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Fabel Entertainment’s Melissa Aouate is joining Blumhouse Television as its new president.

In her new role, Aouate will oversee the creative team for the comany’s scripted TV division, which has produced projects including Prime Video’s “The Bondsman” starring Kevin Bacon and the upcoming “Scarpetta” starring Nicole Kidman and Jamie Lee Curtis, Showtime’s “The Good Lord Bird” and HBO’s “Sharp Objects.”

The television division’s unscripted department will continue to be overseen by head of alternative television Gretchen Palek, while Rob Hackett continues as the head of television for Atomic Monster, which operates as its own label within Blumhouse.

“We’re incredibly fortunate to have found Melissa to lead Blumhouse’s scripted television division,” Blumhouse president Abhijay Prakash said in a statement. “Melissa brings exceptional taste and an impressive track record of success with both edgy and mainstream fare, and as we continue to grow and...

Melissa Aouate is the new president of Blumhouse Television.

Aouate, formerly president and partner at Fabel Entertainment, will oversee the creative team for Blumhouse’s scripted TV division, which is responsible for series such as Kevin Bacon’s “The Bondsman” on Amazon Prime Video, Amy Adams’ “Sharp Objects” on HBO and the upcoming Amazon series “Scarpetta,” starring Nicole Kidman and Jamie Lee Curtis.

Blumhouse’s unscripted TV slate will continue to be overseen by Gretchen Palek, head of alternative television. Rob Hackett remains the head of television for Atomic Monster, which operates as its own label within Blumhouse.

Prior to Fabel, which is best known for creating the “Bosch” universe, Aouate was a literary agent at ICM Partners and also served as an executive for Robert Zemeckis’ ImageMovers, where she contributed to projects such as “Flight,” “The Walk,” “Real Steel,” “Beowulf” and “The Borgias.”

“We’re incredibly fortunate to have...

Nothing destroys a film's momentum quite like bombing at the box office. While poorly received movies can still be successful should they gross a lot of money, even the most critically acclaimed film is considered a failure if it fails to make its money back upon release. Walt Disney's entertainment juggernaut is all too familiar with financially destitute films, as not every picture can be a winner.

Most know Walt Disney Studios for its load of successful Marvel, animated, and Star Wars movies, Disney's films are all over the list of the worst box office bombs of all time as well. From the well-known to the more forgotten, Disney has made its mark in the annals of most successful and least successful films. But some flopped so badly as to be considered the very bottom of the bottom.

Updated by Jordan Iacobucci on March 21, 2025: With Disney's live-action remake of...

BayView Entertainment, LLC have released the horror film Bae Wolf in Black & White on Digital Platforms including to rent/buy on Amazon Prime Video worldwide. “It takes a monster to fight a monster.” A black & white version of this re-telling of Beowulf. Bae Wolf in Black & White is from Director David Axe and the film stars Jennifer Hill, [...]

The post “It takes a monster to fight a monster.” Bae Wolf In Black & White now out on Digital Platforms Worldwide first appeared on Horror Screams Video Vault - Supporting Independent Horror.

As a Brit, I may be a little biased when I say this: The opening ceremony for the London 2012 Summer Olympics was the best ever. Directed by Danny Boyle, the usual hour of dancers and acrobats twirling around was spectacular and silly, complete with skits celebrating the Industrial Revolution, the NHS, and the nation's rich cultural scene. Movie buffs also got two special treats: Rowan Atkinson as Mr. Bean daydreaming about beating the boys from "Chariots of Fire" in their famous beach race, and Queen Elizabeth II making her screen debut opposite Daniel Craig's James Bond before her stunt double sky-dived into the stadium. It was surely the best trailer "Skyfall," which hit theaters a few months later, could have hoped for.

The music of the Fab Four featured heavily during the ceremony, complete with Sir Paul McCartney wrapping things up by leading a sing-a-long to "Hey Jude." As such,...

Quick LinksHelm Hammerhand Was Unlike Most The Lord of the Rings CharactersThe War of the Rohirrim Took Full Advantage of AnimationI Have High Hopes for The Lord of the Rings' Future

The following contains spoilers for The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, now available to buy or rent digitally.

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim is the latest film adaptation of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings novel, and it unfortunately underperformed. On a budget of $30 million, it made just over $20 million at the box office, and it had a regrettably brief theatrical run. Likewise, reviews from fans and critics alike were mixed. The War of the Rohirrim's failure was blamed on several factors, but one of the most important and controversial was its medium. Though it took place in the same universe as Peter Jackson's live-action...

Vikings have been a staple of fiction for decades, with numerous novels, movies, and shows featuring the iconic warriors. Recently, Vikings and its sequel series, Vikings: Valhalla, thrilled fans with their depictions of Norse culture and the clash of civilizations. With the latter series concluding in 2024, many viewers are, understandably, eager for more stories set in the world of Vikings. For these fans, the 1999 action movie, The 13th Warrior, could be a perfect fit.

Starring Antonio Banderas as Ahmad Ibn Fadlan, a Muslim Ambassador of the Abbasid Caliphate, The 13th Warrior also offers compelling portrayals of Viking culture and how they conflict with people of other societies. While it received poor reviews when it premiered and failed in theaters, the movie developed a cult following in the decades after its release. Thanks to fantastic sets and costumes, along with great performances and directing, The 13th Warrior overcame criticism of its simple plot,...

When I was a kid, I wanted to watch every Alison Lohman movie I could find. The actor may not be a household name, but throughout the 2000s, she starred in some of the most interesting films being made, often opposite more experienced stars like Michelle Pfieffer, Nicolas Cage, and Ewan McGregor. Lohman always played characters younger than herself, and I mentally categorized her alongside other teen stars of the moment like AnnaSophia Robb and Keke Palmer -- even though she was born in 1979.

Sometimes, Lohman was cast as a cherubic beauty, but other times she played thornier characters, including troubled teens, child con artists, and, perhaps most famously, a "hag"-hating promotion-seeker. The actor had appeared in fewer than two dozen movies in her career, yet the majority of them were compelling in some way. Then, around 2009, she largely disappeared from the spotlight. In the decade and a half since,...

Quick Links The Adapted Story of 'Beowulf & Grendel' The Cinematic Elements of 'Beowulf & Grendel' Critical Consensus on 'Beowulf & Grendel'

Scottish actor and producer Gerard Butler has been the star of countless projects within a variety of genres. From his role as a protective father in the action film Greenland all the way to the haunted singer in the movie adaptation of Phantom of the Opera, there is no role that Butler can't handle. In addition to his previous work, his upcoming role of Stoick the Vast in the highly anticipated How to Train Your Dragon live-action film is sure to keep him on audiences' minds throughout 2025 and beyond. Although Butler's filmography is expansive, to say the least, there is one project that audiences of both film and literature should be sure not to miss.

Beowulf & Grendel, directed by Sturla Gunnarsson, is an...

“If you’ve got the time and the stomach for it, I’ve got a story for you,” is the first line of the new trailer for the big-screen adaptation of George R. R. Martin’s In the Lost Lands. The new trailer dropped on Jan. 8 ahead of the film’s March 7 release, per Entertainment Weekly. Dave Bautista (Guardians of the Galaxy) and Milla Jovovich (Resident Evil) star in the new film based on the Game of Thrones author’s short story.

In the action/adventure/fantasy film, Jovovich plays Gray Alys, a powerful sorceress. Set many years into the future, after a catastrophic war, a queen sends Gray into the wild Lands, where the laws of nature are thrown out the window. On a quest to free her people from terrible oppression, she finds a guide in Boyce, played by Bautista, who is a drifter but is adept at navigating the Lost Lands.

Last Updated on January 6, 2025

Well, Schmoes, as 2024 finally draws to a close, we reflect on a year full of ups and downs, box office shocks and surprises, and many unexpected hits and misses. If there is one thing for sure, there are always movies highly overrated and underrated by critics and fans alike. As the UnPopular Opinion Guy, I felt it was only fitting to issue my list of the movies I felt the masses got wrong. Some of these may shock you, and some may piss you off, but these are my honest-to-goodness perspective on the movies of 2024. If you disagree with any of the choices, please voice your opinion in the comments below. After all, the only opinion that really matters is yours, and I am just here to share mine.

The Most Underrated Films of 2024 Here

Robert Zemeckis has gotten a lot of flak for his use...

Quick Links Shieldmaidens of Rohan Have Roots in Scandinavian Folklore and Mythology Not All Women of Rohan are Shieldmaidens War of the Rohirrim Turned a More Passive Character in Lord of the Rings Into a Shieldmaiden

J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings was most famously adapted into a three-film trilogy by director Peter Jackson in the early 2000s. The film included a number of well-known and lesser-known actors from an international pool. Among these was Miranda Otto, who played Éowyn of Rohan. As niece to Théoden (King of Rohan) and sister of Éomer (Marshal of the Mark), Éowyn held an important position of status in the kingdom of Horse-lords. And, as a rider and warrior herself, she also held another coveted title: shieldmaiden.

As detailed as Tolkien is in most of his lore, he does not go into great detail in Lord of the Rings as to what...

Friends star Lisa Kudrow didn't mince words when talking about Tom Hanks and Robin Wright's latest movie, Here. Directed by Robert Zemeckis, Here is shot from a single vantage point where the camera doesn't move and sees the events of a single spot of land and its inhabitants unfold over centuries. The movie was a reunion between Zemeckis, Hanks, and Wright following their collaboration on 1994's Academy Award-winning and box office smash hit Forrest Gump, but Here was not that same hit as it received largely negative reviews and was a box office flop.

One of the film's controversial decisions, to de-age Hanks and Wright in camera using AI-assisted tools, has come under fire by Kudrow. Appearing on the Armchair Expert podcast via Variety, Kudrow slammed the use of the technology in Here, calling it an "endorsement of AI." She criticized the decision as it not only takes away...

Quick Links J.R.R Tolkien Was Working On a Translation of Beowulf Before He Wrote The Lord of the Rings Beowulf Has Had Multiple Screen Adaptations J.R.R. Tolkien Published a Definitive Edition of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

Long before J.R.R. Tolkien published The Lord of the Rings in the 1950s and The Hobbit in the 1930s, the author had an academic career that heavily influenced the writing of his epic fantasy. As a student and then professor of literature, Tolkien would have been exposed to Anglo-Saxon poems like Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. While it falls in and out of popular culture, Beowulf is fairly well-known in academic circles as a seminal work of the genre of epic poetry. Attempts have been made to adapt the hero Beowulf's story for the screen to varying degrees of success. But it could be argued that none has done it true justice.

Beowulf is one of the foundational texts of English literature, an epic poem about a warrior named Beowulf who takes on a fearsome monster named Grendel, then Grendel's mother, and finally a mighty dragon. In 1971, author John Gardner wrote Grendel, which tells the story of Beowulf from the monster's point of view. Grendel imagines the titular character as a thoughtful, angry outcast who doesn't know how to fit into the world.

Grendel has been adapted to the screen before, but the story has resonated down through the decades and writer-director Robert D. Krzykowski is taking a crack at it for modern audiences. The new movie will feature Jeff Bridges as Grendel; Bryan Cranston as King Hrothgar, whose court Grendel harries; T Bone Burnett as the Shaper, whose music and tales drive Grendel to fits of existential madness; and Dave Bautista as Beowulf, the warrior who puts an end to Grendel's rampage.

The mere mention of Grendel the classic monster from the Old English, Anglo-Saxon era epic poem, Beowulf is enough to unlock a portal buried deep within the brain of every former English student. Since its introduction to the oral tradition, the creature at the heart of Robert D. Krzykowski's cinematic take has captivated the hearts and minds of humans for thousands of years.

So it's no surprise that new details (via The Hollywood Reporter) alongside images from a Collider exclusive reveal that Grendel, as played by Jeff Bridges, is going in a deeply philosophical and darkly fantastical direction; a perfect fit for the Jim Henson Creature Shop's interpretation based on the 1971 John Gardner novel.

What Is Grendel and What Is This Movie Adapted From?

Grendel is largely considered to be a modern classic, a novel that retells the old English epic poem Beowulf from the perspective of the monster,...

Robert Zemeckis has always been a filmmaker who doubles as a magician. His films are loaded with neat little tricks, and, as is the case with any good magician, you find yourself wondering how he pulled them off. His debut "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" used clever editing, archival footage, and stand-ins to recreate the Beatles' debut on The Ed Sullivan Show. The "Back to the Future" trilogy is bursting with eye-popping special effects. "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" seamlessly blended live-action and animation. "Death Becomes Her" is overloaded with gross-out gags. "Forrest Gump" found fun little ways to insert Tom Hanks into moments of televised American history. The list goes on and on. But at some point, the trickery began to overwhelm the process. His "Beowulf," "The Polar Express," and "A Christmas Carol" embraced heavy motion-capture animation with ghastly, uncanny valley results ("The Polar Express" has somehow become a recurring...

“More effort than it’s worth” possibly represents the harshest 5 words that can be strung together in the English language. For a film, that statement guarantees an immediate death sentence. In the case of Antonio Banderas’ The 13th Warrior, it spelled the extinction of an entire genre: the Muslim hero archetype.

Antonio Banderas (as Ahmad ibn Fadlan) and Vladimir Kulich (as Beowulf) in The 13th Warrior [Credit: Touchstone Pictures, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures]

In the film’s critical and commercial failure, Antonia Banderas finds a sense of comfort and familiarity with his daughter Dakota Johnson whose 2024 film, Madame Web went through somewhat of a similar treatment. Both films represent a central character destined for a greater purpose who is uprooted from their established life and thrown into a mission against a foreign enemy.

The similarity between the two films is more than skin-deep. Both films also burned millions of dollars...

With so much turmoil in the world, it’s at least a little comforting that things haven’t changed much in Grover’s Corners, the place that gives Our Town, Thornton Wilder’s beloved 1938 report from Smalltown USA, its name. People there are born, love and die without so much as looking up to savor what they have. That’s life.

And while a check-in from the fictional New Hampshire town circa 1901-1913 is always a moving and welcome addition to anyone’s frazzled day, the new staging by Kenny Leon, opening on Broadway tonight at the Ethel Barymore Theatre with a cast that includes Jim Parsons, Katie Holmes, Richard Thomas, Billy Eugene Jones, Ephraim Sykes and Zoey Deutch, lacks the strong personality that would send it to the top of the many Our Towns that have staked claims on the world’s stages for nearly a century.

Leon, a...

Quick Links How Grendel Created Sympathy for One of History's Oldest Villains How Grendel Offers More than Wicked, Cruella, and Other Modern Reimaginings Why Jim Henson's Grendel is Something to Look Forward To

This feature mentions topics such as suicide. If you feel you are in need of support, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

As audiences prepare to defy gravity and take flight with Wicked, the Jim Henson Creature Shop is set to resurrect another classic sympathetic villain: Grendel. Whether it's Cruella de Vil, Maleficent, Loki, or the Wicked Witch of the West, Hollywood has repeatedly sought to redeem villains that audiences love to hate. While this might seem like a more recent trend or an evolution in storytelling, the concept of a sympathetic antagonist has been around far longer than many realize. Although Grendel wasn't the first story to give a villain a starring role, it played...

Earlier this year, we got word that a new live-action take on the tale of Beowulf is in development with an all-star cast on board. We've seen a number of animated and live-action adaptations of the ancient Danish legend over the years, but this one will be a little different.

Based on John Gardner’s acclaimed novel, Grendel will tell the story from the perspective of the monster, with Jeff Bridges set to provide the voice of the title character, and Dave Bautista on board as the mighty warrior who comes to Danish King Hrothgar's hall to put an end to the creature's rampage, Beowulf.

Now, Collider has unveiled our first look at the design for Grendel courtesy of Jim Henson's Creature Shop.

“That is really exciting because it also balances this very cerebral world that Grendel lives in, where he's trying to understand humans, and he's trying to find his place among them,...

That Grendel ain’t right.

Out of anyone in the central family of King of the Hill, Hank would probably be the last Hill you’d expect to make a significant contribution to the field of linguistics. Peggy, with her ground-breaking, experimental approach to Spanish pronunciation, would probably be the first pick, followed by Bobby, whose mastery of wordplay and proclivity for puns produce many novel and comical expressions of the English language. Luanne, with her peculiar interpretation of words such as “ignorant,” “Communism” and “Luanne,” would be more than happy to provide an alternate, less informed viewpoint to any linguistics debate. Hank, however, is a man of few words who wields them bluntly and without any frills — much like how Beowulf swung Hrunting back in his day.

Earlier this week, language enthusiasts on Twitter discussed the true meaning behind the first word of the epic poem Beowulf, one of...

Frank Herbert’s sci-fi magnum opus Dune has influenced countless other IPs of the genre. This year, Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Two re-introduced the world of Arrakis and the story of Paul Atreides to the masses, bringing in countless new fans of the world. The series is also said to have inspired George Lucas to make Star Wars.

One of the most important parts of the desert planet of Arrakis is the sandworm. The Shai-Hulud, as the Fremen call them, are huge worm-like creatures who burrow through the dunes and are instrumental in spice production. Herbert reportedly based the creatures on another mythical animal: the dragon.

Sandworms Of Frank Herbert’s Dune Were Based On Dragons A still from Dune: Part One | Credits: Warner Bros.

Author Frank Herbert’s Dune reportedly began as a germ of an idea when he visited the sand dunes of Oregon while researching for an article.

Quick Links Bone Tomahawk Plot and Cast Bone Tomahawk Is the Greatest Modern Western Horror How Bone Tomahawk Is Connected to Beowulf

The Western horror genre may be slightly niche. Still, it is marked by many phenomenal movies, from J.T. Petty's atmospheric horror Western The Burrowers to the vastly underrated frontier cannibalistic thriller Ravenous. The genre has established itself as a favorite among fans of both genres, with a few stand-out movies leading the charge. Among these films, though, one stands out more than the others: the S. Craig Zahler-directed and Kurt Russell-led Bone Tomahawk.

Bone Tomahawk is a modern masterpiece that blends genre elements under the distinct vision of its director. However, the movie draws its inspiration from curious places, including one of the oldest recorded works of literature, Beowulf. By drawing on modern and contemporary forms of storytelling, we will look at how the two...

Before Game of Thrones arrived, 2017’s animated feature film, Beowulf, featured many of the themes and ideas set up in the popular HBO TV series. Look no further if you’re looking for high fantasy featuring dragons, witchcraft, warriors and legends. The Long Journey of A Song of Ice and Fire It’s no secret that George […]

2007’s Beowulf Was The Original Game of Thrones Written by Tito Pernalete for Fortress of Solitude...

CBS Studios President David Stapf was asked if Your Honor season 3 was a possibility after the show's 2024 streaming success. Stapf said they want the show to continue, but it's too soon to tell. The continuation of the show would depend on the availability of the cast, which could prevent it from happening.

Your Honor season 3 has gotten a positive update. The show, which premiered on Showtime in 2020, starred Bryan Cranston as Michael Desiato, a New Orleans judge who takes a huge career risk in an attempt to save his son after learning that his hit-and-run victim was connected to a major crime family. Your Honor season 3 never came to fruition as the show was cancelled in 2022, several months prior to the season 2 premiere. However, between Paramount+ and Netflix, it became a major streaming hit in June 2024, with billions of minutes streamed between both seasons.

Deadline recently sat down with David Stapf,...

George Lucas changed the world when he created the space opera Star Wars. The filmmaker told a story of a rebellion against a galactic empire that was set in a galaxy far away and it was the highest-grossing film of all time back when it was released in 1977.

Lucas’ sci-fi franchise has been extremely influential since then and has inspired generations of filmmakers. While his directorial debut Thx 1138 was a box-office bomb, the film was reportedly screened for students at his alma mater USC School of Cinematic Arts, which was attended by a young Robert Zemeckis, who would go on to make Back to the Future.

George Lucas’ Directorial Debut Was Screened At USC For A Young Robert Zemeckis A still from George Lucas’ Thx 1138 | Credits: American Zoetrope

Robert Zemeckis is known for directing films such as Back to the Future, Forrest Gump, Cast Away, and Who Frame Roger Rabbit.

Hell yeah! HBO and Max’s new releases for July include the two-episode debut of Harley Quinn spinoff series Kite Man: Hell Yeah! (July 18) that follows the titular villain and his girlfriend the Golden Glider as they take their relationship to the next logical step – opening a bar for supervillains together. Hilarious hijinks are bound to ensue as Gotham’s hottest new bar takes off.

Football fans will get to follow the New York Giants in this season of Hard Knocks: Offseason starting July 2. This non-scripted series will follow the team as they prepare for their highly anticipated 100th season.

Notable movie releases this month include Love Lies Bleeding (July 19), the Katy O’Brian and Kristen Stewart-starring feature about the love affair between a reclusive gym owner Lou (Stewart) and bodybuilder Jackie (O’Brian). Anyone wanting to rewatch the original Twister before its sequel premieres in theaters this month are in luck,...

It’s summertime, and Max is ready to ride the wave! This July marks the long-awaited return of Discovery’s Shark Week, which will be hosted this year by John Cena. Starting Sunday, July 7, you’ll be able to watch all of this year’s specials, including “Big Shark Energy,” “Belly of the Beast Pt. 2,” and “Great White Serial Killer: Sea of Blood” with your Max subscription. If you still haven’t made the dive in, you can sign up for an ad-supported plan beginning at $9.99 per month or an ad-free plan beginning at $16.99 per month.

Beyond shark-related content, HBO and Max are preparing for a big month, with the streaming debut of the recent A24 hit “Love Lies Bleeding,” Cannes and Tribeca festival documentaries including “Quad Gods” and “Faye,” and many HBO and Max Originals like a new season of “Hard Knocks” focused on the New York Giants offseason...

Tom Hanks' upcoming movie "Here" uses de-aging technology, raising concerns about its accuracy. The film features a Forrest Gump reunion with Tom Hanks and Robin Wright, directed by Robert Zemeckis. Despite the de-aging technology's odd appearance, the film's unique premise and talented cast make it an exciting prospect.

Tom Hanks' upcoming movie uses de-aging technology that I find unnerving, but the film also features a Forrest Gump reunion I am very excited about. In 1994, Tom Hanks starred in the iconic film Forrest Gump under the direction of Robert Zemeckis. Based on the novel Forrest Gump, the film revolves around a man with an Iq of 75 living in the mid-twentieth century who finds himself at the center of world events. Although Forrest Gump was Hanks and Zemeckis' first project together, it would not be the last.

Forrest Gump is available to stream on Paramount+.

Tom Hanks has a lengthy filmography, but...

I'm of two minds about "Welcome to Marwen." Robert Zemeckis' 2018 live-action/motion-capture creation is everything that Jeff Malmberg's 2010 documentary "Marwencol," the film that inspired it, isn't. Yet, as "shockingly bad" as "Welcome to Marwen" is, to quote Chris Evangelista's review for /Film, its failure seemed to turn Zemeckis away from taking big swings. Instead, he subsequently retreated into boring familiarity with his live-action remakes of "The Witches" and "Pinocchio," both of which earned lackluster reviews and vanished into the direct-to-streaming void, never to be spoken of again. I've since found myself wishing he would take on something challenging and experimental once more.

Well, in classic cautionary tale fashion, it appears my wish has led to a finger curling on the monkey's paw. Zemeckis is coming back this year with "Here," a film based on Richard McGuire's graphic novel about the events that take place in the same...

The story of Dave Bautista's Hollywood career is the story of him trying to prove he's not your average wrestler-turned-actor. To be fair, Bautista's best movies really do suggest he has the talent to take his acting career beyond the tough-man roles so many former grapplers come to embody. He proved that he has potential with his role as Sapper Morton in "Blade Runner 2049," and then followed through on that promising turn with his performance as Leonard in 2023's "Knock at the Cabin." But despite charting a diverse filmography and being recognized as the best wrestler-turned-actor by his "Glass Onion" director Rian Johnson, it's always seemed like Bautista has wanted more.

Though he claims to have proven himself with "Knock at the Cabin," that doesn't mean he's done demonstrating his talents. This year, we've seen him finally given more to do in Denis Villeneuve's "Dune" duology...

Quick Links Tolkien Disliked Shakespeare's Prophecies Macbeth Inspired Two Climactic Scenes in The Lord of the Rings Tolkien Considered Shakespeare's Plays Bad Fantasy William Shakespeare's Macbeth inspired two important scenes in J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. Tolkien was dissatisfied with the prophecies in Macbeth and sought to improve upon them. Tolkien believed fantasy and theater were fundamentally incompatible.

J. R. R. Tolkien based the plot, themes, and language of The Lord of the Rings on stories he loved, like Beowulf and Norse mythology. In his writing, he both paid homage to stories from the past and recontextualized their tropes for a new setting. However, frustration can be just as motivating as affection, so Tolkien also drew inspiration from stories that he disliked. The clearest example of this was Macbeth, one of William Shakespeare's most famous plays. Two important events from The Lord of the Rings...

This author recalls reading an issue of TV Guide in 1994 about the then-upcoming TV series "Star Trek: Voyager," set to debut in January of 1995. The TV Guide noted that Robert Picardo, a Joe Dante repertory player, would play a character named Doc Zimmerman, the holographic doctor on board the U.S.S. Voyager. This name was culled from pre-production notes on the series, and the showrunner fully intended for Zimmerman to be the character's name.

The premise of the show, however, dictated that the Doctor have no name. The Doctor was an Emergency Medical Hologram, only meant to be activated in times of extreme crisis when a chief medical officer is not available. Once the crisis was over, the hologram was meant to be shut off. Thanks to the stranded state of the U.S.S. Voyager, however — it was stranded across the galaxy, 70 years from home — the Doctor was never shut off.

Dave Bautista and Jeff Bridges lead a stacked cast which will flip the Beowulf story and presumably also feature a puppet or two in the mix.

Here’s a fine story to kick off the week. The legendary Jim Henson Company is set to make Grendel, a live action version of Beowulf, the epic tale of heroes, monsters and the clashes between them.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Palisades Park Pictures is launching sales for the project at the upcoming Cannes marketplace. We’ve seen the tale of Beowulf rendered on the silver screen before of course, with Robert Zemeckis' 2007 version re-telling the Old English epic poem through the medium of computer animation.

Although that film is sometimes floated as an example in debates about the merits or shortcomings of CGI experimentation, it boasted an impressive cast that included Ray Winstone, Angelina Jolie, Anthony Hopkins, Robin Wright and Crispin Glover...

The story of Beowulf and Grendel is one of the most famous stories in English literature. The epic Beowulf is one of the most important works of English literature in general and it has been an inspiration for many authors over the centuries. We have also had numerous adaptations of the work, including the animated film from 2007, but all of them focused on the heroic tale of Beowulf, the hero of the story. But, the story also has another important character – Grendel – the monster and Beowulf’s rival in the story.

Grendel is finally going to get the chance to tell you his side of the story, as the movie Grendel will be released soon, with Palisades Park Pictures is launching international sales ahead of Cannes.

But that is actually not the main piece of news we have for you today. Namely, the cast of the upcoming movie has been...

A new live-action take on the tale of Beowulf is in development, and the project has assembled a very impressive cast.

We've seen a number of animated and live-action adaptations of the ancient Danish legend over the years, but this one will be a little different.

Based on John Gardner’s acclaimed novel, Grendel will tell the story from the perspective of the monster, with Jeff Bridges set to play the title character, and Dave Bautista on board as the mighty warrior to comes to Danish King Hrothgar's hall to put an end to the creature's rampage, Beowulf.

The cast also includes Bryan Cranston as King Hrothgar, Sam Elliott as The Dragon, Thomasin McKenzie as Queen Wealhtheow and Aidan Turner as Unferth. T Bone Burnett will also appear, and provide original songs for the film.

Robert D. Krzykowsk (The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the Bigfoot) will direct. Jim Henson...

Actor and former wrestler Dave Bautista was last seen in Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi epic Dune: Part Two as Glossu Rabban. The actor has come a long way from his WWE days and has branched out into various roles in acclaimed films such as the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy, Blade Runner 2049, Knock at the Cabin, and Glass Onion.

The actor will be seen next in Robert D. Krzykowski’s fantasy epic Grendel, which sees the actor play the popular character Beowulf. A retelling of the epic poem Beowulf, the film is adapted from a novel by John Gardner. It explores the story of Grendel, a monster whom Beowulf hunts. The film also stars Jeff Bridges, Bryan Cranston, Sam Elliott, Thomasin McKenzie, and more.

Dave Bautista Joins The Cast Of The Epic Fantasy Grendel A still from Robert Zemeckis’ Beowulf

The epic poem Beowulf has been regarded as one...

The Jim Henson Company is working on an adaptation of Grendel, the John Gardner novel that flips the tale of Beowulf to the perspective of the titular monster. The movie has already cast its three leads, with Jeff Bridges playing Grendel, Dave Bautista playing Beowulf and Bryan Cranston playing King Hrothgar. The Grendel movie has also lined up its supporting cast with Thomasin McKenzie, Aidan Turner and T Bone Burnett.

The Jim Henson Company's live-action adaptation of Grendel has cast its principal characters. Based on the 1971 novel by John Gardner, the fantasy epic tells the story of the epic poem Beowulf from the perspective of the titular monster. Beowulf was adapted into a 2007 film directed by Robert Zemeckis, starring Ray Winstone as the titular hero, Crispin Glover as Grendel, Angelina Jolie as Grendel's mother, and Anthony Hopkins as King Hrothgar. The Jim Henson Company's adaptation will feature an entirely different...

Here's some very cool news: the folks at the Jim Henson Company will lend their skills to building practical monster puppets for a new live-action movie based on "Beowulf" and on the John Gardner novel "Grendel." The film, titled "Grendel," will retell the legend of Beowulf from the monster Grendel's point of view (via THR). Jeff Bridges is set to play Grendel, while Dave Bautista will portray Beowulf. The cast also includes Bryan Cranston set as King Hrothgar, Sam Elliott as The Dragon, Thomasin McKenzie as Queen Wealhtheow, Aidan Turner as Unferth, and T Bone Burnett will also appear as a character named The Shaper. Burnett will also craft original songs for the film. Robert D. Krzykowski, who helmed the wonderfully titled film "The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the Bigfoot," is set to direct.

So what makes this so cool? Simply the fact that we're getting practical monsters...

Smaug's wealth in the Lord of the Rings universe is subject to debate due to various factors not clearly defined by Tolkien. Forbes' attempt to estimate Smaug's net worth using real-world values places him as one of the richest fictional characters. Beyond the treasure horde, the true extent of Smaug's wealth remains uncertain, leaving room for fan speculation and debate.

In The Lord of the Rings, the Dwarves of Middle-earth are known to value wealth above all else, and the treasure trove of Erebor was no exception. The Dwarven kingdom held so much gold that it attracted the wrath of the dragon Smaug, who claimed it all for himself and held more wealth than any other living being in Middle-earth. However, one common point of contention among J. R. R. Tolkien fans is just how much Smaug was worth.

This idea is much more complicated than many realize, as...

Sony Pictures’ forthcoming drama feature Here, reuniting the creative forces behind Forrest Gump, is getting a prime awards season spot on the theatrical calendar.

Sony announced Friday that the film from director Robert Zemeckis, writer Eric Roth, and stars Tom Hanks and Robin Wright is set for a platform release this November. Here will hit Los Angeles and New York theaters Nov. 15 ahead of a limited release the following week, before going wide Nov. 27.

Zemeckis directs Here from a script he wrote with Roth that is based on the graphic novel of the same name by Richard McGuire. It tells the story of multiple families over the course of generations and a location that is special to them.

Paul Bettany, Kelly Reilly and Michelle Dockery round out the ensemble cast. Zemeckis, Jack Rapke, Derek Hogue and Bill Block serve as producers.

The Hollywood Reporter reported last year that Hanks and...

When you think of the great directors in cinema history – Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, Alfred Hitchcock, etc. – chances are the first films that come to mind are Goodfellas, Jaws and Vertigo. But every brilliant filmmaker has their duds. Now, Rolling Stone – you know, the publication that doesn’t think Roseanne and Bill Cosby had historic shows just because of their wrongdoings – has put out a list of the 50 worst movies by some of the most renowned directors…And yes, they have missed the mark considerably.

In the list, titled “50 Terrible Movies by Great Directors”, there are plenty of bottom-barrel films, those that are absolutely anomalies in otherwise remarkable careers. We wouldn’t argue that man-child family comedy Jack (#1) isn’t Francis Ford Coppola’s worst movie or that Rob Reiner’s North (#2) wasn’t worthy of Roger Ebert’s famed “hated, hated, hated, hated, hated” review. Those guys didn’t...

Eomer Eadig, 18th King of Rohan, played a key role in restoring the kingdom to peace and prosperity after his heroic actions. Eomer's divine leadership and gallant warrior skills earned him the name "Blessed War Horse" in the lore of Rohan. Following Eomer's death, his legacy was carried on by his son Elfwine, keeping the alliance between Rohan and Gondor alive.

As The Lord of the Rings: The War for Rohirrim approaches its December 2024 release, it's worth wondering where some of the most glaringly absent characters have gone since Peter Jackson's landmark movie trilogy concluded. In the case of Eomer Eadig, played by Karl Urban in the award-winning fantasy trilogy, the 18th King of Rohan was crowned at the end of The Return of the King. Although his time on the throne was not explored in detail, the character's lasting contributions to the Rohirrim remain a valuable part of...

Veteran actor Ray Winstone, fresh off his turn in Guy Ritchie's Netflix series The Gentlemen, has discussed why the pair are only officially collaborating for the first time.

Winstone was set to star in Ritchie's breakout 1998 film, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, but eventually left the project. In a recent interview with Variety, the actor revealed why. "We had a falling out," he explained. "There were one or two things that I didn't like that went on, so we fell out, but over the years, it mended itself. And he's making wonderful films. You know his films. You look at them and go, 'That's a Guy Ritchie movie,'" Winstone added. Winstone stars as a gangland patriarch and head of a massive cannabis-growing empire in the Netflix eight-episode series, a spin-off of Ritchie's 2019 movie also titled The Gentlemen.

Related Netflix's 3 Body Problem Debuts Strong at SXSW The new...

Many of cinema’s hard men are notorious softies in real life. Ray Winstone may well be one of those, even if he admits to not looking particularly approachable.

“My wife always says to me, ‘Why do you look like you’re going to kill someone when you walk into a room?'” he tells Variety. “But I don’t mean to!”

Winstone’s long-standing status as the go-to man to depict violent approach-with-caution individuals or British mob bosses continues to serve him, however, as “The Gentleman” — Guy Ritchie’s eight-part Netflix spinoff of his 2019 gangster comedy feature of the same name — proves. In the series, awash in the classic Ritchie mix of guns, drugs, violence, aristocrats, boxing and tweed, Winstone stars as a gangland patriarch and head of a massive weed-growing empire. Because of course he does — who else would you cast as an elder statesman than the actor...

A series of three features drawing from the life of pioneering electrical engineer and inventor Nikola Tesla is in development at Showdog Studio. The project will be co-written by Tim Eaton, a visual effects veteran whose credits include “Men in Black,” “Twister” and “Beowulf.”

The banner has optioned the rights for the 1996 biography “Wizard: The Life and Times of Nikola Tesla” and the 2021 biography “Tesla: Wizard at War,” as well as various other research by the author of both works, Marc J. Seifer. Seifer also co-wrote the films with Eaton. Showdog also shares that it has received access to various other letters and artifacts from Tesla’s life.

“We are proud to be working with Marc and Tim and believe they will be a strong vehicle through which we can explore how, in a world increasingly influenced by technology and its misuse, Tesla’s very human story about the burden...

Exclusive: Sebastian Roché (1923) is making his K-drama debut in Netflix’s Queen of Tears premiering March 9. He will portray Dr. Braun, a German doctor who has an interesting relationship with the two leads.

From Studio Dragon, Showrunners and Culture Depot, the series follows Hong Hae-in (Kim Ji-won), the third-generation heiress to Queens Group and the queen of department stores, who has been married for three years to Baek Hyeon-u (Kim Soo-hyun), Yongdu-ri village chief’s son and the prince of supermarkets. As the couple weathers a marital crisis, they discover a miraculous new beginning that rewrites their love story.

Additional cast includes Park Sung-hoon, Kwak Dong-yeon, Lee Joo Bin with a guest appearance by Song Joongki.

Queen of Tears is written by Park Ji-eun. Jang Young-woo and Kim Hee-won direct.

Roché can currently be seen in Paramount’s Taylor Sheridan series 1923 starring opposite Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren. He...

Neil Gaiman is one of Britain's most renowned writers, dipping into fantasy, sci-fi, and horror with ease. As one of the greats working today, it's no surprise that Gaiman has moved across mediums, from comics and novels to TV shows and movies. Among his work is Coraline, a stop-motion animated picture based on a short story that Gaiman had created.

Fans of Coraline might not be too familiar with Gaiman's other work, but these projects from across his archive each carry a specific element that can be associated with the animated film. Thus, Coraline lovers should check out these movies and series, many of which hail from Gaiman's previous work on the page.

The Sandman Made the Jump From DC to Screen

The Sandman TV-MAHorrorFantasyDrama Release DateAugust 5, 2022CreatorAllan Heinberg, David S. Goyer, Neil GaimanCastSandra James Young, Joely Richardson, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Donna Preston, Charles Dance, Tom Sturridge, Patton Oswalt, Kyo Ra,...

“Presence,” a twisty haunted house thriller, marks the second collaboration between Steven Soderbergh and screenwriter David Koepp. The duo, who are longtime friends, also partnered on 2022’s “Kimi,” which featured Zoë Kravitz as an agoraphobic tech wiz.

But Soderergh and Koepp entered each other’s orbit long before “Kimi” debuted. Koepp wrote the screenplay for the 1992 black comedy “Death Becomes Her,” a cult favorite that was also a pioneer in its use of computer graphics.

“I want to preface this by saying I hate it when people talk about things that they passed on,” Soderbergh told Variety in an interview for a recent profile. “For whatever reason, I just feel like I am not convinced it’s good form to do that.”

But Soderbergh did acknowledge that he was offered a chance to direct “Death Becomes Her,” which would have happened shortly after he scored a breakout hit with 1989’s “Sex, Lies, and Videotape.