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The Apple TV+ series The Studio is known for featuring big-name filmmakers playing themselves. So far, the show has seen cameos from directors like Martin Scorsese (Flowers of the Killer Moon), Ron Howard (A Beautiful Mind), Olivia Wilde (Don’t Worry Darling), Parker Finn (Smile), and Nicholas Stoller (Neighbors).

They all interact with Matt Remick (played by Seth Rogen), the new head of the fictional Continental Studios.

However, one of the latest episodes surprised fans with a cameo from none other than Zack Snyder. Unlike the other filmmakers, Snyder appears outside the studio setting. In episode 8, titled “The Golden Globes,” he shows up during a star-filled segment. The episode also features Adam Scott (Severance), Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary), Jean Smart (Hacks), Aaron Sorkin (The West Wing), Ramy Youssef (#1 Happy Family USA), and Netflix co-ceo Ted Sarandos.

The plot follows Matt’s attempt to get Zoë Kravitz, the actress and director of Blink Twice,...

Dynamite Entertainment’s ongoing title “Green Hornet/Miss Fury, now available is written by Alex Segura and illustrated by Federico Sorressa, with covers by Francesco Francavillo, Jae Lee/June Chung, Jonathan Case, Jacob Edgar and a whole lot more:

“…as their alter egos ‘Miss Fury’ and ‘The Green Hornet’, two costumed vigilantes have very different styles of crimefighting.

“But when they both turn up to investigate the murder of beloved professor ‘Javier Mercado’…

“…they soon discover that they have more in common than they realized.

“Mercado was a mentor to both of them at different times…

“…back when he too led a double life as the ‘Silver Shrike’.

“With ‘Marla Drake’ and ‘Britt Reid’ each having a personal stake in finding Mercado's killer…

“…the two must learn how to work together to solve the case…

“…if they don't want to end up sabotaging each other's efforts.

“But there's another, even...

Sometimes news about anticipated films comes from the most unexpected of places. One incredibly exciting project that has recently gone into development is a sequel to Quentin Tarantino's 2019 film Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood. In a surprising turn of events, David Fincher signed on to helm the project, and his first-look deal with Netflix means the film will go to the streaming-based studio in another twist of fate. Initial reports suggest that the road to getting this film produced is complicated, but it's still exciting nonetheless to see a Tarantino script in the hands of another accomplished filmmaker. Now, a Deadline Q&a with Sinners star Michael B. Jordan has inadvertently revealed plenty of new details about the project.

In Deadline's exclusive piece, the moderator of the Q&a highlighted the rich mythology of Tarantino films and how the depth of his characters invites potential spinoffs, similar to...

Bruce Lee, the late legendary martial artist who gave a new definition to the genre, has forever been respected by audiences worldwide. But when it comes to filmmaker Quentin Tarantino’s interpretation of him, he didn’t really hold back on his perspective on him. In fact, he seems to have exposed a dark truth about Lee in his flick Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood.

While his portrayal of the legend wasn’t really one of the most favorable ones in the eyes of Lee’s fans, Tarantino doesn’t seem to be regretful of his decision at all. In fact, as he himself confessed, despite all the backlash he might get for the way he depicted Lee on the screens, fans might as well never expect the director to apologize, because he doesn’t intend to.

Quentin Tarantino isn’t apologetic for Bruce Lee’s image he painted...

The Lone Ranger isn't terrible popular among newer generations -- the spectacular failure of the 2013 "Lone Ranger" feature film cemented that notion -- but for many Baby Boomers, the character is a vital pop culture figure. For those who may need a refresher, The Lone Ranger is a masked vigilante who toured the Old West with his Indigenous American compatriot Tonto, writing wrongs on a freelance basis. He was previously a Texas Ranger (hence his moniker), rode a horse named Silver, and dispatched bad guys with specially made silver bullets. 

The Lone Ranger first appeared as the protagonist of a 1933 radio serial co-created by Fran Striker and George W. Trendle, which broadcasted on Wxyz out of Detroit, Michigan. This radio show was popular enough to warrant a "Lone Ranger" TV series, which is what really thrust the titular character into the pop culture zeitgeist as it ran for 221 episodes over nine years.

Richard Norton, the Australian actor and martial arts expert who demonstrated his considerable skills alongside Chuck Norris, Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung and Cynthia Rothrock in action films, has died. He was 75.

Norton’s death in Melbourne was announced this weekend in a Instagram post by his wife, Judy.

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A post shared by Richard Norton (@rjnorton70)

The charismatic Norton, proficient in judo, karate, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and many other disciplines, spent two decades as a bodyguard working for the likes of The Rolling Stones, Linda Ronstadt and James Taylor.

He also served as a fight choreographer on the 1993-2001 CBS series Walker Texas Ranger, starring his good friend Norris, and on features including The Condemned (2007), Mad Max: Fury Road (2015), Dark Phoenix (2019) and the Suicide Squad films of 2016 and 2021.

Along the way, he trained Scarlett Johansson, Charlize Theron, Sophie Turner, Anya Taylor-Joy, Ben Affleck, Margot Robbie, Charlie Hunnam,...

An Academy Award winner is checking into the Arcadian for Only Murders in the Building Season 5. Not Meryl Streep, though, because she is a three-time Oscar winner and already checked in. Ever since Only Murders in the Building debuted on Hulu in 2021, it has become a huge cultural hit and seems like a rarity in the age of streaming. It has been able to maintain a constant yearly schedule and also managed to attract big-name stars for guest spots and recurring roles, which include Mel Brooks, Matthew Broderick, Paul Rudd, Tina Fey, Ron Howard, Eugene Levy, Zach Galifianakis, Eva Longoria, and, of course, the aforementioned Streep, to name a few. Now, a Quentin Tarantino regular joins the cast.

Variety reports that Christoph Waltz has joined the cast of Only Murders in the Building Season 5. Waltz's role is currently under wraps, but it will be a recurring role in the filming season.

Dynamite Entertainment’s “The Green Hornet/Miss Fury” #3, now available is written by Alex Segura and illustrated by Federico Sorressa, with covers by Declan Shalvey, Francesco Francavilla, Jae Lee & June Chung, Jonathan Case and Jacob Edgar:

“…as the true identity of the ‘Mask Murderer’ is finally revealed, ‘The Green Hornet’ finds himself pitted against his closest friend — with the life of ‘Miss Fury’ hanging in the balance!

“Luckily, the pulp heroine is no shrinking violet herself — and the shocking results of her own investigation may prove to be the key to survival for three costumed crimefighters! …”

Click the images to enlarge…...

Even though it has been many years since Bruce Lee's far-too-young tragic death, he continues to intrigue and mystify fans of his legendary work. As a martial artist, actor, and philosopher, Lee used his skill, intellect, and charisma to craft a career that, while relatively short, left its mark. This is why it should come as no surprise that one of our great filmmakers, Ang Lee, has been working on a Bruce Lee biopic for years, and now the director has provided an update on the status of the project.

While speaking with a Chinese outlet, via World of Reel, Lee spoke about his Bruce Lee biopic, following reports that the screenplay was finally done, and the director expressed that it was something that he wanted to get right. The Ice Storm filmmaker said, "It took me several years to figure out how to crack this film and come...

Of all the directors who made the jump from music videos to feature-directing during MTV’s ’90s peak, Michel Gondry is the sole name whose work hasn’t been able to fully escape from the shadow of early pop promos. His hyper-stylized clips for artists ranging from Daft Punk to the White Stripes revealed a fondness for tactile meticulousness, shorts with an elaborate design where you could often feel the artist’s hand bringing them to life––in some cases quite literally seeing his hands shape the design. Aside from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind––a perfect narrative vehicle for his sensibility due to how its protagonist’s warped memories allowed the director to briskly jump from one visual conceit to the next––Gondry’s films have only ever recaptured this spirit in short bursts, if at all. You’d probably be forgiven for not knowing he directed the...

After his time on The Green Hornet, Bruce Lee moved to Hong Kong, where he had developed a larger audience, and began starring in the kung fu movies he is best known for. Following the success of these films, Warner Bros. Entertainment produced Enter the Dragon alongside Golden Harvest, officially bringing the genre to Hollywood.

As per Tubi, Enter the Dragon is headed to the streaming service next week. The film will be available to stream on March 1, along with titles like Den of Thieves and The Equalizer. Enter the Dragon will be the third Bruce Lee movie to join Tubi’s expanding catalog.

RelatedThis Divisive MCU Show Failed to Adapt an Iconic Bruce Lee Film by Breaking a Crucial Rule

Bruce Lee has influenced countless martial arts films and shows over the years, but when one MCU tried its hand at it, it failed to take off.

Enter the Dragon...

Dynamite Entertainment’s “The Green Hornet/Miss Fury” #2, now available, is written by Alex Segura, Henry Barajas and illustrated by Federico Sorressa, with covers by Francesco Francavilla, Jae Lee/June Chung, Jonathan Case and Jacob Edgar:

‘…someone has killed the ‘Silver Shrike’ and finding the culprit has become a matter of honor for both the ‘Green Hornet’ and ‘Miss Fury’, each of whom regarded the man behind the Shrike’s mask as a personal mentor.

“But solving the case quickly is also becoming a matter of survival, because the killer is now targeting other costumed crimefighters — and either one of them could easily be next…”

Click the images to enlarge…...

Eternal Sunshine director Michel Gondry was in post-production on Golden, a biopic about Pharrell Williams. Universal has reportedly scrapped it.

Universal Pictures has reportedly – and rather drastically – decided to scrap a high-profile musical about Pharrell Williams. The news is an eyebrow-raiser for a number of reasons – first because it’s by a respected director, Michel Gondry, and second because it was fairly near completion.

Called Golden, the musical had an impressive cast which included Kelvin Harrison Jr, Halle Bailey, Da’Vine Joy Randolph and Brian Tyree Henry to name a few. It would have contrasted tidily with last year’s documentary Piece By Piece, since that film (largely animated using Lego figures and bricks) covered Pharrell Williams’ musical career, while Golden, a narrative feature, would have explored his childhood.

Golden was originally scheduled for a cinema release in May, but Universal has instead decided to shelve the film permanently. According to Variety,...

Pharrell Williams and Michel Gondry have decided to scrap their movie musical that was in the postproduction process for Universal Pictures.

Golden, which previously went by the title Atlantis, will not be shopped to other interested parties, as the creative team is not continuing on with the project. It had previously been scheduled for release on May 9.

The star-studded cast included Kelvin Harrison Jr., Halle Bailey, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Brian Tyree Henry, Janelle Monáe, Missy Elliott and Quinta Brunson. The project was set in Virginia Beach during the summer of 1977 and inspired by Atlantis Apartments, the neighborhood where Williams grew up. Gondry helmed the musical from a script by Martin Hynes and Steven Levenson, while Williams was a producer alongside Mimi Valdés and Gil Netter.

“When all of us got into the editing room, we collectively decided there wasn’t a path forward to tell the version of this story that we originally envisioned,...

Ian Buchanan had been through some rollicking times as Dr. James Warwick on The Bold and the Beautiful. While his involvement with the villainous Sheila was full of surprises, including their marriage, they were on the outs at one point. Looking for solace, he kissed Stephanie Forrester, and Sheila witnessed it. Despite the danger that James was in, his alter ego survived and has remained friends with Stephanie’s portrayer, Susan Flannery, all these years later.

They’re Life-Long Friends

Buchanan, who is often posting snaps of himself and his friends on social media, once again took to Instagram to share a fun pic of him, his partner Antonio Hendricks, and the iconic Flannery. His caption read: “With our Best Girl!❤️❤️❤️.” A fan from Italy commented, “...

In many walks of life, a combination of recency bias and genuine progress makes it easy to think that the latest thing is also the greatest thing. However, this thought process doesn't apply to the martial arts movie genre, where a man who died in 1973 continues to be the yardstick all other stars are measured with -- and generally fall short.

Bruce Lee's death at the age of 32 cut short his life but not his legend. It can be easy to forget that his "Bruce Lee era" was just the final, star-making phase of his career. Before breaking through with his English name on "Green Hornet," Lee appeared in 20 Hong Kong movies, often using his Chinese name Lee Jun Fan and stage names like Lee Siu Lung ("Lee Little Dragon"). This means that a true Lee aficionado has plenty of comparatively obscure material to wade through -- from the 1941 film "Golden Gate Girl,...

Bruce Lee was undoubtedly one of the 20th century's most important and influential pop culture figures. Born in San Francisco and raised in Hong Kong, Lee was a prominent child star who appeared in roughly 20 films between the ages of 6 and 20. Lee returned to the United States and enrolled at the University of Washington in the early 1960s. It was at this time he began teaching martial arts. In 1967, Lee founded Jeet Kune Do, a hybrid martial arts style. Around this time, Lee landed a starring role on the American television series The Green Hornet.

During the early 1970s, Lee exploded in popularity thanks to his starring roles in Hong Kong martial arts films such as The Big Boss, Fist of Fury, and The Way of the Dragon. In 1973, Lee starred in the Hollywood-co-produced Enter the Dragon, which became a cultural phenomenon. Unfortunately, Lee passed away at only 32 years old...

Cameron Diaz's long-awaited comeback to Hollywood with her new Netflix movie Back in Action has received a solid audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. Helmed by Horrible Bosses director Seth Gordon, Diaz stars in the action-comedy alongside Jamie Foxx as Emily and Matt, former undercover CIA agents who go on the run with their children after their identities are discovered by a mysterious enemy. Marking the first pairing between Diaz and Foxx since 2014's Annie, critics have not been kind to Back in Action, netting it a 24% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Now, with the movie in its debut weekend on Netflix, Rotten Tomatoes has calculated Back in Action's Audience score. With over 250 reviews calculated on the review aggregate, the action-comedy currently sits at a 64% approval rating from viewers. This is not only more than double that of its decidedly negative critics' score, but also gives it a Fresh score from audiences,...

Dynamite Entertainment’s “Green Hornet/Miss Fury” #1, available February 12, 2025, is written by Alex Segura and illustrated by Federico Sorressa, with covers by Francesco Francavillo, Jae Lee/June Chung, Jonathan Case and Jacob Edgar:

“…as their alter egos ‘Miss Fury’ and ‘The Green Hornet’, two costumed vigilantes have very different styles of crimefighting. But when they both turn up to investigate the murder of beloved professor ‘Javier Mercado’…

“…they soon discover that they have more in common than they realized: Mercado was a mentor to both of them at different times, back when he too led a double life as the ‘Silver Shrike’.

“With ‘Marla Drake’ and ‘Britt Reid’ each having a personal stake in finding Mercado's killer, the two must learn how to work together to solve the case if they don't want to end up sabotaging each other's efforts.

“But there's another, even more compelling reason to join...

Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet are not an especially recognizable duo. Carrey is best known for his work in comedy movies, including The Mask (1994), Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994), and The Cable Guy (1996). He has touched on more serious work with The Truman Show (1998), but he most often prefers to remain in lighthearted and family-friendly movies. Winslet, on the other hand, is a dramatic actor, who is best known for starring in Titanic (1997), Avatar: The Way of Water (2022), and other serious productions. She is currently preparing to star in the upcoming Avatar: Fire & Ash.

The two actors are both critically acclaimed and have won numerous awards for their work. Winslet won an Academy Award, Primetime Emmys, and a Grammy Award. Carrey, meanwhile, earned two Golden Globes and numerous critics' awards. While both have exceptional talent, they are hardly an expected match. When the two came together in 2004, it certainly surprised audiences,...

Seth Rogen is one of the more unique comedic actors out there right now. Unlike some professional goofballs, Rogen's career has also included some significant dramatic works. This has included, for example, serious roles in The Fabelmans and Steve Jobs. While he still brings his characteristic humor to all his roles, parts in dramatic films show his range. Rogen is also experienced both in front of the camera and behind-the-scenes, serving as a producer on a number of key projects including The Boys and Invincible.

A lot of his dual behind-the-scenes and in-front-of-the-camera work extends to his comedy rolls. In both late 2000s movies Superbad and Pineapple Express, for example, Rogen both stars in and produces the film in some capacity. The same is true for other Rogen-featuring comedies including The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up, Funny People, The Green Hornet, and 50/50. Rogen has continued this trend of both producing and acting,...

Bruce Lee was a famed martial arts expert who completed only a handful of films before his untimely death in 1973 at the age of 32. Let’s take a look back at all 6 of his films, ranked worst to best.

Born in the Chinatown neighborhood of San Francisco, CA, in 1940, Lee was raised with his family in Kowloon, Hong Kong. He began appearing in several films as a child, often in small bit roles, but abandoned acting to pursue a career in martial arts.

His hiatus from the screen didn’t last long. In 1966, Lee was cast as Kato in the short-lived television adventure “The Green Hornet,” later making appearances as the character on “Batman.” He played a small role in the mystery film “Marlowe” (1969) as a kung fu fighter who destroys private eye James Garner‘s office before suffering a tragic demise.

Lee became a leading man after returning to...

Regular collaborators Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg have created Apple TV+ comedy series The Studio. Here’s the trailer.

Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg burst onto the Hollywood scene in 2007 when they co-wrote smash hit comedy Superbad. It was a big year for Rogen, who also starred opposite Katherine Heigl in Judd Apatow’s Knocked Up. Since then, they have written stoner comedy Pineapple Express and made the leap to big budget superhero films with The Green Hornet. They made their directorial debut in 2013 with This Is The End, following it up with 2014’s The Interview.

The pair have now created ten part Apple TV+ comedy The Studio.

The cast also includes Catherine O’Hara, Kathryn Hahn, Ike Barinholtz, Chase Sui Wonders, Bryan Cranston, Keyla Monterroso Mejia and Dewayne Perkins.

Alex Gregory and Peter Huyck, who previously wrote for Armando Iannucci’s Veep and created White House Plumbers, are showrunners and writers,...

Being two of comedy’s most famous talents, Seth Rogen and James Franco had an enduring friendship, which included a long history of riffing off one another and collaborating. Beginning their collaboration with the 1999 show Freaks and Geeks, Rogen and Franco had a friendship spanning over two decades until the duo fell apart in 2018.

James Franco and Seth Rogen in The Interview | image: Columbia Pictures

Despite working together in hit comedies and sharing an unbreakable bond, Seth Rogen and James Franco sparked a rift, after the latter was accused of s*xually inappropriate behavior in an L.A. Times article. After Franco’s s*xual misconduct lawsuit was settled, the allegations seemingly caused him and Rogen to drift apart. Since then, their friendship has never been repaired.

The Beginning of James Franco and Seth Rogen’s Friendship

James Franco and Seth Rogen were both young and newcomers in the industry when...

The legacy of Bruce Lee remains one of the most enduring tales of all time with his global reputation being built on the back of his dedication toward and expertise in martial arts. The film industry that accepted him and elevated him to a pedestal happened to posthumously deify the legend in the audience’s eye just enough to make him immortal.

Bruce Lee in Fist of Fury [Credit: Orange Sky Golden Harvest]

The tragedy that permeated the atmosphere upon the news of the actor’s death was insurmountable. It was not natural for the entire world to mourn a martial arts figurehead who mostly worked in Hong Kong action films, making a brief but transcendent transition to Hollywood. The global cult-like following of Bruce Lee remains a matter of fascination and much study.

The Curious Case of Martial Arts Legend, Bruce Lee Bruce Lee in Fist of Fury [Credit: Orange Sky Golden Harvest]

In a shocking turn of events,...

It’s October now, which means that the temporary haunted house business is in full swing. If you’re not interested in exploring the monster-filled dreamscape of the dude from Fever Pitch, there’s always Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights. The popular annual attraction features various spooky mazes inspired by movies and TV shows including A Quiet Place, Insidious and Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, which may or may not end with a scare actor dressed as Dan Aykroyd popping out of a wall and forcing you to buy his vodka.

The event rarely takes inspiration from comedies, but in 2015, Universal unveiled a haunted maze based on a Seth Rogen movie. While one could argue that The Green Hornet is Rogen’s most horrifying work to date, the maze was actually themed around This Is the End.

This Is the End starred Rogen, James Franco, Danny McBride and Jay Baruchel as fictional...

Frank Griffin, who nosed out another makeup artist to work with Steve Martin on Roxanne, just one of the 20 movies they did together, has died. He was 95.

Griffin died Wednesday of cancer at his home in Studio City, his daughter Roxane Griffin, a veteran Hollywood hairstylist (Avatar, Transparent, 80 for Brady), told The Hollywood Reporter.

Frank Griffin started out in Hollywood as an actor and studio laborer before turning to makeup in the mid-1960s, and he went on to work on Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970), Scarecrow (1973), Westworld (1973), Cinderella Liberty (1973), Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), Urban Cowboy (1980), Midnight Run (1988), Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982), Vacation (1983), Revenge of the Nerds (1984) and Pee-wee’s Big Adventure (1985).

Survivors also include his sister Debra Paget, who starred in such films as Broken Arrow (1950), Love Me Tender (1956) — Elvis Presley’s first movie — and The Ten Commandments (1956).

His other two sisters were actresses as well: Lisa Gaye,...

Pharrell Williams and Michel Gondry’s coming-of-age musical film now has name and a theatrical release date: Atlantis, and it’s out on May 9, 2025.

Variety revealed the release date for the film on Thursday, several months after breaking the news that Missy Elliott is also tied to the project. The Universal Pictures film is set to feature a massive, star-studded cast that also includes Halle Bailey and Da’Vine Joy Randolph in lead roles. Anderson .Paak, Janelle Monáe, Tim Meadows, Jayson Brian Tyree Henry, Jaboukie Young-White, and Kelvin Harrison Jr will also appear in the film.

The 1966 "Batman" TV series -- one of the best TV shows of all time -- wasn't shy about including shameless cameos. Early in the show's run, the producers invented an organic conceit that would allow famous people to literally poke their heads in for a moment to deliver a few lines of dialogue. While Batman (Adam West) and Robin (Burt Ward) were scaling the side of a building -- something they did often -- a celebrity guest would open a window to see who might be making noise on their outside wall. The series featured peek-ins from Sammy Davis, Jr., Jerry Lewis, Art Linkletter, Don Ho, and Dick Clark. 

Other notable stars also provided peek-ins, but many appeared in character, playing their roles from other hip TV shows at the time. Ted Cassidy, for instance, appeared as Lurch from "The Addams Family." Werner Klemperer had a cameo as Colonel Klink from "Hogan's Heroes.

Who do you think would die first in a four-way battle royale between Seth Rogen, Will Ferrell, Jim Carrey and Adam Sandler? Who do you think has had the least inspiring film career between those four? Are both answers the same?

Look, anyone who has ever written and starred in a mid-budget comedy produced by a major studio is doing pretty okay from a career standpoint, so it would be ludicrous to suggest that any of the men mentioned above is somehow a failure, despite what their biggest haters may say. But speaking of haters, only one of those four funnymen has a large and devoted anti-stan movement on Twitter that relishes in taking every opportunity to snarkily reply to a picture of him lighting a giant fake bong at a Hollywood Bowl show and tell him, “We get it man.”

Earlier today, a viral Twitter post challenged comedy film...

Left to right: Everything Everywhere All At Once (A24), Starship Troopers (TriStar Pictures/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images), Enter The Dragon ((Photo by Warner Brothers/Getty Images), The Matrix (Photo by Warner Brothers/Getty Images)Graphic: The A.V. Club

The recent release of Thelma, a film that subverts the conventions of action films,...

Oscar nominees Kodi Smit-McPhee and Djimon Hounsou are set to star in claustrophobic thriller “The Zealot.”

The two-hander, being introduced to buyers in Cannes by WestEnd Films, comes from director Vadim Perelman working from a screenplay by Bennett Fisher, and touches on themes involving privilege, paranoia, and the assumptions we make about one another.

“The Zealot” follows Hassan, a Somali-American airport shuttle driver in Minneapolis, who is struggling to make ends meet. When Lloyd, a stranded twentysomething at the airport, offers to pay Hassan to take him overland to Chicago, it seems worth the risk. But as the realization grows that his passenger is not what he seems, Hassan finds he is trapped in a terrifying ride which he can’t escape from, knowing that to save himself might put countless others in danger.

Jib Polhemus (“Lara Croft: Tomb Raider,” “The Mechanic”) produces alongside Michael Helfant and Bradley Gallo (“The Green Hornet and Kato,...

Bruce Lee is perhaps the go-to example of a martial arts movie star, and with good reason. The man was charismatic, likable, and a joy to watch throughout his action sequences, thanks to his unique form of martial arts known as Jeet Kune Do. Naturally, his skills as a martial artist made him a perfect fit for the martial arts/kung fu movie genres, and its within such films that he made his mark, becoming a dominant pop culture icon during the 1970s after also being a child actor earlier in his career, and appearing as Kato in The Green Hornet, a TV series that aired in 1966 and 1967.

The high-profile cast for Universal Pictures’ forthcoming musical from Michel Gondry and Pharrell Williams has just been kicked up an octave with the addition of Janelle Monáe.

Monáe has signed on to join the cast of the coming-of-age period feature that is currently untitled. The film’s previously confirmed castmembers include Kelvin Harrison Jr., Halle Bailey, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Brian Tyree Henry and Missy Elliott.

The project is set in Virginia Beach during the summer of 1977 and inspired by Atlantis Apartments, the neighborhood where Williams grew up. Gondry directs the musical from a script by Martin Hynes and Steven Levenson.

Producers include Williams and Mimi Valdés for I Am Other, alongside Gil Netter for Gil Netter Productions. Overseeing the movie for Universal are senior vp of production development Ryan Jones and director of production development Christine Sun.

Monáe’s previous film credits include Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, Antebellum,...

Tarantino's eclectic music choices in the Kill Bill Vol. 1 soundtrack enhance the energy and excitement of the action-packed set pieces. Uma Thurman's thrilling sword fights as the Bride become more exhilarating with the perfect songs playing in the background. The Kill Bill Vol. 1 soundtrack, filled with classic songs and original compositions, adds depth and emotion to the martial arts epic storyline.

The Kill Bill soundtrack remains one of Quentin Tarantino’s most eclectic and enjoyable releases. Ever since Mr. Blonde tortured a police officer to the tune of “Stuck in the Middle with You” in Reservoir Dogs, Tarantino has been known for his movie's needle drops. His music choices are as integral to his signature filmmaking style as his snappy dialogue and graphic violence. Music isn’t usually a priority for action movies, but Tarantino proved with Kill Bill that the right song can enhance the...

Chuck Norris is known for his roundhouse kicks and his action star persona in the ‘80s and the ‘90s. He starred in films such as Good Guys Wear Black, Breaker! Breaker!, and The Octagon. Though he did not reach the level of other action stars of the era such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, he still held his ground. The actor was known for being proficient in martial arts and was also known to have trained many celebrities in martial arts before he became an actor.

Norris made his big screen debut with Bruce Lee’s The Way of The Dragon. The action star has a minor role as Colt, who is recruited by the antagonist to fight against Lee’s Tang Lung. Norris and Lee reportedly developed a friendship when they met at the All-American-Karate Championship tournament, where the Silent Rage star was a two-time world champion.

Chuck Norris Began His...

It was just last week we were celebrating the 20th anniversary of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, which catapulted Michel Gondry into the Hollywood system with the likes of Be Kind Rewind and The Green Hornet. After the failure of that superhero tentpole, he retreated back to France, directing a handful of smaller-scale features, the latest of which, The Book of Solutions, gets meta following a filmmaker struggling with the editing of his big-budget project. Gondry is now mounting his return to Hollywood, the details of which have now been unveiled.

Deadline reports he’s directing an untitled coming-of-age musical, which is loosely inspired by the upbringing of Pharrell Williams. Set to star Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Da’Vine Joy Randolph, coming off her Oscar win for The Holdovers, the Universal-backed project is set in 1977 Virginia Beach. Previously going by the title Atlantis, named after the Atlantis Apartments area where Williams was raised,...

In the "Star Trek" episode "The Enemy Within", Captain Kirk (William Shatner) beams up from the planet Alpha 177 covered in a mysterious magnetic dust. Unbeknownst to any of the Enterprise crew, the dust has fouled up the transporter and created a second Kirk inside its memory buffer. After Kirk leaves the room, the second Kirk materializes ... but displays an altered personality. It seems that Kirk has been bifurcated into a gentle version of himself and a cruel, aggressive version of himself. For much of "The Enemy Within," the Evil Kirk stalks around the halls of the U.S.S. Enterprise, startling the crew and accosting Yeoman Rand (Grace Lee Whitney). Gentle Kirk soon realizes that he needs his aggression back in order to be whole. Eventually, the two Kirks confront one another. 

"Star Trek" had a modest budget back in the day, and it certainly didn't have the resources to...

Seth Rogen has carved out a very unique niche for himself. As a producer, Rogen has been at the helm of some very successful adaptations of superhero comics like Invincible, The Boys, Tmnt, and Gen V. However, the actor-producer has been public about his reluctance towards working with superhero giants like Marvel and DC, but it looks like that might change with the latest project that he has put in development.

Venom, as he appears in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

It has been reported that Seth Rogen is developing yet another Spider-Man universe, this time focused on Venom, in the form of an R-rated animated film, which will be distinct from Tom Holland’s MCU Spider-Man, Tom Hardy’s Sony Venom series of films and Sony’s animated Spider-Verse films. Given Rogen’s track record with R-rated comic book properties, it seems the project is in good hands, which...

Michel Gondry hasn’t worked with a Hollywood studio since the 2011 comedy “The Green Hornet.” But he’ll do so for his follow-up to last year’s “The Book Of Solutions” for what’s arguably the most peculiar project in his filmography. Deadline reports that Gondry heads to Universal to direct an untitled coming-of-age musical set in 1977 Virginia Beach. The project is the brainchild of Pharrell Williams, inspired by the music producer’s childhood living in the the city’s Atlantis Apartments.

Continue reading Michel Gondry To Direct Period Musical For Universal & Pharrell Williams; Kelvin Harrison Jr. To Star & Da’Vine Joy Randolph In Final Talks at The Playlist.

Michel Gondry is about to make a lot of people happy, teaming with Pharrell Williams, Kelvin Harrison Jr. and recent Oscar winner Da’Vine Joy Randolph for Atlantis, a new film that is partly inspired by Williams’ upbringing.

While no plot details have been unveiled, according to Deadline, Atlantis is “a coming-of-age musical, set in 1977 Virginia Beach, which draws inspiration from Williams’ childhood growing up in the city’s Atlantis Apartments.” In addition to Gondry signed on as director, screenwriters on board are Toy Story 4’s Martin Hynes and Tick, Tick…Boom’s Steven Levenson.

Atlantis was revealed back in 2017. While Hynes was attached even as far back as then, originally Michael Mayer – who won the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical for Spring Awakening – was set to direct.

Pharrell Williams has been all-in on telling his life story, even in Lego form, as Focus Features will release...

Seth Rogen is a well-known personality in the entertainment industry. Having won audiences’ hearts with his acting, comedy, and filmmaking skills, he often garnered attention for his opinions. As for his love life, it has long been sorted after meeting his now-wife, Lauren Miller, when they were working on Da Ali G Show. After dating for a few years, they exchanged vows in 2011. While the duo continue to enjoy their company, they have openly expressed their opinions on not having children.

Lauren Miller with Seth Rogen [Cred: Seth Rogen/Instagram ]Back in 2021, the former confirmed the same as he revealed why the couple are adamant on not having kids despite a great marriage.

Seth Rogen Expressed His Thoughts on Not Having Kids

Seth Rogen in The Green Hornet

While for some, parenthood is a major step in a couple’s life that upgrades their happiness to the next level, Seth Rogen and his wife,...

Bruce Lee's dream show now transitions to Netflix, where a fourth season remains a possibility. "Warrior" intertwines Chinese immigrants' personal stories with those of the Tong Wars and the Gold Rush era. A blend of martial arts and Western genres, "Warrior" fictionalizes a turbulent history of the Chinese journey in America, albeit with some inaccuracies.

The action drama Warrior has faced a rocky path to production over the years, and despite positive reception from most critics and viewers, the show is still struggling uphill. According to a December 2023 report by Variety, the show will still air on Cinemax, with any new episodes to debut on Netflix, after a cancelation nearly ended it altogether in 2023 after three seasons. However, the action series has not yet been renewed. Among the victims of the transfer is regular Andrew Koji, who had other obligations. The shift in the cast will require a new...

Eureka Entertainment announced today that they will be releasing Jet Li’s martial arts extravaganza Black Mask on Blu-ray on April 23rd.

Influenced by Bruce Lee’s role as Kato in The Green Hornet, Black Mask stars Jet Li as Tsui Chik, “a librarian who leads a quiet, unassuming life – or, at least, that’s what he wants people to believe. In truth, he was once a member of the 701 Squad, a group of elite combatants produced by a failed super-soldier project. In-kind with his former comrades, his central nervous system has been altered to render him impervious to pain. When several of his fellow test subjects resurface and embark on a crimewave under the leadership of their former commander Hung Kuk (Patrick Lung), Tsui is forced to use his extraordinary abilities once more. Donning a costume, he sets out to face his past – as the vigilante known as the Black Mask.

Netflix shares a first look at their upcoming movie Back in Action. Directed by Seth Gordon, the action comedy marks Diaz's return to the screen after a 10-year hiatus. Cameron Diaz stars in the movie as a spy who is getting "back in action" alongside her husband (Jamie Foxx).

The first glimpse of Back in Action has been revealed. The mysterious upcoming Netflix movie is an action comedy that was directed and co-written by Baywatch's Seth Gordon and features the return of movie star Cameron Diaz after she stepped away from performing onscreen a decade ago following her portrayal of Miss Hannigan in 2014's Annie. The new movie sees her reteaming with her Annie co-star Jamie Foxx alongside a stacked ensemble cast that also includes Glenn Close, Kyle Chandler, Andrew Scott, and Jamie Demetriou.

Netflix has now shared official first-look footage from the Back in Action movie as...

Happy New Year! This week’s film quiz features movies that, according to Rotten Tomatoes, absolutely everybody likes.

Film Quiz Fridays are here again! In weeks to come, we’ve got rounds themed around Jason Statham films, movie musicals, and the Oscars, as well as the usual random movie trivia. But today’s theme is inspired by films like Next Goal Wins – not the Taika Waititi football comedy (read Simon’s 3-star review here) but the 2014 documentary of the same name – which has a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Older readers will remember we did a quiz on the 0% club last year, but this time, we’re swinging the other way.

As always, there are three rounds of film trivia in total, and this is all just for fun. Once you’ve completed all 30 questions, you’ll find a link to a separate post with the correct answers at the bottom of this post.

British actor Tom Wilkinson, who appeared in films including ‘The Full Monty’, ‘Shakespeare in Love’ and ‘The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel’, passed away in the U.K. He died at the age of 75 on Saturday. He won a BAFTA for supporting actor for ‘The Full Monty’, in which he plays an unemployed steel worker who joins a male striptease dance group who decide to strip completely — “go the full Monty” — in order to make money, reports Variety.

“It is with great sadness that the family of Tom Wilkinson announce that he died suddenly at home on December 30. His wife and family were with him,” the statement from his family to the BBC read.

As per Variety, Wilkinson reprised his role as Gerald in ‘The Full Monty’ for the recent Disney+ series which revisited the characters 26 years later.

Wilkinson was Oscar-nominated for his roles in ‘Michael Clayton’, in which he played...

Tom Wilkinson, the Emmy-winning actor who starred in the 1997 film The Full Monty and reprised his role in the 2023 sequel TV series, has died. He was 75.

Wilkinson passed away on Saturday at his home in the UK, according to the BBC. No cause of death has been reported.

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In The Fully Monty, Wilkinson plays an unemployed steel worker, Gerald, who joins a striptease dance group to make money.

Tom Wilkinson, the British actor who appeared in films including “The Full Monty,” “Shakespeare in Love” and “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,” died Saturday in the U.K., the BBC reported. He was 75.

“It is with great sadness that the family of Tom Wilkinson announce that he died suddenly at home on December 30. His wife and family were with him,” the statement from his family to the BBC read.

He won a BAFTA for supporting actor for “The Full Monty,” in which he plays an unemployed steel worker who joins a male striptease dance group who decide to strip completely — “go the full Monty” — in order to make money. Wilkinson reprised his role as Gerald in “The Full Monty” for the recent Disney+ series which revisited the characters 26 years later.

Wilkinson was Oscar-nominated for his roles in “Michael Clayton,” in which he played an attorney who has a manic episode...

Hellboy as a samurai in feudal Japan would be a charming and fitting concept for a "What If?" scenario. Japan has been featured in Hellboy stories before and could provide a rich setting for new adventures. Francesco Francavilla, known for his pulp-inspired art, would be a perfect fit to illustrate a Hellboy story set in any historical setting.

Hellboy has traveled the world fighting monsters, but one piece of fan art from Francesco Francavilla has Big Red actually becoming a samurai in feudal Japan in an epic reference to famed actors like Toshiro Mifune and Tatsuya Nakadai.

Shared to Instagram, celebrated artist Francesco Francavilla posted the sketch he did from 2009, which sees Hellboy drawing a katana in preparation for an epic battle with some giant monster or other, no doubt. Check out Francavilla’s awesome work:

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Francesco Francavilla (@f_francavilla)

The...