Shailene Woodley, Ben Foster and Pablo Schreiber will join the previously announced Alan Ritchson in the action thriller “Motor City.”
Potsy Ponciroli will direct the picture. Production begins July 10 in New Jersey and AlUla, Saudi Arabia as part of Stampede Ventures’ 10-picture slate deal with Film AlUla.
Greg Silverman and Jon Berg will produce for Stampede Ventures, alongside Rohini Singh, Paramdeep Singh and Manmeet Singh of Astro Lion Pictures, and Cliff Roberts and Chad St. John, who also penned the script. Mike Tadross Jr. and Eric Hedayat will executive produce.
Black Bear represents international rights with WME Independent co-representing domestic rights with Stampede, and Sacker Entertainment Law overseeing production legal.
“Motor City” follows John Miller (Ritchson), a Detroit auto-worker whose life and girlfriend (Woodley) are taken away from him when he’s framed by a local gangster (Foster) and sent to prison. On his release, Miller unleashes a maelstrom of...
Potsy Ponciroli will direct the picture. Production begins July 10 in New Jersey and AlUla, Saudi Arabia as part of Stampede Ventures’ 10-picture slate deal with Film AlUla.
Greg Silverman and Jon Berg will produce for Stampede Ventures, alongside Rohini Singh, Paramdeep Singh and Manmeet Singh of Astro Lion Pictures, and Cliff Roberts and Chad St. John, who also penned the script. Mike Tadross Jr. and Eric Hedayat will executive produce.
Black Bear represents international rights with WME Independent co-representing domestic rights with Stampede, and Sacker Entertainment Law overseeing production legal.
“Motor City” follows John Miller (Ritchson), a Detroit auto-worker whose life and girlfriend (Woodley) are taken away from him when he’s framed by a local gangster (Foster) and sent to prison. On his release, Miller unleashes a maelstrom of...
- 5/10/2024
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Jerome Levy’s Vuelta Group, a private-equity-backed European studio, has acquired German production and licensing giant Telepool from Westbrook, the U.S. outfit controlled Will and Jada Pinkett-Smith.
Vuelta will merge Telepool with Munich-based SquareOne, the German producer/distributor it acquired last year. SquareOne CEO Al Munteanu, head of Vuelta Group Germany, will take over the running of the merged company, with Michael Heyd serving as CFO/COO.
Telepool has one of the largest rights libraries in Europe, with German-language rights to more than 1,200 titles, including such features as The Imitation Game, Drive, Olympus Has Fallen, Lone Survivor and French hit Intouchables, as well as Westbrook-produced features like Oscar-winner King Richard. Upcoming features include the Hellboy reboot The Crooked Man and Andrew Niccol’s Lord of War sequel, Lords of War, starring Nicolas Cage and Bill Skarsgård.
Yoko Higuchi-Zitzmann, who took over as CEO at Telepool two years ago, will leave the company.
Vuelta will merge Telepool with Munich-based SquareOne, the German producer/distributor it acquired last year. SquareOne CEO Al Munteanu, head of Vuelta Group Germany, will take over the running of the merged company, with Michael Heyd serving as CFO/COO.
Telepool has one of the largest rights libraries in Europe, with German-language rights to more than 1,200 titles, including such features as The Imitation Game, Drive, Olympus Has Fallen, Lone Survivor and French hit Intouchables, as well as Westbrook-produced features like Oscar-winner King Richard. Upcoming features include the Hellboy reboot The Crooked Man and Andrew Niccol’s Lord of War sequel, Lords of War, starring Nicolas Cage and Bill Skarsgård.
Yoko Higuchi-Zitzmann, who took over as CEO at Telepool two years ago, will leave the company.
- 5/8/2024
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
German distributor-producer SquareOne Entertainment, part of rising European film studio Vuelta Group, has acquired German film and TV production, distribution and licensing company Telepool, which was owned by Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith’s Westbrook.
The news was announced Wednesday by Vuelta Group chairman Jerome Levy and CEO of SquareOne and Vuelta Group Germany Al Munteanu.
Munteanu will spearhead the newly combined entity under the SquareOne banner with Michael Heyd serving as CFO/COO.
The newly combined SquareOne entity will boast a library consisting of over 1,200 titles such as “Drive,” “Intouchables,” “The Olympus Has Fallen,” “The Hitman’s Bodyguard,” “Imitation Game,” “Lone Survivor,” “Book Club,” “Transporter 3,” “King Richard,” “Maurice the Tomcat” and the recently released “One Life” among others.
“For over 60 years, Telepool has been one of the leading global content houses and we are proud of the work we did with the company,” said Westbrook CEO Kosaku Yada.
The news was announced Wednesday by Vuelta Group chairman Jerome Levy and CEO of SquareOne and Vuelta Group Germany Al Munteanu.
Munteanu will spearhead the newly combined entity under the SquareOne banner with Michael Heyd serving as CFO/COO.
The newly combined SquareOne entity will boast a library consisting of over 1,200 titles such as “Drive,” “Intouchables,” “The Olympus Has Fallen,” “The Hitman’s Bodyguard,” “Imitation Game,” “Lone Survivor,” “Book Club,” “Transporter 3,” “King Richard,” “Maurice the Tomcat” and the recently released “One Life” among others.
“For over 60 years, Telepool has been one of the leading global content houses and we are proud of the work we did with the company,” said Westbrook CEO Kosaku Yada.
- 5/8/2024
- by Elsa Keslassy and Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Fallout is the most exciting Amazon Original dropping this month. From Westworld creators Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy, this long-awaited adaptation of the popular video game franchise looks incredible, and is bound to be a hit among video game fans and newcomers alike. The series stars Ella Purnell (Yellowjackets), Walton Goggins (The Righteous Gemstones), and Aaron Clifton Moten (Disjointed).
Prime Video doesn’t have much else in the way of original offerings this month, aside from the return of Alex Rider on Freevee a few other films and TV series, but there are plenty of popular films joining the streaming service’s library. Cloverfield, Batman & Robin, Titanic, and The Notebook are just a few of the notable movies coming to Prime this month.
Here’s everything coming to Prime Video and Freevee in April – Amazon originals are designated with an asterisk.
New on Amazon Prime Video – April 2024 April 1 Blaze...
Prime Video doesn’t have much else in the way of original offerings this month, aside from the return of Alex Rider on Freevee a few other films and TV series, but there are plenty of popular films joining the streaming service’s library. Cloverfield, Batman & Robin, Titanic, and The Notebook are just a few of the notable movies coming to Prime this month.
Here’s everything coming to Prime Video and Freevee in April – Amazon originals are designated with an asterisk.
New on Amazon Prime Video – April 2024 April 1 Blaze...
- 4/1/2024
- by Brynnaarens
- Den of Geek
As one of the biggest stars in Hollywood, Mark Wahlberg’s career is full of films that showcase his stardom and how he can be a big name drawing people to watch his films. The actor’s career is filled with notable roles in films such as Lone Survivor, Boogie Nights, The Departed, Ted, and many more. Throughout his career, Wahlberg has done films with legendary directors, making him an A-tier actor, and a bankable one.
Mark Wahlberg in The Fighter
Well, that’s what everyone used to think, that the actor is a major name in the film industry, who would attract huge numbers at the box office. However, that is not the case anymore because Marky Mark’s latest film shows how he is becoming an irrelevant name in the film industry. His only way to avoid anonymity is by working alongside his Father Stu co-star, Mel Gibson,...
Mark Wahlberg in The Fighter
Well, that’s what everyone used to think, that the actor is a major name in the film industry, who would attract huge numbers at the box office. However, that is not the case anymore because Marky Mark’s latest film shows how he is becoming an irrelevant name in the film industry. His only way to avoid anonymity is by working alongside his Father Stu co-star, Mel Gibson,...
- 3/31/2024
- by Tushar Auddy
- FandomWire
MGM+ has ordered a limited series adaptation of the George R. Stewart sci-fi novel “Earth Abides” with Alexander Ludwig set to star.
The streamer has ordered six episodes of the series, with Ludwig set to play the role of Ish. Production will begin in Vancover in April with the show slated for a late 2024 debut.
The official logline for the series states, “When a plague of unprecedented virulence sweeps the globe, the human race is all but wiped out. In the aftermath, as the great machine of civilization slowly and inexorably breaks down, only a few shattered survivors remain to struggle against the slide into extinction.”
The character of Ish is further described as “a brilliant but solitary young geologist living a semi-isolated life who awakens from a coma only to find that there is no one left alive but him. A plague of unprecedented virulence has swept the globe,...
The streamer has ordered six episodes of the series, with Ludwig set to play the role of Ish. Production will begin in Vancover in April with the show slated for a late 2024 debut.
The official logline for the series states, “When a plague of unprecedented virulence sweeps the globe, the human race is all but wiped out. In the aftermath, as the great machine of civilization slowly and inexorably breaks down, only a few shattered survivors remain to struggle against the slide into extinction.”
The character of Ish is further described as “a brilliant but solitary young geologist living a semi-isolated life who awakens from a coma only to find that there is no one left alive but him. A plague of unprecedented virulence has swept the globe,...
- 3/26/2024
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
After two weeks of moviegoers returning to theaters in force, we’re back to a weekend with a number of lower-key releases just hoping to make any sort of mark against the two big movies. Read on for Gold Derby’s box office preview.
This weekend will once again be about “Kung Fu Panda 4” vs. “Dune: Part Two,” although it’s likely to be a second weekend with the animated movie dominating, with both of them remaining in over 4,000 theaters.
Opening in 2,850 theaters, the biggest new wide release of the weekend is the Mark Wahlberg drama “Arthur the King,” based on the true story of Mikael Lindnord (renamed “Michael Light” for the movie), an outdoors endurance racer who puts together a team to cross the Dominican Republic. That team also includes actors Simu Liu (“Barbie”), Nathalie Emmanuel (the “Fast and Furious” movies) and Ali Suliman (“Lone Survivor”), and along the way,...
This weekend will once again be about “Kung Fu Panda 4” vs. “Dune: Part Two,” although it’s likely to be a second weekend with the animated movie dominating, with both of them remaining in over 4,000 theaters.
Opening in 2,850 theaters, the biggest new wide release of the weekend is the Mark Wahlberg drama “Arthur the King,” based on the true story of Mikael Lindnord (renamed “Michael Light” for the movie), an outdoors endurance racer who puts together a team to cross the Dominican Republic. That team also includes actors Simu Liu (“Barbie”), Nathalie Emmanuel (the “Fast and Furious” movies) and Ali Suliman (“Lone Survivor”), and along the way,...
- 3/13/2024
- by Edward Douglas
- Gold Derby
Exclusive: Last month, when Brandt Andersen’s debut feature film The Strangers’ Case won the Amnesty International Film Award at Berlinale, it marked the recognition of a long and impassioned journey for the writer, director and long-time producer as he sought to marry film with his extensive activism background.
The drama, which world premiered as a Special Gala at Berlin, is an extended version of his Oscar-shortlisted short film Refugee and stars French actor Omar Sy and Lebanese-born Yasmine Al Massri. It’s a searing account of the refugee exodus sparked by the Arab Spring and ensuing Syrian Civil War. Andersen, whose producing credits include Everest, Lone Survivor and Golden Globe nominee The Flowers of War, writes and directs The Strangers’ Case and drew inspiration from people he encountered while working with humanitarian agencies in Turkey, Greece, Italy, Jordan and Syria.
The film follows the chain reaction of events involving...
The drama, which world premiered as a Special Gala at Berlin, is an extended version of his Oscar-shortlisted short film Refugee and stars French actor Omar Sy and Lebanese-born Yasmine Al Massri. It’s a searing account of the refugee exodus sparked by the Arab Spring and ensuing Syrian Civil War. Andersen, whose producing credits include Everest, Lone Survivor and Golden Globe nominee The Flowers of War, writes and directs The Strangers’ Case and drew inspiration from people he encountered while working with humanitarian agencies in Turkey, Greece, Italy, Jordan and Syria.
The film follows the chain reaction of events involving...
- 3/7/2024
- by Diana Lodderhose
- Deadline Film + TV
Mark Wahlberg has been in the industry for almost 3 decades and has been in some of the most acclaimed films in Hollywood. Wahlberg has dabbled in various genres and has shown his versatility as an actor. Films like Boogie Nights, Fear, Invincible, The Departed, Fighter, Lone Survivor, etc. have shown that he does not like to typecast himself into a specific type of performance.
Mark Wahlberg as Marcus Luttrell in 2013’s Lone Survivor
In the 2010s, Wahlberg started venturing into blockbusters and family-friendly projects like The Transformers franchise, more recently with Uncharted, and The Family Plan. However, the actor reassures that if the script is right, he is ready to commit to anything that he finds interesting and worth dipping his skin into.
Mark Wahlberg Won’t Rule Out Doing Films Like Boogie Nights Just Yet
Mark Wahlberg played a rising p**n star in Paul Thomas Anderson’s Boogie...
Mark Wahlberg as Marcus Luttrell in 2013’s Lone Survivor
In the 2010s, Wahlberg started venturing into blockbusters and family-friendly projects like The Transformers franchise, more recently with Uncharted, and The Family Plan. However, the actor reassures that if the script is right, he is ready to commit to anything that he finds interesting and worth dipping his skin into.
Mark Wahlberg Won’t Rule Out Doing Films Like Boogie Nights Just Yet
Mark Wahlberg played a rising p**n star in Paul Thomas Anderson’s Boogie...
- 3/7/2024
- by Rahul Thokchom
- FandomWire
If you were to design a global sales agent in a lab, they would come out looking a lot like Tamara Birkemoe.
Born in Italy to Chilean parents and raised between Sweden and Rome before moving to the U.S. for film school, the multilingual exec has been a force on the indie film scene since her first job, straight out of UCLA, for Mark Damon’s Mdp Worldwide. For the next 16 years, Birkemoe put in time at Mdp (later Media 8 Entertainment) and then at Foresight Unlimited, the production and sales group Damon set up in 2005. The slate she oversaw ranged from studio-released big-budget action fare, such as Peter Berg’s Lone Survivor and Baltasar Kormákur’s 2 Guns, both Universal Pictures films, which grossed $155 million and $132 million worldwide, respectively; to Kevin Costner starrer The Upside of Anger, a New Line release that earned $28 million worldwide; and Patty Jenkins’ low-budget true-crime drama Monster,...
Born in Italy to Chilean parents and raised between Sweden and Rome before moving to the U.S. for film school, the multilingual exec has been a force on the indie film scene since her first job, straight out of UCLA, for Mark Damon’s Mdp Worldwide. For the next 16 years, Birkemoe put in time at Mdp (later Media 8 Entertainment) and then at Foresight Unlimited, the production and sales group Damon set up in 2005. The slate she oversaw ranged from studio-released big-budget action fare, such as Peter Berg’s Lone Survivor and Baltasar Kormákur’s 2 Guns, both Universal Pictures films, which grossed $155 million and $132 million worldwide, respectively; to Kevin Costner starrer The Upside of Anger, a New Line release that earned $28 million worldwide; and Patty Jenkins’ low-budget true-crime drama Monster,...
- 2/16/2024
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Russell Crowe and Liam Hemsworth star in director William Eubank’s action thriller, Land Of Bad. Here’s an intense, shooty red band trailer.
Russell Crowe arguably gets the cosier end of the deal in the upcoming action thriller, Land Of Bad. While Liam Hemsworth wades through water, gets shot at, and seemingly gets involved in Fight Club-style fisticuffs, Crowe sits in a gamer’s chair and barking advice in an air conditioned military building.
Land Of Bad is the latest film from director William Eubank (who also co-writes with David Frigerio) – a filmmaker who broke through with the low-budget yet ambitious sci-fi Love in 2011. He later made sci-fi thriller The Signal (2014), the actually-pretty-good ocean bottom sci-fi horror Underwater (2020), and chiller sequel Paranormal Activity: Next Of Kin (2021).
Read more: 2014 | An unusually good year for sci-fi films
His latest film is an intense-looking behind-enemy-lines opus akin to something like Peter Berg’s Lone Survivor.
Russell Crowe arguably gets the cosier end of the deal in the upcoming action thriller, Land Of Bad. While Liam Hemsworth wades through water, gets shot at, and seemingly gets involved in Fight Club-style fisticuffs, Crowe sits in a gamer’s chair and barking advice in an air conditioned military building.
Land Of Bad is the latest film from director William Eubank (who also co-writes with David Frigerio) – a filmmaker who broke through with the low-budget yet ambitious sci-fi Love in 2011. He later made sci-fi thriller The Signal (2014), the actually-pretty-good ocean bottom sci-fi horror Underwater (2020), and chiller sequel Paranormal Activity: Next Of Kin (2021).
Read more: 2014 | An unusually good year for sci-fi films
His latest film is an intense-looking behind-enemy-lines opus akin to something like Peter Berg’s Lone Survivor.
- 2/9/2024
- by Ryan Lambie
- Film Stories
Those of you who have been waiting for more info on CreatorVC’s upcoming TerrorBytes: The Evolution of Horror Gaming documentary, wait no longer!
The pre-sales campaign for the five-part series kicks off later today over at the official site, alongside the launch of the new teaser found below. Horror game fans have until March 3rd to join the campaign, which will be “an exclusive year-long celebration of the genre,” featuring 15+ hours of online events ahead of the documentary’s expected completion in March 2025.
“Horror games as an art form have an uncanny ability to empower players to fight through the darkness and find the light, joy, and catharsis in their twisted tales,” states producer Daniel Richardson. “With TerrorBytes, we shine a spotlight on some of the titans of this industry and celebrate their deeply important work in this medium.”
“Whether it’s the atmospheric creepiness of Lone Survivor and Alien: Isolation,...
The pre-sales campaign for the five-part series kicks off later today over at the official site, alongside the launch of the new teaser found below. Horror game fans have until March 3rd to join the campaign, which will be “an exclusive year-long celebration of the genre,” featuring 15+ hours of online events ahead of the documentary’s expected completion in March 2025.
“Horror games as an art form have an uncanny ability to empower players to fight through the darkness and find the light, joy, and catharsis in their twisted tales,” states producer Daniel Richardson. “With TerrorBytes, we shine a spotlight on some of the titans of this industry and celebrate their deeply important work in this medium.”
“Whether it’s the atmospheric creepiness of Lone Survivor and Alien: Isolation,...
- 2/8/2024
- by Mike Wilson
- bloody-disgusting.com
Mark Wahlberg’s sci-fi action series Transformers wasn’t as adult-oriented as some of his other films. Still, the actor had second thoughts about exposing Wahlberg to the films in their formative years.
Why Mark Wahlberg didn’t want his kids watching ‘Transformers’ Mark Wahlberg | Fred Duval/FilmMagic
Wahlberg picked up where Labeouf left off with the Transformers franchise. The actor led the series in the commercially successful Transformers Age of Extinction, and also in its sequel The Last Knight. In an interview with CBS, Wahlberg asserted that the movie brought him back to his childhood years.
“It’s as much fun as you can ever imagine,” Wahlberg said. “Anybody who’s ever been a kid, playing with big things, this is exactly what it’s like. Blowing things up, shooting guns…It’s amazing.”
However, Wahlberg quickly learned that it might not have been a good idea to expose...
Why Mark Wahlberg didn’t want his kids watching ‘Transformers’ Mark Wahlberg | Fred Duval/FilmMagic
Wahlberg picked up where Labeouf left off with the Transformers franchise. The actor led the series in the commercially successful Transformers Age of Extinction, and also in its sequel The Last Knight. In an interview with CBS, Wahlberg asserted that the movie brought him back to his childhood years.
“It’s as much fun as you can ever imagine,” Wahlberg said. “Anybody who’s ever been a kid, playing with big things, this is exactly what it’s like. Blowing things up, shooting guns…It’s amazing.”
However, Wahlberg quickly learned that it might not have been a good idea to expose...
- 2/4/2024
- by Antonio Stallings
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
February is here, and the countdown has begun at Netflix as many major titles are on their way out the proverbial door. With “Dune: Part Two” finally heading to theaters at the start of March, the streamer is giving subscribers one more month to rewatch (or catch up on) 2021’s “Dune,” starring Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, and more. Plus, dive into other unfamiliar worlds with “Dredd,” “Snowpiercer,” and Prometheus.
Watch now before they’re gone: see The Streamable’s top picks for what’s leaving Netflix this month, and check out all the shows and movies leaving the streamer this February!
Sign Up $6.99+ / month netflix.com What are the 5 Best Shows and Movies Leaving Netflix in February 2024? “Chicken Run” | Wednesday, Feb. 14
More than 23 years after its release, 2000’s “Chicken Run” still holds the record as the highest-grossing stop motion animated film of all time, beating all “Wallace and Gromit” features to top the list.
Watch now before they’re gone: see The Streamable’s top picks for what’s leaving Netflix this month, and check out all the shows and movies leaving the streamer this February!
Sign Up $6.99+ / month netflix.com What are the 5 Best Shows and Movies Leaving Netflix in February 2024? “Chicken Run” | Wednesday, Feb. 14
More than 23 years after its release, 2000’s “Chicken Run” still holds the record as the highest-grossing stop motion animated film of all time, beating all “Wallace and Gromit” features to top the list.
- 2/2/2024
- by Ashley Steves
- The Streamable
The potential dangers are boundless in the upcoming limited series American Primeval. Starring Taylor Kitsch, the raw, adventurous exploration of the birth of the American West comes to life in the six-episode series about the sacrifices that must be made to enter a lawless and untamed wilderness. Here’s everything you need to know so far about the grueling journey West.
What’s American Primeval about?
Prepare for violent collisions of cultures, religions, and communities as men and women fight and die for control of this new world — and for a land they truly believe is their destiny. “We are very appreciative that Netflix is trusting us to take a big swing with American Primeval,” director and executive producer Pete Berg told Netflix. “I’m looking forward to taking viewers into the most dynamic, intense, and heart-pounding survival tale humanly possible. We are...
What’s American Primeval about?
Prepare for violent collisions of cultures, religions, and communities as men and women fight and die for control of this new world — and for a land they truly believe is their destiny. “We are very appreciative that Netflix is trusting us to take a big swing with American Primeval,” director and executive producer Pete Berg told Netflix. “I’m looking forward to taking viewers into the most dynamic, intense, and heart-pounding survival tale humanly possible. We are...
- 2/1/2024
- by Phillipe Thao
- Tudum - Netflix
Exclusive: The producers of hit Netflix movie Nowhere, the streamer’s most-watched Spanish-language film ever, have found their next movie in the shape of supernatural horror Tooth Fairy, which UK sales firm Architect is launching ahead of the EFM in Berlin.
The Spanish-language movie follows a series of child disappearances in a tight-knit rural community in Spain. As a social worker begins to dig into the village’s myths and legends, she discovers she has unwittingly reawakened a terrifying, vengeful spirit. Filming is due to get underway this summer with casting underway.
Producers Miguel Ruz and Jordi Roca have locked financing on the project from writer-director Tony Morales. The movie marks the feature film directorial debut of Spanish filmmaker Morales, whose horror shorts include Abracitos, Black Eyed Child, Alicia, and Hada, on which Tooth Fairy is based.
Rock & Ruz are coming off their debut feature, the Netflix survival thriller Nowhere,...
The Spanish-language movie follows a series of child disappearances in a tight-knit rural community in Spain. As a social worker begins to dig into the village’s myths and legends, she discovers she has unwittingly reawakened a terrifying, vengeful spirit. Filming is due to get underway this summer with casting underway.
Producers Miguel Ruz and Jordi Roca have locked financing on the project from writer-director Tony Morales. The movie marks the feature film directorial debut of Spanish filmmaker Morales, whose horror shorts include Abracitos, Black Eyed Child, Alicia, and Hada, on which Tooth Fairy is based.
Rock & Ruz are coming off their debut feature, the Netflix survival thriller Nowhere,...
- 2/1/2024
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Half a century ago, Universal Pictures hoped to carry over the success of its entries in the short-lived disaster film vogue to naval combat movies, stirring some box office if few other rewards via dullish “Midway” and “Gray Lady Down,” which felt like bloated retro B-movies. Having revived the disaster genre with trilogy “The Wave,” “The Quake” and “The Burning Sea,” their Norwegian producers seem to be going the same route with “The Arctic Convoy,” about the perilous voyage of a freighter delivering supplies to Allies on the eastern front during World War 2.
The fact-inspired story’s central situation is compelling enough. But director/co-writer Henrik M. Dahlsbakken (of recent biopic “Munch”) delivers a middling effort too sparing of excitement to satisfy action fans, and without the character depth or involvement to score as drama instead. Released on the film’s home turf at Christmas, the competent but uninspired Scandinavian...
The fact-inspired story’s central situation is compelling enough. But director/co-writer Henrik M. Dahlsbakken (of recent biopic “Munch”) delivers a middling effort too sparing of excitement to satisfy action fans, and without the character depth or involvement to score as drama instead. Released on the film’s home turf at Christmas, the competent but uninspired Scandinavian...
- 1/31/2024
- by Dennis Harvey
- Variety Film + TV
UK sales outfit Mister Smith Entertainment has boarded international sales on The Strangers’ Case, with WME Independent overseeing North American sales, ahead of its world premiere as a Berlinale Special Gala.
Yasmine Al Massri, Yahya Mahayni, Omar Sy, Ziad Bakri, Constantine Markoulakis and Jason Beghe star in the feature directorial debut of veteran US producer Brandt Andersen, whose credits include Everest, Lone Survivor and Broken City.
Tragedy strikes a Syrian family in Aleppo, starting a chain reaction of events involving five different families in four different countries. The drama interweaves personal stories to illuminate the bravery and heartbreak of the refugee experience.
Yasmine Al Massri, Yahya Mahayni, Omar Sy, Ziad Bakri, Constantine Markoulakis and Jason Beghe star in the feature directorial debut of veteran US producer Brandt Andersen, whose credits include Everest, Lone Survivor and Broken City.
Tragedy strikes a Syrian family in Aleppo, starting a chain reaction of events involving five different families in four different countries. The drama interweaves personal stories to illuminate the bravery and heartbreak of the refugee experience.
- 1/26/2024
- ScreenDaily
The Berlinale has rounded out its special screenings programme with three more films.
Omar Sy-starring The Strangers’ Case by Brandt Andersen is a Berlinale Special Gala.
Two Japanese mid-length films - Chime by Kiyoshi Kurosawa and August My Heaven by Riho Kudo - will play as Berlinale Specials.
Andersen’s The Strangers’ Case is about a tragedy that strikes a Syrian family in Aleppo which triggers a chain reaction of events involving five different families in four different countries. The cast includes Omar Sy, Jason Beghe and Yasmine Al Massri.
It is based on a 2020 short, Refugee, that Andersen...
Omar Sy-starring The Strangers’ Case by Brandt Andersen is a Berlinale Special Gala.
Two Japanese mid-length films - Chime by Kiyoshi Kurosawa and August My Heaven by Riho Kudo - will play as Berlinale Specials.
Andersen’s The Strangers’ Case is about a tragedy that strikes a Syrian family in Aleppo which triggers a chain reaction of events involving five different families in four different countries. The cast includes Omar Sy, Jason Beghe and Yasmine Al Massri.
It is based on a 2020 short, Refugee, that Andersen...
- 1/25/2024
- ScreenDaily
The list of movies and television shows that Netflix is removing from the streaming service throughout the month of February 2024 have been revealed.
If you don’t know, each and every month, Netflix has to remove certain titles from the streaming service, likely due to the expiration of various deals with studios.
Head inside to find out what is being removed from Netflix beginning in February..
See the full list of titles that are leaving Netflix in February…
Leaving February 7
MTV Floribama Shore: Season 1
Leaving February 9
Prisoners
Leaving February 10
Father Stu
Goosebumps
Leaving February 14
Chicken Run
Prometheus
Real Steel
Leaving February 19
Operation Finale
Leaving February 23
Married at First Sight: Season 12
The Real World: Season 12
Leaving February 26
19-2: Seasons 1-3
Million Pound Menu: Seasons 1-2
Unsolved: Tupac & Biggie
Leaving February 27
American Pickers: Season 15
Leaving February 28
Babylon Berlin: Seasons 1-3
Morbius
Snowpiercer
The Last Black Man...
If you don’t know, each and every month, Netflix has to remove certain titles from the streaming service, likely due to the expiration of various deals with studios.
Head inside to find out what is being removed from Netflix beginning in February..
See the full list of titles that are leaving Netflix in February…
Leaving February 7
MTV Floribama Shore: Season 1
Leaving February 9
Prisoners
Leaving February 10
Father Stu
Goosebumps
Leaving February 14
Chicken Run
Prometheus
Real Steel
Leaving February 19
Operation Finale
Leaving February 23
Married at First Sight: Season 12
The Real World: Season 12
Leaving February 26
19-2: Seasons 1-3
Million Pound Menu: Seasons 1-2
Unsolved: Tupac & Biggie
Leaving February 27
American Pickers: Season 15
Leaving February 28
Babylon Berlin: Seasons 1-3
Morbius
Snowpiercer
The Last Black Man...
- 1/24/2024
- by Just Jared
- Just Jared
Lionsgate’s Motion Picture Group Chair Joe Drake is exiting the studio. He’ll hand the reins to Adam Fogelson, who formerly lead both Universal Pictures and STX Motion Picture Group; Fogelson joined Lionsgate’s film group in 2022 as vice chair. This is now the third studio Fogelson will lead dating back to 2009.
Drake returned to Lionsgate in 2017 after starting Good Universe Pictures, which Lionsgate acquired from Drake. He most recently oversaw Lionsgate’s first $1 billion year at the global box office since 2019, thanks in large part to new “John Wick,” “Hunger Games,” and “Saw” films. Drake also oversaw the successes of “Knives Out,” “Jesus Revolution,” “Shotgun Wedding,” and more.
Fogelson and Drake will continue to work together over the next couple of months.
Drake’s exit comes as Lionsgate spins its studio business from Starz, which could lead to a potential sale of the studio. The company recently beefed...
Drake returned to Lionsgate in 2017 after starting Good Universe Pictures, which Lionsgate acquired from Drake. He most recently oversaw Lionsgate’s first $1 billion year at the global box office since 2019, thanks in large part to new “John Wick,” “Hunger Games,” and “Saw” films. Drake also oversaw the successes of “Knives Out,” “Jesus Revolution,” “Shotgun Wedding,” and more.
Fogelson and Drake will continue to work together over the next couple of months.
Drake’s exit comes as Lionsgate spins its studio business from Starz, which could lead to a potential sale of the studio. The company recently beefed...
- 1/10/2024
- by Brian Welk
- Indiewire
Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Shift: Joe Drake Stepping Down As Chair, Hands Reins To Adam Fogelson
Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Chair Joe Drake is exiting the company, and handing over executive duties and title to Motion Picture Group Vice Chair Adam Fogelson.
This was a move initiated by Drake who’ll be working with Fogelson over the coming months to transition him to the Chair role.
The corporate segue follows Lionsgate’s reboot of the Hunger Games franchise with the Q4 holiday prequel, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, which has grossed over $340M global box office to date.
Drake rejoined Lionsgate in 2017 after having success with Good Universe Pictures, the second company acquired by Lionsgate from Drake. Other highlights during his current run of the Motion Picture Group include multi-award-winning Knives Out ($312M global B.O.), the last two John Wick movies ($766M+ global B.O.), and the latest installment in the Saw franchise ($111M global box). Last year, Lionsgate achieved its...
This was a move initiated by Drake who’ll be working with Fogelson over the coming months to transition him to the Chair role.
The corporate segue follows Lionsgate’s reboot of the Hunger Games franchise with the Q4 holiday prequel, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, which has grossed over $340M global box office to date.
Drake rejoined Lionsgate in 2017 after having success with Good Universe Pictures, the second company acquired by Lionsgate from Drake. Other highlights during his current run of the Motion Picture Group include multi-award-winning Knives Out ($312M global B.O.), the last two John Wick movies ($766M+ global B.O.), and the latest installment in the Saw franchise ($111M global box). Last year, Lionsgate achieved its...
- 1/10/2024
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
The final season of The Crown got off to a slower start in Nielsen’s streaming rankings — which might have something to do with the fact that Netflix released only a part of the season.
The Emmy-winning drama was the most watched show on streaming for the week of Nov. 13-19, but its 943 million minutes of viewing was less than half of that for season five’s opening (2.13 billion minutes) a year ago. It’s worth noting that Netflix released just four of The Crown’s final 10 episodes on Nov. 16 rather than the full season; the remaining six debuted Dec. 14 (and, because of the four-week lag for Nielsen’s streaming charts, watch time figures for those episodes won’t be public until mid-January).
The Crown was the only original series in Nielsen’s overall top 10. David Fincher’s Netflix movie The Killer finished 10th with 557 million minutes of viewing, but...
The Emmy-winning drama was the most watched show on streaming for the week of Nov. 13-19, but its 943 million minutes of viewing was less than half of that for season five’s opening (2.13 billion minutes) a year ago. It’s worth noting that Netflix released just four of The Crown’s final 10 episodes on Nov. 16 rather than the full season; the remaining six debuted Dec. 14 (and, because of the four-week lag for Nielsen’s streaming charts, watch time figures for those episodes won’t be public until mid-January).
The Crown was the only original series in Nielsen’s overall top 10. David Fincher’s Netflix movie The Killer finished 10th with 557 million minutes of viewing, but...
- 12/14/2023
- by Rick Porter
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The sci-fi action TV series The Six Million Dollar Man was so incredibly popular when it was running on ABC back in the 1970s, it’s shocking that the franchise hasn’t received a revival outside of a few TV movies that aired in the ’80s and ’90s. It’s not for a lack of trying – in fact, an update called The Six Billion Dollar Man has been making its way through development hell for almost thirty years at this point. Mark Wahlberg has been attached to star in the project since 2014… and during a recent interview with Collider, Wahlberg expressed hope that The Six Billion Dollar Man will finally be going into production soon.
Inspired by Martin Caidin’s 1972 novel Cyborg (which received three sequels), The Six Million Dollar Man had the following synopsis: After a severely injured test pilot is rebuilt with nuclear-powered bionic limbs and implants, he serves as an intelligence agent.
Inspired by Martin Caidin’s 1972 novel Cyborg (which received three sequels), The Six Million Dollar Man had the following synopsis: After a severely injured test pilot is rebuilt with nuclear-powered bionic limbs and implants, he serves as an intelligence agent.
- 12/13/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Executive worked with Ppp head Tamara Birkemoe at Screen Media, Foresight Unlimited.
Tamara Birkemoe is expanding the executive ranks at Los Angeles-based sales and financing company Palisades Park Pictures and has brought on Kyle Bellinger as vice president of distribution and marketing.
Birkemoe and Bellinger reunite after working together for many years at Screen Media and Foresight Unlimited. Effective immediately, Bellinger will oversee marketing and publicity for Palisades’ robust roster of films and manage distribution operations, working closely with the company’s international network of partners.
Palisades Park Pictures’ current slate includes Nick Vallelonga’s upcoming romance That’s Amore! starring John Travolta,...
Tamara Birkemoe is expanding the executive ranks at Los Angeles-based sales and financing company Palisades Park Pictures and has brought on Kyle Bellinger as vice president of distribution and marketing.
Birkemoe and Bellinger reunite after working together for many years at Screen Media and Foresight Unlimited. Effective immediately, Bellinger will oversee marketing and publicity for Palisades’ robust roster of films and manage distribution operations, working closely with the company’s international network of partners.
Palisades Park Pictures’ current slate includes Nick Vallelonga’s upcoming romance That’s Amore! starring John Travolta,...
- 11/30/2023
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Turns out, it wasn’t much of a challenge at all.
“Squid Game: The Challenge” dominated Netflix’s overall leaderboard in its debut week, when it drew 20.1 million views. The unscripted competition series picked up where the I.P. left off in 2021, bumping Part 1 of “The Crown’s” sixth season to second place (8.8 million views) for the week of November 20, 2023.
“Squid Game: The Challenge,” filmed in the UK, is an English-language series; Og “Squid Game” was a Korean-language series dubbed into local languages. As such, the scripted show technically rests atop Netflix’s “Non-English” list, though it blows away all the English-language stuff anyway.
“The Challenge” was so big it brought “Squid Game” back to the Global Top 10 for non-english series — at no. 6 with 1.6 million views — its 21st appearance. The scripted show hadn’t made the list since the week ending June 19, 2022. The long Thanksgiving holiday weekend sure helped the streams pile up.
“Squid Game: The Challenge” dominated Netflix’s overall leaderboard in its debut week, when it drew 20.1 million views. The unscripted competition series picked up where the I.P. left off in 2021, bumping Part 1 of “The Crown’s” sixth season to second place (8.8 million views) for the week of November 20, 2023.
“Squid Game: The Challenge,” filmed in the UK, is an English-language series; Og “Squid Game” was a Korean-language series dubbed into local languages. As such, the scripted show technically rests atop Netflix’s “Non-English” list, though it blows away all the English-language stuff anyway.
“The Challenge” was so big it brought “Squid Game” back to the Global Top 10 for non-english series — at no. 6 with 1.6 million views — its 21st appearance. The scripted show hadn’t made the list since the week ending June 19, 2022. The long Thanksgiving holiday weekend sure helped the streams pile up.
- 11/28/2023
- by Tony Maglio
- Indiewire
It was nice while it lasted: David Fincher’s “The Killer” opened to #1 on the Netflix Top 10 last week and it’s now #3. Another high-profile Netflix Original took its place with Mary Lambert’s “Best. Christmas. Ever!” Trivia ensues: Much earlier in their careers, Fincher and Lambert each directed high-profile Madonna videos.
We’re still waiting on the PVOD releases of October titles “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour,” “Five Nights at Freddy’s” (already streaming on Peacock), and “Killers of the Flower Moon” (soon to be streaming on Apple TV+). That left a sweet spot for Disney to debut Gareth Edwards’ “The Creator” at $19.99 — a rare film that’s not part of a franchise, and budgeted under $100 million.
The sci-fi thriller was a modest box office performer (just over $100 million worldwide), so its post-theatrical earnings are critical for potential profit. It is #1 at Vudu, which ranks by revenue. It was #1 during the week at iTunes,...
We’re still waiting on the PVOD releases of October titles “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour,” “Five Nights at Freddy’s” (already streaming on Peacock), and “Killers of the Flower Moon” (soon to be streaming on Apple TV+). That left a sweet spot for Disney to debut Gareth Edwards’ “The Creator” at $19.99 — a rare film that’s not part of a franchise, and budgeted under $100 million.
The sci-fi thriller was a modest box office performer (just over $100 million worldwide), so its post-theatrical earnings are critical for potential profit. It is #1 at Vudu, which ranks by revenue. It was #1 during the week at iTunes,...
- 11/20/2023
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
Mark Wahlberg had a funky bunch of acting roles on his resume beginning in the mid-’90s but found that he had to put more focus on producing if he was going to try to compete directly with the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise.
Speaking with Cigar Aficionado, Mark Wahlberg said, “I started becoming a producer out of necessity…I didn’t want to sit around waiting for Brad Pitt or Tom Cruise or whoever was already established before me and were the guys at the time, and Leo [DiCaprio], to go and pass on a movie until I could get my hands on it. I was always proactive in trying to find material and things that I could produce, that I knew was right for me, create my own destiny.”
That destiny began on the big screen with Mark Wahlberg’s first major producing credit, 2007’s We Own the Night,...
Speaking with Cigar Aficionado, Mark Wahlberg said, “I started becoming a producer out of necessity…I didn’t want to sit around waiting for Brad Pitt or Tom Cruise or whoever was already established before me and were the guys at the time, and Leo [DiCaprio], to go and pass on a movie until I could get my hands on it. I was always proactive in trying to find material and things that I could produce, that I knew was right for me, create my own destiny.”
That destiny began on the big screen with Mark Wahlberg’s first major producing credit, 2007’s We Own the Night,...
- 11/12/2023
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
The latest feature from David Fincher, a big-budget drama series from Steven Knight and Shawn Levy, and an Oscar hopeful starring Annette Bening and Jodie Foster are among the standout new additions hitting Netflix in November.
With The Killer, Fincher reteams with Seven writer Andrew Kevin Walker to adapt the graphic novel written by Alexis Nolent. The film, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival this year and debuts on Netflix on Nov. 10, stars Michael Fassbender as a shadowy unnamed assassin and features a cast that includes Arliss Howard, Charles Parnell, Gabriel Polanco, Kerry O’Malley, Emiliano Pernía, Sala Baker, Sophie Charlotte and Tilda Swinton.
The Hollywood Reporter‘s review of The Killer described the film as “a satisfyingly retro, location-hopping genre exercise with fisticuffs, gadgets (albeit ones bought from Amazon) and smooth-talking antagonists that all plays like a tongue-in-cheek spoof of James Bond movies.”
All the Light We Cannot See...
With The Killer, Fincher reteams with Seven writer Andrew Kevin Walker to adapt the graphic novel written by Alexis Nolent. The film, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival this year and debuts on Netflix on Nov. 10, stars Michael Fassbender as a shadowy unnamed assassin and features a cast that includes Arliss Howard, Charles Parnell, Gabriel Polanco, Kerry O’Malley, Emiliano Pernía, Sala Baker, Sophie Charlotte and Tilda Swinton.
The Hollywood Reporter‘s review of The Killer described the film as “a satisfyingly retro, location-hopping genre exercise with fisticuffs, gadgets (albeit ones bought from Amazon) and smooth-talking antagonists that all plays like a tongue-in-cheek spoof of James Bond movies.”
All the Light We Cannot See...
- 11/2/2023
- by Abid Rahman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Netflix’s slate for November 2023 has much to offer as the transition from Halloween to Thanksgiving and eventually Christmas begins. Many favorite movies such as Jennifer Garner’s “13 Going on 30” and “The Big Lebowski” arrive Nov. 1, while Garner’s new movie “The Family Switch” rounds out the month when it arrives on the streamer Nov. 30. Other can’t-miss film arrivals on November first include “Whiplash,” “Sixteen Candles,” “The Social Network” and “Pitch Perfect.”
Several new seasons of Netflix shows arrive this month as well, the most highly anticipated of which might be “The Crown” Season 6 Part 1. The first half of the final season of the royal drama series arrives Nov. 16. The limited series adaptation of “All the Light We Cannot See” by Shawn Levy and Steven Knight launches November 2. Levy directed all four episodes of the epic drama series, adapted from the Pulitzer prize-winning novel by Anthony Doerr.
Several new seasons of Netflix shows arrive this month as well, the most highly anticipated of which might be “The Crown” Season 6 Part 1. The first half of the final season of the royal drama series arrives Nov. 16. The limited series adaptation of “All the Light We Cannot See” by Shawn Levy and Steven Knight launches November 2. Levy directed all four episodes of the epic drama series, adapted from the Pulitzer prize-winning novel by Anthony Doerr.
- 11/1/2023
- by Dessi Gomez
- The Wrap
November on Netflix is peppered with curiosities for just about everyone. This month will see the long-awaited adaptation of Anthony Doerr’s award-winning novel All the Light We Cannot See hit the streamer. Directed by Shawn Levy (The Adam Project) and starring Mark Ruffalo, the limited series will tell the emotional story of a blind French girl who meets a German soldier in the final days of WWII.
Elsewhere, Netflix will unveil its first expansion of its planned Squid Game universe with an actual competition show that will challenge 456 players to be the final winner of no less than $4.56 million. Squid Game: The Challenge will feature games recreated from the hit 2021 show, hopefully with a comparatively zero chance of death for the contestants!
For those who are awaiting the return of their favorite Netflix shows in a more fictional capacity, however, we can confirm that Selling Sunset season seven, The Tailor season three,...
Elsewhere, Netflix will unveil its first expansion of its planned Squid Game universe with an actual competition show that will challenge 456 players to be the final winner of no less than $4.56 million. Squid Game: The Challenge will feature games recreated from the hit 2021 show, hopefully with a comparatively zero chance of death for the contestants!
For those who are awaiting the return of their favorite Netflix shows in a more fictional capacity, however, we can confirm that Selling Sunset season seven, The Tailor season three,...
- 11/1/2023
- by Kirsten Howard
- Den of Geek
Multimedia Music has closed a deal to acquire the music publishing rights from the film music library of Millennium Media, which includes titles such as “The Hitman’s Bodyguard,” “London Has Fallen,” “Angel Has Fallen,” “Hitman Wife’s Bodyguard,” “Hellboy,” “The Outpost,” “Mechanic: Resurrection,” “Rambo: Last Blood,” “Blackbird,” “Acts of Vengeance” and “The Expendables 4.”
The deal follows Multimedia Music’s recent music partnership with Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Partners, and its acquisition of STX Entertainment’s music library.
The Millennium Media library includes music from leading composers including Brian Tyler, Atli Orvarsson, Mark Isham, Trevor Morris, David Buckley and Benjamin Wallfisch.
Multimedia Music will co-publish the catalog with current co-owner and administrator Kobalt Music.
James Gibb, who founded Multimedia Music with colleague Phil Hope, said: “Millennium Media consistently produces high caliber, commercial films made for the big screen that have earned over $2 billion at the box office. We are thrilled to have secured this catalog,...
The deal follows Multimedia Music’s recent music partnership with Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Partners, and its acquisition of STX Entertainment’s music library.
The Millennium Media library includes music from leading composers including Brian Tyler, Atli Orvarsson, Mark Isham, Trevor Morris, David Buckley and Benjamin Wallfisch.
Multimedia Music will co-publish the catalog with current co-owner and administrator Kobalt Music.
James Gibb, who founded Multimedia Music with colleague Phil Hope, said: “Millennium Media consistently produces high caliber, commercial films made for the big screen that have earned over $2 billion at the box office. We are thrilled to have secured this catalog,...
- 9/14/2023
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Amid some uncertainty over the level of pre-sales business possible at Toronto and the AFM due to the strikes, a handful of packages are beginning to emerge.
The first significant project to be revealed for the TIFF market is WME Independent package The Beast, which has The Avengers and The Marvels star Samuel L. Jackson in talks alongside Suicide Squad actor Joel Kinnaman.
The project, which is in pre-production and has an interim agreement from SAG-AFTRA, was packaged prior to the strikes kicking off, we’re told.
The film’s title refers to its subject: a Presidential limousine nicknamed ‘The Beast’ by the Secret Service. The impenetrable tank is stocked with grenades, shotguns, armor-plating and bullet-and-bomb-proofing.
When a militia of unidentified hostiles coordinates a coup against the U.S. presidency, the President (Jackson) uncovers the extent of The Beast’s highly classified offensive capabilities. Separated from his wife, the...
The first significant project to be revealed for the TIFF market is WME Independent package The Beast, which has The Avengers and The Marvels star Samuel L. Jackson in talks alongside Suicide Squad actor Joel Kinnaman.
The project, which is in pre-production and has an interim agreement from SAG-AFTRA, was packaged prior to the strikes kicking off, we’re told.
The film’s title refers to its subject: a Presidential limousine nicknamed ‘The Beast’ by the Secret Service. The impenetrable tank is stocked with grenades, shotguns, armor-plating and bullet-and-bomb-proofing.
When a militia of unidentified hostiles coordinates a coup against the U.S. presidency, the President (Jackson) uncovers the extent of The Beast’s highly classified offensive capabilities. Separated from his wife, the...
- 9/6/2023
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Remington Chase, a former film producer who was accused of swindling investors out of at least $234 million, has been reported dead in the United Kingdom.
Chase, 65, died of liver failure on July 31 at Victoria Hospital in Blackpool, according to a death certificate provided to Variety by the Blackpool Registration Service.
His death was also confirmed by his wife, Linda Biron of Marina del Rey, Calif., who said he was a “good person.”
“He got mixed up with some wrong people,” she said in an interview. “He was not out to hurt anybody. He was out to make good movies.”
Chase’s death leaves a long trail of litigation, with numerous parties accusing him of defrauding them out of investment funds, real estate and loan proceeds.
Base Media, a China-based animation and VFX studio, sued Chase and an associate, Kevin Robl, in 2022, accusing them of a massive fraud against the company’s investors.
Chase, 65, died of liver failure on July 31 at Victoria Hospital in Blackpool, according to a death certificate provided to Variety by the Blackpool Registration Service.
His death was also confirmed by his wife, Linda Biron of Marina del Rey, Calif., who said he was a “good person.”
“He got mixed up with some wrong people,” she said in an interview. “He was not out to hurt anybody. He was out to make good movies.”
Chase’s death leaves a long trail of litigation, with numerous parties accusing him of defrauding them out of investment funds, real estate and loan proceeds.
Base Media, a China-based animation and VFX studio, sued Chase and an associate, Kevin Robl, in 2022, accusing them of a massive fraud against the company’s investors.
- 8/29/2023
- by Gene Maddaus
- Variety Film + TV
‘Girl With a Pearl Earring’ Director Peter Webber Joins Wartime Thriller ‘Irena Sendler’ (Exclusive)
Peter Webber has signed on to direct the wartime thriller “Irena Sendler.” It tells the true story of Irena Sendler, a Polish social worker who defied the Nazis and organized a team of young women to smuggle 2,500 Jewish children out of the Warsaw Ghetto during the Holocaust. Casting is currently underway and production is expected to start in Poland later this year or early in 2024.
The script was penned by Agatha Dominik, Brian Pittman & Rachel Long, Stuart Hazeldine, and Jeff Most. The film will be produced by Most (“The Crow”), BAFTA Award winning and Academy Award winning producer Ewa Puszczyńska, Jeff Rice, Armory Films’ Christopher Lemole and Tim Zajaros, and Golden Globe winning producer Gareth Wiley of Phoenix Wiley.
“Irene Sendler was an icon, an inspiration, an incredibly brave young woman who risked her own life to save hundreds of young children in the Warsaw Ghetto from certain death at...
The script was penned by Agatha Dominik, Brian Pittman & Rachel Long, Stuart Hazeldine, and Jeff Most. The film will be produced by Most (“The Crow”), BAFTA Award winning and Academy Award winning producer Ewa Puszczyńska, Jeff Rice, Armory Films’ Christopher Lemole and Tim Zajaros, and Golden Globe winning producer Gareth Wiley of Phoenix Wiley.
“Irene Sendler was an icon, an inspiration, an incredibly brave young woman who risked her own life to save hundreds of young children in the Warsaw Ghetto from certain death at...
- 7/11/2023
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
"The more you prescribe, the more you'll help." Netflix has revealed a trailer for their series Painkiller, a scripted account about the origins of the opioid crisis in America. The series is directed by Pete Berg, yes that Pete Berg, director of the movies Friday Night Lights, Hancock, Battleship, Lone Survivor, Deepwater Horizon, and Patriots Day. Over its six episodes, Painkiller sets out to unpack the "how" and "who" of the epidemic. "This is the origin story of the collision between medicine and money that allowed it to happen. One of the many things that I thought was missing [from the conversation] was the introduction of the drug into mainstream medicine. How Arthur Sackler, this psychiatrist... who specialized in lobotomies, started to realize that the future was in pills — specifically in advertising pills. Whoever could market their drug better was going to make the most money." The tone of the series acts as...
- 7/11/2023
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
One of the biggest events in the world is coming in July and the only way to stream it without a live TV streaming subscription will be on Peacock. The 2023 Women’s World Cup will be played in Australia and New Zealand from July 20 to Aug. 20. The NBCUniversal service will stream every match of the event in Spanish for the entire month. The United States Women’s National Team is scheduled to play three games during the group stage, facing off against Vietnam on July 21 at 9 p.m. Et, Netherlands on July 26 at 9 p.m. Et, and Portugal on Aug. 1 at 3 a.m. Et.
Toward the end of the month, Peacock will drop all 10 episodes of the highly anticipated adaptation of the beloved video game “Twisted Metal.” In the series, which premieres on July 27, Anthony Mackie is a motor-mouthed amnesiac milkman who is offered a chance at a better life,...
Toward the end of the month, Peacock will drop all 10 episodes of the highly anticipated adaptation of the beloved video game “Twisted Metal.” In the series, which premieres on July 27, Anthony Mackie is a motor-mouthed amnesiac milkman who is offered a chance at a better life,...
- 6/28/2023
- by Fern Siegel
- The Streamable
“Welcome to the psychedelic twenties.”
This is how Rick Doblin, founder and president of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (Maps), greeted a packed crowd on the opening morning of Psychedelic Science 2023 in Denver last week, dressed in a loose white suit befitting a guru. Billed as the largest-ever gathering of its kind — more than 12,000 attendees, according to Doblin — the conference brought together scientists, therapists, activists, entrepreneurs, and creatives bound together by what more than one speaker referred to as a mycelial network, or the threads that connect a collective fungal organism.
This is how Rick Doblin, founder and president of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (Maps), greeted a packed crowd on the opening morning of Psychedelic Science 2023 in Denver last week, dressed in a loose white suit befitting a guru. Billed as the largest-ever gathering of its kind — more than 12,000 attendees, according to Doblin — the conference brought together scientists, therapists, activists, entrepreneurs, and creatives bound together by what more than one speaker referred to as a mycelial network, or the threads that connect a collective fungal organism.
- 6/27/2023
- by Miles Klee
- Rollingstone.com
It used to be that video game adaptations were limited to big budget franchises, with household names like Super Mario Bros. and Mortal Kombat getting blockbuster movies while more niche experiences like Dino Crisis and System Shock were mostly ignored by non-gamer audiences. Not only that, but corporate expectations and bloated production budgets meant that these big screen adaptations would often misunderstand what made these franchises popular in the first place.
Fortunately, it seems that the days of the “video game curse” are far behind us. Not only are recognizable franchises like Five Nights at Freddy’s receiving long-awaited adaptations, but even indie experiments like David Szymanski’s Iron Lung are being adapted into feature length horror movies (with this one in particular being written and directed by none other than Markiplier). And with the indie gaming scene going through a creative revolution, we thought that this might be the...
Fortunately, it seems that the days of the “video game curse” are far behind us. Not only are recognizable franchises like Five Nights at Freddy’s receiving long-awaited adaptations, but even indie experiments like David Szymanski’s Iron Lung are being adapted into feature length horror movies (with this one in particular being written and directed by none other than Markiplier). And with the indie gaming scene going through a creative revolution, we thought that this might be the...
- 6/21/2023
- by Luiz H. C.
- bloody-disgusting.com
For many years, filmmaker Peter Berg held nothing but fond memories from his college days in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. “My memory was just one of happiness and real joy, and it felt extremely diverse and inclusive,” the Macalester College alum tells THR — until decades later, when the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin shook the nation to its core. “When I first saw the killing, I was horrified,” he says. “And I was further horrified when I realized that it was in the Twin Cities.”
Peter Berg
The aftermath caused Berg to examine how the community had changed in the decades since he’d left. Eager to do something constructive and enlightening, the director-producer of the Friday Night Lights film and TV series journeyed back to helm the four-part documentary series Boys in Blue, taking a deep look at the football...
Peter Berg
The aftermath caused Berg to examine how the community had changed in the decades since he’d left. Eager to do something constructive and enlightening, the director-producer of the Friday Night Lights film and TV series journeyed back to helm the four-part documentary series Boys in Blue, taking a deep look at the football...
- 6/1/2023
- by Scott Huver
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
With an acting career stretching back to 1994, Mark Wahlberg has starred in everything from independent character studies to blockbuster action fare. Often bringing a focused intensity to his performances, Wahlberg parlays his talents into taking on everything from Transformers to super-intelligent apes to effectively playing against type as an earnest comedic foil. Possessing a subtly wide range, Wahlberg has gone on to work with some of the biggest filmmakers in Hollywood, sometimes on multiple projects and often with critical acclaim and box office success.
Wahlberg is at an inevitable stage in his career that defies typecasting and gives him the freedom to choose from a robust variety of projects. And despite his movie star good looks, Wahlberg often maintains an everyman quality that makes him a relatable actor, even as his characters face extraordinary circumstances. Here are the 14 best Mark Wahlberg movies ranked, elevated by his sheer commitment and the...
Wahlberg is at an inevitable stage in his career that defies typecasting and gives him the freedom to choose from a robust variety of projects. And despite his movie star good looks, Wahlberg often maintains an everyman quality that makes him a relatable actor, even as his characters face extraordinary circumstances. Here are the 14 best Mark Wahlberg movies ranked, elevated by his sheer commitment and the...
- 5/20/2023
- by Samuel Stone
- Slash Film
Exclusive: The Into the Wild actor and the star of TNT’s I Am the Night are boarding the feature Degenerate, we hear.
Luc Walpoth is directing off a screenplay by Josh Wilcox.
In the project, when a home poker game is robbed, professional player Andy and his girlfriend, Chloe, are caught up in a whirlwind 24 hours that ends with Andy playing the biggest game of his life, while both their lives hang in the balance…
Emile Hirsch has starred in such movies as Lone Survivor, Milk, Speed Racer, Lords of Dogtown and The Girl Next Door.
Eisley starred in the Patty Jenkins directed, critically acclaimed TNT mini-series, I Am the Night, opposite Chris Pine. She also co-starred in Underworld: Awakening alongside Kate Beckinsale as well as the independent film, Look Away, opposite Jason Isaacs. She can recently be seen as the lead in the feature, Every Breath You Take,...
Luc Walpoth is directing off a screenplay by Josh Wilcox.
In the project, when a home poker game is robbed, professional player Andy and his girlfriend, Chloe, are caught up in a whirlwind 24 hours that ends with Andy playing the biggest game of his life, while both their lives hang in the balance…
Emile Hirsch has starred in such movies as Lone Survivor, Milk, Speed Racer, Lords of Dogtown and The Girl Next Door.
Eisley starred in the Patty Jenkins directed, critically acclaimed TNT mini-series, I Am the Night, opposite Chris Pine. She also co-starred in Underworld: Awakening alongside Kate Beckinsale as well as the independent film, Look Away, opposite Jason Isaacs. She can recently be seen as the lead in the feature, Every Breath You Take,...
- 5/19/2023
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Lionsgate has nabbed global distribution for “Flight Risk,” an action-thriller starring Mark Wahlberg and directed by Mel Gibson. This will mark the first film Gibson has directed since his blockbuster ($175 million on a $40 million budget) and Oscar-nominated “Hacksaw Ridge” in 2016. The mini-major will be launching the project, featuring Wahlberg as a pilot transporting a dangerous criminal for trial, at Cannes.
“We love the undeniable electric pairing of Mel Gibson and Mark Wahlberg,” Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chair Joe Drake said. “These world-class talents combining for this dynamic, character-driven film will make ‘Flight Risk’ one of the most suspense-filled, must-see events of the year.”
Wahlberg and Gibson have starred in a few projects together, including “Daddy’s Home 2” and last year’s faith-based “Father Stu.” Considering the number of high-concept or true-story action movies Wahlberg has made with director Peter Berg over the last decade, it is a mild surprise that Gibson will be in charge.
“We love the undeniable electric pairing of Mel Gibson and Mark Wahlberg,” Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chair Joe Drake said. “These world-class talents combining for this dynamic, character-driven film will make ‘Flight Risk’ one of the most suspense-filled, must-see events of the year.”
Wahlberg and Gibson have starred in a few projects together, including “Daddy’s Home 2” and last year’s faith-based “Father Stu.” Considering the number of high-concept or true-story action movies Wahlberg has made with director Peter Berg over the last decade, it is a mild surprise that Gibson will be in charge.
- 5/12/2023
- by Scott Mendelson
- The Wrap
Netflix has just released an exclusive first look at the new limited series drama that’s due to hit the service later this summer. Painkiller features an all-star cast and deals with one of the many crises that currently plagues our world — the opioid epidemic. The series will feature six episodes that clock in at an hour an episode. It stars an ensemble that includes Uzo Aduba, Matthew Broderick, Taylor Kitsch, Dina Shihabi, West Duchovny, and John Rothman.
The official synopsis from Netflix reads,
“A fictionalized retelling of events, Painkiller is a scripted limited series that explores some of the origins and aftermath of the opioid crisis in America, highlighting the stories of the perpetrators, victims, and truth-seekers whose lives are forever altered by the invention of OxyContin. An examination of crime, accountability, and the systems that have repeatedly failed hundreds of thousands of Americans, Painkiller is based on the...
The official synopsis from Netflix reads,
“A fictionalized retelling of events, Painkiller is a scripted limited series that explores some of the origins and aftermath of the opioid crisis in America, highlighting the stories of the perpetrators, victims, and truth-seekers whose lives are forever altered by the invention of OxyContin. An examination of crime, accountability, and the systems that have repeatedly failed hundreds of thousands of Americans, Painkiller is based on the...
- 5/8/2023
- by EJ Tangonan
- JoBlo.com
Exclusive: Longtime Lionsgate Film Distribution Head David Spitz is exiting, Deadline has learned, with former STX distribution vet Kevin Grayson getting named President of Domestic Distribution of the studio’s motion picture group.
‘The Hunger Games’
Spitz came to Lionsgate via its absorption of Blair Witch Project studio Artisan. Before that, Spitz was at Reservoir Dogs distributor, Live Entertainment which was acquired by Artisan. Spitz, son of legendary late distribution boss Jimmy Spitz, has had a leadership role at Lionsgate since 2003. Spitz handled several franchise hits including John Wick (the latest Chapter 4 of which became the highest grossing in the franchise with $180M+ this weekend), Hunger Games, Twilight Saga, Saw, the Tyler Perry canon and Expendables. He was also behind such notable counterprogramming and awards hits as La La Land, Knives Out, Wonder, Crash, Fahrenheit 9/11 and Precious, among many others.
“David has been an incredibly valued leader of Lionsgate...
‘The Hunger Games’
Spitz came to Lionsgate via its absorption of Blair Witch Project studio Artisan. Before that, Spitz was at Reservoir Dogs distributor, Live Entertainment which was acquired by Artisan. Spitz, son of legendary late distribution boss Jimmy Spitz, has had a leadership role at Lionsgate since 2003. Spitz handled several franchise hits including John Wick (the latest Chapter 4 of which became the highest grossing in the franchise with $180M+ this weekend), Hunger Games, Twilight Saga, Saw, the Tyler Perry canon and Expendables. He was also behind such notable counterprogramming and awards hits as La La Land, Knives Out, Wonder, Crash, Fahrenheit 9/11 and Precious, among many others.
“David has been an incredibly valued leader of Lionsgate...
- 5/5/2023
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
With the caveat that Universal’s animated blockbuster “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” is going to win a third weekend at the box office with very little effort, we’re still going to see four new wide releases this weekend, including one expanding nationwide after opening in just four theaters. Read on for Gold Derby’s box office preview.
Warner Bros. and New Line team with Sam Raimi for the latest incarnation of his popular ’80s horror franchise, “Evil Dead Rise.” This one is directed by Irish filmmaker Lee Cronin (“The Hole in the Ground”), who isn’t quite that well known outside of horror circles, but he clearly impressed those that saw it at its SXSW Film Festival premiere. With 44 reviews at the time of this writing, the movie has a surprisingly high 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which should help the fact that it has a relatively no-name cast.
Warner Bros. and New Line team with Sam Raimi for the latest incarnation of his popular ’80s horror franchise, “Evil Dead Rise.” This one is directed by Irish filmmaker Lee Cronin (“The Hole in the Ground”), who isn’t quite that well known outside of horror circles, but he clearly impressed those that saw it at its SXSW Film Festival premiere. With 44 reviews at the time of this writing, the movie has a surprisingly high 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which should help the fact that it has a relatively no-name cast.
- 4/19/2023
- by Edward Douglas
- Gold Derby
Ashland Hill Media Finance has launched a global sales company headed by industry veteran Tamara Birkemoe.
Palisades Park Pictures is launching ahead of next month’s Cannes Film Festival, with operations in Los Angeles and London. The venture, which will soon unveil its inaugural slate of projects, comes a year after the launch of Ashland Hill, which was set up last May by Joe Simpson, Simon Williams and Jonathan Bross.
Ashland Hill will continue its operations financing films, while Ppp will board sales on a handful of Ashland Hill Media Finance titles in addition to a slate of third-party titles.
Birkemoe will serve as CEO, and will work out of Los Angeles and London. The company’s executive committee will include Simpson, Williams and Bross as well as industry stalwart Mark Damon.
Birkemoe began her career in production and distribution at Mdp and Media 8 Entertainment before heading Damon’s Foresight Unlimited for 16 years,...
Palisades Park Pictures is launching ahead of next month’s Cannes Film Festival, with operations in Los Angeles and London. The venture, which will soon unveil its inaugural slate of projects, comes a year after the launch of Ashland Hill, which was set up last May by Joe Simpson, Simon Williams and Jonathan Bross.
Ashland Hill will continue its operations financing films, while Ppp will board sales on a handful of Ashland Hill Media Finance titles in addition to a slate of third-party titles.
Birkemoe will serve as CEO, and will work out of Los Angeles and London. The company’s executive committee will include Simpson, Williams and Bross as well as industry stalwart Mark Damon.
Birkemoe began her career in production and distribution at Mdp and Media 8 Entertainment before heading Damon’s Foresight Unlimited for 16 years,...
- 4/19/2023
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Range Media Partners on Monday announced its signing of award-winning actor, producer, writer and director Ben Foster for management.
Foster was most recently nominated for a Critics’ Choice Award for his transformative turn in the Barry Levinson-directed HBO drama The Survivor, which had him playing Auschwitz survivor turned professional boxer Harry Haft. The film also starring Vicky Krieps, Billy Magnussen, Peter Sarsgaard and more also brought him an Emmy nomination, as exec producer of the contender for Outstanding Television Movie.
Foster previously scored an Independent Spirit Award for his critically acclaimed supporting turn opposite Chris Pine, Jeff Bridges and Gil Birmingham in the Oscar-nominated crime drama Hell or High Water, directed by David Mackenzie from a script by Yellowstone Universe architect Taylor Sheridan. Other notable past film credits include Debra Granick’s father-daughter drama Leave No Trace, for which he earned a Gotham Award nomination, as well as...
Foster was most recently nominated for a Critics’ Choice Award for his transformative turn in the Barry Levinson-directed HBO drama The Survivor, which had him playing Auschwitz survivor turned professional boxer Harry Haft. The film also starring Vicky Krieps, Billy Magnussen, Peter Sarsgaard and more also brought him an Emmy nomination, as exec producer of the contender for Outstanding Television Movie.
Foster previously scored an Independent Spirit Award for his critically acclaimed supporting turn opposite Chris Pine, Jeff Bridges and Gil Birmingham in the Oscar-nominated crime drama Hell or High Water, directed by David Mackenzie from a script by Yellowstone Universe architect Taylor Sheridan. Other notable past film credits include Debra Granick’s father-daughter drama Leave No Trace, for which he earned a Gotham Award nomination, as well as...
- 4/17/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Mark Wahlberg once found himself starring in the 2009 film The Lovely Bones. The feature dealt with some extremely dark subject matter that the actor sometimes had difficulty grappling with.
Ryan Gosling was originally supposed to be in ‘The Lovely Bones’ Mark Wahlberg | Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
The Lovely Bones was the film adaptation of the 2002 novel of the same name written by Alice Sebold. It told the story of Susie Salmon, who was a young girl murdered tragically. Played by Saoirse Ronan, Susie would watch how her murder affected her loved ones from the afterlife. Mark Wahlberg and Rachel Weisz ended up playing Susie’s parents.
Before Wahlberg was cast, however, Gosling was already briefly cast as the father. But according to the film’s producer Fran Walsh, Gosling didn’t feel he was right for the part despite the studio’s insistence.
“Ryan came to us two or three times and said,...
Ryan Gosling was originally supposed to be in ‘The Lovely Bones’ Mark Wahlberg | Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
The Lovely Bones was the film adaptation of the 2002 novel of the same name written by Alice Sebold. It told the story of Susie Salmon, who was a young girl murdered tragically. Played by Saoirse Ronan, Susie would watch how her murder affected her loved ones from the afterlife. Mark Wahlberg and Rachel Weisz ended up playing Susie’s parents.
Before Wahlberg was cast, however, Gosling was already briefly cast as the father. But according to the film’s producer Fran Walsh, Gosling didn’t feel he was right for the part despite the studio’s insistence.
“Ryan came to us two or three times and said,...
- 3/22/2023
- by Antonio Stallings
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Mark Wahlberg film Lone Survivor was one of many that turned Wahlberg into a household name. But it also served as a lesson in growth for the actor, who admittedly lost his temper after an accident on set.
Mark Wahlberg once shared he had a selfish response to being offered ‘Lone Survivor’ Mark Wahlberg | Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images
Lone Survivor was a 2013 film adaptation of the memoir written by former Navy Seal Marcus Luttrell. The memoir focused on the harrowing experiences Luttrell and his team faced while in Afghanistan. Filmmaker Peter Berg would translate those experiences onto the big screen. Wahlberg would end up playing Luttrell in the film that featured an ensemble cast which included Eric Bana and Taylor Kitsch.
The Spenser Confidential star admitted that he initially only thought of what the film would do for his career. But it wasn’t until he delved deeper into...
Mark Wahlberg once shared he had a selfish response to being offered ‘Lone Survivor’ Mark Wahlberg | Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images
Lone Survivor was a 2013 film adaptation of the memoir written by former Navy Seal Marcus Luttrell. The memoir focused on the harrowing experiences Luttrell and his team faced while in Afghanistan. Filmmaker Peter Berg would translate those experiences onto the big screen. Wahlberg would end up playing Luttrell in the film that featured an ensemble cast which included Eric Bana and Taylor Kitsch.
The Spenser Confidential star admitted that he initially only thought of what the film would do for his career. But it wasn’t until he delved deeper into...
- 3/17/2023
- by Antonio Stallings
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
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