard Gandalf the Grey (played by Ian McKellen in the original trilogy and The Hobbit movies) tasking Aragorn (played by Viggo Mortensen in the movies) with hunting down Gollum, who they believe has the One Ring.

After being pushed back earlier this year, The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum has now officially been given a release date of December 17, 2027. Meaning that, much like Peter Jackson’s beloved trilogy, The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum will delight audiences in theaters during Christmas, providing delight, terror, and epic fantasy spectacle for the festive season.

According to Deadline, Disney also...

The Lord of the Rings fans now know when The Hunt for Gollum will officially begin. Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema have revealed the release date for the hotly anticipated spinoff of Peter Jackson's Lotr trilogy.

Per Deadline, The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum will be released in theaters on Dec. 17, 2027. Warner Bros. was originally eyeing a December 2026 release for The Hunt for Gollum, but fans have known since February that that was no longer the target. The upcoming fantasy movie serves as both a spinoff and a midquel to Jackson's acclaimed Lord of the Rings trilogy, with The Hunt for Gollum set during the events of 2001's The Fellowship of the Ring, taking place after Bilbo Baggins' 111th birthday party but before the Mines of Moria.

Warner Bros. and New Line first announced plans to journey back to Middle-earth in February 2023, with...

The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum now has an official release date, and it continues a franchise trend. Based on the book series by J. R. R. Tolkien, the first live-action Lord of the Rings movie arrived in 2001 with Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. Five live-action movies later, Andy Serkis is now set to direct and star in The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, which is expected to take place during the events of Jackson's first Middle-earth adventure.

Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema now reveal that The Hunt for Gollum will release in theaters on December 17, 2027. The announcement confirms that Serkis will direct and star in the film, with Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens producing. The Hunt for Gollum's script will hail from Walsh, Boyens, Phoebe Gittins, and Arty Papageorgiou. This new release...

Gollum will officially return to the big screen for Christmas 2027. Warner Bros. has announced that Andy Serkis’ “The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum” will open in theaters Dec. 17, 2027. The studio has also dated the next “Evil Dead” movie, starring Souheila Yacoub, for July 24, 2026, and M. Night Shyamalan’s “Remain” for Oct. 23, 2026. Jake Gyllenhaal, Phoebe Dynevor and Ashley Walters star in Shyamalan’s latest.

The release date for “The Hunt for Gollum” is hardly a surprise given all six movies in Peter Jackson’s “Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” film trilogies opened in December ahead of the Christmas holiday. Each trilogy powered to $2.9 billion at the worldwide box office.

Warner Bros. first announced “The Hunt for Gollum” last summer and said it would be ready for theaters in 2026. The film has been delayed a year. Serkis is directing the tentpole and once again starring in the title role,...

Nicolas Cage has always followed his own unique rhythm when it comes to picking roles. Cage never quite plays it safe—and that’s exactly why audiences can’t take their eyes off him. Over the years, he’s become a magnet for internet memes, a favorite for offbeat roles, and a total legend in cult cinema circles. But beyond all the films he did take on, there’s a handful of iconic roles that were this close to landing in his lap.

Due to timing, travel hesitations, or just gut decisions, Cage had to pass them up, leaving those parts to other stars who, to be fair, did a pretty incredible job. Still, it’s a fun “what if” game to picture Cage stepping into these beloved characters. Here’s a look at five iconic roles that Nicolas Cage almost played—and how things might’ve looked very different if he had said yes.

Mahershala Ali has easily become one of the most respected actors in the film industry. Having won two Academy Awards in the Best Supporting Actor category in the past decade, he scaled the Hollywood ladder with his talent. In addition to his indie and critically acclaimed achievements, he has also been cast in the role of Blade in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Although the project has been stuck in developmental hell for quite some time now, fans could not be more excited about him playing the iconic character, regardless of how long it takes. While fans know a lot about his career in the film industry, they hardly know that the actor would have chosen a different career path at one point in his life.

Mahershala Ali was a star athlete

Long before he was winning Oscars and starring in critically acclaimed masterpieces, Mahershala Ali used to attend Saint Mary...

In the many millennia since, literature became an avid means of escaping human toil, there have been many stories written and retold. And in the modern age, one can argue that none quite captures the imagination so wholly as J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. In the early 2000s, director Peter Jackson adapted Tolkien's tale of the Third Age of Middle-earth, with The Fellowship of the Ring, and the subsequent two films, earning Jackson's trilogy a spot in cinematic folklore. However, that journey is not ended, as May 2024 brought with it the revelation that a new wave of movies from Middle-earth would be descending upon us soon, and Liv Tyler would very much like to be a part of it.

Tolkien's stories offered us a vast array of brilliant Elven characters to adore, and in Jackson's trilogy, Tyler's Arwen stood out. The daughter of Elrond (Hugo Weaving) and Celebrían,...

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This May, Prime Video is bringing you a lot of entertainment, from the much-anticipated sequel of A Simple Favor to the release of the raunchy comedy-drama series Overcompensating. However, for the purposes of this article, we are only including the films that are coming to Prime Video this month and have a 90% or higher Rotten Tomatoes score. So, check out the 7 best films that are coming to Prime Video in May 2025 with a 90% or higher Rotten Tomatoes score.

All Quiet on the Western Front (May 1) Rotten Tomatoes Score: 98% Credit – Universal Pictures

All Quiet on the Western Front is a pre-Code anti-war film directed by Lewis Milestone. Based on the 1929 novel of the same name by German author Erich Maria Remarque, the 1930 film follows a naive soldier who enlists to fight in World War I and soon comes face-to-face with the horror of war,...

Andrew Karpen, founder and CEO of Bleecker Street, has died after an extended battle with glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer. He was 59.

Karpen was a mainstay of the independent film industry for much of the 21st century, serving as co-ceo of Focus Features for more than a decade before leaving to found Bleecker Street, which took its name from the New York street where Focus’ headquarters was located, in 2014.

Bleecker Street made its first film acquisition at TIFF 2014 with “Pawn Sacrifice,” which starred Tobey Maguire as chess legend Bobby Fischer. In the decade since, Bleecker Street’s filmography has included movies like “Captain Fantastic” starring Viggo Mortensen and “Trumbo” starring Bryan Cranston, both of whom received Oscar nominations for their performances.

Other films include the Steven Soderbergh heist film “Logan Lucky” and the war drama “Eye in the Sky” starring Helen Mirren as well as Alan Rickman in his last live action role.

Andrew Karpen, a widely respected film executive and the founder of Bleecker Street Media, died on Monday in Connecticut. He was 59.

Karpen, an easygoing fixture of the indie film scene, was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer, in 2024. Before launching Bleecker Street in 2014, Karpen served as co-ceo of Focus Features for more than a decade.

“Our industry has lost a giant,” said Kent Sanderson, Bleecker Street’s president and Karpen’s longtime friend, in a statement. “Andrew taught us all so much, foremost of which is the value of kindness, honesty, and family above all else. His leadership and courage will inspire all of us at Bleecker Street for the rest of our lives.”

At Bleecker Street, Karpen oversaw the release of 75 films including “Trumbo” and “Captain Fantastic,” which received Oscar nominations for the performances of Bryan Cranston and Viggo Mortensen. The company also released arthouse box office...

The Og "Lord of the Rings" crew has been in the news cycle a lot lately. With Warner Bros. planning new live-action J.R.R. Tolkien film adaptations, everyone is wondering who could show up again after a 20-year hiatus from Middle-earth acting.

You can count Liv Tyler among those ready to jump right back into the action. Tyler is, of course, famous for playing the Elven queen Arwen in Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" film trilogy. While the character has a minor role in Tolkien's source material, Arwen is busy in the movies. She fills in for the Elf-lord Glorfindel by saving Frodo (Elijah Woods) from the Black Riders and encourages Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) to fulfill his destiny and confront Sauron. She was even filmed in various fight sequences, including the Battle of Helm's Deep (although that was later cut during post-production).

Now, Tyler has gone on record saying...

Film sets are surprisingly dangerous places. Between stunt work, the elements and the ever-present threat of a kiss from Francis Ford Coppola, on-set injuries have ranged from minor scrapes to serious tragedy. Some movies, though, can’t help but relentlessly punish the people bringing them to life.

5 ‘The Lord of the Rings’ Broke Viggo Mortensen’s Toes and Teeth

We’ve all heard the story about Mortensen breaking his toes when he grief-kicked a helmet in The Two Towers, but that’s not all he broke. While shooting the Battle of Helm’s Deep, “his front tooth snapped off at the root,” according to director Peter Jackson, broken by an Orc’s sword. He also nearly drowned floating down the Anduin after a current pulled him under and narrowly missed getting stabbed in the face twice due to prop malfunction in the first movie. It’s a wonder the king returned at all.

Before the pandemic, David Cronenberg pitched a series to Netflix.

The director of movies like “Videodrome,” “The Fly” and “eXistenZ” – stories that investigated the dangerous frontier of cutting-edge technology – said that he was interested in streaming as a new form of cinema. “I thought it was really cinema, but it’s not traditional movies – it’s kind of interesting to do, let’s say an eight-hour movie. I thought that’s a form that I maybe would explore,” Cronenberg said. He pitched them an idea that was based on a recent personal tragedy – in 2017 Cronenberg lost his wife of 43 years to cancer. She was only 66.

He told them the story of what would eventually become “The Shrouds” (now in theaters nationwide) – it would follow a man named Karsh, whose wife had tragically died. Bereaved, he concocts the idea for a 21st century cemetery, one that will allow you, through cutting edge technology,...

It is the age-old debate in the fantasy world—who can beat who in a duel, who’s stronger, etc. Perhaps the most popular rivalry today is Game of Thrones’ Jaime Lannister versus The Lord of the Rings’ Aragorn. Both are dashing swordsmen in their own way, and each has a specific skill set that distinguishes them, but at the end of the day, someone has to win.

Of course, Martin believes in the ability of his own creation, and he is very confident the Kingslayer would beat Strider. It would be absurd to fashion a character as the greatest fighter in Westeros and then think he’s going to be defeated by a character from another literature. Even I would support my own hero. But, objectively, can Jaime really beat Aragorn?

George R.R. Martin is confident Jaime Lannister can defeat Aragorn

At an event shared on YouTube, famed author George R.

After discussing the 30 greatest war films of all time, we decided to keep the patriotic momentum going with another article based on a similar theme: The 15 best military movies. What's the difference? A war film such as "Saving Private Ryan" focuses on larger-scale historical or fictional conflicts, while a military picture centers on individual soldiers, operations, and specific missions, mostly set in the modern era. Often, these stories take a critical look at contemporary warfare and the dubious nature of many top-secret operations, political or otherwise.

Several pictures on this list are more personal in their approach to the controversial subject matter, allowing us to see the military's effects on the people pulling the trigger. Others blend sharp geopolitical commentary with edge-of-your-seat thrills. All are worth your attention and offer a captivating window into the lives of the men and women who serve. Get ready for a hefty dose of grit,...

Glengarry Glen Ross writer-director David Mamet’s new film is a prison drama. Get your first look at Henry Johnson here:

There are few better at writing single room screenplays than David Mamet. If you don’t believe us, go back and rewatch the introduction of Alec Baldwin’s sales shark, Blake, in 1992’s Glengarry Glen Ross. Mamet can weave magic from placing a couple of human beings in a single space and writing dialogue for them.

Henry Johnson, the director’s new film, follows the title character (Evan Jonigkeit) and his experiences in the US prison system, where he eventually shares a cell with Gene.

Mamet writes and directs. The story is based on his own 2023 play of the same name, the same process that led him to direct Glengarry Glen Ross for the screen. Mamet’s other script work includes films like The Verdict, Hannibal and Wag The Dog.

Plot: Elvira (Lea Myren) has one all-consuming obsession: to win the affection of her kingdom’s handsome prince and live happily ever after. Yet, she lives in the shadow of her beautiful step-sister, Agnes (Thea Sofie Loch Næss), who seems fated for the happy ending she’s always dreamed of. But, in a kingdom where beauty is prized above all things, Elvira will get what she wants, no matter what…

Review: The Ugly Stepsister is the gruesome, body horror Cinderella reimagining you never knew you wanted. Given the many variations on the classic tale, it’s incredible to think that we’ve never gotten a hard-r-rated flick in the vein of The Brothers Grimm’s version of the story. Let’s not forget that the take on Cinderella ends with the evil stepsisters mutilating their feet to fit into Cinderella’s slipper. Director Emilie Blichfeldt conjures up a version that...

Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy has turned out to be one of the greatest film trilogies ever made. In its wake have come other iterations of Middle Earth, with the most recent being the animated film The War of the Rohirrim and Prime Video's hit show Rings of Power, which has been renewed for a third season. There is yet another project that will emerge from Middle Earth, and it is centered on one of the Third Age's most consequential characters. Andy Serkis, who portrayed Gollum in the original Lord of the Rings movies, will reprise his role in a new live-action film, The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, which he will also direct.

The new Middle Earth project will be produced by Warner Bros. Pictures, and Pam Abdy, co-chair/CEO of Warner Bros. Pictures, has offered an exciting update on the film.

Ed Harris did not come on like a clear-cut leading man 44 years ago when he starred in George A. Romero's awesomely offbeat "Knightriders," but there was something about the balding 32-year-old actor with the piercing, Paul Newman-esque blue eyes that commanded your attention. He could be steely, tender, and a bit of a goof. These qualities continued to be evident in films like "The Right Stuff," "Alamo Bay," and "Sweet Dreams," so he finally got a chance to co-anchor a massive Hollywood production in 1989 with James Cameron's "The Abyss." He aced the assignment (as did his co-star Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio), but the film underperformed at the box office (even though it's still the best thing Cameron's ever directed), so he became more of a character actor throughout the 1990s while he personally developed his next leading role.

Harris made his directorial debut with "Pollock," a biopic about...

“I’ve been coming to New York since the 1940s,” David Cronenberg reminisced when introducing The Shrouds at the New York Film Festival last fall. “Yes,” he quipped, “that means I’m the exact same age as Joe Biden.” Unlike the 46th president, however, the pioneer of body horror is showing no signs of losing a step.

Following the longest hiatus of his half-century career, Cronenberg has emerged with a mournful and masterful one-two punch in the 2020s. Deeply influenced by the passing of his wife, both Crimes of the Future and The Shrouds find the octogenarian mulling over mortality and corporeality in fascinating new lights. These late-period films are as stomach-churning as the early genre works that earned him the nickname “Baron of Blood” while also maintaining a firm footing in the human drama that defined his later work, like A Dangerous Method.

It’s not hard to see Cronenberg himself in The Shrouds,...

The first official look at Mahershala Ali’s Blade in the MCU has finally been released. Blade is briefly featured in the final seconds of What If…? Season 3, and now Marvel visual artist Justin Kim took to his personal Instagram to share the first HD image of Ali’s Blade as Moon Knight from an alternate universe. While this may not be the live-action look that we are all still waiting on pins and needles for, this Blade/Moon Knight hybrid variant is clearly inspired by the Oscar-winning actor, much more so than other What If…? Characters. What If…? Ali’s Blade as Moon Knight will also appear later this year in the animated series Marvel Zombies, which will be released on October 3.

Mahershala Ali took the stage with Kevin Feige at San Diego Comic-Con in 2019 when it was announced he would play Blade in the MCU, and since that day,...

Orlando Bloom wants to return to ‘The Lord of the Rings’.The 48-year-old actor portrayed the elf Legolas from 2001’s ‘The Fellowship of the Ring’ until ‘The Return of the King’ in 2003 - and then again in ‘The Hobbit’ trilogy - and has now teased he would want to reprise the role if series director Peter Jackson ever asked him to.Speaking on a panel at AwesomeCon, Bloom said: "I always think that if Pete says, ‘Jump’, I say, ‘How high?’"It's funny because I think the elves go through so much of this world so many times because they're ageless. I was in ‘The Hobbit’, and it was really interesting revisiting the world. It was so different from ‘Rings’ as an experience. "It was a beautiful time, but this idea of kind of going back is like ... ‘Absolutely, who wouldn't want to go back to that place?’"Even so,...

Michael Fassbender is among the best actors of his generation and certainly among the most daring. While many of his contemporaries have settled into their own niches, Fassbender has shown an ability to try out many different genres and rarely fails to deliver a compelling performance. While Fassbender was briefly absent from the big screen over the last few years, he delivered a tremendous comeback performance in Steven Soderbergh’s twisty spy thriller “Black Bag,” which is already the best film of 2025 so far.

Fassbender may be known for the tremendous commitment he shows in his dramatic roles, but he has also developed a strong knack for comedy. Despite being regarded as one of the more artistically minded stars working today, Fassbender has managed to be a scene-stealer in two separate franchises, having played the mutant anti-hero Magneto in the rebooted “X-Men” series and the robot David in both “Prometheus” and “Alien: Covenant.

Shout! Studios, which has been behind films like Viggo Mortensen’s “The Dead Don’t Hurt” and the Tim Blake Nelson film “Old Henry,” has acquired fellow indie distributor Gravitas Ventures, the Cleveland-based company known for movies like the Diane Keaton film “Mack & Rita” and the Jackie Chan movie “Vanguard.”

The acquisition gives Shout! access to Gravitas Ventures’ library of 3,300 scripted, non-scripted, and sports-related feature film, documentary, and TV titles, and it means that Shout! will have the luxury to continue making partnerships with brands like Aardman Animations, The Carol Burnett Show, Gkids and Studio Ghibli, Laika Studios, Mystery Science Theater 3000, the Golden Princess movie library, and more.

But both brands are staying intact, meaning they will continue acquiring content individually and will continue to operate as separate brands. The added scale will let both companies better monetize its content across linear and streaming channels, with Gravitas especially being a...

Shout! Studios has acquired distributor Gravitas Ventures under its strategy to build the library as it continues to acquire and distribute film and television through for its multi-platform operation.

Shout! Studios and Gravitas Ventures will operate as two distinct brands and continue to distribute from their respective catalogues.

The transaction gives Shout! access to more than 3,300 scripted, non-scripted, and sports-related narrative features, documentaries, and television titles. According to reports there had been talk of lay-offs at Gravitas for a while, highlighting the ongoing challenges in the independent sector.

Nolan Gallagher founded Gravitas in 2006 and the company’s recent films includeMack & Ritastarring Diane Keaton,...

This just in — Robert Carlyleand Jefferson White have joined the cast of the upcoming JFK thriller,November 1963. Carlyle and White are taking on the roles of Jack Ruby and Lee Harvey Oswald, respectively, and will be starring alongside John Travolta, Mandy Patinkin, and Dermot Mulroney. Directed by Roland Joffé(The Scarlet Letter), November 1963 will follow the events surrounding the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

The film will begin shooting in Canada in Spring 2025, with the script based on firsthand accounts from the Chicago Outfit boss, Sam Giancana, and his family. The Giancanas were one of the most powerful Italian-American criminal organizations in the U.S. during the 1950s and early 1960s and Sam Giancana, in particular, was known to have connections to the Kennedy family and was involved in John. F. Kennedy’s presidential campaign. Giancana’s nephew, Nick Celozzi, serves as a writer and producer for the film...

Shout! Studios, the multi-platform media company backed by Oaktree Capital Management, has acquired Gravitas Ventures from Anthem Sports & Entertainment, Inc.

The deal was finalized over the weekend, we hear, with employees at Shout! being notified this morning. It came following rumblings of multiple layoffs at boutique distributor Gravitas. When Deadline reached out to various staff members at the distributor, we were met with bounce-backs, seemingly confirming sudden departures.

The ambition on Shout!’s part is to grow its content portfolio with the acquisition of entertainment companies and their content libraries, while continuing to partner with independent rights owners to monetize content and launch new streaming channels.

Going forward, Shout! Studios and Gravitas Ventures will operate as two distinct brands. Each will continue to actively distribute content from its respective catalogue, leveraging a scaled combined distribution organization to better monetize content across traditional and digital channels. The deal gives Shout! access to more than 3,300 scripted,...

Kristen Stewart Indie Film(Photo Credit –Facebook)

Kristen Stewart didn’t just bet on herself. She practically threw her wallet out the window for On the Road. At the peak of her Twilight fame, when Hollywood was throwing checks at her like confetti, Stewart signed on to a film that paid her pennies compared to the blockbuster paydays she was used to. And she had zero regrets.

Back in 2012, Stewart starred in On the Road, a film based on Jack Kerouac’s legendary novel. The movie followed a wild cross-country adventure with Stewart playing Marylou, alongside Garrett Hedlund’s Dean and Sam Riley’s Sal. It was the ultimate road trip movie, packed with rebellion, freedom, and all the restless energy of Kerouac’s words (via Cheatsheet). The film also boasted a stacked cast – Kirsten Dunst, Amy Adams, Viggo Mortensen, and Elisabeth Moss – but it was still an indie project.

I’m a sucker for a good vampire film, whether it features a sexy vampire like Bram Stoker’s Dracula or a nasty one like 30 Days of Night. But one of my personal favorite tales about bloodsuckers is an underrated 2010 release by Michael Spierig and Peter Spierig titled Daybreakers. Boasting an all-star cast and an interesting twist on vampire lore, it didn’t make waves upon initial release. And yet, I still find myself banging the proverbial drum for this film, especially today, because the movie is now streaming for free on Vizio WatchFree+.

Daybreakers takes place in 2019 (ten years in the future upon the film’s initial release) where a plague has transformed a majority of the human population into vampires. But without any humans from which to feed, the vampires are now facing a food crisis. Ethan Hawke plays Edward Dalton, a hematologist working on creating a blood substitute to save humanity.

Delving into the mythological roots and enduring legends that inspired Middle-earth, uncovering the rich cultural tapestry woven into the heart of this epic saga. ‘The Lord of The Rings’ has been the childhood of multiple generations. From the original books released in the 1950s to the Peter Jackson Trilogy in the early 2000s, and more recently J. D. Payne’s ‘Rings of Power’ in Prime Video. Tolkien’s Epic Narrative has spellbound audiences with unique memorable characters and rich lore. By weaving together elements from an array of mythologies, Tolkien forged a unique enthralling world. Through these influences of history’s fabled myths and legends, he built a foundation for Middle-earth. Things to do: Subscribe to The Hollywood Insider’s YouTube Channel, by clicking here. Limited Time Offer – Free Subscription to The Hollywood Insider Click here to read more on The Hollywood Insider’s vision, values, and mission statement here...

With the masterfully detailed novels by J.R.R. Tolkien as an invaluable resource to build on, The Lord of the Rings movies provided viewers with a cast of scintillating characters that brought the story of Middle-earth to life. Among them, Aragorn, played by Viggo Mortensen, delivered memorable lines in various scenes that gave viewers a real sense of his character.

The ranger destined to be king has a level-headed view of the journey Frodo and his companions set out on. He can give sound advice, intimidate with words of warning, or soften his tone with romantic dialogue. Whatever the scene, Aragorn seemingly knows what to say with some of his best quotes.

Updated by Jordan Iacobucci on March 18, 2025: With new Lord of the Rings spinoffs on the way, including The War of the Rohirrim and The Hunt for Gollum, fans are hoping to see more of Viggo Mortensen's Aragorn, the King of Gondor.

Gangster films have become an identifiable piece of American and international pop culture. The study of the human condition through criminality continues to fascinate audiences worldwide as the need to understand why people turn to lives of crime somehow helps people better understand themselves. With tons of big-name hits in the genre, such as The Godfather, Goodfellas and Scarface, it's easy to see why fans love the genre.

However, there are plenty of incredible films in the genre that, for one reason or another, aren't quite talked about as much as the iconic staples of gangster cinema. Films like Lawless and The Drop are underrated gems that deserve their day in the sun. Needless to say, more prominent names in the genre constantly overshadow multiple brilliant gangster flicks.

Updated on March 17, 2025, by Robert Vaux: The gangster genre is durable, and there is no shortage of brilliant gangster movies that never quite received their due.

Sean Bean had already mastered the art of dying on-screen before Game of Thrones made it a global spectacle. Fans were still recovering from Boromir’s heroic last stand when GoT decided to serve up another heartbreak – Ned Stark’s shocking exit. While audiences were left traumatized, Bean himself had a clear favorite.

Sean Bean in The Lord of the Rings | Credits: New Line Cinema

He preferred Boromir’s arrow-filled farewell over Ned’s cold and public beheading. Can’t blame him, though – one had a warrior’s dignity, the other a messy political fallout.

Sean Bean’s ultimate death scene: Boromir’s heroic exit still reigns supreme Sean Bean in Game of Thrones | Credits: HBO

Sean Bean had died in all kinds of ways – beheaded, crushed, skewered, even pulled apart by horses. But when it came to picking a favorite, Boromir’s tragic last stand in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring...

Now streaming on Prime Video, Thirteen Lives follows the incredible true story of the 2018 mission to rescue 12 boys and their soccer coach from Thailand's flooded Tham Luang Nang Non cave system. Although global media widely covered the high-stakes events, director Ron Howard thrusts audiences into the chaotic center with the same intensity and attention to detail he brought to his other classic "true story" films, such as Apollo 13 and Rush.

With such a big-name filmmaker and a recognizable cast that includes Colin Farrell and Viggo Mortensen, it would be easy to assume Thirteen Lives is a glitzy, exaggerated dramatization. Thankfully, however, the survival film is impressively authentic and respectful, with the only exceptions being relatively small details and omissions.

Updated March 16, 2025, by Arthur Goyaz. Thirteen Lives is a hair-raising dramatization of a harrowing true story. This article is updated to include more related information about the movie and the...

While a perfect film is almost unheard of, this isn’t the case when it comes to perfect sequels, and Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy is arguably one of the best to ever do it. Not only the sequel, The Two Towers, was seen as a step above the already impeccable The Fellowship of the Ring, but the threequel also transcended the bar set by its predecessors.

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King | Credit: New Line Cinema

However, despite being a perfect sequel and a great conclusion to the Middle Earth saga, just like any other artwork the medium has to offer, Return of the King isn’t immune to flaws, especially when it comes to Gandalf.

Peter Jackson’s Return of the King didn’t do Gandalf justice

Although magic and wizards in Tolkien’s works don’t embody our typical understanding of wizardry in media,...

Viggo Mortensen breaking his toe kicking a helmet in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers is one of pop culture's most memorable behind-the-scenes fun facts, and now Andorhas given Star Warsfans their own version of this moment. Star Wars has a reputation for keeping its actors safe during filming, but things can still happen. As was the case with Mortensen's emotional portrayal of Aragorn's despair leading to two broken toes, one cast member on the set of Andor also accidentally suffered an injury.

Speaking on a Star Warslivestream, Ruescott Melshi actor Duncan Pow revealed that star Diego Luna accidentally pulled his hamstring during a running scene in Andor season 1. Andor showrunner Tony Gilroy provided commentary on the complications of filming Melshi and Cassian's escape scene as a whole, which led to Pow revealing what happened to Luna during filming. Pow himself had just suffered an injury...