New York’s Public Theater announced its upcoming season at their Astor Place home as well as Central Park’s to-be-reopened Delacorte Theater where the Public will stage Twelfth Night, directed by Saheem Ali, in summer 2025.
In its 2024-25 season, the Public will feature productions by playwrights Caryl Churchill, Lisa Sanaye Dring, David Finnigan, James Ijames, John Purugganan and S. Shakthidharan. The line-up will include partnerships with theater companies Belvoir St Theatre, Kurinji, and NYU Skirball; Elevator Repair Service; and Ma-Yi Theatre Company and La Jolla Playhouse.
See the entire line-up below.
“In my 20th season at The Public Theater, I’m overjoyed to share programming that is as bold and ambitious as The Public’s mission,” said Artistic Director Oskar Eustis, adding, “The season finishes with the reopening of The Delacorte Theater. We’re counting down the minutes until we can celebrate our revitalized home with a joyful production of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.
In its 2024-25 season, the Public will feature productions by playwrights Caryl Churchill, Lisa Sanaye Dring, David Finnigan, James Ijames, John Purugganan and S. Shakthidharan. The line-up will include partnerships with theater companies Belvoir St Theatre, Kurinji, and NYU Skirball; Elevator Repair Service; and Ma-Yi Theatre Company and La Jolla Playhouse.
See the entire line-up below.
“In my 20th season at The Public Theater, I’m overjoyed to share programming that is as bold and ambitious as The Public’s mission,” said Artistic Director Oskar Eustis, adding, “The season finishes with the reopening of The Delacorte Theater. We’re counting down the minutes until we can celebrate our revitalized home with a joyful production of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.
- 5/7/2024
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Sterlin Harjo’s FX pilot “The Sensitive Kind” has added five new cast members.
Killer Mike, Kaniehtiio Horne, Cody Lightning, Michael Hitchcock, and Ryan Kiera Armstrong have all been cast.
They join previously announced series lead Ethan Hawke as well as cast members Keith David, Siena East, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Tim Blake Nelson, Scott Shepherd, Tracy Letts, Kyle Maclachlan, and Macon Blair. Both Hake and Horne previously appeared in Harjo’s critically-acclaimed FX series “Reservation Dogs.” Hawke appeared in one episode of the final season, while Horne appeared in multiple episodes as the mystical Deer Lady.
Exact plot details are being kept under wraps aside from the fact it is described as a “Tulsa noir about a guy (Hawke) who knows too much.” Further character details for the new cast members are also being kept under wraps
Killer Mike is repped by Active Management and WME. Horne is repped by Amanda Rosenthal Talent Agency,...
Killer Mike, Kaniehtiio Horne, Cody Lightning, Michael Hitchcock, and Ryan Kiera Armstrong have all been cast.
They join previously announced series lead Ethan Hawke as well as cast members Keith David, Siena East, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Tim Blake Nelson, Scott Shepherd, Tracy Letts, Kyle Maclachlan, and Macon Blair. Both Hake and Horne previously appeared in Harjo’s critically-acclaimed FX series “Reservation Dogs.” Hawke appeared in one episode of the final season, while Horne appeared in multiple episodes as the mystical Deer Lady.
Exact plot details are being kept under wraps aside from the fact it is described as a “Tulsa noir about a guy (Hawke) who knows too much.” Further character details for the new cast members are also being kept under wraps
Killer Mike is repped by Active Management and WME. Horne is repped by Amanda Rosenthal Talent Agency,...
- 4/18/2024
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
FX’s pilot The Sensitive Kind from creator Sterlin Harjo (Reservation Dogs) has added five to its cast: Killer Mike (Ozark), Kaniehtiio Horn (Reservation Dogs), Cody Lightning (Echo), Michael Hitchcock (Grand Death Lotto) and Ryan Kiera Armstrong (Star Wars: Skeleton Crew).
Details as to the roles these actors will play are under wraps.
Also written, directed and exec produced by Harjo, The Sensitive Kind is described as a Tulsa noir about a guy (Ethan Hawke) who knows too much. As previously announced, Keith David, Siena East, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Tim Blake Nelson, Scott Shepherd, Tracy Letts, Kyle Maclachlan and Macon Blair will also star.
The project is Harjo’s first for TV since Reservation Dogs, the acclaimed FX dramedy which won an AFI Award for each of its three seasons. Additional EPs include Garrett Basch and Hawke. FX Productions is the studio.
A Grammy-winning rapper of Run the Jewels fame, Killer...
Details as to the roles these actors will play are under wraps.
Also written, directed and exec produced by Harjo, The Sensitive Kind is described as a Tulsa noir about a guy (Ethan Hawke) who knows too much. As previously announced, Keith David, Siena East, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Tim Blake Nelson, Scott Shepherd, Tracy Letts, Kyle Maclachlan and Macon Blair will also star.
The project is Harjo’s first for TV since Reservation Dogs, the acclaimed FX dramedy which won an AFI Award for each of its three seasons. Additional EPs include Garrett Basch and Hawke. FX Productions is the studio.
A Grammy-winning rapper of Run the Jewels fame, Killer...
- 4/18/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Sterlin Harjo’s FX drama pilot starring Ethan Hawke has set its main cast, Variety has learned.
The new cast members are: Keith David, Siena East (“The Sex Lives of College Girls”), Jeanne Tripplehorn, Tim Blake Nelson, Scott Shepherd, Tracy Letts, Kyle Maclachlan, and Macon Blair.
The pilot, which was ordered in February, is titled “The Sensitive Kind.” Exact plot details are being kept under wraps aside from the fact it is described as a “Tulsa noir about a guy (Hawke) who knows too much.” Further character details for the new cast members are also being kept under wraps.
Harjo created the project and will also serve as director and executive producer. Hawke will executive produce in addition to starring, with Garret Basch also executive producing. FX Studios, where Harjo is under an overall deal, will produce.
The pilot marks a reunion for Harjo and Hawke. Hawke appeared in the...
The new cast members are: Keith David, Siena East (“The Sex Lives of College Girls”), Jeanne Tripplehorn, Tim Blake Nelson, Scott Shepherd, Tracy Letts, Kyle Maclachlan, and Macon Blair.
The pilot, which was ordered in February, is titled “The Sensitive Kind.” Exact plot details are being kept under wraps aside from the fact it is described as a “Tulsa noir about a guy (Hawke) who knows too much.” Further character details for the new cast members are also being kept under wraps.
Harjo created the project and will also serve as director and executive producer. Hawke will executive produce in addition to starring, with Garret Basch also executive producing. FX Studios, where Harjo is under an overall deal, will produce.
The pilot marks a reunion for Harjo and Hawke. Hawke appeared in the...
- 3/26/2024
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
Sterlin Harjo’s FX pilot The Sensitive Kind has added 8 actors to star alongside executive producer and lead Ethan Hawke.
They are Keith David (American Fiction), Siena East (Sex Lives of College Girls), Jeanne Tripplehorn (Big Love), Tim Blake Nelson, Scott Shepherd (Killers of the Flower Moon), Tracy Letts (Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty), Kyle Maclachlan (Twin Peaks) and Macon Blair (Oppenheimer).
The Sensitive Kind is a Tulsa noir about a guy (Hawke) who knows too much. Roles for the newly added cast are being kept under wraps.
Harjo also serves as writer and director on the pilot, which he and Hawke executive produce with Garrett Basch. The project falls under Harjo’s overall deal with the studio behind the pilot, FX Productions. The order for The Sensitive Kind comes on the heels of Reservation Dogs ending its award-winning three-season run on FX.
They are Keith David (American Fiction), Siena East (Sex Lives of College Girls), Jeanne Tripplehorn (Big Love), Tim Blake Nelson, Scott Shepherd (Killers of the Flower Moon), Tracy Letts (Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty), Kyle Maclachlan (Twin Peaks) and Macon Blair (Oppenheimer).
The Sensitive Kind is a Tulsa noir about a guy (Hawke) who knows too much. Roles for the newly added cast are being kept under wraps.
Harjo also serves as writer and director on the pilot, which he and Hawke executive produce with Garrett Basch. The project falls under Harjo’s overall deal with the studio behind the pilot, FX Productions. The order for The Sensitive Kind comes on the heels of Reservation Dogs ending its award-winning three-season run on FX.
- 3/26/2024
- by Rosy Cordero
- Deadline Film + TV
Country star Zach Bryan recruited Western film legend Matthew McConaughey for his “Nine Ball” music video, released on Monday.
The video, directed by Matthew Dillon Cohen, tells the story of a boy whose father is a gambling addict. McConaughey plays a pool shark who brings his young son to the bar while he bets cash against his opponent, played by Scott Shepherd.
In an alternate timeline, Tye Sheridan plays an older version of McConaughey’s son, who grows up to play billiards in the same pool hall as his father. The narratives jump back and forth from each other, depicting the effect of the father’s gambling on the son, and ends with a flashback shot of McConaughey carrying the young boy out of the bar after a bar fight.
“Nine Ball” comes from Bryan’s EP Boys of Faith, which he released in September 2023. At the Grammy Awards last Sunday,...
The video, directed by Matthew Dillon Cohen, tells the story of a boy whose father is a gambling addict. McConaughey plays a pool shark who brings his young son to the bar while he bets cash against his opponent, played by Scott Shepherd.
In an alternate timeline, Tye Sheridan plays an older version of McConaughey’s son, who grows up to play billiards in the same pool hall as his father. The narratives jump back and forth from each other, depicting the effect of the father’s gambling on the son, and ends with a flashback shot of McConaughey carrying the young boy out of the bar after a bar fight.
“Nine Ball” comes from Bryan’s EP Boys of Faith, which he released in September 2023. At the Grammy Awards last Sunday,...
- 2/7/2024
- by Zoe G Phillips
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Zach Bryan has unveiled a new music video for “Nine Ball,” starring Matthew McConaughey, Tye Sheridan, and Scott Shepherd.
Directed by Matthew Dillon Cohen, the video depicts a father-and-son’s journey in a small-town pool hall told across twenty years. Watch it below.
“Nine Ball” comes from Bryan’s 2023 EP, Boys of Faith. The five-track EP, released in September, also contains collaborations with Noah Kahan and Bon Iver.
Another one of Bryan’s noteworthy collaborations, “I Remember Everything” featuring Kacey Musgraves, won the 2024 Grammy Award for Best Country Duo/Group Performance.
Get Zach Bryan Tickets Here
Next up for Bryan, he’ll kick off “The Quittin Time Tour” beginning next month. The lengthy trek spans most of the year and includes shows with Sheryl Crow, Jason Isbell, The War and Treaty, and other special guests. Tickets are available for purchase here.
Bryan also recently revealed that he was “about half...
Directed by Matthew Dillon Cohen, the video depicts a father-and-son’s journey in a small-town pool hall told across twenty years. Watch it below.
“Nine Ball” comes from Bryan’s 2023 EP, Boys of Faith. The five-track EP, released in September, also contains collaborations with Noah Kahan and Bon Iver.
Another one of Bryan’s noteworthy collaborations, “I Remember Everything” featuring Kacey Musgraves, won the 2024 Grammy Award for Best Country Duo/Group Performance.
Get Zach Bryan Tickets Here
Next up for Bryan, he’ll kick off “The Quittin Time Tour” beginning next month. The lengthy trek spans most of the year and includes shows with Sheryl Crow, Jason Isbell, The War and Treaty, and other special guests. Tickets are available for purchase here.
Bryan also recently revealed that he was “about half...
- 2/5/2024
- by Scoop Harrison
- Consequence - Music
The nominations for the 96th Oscars revealed Tuesday included a diverse mix of Best Picture contenders, from box office blockbusters and festival favorites to sweeping streamer epics and indie darlings.
Deadline reviewed all 10 of the nominees, beginning with Past Lives, when it captured all the Sundance buzz in January; followed by Killers of the Flower Moon, eventual Palme d’Or winner Anatomy of a Fall and The Zone of Interest in May at Cannes; tracking the Barbenheimer duo of Barbie and Oppenheimer dominating the summer box office; and seeing Poor Things, Maestro, The Holdovers and American Fiction during the fall festival whoosh of Venice, Telluride and Toronto.
Click on the titles to read the Deadline critics’ full reviews of the films that will be vying for the marquee statuette in March.
Related: All The Best Picture Oscar Winners – Photo Gallery
American Fiction ‘American Fiction’
Distributor: Orion Pictures/Amazon MGM Studios
Producers: Ben LeClair,...
Deadline reviewed all 10 of the nominees, beginning with Past Lives, when it captured all the Sundance buzz in January; followed by Killers of the Flower Moon, eventual Palme d’Or winner Anatomy of a Fall and The Zone of Interest in May at Cannes; tracking the Barbenheimer duo of Barbie and Oppenheimer dominating the summer box office; and seeing Poor Things, Maestro, The Holdovers and American Fiction during the fall festival whoosh of Venice, Telluride and Toronto.
Click on the titles to read the Deadline critics’ full reviews of the films that will be vying for the marquee statuette in March.
Related: All The Best Picture Oscar Winners – Photo Gallery
American Fiction ‘American Fiction’
Distributor: Orion Pictures/Amazon MGM Studios
Producers: Ben LeClair,...
- 1/24/2024
- by Pete Hammond, Valerie Complex, Damon Wise and Stephanie Bunbury
- Deadline Film + TV
Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Lily Gladstone, Jesse Plemons, Tantoo Cardinal, John Lithgow, Brendan Fraser, Cara Jade Myers, Janae Collins, Jillian Dion, Jason Isbell, William Belleau, Louis Cancelmi, Scott Shepherd, Everett Waller, Talee Redcorn, Yancey Red Corn, Tatanka Means | Written by Eric Roth, Martin Scorsese, David Grann | Directed by Martin Scorsese
Scorsese has always felt like a director born from the streets, in both the literal sense and the metaphorical one. Scorsese rose from the streets, made his name in them, and made films about the greed and ambition of men who lived in those streets. From the alleyways of Brooklyn and the bars of Boston to the offices of Wall Street, Scorsese has shown us that the evil, greedy nature of man can come from any corner of American life. Now, with Killers of the Flower Moon, Scorsese shows us that greed and evil were not born in the streets,...
Scorsese has always felt like a director born from the streets, in both the literal sense and the metaphorical one. Scorsese rose from the streets, made his name in them, and made films about the greed and ambition of men who lived in those streets. From the alleyways of Brooklyn and the bars of Boston to the offices of Wall Street, Scorsese has shown us that the evil, greedy nature of man can come from any corner of American life. Now, with Killers of the Flower Moon, Scorsese shows us that greed and evil were not born in the streets,...
- 10/23/2023
- by Alex Ginnelly
- Nerdly
On October 20, 2023, Apple Original Films released “Killers of the Flower Moon,” Oscar winner Martin Scorsese‘s highly anticipated film in which members of the Osage tribe in the United States are murdered under mysterious circumstances in the 1920s, sparking a major F.B.I. investigation involving J. Edgar Hoover.
The film premiered at the 76th Cannes Film Festival in May and received raves from critics, holding fresh at 96% on Rotten Tomatoes and bolstering in Gold Derby’s Oscar odds across the board. The critics consensus reads, “Enormous in runtime, theme, and achievement, ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ is a sobering appraisal of America’s relationship with Indigenous peoples and yet another artistic zenith for Martin Scorsese and his collaborators.”
See Apple Original Films releases third trailer for ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ in runup to Friday premiere: ‘You’re gonna make trouble, make it big’ [Watch]
The film based on the bestseller of...
The film premiered at the 76th Cannes Film Festival in May and received raves from critics, holding fresh at 96% on Rotten Tomatoes and bolstering in Gold Derby’s Oscar odds across the board. The critics consensus reads, “Enormous in runtime, theme, and achievement, ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ is a sobering appraisal of America’s relationship with Indigenous peoples and yet another artistic zenith for Martin Scorsese and his collaborators.”
See Apple Original Films releases third trailer for ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ in runup to Friday premiere: ‘You’re gonna make trouble, make it big’ [Watch]
The film based on the bestseller of...
- 10/20/2023
- by Vincent Mandile
- Gold Derby
Featured Image : Apple TV Plus
Martin Scorsese, the acclaimed director of classics such as Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, and The Irishman, has once again expressed his criticism of the dominance of franchise and comic book movies in the film industry. In a recent interview with GQ UK1, Scorsese said that these movies are not cinema, but manufactured content that is harming the culture and the art of filmmaking.
Scorsese, who is currently promoting his latest film Killers of the Flower Moon, an adaptation of David Grann’s book about the Osage murders in 1920s Oklahoma, revealed that Warner Bros. wanted to make his 2006 film The Departed a franchise and asked him to keep either Matt Damon or Leonardo DiCaprio’s character alive for a sequel. Scorsese refused, saying that he wanted to make a film that was complete in itself.
Killers of the Flower Moon Trailer
The director explained...
Martin Scorsese, the acclaimed director of classics such as Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, and The Irishman, has once again expressed his criticism of the dominance of franchise and comic book movies in the film industry. In a recent interview with GQ UK1, Scorsese said that these movies are not cinema, but manufactured content that is harming the culture and the art of filmmaking.
Scorsese, who is currently promoting his latest film Killers of the Flower Moon, an adaptation of David Grann’s book about the Osage murders in 1920s Oklahoma, revealed that Warner Bros. wanted to make his 2006 film The Departed a franchise and asked him to keep either Matt Damon or Leonardo DiCaprio’s character alive for a sequel. Scorsese refused, saying that he wanted to make a film that was complete in itself.
Killers of the Flower Moon Trailer
The director explained...
- 9/25/2023
- by CineArticles Editorial Team
- https://thecinemanews.online/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/IMG_4649
Bad guys tend to have a good time at the Oscars. From Christoph Waltz‘s 2010 “Inglourious Basterds” win for Best Supporting Actor to Anthony Hopkins‘ iconic 1992 Best Actor win for “The Silence of the Lambs,” you can always count on Oscar voters to take notice of a villain.
While those two examples are fictional, some actors have also had Oscar luck by playing real-life killers. For example, Charlize Theron won for playing Aileen Wuornos. Wuornos murdered seven men between 1989 and 1990 while she was a prostitute in Florida. She shot and robbed the seven men, who Wuornos claimed were clients who had either raped or attempted to rape, claiming self-defense. However, she was sentenced to death and executed in 2002 for six of the murders. Theron took home the Best Actress Oscar in 2004 for her transformative performance as the killer in “Monster.”
Ralph Fiennes also played a real-life killer in his role...
While those two examples are fictional, some actors have also had Oscar luck by playing real-life killers. For example, Charlize Theron won for playing Aileen Wuornos. Wuornos murdered seven men between 1989 and 1990 while she was a prostitute in Florida. She shot and robbed the seven men, who Wuornos claimed were clients who had either raped or attempted to rape, claiming self-defense. However, she was sentenced to death and executed in 2002 for six of the murders. Theron took home the Best Actress Oscar in 2004 for her transformative performance as the killer in “Monster.”
Ralph Fiennes also played a real-life killer in his role...
- 7/27/2023
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
Gold Derby can exclusively reveal that Bella Ramsey is entering “The Last of Us” episode “When We Are in Need” as their 2023 Emmy Award submission for Best Drama Actress. “When We Are in Need” aired on March 5, 2023, and is the eighth episode of the HBO show’s first season.
In “When We Are in Need,” Ellie (Ramsey) tries to protect an injured Joel (fellow Emmy nominee Pedro Pascal) from a group of angered survivors out for revenge. The episode — which costars Scott Shepherd as an evil preacher who torments Ellie — was written by series co-creator Craig Mazin and directed by Ali Abbasi (“Holy Spider”).
SEEBella Ramsey interview: ‘The Last of Us’
Ramsey is a first-time Emmy Award nominee thanks to “The Last of Us.” The show was a hit with academy members this year, landing 24 total nominations, including Best Drama Series.
For this 2023 contest, Ramsey is competing against Sharon Horgan...
In “When We Are in Need,” Ellie (Ramsey) tries to protect an injured Joel (fellow Emmy nominee Pedro Pascal) from a group of angered survivors out for revenge. The episode — which costars Scott Shepherd as an evil preacher who torments Ellie — was written by series co-creator Craig Mazin and directed by Ali Abbasi (“Holy Spider”).
SEEBella Ramsey interview: ‘The Last of Us’
Ramsey is a first-time Emmy Award nominee thanks to “The Last of Us.” The show was a hit with academy members this year, landing 24 total nominations, including Best Drama Series.
For this 2023 contest, Ramsey is competing against Sharon Horgan...
- 7/24/2023
- by Christopher Rosen and Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
Wolves are not subtle creatures. It’s a rhetorical question: “Can you find the wolves in this picture?” Who couldn’t spot wolves among humans? They’re much smaller than people, much growlier. They have a vicious appetite and care only about satisfying it. What they lack in tact they make up in blunt aggression, tearing their victims apart limb-by-limb and leaving a blood-stained trail of evidence to prove it. They’re indignant, not the most intelligent, and they don’t speak the language. But that’s where William Hale differs: he speaks the language.
Martin Scorsese’s adaptation of Killers of the Flower Moon makes no mistake about who is at the center of its tragedy: the Osage Nation. Shot primarily on location on the reservation in Oklahoma, the film opens and closes with Osage ceremonies, one mourning death and the other celebrating life, in that order. The story in-between,...
Martin Scorsese’s adaptation of Killers of the Flower Moon makes no mistake about who is at the center of its tragedy: the Osage Nation. Shot primarily on location on the reservation in Oklahoma, the film opens and closes with Osage ceremonies, one mourning death and the other celebrating life, in that order. The story in-between,...
- 5/21/2023
- by Luke Hicks
- The Film Stage
Martin Scorsese’s first film to world premiere at Cannes since After Hours in 1986, the trailer finally arrives for Killers of the Flower Moon shortly before it screens at the festival. Adapted from David Grann’s book Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI, the film’s script was co-penned by Scorsese and Eric Roth. The western boasts a 206-minute runtime and stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Lily Gladstone, Jesse Plemons, Scott Shepherd and John Lithgow. The plot revolves around a series of murders in 1920s Oklahoma of the oil-rich Osage Nation and the […]
The post Trailer Watch: Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
The post Trailer Watch: Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
- 5/18/2023
- by Filmmaker Staff
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Martin Scorsese’s first film to world premiere at Cannes since After Hours in 1986, the trailer finally arrives for Killers of the Flower Moon shortly before it screens at the festival. Adapted from David Grann’s book Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI, the film’s script was co-penned by Scorsese and Eric Roth. The western boasts a 206-minute runtime and stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Lily Gladstone, Jesse Plemons, Scott Shepherd and John Lithgow. The plot revolves around a series of murders in 1920s Oklahoma of the oil-rich Osage Nation and the […]
The post Trailer Watch: Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
The post Trailer Watch: Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
- 5/18/2023
- by Filmmaker Staff
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
A child conceived when Killers of the Flower Moon‘s first still debuted––that was May 10, 2021––could now walk, or at least waddle. It’s a fine image, unambiguously superior to Frances McDormand’s knowing smile or Renate Reinsve’s cheerful run or Brendan Fraser’s forlorn glance, and I truly wish Paramount and Apple banked their $200 million investment exclusively on a moment shared between Leonardo DiCaprio and Lily Gladstone. But all good things must come to an end, and now that we know the director––who many forget is a student of and occasional due-payer to the avant-garde––does not hold his camera in that position, Wavelength-style, for such a length, it’s time to see more. Put another way: we finally have a trailer for Scorsese’s 206-minute western mere days before its Cannes premiere.
I’ll skip said trailer in hopes of entering the film as fresh...
I’ll skip said trailer in hopes of entering the film as fresh...
- 5/18/2023
- by Nick Newman
- The Film Stage
The long-awaited trailer for the latest Martin Scorsese project, "Killers of the Flower Moon," is finally here. The Apple film about a very dark part of America's history is based on the 2017 book by David Grann: "Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI." Time magazine picked the title as one of the top 10 non-fiction books of 2017.
It's the story of the Osage Nation, which was resettled in Oklahoma in the 1800s after its people were forced off their own land. There was oil discovered on the new land, however, and it made the Osage Nation very rich. One of the wealthiest members of the Osage Nation was Mollie Burkhart, who married a white man named Ernest Burkhart (played by Leonardo DiCaprio). At the time, the only way for outsiders to get their hands on the money was through marriage. Then the murders...
It's the story of the Osage Nation, which was resettled in Oklahoma in the 1800s after its people were forced off their own land. There was oil discovered on the new land, however, and it made the Osage Nation very rich. One of the wealthiest members of the Osage Nation was Mollie Burkhart, who married a white man named Ernest Burkhart (played by Leonardo DiCaprio). At the time, the only way for outsiders to get their hands on the money was through marriage. Then the murders...
- 5/18/2023
- by Jenna Busch
- Slash Film
Martin Scorsese reunites with longtime muses Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro in the first trailer for “Killers of the Flower Moon,” the upcoming Western epic based on David Grann’s 2017 best-selling non-fiction book “Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI.” Set in 1920s Oklahoma, the drama focuses on a series of Osage Nation murders over oil rights and the newly-formed FBI’s investigation into the killings. The supporting cast includes Jesse Plemons and “Certain Women” breakout Lily Gladstone.
For DiCaprio and De Niro, “Flower Moon” marks the first time the Oscar winners have worked together in a feature since Michael Caton-Jones’ 1993 drama “This Boy’s Life.” Both actors played fictionalized versions of themselves in Scorsese’s short film “The Audition.” De Niro earned Oscar nominations for best actor by starring in Scorsese’s “Taxi Driver,” “Cape Fear” and “Raging Bull,” winning for the latter.
For DiCaprio and De Niro, “Flower Moon” marks the first time the Oscar winners have worked together in a feature since Michael Caton-Jones’ 1993 drama “This Boy’s Life.” Both actors played fictionalized versions of themselves in Scorsese’s short film “The Audition.” De Niro earned Oscar nominations for best actor by starring in Scorsese’s “Taxi Driver,” “Cape Fear” and “Raging Bull,” winning for the latter.
- 5/18/2023
- by Zack Sharf
- Variety Film + TV
Oscar season may have wrapped for the calendar year 2022, but Best Actor winner Brendan Fraser is still enjoying the fruits of his recent career labors. On Thursday evening, “The Whale” winner appeared at the Greenwich International Film Festival’s inaugural Inspiration Talk and award ceremony in Stamford, Connecticut where he was honored with the Giff Inspiration Award “designed to honor artists who inspire others through their craft or philanthropic endeavors.”
As People reports, during a wide-ranging chat with broadcast journalist Hannah Storm, Fraser was characteristically open about what’s next. So, post-Oscars win, what does the Canadian actor have on the horizon? “At the moment, I don’t have anything — I’m really being picky right now,” Fraser said.
After a grueling (and often emotional) Oscar season spent stumping for Darren Aronofsky’s heart-wrenching drama and speaking candidly about his own personal connection to the material, Fraser has certainly earned a little respite.
As People reports, during a wide-ranging chat with broadcast journalist Hannah Storm, Fraser was characteristically open about what’s next. So, post-Oscars win, what does the Canadian actor have on the horizon? “At the moment, I don’t have anything — I’m really being picky right now,” Fraser said.
After a grueling (and often emotional) Oscar season spent stumping for Darren Aronofsky’s heart-wrenching drama and speaking candidly about his own personal connection to the material, Fraser has certainly earned a little respite.
- 5/6/2023
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Voice and motion capture performer Troy Baker has played many roles in seminal video game franchises. Having played characters like Booker DeWitt in "Bioshock Infinite" and Sam Drake in the "Uncharted" franchise, Baker is best known for his role as Joel Miller in "The Last of Us." No one could play Joel as Baker did in Naughty Dog's survival horror video game — Baker imbued the character with the perfect amount of nuance and complexity, painting Joel as a morally-grey protagonist capable of both cruelty and compassion. For someone like Baker to be so intimately involved with "The Last of Us," and to be a part of a franchise that evolved and gained immense popularity over the course of a decade, a live-action series adaptation was bound to evoke complicated feelings.
Although Baker did not reprise his role as Joel, he was deeply involved with Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin...
Although Baker did not reprise his role as Joel, he was deeply involved with Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin...
- 4/22/2023
- by Debopriyaa Dutta
- Slash Film
This post contains spoilers for "The Last of Us" HBO adaptation.
One of the best aspects of HBO's "The Last of Us" adaptation is that showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann have designed the show with several audiences in mind; even though season 1 of the show follows the first game's entire plot, there are enough surprises for both hardcore fans and newcomers of the source material. For those who have played the game, you might have recognized plenty of familiar voices throughout the series, such as Merle Dandridge reprising her role as Marlene, or Ashley Johnson as Ellie (Bella Ramsey)'s mother, Anna, in the finale episode's cold open. One of gaming's most recognizable performers, Troy Baker (who originated Joel in the 2013 game) made it into the penultimate episode, "When We Are In Need," this time playing a supporting character in this post-apocalyptic world.
As David (Scott Shepherd)'s second in command,...
One of the best aspects of HBO's "The Last of Us" adaptation is that showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann have designed the show with several audiences in mind; even though season 1 of the show follows the first game's entire plot, there are enough surprises for both hardcore fans and newcomers of the source material. For those who have played the game, you might have recognized plenty of familiar voices throughout the series, such as Merle Dandridge reprising her role as Marlene, or Ashley Johnson as Ellie (Bella Ramsey)'s mother, Anna, in the finale episode's cold open. One of gaming's most recognizable performers, Troy Baker (who originated Joel in the 2013 game) made it into the penultimate episode, "When We Are In Need," this time playing a supporting character in this post-apocalyptic world.
As David (Scott Shepherd)'s second in command,...
- 4/13/2023
- by Tyler Llewyn Taing
- Slash Film
This post contains spoilers for HBO's "The Last of Us" series.
After a long history of trial and error, HBO's "The Last of Us" series has finally set a new standard for the live-action video game adaptation. For the most part, it achieved a key balance between faithfully honoring the source material while also making necessary changes to fit the new medium of prestige television, allowing for both versions of this story to stand on their own with distinct strengths and weaknesses.
One specific way the show honors the source material is something we'd actually like to see become a norm — while "The Last of Us" series had new actors step into the roles of Joel Miller, Ellie Williams, and the survivors they meet on their apocalyptic adventure, Mazin and Druckmann also made space for the game's original performers to take on new roles in the show as well. Merle Dandridge...
After a long history of trial and error, HBO's "The Last of Us" series has finally set a new standard for the live-action video game adaptation. For the most part, it achieved a key balance between faithfully honoring the source material while also making necessary changes to fit the new medium of prestige television, allowing for both versions of this story to stand on their own with distinct strengths and weaknesses.
One specific way the show honors the source material is something we'd actually like to see become a norm — while "The Last of Us" series had new actors step into the roles of Joel Miller, Ellie Williams, and the survivors they meet on their apocalyptic adventure, Mazin and Druckmann also made space for the game's original performers to take on new roles in the show as well. Merle Dandridge...
- 3/29/2023
- by Tyler Llewyn Taing
- Slash Film
This article contains spoilers for "The Last of Us" and its video game source material.
The original Joel Miller shows up in HBO's adaptation of "The Last of Us" — just not in his original part. Troy Baker, who voiced and mo-capped Joel in the video game, plays James, the right-hand man of Bible-quoting cannibal David (Scott Shepherd). It might seem like a downgrade, but Baker was surprised to get even that substantive a part.
Speaking to Deadline about his experience on the series, Baker described how Naughty Dog co-president Neil Druckmann came to him with the part:
"Neil was coy about this potential role. He was like, 'So, there's a character that we have in mind for you, if you're interested. If you don't feel interested, it's totally fine.' And I'm like, 'Dude, if there's anything for me ..." Look, I thought I was going to be a Clicker.
The original Joel Miller shows up in HBO's adaptation of "The Last of Us" — just not in his original part. Troy Baker, who voiced and mo-capped Joel in the video game, plays James, the right-hand man of Bible-quoting cannibal David (Scott Shepherd). It might seem like a downgrade, but Baker was surprised to get even that substantive a part.
Speaking to Deadline about his experience on the series, Baker described how Naughty Dog co-president Neil Druckmann came to him with the part:
"Neil was coy about this potential role. He was like, 'So, there's a character that we have in mind for you, if you're interested. If you don't feel interested, it's totally fine.' And I'm like, 'Dude, if there's anything for me ..." Look, I thought I was going to be a Clicker.
- 3/16/2023
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
Rainn Wilson called out The Last of Us for perpetuating “anti-Christian bias in Hollywood” and then criticised Fox News for covering his comments.
*Warning – Minor spoiler ahead for The Last of Us episode eight*
The Office star took issue with the hit video game adaptation’s eighth episode, which featured a cannibalistic pastor named David (Scott Shepherd).
Over the weekend, Wilson tweeted: “I do think there is an anti-Christian bias in Hollywood. As soon as the David character in The Last of Us started reading from the Bible I knew that he was going to be a horrific villain.
“Could there be a Bible-reading preacher on a show who is actually loving and kind?”
The tweet sparked a debate about Christian perceptions in the film industry with nearly 8,000 comments at the time of writing.
I do think there is an anti-Christian bias in Hollywood. As soon as the David...
*Warning – Minor spoiler ahead for The Last of Us episode eight*
The Office star took issue with the hit video game adaptation’s eighth episode, which featured a cannibalistic pastor named David (Scott Shepherd).
Over the weekend, Wilson tweeted: “I do think there is an anti-Christian bias in Hollywood. As soon as the David character in The Last of Us started reading from the Bible I knew that he was going to be a horrific villain.
“Could there be a Bible-reading preacher on a show who is actually loving and kind?”
The tweet sparked a debate about Christian perceptions in the film industry with nearly 8,000 comments at the time of writing.
I do think there is an anti-Christian bias in Hollywood. As soon as the David...
- 3/15/2023
- by Tom Murray
- The Independent - TV
After dealing with clickers, cannibals, and catastrophic heartbreak, a mere awards ceremony was nothing for ultimate survivors Ellie and Joel. The season finale of “The Last of Us” hauled in 8.2 million viewers Sunday night across HBO Max and linear-hbo, a new series high, despite being scheduled against the 95th Academy Awards broadcast on ABC.
“The Last of Us” finale started at 9 p.m. on HBO and HBO Max; the Oscars started at 8 p.m. Et and ended shortly after 11:30 p.m. Et on ABC. We do not have Oscars numbers — yet — but ABC hopes it did significantly better than even the “Last of Us.” The 2022 Academy Awards drew 16.6 million viewers (though the earliest-available data for the program showed 13.7 million); the all-time low for the Oscars was 10.5 million viewers in 2021.
“The Last of Us” has consistently enjoyed strong viewership during its nine-episode first season. The show’s previous high was...
“The Last of Us” finale started at 9 p.m. on HBO and HBO Max; the Oscars started at 8 p.m. Et and ended shortly after 11:30 p.m. Et on ABC. We do not have Oscars numbers — yet — but ABC hopes it did significantly better than even the “Last of Us.” The 2022 Academy Awards drew 16.6 million viewers (though the earliest-available data for the program showed 13.7 million); the all-time low for the Oscars was 10.5 million viewers in 2021.
“The Last of Us” has consistently enjoyed strong viewership during its nine-episode first season. The show’s previous high was...
- 3/13/2023
- by Tony Maglio and Wilson Chapman
- Indiewire
This post contains spoilers for "The Last of Us" season 1, episode 8, "When We Are in Need."
When Groucho Marx resigned from the Friars' Club, he wrote the famous words, "I don't want to belong to any club that would accept me as one of its members." In the apocalypse, that sentiment should definitely apply to any cults looking to add people to its ranks. As a general rule, cults should be avoided at all costs, especially in a world gone mad from a deadly fungus that's wiped out most of the population.
In the penultimate episode of "The Last of Us," James (Troy Baker) is probably really starting to regret joining up as the second-in-command of the deranged cult leader, David (Scott Shepherd). All of James' doubts about locking arms with David -- who has resorted to cannibalism to keep his flock alive -- come to a head in episode 8, "When We Are in Need,...
When Groucho Marx resigned from the Friars' Club, he wrote the famous words, "I don't want to belong to any club that would accept me as one of its members." In the apocalypse, that sentiment should definitely apply to any cults looking to add people to its ranks. As a general rule, cults should be avoided at all costs, especially in a world gone mad from a deadly fungus that's wiped out most of the population.
In the penultimate episode of "The Last of Us," James (Troy Baker) is probably really starting to regret joining up as the second-in-command of the deranged cult leader, David (Scott Shepherd). All of James' doubts about locking arms with David -- who has resorted to cannibalism to keep his flock alive -- come to a head in episode 8, "When We Are in Need,...
- 3/10/2023
- by Drew Tinnin
- Slash Film
Even amid an unrelenting apocalyptic world, life finds a way. Ahead of The Last of Us Season 1 finale, HBO released a new image featuring a pregnant and seemingly stressed-out woman named Anna. Also known as Ellie’s mother, Anna is played by acclaimed voice actor and motion capture performer Ashley Johnson, who originated the role of Ellie Williams in the video game series. In the series, Ellie is portrayed by Bella Ramsey.
Within The Last of Us lore, little is known about Anna outside of her friendship with Marlene, leader of the Fireflies, and her death soon after giving birth to Ellie, leaving behind her favorite switchblade and a personal note, which Ellie carries in her backpack. However, knowing that series showrunner Craig Mazin and creator Neil Druckmann share a penchant for expanding and differentiating from the source material, we can expect to gather more information about who Anna is...
Within The Last of Us lore, little is known about Anna outside of her friendship with Marlene, leader of the Fireflies, and her death soon after giving birth to Ellie, leaving behind her favorite switchblade and a personal note, which Ellie carries in her backpack. However, knowing that series showrunner Craig Mazin and creator Neil Druckmann share a penchant for expanding and differentiating from the source material, we can expect to gather more information about who Anna is...
- 3/10/2023
- by Destiny Jackson
- Deadline Film + TV
HBO has released a first-look image of Ashley Johnson, the original voice actor of Ellie in The Last of Us video game, as Anna, Ellie’s (Bella Ramsey) mother. After previously showcasing the original voice actor for Joel in Season 1’s penultimate episode as James (Troy Baker), a member of David’s (Scott Shepherd) cannibalistic crew, Johnson is getting the same treatment in the season finale. It was previously announced that the original voice actors for Joel and Ellie would have mysterious roles in the network series, and only recently has it been confirmed who would be playing who and the significance behind it. Fans of the game were initially disappointed when Johnson could not reprise her role due to the age difference between the launch of the game and the 2023 release of the show. To have the original character play the mother is a classy nod to the fans...
- 3/8/2023
- TV Insider
This article contains spoilers for episode 8 of HBO's "The Last of Us."
"I am a shepherd surrounded by sheep, and all I want is an equal. A friend." This is a line that cult leader David delivers to Ellie (Bella Ramsey) during HBO's "The Last Of Us" as a means to validate not just the cannibalism he and his followers engage in, but also as a grooming tactic in the hopes he can convince Ellie to become his post-apocalyptic child bride. The hit HBO series doesn't spend nearly as much time with David as the video game, and as such, the audience needed an expedited shorthand that says "this guy is up to no good." Show creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, the latter of which also created the original game, made the perfect decision to present David as a religious wingnut.
David and his followers have formed a miniature theocracy,...
"I am a shepherd surrounded by sheep, and all I want is an equal. A friend." This is a line that cult leader David delivers to Ellie (Bella Ramsey) during HBO's "The Last Of Us" as a means to validate not just the cannibalism he and his followers engage in, but also as a grooming tactic in the hopes he can convince Ellie to become his post-apocalyptic child bride. The hit HBO series doesn't spend nearly as much time with David as the video game, and as such, the audience needed an expedited shorthand that says "this guy is up to no good." Show creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, the latter of which also created the original game, made the perfect decision to present David as a religious wingnut.
David and his followers have formed a miniature theocracy,...
- 3/7/2023
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
This week's episode of "The Last of Us" epitomized the word "adaptation," taking the fewest detours from the game as any other episode. For that reason, "When We Are In Need" either felt satisfying or boring in its predictability for players of the game. I must, unfortunately, report that I fall into the latter opinion — but I should also disclose that I didn't like this section of the game, either.
Even still, one familiar piece of the game was inarguably gratifying to see this week, and that was Troy Baker playing James, David's (Scott Shepherd) right hand. Baker, who voiced Joel in the games, gave a serviceable performance of this character from the game up until his death. It was heartwarming to actually see him have his whole body available to act in the series rather than just his voice. And what a voice! It's simply unmistakable; I recognized it within two or three sentences.
Even still, one familiar piece of the game was inarguably gratifying to see this week, and that was Troy Baker playing James, David's (Scott Shepherd) right hand. Baker, who voiced Joel in the games, gave a serviceable performance of this character from the game up until his death. It was heartwarming to actually see him have his whole body available to act in the series rather than just his voice. And what a voice! It's simply unmistakable; I recognized it within two or three sentences.
- 3/7/2023
- by Allyssa Capri
- Slash Film
This post contains spoilers for "The Last of Us" season 1, episode 8 "When We Are in Need."
Are you listening to HBO's "The Last of Us" companion podcast? You should be. Every week, as a new episode drops, showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann sit down with Troy Baker (aka the guy who played Joel in the games) to break down everything that happened and give us some behind-the-scenes peeks into their creative process, the making of the show and why they decided to be game-accurate or why they made a big departure.
It's a wonderful hour for anybody as obsessed with "The Last of Us" as I am and, as a bonus, if you listen to each episode as it drops, you'll get the jump on a lot of the "inside info" stories that come out in the wake of the show and may even spot a few influencers ripping...
Are you listening to HBO's "The Last of Us" companion podcast? You should be. Every week, as a new episode drops, showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann sit down with Troy Baker (aka the guy who played Joel in the games) to break down everything that happened and give us some behind-the-scenes peeks into their creative process, the making of the show and why they decided to be game-accurate or why they made a big departure.
It's a wonderful hour for anybody as obsessed with "The Last of Us" as I am and, as a bonus, if you listen to each episode as it drops, you'll get the jump on a lot of the "inside info" stories that come out in the wake of the show and may even spot a few influencers ripping...
- 3/7/2023
- by Eric Vespe
- Slash Film
This post contains spoilers for "The Last of Us" season 1, episode 8 "When We Are in Need."
Fans of the Naughty Dog video game on which HBO's "The Last of Us" is based may have detected a familiar voice this week in the penultimate episode of season 1. That's because Troy Baker, who showed up onscreen as James -- the second-in-command of the cannibalistic cult leader, David (Scott Shepherd) -- plays Pedro Pascal's character, Joel, in the first game and its sequel.
A key moment for James comes when he and the rest of the hunting party, save for David, catch up with Ellie (Bella Ramsey) in episode 8. David has ordered that she be taken alive, but James is ready to go against orders — pulling the trigger on Ellie at point-blank range — before David shows up at the last moment. While James' outward motivation for attempting to kill Ellie is just...
Fans of the Naughty Dog video game on which HBO's "The Last of Us" is based may have detected a familiar voice this week in the penultimate episode of season 1. That's because Troy Baker, who showed up onscreen as James -- the second-in-command of the cannibalistic cult leader, David (Scott Shepherd) -- plays Pedro Pascal's character, Joel, in the first game and its sequel.
A key moment for James comes when he and the rest of the hunting party, save for David, catch up with Ellie (Bella Ramsey) in episode 8. David has ordered that she be taken alive, but James is ready to go against orders — pulling the trigger on Ellie at point-blank range — before David shows up at the last moment. While James' outward motivation for attempting to kill Ellie is just...
- 3/7/2023
- by Joshua Meyer
- Slash Film
This post contains spoilers for "The Last of Us," season 1, episode 8, "When We Are in Need."
He may have spent the whole last episode laid out on a mattress, clinging to his life, but Joel (Pedro Pascal) came roaring back to life this week on "The Last of Us." All he needs is a shot of penicillin and this guy is like Popeye the Sailor Man with a can of spinach. Joel's teenage traveling companion, Ellie (Bella Ramsey), puts a knife in his hand and leaves him to his own devices in the basement of a house as a group of unwitting cannibal cultists, led by David (Scott Shepherd), closes in. They're seeking vengeance for the man Joel killed back in episode 6, the one who stabbed him and put him out of commission as Ellie flashed back to her shopping mall memories in episode 7.
Joel manages to take out several guys,...
He may have spent the whole last episode laid out on a mattress, clinging to his life, but Joel (Pedro Pascal) came roaring back to life this week on "The Last of Us." All he needs is a shot of penicillin and this guy is like Popeye the Sailor Man with a can of spinach. Joel's teenage traveling companion, Ellie (Bella Ramsey), puts a knife in his hand and leaves him to his own devices in the basement of a house as a group of unwitting cannibal cultists, led by David (Scott Shepherd), closes in. They're seeking vengeance for the man Joel killed back in episode 6, the one who stabbed him and put him out of commission as Ellie flashed back to her shopping mall memories in episode 7.
Joel manages to take out several guys,...
- 3/7/2023
- by Joshua Meyer
- Slash Film
This post contains major spoilers for "The Last of Us" episode 8.
This week's episode of "The Last of Us" is a pitch-perfect adaptation of one of the most harrowing sequences in the original game, in which Ellie (Bella Ramsey) looks after a wounded and healing Joel (Pedro Pascal) in the middle of a cruel winter. As she hunts for food and supplies, all hell breaks loose once she encounters David (Scott Shepherd) and James.
He may not look like much at first, but David, the preacher/leader of a quaint community living in an abandoned mountainside resort, is harboring a dark secret from his people. The series brings some fresh updates to David's origins and motivations, adding a haunting layer of realism to the character, solidifying him as one of the most disturbing antagonists in "The Last of Us" universe.
We've seen 14-year-old Ellie at her most innocent and vulnerable.
This week's episode of "The Last of Us" is a pitch-perfect adaptation of one of the most harrowing sequences in the original game, in which Ellie (Bella Ramsey) looks after a wounded and healing Joel (Pedro Pascal) in the middle of a cruel winter. As she hunts for food and supplies, all hell breaks loose once she encounters David (Scott Shepherd) and James.
He may not look like much at first, but David, the preacher/leader of a quaint community living in an abandoned mountainside resort, is harboring a dark secret from his people. The series brings some fresh updates to David's origins and motivations, adding a haunting layer of realism to the character, solidifying him as one of the most disturbing antagonists in "The Last of Us" universe.
We've seen 14-year-old Ellie at her most innocent and vulnerable.
- 3/7/2023
- by Tyler Llewyn Taing
- Slash Film
This article contains spoilers for The Last of Us episode 8.
HBO’s The Last of Us is shuffling toward its season one finale, and for those who’ve played Naughty Dog’s 2013 game of the same name, you knew exactly what was coming in episode 8. Following a flashback to Ellie’s life pre-Joel in episode 7, we were back in the present for “When We Are In Need,” with showrunner Craig Mazin adapting the winter chapter of the game.
The big talking point of the latest episode is that Joel voice actor Troy Baker appears as the villainous James, with the character being massively expanded from the games. The same can be said about Scott Shepherd’s David, who gets a more thorough overhaul. For those complaining it’s another swing away from the games, David’s role in the series actually hearkens back to a storyline Naughty Dog seemingly left on the cutting room floor.
HBO’s The Last of Us is shuffling toward its season one finale, and for those who’ve played Naughty Dog’s 2013 game of the same name, you knew exactly what was coming in episode 8. Following a flashback to Ellie’s life pre-Joel in episode 7, we were back in the present for “When We Are In Need,” with showrunner Craig Mazin adapting the winter chapter of the game.
The big talking point of the latest episode is that Joel voice actor Troy Baker appears as the villainous James, with the character being massively expanded from the games. The same can be said about Scott Shepherd’s David, who gets a more thorough overhaul. For those complaining it’s another swing away from the games, David’s role in the series actually hearkens back to a storyline Naughty Dog seemingly left on the cutting room floor.
- 3/6/2023
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
This article contains spoilers through The Last of Us episode 8.
The Last of Us episode 8 is intense as it focuses on Ellie (Bella Ramsey) trying to survive on her own while Joel (Pedro Pascal) recovers from his injury. But it’s not just the cold weather, dwindling food supply, or Joel’s infected wound that she has to worry about in this episode. It turns out that their hideout is close to a cannibalistic community led by teacher-turned-preacher David (Scott Shepherd).
David and his right-hand man James (played in the series by original Joel actor Troy Baker) are key characters in both the show and the first game as they serve as Ellie’s primary interactions with this community. But in both the game and the show, it’s revealed that Ellie’s run-in with David and James in the woods isn’t actually the first time she or Joel...
The Last of Us episode 8 is intense as it focuses on Ellie (Bella Ramsey) trying to survive on her own while Joel (Pedro Pascal) recovers from his injury. But it’s not just the cold weather, dwindling food supply, or Joel’s infected wound that she has to worry about in this episode. It turns out that their hideout is close to a cannibalistic community led by teacher-turned-preacher David (Scott Shepherd).
David and his right-hand man James (played in the series by original Joel actor Troy Baker) are key characters in both the show and the first game as they serve as Ellie’s primary interactions with this community. But in both the game and the show, it’s revealed that Ellie’s run-in with David and James in the woods isn’t actually the first time she or Joel...
- 3/6/2023
- by Brynnaarens
- Den of Geek
This post contains spoilers for "The Last of Us" episode 8.
The latest episode of "The Last of Us" introduced us to David (Scott Shepherd), a religious leader of a mysterious settlement near where Ellie and Joel are hiding out. The guy seems kind of cool in the beginning, but every scene reveals him to be worse and worse, to the point where nobody can complain when Ellie smashes in his head with a hatchet a couple dozen times.
It's with his relationship with Ellie that David's at his most interesting (and most unsettling), which is why it's no surprise to hear the show's co-creator, Craig Mazin, talk in-depth about it on the recent official podcast for the series. He discussed David's first interaction with Ellie, where's he surprisingly calm despite having a gun pointed in his face: "[Ellie]'s doing the best she can to be tough and scary. And what...
The latest episode of "The Last of Us" introduced us to David (Scott Shepherd), a religious leader of a mysterious settlement near where Ellie and Joel are hiding out. The guy seems kind of cool in the beginning, but every scene reveals him to be worse and worse, to the point where nobody can complain when Ellie smashes in his head with a hatchet a couple dozen times.
It's with his relationship with Ellie that David's at his most interesting (and most unsettling), which is why it's no surprise to hear the show's co-creator, Craig Mazin, talk in-depth about it on the recent official podcast for the series. He discussed David's first interaction with Ellie, where's he surprisingly calm despite having a gun pointed in his face: "[Ellie]'s doing the best she can to be tough and scary. And what...
- 3/6/2023
- by Michael Boyle
- Slash Film
In the penultimate episode of "The Last of Us," "When We Are in Need," (check out the /Film review) the high stakes of surviving life after the apocalypse come bearing down on Ellie and Joel when a new threat emerges. After Joel was mortally wounded at the end of the sixth episode, Ellie chose to nurse him back to health instead of returning to the safe community in Jackson. Joel is on the brink of death, leaving Ellie no choice but to grab a rifle that's much too big for her and venture out into the woods to hunt.
To her own amazement, Ellie takes down a buck alone in the forest, only to discover two mysterious men, David and James, hovering around the carcass. They agree to make a trade for deer meat and penicillin that could help heal Joel, and Ellie is forced to hold both men at...
To her own amazement, Ellie takes down a buck alone in the forest, only to discover two mysterious men, David and James, hovering around the carcass. They agree to make a trade for deer meat and penicillin that could help heal Joel, and Ellie is forced to hold both men at...
- 3/6/2023
- by Drew Tinnin
- Slash Film
Troy Baker has shared his thoughts on Pedro Pascal’s take on Joel in The Last of Us.
Baker first originated the voice of lead character Joel in the 2013 video game on which HBO’s hit post-apocalyptic drama is based.
Speaking with Vulture in a new interview, Baker said that in “every episode”, Pascal’s version of Joel “catches me off guard in the best possible way”.
“There’s some moment where I go, I didn’t think about that. I didn’t see that,” he added. “That’s all I really wanted: For Pedro, or whoever is going to play this character, to just teach me something new that I didn’t realise about the character.
Baker praised Pascal for bringing “this vulnerability that I don’t think we could’ve done in the game because of the nature of it”.
“In the game, you’re healing yourself from bullet wounds,...
Baker first originated the voice of lead character Joel in the 2013 video game on which HBO’s hit post-apocalyptic drama is based.
Speaking with Vulture in a new interview, Baker said that in “every episode”, Pascal’s version of Joel “catches me off guard in the best possible way”.
“There’s some moment where I go, I didn’t think about that. I didn’t see that,” he added. “That’s all I really wanted: For Pedro, or whoever is going to play this character, to just teach me something new that I didn’t realise about the character.
Baker praised Pascal for bringing “this vulnerability that I don’t think we could’ve done in the game because of the nature of it”.
“In the game, you’re healing yourself from bullet wounds,...
- 3/6/2023
- by Inga Parkel
- The Independent - TV
The Last of Us has been called many things since it began airing eight weeks ago: heart-wrenching, exhilarating, groundbreaking, even. But one thing it is not, is scary. To categorise HBO’s TV adaptation of the hit video game as a horror would be a stretch. Tearful, tender moments far outweigh those of spine-tingling suspense, both in frequency and gravitas. But in its latest episode, The Last of Us finally veered into the horror genre that its zombie label appeared to promise – only there wasn’t a clicker in sight. Only a rejected man with a God complex.
The episode begins with Ellie (Bella Ramsay at her best) tending to an incapacitated Joel (Pedro Pascal) as he recovers from a serious stab wound. The two are hiding out in the basement of an abandoned house, but food is short. When Ellie goes out to hunt (and snags a deer on...
The episode begins with Ellie (Bella Ramsay at her best) tending to an incapacitated Joel (Pedro Pascal) as he recovers from a serious stab wound. The two are hiding out in the basement of an abandoned house, but food is short. When Ellie goes out to hunt (and snags a deer on...
- 3/6/2023
- by Annabel Nugent
- The Independent - TV
This post contains spoilers for "The Last of Us" episode 8 "When We Are in Need."
Twenty years after its world ends, "The Last Of Us" imagines that humankind's best and worst traits both live on. But in a brutal reality that requires a certain moral ambiguity to survive, it's a lot easier to see the bad than the good.
Sure, there's Joel's (Pedro Pascal) paternal love for his cargo-turned-family Ellie (Bella Ramsey), and Bill (Nick Offerman) and Frank's (Murray Bartlett) enduring companionship in a world free of judgement. But for every act motivated by love, there are others motivated by desperation, fear, hate, or hunger for power. The Kansas City Qz was one example of inhumane, disaster-borne chaos, but this week's episode of "The Last Of Us" introduces another, more organized form of enduring evil: patriarchal violence.
The word "patriarchy" is thrown around so often that it's easy to forget...
Twenty years after its world ends, "The Last Of Us" imagines that humankind's best and worst traits both live on. But in a brutal reality that requires a certain moral ambiguity to survive, it's a lot easier to see the bad than the good.
Sure, there's Joel's (Pedro Pascal) paternal love for his cargo-turned-family Ellie (Bella Ramsey), and Bill (Nick Offerman) and Frank's (Murray Bartlett) enduring companionship in a world free of judgement. But for every act motivated by love, there are others motivated by desperation, fear, hate, or hunger for power. The Kansas City Qz was one example of inhumane, disaster-borne chaos, but this week's episode of "The Last Of Us" introduces another, more organized form of enduring evil: patriarchal violence.
The word "patriarchy" is thrown around so often that it's easy to forget...
- 3/6/2023
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
[Warning: The following contains Major spoilers for The Last of Us Season 1 Episode 8.] When you’re a fan of post-apocalyptic shows, you tend to notice some of the same plot points popping up on different programs. On its Sunday, March 5 episode, The Last of Us utilized two rather familiar “end of the world” tropes: cannibalism and religious cults. But The Walking Dead‘s Terminus or Reapers, this group wasn’t. Here’s how this week’s terrifying storyline — and the cult’s disgusting leader, David (Scott Shepherd) — differed in the game. HBO The biggest and most notable difference to fans familiar with the source material would likely be David’s group’s overt emphasis on Christianity. In the game, David’s group didn’t have a strong religious affiliation, although David does maintain that “everything happens for a reason” in both. Several lines of original dialogue hinted at a Christian affiliation, but they were ultimately cut, and...
- 3/6/2023
- TV Insider
This post contains major spoilers for episode 8 of "The Last of Us."
At the midpoint of this week's episode of "The Last of Us," when Joel (Pedro Pascal) finally wakes up from his coma, he immediately calls for Ellie (Bella Ramsey), who is nowhere to be seen.
Earlier, while hunting for food and supplies, Ellie has an exchange with two strangers that quickly takes a turn for the worse. Fierce as ever, Ellie holds David (Scott Shepherd) and James at gunpoint. Ignorantly assuming she's in control of the situation, she requests that they give her medicine in exchange for the deer she hunted.
While James runs back to grab what she needs, David tries to get to know Ellie. He claims he's a preacher and leader of his own group full of women and children, survivors from a fallen Pittsburgh Quarantine Zone. In an intimidation tactic, he reveals that a...
At the midpoint of this week's episode of "The Last of Us," when Joel (Pedro Pascal) finally wakes up from his coma, he immediately calls for Ellie (Bella Ramsey), who is nowhere to be seen.
Earlier, while hunting for food and supplies, Ellie has an exchange with two strangers that quickly takes a turn for the worse. Fierce as ever, Ellie holds David (Scott Shepherd) and James at gunpoint. Ignorantly assuming she's in control of the situation, she requests that they give her medicine in exchange for the deer she hunted.
While James runs back to grab what she needs, David tries to get to know Ellie. He claims he's a preacher and leader of his own group full of women and children, survivors from a fallen Pittsburgh Quarantine Zone. In an intimidation tactic, he reveals that a...
- 3/6/2023
- by Tyler Llewyn Taing
- Slash Film
Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) face a new monster in episode 8 of The Last of Us. Fans of the PlayStation game likely noticed Troy Baker, the original voice actor for Joel, who plays James, one of the cannibals in the Mar. 5 episode of the HBO series. In an interview, the actor points out a moment in “When We Are in Need” The Last of Us fans might not have noticed that says a lot about his character. Find out what you might have overlooked regarding James.
[Spoiler Alert: Spoilers ahead regarding episode 8 of The Last of Us “When We Are in Need.”
Troy Baker as James in ‘The Last of Us’ | Liane Hentscher/HBO Joel voice actor becomes an otherwise overlooked cannibal James in ‘The Last of Us’
Baker wasn’t sure he would appear in the live-action series based on the PlayStation game of the same name. But when showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann...
[Spoiler Alert: Spoilers ahead regarding episode 8 of The Last of Us “When We Are in Need.”
Troy Baker as James in ‘The Last of Us’ | Liane Hentscher/HBO Joel voice actor becomes an otherwise overlooked cannibal James in ‘The Last of Us’
Baker wasn’t sure he would appear in the live-action series based on the PlayStation game of the same name. But when showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann...
- 3/6/2023
- by Lauren Anderson
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
"The Last Of Us" is a triumph of an adaptation. Despite the many titles refuting the so-called video game adaptation curse, stories adapted from video games still have a terrible reputation. But this latest HBO hit immediately rose above those fears and only gets better with each passing week. The series strikes an impressive balance: it translates aspects of the beloved game but also changes key relationships and aspects in ways that heighten the emotional stakes. Even the smallest alterations serve a huge purpose, elevating the series thematically while never losing sight of what truly matters. Perhaps the best example of that can be found in Joel (Pedro Pascal), the hardened survivor at the center of this story.
In all the ways that count, show Joel is the same as the character we meet in the game: a brutal man so shaped by loss that he has few moral lines left to cross.
In all the ways that count, show Joel is the same as the character we meet in the game: a brutal man so shaped by loss that he has few moral lines left to cross.
- 3/6/2023
- by Shania Russell
- Slash Film
This post contains spoilers for "The Last of Us" episode 8, "When We Are in Need."
I can only assume that when Craig Mazin sat down to write the penultimate episode of "The Last Of Us" season 1, his primary goal was to traumatize the audience. If so, then that mission was 100% accomplished. "When We Are in Need" adapts the most harrowing portion of the Naughty Dog game, bringing us face to face with Public Enemy #1, David (Scott Shepherd), a literal cannibal who takes an unsettling interest in Ellie (Bella Ramsey). But before he crosses paths with the main duo, traumatizes Ellie beyond belief, and earns my undying hatred, David reads some bible verses!
Keeping up its habit of making clever changes to deepen the story and flesh out its peripheral characters, "The Last Of Us" offers a glimpse into David's role as the leader of the Silver Lake community — a large...
I can only assume that when Craig Mazin sat down to write the penultimate episode of "The Last Of Us" season 1, his primary goal was to traumatize the audience. If so, then that mission was 100% accomplished. "When We Are in Need" adapts the most harrowing portion of the Naughty Dog game, bringing us face to face with Public Enemy #1, David (Scott Shepherd), a literal cannibal who takes an unsettling interest in Ellie (Bella Ramsey). But before he crosses paths with the main duo, traumatizes Ellie beyond belief, and earns my undying hatred, David reads some bible verses!
Keeping up its habit of making clever changes to deepen the story and flesh out its peripheral characters, "The Last Of Us" offers a glimpse into David's role as the leader of the Silver Lake community — a large...
- 3/6/2023
- by Shania Russell
- Slash Film
Fans of The Last of Us have praised an “incredible” Easter egg in the latest episode of the hit HBO series.
The post-apocalyptic drama, adapted from the acclaimed 2013 video game of the same name, stars Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey as protagonists Joel and Ellie.
Minor spoilers follow for The Last of Us episode eight...
In Sunday night’s (5 March) episode – the penultimate instalment of the season – Ellie is left to fend for herself while Joel is gravely injured.
During the episode, she encounters a group of cannibals, including the nefarious religious leader David (Scott Shepherd) and his right hand man, James (Troy Baker).
Baker played the role of Joel in the original Last of Us game, via motion capture, later reprising the role in its 2020 sequel.
Fans shared their reactions to Baker’s casting on social media.
“The Last of Us stays with the little Easter eggs. Bring in...
The post-apocalyptic drama, adapted from the acclaimed 2013 video game of the same name, stars Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey as protagonists Joel and Ellie.
Minor spoilers follow for The Last of Us episode eight...
In Sunday night’s (5 March) episode – the penultimate instalment of the season – Ellie is left to fend for herself while Joel is gravely injured.
During the episode, she encounters a group of cannibals, including the nefarious religious leader David (Scott Shepherd) and his right hand man, James (Troy Baker).
Baker played the role of Joel in the original Last of Us game, via motion capture, later reprising the role in its 2020 sequel.
Fans shared their reactions to Baker’s casting on social media.
“The Last of Us stays with the little Easter eggs. Bring in...
- 3/6/2023
- by Louis Chilton
- The Independent - TV
This post contains major spoilers for episode 8 of "The Last of Us."
Everything happens for a reason, right? This week's episode of "The Last of Us" covers one of the most harrowing, memorable chapters of the original game. After a brief interlude to Ellie's (Bella Ramsey) past, we pick right back up to the 14-year-old taking care of a bedridden Joel (Pedro Pascal), still healing from his wound. Here, the story takes a bold reversal — for now, Ellie is the duo's protector, and it's up to her to make sure they survive this cruel winter.
While on the hunt for food, Ellie comes across David (Scott Shepherd) and James, two shady characters who claim to come from a larger group who make an offer. In exchange for the buck she's hunted, they offer her shelter and supplies. Without revealing her motives, Ellie asks for medicine. While James fetches what Ellie needs,...
Everything happens for a reason, right? This week's episode of "The Last of Us" covers one of the most harrowing, memorable chapters of the original game. After a brief interlude to Ellie's (Bella Ramsey) past, we pick right back up to the 14-year-old taking care of a bedridden Joel (Pedro Pascal), still healing from his wound. Here, the story takes a bold reversal — for now, Ellie is the duo's protector, and it's up to her to make sure they survive this cruel winter.
While on the hunt for food, Ellie comes across David (Scott Shepherd) and James, two shady characters who claim to come from a larger group who make an offer. In exchange for the buck she's hunted, they offer her shelter and supplies. Without revealing her motives, Ellie asks for medicine. While James fetches what Ellie needs,...
- 3/6/2023
- by Tyler Llewyn Taing
- Slash Film
This post contains spoilers for HBO's "The Last of Us" and the video game series of the same name.
In the latest installment of HBO's "The Last of Us," titled " When We Are in Need," the status quo between Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) shifts significantly. No longer able to perform the role of protector after being grievously injured, Joel finds himself dependent on Ellie for survival during an especially harsh winter, while Ellie is forced to actively scrounge for resources to keep both of them alive. Things take a darker turn when she crosses paths with David (Scott Shepherd) and James (Troy Baker), who are a part of the same group that attacked the duo at the university. Vengeance and trauma define what happens next, as Ellie is forced to reckon with her kill-or-be-killed instincts. David, a misogynistic cannibal who preys on Ellie in heinous ways, emerges...
In the latest installment of HBO's "The Last of Us," titled " When We Are in Need," the status quo between Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) shifts significantly. No longer able to perform the role of protector after being grievously injured, Joel finds himself dependent on Ellie for survival during an especially harsh winter, while Ellie is forced to actively scrounge for resources to keep both of them alive. Things take a darker turn when she crosses paths with David (Scott Shepherd) and James (Troy Baker), who are a part of the same group that attacked the duo at the university. Vengeance and trauma define what happens next, as Ellie is forced to reckon with her kill-or-be-killed instincts. David, a misogynistic cannibal who preys on Ellie in heinous ways, emerges...
- 3/6/2023
- by Debopriyaa Dutta
- Slash Film
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