Andy Serkis is one of Hollywood’s finest go-to actors for playing motion-capture roles in films. He played Caesar in the Planet of the Apes trilogy, Gollum in The Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit films, and the titular character in 2005’s King Kong. However, many fans wouldn’t be aware of his role as a Performance Capture Consultant in Gareth Edwards’ 2014 kaiju film, Godzilla. Serkis explained that it was not a full-on acting role like his other monster roles.
Andy Serkis doing the motion capture work for Supreme Leader Snoke in Star Wars: The Last Jedi | Lucasfilm Ltd.
Beyond acting, Serkis has also tried his hands at filmmaking. He served as the director of Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle in which he also did mo-cap for the role of Baloo. He is also the director of Tom Hardy’s Venom: Let There Be Carnage. He will soon helm the Lotr film,...
Andy Serkis doing the motion capture work for Supreme Leader Snoke in Star Wars: The Last Jedi | Lucasfilm Ltd.
Beyond acting, Serkis has also tried his hands at filmmaking. He served as the director of Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle in which he also did mo-cap for the role of Baloo. He is also the director of Tom Hardy’s Venom: Let There Be Carnage. He will soon helm the Lotr film,...
- 5/19/2024
- by Hashim Asraff
- FandomWire
Last week, Warner Bros. announced plans for The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, a new movie set near the beginning of the original trilogy starring and directed by Andy Serkis.
Philippa Boyens and Fran Walsh, who wrote the previous movies, are set to pen the screenplay, along with Phoebe Gittins and Arty Papageorgiou (The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim). Filmmaker Peter Jackson, meanwhile, is producing the project.
In a lengthy interview with Deadline, the latter elaborated on why Gollum's origin story was the right focus for the first of what's expected to be a whole slate of spin-offs.
"The Gollum/Sméagol character has always fascinated me because Gollum reflects the worst of human nature, whilst his Sméagol side is, arguably, quite sympathetic," Jackson said. "I think he connects with readers and film audiences alike, because there’s a little bit of both of them in all of us.
Philippa Boyens and Fran Walsh, who wrote the previous movies, are set to pen the screenplay, along with Phoebe Gittins and Arty Papageorgiou (The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim). Filmmaker Peter Jackson, meanwhile, is producing the project.
In a lengthy interview with Deadline, the latter elaborated on why Gollum's origin story was the right focus for the first of what's expected to be a whole slate of spin-offs.
"The Gollum/Sméagol character has always fascinated me because Gollum reflects the worst of human nature, whilst his Sméagol side is, arguably, quite sympathetic," Jackson said. "I think he connects with readers and film audiences alike, because there’s a little bit of both of them in all of us.
- 5/16/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
Exclusive: Since Warner Bros acquired rights to make more Middle-earth films based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s works and the canon established by New Line’s original trilogy, Peter Jackson and his Lord of the Rings cohorts Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens hovered over the proceedings for a long time, as they mulled how to return, and much to involve themselves into another deep dive into Tolkien mythology.
As a business proposition, the allure is easy to understand: the two trilogies – the six Lotr and The Hobbit films — generated nearly $6 billion in worldwide grosses and enough Oscar gold to fill the lair of the dragon Smaug from 2012’s The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.
Go back 23 years, and the road was far more perilous when New Line founder Bob Shaye greenlit three Lotr movies that Jackson shot one after the other in New Zealand. One of the biggest gambles in film history,...
As a business proposition, the allure is easy to understand: the two trilogies – the six Lotr and The Hobbit films — generated nearly $6 billion in worldwide grosses and enough Oscar gold to fill the lair of the dragon Smaug from 2012’s The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.
Go back 23 years, and the road was far more perilous when New Line founder Bob Shaye greenlit three Lotr movies that Jackson shot one after the other in New Zealand. One of the biggest gambles in film history,...
- 5/15/2024
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
A new Lord of the Rings spin-off movie has been announced, and it’s getting the old gang back together; the producers/writers of both film trilogies, Peter Jackson, Phillipa Boyens, and Fran Walsh will be producing once more, and directing duties will be taken over from Jackson by Andy Serkis, who played Gollum in both trilogies and who was also second unit director on The Hobbit films. Since then, he has directed three movies so he is well prepared to take on this one.
Serkis will also star in his original role of Smeagol/Gollum, and the film is currently tentatively titled The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum. If that title means what we think it means, it could be a really exciting prospect.
The (Presumed) Story
We are assuming, on the basis of the title, that this film will cover Gandalf and Strider/Aragorn’s search for Gollum,...
Serkis will also star in his original role of Smeagol/Gollum, and the film is currently tentatively titled The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum. If that title means what we think it means, it could be a really exciting prospect.
The (Presumed) Story
We are assuming, on the basis of the title, that this film will cover Gandalf and Strider/Aragorn’s search for Gollum,...
- 5/9/2024
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group’s Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy announced today that the Oscar-winning team behind the nearly $6 billion blockbuster Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, and Philippa Boyens are reuniting to produce two new films from Tolkien’s Middle-earth for Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema.
The first of the two films, Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, will be directed by and star Andy Serkis, with Walsh and Boyens set to write the screenplay, along with Phoebe Gittins and Arty Papageorgiou (Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim). The film will be executive produced by Ken Kamins, with Serkis and The Imaginarium’s Jonathan Cavendish.
Said De Luca and Abdy, “For over two decades, moviegoers have embraced the Lord of the Rings film trilogy because of the undeniable devotion Peter, Fran, and Philippa have...
The first of the two films, Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, will be directed by and star Andy Serkis, with Walsh and Boyens set to write the screenplay, along with Phoebe Gittins and Arty Papageorgiou (Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim). The film will be executive produced by Ken Kamins, with Serkis and The Imaginarium’s Jonathan Cavendish.
Said De Luca and Abdy, “For over two decades, moviegoers have embraced the Lord of the Rings film trilogy because of the undeniable devotion Peter, Fran, and Philippa have...
- 5/9/2024
- by Mirko Parlevliet
- Vital Thrills
Actor and filmmaker Andy Serkis, who became famous for his turn as Gollum in Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit" film trilogies, has been tapped to direct and star in the new "Lord of the Rings" film "Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum," as reported by Variety. Jackson will also be heavily involved in the new round of "Lord of the Rings" movies, and will have a producer credit on "The Hunt for Gollum." Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" and "Hobbit" co-writers Philippa Boyens and Fran Walsh are also producing "The Hunt for Gollum" and are currently developing the script with Phoebe Gittins and Arty Papageorgiou. This news comes from the latest earnings call for Warner Bros. Discovery, in which company CEO David Zaslav said that Jackson, Boyens, and Walsh "will be involved every step of the way" with the new "Lord of the Rings" movies.
- 5/9/2024
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
Update: Well, that didn’t take long. Apparently, the first new Lord of the Rings movie we’ll be seeing from WB will be a Gollum spin-off feature starring Andy Serkis, who will also direct. The film, which is called Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is set for 2026, and in addition to Serkis, the film will also boast a screenplay by original Lotr writers Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens. Peter Jackson will produce. Here’s the official release from WB (via Deadline):
“For over two-decades, moviegoers have embraced the Lord of the Rings film trilogy because of the undeniable devotion Peter, Fran and Philippa have shown towards protecting the legacy of Tolkien’s works, and to ensure audiences could experience the incredible world he created in a way that honors his literary vision. We are honored they have agreed be our partners on these two new films.
“For over two-decades, moviegoers have embraced the Lord of the Rings film trilogy because of the undeniable devotion Peter, Fran and Philippa have shown towards protecting the legacy of Tolkien’s works, and to ensure audiences could experience the incredible world he created in a way that honors his literary vision. We are honored they have agreed be our partners on these two new films.
- 5/9/2024
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
Updated with working title, film details: The first of two new Lotr films at Warner — working title Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum — will be directed by and star Andy Serkis, with Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens set to write the screenplay, along with Phoebe Gittins and Arty Papageorgiou (Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim). The film will be executive produced by Ken Kamins, with Serkis and The Imaginarium’s Jonathan Cavendish.
Peter Jackson will produce along with Walsh and Boyens, Wbd said in a release that fleshed out comments on the project by Wbd CEO David Zaslav earlier today.
Said Warner Bros. Motion Pictures heads Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy, “For over two-decades, moviegoers have embraced the Lord of the Rings film trilogy because of the undeniable devotion Peter, Fran and Philippa have...
Peter Jackson will produce along with Walsh and Boyens, Wbd said in a release that fleshed out comments on the project by Wbd CEO David Zaslav earlier today.
Said Warner Bros. Motion Pictures heads Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy, “For over two-decades, moviegoers have embraced the Lord of the Rings film trilogy because of the undeniable devotion Peter, Fran and Philippa have...
- 5/9/2024
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
Plot: Young Ariel (Halle Bailey) yearns to explore the world beyond the sea but is forbidden by her father, King Triton (Javier Bardem). When she meets a handsome prince (Jonah Hauer-King), she hitches a plan to explore dry land but makes a deadly bargain with the evil Ursula (Melissa McCarthy), which could imperil the undersea kingdom.
Review: I’ve never really been down with Disney’s decision to take all their best-animated films and make them into live-action. To me, it’s never made sense. Would you make Toy Story live-action? What’s worse is that, typically, these live-action movies run at least half an hour longer than their animated counterparts and are bloated with extraneous musical numbers and plotting, making them an altogether less fun experience than the classics we grew up with. Have any of them been good? I suppose Jon Favreau’s The Jungle Book comes the closest.
Review: I’ve never really been down with Disney’s decision to take all their best-animated films and make them into live-action. To me, it’s never made sense. Would you make Toy Story live-action? What’s worse is that, typically, these live-action movies run at least half an hour longer than their animated counterparts and are bloated with extraneous musical numbers and plotting, making them an altogether less fun experience than the classics we grew up with. Have any of them been good? I suppose Jon Favreau’s The Jungle Book comes the closest.
- 5/26/2023
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
After nearly a decade of talking about it, the "Five Nights at Freddy's" movie is finally coming our way later this year, thanks to the folks at Blumhouse. The company behind hits like "The Black Phone" and "The Purge" is bringing the beloved series of video games to life, meaning some animatronic murder bears will be gracing the silver screen this Halloween season. But a small movie from a couple of years ago may have beat Blumhouse to the punch, and Nicolas Cage was the man doing the punching.
In early 2021, as the pandemic was still raging on, Screen Media Films released "Willy's Wonderland," which features Cage as an unnamed janitor with no dialogue in a film that, as it happens, seems to resemble "Five Nights at Freddy's" an awful lot. Directed by Kevin Lewis, the film focuses on a quiet loner who agrees to clean an abandoned family fun...
In early 2021, as the pandemic was still raging on, Screen Media Films released "Willy's Wonderland," which features Cage as an unnamed janitor with no dialogue in a film that, as it happens, seems to resemble "Five Nights at Freddy's" an awful lot. Directed by Kevin Lewis, the film focuses on a quiet loner who agrees to clean an abandoned family fun...
- 5/17/2023
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
Andy Serkis had a unique breakout performance with his turn as Gollum in the Lord of the Rings movies. Though his face isn’t actually seen, every nuance of his acting is captured and put up on the screen. He would go on to be the motion capture star for films including King Kong, also directed by Rings director Peter Jackson, as well as the new Planet of the Apes series. After a string of films where Serkis had actually appeared on camera, he also set his sights on working behind the camera.
ComicBook.com reports on Serkis as he discusses what his future in directing holds. In an interview with the mo-cap actor, he expounds that while he does get excited about big franchise projects, he’s interested in telling more intimate and idiosyncratic stories. “I’ve got a whole slate of films that I’ve been developing over the years.
ComicBook.com reports on Serkis as he discusses what his future in directing holds. In an interview with the mo-cap actor, he expounds that while he does get excited about big franchise projects, he’s interested in telling more intimate and idiosyncratic stories. “I’ve got a whole slate of films that I’ve been developing over the years.
- 3/14/2023
- by EJ Tangonan
- JoBlo.com
This article first appeared as part of Jenelle Riley’s Acting Up newsletter – to subscribe for early content and weekly updates on all things acting, visit the Acting Up signup page.
Charlie Mackesy always thought Tom Hollander would make a great mole.
More specifically, the artist who wrote and illustrated the bestselling 2019 book “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse” felt the British actor was a wonderful match to voice one of his characters in the short film adaptation he co-directed with Peter Baynton. The film, now streaming on Apple TV + has charmed audiences worldwide and is nominated for an Academy Award for animated short film.
Mackesy describes Hollander’s voice as a “velvety, rich cake-like sound” and was thrilled the British actor got involved. Notes Mackesy, “His voice is rich, and has a great range, and can move between comedy and pathos very easily. His voice is so diverse,...
Charlie Mackesy always thought Tom Hollander would make a great mole.
More specifically, the artist who wrote and illustrated the bestselling 2019 book “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse” felt the British actor was a wonderful match to voice one of his characters in the short film adaptation he co-directed with Peter Baynton. The film, now streaming on Apple TV + has charmed audiences worldwide and is nominated for an Academy Award for animated short film.
Mackesy describes Hollander’s voice as a “velvety, rich cake-like sound” and was thrilled the British actor got involved. Notes Mackesy, “His voice is rich, and has a great range, and can move between comedy and pathos very easily. His voice is so diverse,...
- 2/22/2023
- by Jenelle Riley
- Variety Film + TV
South Korea’s Climax Studios, behind recent Netflix genre hits Jung_E and “Hellbound,” is teaming up with Andy Serkis to develop a creature feature, The Monster Tale.
The Monster Tale will be written and directed by Jason Kim, who is behind South Korean possession horror The Divine Fury (pictured above) and the upcoming series “Bloodhounds.” Deadline reports that Serkis and Jonathan Cavendish will executive produce through Imaginarium Productions.
The upcoming feature “brings together a warring group of three infamous East Asian monsters, an unlikely team of enemies who must unite to defeat a menacing invasion by a monster from across the seas in Europe.”
“Bringing brilliant, flawed, and complex characters to the screen is at the heart of what we do at the Imaginarium, and we cannot wait to work with Climax Studio and their talented team to develop this wild roller-coaster ride of a story — it’s going...
The Monster Tale will be written and directed by Jason Kim, who is behind South Korean possession horror The Divine Fury (pictured above) and the upcoming series “Bloodhounds.” Deadline reports that Serkis and Jonathan Cavendish will executive produce through Imaginarium Productions.
The upcoming feature “brings together a warring group of three infamous East Asian monsters, an unlikely team of enemies who must unite to defeat a menacing invasion by a monster from across the seas in Europe.”
“Bringing brilliant, flawed, and complex characters to the screen is at the heart of what we do at the Imaginarium, and we cannot wait to work with Climax Studio and their talented team to develop this wild roller-coaster ride of a story — it’s going...
- 2/6/2023
- by Meagan Navarro
- bloody-disgusting.com
Exclusive: Following the global success of Netflix original series D.P. and Hellbound, and the Netflix original film Jung-e, South Korea’s Climax Studio is developing filmmaker Jason Kim’s The Monster Tale along with Andy Serkis and Jonathan Cavendish’s Imaginarium Productions.
Serkis and Cavendish will serve as executive producers on the project alongside Climax’s Byun Seung-Min.
The Monster Tale brings together a warring group of three infamous East Asian monsters, an unlikely team of enemies who must unite to defeat a menacing invasion by a monster from across the seas in Europe.
Kim, who has the upcoming Netflix original series Bloodhounds, is alsoknown for his Korean box office hit Midnight Runners, will write and direct The Monster Tale.
“Bringing brilliant, flawed and complex characters to the screen is at the heart of what we do at the Imaginarium and we cannot wait to work with Climax Studio and...
Serkis and Cavendish will serve as executive producers on the project alongside Climax’s Byun Seung-Min.
The Monster Tale brings together a warring group of three infamous East Asian monsters, an unlikely team of enemies who must unite to defeat a menacing invasion by a monster from across the seas in Europe.
Kim, who has the upcoming Netflix original series Bloodhounds, is alsoknown for his Korean box office hit Midnight Runners, will write and direct The Monster Tale.
“Bringing brilliant, flawed and complex characters to the screen is at the heart of what we do at the Imaginarium and we cannot wait to work with Climax Studio and...
- 2/6/2023
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Here's a fun little word association game for you. When I say, "Most prolific motion-capture performer of our generation," who do you think of immediately? How about if I said, "Most pleasantly surprising guest appearance in a critically acclaimed, live-action 'Star Wars' series?" And lest we forget, there's also, "Grittiest, most sarcastic Alfred to ever appear in a 'Batman' movie?" The answer to all three, of course, is none other than Andy Serkis. But even that doesn't quite do justice to everything the actor has to offer.
For one thing, he's not "merely" an actor. The multi-hyphenate added filmmaking to his résumé with his directorial debut "Breathe" in 2017, following it up with his somewhat under-appreciated "Jungle Book" remake "Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle," and then the action trashterpiece "Venom: Let There Be Carnage."
However, Serkis has talked for a long time about wanting to film an adaptation of "Animal Farm,...
For one thing, he's not "merely" an actor. The multi-hyphenate added filmmaking to his résumé with his directorial debut "Breathe" in 2017, following it up with his somewhat under-appreciated "Jungle Book" remake "Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle," and then the action trashterpiece "Venom: Let There Be Carnage."
However, Serkis has talked for a long time about wanting to film an adaptation of "Animal Farm,...
- 1/11/2023
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
Get ready to praise the Wicker Man again, because the terrifying 1973 film is coming to television. A series adaptation is currently being pitched to broadcasters across the United Kingdom, according to Deadline. Actor and director Andy Serkis will help bring the show to life as a producer alongside Jonathan Cavendish through their Imaginarium production company. Howard Overman, who created the BAFTA-winning series "Misfits," will serve as the series writer.
"[Overman has] created a bold, shocking, and unique series," wrote Cavendish in a statement, "pulling the themes and terrifying power of the original Wicker Man into a thrilling modern setting."
Details on what will remain and what will be changed for this adaptation are being kept under wraps. However, Overman teased that this modern-day version will still "explore the same themes of sacrifice, superstition, and ritual that were at [the original movie's] core."
Time To Keep Your Appointment
Serkis's involvement is intriguing. The Imaginarium...
"[Overman has] created a bold, shocking, and unique series," wrote Cavendish in a statement, "pulling the themes and terrifying power of the original Wicker Man into a thrilling modern setting."
Details on what will remain and what will be changed for this adaptation are being kept under wraps. However, Overman teased that this modern-day version will still "explore the same themes of sacrifice, superstition, and ritual that were at [the original movie's] core."
Time To Keep Your Appointment
Serkis's involvement is intriguing. The Imaginarium...
- 10/12/2022
- by Erin Brady
- Slash Film
The actor will answer questions on Thursday on anything from her new film Mr Malcolm’s List to her career in movies such as Slumdog Millionaire
Mumbai-born actor Freida Pinto found fame after being cast in 2008’s Slumdog Millionaire: she had been working as a model for Wrigley’s Chewing Gum, Škoda and Vodafone, and was picked by Danny Boyle to star as the love interest to British-born star Dev Patel.
After Slumdog cleaned up at the award dos, Pinto went on to become a household name, with the unusual career trajectory for an Indian actor of having not featured in any homegrown Bollywood movies, skipping straight to Hollywood, where she’s stayed ever since. She featured as James Franco’s primatologist love interest in 2011’s Rise of the Planet of the Apes, and one of the few human characters in 2018’s Jungle Book update, Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle.
Mumbai-born actor Freida Pinto found fame after being cast in 2008’s Slumdog Millionaire: she had been working as a model for Wrigley’s Chewing Gum, Škoda and Vodafone, and was picked by Danny Boyle to star as the love interest to British-born star Dev Patel.
After Slumdog cleaned up at the award dos, Pinto went on to become a household name, with the unusual career trajectory for an Indian actor of having not featured in any homegrown Bollywood movies, skipping straight to Hollywood, where she’s stayed ever since. She featured as James Franco’s primatologist love interest in 2011’s Rise of the Planet of the Apes, and one of the few human characters in 2018’s Jungle Book update, Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle.
- 9/20/2022
- by Rich Pelley
- The Guardian - Film News
(Welcome to ...And More, our no-frills, zero B.S. guide to when and where you can watch upcoming movies and shows, and everything else you could possibly stand to know.)
Hot off his rather surprising appearance as the main villain Gorr the God Butcher in "Thor: Love and Thunder" (making him the latest actor to have dipped his toes into both ends of the DC and Marvel swimming pool), Christian Bale is about to venture back into much more familiar territory. Bale has collaborated with director Scott Cooper on a few occasions in the past, stretching back to 2013's "Out of the Furnace" and the 2017 Western "Hostiles." The third time should be the charm for both artists, as they're once again reuniting for the upcoming "The Pale Blue Eye." Official information about this project has remained scarce up until recently, as Netflix begins to ramp up marketing for the film...
Hot off his rather surprising appearance as the main villain Gorr the God Butcher in "Thor: Love and Thunder" (making him the latest actor to have dipped his toes into both ends of the DC and Marvel swimming pool), Christian Bale is about to venture back into much more familiar territory. Bale has collaborated with director Scott Cooper on a few occasions in the past, stretching back to 2013's "Out of the Furnace" and the 2017 Western "Hostiles." The third time should be the charm for both artists, as they're once again reuniting for the upcoming "The Pale Blue Eye." Official information about this project has remained scarce up until recently, as Netflix begins to ramp up marketing for the film...
- 8/30/2022
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
“The Batman” actor Andy Serkis is set to showrun and direct “Madame!,” an epic period series about the life of Marie Tussaud, the visionary French artist known for her wax sculptures and the world-famous museum Madame Tussauds.
Newen Connect, the distribution arm of TF1 Group-owned Newen Studios, has signed a deal with Imaginarium Productions, the company founded by Serkis and Jonathan Cavendish, to co-develop and distribute the series which Serkis created. Cavendish will produce alongside Marie Guillaumond at Felicita Films.
The compelling series will shed light on this ruthless yet pioneering business woman who built her business, starting in 18th century Paris, during the age of enlightenment, the French Revolution and the Reign of Terror, before travelling to England.
“This is no straight up period drama, it is a hilariously crazy, no holds barred, anarchic, punk caper conjured from the curiously twisted mind of a fabulously post-truth executioner’s daughter!
Newen Connect, the distribution arm of TF1 Group-owned Newen Studios, has signed a deal with Imaginarium Productions, the company founded by Serkis and Jonathan Cavendish, to co-develop and distribute the series which Serkis created. Cavendish will produce alongside Marie Guillaumond at Felicita Films.
The compelling series will shed light on this ruthless yet pioneering business woman who built her business, starting in 18th century Paris, during the age of enlightenment, the French Revolution and the Reign of Terror, before travelling to England.
“This is no straight up period drama, it is a hilariously crazy, no holds barred, anarchic, punk caper conjured from the curiously twisted mind of a fabulously post-truth executioner’s daughter!
- 8/8/2022
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Saturday Night Live once again took aim at the Supreme Court’s alleged plans to overturn Roe v. Wade during Weekend Update. And while hosts Colin Jost and Michael Che made a few solid jabs, it was Kate McKinnon’s debut as Amy Coney Barrett that stole the segment.
Jost immediately quipped, “Good evening, everyone. Well, guys, tomorrow is Mother’s Day, whether you want it to be one or not.” While discussing the draft opinion leak on abortion rights, he explained that it could “cause lasting damage to the Supreme Court.
Jost immediately quipped, “Good evening, everyone. Well, guys, tomorrow is Mother’s Day, whether you want it to be one or not.” While discussing the draft opinion leak on abortion rights, he explained that it could “cause lasting damage to the Supreme Court.
- 5/8/2022
- by Ilana Kaplan
- Rollingstone.com
“SNL” cast member Kate McKinnon made her debut as Supreme Court justice Amy Coney Barrett on Saturday’s Weekend Update, taking direct aim at Barrett’s stance on abortion and fulfilling a piece of “SNL” fan-casting that’s been hoped for since Barrett was nominated to the Supreme Court back in 2020.
“I’m guessing you’re pretty happy with the draft,” Weekend Update anchor Colin Jost said to McKinnon as Comey Barrett in reference to the leaked draft opinion that could overturn Roe v. Wade. “I don’t know what would make you think that other than everything I’ve ever said,” she replied.
The majority of the Comey Barrett character’s appearance took aim at the real-life counterpart’s comments on abortion related to safe-haven laws. In 2021, Barrett asked during oral arguments why safe-haven laws wouldn’t ease the burden of parenthood from those seeking abortion. Safe-haven laws make...
“I’m guessing you’re pretty happy with the draft,” Weekend Update anchor Colin Jost said to McKinnon as Comey Barrett in reference to the leaked draft opinion that could overturn Roe v. Wade. “I don’t know what would make you think that other than everything I’ve ever said,” she replied.
The majority of the Comey Barrett character’s appearance took aim at the real-life counterpart’s comments on abortion related to safe-haven laws. In 2021, Barrett asked during oral arguments why safe-haven laws wouldn’t ease the burden of parenthood from those seeking abortion. Safe-haven laws make...
- 5/8/2022
- by Adam Chitwood
- The Wrap
Exclusive: The Batman, Star Wars, Planet of the Apes and Lord of the Rings star Andy Serkis is set to direct the feature film The Giant’s House for Brooklyn and An Education producer Wildgaze Films.
Adapted by Oscar-nominated Brit scribe Nick Hornby (Brooklyn) from Elizabeth McCracken’s lauded 1996 novel, the story follows Peggy Cort, a young librarian who prefers the company of books to people. When James — a very, very, tall young man — visits her library, the two embark on a journey neither could have predicted. At the time of publication, a Times critic called the novel “the most original and enchanting romance I have read in a long time,” while G2 wrote “Every so often a novel comes along which transcends whimsy with the beauty of its writing. Elizabeth McCracken’s small masterpiece is one of these.” The poignant romance has been in the works for some time...
Adapted by Oscar-nominated Brit scribe Nick Hornby (Brooklyn) from Elizabeth McCracken’s lauded 1996 novel, the story follows Peggy Cort, a young librarian who prefers the company of books to people. When James — a very, very, tall young man — visits her library, the two embark on a journey neither could have predicted. At the time of publication, a Times critic called the novel “the most original and enchanting romance I have read in a long time,” while G2 wrote “Every so often a novel comes along which transcends whimsy with the beauty of its writing. Elizabeth McCracken’s small masterpiece is one of these.” The poignant romance has been in the works for some time...
- 4/28/2022
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Andy Serkis (Venom: Let There Be Carnage) is directing an animated adaptation of George Orwell’s classic novella Animal Farm for Aniventure and his company The Imaginarium. Production is underway at Cinesite, which is currently celebrating its 30th anniversary as a world leader in animation and VFX.
The dystopian fable published in 1945 watches as a group of farm animals rebel against their human owner, in hopes of creating a society where they can be equal, free and happy. It was named by Time Magazine as one of the 100 best English-language novels between 1923 to 2005, and won Orwell a Restrospective Hugo Award. It’s previously been adapted for radio and the stage, with John Halas and Joy Batchelor mounting a film adaptation in 1954, and John Stephenson adapting it into a TNT TV movie in 1999.
Nicholas Stoller adapted the screenplay for Serkis’ long-gestating film, previously set up at Netflix, which...
The dystopian fable published in 1945 watches as a group of farm animals rebel against their human owner, in hopes of creating a society where they can be equal, free and happy. It was named by Time Magazine as one of the 100 best English-language novels between 1923 to 2005, and won Orwell a Restrospective Hugo Award. It’s previously been adapted for radio and the stage, with John Halas and Joy Batchelor mounting a film adaptation in 1954, and John Stephenson adapting it into a TNT TV movie in 1999.
Nicholas Stoller adapted the screenplay for Serkis’ long-gestating film, previously set up at Netflix, which...
- 4/19/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Madhuri Dixit, one of the brightest and most enduring Bollywood stars, is basking in the success of her streaming acting debut, Netflix’s “The Fame Game.”
The series bowed Feb. 25 and is among the top 10 Netflix shows in Mauritius, Bahrain, Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Sri Lanka and the U.A.E.
In the series created by Sri Rao, and directed by Bejoy Nambiar and Karishma Kohli, Dixit plays top Bollywood star Anamika Anand, who at the height of her fame, disappears without a trace. The officer in charge of the investigation (Rajshri Deshpande) attempts to peel back the layers of the star’s seemingly perfect life by talking to her troubled producer husband (Sanjay Kapoor), domineering mother (Suhasini Mulay), conflicted children, a loyal housekeeper (Shubhangi Latkar), makeup artist (Kashyap Shangari) and frequent co-star (Manav Kaul). Also in the mix is an obsessive fan (Gagan Arora).
“People have imagined her to be the ideal,...
The series bowed Feb. 25 and is among the top 10 Netflix shows in Mauritius, Bahrain, Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Sri Lanka and the U.A.E.
In the series created by Sri Rao, and directed by Bejoy Nambiar and Karishma Kohli, Dixit plays top Bollywood star Anamika Anand, who at the height of her fame, disappears without a trace. The officer in charge of the investigation (Rajshri Deshpande) attempts to peel back the layers of the star’s seemingly perfect life by talking to her troubled producer husband (Sanjay Kapoor), domineering mother (Suhasini Mulay), conflicted children, a loyal housekeeper (Shubhangi Latkar), makeup artist (Kashyap Shangari) and frequent co-star (Manav Kaul). Also in the mix is an obsessive fan (Gagan Arora).
“People have imagined her to be the ideal,...
- 3/7/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Wes Anderson has signed on to direct an adaptation of Roald Dahl’s “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar,” starring Benedict Cumberbatch, for Netflix. Sources also note Ralph Fiennes, Dev Patel and Ben Kingsley have joined the cast, with production expected to start this month in London.
Netflix had no comment on the reports.
First published in 1977, “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More” is a collection of seven short stories crafted by British author Dahl for older children. Cumberbatch will play Henry Sugar, the protagonist of the titular story, which poses the question: “If you could see with your eyes closed…would you use your power for good or for personal gain?”
The new movie marks Anderson’s second outing with Dahl’s classic works after the filmmaker crafted “The Fantastic Mr. Fox” into a stop-motion film in 2009 and co-wrote the screenplay with Noah Baumbach. The best...
Netflix had no comment on the reports.
First published in 1977, “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More” is a collection of seven short stories crafted by British author Dahl for older children. Cumberbatch will play Henry Sugar, the protagonist of the titular story, which poses the question: “If you could see with your eyes closed…would you use your power for good or for personal gain?”
The new movie marks Anderson’s second outing with Dahl’s classic works after the filmmaker crafted “The Fantastic Mr. Fox” into a stop-motion film in 2009 and co-wrote the screenplay with Noah Baumbach. The best...
- 1/7/2022
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
IndieWire turns 25 this year. To mark the occasion, we’re running a series of essays about the future of everything we cover.
As part of IndieWire’s 25th anniversary series, who better to forecast the future of VFX than three-time Oscar-winning visual effects supervisor Rob Legato? The 2021 recipient of the Ves Award for Creative Excellence, Legato has translated virtual production into a live-action, photorealistic methodology for James Cameron, Martin Scorsese, and Jon Favreau. In fact, Legato’s VR experimentation with Favreau on “The Lion King” led directly to the director’s pioneering work with Industrial Light & Magic on “The Mandalorian” series on Disney+. They created the StageCraft platform, which eliminated the need for costly and time-consuming location shoots. Actors perform in an immersive and massive LED video wall and ceiling at Manhattan Beach Studios in L.A., where the practical set pieces are combined with digital extensions on the screens.
As part of IndieWire’s 25th anniversary series, who better to forecast the future of VFX than three-time Oscar-winning visual effects supervisor Rob Legato? The 2021 recipient of the Ves Award for Creative Excellence, Legato has translated virtual production into a live-action, photorealistic methodology for James Cameron, Martin Scorsese, and Jon Favreau. In fact, Legato’s VR experimentation with Favreau on “The Lion King” led directly to the director’s pioneering work with Industrial Light & Magic on “The Mandalorian” series on Disney+. They created the StageCraft platform, which eliminated the need for costly and time-consuming location shoots. Actors perform in an immersive and massive LED video wall and ceiling at Manhattan Beach Studios in L.A., where the practical set pieces are combined with digital extensions on the screens.
- 12/24/2021
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
Synopsis
Tom Hardy returns as the lethal protector Venom, one of Marvel’s greatest and most complex characters. In search of his next big story, journalist Eddie Brock lands an exclusive interview with convicted murderer and death row inmate Cletus Kasady (Woody Harrelson), who discovers Eddie’s secret and becomes the host for Carnage, a menacing and terrifying symbiote. Now, Eddie and Venom must get past their contentious relationship to defeat him. Directed by Andy Serkis (Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle) with a story by Tom Hardy & Kelly Marcel and screenplay by Kelly Marcel, Venom: Let There Be Carnage also stars Michelle Williams and Naomie Harris as Shriek.
Bonus Materials
4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, And Digital
• Outtakes & Bloopers
• 6 Deleted Scenes
• Eddie & Venom: The Odd Couple: What happens when two beings inhabit one body? A whole lot of chaos. Tom Hardy, Andy Serkis, and the team of filmmakers talk all things Eddie and Venom.
Tom Hardy returns as the lethal protector Venom, one of Marvel’s greatest and most complex characters. In search of his next big story, journalist Eddie Brock lands an exclusive interview with convicted murderer and death row inmate Cletus Kasady (Woody Harrelson), who discovers Eddie’s secret and becomes the host for Carnage, a menacing and terrifying symbiote. Now, Eddie and Venom must get past their contentious relationship to defeat him. Directed by Andy Serkis (Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle) with a story by Tom Hardy & Kelly Marcel and screenplay by Kelly Marcel, Venom: Let There Be Carnage also stars Michelle Williams and Naomie Harris as Shriek.
Bonus Materials
4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, And Digital
• Outtakes & Bloopers
• 6 Deleted Scenes
• Eddie & Venom: The Odd Couple: What happens when two beings inhabit one body? A whole lot of chaos. Tom Hardy, Andy Serkis, and the team of filmmakers talk all things Eddie and Venom.
- 11/20/2021
- by ComicMix Staff
- Comicmix.com
Exclusive: UK-based production house Envision Entertainment has significantly expanded its ranks by appointing two key executives.
Former HBO Europe CEO Linda Jensen, who pioneered the U.S. company’s growth into local-language programming, and experienced UK producer David Barron, whose credits include the Harry Potter franchise, have both joined the company to focus on distinct areas.
At Envision, Jensen will seek out and acquire local IP with international potential. She will also spearhead the launch of an investment arm at the company, which will also look to acquire stakes in synergistic media companies across the screen industry in complimentary fields such as publishing, gaming, and animation.
The team told Deadline they would initially focus on territories in Cee and East Asia (where Nakan has specialist knowledge), with plans to quickly expand into high-growth territories such as India, the Middle East, South East Asia, and Africa.
Envision founder Michael Nakan will...
Former HBO Europe CEO Linda Jensen, who pioneered the U.S. company’s growth into local-language programming, and experienced UK producer David Barron, whose credits include the Harry Potter franchise, have both joined the company to focus on distinct areas.
At Envision, Jensen will seek out and acquire local IP with international potential. She will also spearhead the launch of an investment arm at the company, which will also look to acquire stakes in synergistic media companies across the screen industry in complimentary fields such as publishing, gaming, and animation.
The team told Deadline they would initially focus on territories in Cee and East Asia (where Nakan has specialist knowledge), with plans to quickly expand into high-growth territories such as India, the Middle East, South East Asia, and Africa.
Envision founder Michael Nakan will...
- 11/15/2021
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
No rest for the weary. The 13 remaining “Dancing with the Stars” celebrities performed routines inspired by Disney heroes on Monday night, but they had to get right back out on the dance floor for “Disney Villains Night” on Tuesday. So the bad guys got the last laugh, but which celebrities were able to keep up with the grueling pace? And who (if anyone) was kicked out of the Magic Kingdom at the end of the night? Scroll down for our live blog with all the minute-by-minute developments and commentary throughout the night.
See‘Dancing with the Stars’ Disney Heroes Night recap: Who had the most magical moves on Monday night? [Updating Live Blog]
Melora Hardin topped the judges’ leaderboard for the first time on “Heroes Night.” Her “Jungle Book” quickstep earned straight nines for a total of 36 out of 40. That was followed closely by JoJo Siwa‘s Viennese waltz and Olivia Jade‘s samba,...
See‘Dancing with the Stars’ Disney Heroes Night recap: Who had the most magical moves on Monday night? [Updating Live Blog]
Melora Hardin topped the judges’ leaderboard for the first time on “Heroes Night.” Her “Jungle Book” quickstep earned straight nines for a total of 36 out of 40. That was followed closely by JoJo Siwa‘s Viennese waltz and Olivia Jade‘s samba,...
- 10/12/2021
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
Okay, I was a little skeptical about actress Melora Hardin‘s quickstep on “Dancing with the Stars” for “Disney Heroes Night.” It’s not that I didn’t think she had the moves, but when her pro partner Artem Chigvintsev told her she’d be playing the lovable “Jungle Book” bear Baloo and that he’d be the panther Bagheera, I wasn’t exactly sure how that concept would translate on the dance floor. Clearly I needn’t have worried because their routine was a breakthrough moment for them in the ballroom. Watch their performance above and see what the judges had to say about it below.
See‘Dancing with the Stars’ Disney Heroes Night recap: Who had the most magical moves on Monday night? [Updating Live Blog]
Bruno Tonioli: “The queen of the jungle is in delightfully good form tonight. She’s becoming the queen of the ballroom. The best quickstep...
See‘Dancing with the Stars’ Disney Heroes Night recap: Who had the most magical moves on Monday night? [Updating Live Blog]
Bruno Tonioli: “The queen of the jungle is in delightfully good form tonight. She’s becoming the queen of the ballroom. The best quickstep...
- 10/12/2021
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
Right out of the gate, “Venom” may have been one of the all-time worst-reviewed Marvel movies — the film has an abominable 30% rating on Rotten Tomatoes — but that didn’t stop audiences from flocking to see a bug-eyed Tom Hardy embody the character in the corny 2018 standalone, which racked up an astonishing $864 million plus worldwide. No surprise then, that parent studio Sony (whose grip on the Marvel cash cow has been limited to Spider-Man and his spinoffs) rushed to greenlight a follow-up that would pit Venom against his most recognizable non-Spidey nemesis back in early 2019.
Managed (more than directed) by motion-capture star-turned-aspiring blockbuster helmer Andy Serkis, “Venom: Let There Be Carnage” has all the indications of a slapdash cash grab. The set-pieces look sloppy, the visual effects are all over the place, and the laughs come largely at the movie’s expense. But it does introduce Carnage, so in that respect,...
Managed (more than directed) by motion-capture star-turned-aspiring blockbuster helmer Andy Serkis, “Venom: Let There Be Carnage” has all the indications of a slapdash cash grab. The set-pieces look sloppy, the visual effects are all over the place, and the laughs come largely at the movie’s expense. But it does introduce Carnage, so in that respect,...
- 9/30/2021
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
Andy Serkis ("Mowgli") continues developing a live-action, performance capture adaptation of author George Orwell's 1945 novel "Animal Farm", to be produced by Serkis and Matt Reeves ("Dawn of the Planet of the Apes") for streaming on Netflix:
"...with it's parallels to today's left wing socialism, Orwell's 'Animal Farm' was written as an allegory for the 'Russian Revolution' (1917) leading into the 'Stalinist Era' of the 'Soviet Union', with farm animals taking the place of historical figures.
"'Old Major', the aging boar on the 'Manor Farm', summons the animals on the farm together for a meeting, during which he slanders all humans.
"When Major dies, two young pigs, 'Snowball' and 'Napoleon', assume command and consider it a duty to prepare for the 'Rebellion'.
"The animals revolt, driving the drunken, irresponsible farmer 'Mr. Jones', as well as 'Mrs. Jones' and the other human caretakers and employees, off the farm, now renamed 'Animal Farm'.
"...with it's parallels to today's left wing socialism, Orwell's 'Animal Farm' was written as an allegory for the 'Russian Revolution' (1917) leading into the 'Stalinist Era' of the 'Soviet Union', with farm animals taking the place of historical figures.
"'Old Major', the aging boar on the 'Manor Farm', summons the animals on the farm together for a meeting, during which he slanders all humans.
"When Major dies, two young pigs, 'Snowball' and 'Napoleon', assume command and consider it a duty to prepare for the 'Rebellion'.
"The animals revolt, driving the drunken, irresponsible farmer 'Mr. Jones', as well as 'Mrs. Jones' and the other human caretakers and employees, off the farm, now renamed 'Animal Farm'.
- 8/30/2021
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
It’s Tom Hardy vs. Woody Harrelson in the new official trailer for “Venom: Let There Be Carnage,” the latest directorial feature from motion capture genius Andy Serkis. A sequel to the critically-panned but hugely successful 2018 comic book tentpole “Venom,” which earned over $800 million at the worldwide box office, “Let There Be Carnage” also marks the return of Michelle Williams to the franchise and the introduction of “Moonlight” Oscar nominee Naomie Harris as Shriek, the love interest for Carnage.
As revealed last month, Hardy is getting the first “story by” credit of his career on the “Venom” sequel after “spending months” brainstorming the narrative for “Let There Be Carnage” with screenwriter Kelly Marcel. “Venom: Let There Be Carnage.”
“This is new for him, to get credit,” Marcel told Empire Magazine. “but it’s not new for him to be this involved. He’s absolutely 100 percent committed to everything that he does.
As revealed last month, Hardy is getting the first “story by” credit of his career on the “Venom” sequel after “spending months” brainstorming the narrative for “Let There Be Carnage” with screenwriter Kelly Marcel. “Venom: Let There Be Carnage.”
“This is new for him, to get credit,” Marcel told Empire Magazine. “but it’s not new for him to be this involved. He’s absolutely 100 percent committed to everything that he does.
- 8/2/2021
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
Earlier this year, Riz Ahmed was Oscar-nominated for his stunning lead performance in the music drama “Sound Of Metal,” and in many ways, that should boost your excitement for a somewhat similar music drama, “Mogul Mowgli.” But the timing of this indie couldn’t be better because now the anticipation for the film has to be even higher: award-winning filmmaker Bassam Tariq, the “Mogul Mowgli” director, has been chosen to direct Marvel’s “Blade,” which has got to be a big co-sign on ‘Mowgli’ considering not that many people have seen it and Tariq really hasn’t made a lot of more notable films other than the celebrated indie doc “These Birds Walk” (which earned Tariq the title of a Filmmaker to watch by Filmmaker Magazine).
Continue reading ‘Mogul Mowgli’ Trailer: Riz Ahmed Stars In A ‘Sound Of Metal’-esque Tale Of Stardom, Hip Hop & Illness at The Playlist.
Continue reading ‘Mogul Mowgli’ Trailer: Riz Ahmed Stars In A ‘Sound Of Metal’-esque Tale Of Stardom, Hip Hop & Illness at The Playlist.
- 8/1/2021
- by Rodrigo Perez
- The Playlist
Tom Hardy is the face of Sony’s “Venom” franchise, but he’s more than just the star of the upcoming sequel “Venom: Let There Be Carnage.” As confirmed by screenwriter Kelly Marcel in an interview with Empire magazine, Hardy is getting the first “story by” credit of his feature film career after “spending months” brainstorming the narrative for the sequel with Marcel. “Venom: Let There Be Carnage” reunites Hardy and Michelle Williams opposite franchise newcomer Woody Harrelson as the eponymous villain.
“This is new for him, to get credit,” Marcel said, “but it’s not new for him to be this involved. He’s absolutely 100 percent committed to everything that he does. He’s married to Venom. He loves this character. He’s very involved in what he thinks should happen.”
As reported by Empire: “While Marcel gets the full screenplay credit, her script sprang from lengthy conversations with...
“This is new for him, to get credit,” Marcel said, “but it’s not new for him to be this involved. He’s absolutely 100 percent committed to everything that he does. He’s married to Venom. He loves this character. He’s very involved in what he thinks should happen.”
As reported by Empire: “While Marcel gets the full screenplay credit, her script sprang from lengthy conversations with...
- 7/6/2021
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
At long last, a first full trailer for “Venom: Let There Be Carnage” has finally dropped, with new footage that promises another CGI-packed spectacle with Tom Hardy as Eddie Brock, Aka Venom. One of the Marvel milieu’s most beloved antiheroes, Venom first got his own franchise film with the 2018 original, directed by Ruben Fleischer. “Let There Be Carnage” is currently set to be released on September 24 in theaters, though it has already bounced around the Sony Pictures release calendar. This is the latest entry in Sony’s cache of Marvel titles.
Motion capture master Andy Serkis steps behind the camera to direct the superhero movie followup to the smash 2018 hit. Critics trashed that comic book tentpole starring Tom Hardy as the notorious Spider-Man villain. It still went on to take in just over $850 million at the global box office.
For “Venom: Let There Be Carnage,” Tom Hardy is back in the title role,...
Motion capture master Andy Serkis steps behind the camera to direct the superhero movie followup to the smash 2018 hit. Critics trashed that comic book tentpole starring Tom Hardy as the notorious Spider-Man villain. It still went on to take in just over $850 million at the global box office.
For “Venom: Let There Be Carnage,” Tom Hardy is back in the title role,...
- 5/10/2021
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
Walt Disney Co. CEO Bob Chapek was questioned by shareholders about Gina Carano’s firing from “The Mandalorian,” when cruise ships would set sail again and the future of Lucasfilm chief Kathleen Kennedy at the entertainment giant’s annual shareholders meeting on Tuesday.
It’s been a tumultuous first year atop Disney for Chapek, who took the reins from Bob Iger in February 2020, shortly before Covid-19 upended the entertainment landscape. And yet, it’s also been a 12-month period that saw Disney’s shares surge on the growth of its streaming offerings. Chapek noted that Disney’s stock went from $79 a year ago to above $200 this week.
The meeting also came as rates of Covid-19 are plateauing and vaccinations are becoming more widely available, potentially setting the stage for a revival in the film, travel, and media businesses, all pillars of the Disney brand.
“There is good reason to be hopeful…...
It’s been a tumultuous first year atop Disney for Chapek, who took the reins from Bob Iger in February 2020, shortly before Covid-19 upended the entertainment landscape. And yet, it’s also been a 12-month period that saw Disney’s shares surge on the growth of its streaming offerings. Chapek noted that Disney’s stock went from $79 a year ago to above $200 this week.
The meeting also came as rates of Covid-19 are plateauing and vaccinations are becoming more widely available, potentially setting the stage for a revival in the film, travel, and media businesses, all pillars of the Disney brand.
“There is good reason to be hopeful…...
- 3/9/2021
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Frances McDormand as Fern in Chloé Zhao's Nomadland Nomadland, directed by Chloé Zhao and Sarah Gavron's Rocks led the charge in the BAFTAs today as the film shortlist was announced, with seven nominations each.
The Father, Mank, Minari and Promising Young Woman also made a strong showing with six nominations apiece.
This year the awards body instituted a long list system in a bid to increase the diversity of its nominees, after last year's selection drew criticism for its all-white acting categories and a lack of female directors. It seemed to pay off with more diversity notable in almost all categories, including four women directors in the Best Director shortlist.
The acting categories also showed considerably more diversity than last year, with films not in the English language also making their presence felt across the board.
Best Film
The Father The Mauritanian Nomadland Promising Young Woman The Trial...
The Father, Mank, Minari and Promising Young Woman also made a strong showing with six nominations apiece.
This year the awards body instituted a long list system in a bid to increase the diversity of its nominees, after last year's selection drew criticism for its all-white acting categories and a lack of female directors. It seemed to pay off with more diversity notable in almost all categories, including four women directors in the Best Director shortlist.
The acting categories also showed considerably more diversity than last year, with films not in the English language also making their presence felt across the board.
Best Film
The Father The Mauritanian Nomadland Promising Young Woman The Trial...
- 3/9/2021
- by Amber Wilkinson
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Most of the classic films that run on TCM are introduced by a single host. In March, some will require a whole team.
The WarnerMedia outlet on Thursdays this month will seek to put some popular but troublesome films in better context, part of an effort it calls “Reframed.” A team of the network’s on-air personnel will introduce viewers to some of Hollywood’s most seminal pictures, which remain popular but are increasingly being scrutinized under a different lens as the nation ponders more deeply how people of different races, backgrounds and creeds treat one another.
Teams will ponder cultural issues posed by films such as “Gone With The Wind,” “Psycho,” “The Searchers,” “My Fair Lady” and “Gunga Din,” among others. Some of the hosts hope the initiative will continue beyond the next four weeks.
“We are hearing more and more from audiences about moments they are really puzzling over,...
The WarnerMedia outlet on Thursdays this month will seek to put some popular but troublesome films in better context, part of an effort it calls “Reframed.” A team of the network’s on-air personnel will introduce viewers to some of Hollywood’s most seminal pictures, which remain popular but are increasingly being scrutinized under a different lens as the nation ponders more deeply how people of different races, backgrounds and creeds treat one another.
Teams will ponder cultural issues posed by films such as “Gone With The Wind,” “Psycho,” “The Searchers,” “My Fair Lady” and “Gunga Din,” among others. Some of the hosts hope the initiative will continue beyond the next four weeks.
“We are hearing more and more from audiences about moments they are really puzzling over,...
- 3/2/2021
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
Kollywood The film will see Prabhu Deva in multiple avatars. Digital Native The teaser of the Prabhu Deva starrer Bagheera has been unveiled and fans are thrilled to see the star in a new avatar. Prabhu Deva is appearing in multiple avatars in the film as was evident from the posters released earlier. The 1.40-minute teaser is loaded with suspense.The first look of Bagheera was released some months ago and it garnered the attention of the film buffs as the star was seen sporting a bald look with droplets of blood on his head. He is seen wearing glasses with three lenses with each of the lens carrying the reflection of Jungle Book's Mowgli sitting on Bagheera, a digital clock at 11:11, and a vintage car. Interestingly, this is the first time he has gone bald for a film. It may be noted here that the director had...
- 2/24/2021
- by Sreedevi
- The News Minute
Chloé Zhao’s film took three prizes, while ‘Rocks’ was also a multiple winner.
Chloé Zhao’s Nomadland won three prizes including film of the year at the 41st London Critics’ Circle Film Awards, which were held in a virtual ceremony today (February 7).
As well as the main prize, Nomadland won screenwriter of the year for Zhao and actress of the year for Frances McDormand.
Scroll down for the full list of prizes.
UK coming-of-age drama Rocks was also a multiple winner, with lead actress Bukky Bakray taking the young British/Irish performer of the year prize and casting director...
Chloé Zhao’s Nomadland won three prizes including film of the year at the 41st London Critics’ Circle Film Awards, which were held in a virtual ceremony today (February 7).
As well as the main prize, Nomadland won screenwriter of the year for Zhao and actress of the year for Frances McDormand.
Scroll down for the full list of prizes.
UK coming-of-age drama Rocks was also a multiple winner, with lead actress Bukky Bakray taking the young British/Irish performer of the year prize and casting director...
- 2/7/2021
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
In a year that has stymied many of his peers, Riz Ahmed has been incredibly prolific, with two 2020 feature releases—Darius Marder’s Sound of Metal and Bassam Tariq’s Mogul Mowgli—as well as an album, The Long Goodbye, which came with a powerful short imagining life in a racist, post-Brexit Britain. If The Long Goodbye is a showcase for the sometime musician’s eloquent wordplay, the two movies offer some of his finest acting work yet, as a heavy metal drummer coming to terms with his sudden deafness in Sound of Metal and as a rapper struck down by an autoimmune disease in Mogul Mowgli.
Deadline: Your recent choices turned out to be quite prescient this year: both Sound of Metal and Mogul Mowgli feature characters whose lives change when they are forced to face their mortality.
Riz Ahmed: Well, the ideas I’ve been really interested in recently,...
Deadline: Your recent choices turned out to be quite prescient this year: both Sound of Metal and Mogul Mowgli feature characters whose lives change when they are forced to face their mortality.
Riz Ahmed: Well, the ideas I’ve been really interested in recently,...
- 1/18/2021
- by Damon Wise
- Deadline Film + TV
There’s a lot of Scarlett Johansson content on Disney Plus. Thanks to all those Marvel movies on the site, as well as her role in the Jungle Book remake, fans of the two-time Oscar-nominated actress have tons of choice if they’re in the mood to stick on one of her films. And even better is that there’s another great new addition to that lineup coming this week, as a somewhat overlooked entry in Johansson’s filmography is due to go up on D+ on Friday, January 15th.
The movie in question is 2018’s Isle of Dogs, which is notable for being the first Wes Anderson production to be found on Disney Plus. The acclaimed director lent his unique talents to this stop motion animation that can be classified as a sci-fi comedy-drama. The movie takes place in the near future, following the animal inhabitants of an island...
The movie in question is 2018’s Isle of Dogs, which is notable for being the first Wes Anderson production to be found on Disney Plus. The acclaimed director lent his unique talents to this stop motion animation that can be classified as a sci-fi comedy-drama. The movie takes place in the near future, following the animal inhabitants of an island...
- 1/11/2021
- by Christian Bone
- We Got This Covered
Netflix may pride themselves on an extensive roster of original movies and TV shows as they continue to remain the dominant force in the streaming wars, but the company aren’t above purchasing pre-existing projects that were set up at rival studios, either. Enola Holmes became one of the platform’s biggest-ever hits after debuting in September, but the mystery caper was originally a Warner Bros. production destined for a theatrical release before Netflix swooped in to purchase the rights in April.
Paramount in particular have sold off several big titles to the streaming giant including The Cloverfield Paradox, Alex Garland’s Annihilation, low budget horror Eli, Beverly Hills Cop IV and Aaron Sorkin’s The Trial of the Chicago 7, while Andy Serkis’ Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle moved over from Warner Bros. after the studio couldn’t figure out what to do with a movie that was produced...
Paramount in particular have sold off several big titles to the streaming giant including The Cloverfield Paradox, Alex Garland’s Annihilation, low budget horror Eli, Beverly Hills Cop IV and Aaron Sorkin’s The Trial of the Chicago 7, while Andy Serkis’ Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle moved over from Warner Bros. after the studio couldn’t figure out what to do with a movie that was produced...
- 11/26/2020
- by Scott Campbell
- We Got This Covered
CinemaThe actor reportedly met Dr Himani at her clinic while undergoing physio treatment when the couple fell in love.Digital NativeDigital NativeRumours about popular director-choreographer-actor Prabhu Deva getting married have been doing the rounds for a few months now. Reports said he has married Mumbai-based physiotherapist Dr Himani. This has now been confirmed by his brother Raju Sundaram, who is also a well-known choreographer, actor and director. Raju Sundaram told Toi in an interview, “We’re very happy about Prabhu Deva’s wedding.” The Toi report further says that the wedding took place in May and was a low-key affair with only close family and friends attending to bless the couple. Prabhu Deva reportedly met Dr Himani at her clinic while undergoing physio treatment when the couple fell in love. Prabhu Deva was earlier married to Ramlatha, with whom he has three children. The eldest child died of cancer in...
- 11/23/2020
- by Vidya
- The News Minute
We’ve heard reports recently that Star Trek is considering bringing back a familiar face for a future project. Yes, as you may’ve read about already, the iconic sci-fi franchise wants Benedict Cumberbatch to reprise his role as Khan in an upcoming film, and now we’ve received word from insider Daniel Richtman that Paramount may even be planning a spinoff centered around the character.
Nothing is set in stone as of just yet, of course, but the studio might be interested in cashing in on the actor, whose stock has certainly risen to astronomical levels over the past few years. Though the 44-year-old has been a fairly decent-sized star for a while now, his career really started to take off to new heights after he joined the McU and headlined Doctor Strange back in 2016.
Following that performance as the titular superhero, he became a staple of the franchise,...
Nothing is set in stone as of just yet, of course, but the studio might be interested in cashing in on the actor, whose stock has certainly risen to astronomical levels over the past few years. Though the 44-year-old has been a fairly decent-sized star for a while now, his career really started to take off to new heights after he joined the McU and headlined Doctor Strange back in 2016.
Following that performance as the titular superhero, he became a staple of the franchise,...
- 10/21/2020
- by Evan Lewis
- We Got This Covered
For a while now Riz Ahmed has been one of the most exciting British actors around but he’s rarely afforded the right platform to truly show off his talents. With Mogul Mowgli, which he stars, co-produces and co-writes in, Ahmed confirms his talents emphatically with a tour de force performance. Directed by Bassam Tariq, the narrative charts the journey of British-Pakistani rapper, Zed (Ahmed), who is struck down by a muscle-wasting autoimmune disease just when his career is starting to take off.
The film begins on Zed performing an impassioned rap on stage in front of an adoring crowd. Zed is just about to embark on a massive US tour that will propel him into the big time, so he decides to pay his London-based family a visit for the first time in two years before he takes off. But he isn’t received with the warmest of welcomes...
The film begins on Zed performing an impassioned rap on stage in front of an adoring crowd. Zed is just about to embark on a massive US tour that will propel him into the big time, so he decides to pay his London-based family a visit for the first time in two years before he takes off. But he isn’t received with the warmest of welcomes...
- 10/12/2020
- by Luke Channell
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
"I find my own place in this business of Britishness, so stop trying to find a box for us." BBC has revealed an official trailer for the indie gem Mogul Mowgli, which first premiered at the Berlin Film Festival this year. It's playing at the London Film Festival this month, but there's no US release date yet. Riz Ahmed stars as Zed, a talented British-Pakistani rapper is on the cusp of his first world tour, who is struck down by an illness that threatens to derail his big break. Riz says that "Mogul Mowgli is the most personal work I’ve ever made. Can’t wait to share it." One of my favorite films from Berlinale, I've been raving about it all year. "The debut fiction feature from the award-winning documentary filmmaker Bassam Tariq and co-written, produced by and starring the Emmy award-winning Ahmed, Mogul Mowgli is a bold, vital...
- 10/2/2020
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Exclusive: Disney’s live-action team is in early development on a movie for Disney+ about the Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles and its founder, artistic director and longtime conductor Charles Dickerson III.
The studio picked up the pitch from writer Bobby Smith Jr (Jason’s Lyric), who will serve as writer and executive producer. Longtime Disney production executive and producer Brigham Taylor will produce via his Taylor Made Film Productions banner.
Founded in 2009, the Icyola is the largest majority African-American orchestra in America and has helped transform the lives of hundreds of young Angelenos who go on to perform in settings including the Getty Center, Walt Disney Concert Hall and Staples Center, as well as throughout South Los Angeles’ church community.
Dickerson, who has spent decades trying to make classical music more inclusive to communities of color, was a guest on...
The studio picked up the pitch from writer Bobby Smith Jr (Jason’s Lyric), who will serve as writer and executive producer. Longtime Disney production executive and producer Brigham Taylor will produce via his Taylor Made Film Productions banner.
Founded in 2009, the Icyola is the largest majority African-American orchestra in America and has helped transform the lives of hundreds of young Angelenos who go on to perform in settings including the Getty Center, Walt Disney Concert Hall and Staples Center, as well as throughout South Los Angeles’ church community.
Dickerson, who has spent decades trying to make classical music more inclusive to communities of color, was a guest on...
- 9/15/2020
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Netflix is reteaming with Andy Serkis and Jonathan Cavendish’s Imaginarium Productions on a second adaptation of an Adam Nevill horror novel, this time the author’s 2014 book No One Gets Out Alive.
Cristina Rodlo (Miss Bala) and Marc Menchaca (The Outsider) have been set as leads in the story of an immigrant in search of the American dream who, after being forced to take a room in a boarding house, finds herself in a nightmare she can’t escape.
Netflix and Imaginarium Productions produced a film based on another of Nevill’s novels, The Ritual, in 2017. The companies’ have also previously worked together on Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle and have an adaptation of George Orwell’s Animal Farm in the pipeline.
Cavendish and Will Tennant will produce for Imaginarium, with Andy Serkis, David Bruckner, Phil Robertson, and Adam Nevill as executive producers. Jon Croker and Fernanda Coppel...
Cristina Rodlo (Miss Bala) and Marc Menchaca (The Outsider) have been set as leads in the story of an immigrant in search of the American dream who, after being forced to take a room in a boarding house, finds herself in a nightmare she can’t escape.
Netflix and Imaginarium Productions produced a film based on another of Nevill’s novels, The Ritual, in 2017. The companies’ have also previously worked together on Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle and have an adaptation of George Orwell’s Animal Farm in the pipeline.
Cavendish and Will Tennant will produce for Imaginarium, with Andy Serkis, David Bruckner, Phil Robertson, and Adam Nevill as executive producers. Jon Croker and Fernanda Coppel...
- 9/8/2020
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
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