Exclusive: Activist Artists Management has signed Jojo T. Gibbs, the actress, writer, producer and stand-up comedian best known for her starring role in Lena Waithe’s semi-autobiographical BET series Twenties, for representation. Bernie Cahill and Grant Pennel will run point for the client.
Airing for two seasons from 2020-2021, Twenties was a comedy-drama following the lives of three young women in their twenties as they navigated the challenges of adulthood in Los Angeles. Starring opposite Christina Elmore, Gabrielle Graham, Sophina Brown and Big Sean, Gibbs portrayed Hattie, a queer Black woman based on Waithe, who aspires to be a screenwriter.
Most recently seen in Alex Garland’s buzzy A24 pic Civil War, Gibbs’ other recent credits on the film side include Luc Besson’s Dogman opposite Caleb Landry Jones, Celine Song’s A24 Best Picture nominee Past Lives, Hulu’s Mimi Cave thriller Fresh, Amazon’s Something from Tiffany’s, and Cora Bora,...
Airing for two seasons from 2020-2021, Twenties was a comedy-drama following the lives of three young women in their twenties as they navigated the challenges of adulthood in Los Angeles. Starring opposite Christina Elmore, Gabrielle Graham, Sophina Brown and Big Sean, Gibbs portrayed Hattie, a queer Black woman based on Waithe, who aspires to be a screenwriter.
Most recently seen in Alex Garland’s buzzy A24 pic Civil War, Gibbs’ other recent credits on the film side include Luc Besson’s Dogman opposite Caleb Landry Jones, Celine Song’s A24 Best Picture nominee Past Lives, Hulu’s Mimi Cave thriller Fresh, Amazon’s Something from Tiffany’s, and Cora Bora,...
- 6/5/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
What are the greatest action movies of all time? It’s a controversial question, isn’t it? Any time any publication or site puts out a new list of what they consider the best action movies of all time, it can’t help but generate a ton of controversy. Nevertheless, we here at JoBlo have decided to throw our hats into the ring with a list we really hope generates some nostalgia among our viewers but also encourages them to seek out the movies on this list that they may not have seen. But first, some may wonder where superhero movies are on this list. Given how broad that genre is, we decided to stick to old-school action, so we have left them off the list, as they deserve their own ranking. There are also a few absences from the list, notably some Jackie Chan films (like Police Story), with...
- 6/4/2024
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
As one of the most commercially successful directors in movie history, Luc Besson made his name known all around the world. However, even if you’re a fan of his works, you may have missed his thriller that was a sensation back in 1990.
Moreover, it presented a new type of a female leading character that influenced not only other filmmakers, but also Besson’s Leon (1994) and The Fifth Element (1997).
The film’s plot revolves around a reckless junkie whose life is resolved, but rather in a bad way. She gets caught by the police during a robbery, but instead of letting her die in jail they remove her from it and make her an offer she can’t refuse.
The woman is forced to become an assassin and then gradually proves to be extremely talented at it. However, when she starts this career, she finds it tough to balance between...
Moreover, it presented a new type of a female leading character that influenced not only other filmmakers, but also Besson’s Leon (1994) and The Fifth Element (1997).
The film’s plot revolves around a reckless junkie whose life is resolved, but rather in a bad way. She gets caught by the police during a robbery, but instead of letting her die in jail they remove her from it and make her an offer she can’t refuse.
The woman is forced to become an assassin and then gradually proves to be extremely talented at it. However, when she starts this career, she finds it tough to balance between...
- 6/4/2024
- by info@startefacts.com (Ava Raxa)
- STartefacts.com
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission.
In this digital-dominated era, the allure of physical media like DVDs and Blu-rays remains robust, transcending mere nostalgia. These formats offer a tangible, personal connection to the artistry of film and television—a curated collection that one can physically handle, showcase, and possess.
As the industry increasingly veers towards streaming as its primary mode of distribution, collecting physical media is becoming a niche yet cherished pastime. It remains the most reliable method to ensure access to a broad spectrum of titles, often in the highest possible quality. A 4K Blu-ray on your shelf guarantees immediate, uninterrupted viewing—free from buffering or service outages—of your favorite films and TV shows in stunning resolution. Moreover, these discs frequently include a wealth of bonus content, ranging from archival gems to freshly...
In this digital-dominated era, the allure of physical media like DVDs and Blu-rays remains robust, transcending mere nostalgia. These formats offer a tangible, personal connection to the artistry of film and television—a curated collection that one can physically handle, showcase, and possess.
As the industry increasingly veers towards streaming as its primary mode of distribution, collecting physical media is becoming a niche yet cherished pastime. It remains the most reliable method to ensure access to a broad spectrum of titles, often in the highest possible quality. A 4K Blu-ray on your shelf guarantees immediate, uninterrupted viewing—free from buffering or service outages—of your favorite films and TV shows in stunning resolution. Moreover, these discs frequently include a wealth of bonus content, ranging from archival gems to freshly...
- 5/31/2024
- by Todd Gilchrist and Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
Brit supermodel/actress Cara Delevingne poses for the new Calvin Klein “This is Love” 2024 ad campaign, photographed by Gordon von Steiner:
Delevingne played a mermaid in the 2015 fantasy film “Pan” and in 2016, co-starred as ‘Enchantress’, a villainess in “Suicide Squad”.
In 2016, she played in the feature “Kids in Love” as ‘Viola’…
…then co-starred in director Luc Besson’s film “Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets”, released in July 2017.
Delevingne played ‘Annetje’ in the period romance film “Tulip Fever”…
, …then the role of ‘Kath Talent’ in the feature “London Fields”…
…and starred in the Amazon Prime Video fantasy steampunk series “Carnival Row” as ‘Vignette Stonemoss’.
Click the images to enlarge…...
Delevingne played a mermaid in the 2015 fantasy film “Pan” and in 2016, co-starred as ‘Enchantress’, a villainess in “Suicide Squad”.
In 2016, she played in the feature “Kids in Love” as ‘Viola’…
…then co-starred in director Luc Besson’s film “Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets”, released in July 2017.
Delevingne played ‘Annetje’ in the period romance film “Tulip Fever”…
, …then the role of ‘Kath Talent’ in the feature “London Fields”…
…and starred in the Amazon Prime Video fantasy steampunk series “Carnival Row” as ‘Vignette Stonemoss’.
Click the images to enlarge…...
- 5/30/2024
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
Demi Moore teased details of her role in Taylor Sheridan’s upcoming Paramount+ drama Landman and revealed she expects to be back on set for a second season in early 2025.
“It’s a very interesting world in the boomtown of Fort Worth, Texas. It’s kind of this subculture that we haven’t seen before, which is what I think Taylor does so well,” said Moore, in a talk at the American Pavilion at the Cannes Film Festival on Sunday.
“I play an oil tycoon’s wife… lots of nice clothes. The substance of it is really exploring the issues around oil, petroleum, on all sides…and then of course there’s – as Taylor does so well – there’s delicious drama within and family dynamics.”
Other cast members include Billy Bob Thornton and Jon Hamm as rival oil tycoons, with Hamm playing Moore’s husband.
On playing opposite Hamm again,...
“It’s a very interesting world in the boomtown of Fort Worth, Texas. It’s kind of this subculture that we haven’t seen before, which is what I think Taylor does so well,” said Moore, in a talk at the American Pavilion at the Cannes Film Festival on Sunday.
“I play an oil tycoon’s wife… lots of nice clothes. The substance of it is really exploring the issues around oil, petroleum, on all sides…and then of course there’s – as Taylor does so well – there’s delicious drama within and family dynamics.”
Other cast members include Billy Bob Thornton and Jon Hamm as rival oil tycoons, with Hamm playing Moore’s husband.
On playing opposite Hamm again,...
- 5/19/2024
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Fundamental Films chairman Mark Gao and his CEO Ivy Hua are in Cannes to reconnect with the international industry as part of the Shanghai-based company’s return to international acquisitions and production.
One of the biggest and longest-established Chinese buyers before the pandemic, Fundamental is also an investor in Luc Besson’s EuropaCorp and has a long-standing output deal to release the French studio’s films in China – it will soon release Weekend In Taipei, directed by George Huang and starring Luke Evans and Gwei Lun-mei. It also was also recently signed by UTA for representation across production, distribution and investment opportunities.
Chinese buyers have been a rare sight on the Croisette in recent years, a consequence of travel restrictions during the pandemic and a slowdown in censorship approvals, but now the borders are wide open, and Gao thinks the time is right to step back into the international market.
One of the biggest and longest-established Chinese buyers before the pandemic, Fundamental is also an investor in Luc Besson’s EuropaCorp and has a long-standing output deal to release the French studio’s films in China – it will soon release Weekend In Taipei, directed by George Huang and starring Luke Evans and Gwei Lun-mei. It also was also recently signed by UTA for representation across production, distribution and investment opportunities.
Chinese buyers have been a rare sight on the Croisette in recent years, a consequence of travel restrictions during the pandemic and a slowdown in censorship approvals, but now the borders are wide open, and Gao thinks the time is right to step back into the international market.
- 5/18/2024
- by Liz Shackleton
- Deadline Film + TV
The genre of science fiction is the one that deals with imaginative concepts of science and technology, trying to predict the future or to speculate of parallel universes. However, sometimes a movie pretending to stick to the real-life laws of science turns out to be among the least scientifically accurate ones.
Here are 5 sci-fi films with zero science factor, handpicked by Redditors.
Lucy (2014)
“Everyone knows the 10% of brain 'fact' is completely bogus, but they built an entire movie around it anyway,” admits Redditor @lostonpolk.
Indeed, the whole concept of Luc Besson’s movie assuming that people only use about 10% of their total brainpower is a total myth. In fact, we use different parts of our brain for different tasks, and we don’t need a special drug to unlock increased intellectual capacity.
The Day After Tomorrow (2004)
Climate change is obviously a real thing, but Roland Emmerich’s film distorts the...
Here are 5 sci-fi films with zero science factor, handpicked by Redditors.
Lucy (2014)
“Everyone knows the 10% of brain 'fact' is completely bogus, but they built an entire movie around it anyway,” admits Redditor @lostonpolk.
Indeed, the whole concept of Luc Besson’s movie assuming that people only use about 10% of their total brainpower is a total myth. In fact, we use different parts of our brain for different tasks, and we don’t need a special drug to unlock increased intellectual capacity.
The Day After Tomorrow (2004)
Climate change is obviously a real thing, but Roland Emmerich’s film distorts the...
- 5/15/2024
- by benjamin-patel@startefacts.com (Benjamin Patel)
- STartefacts.com
Even Kristin Scott Thomas can’t save this painful French comedy about two older women heading for the Greek islands for wacky fun
Marc Fitoussi, whose directing credits include work on the French TV hit Call My Agent!, has created this excruciatingly sugary French comedy of female friendship in a vacation paradise. It’s a one-note, one-joke, non-Mamma-Mia! the non-musical, with three lead performances that are borderline insufferable.
Olivia Côte plays Blandine, a straitlaced, sobersided woman whose life is miserable; she’s divorced from a man who is now marrying someone half his age and her 20-year-old son is moving out. But then she reconnects with an old schoolfriend, the wild and irrepressible Magalie (Laure Calamy) who suggests they do something they once dreamed of as kids: visit the Greek island of Amorgos, because it was featured in Luc Besson’s The Big Blue, their favourite film from those days.
Marc Fitoussi, whose directing credits include work on the French TV hit Call My Agent!, has created this excruciatingly sugary French comedy of female friendship in a vacation paradise. It’s a one-note, one-joke, non-Mamma-Mia! the non-musical, with three lead performances that are borderline insufferable.
Olivia Côte plays Blandine, a straitlaced, sobersided woman whose life is miserable; she’s divorced from a man who is now marrying someone half his age and her 20-year-old son is moving out. But then she reconnects with an old schoolfriend, the wild and irrepressible Magalie (Laure Calamy) who suggests they do something they once dreamed of as kids: visit the Greek island of Amorgos, because it was featured in Luc Besson’s The Big Blue, their favourite film from those days.
- 5/15/2024
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
Kinology has boarded international sales to “The Big War,” an epic €30-million live action-cgi characters hybrid movie which will mark the directorial comeback of “La Haine” filmmaker Mathieu Kassovitz.
The ambitious feature is adapted from “La Bête Est Morte,” an iconic two-part graphic novel illustrated by Edmond Calvo during War World 2 in Nazi-Occupied France and published after the country was liberated.
Pitched as a “”Paddington” meets ‘Saving Private Ryan,'” “The Big War” is a true passion project for Kassovitz who bought rights to “La Bête est Morte” nearly two decades ago and has now joined forces with well-respected animation producer Aton Soumache, whose credits range from literary adaptations such as the Cesar-winning “The Little Prince” to the global smash-hit “Miraculous: Ladybug & Cat Noir, the Movie.”
Kassovitz and Soumache have assembled a dream team for “The Big War,” including Caroline Thompson, the award-winning screenwriter of “Edward Scissorhands” and “The Nightmare before Christmas,...
The ambitious feature is adapted from “La Bête Est Morte,” an iconic two-part graphic novel illustrated by Edmond Calvo during War World 2 in Nazi-Occupied France and published after the country was liberated.
Pitched as a “”Paddington” meets ‘Saving Private Ryan,'” “The Big War” is a true passion project for Kassovitz who bought rights to “La Bête est Morte” nearly two decades ago and has now joined forces with well-respected animation producer Aton Soumache, whose credits range from literary adaptations such as the Cesar-winning “The Little Prince” to the global smash-hit “Miraculous: Ladybug & Cat Noir, the Movie.”
Kassovitz and Soumache have assembled a dream team for “The Big War,” including Caroline Thompson, the award-winning screenwriter of “Edward Scissorhands” and “The Nightmare before Christmas,...
- 5/10/2024
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
The movie genre of actions is often associated with the male leading characters who fight for the world’s peace or power. However, there are some female action leads who make their movies stand out among the great number of the genre’s features.
Here are 7 of the most memorable female-led action movies, chosen by Redditors.
Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003)
This martial arts feature probably comes first to mind in this respect, as Uma Thurman’s Bride is one of the most deadly and cultish onscreen assassins in history. Everyone saw Quentin Tarantino’s timeless masterpiece at least once in their lives, and it’s worth it.
Aliens (1986)
Long before the modern action heroines, 38 years ago, Sigourney Weaver starred as the courageous survivor of an alien attack, Ellen Ripley, who manages to go head-to-head with the Xenomorph and defeat it, unlike the great number of people around her.
True Grit...
Here are 7 of the most memorable female-led action movies, chosen by Redditors.
Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003)
This martial arts feature probably comes first to mind in this respect, as Uma Thurman’s Bride is one of the most deadly and cultish onscreen assassins in history. Everyone saw Quentin Tarantino’s timeless masterpiece at least once in their lives, and it’s worth it.
Aliens (1986)
Long before the modern action heroines, 38 years ago, Sigourney Weaver starred as the courageous survivor of an alien attack, Ellen Ripley, who manages to go head-to-head with the Xenomorph and defeat it, unlike the great number of people around her.
True Grit...
- 5/6/2024
- by info@startefacts.com (Ava Raxa)
- STartefacts.com
Nora Arnezeder (“The Famous Five”) and Maria Bello (“A History of Violence”) are set to co-star in “Hell in Paradise,” a female-powered thriller inspired by a true story and produced by EuropaCorp’s Virginie Besson-Silla (“Dogman”).
Penned by Karine Silla (“A Butterfly Kiss”), “Hell in Paradise” revolves around Nina, a young French girl who leaves her native Marseille and accepts her first job as a receptionist at a luxurious hotel resort on a magnificent island of the Maldives, hoping for a better life. But when a tragedy befalls the hotel, Nina is propelled in a relentless spiral of lies and manipulations. Wrongly accused and sentenced to life in prison, she will have no other choice but to run between traps and escape this paradise turned into hell.
Arnezeder and Maria Bello star opposite Josephine de la Baume, Alyy Khan, Shubahm Saraf and Ranjit Krishnama. Gregoire Melin’s Kinology handles international...
Penned by Karine Silla (“A Butterfly Kiss”), “Hell in Paradise” revolves around Nina, a young French girl who leaves her native Marseille and accepts her first job as a receptionist at a luxurious hotel resort on a magnificent island of the Maldives, hoping for a better life. But when a tragedy befalls the hotel, Nina is propelled in a relentless spiral of lies and manipulations. Wrongly accused and sentenced to life in prison, she will have no other choice but to run between traps and escape this paradise turned into hell.
Arnezeder and Maria Bello star opposite Josephine de la Baume, Alyy Khan, Shubahm Saraf and Ranjit Krishnama. Gregoire Melin’s Kinology handles international...
- 5/6/2024
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: UTA has signed Shanghai and Los Angeles-based production, distribution and investment company Fundamental Films for representation.
Founded by Mark Gao in 2008, Fundamental Films was one of China’s biggest buyers before the pandemic, releasing films including American Hustle, Limitless, Lucy and the Taken and Transporter franchises.
The company acquired a significant minority share in Luc Besson’s EuropaCorp in 2016, releasing the French studio’s titles in China, as well as co-producing films, including the reboot of the Transporter series and fantasy epic, Valerian And The City Of A Thousand Planets.
UTA will provide strategic support in expanding Fundamental’s partnerships across film production and distribution, as well as identifying global IP, new business and technology investment opportunities.
Fundamental is releasing EuropaCorp’s upcoming action thriller, A Weekend In Taipei (aka Weekend Escape Project), starring Luke Evans and Gwei Lun-mei, in China this summer.
Commenting on the partnership with UTA,...
Founded by Mark Gao in 2008, Fundamental Films was one of China’s biggest buyers before the pandemic, releasing films including American Hustle, Limitless, Lucy and the Taken and Transporter franchises.
The company acquired a significant minority share in Luc Besson’s EuropaCorp in 2016, releasing the French studio’s titles in China, as well as co-producing films, including the reboot of the Transporter series and fantasy epic, Valerian And The City Of A Thousand Planets.
UTA will provide strategic support in expanding Fundamental’s partnerships across film production and distribution, as well as identifying global IP, new business and technology investment opportunities.
Fundamental is releasing EuropaCorp’s upcoming action thriller, A Weekend In Taipei (aka Weekend Escape Project), starring Luke Evans and Gwei Lun-mei, in China this summer.
Commenting on the partnership with UTA,...
- 5/2/2024
- by Liz Shackleton
- Deadline Film + TV
In deciding on our next Wtf celebrity to cover, we passed around several names but in the end we all decided that: There could be only One! Despite being basically blind, Christopher Lambert made a name for himself as the king of Sci-Fi action films. One could say he single-handedly kept Blockbuster Video in business as most of his output in the 90’s debuted on the bottom shelves of the video rental chain. But few performers have made their mark on the international stage like Christopher Lambert, alternating between North American schlock and more prestigious French fare. Despite most of us knowing Lambert mainly for two iconic roles, there is much more to know about this American-born French actor; it’s time we find out just Wtf Happened to Christopher Lambert.
Greystroke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes
But as always, we must begin at the beginning, and...
Greystroke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes
But as always, we must begin at the beginning, and...
- 5/1/2024
- by Brad Hamerly
- JoBlo.com
France’s Mediawan has acquired German group Leonine Studios.
The all-stock transaction creates a European-based production and distribution group with a presence across 13 countries, 85 labels and revenues over €1bn. The financial terms of the deal were not revealed.
Paris-based Mediawan has had a 25% stake in Munich-based Leonine since 2020, and both groups are backed by US private equity firm Kkr. Mediawan was reported to be weighing an acquisition of Leonine back in November 2023.
For Mediawan the deal bolsters its European footprint with the addition of the German-speaking market.
Mediawan CEO Pierre-Antoine Capton will continue to lead the group while Leonine CEO...
The all-stock transaction creates a European-based production and distribution group with a presence across 13 countries, 85 labels and revenues over €1bn. The financial terms of the deal were not revealed.
Paris-based Mediawan has had a 25% stake in Munich-based Leonine since 2020, and both groups are backed by US private equity firm Kkr. Mediawan was reported to be weighing an acquisition of Leonine back in November 2023.
For Mediawan the deal bolsters its European footprint with the addition of the German-speaking market.
Mediawan CEO Pierre-Antoine Capton will continue to lead the group while Leonine CEO...
- 4/29/2024
- ScreenDaily
In 1990, Luc Besson's famous action film Nikita hit theaters. The movie about a street criminal turned secret agent was a huge success in France and around the world.
There is an opinion that the director has been doing nothing but making different versions of Nikita all his life, distracted from time to time by purely commercial projects.
The central character of his universe is a female fighter, a cold-blooded killer with a tragic personal history. Viewers saw a similar type in Leon: The Professional, The Fifth Element, Lucy with Scarlett Johansson in the main role, and Anna – another spy drama that recently got a second life thanks to its popularity on Netflix.
However, when talking about Nikita and its imitators, many forget about the cult series that debuted in 1997 and ran for five seasons – La Femme Nikita. And just recently, Redditors remembered the best spy show of the 1990s.
There is an opinion that the director has been doing nothing but making different versions of Nikita all his life, distracted from time to time by purely commercial projects.
The central character of his universe is a female fighter, a cold-blooded killer with a tragic personal history. Viewers saw a similar type in Leon: The Professional, The Fifth Element, Lucy with Scarlett Johansson in the main role, and Anna – another spy drama that recently got a second life thanks to its popularity on Netflix.
However, when talking about Nikita and its imitators, many forget about the cult series that debuted in 1997 and ran for five seasons – La Femme Nikita. And just recently, Redditors remembered the best spy show of the 1990s.
- 4/28/2024
- by zoe-wallace@startefacts.com (Zoe Wallace)
- STartefacts.com
From Geena Davis and Jamie Lee Curtis, to blaxploitation royalty Pam Grier; Joe Dante and Roland Emmerich, to genre legend Peter Hyams topping the bill – 2024’s Forbidden Worlds Film Festival promises the biggest (and maddest) year yet for genre fans in the South West.
Firing into its third year of taking over arguably Bristol’s best cinema screen – the abandoned IMAX at Bristol Aquarium, Forbidden Worlds has never been one to cater to the masses. It’s a true one-screen wonder of a festival, promising the most unusual and sought-after of cinematic treats; big, mad, weird shit projected large and loud, for three straight days.
For example, while 2024’s edition promises an explosive opening night with a 30th anniversary screening of none other than Keanu Reeves action classic The Bus That Couldn’t Slow Down (otherwise known as Speed), look as far as the following day’s line-up and you’ll...
Firing into its third year of taking over arguably Bristol’s best cinema screen – the abandoned IMAX at Bristol Aquarium, Forbidden Worlds has never been one to cater to the masses. It’s a true one-screen wonder of a festival, promising the most unusual and sought-after of cinematic treats; big, mad, weird shit projected large and loud, for three straight days.
For example, while 2024’s edition promises an explosive opening night with a 30th anniversary screening of none other than Keanu Reeves action classic The Bus That Couldn’t Slow Down (otherwise known as Speed), look as far as the following day’s line-up and you’ll...
- 4/24/2024
- by Ben Robins
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
With two major sci-fi sequels debuting this week to lead the VOD and Netflix charts, the new films also inspired victory laps for the Part Ones of “Dune” and “Rebel Moon.”
“Dune: Part Two” (Warner Bros.) leads at both iTunes and Fandango, and Netflix’s original “Rebel Moon — Part Two: The Scargiver” is #1 at the streamer. iTunes packaged the 2021 “Dune: Part One” with its sequel as a $34.99 purchase, and it ranks second there. (“Dune: Part Two” alone rents for 48 hours for $24.99.) “Rebel Moon — Part One” returned at #7 on Netflix’s top 10.
Three other recent theatrical releases also transitioned to home viewing, with curiously different pricing and availability strategies. The top grosser is Neon’s “Immaculate” (approaching $16 million), but it rents for the lowest price: $9.99. “Late Night with the Devil” (IFC) is $14.99, but for that price consumers own it. “In the Land of Saints and Sinners” (Goldwyn) with Liam Neeson is a standard $19.99 rental.
“Dune: Part Two” (Warner Bros.) leads at both iTunes and Fandango, and Netflix’s original “Rebel Moon — Part Two: The Scargiver” is #1 at the streamer. iTunes packaged the 2021 “Dune: Part One” with its sequel as a $34.99 purchase, and it ranks second there. (“Dune: Part Two” alone rents for 48 hours for $24.99.) “Rebel Moon — Part One” returned at #7 on Netflix’s top 10.
Three other recent theatrical releases also transitioned to home viewing, with curiously different pricing and availability strategies. The top grosser is Neon’s “Immaculate” (approaching $16 million), but it rents for the lowest price: $9.99. “Late Night with the Devil” (IFC) is $14.99, but for that price consumers own it. “In the Land of Saints and Sinners” (Goldwyn) with Liam Neeson is a standard $19.99 rental.
- 4/22/2024
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
Genre fans, you’re in for a treat: Bristol’s largest repertory genre film festival returns to the city next month. More below:
The Forbidden Worlds Film Festival is back in Bristol for its third consecutive year, with a line up celebrating director Peter Hyams and cinema’s deadliest women.
Running from 16th-19th May in the Bristol Aquarium Cinema, Forbidden Worlds screens repertory fantasy, action, science-fiction and horror films from around the world while celebrating the people that made them.
Check out the festival trailer below:
Should you find yourself Bristol-bound in the near future, the full schedule is available on the festival’s website and includes (but is by no means limited to) screenings of Speed, Stargate and Timecop. If that doesn’t sound enticing, I’m afraid you might have stumbled onto the wrong website.
What’s more, there’s an extra female-focused theme to some of the selections this year,...
The Forbidden Worlds Film Festival is back in Bristol for its third consecutive year, with a line up celebrating director Peter Hyams and cinema’s deadliest women.
Running from 16th-19th May in the Bristol Aquarium Cinema, Forbidden Worlds screens repertory fantasy, action, science-fiction and horror films from around the world while celebrating the people that made them.
Check out the festival trailer below:
Should you find yourself Bristol-bound in the near future, the full schedule is available on the festival’s website and includes (but is by no means limited to) screenings of Speed, Stargate and Timecop. If that doesn’t sound enticing, I’m afraid you might have stumbled onto the wrong website.
What’s more, there’s an extra female-focused theme to some of the selections this year,...
- 4/22/2024
- by James Harvey
- Film Stories
‘Kung Fu Panda 4’ retained its lead at the top of the South Korean box office on what was the quietest cinema-going weekend in more than a year.
The animated franchise movie held up reasonably. It maintained a nearly 44% market share, dropped only 32% week-on-week and was untroubled by competition from new releases. The film earned $1.91 million between Friday and Sunday, according to data from Kobis, the tracking service operated by the Korean Film Council (Kofic). After 12 days on release, “Kung Fu Panda 4” has a cumulative total of $8.48 million.
“Exhuma,” which had held the top spot for six weeks before losing it a week ago, remained in second spot. It earned $772,000 with a nearly 18% market share. Since releasing on Feb. 22, it has amassed a cumulative $82.7 million, earned from 11.8 million spectators.
While the top two films showed endurance, the overall box office market looked sickly. Across the nation’s roughly 2,500 cinemas,...
The animated franchise movie held up reasonably. It maintained a nearly 44% market share, dropped only 32% week-on-week and was untroubled by competition from new releases. The film earned $1.91 million between Friday and Sunday, according to data from Kobis, the tracking service operated by the Korean Film Council (Kofic). After 12 days on release, “Kung Fu Panda 4” has a cumulative total of $8.48 million.
“Exhuma,” which had held the top spot for six weeks before losing it a week ago, remained in second spot. It earned $772,000 with a nearly 18% market share. Since releasing on Feb. 22, it has amassed a cumulative $82.7 million, earned from 11.8 million spectators.
While the top two films showed endurance, the overall box office market looked sickly. Across the nation’s roughly 2,500 cinemas,...
- 4/22/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl Champ Marshawn Lynch (Bottoms), Mustafa Shakir, Cam Gigandet, André Eriksen, and Lio Tipton are boarding 87North and Universal’s original action movie With Love.
They join previously cast Oscar winner winners Ke Huy Quan and Ariana DeBose, as well as Daniel Wu in the pic set for release on Feb. 7, 2025. For Quan, it’s his first major leading man role post Everything, Everywhere All at Once.
The movie hails from vet stunt and fight coordinator Jonathan Eusebio who is making his feature directorial debut. Eusebio’s credits include Black Panther, The Avengers, the John Wick films, The Matrix Resurrections, Violent Night, Deadpool 2, The Fate of the Furious, Doctor Strange, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Wolverine, The Bourne Legacy and 87North’s upcoming summer kickoff title,...
They join previously cast Oscar winner winners Ke Huy Quan and Ariana DeBose, as well as Daniel Wu in the pic set for release on Feb. 7, 2025. For Quan, it’s his first major leading man role post Everything, Everywhere All at Once.
The movie hails from vet stunt and fight coordinator Jonathan Eusebio who is making his feature directorial debut. Eusebio’s credits include Black Panther, The Avengers, the John Wick films, The Matrix Resurrections, Violent Night, Deadpool 2, The Fate of the Furious, Doctor Strange, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Wolverine, The Bourne Legacy and 87North’s upcoming summer kickoff title,...
- 4/19/2024
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Cillian Murphy is Hollywood’s biggest star since he swept everyone away with his stunning performance in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer and even took home an Oscar for it — but back in 2019 not everything worked out that well for him.
The actor seemingly had high hopes — and he had all the reasons for it — for one of his movies that turned out to be a big theatrical flop. Despite that, the film is somehow doing better five years later — and recently has even entered Netflix’s top.
Back in the day, French director Luc Besson made his classic come-back with an action thriller Anna. The plot follows young Russian woman Anna, an assassin pursued by CIA and Kgb agents competing with each other while Anna herself is planning to thwart their biggest ambitions, embarking on a search for personal freedom.
Anna was indeed the director’s biggest hope — with the star-studded cast including Luke Evans,...
The actor seemingly had high hopes — and he had all the reasons for it — for one of his movies that turned out to be a big theatrical flop. Despite that, the film is somehow doing better five years later — and recently has even entered Netflix’s top.
Back in the day, French director Luc Besson made his classic come-back with an action thriller Anna. The plot follows young Russian woman Anna, an assassin pursued by CIA and Kgb agents competing with each other while Anna herself is planning to thwart their biggest ambitions, embarking on a search for personal freedom.
Anna was indeed the director’s biggest hope — with the star-studded cast including Luke Evans,...
- 4/19/2024
- by benjamin-patel@startefacts.com (Benjamin Patel)
- STartefacts.com
Each week we highlight the noteworthy titles that have recently hit streaming platforms in the United States. Check out this week’s selections below and past round-ups here.
Asphalt City (Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire)
I entered Asphalt City at last year’s EnergaCAMERIMAGE festival with nothing but morbid curiosity. Having engendered some rank responses from its Cannes premiere and not secured any known U.S. distributor, Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire’s film had the right kind of bad-object energy one needs at the jetlagged start to their week in a small Polish city. (Or just the comfort I personally get from a Brooklyn-shot feature featuring two Club Random guests.) I walked away boasting complicated, fascinated enthusiasm: nearly every second is ridiculous and never boring, and it doesn’t not deserve to play at a cinematography festival––having the most cinematography counts for something. Starting and ending with a blatant homage to The New World...
Asphalt City (Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire)
I entered Asphalt City at last year’s EnergaCAMERIMAGE festival with nothing but morbid curiosity. Having engendered some rank responses from its Cannes premiere and not secured any known U.S. distributor, Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire’s film had the right kind of bad-object energy one needs at the jetlagged start to their week in a small Polish city. (Or just the comfort I personally get from a Brooklyn-shot feature featuring two Club Random guests.) I walked away boasting complicated, fascinated enthusiasm: nearly every second is ridiculous and never boring, and it doesn’t not deserve to play at a cinematography festival––having the most cinematography counts for something. Starting and ending with a blatant homage to The New World...
- 4/19/2024
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
A judge has sided with Netflix in a legal conflict launched by a famous diver, who claimed that a movie inspired by his life falsely accused him of murder.
Judge Bruce G. Iwasaki granted Netflix’s motion to throw out the lawsuit Tuesday, finding that the diver, Pipin Ferreras, could not prove that the fictional film was about him.
“No Limit” was released on Netflix in September 2022. It tells a story “inspired by real events” of a couple, Pascal Gautier and Roxana Aubrey, who engage in free diving, plunging to extreme depths without an oxygen supply. Roxana dies on a record attempt, with the clear implication that Pascal has sabotaged her equipment.
Ferreras sued for defamation last year, alleging that the film amounted to an accusation that he had killed his wife. Audrey Mestre drowned during a free dive in 2002. Ferreras, who supervised the dive, has since faced intense criticism over his safety practices.
Judge Bruce G. Iwasaki granted Netflix’s motion to throw out the lawsuit Tuesday, finding that the diver, Pipin Ferreras, could not prove that the fictional film was about him.
“No Limit” was released on Netflix in September 2022. It tells a story “inspired by real events” of a couple, Pascal Gautier and Roxana Aubrey, who engage in free diving, plunging to extreme depths without an oxygen supply. Roxana dies on a record attempt, with the clear implication that Pascal has sabotaged her equipment.
Ferreras sued for defamation last year, alleging that the film amounted to an accusation that he had killed his wife. Audrey Mestre drowned during a free dive in 2002. Ferreras, who supervised the dive, has since faced intense criticism over his safety practices.
- 4/12/2024
- by Gene Maddaus
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Amazon has acquired world rights for Beirut-set dramedy series Self Modulation from producers Falcon Films and Arna Media, in its first ever Arabic TV series acquisition.
The series is the first project in a multi-show deal partly financed by Arna Media, which plans to invest in two projects annually with Falcon Films.
It is produced by Sobhi Sannan, Rami Sannan and Raed Sannan for Dubai and Beirut-based Falcon Films and Nadezda Motina and Aram Hovhannisyan for Moscow-based Arna Media. The ten-part, 50-minute episode series will air in Q2 2024.
The show follows Ahmad, a Syrian man living illegally in Lebanon whose life takes a dramatic turn after witnessing a tragic event. As he navigates his way through a job at a suicide hotline centre, Ahmad’s dreams of fame and recognition lead him down a path of deception and destruction.
The cast features Maxim Khalil, Carole El Hajj, Foad Yammine, Natasha Choufani, Leen Gherra and Abbas Al Nouri.
The series is written by Foad Yammine, Rami Awad and director Mayar Al Nouri, who makes his television directing debut.
“I am thrilled to collaborate with Nadezda Motina on this extraordinary project. When I introduced the concept to Arna Media, they were captivated by its originality, particularly as no similar project has been undertaken, especially within the Middle East region,” said Falcon Films Managing Director Rami Sannan.
“We are eagerly anticipating the imminent release of the series on Amazon and are eager to hear the audience’s response. From the outset, our goal has been to showcase our capability to produce content with global appeal, reaching audiences beyond the Middle East.”
Arna Media President Motina said the project had been born out of long-standing professional relationship with Sannan.
“When I decided to invest in a series for the Middle East market, I could not think of a better partner. I was sure he could create a unique product which will appeal to local and global players. When you see it, you may think this is A24 in Middle East,” said Arna Media President Nadezda Motina.
Falcon Films is an independent production and distribution company working across the Middle East.
To date it has produced more than 15 local films and five series, including for Downtown, which played on Jawwy Stc; 8 Days for Mbc Shahid, and The Chamber, which debuted on Starzplay Arabia.
On the theatrical front, the company is gearing up for the summer releases of Kevin Costner’s Horizon: An American Saga Chapter 1 & 2 and A Weekend In Taipei, produced by Luc Besson.
The series is the first project in a multi-show deal partly financed by Arna Media, which plans to invest in two projects annually with Falcon Films.
It is produced by Sobhi Sannan, Rami Sannan and Raed Sannan for Dubai and Beirut-based Falcon Films and Nadezda Motina and Aram Hovhannisyan for Moscow-based Arna Media. The ten-part, 50-minute episode series will air in Q2 2024.
The show follows Ahmad, a Syrian man living illegally in Lebanon whose life takes a dramatic turn after witnessing a tragic event. As he navigates his way through a job at a suicide hotline centre, Ahmad’s dreams of fame and recognition lead him down a path of deception and destruction.
The cast features Maxim Khalil, Carole El Hajj, Foad Yammine, Natasha Choufani, Leen Gherra and Abbas Al Nouri.
The series is written by Foad Yammine, Rami Awad and director Mayar Al Nouri, who makes his television directing debut.
“I am thrilled to collaborate with Nadezda Motina on this extraordinary project. When I introduced the concept to Arna Media, they were captivated by its originality, particularly as no similar project has been undertaken, especially within the Middle East region,” said Falcon Films Managing Director Rami Sannan.
“We are eagerly anticipating the imminent release of the series on Amazon and are eager to hear the audience’s response. From the outset, our goal has been to showcase our capability to produce content with global appeal, reaching audiences beyond the Middle East.”
Arna Media President Motina said the project had been born out of long-standing professional relationship with Sannan.
“When I decided to invest in a series for the Middle East market, I could not think of a better partner. I was sure he could create a unique product which will appeal to local and global players. When you see it, you may think this is A24 in Middle East,” said Arna Media President Nadezda Motina.
Falcon Films is an independent production and distribution company working across the Middle East.
To date it has produced more than 15 local films and five series, including for Downtown, which played on Jawwy Stc; 8 Days for Mbc Shahid, and The Chamber, which debuted on Starzplay Arabia.
On the theatrical front, the company is gearing up for the summer releases of Kevin Costner’s Horizon: An American Saga Chapter 1 & 2 and A Weekend In Taipei, produced by Luc Besson.
- 4/11/2024
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Eli Roth turned adapting the video game “Borderlands” into a mini film school for its young star Ariana Greenblatt.
Roth had Oscar winners Cate Blanchett and Jamie Lee Curtis at his disposal in the space-set sci-fi adventure film, but it was “Barbie” breakout Greenblatt (also of “65” and “In the Heights”) who he says stole the feature. Roth called Greenblatt’s performance in his new film reminiscent of Natalie Portman’s turn in Luc Besson’s controversial crime thriller “Leon: The Professional.”
Pretty good company there.
As it turns out, “Leon: The Professional” is one of Greenblatt’s faves. The young actress (16 now, 13 when she auditioned for “Borderlands,” actually has quite the film palate considering her age. Especially now.
Roth assigned Greenblatt “My Dinner with Andre” to prepare for her “Borderlands” role — “just to fuck with her,” he added. But she dutifully watched it — and as Roth recalled, Greenblatt really dug “the dessert scene.
Roth had Oscar winners Cate Blanchett and Jamie Lee Curtis at his disposal in the space-set sci-fi adventure film, but it was “Barbie” breakout Greenblatt (also of “65” and “In the Heights”) who he says stole the feature. Roth called Greenblatt’s performance in his new film reminiscent of Natalie Portman’s turn in Luc Besson’s controversial crime thriller “Leon: The Professional.”
Pretty good company there.
As it turns out, “Leon: The Professional” is one of Greenblatt’s faves. The young actress (16 now, 13 when she auditioned for “Borderlands,” actually has quite the film palate considering her age. Especially now.
Roth assigned Greenblatt “My Dinner with Andre” to prepare for her “Borderlands” role — “just to fuck with her,” he added. But she dutifully watched it — and as Roth recalled, Greenblatt really dug “the dessert scene.
- 4/10/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson and Brian Welk
- Indiewire
Exclusive: Here’s some more intriguing casting for Luc Besson’s big-budget reimagining of the Dracula story, Dracula – A Love Tale.
Zoë Bleu (Gonzo Girl), daughter of actress Rosanna Arquette, is joining as Elisabeta/Mina, while rising Italian actress Matilda De Angelis, who plays the lead in Agbo and Amazon’s upcoming Citadel: Diana, will play Mina’s friend Maria. These are the roles played by Winona Ryder and Sadie Frost, respectively, in Francis Ford Coppola’s 1992 version (though Mina’s friend in that film and the book is called Lucy).
As we revealed in February, Caleb Landry Jones (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri) is playing Dracula and two-time Oscar winner Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds) is understood to be playing the role of a priest.
Lucy and Leon filmmaker and Taken creator Besson is in pre-production on the movie, which will shoot next month in France. Additional casting is underway.
Zoë Bleu (Gonzo Girl), daughter of actress Rosanna Arquette, is joining as Elisabeta/Mina, while rising Italian actress Matilda De Angelis, who plays the lead in Agbo and Amazon’s upcoming Citadel: Diana, will play Mina’s friend Maria. These are the roles played by Winona Ryder and Sadie Frost, respectively, in Francis Ford Coppola’s 1992 version (though Mina’s friend in that film and the book is called Lucy).
As we revealed in February, Caleb Landry Jones (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri) is playing Dracula and two-time Oscar winner Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds) is understood to be playing the role of a priest.
Lucy and Leon filmmaker and Taken creator Besson is in pre-production on the movie, which will shoot next month in France. Additional casting is underway.
- 4/5/2024
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
In the latest feature from Luc Besson, a young man seeks revenge in an original fashion. Caleb Landry Jones is fantastic as the DogMan. As ‘Douglas Munroe,’ the actor is given the chance to take on the role fearlessly. The story revolves around a man who was horribly abused. His love and appreciation of dogs follows him into his adult years, leaving him angry at the world around him. And thankfully, he trains man’s best friend to take care of other, not-so-nice, people in his life. The film also stars Jojo T. Gibbs and the two are terrific together.
Recently, we spoke with Caleb Landry Jones and Jojo T. Gibbs about the film. Caleb opened up about working with Luc Besson and taking on such a powerful role. For Ms. Gibbs, she discussed working with Caleb and both of the two seemingly found inspiration working off of each other.
Recently, we spoke with Caleb Landry Jones and Jojo T. Gibbs about the film. Caleb opened up about working with Luc Besson and taking on such a powerful role. For Ms. Gibbs, she discussed working with Caleb and both of the two seemingly found inspiration working off of each other.
- 4/3/2024
- by JimmyO
- JoBlo.com
Easter is behind us, we’re into a new month, and we’re fully into spring … and yet, the box office might be hitting another lull. Read on for Gold Derby’s box office preview.
There aren’t many scenarios where “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” doesn’t win its second weekend at #1. Even with a steep drop from its Easter opening, it should still be able to bring in another $30 million this coming weekend, which will be hard to beat.
It might be a coin flip on which of the other two new wide releases might do better, but I have to give a slight edge to “The First Omen,” 20th Century’s prequel to a horror franchise that began all the way back in 1976 with the horror film, “The Omen,” directed by Richard Donner pre-“Superman.” That led to two sequels in 1978 and 1981, even though the original...
There aren’t many scenarios where “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” doesn’t win its second weekend at #1. Even with a steep drop from its Easter opening, it should still be able to bring in another $30 million this coming weekend, which will be hard to beat.
It might be a coin flip on which of the other two new wide releases might do better, but I have to give a slight edge to “The First Omen,” 20th Century’s prequel to a horror franchise that began all the way back in 1976 with the horror film, “The Omen,” directed by Richard Donner pre-“Superman.” That led to two sequels in 1978 and 1981, even though the original...
- 4/3/2024
- by Edward Douglas
- Gold Derby
Clockwise from left: The Big Lebowski (Working Title Films/Gramercy Pictures), Barber (Fubar Films), Stars At Noon (Canal+)Image: The A.V. Club
For the first full month of spring, Hulu adds some fan-favorite films as well as some recent indie movies before the summer movie season begins and we turn our attention to big-budget blockbusters.
For the first full month of spring, Hulu adds some fan-favorite films as well as some recent indie movies before the summer movie season begins and we turn our attention to big-budget blockbusters.
- 4/2/2024
- by Robert DeSalvo
- avclub.com
Clockwise from left: Anyone But You (Sony Pictures Releasing), Rebel Moon: Part Two – The Scargiver (Netflix), Scoop (Netflix) Image: The A.V. Club
Netflix adds a few high-profile originals and a recent rom-com blockbuster to kick off the first full month of spring. Rebel Moon: Part Two – The Scargiver is the...
Netflix adds a few high-profile originals and a recent rom-com blockbuster to kick off the first full month of spring. Rebel Moon: Part Two – The Scargiver is the...
- 4/1/2024
- by Robert DeSalvo
- avclub.com
In this week’s episode of The Discourse, host Mike DeAngelo digs into the film “DogMan” with writer/director Luc Besson (“The Fifth Element,” “Leon: The Professional,” “Valerian And The City Of A Thousand Planets.”). The film follows Doug (Caleb Landry Jones), a young, crippled, abandoned man, beaten down by a tough life who has a supernatural connection to his canine companions.
Continue reading ‘DogMan’: Luc Besson On His Divisive Dog-Eat-Dog Drama, Gary Oldman’s “Genius” & More ‘Valerian’ [The Discourse Podcast] at The Playlist.
Continue reading ‘DogMan’: Luc Besson On His Divisive Dog-Eat-Dog Drama, Gary Oldman’s “Genius” & More ‘Valerian’ [The Discourse Podcast] at The Playlist.
- 4/1/2024
- by Mike DeAngelo
- The Playlist
When Quentin Tarantino begins production on his upcoming film “The Movie Critic,” it is expected to mark the fulfillment of his highly publicized pledge to retire after directing 10 movies. Tarantino has long been outspoken about his desire to step away from filmmaking at the top of his game and cited his plan to limit himself to 10 films as a reason he passed on directing an R-rated “Star Trek” movie for Paramount. But while Tarantino’s retirement plans are well-documented, he might not have been the one to come up with the idea.
In an upcoming interview on The Discourse Podcast (via The Playlist), Luc Besson claimed that Tarantino copied his idea to retire after 10 films. While Besson did not stick to the plan, he said that his idea stuck with Tarantino as the “Pulp Fiction” director plotted his career.
“What’s funny is that I said that to Tarantino a long time ago,...
In an upcoming interview on The Discourse Podcast (via The Playlist), Luc Besson claimed that Tarantino copied his idea to retire after 10 films. While Besson did not stick to the plan, he said that his idea stuck with Tarantino as the “Pulp Fiction” director plotted his career.
“What’s funny is that I said that to Tarantino a long time ago,...
- 3/30/2024
- by Christian Zilko
- Indiewire
From director Luc Besson (The Fifth Element) comes the must-see thriller about a vicious street punk turned sexy, sophisticated and lethally dangerous assassin. Starring Anne Parillaud, Jeanne Moreau and Jean Reno, La Femme Nikita is “slick, stylish and tremendously entertaining” (The New York Times)! Rescued from death row by a top-secret agency, Nikita (Anne Parillaud) is slowly transformed from a cop-killing junkie into a cold-blooded bombshell with a license to kill. But when she begins the deadliest mission of her career, only to fall for a man who knows nothing of her true identity, Nikita discovers that in the dark and ruthless ... Read more...
- 3/29/2024
- by Thomas Miller
- Seat42F
It’s been a tumultuous few years for French filmmaker Luc Besson, to put it mildly. But with #MeToo allegations outwardly behind him and the director seemingly exonerated, it appears to be full steam ahead for the “Fifth Element” and “Leon: The Professional” director. After a four-year absence from the screen, his latest effort is the drama “DogMan,” starring Caleb Landry Jones, about a boy bruised by life who finds his salvation through the love of his dogs.
Continue reading Luc Besson Says ‘Lucy 2’ Sequel Is News To Him & Addresses Natalie Portman’s Negative Thoughts On ‘Leon’ at The Playlist.
Continue reading Luc Besson Says ‘Lucy 2’ Sequel Is News To Him & Addresses Natalie Portman’s Negative Thoughts On ‘Leon’ at The Playlist.
- 3/29/2024
- by Edward Davis
- The Playlist
Luc Besson is back in US theaters with “Dogman,” and he’s already hard at work on his upcoming adaptation of “Dracula” with Caleb Landry Jones. “I started shooting it already,” Besson said in an upcoming interview with The Discourse Podcast. “It comes from the from the Bram Stoker tale, but the vision for me is a love story between him and his princess – like in the book.
Continue reading Luc Besson Says He Gave Tarantino The Idea For The 10-Film Retirement Plan & Says He Has 3 Films Left at The Playlist.
Continue reading Luc Besson Says He Gave Tarantino The Idea For The 10-Film Retirement Plan & Says He Has 3 Films Left at The Playlist.
- 3/29/2024
- by Ned Booth
- The Playlist
Last month, it was announced that Luc Besson would be making Dracula movie called Dracula: A Love Tale, which is meant to be a “big-budget reimagining” of the Dracula concept that will feature “some epic and potentially spectacular set pieces.” When the announcement was made, Christoph Waltz, who won Oscars for his performances in the Quentin Tarantino films Inglourious Basterds and Django Unchained, was already on board to star in the film alongside Caleb Landry Jones, who just worked with Besson on his most recent film, Dogman. Just one month later, Besson has revealed to the folks at Collider that his Dracula is already filming in Finland, with production expected to go on until the end of July.
Besson told the site, “I’ve started already. I’m gonna make another movie with Mr. Caleb Landry Jones and Mr. Christoph Waltz — Dracula . I started a few days ago in Lapland in the north.
Besson told the site, “I’ve started already. I’m gonna make another movie with Mr. Caleb Landry Jones and Mr. Christoph Waltz — Dracula . I started a few days ago in Lapland in the north.
- 3/28/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Synopsis
From director Luc Besson (The Fifth Element) comes the must-see thriller about a vicious street punk turned sexy, sophisticated, and lethally dangerous assassin. Starring Anne Parillaud, Jeanne Moreau, and Jean Reno, La Femme Nikita is “slick, stylish, and tremendously entertaining” (The New York Times)! Rescued from death row by a top-secret agency, Nikita (Anne Parillaud) is slowly transformed from a cop-killing junkie into a cold-blooded bombshell with a license to kill. But when she begins the deadliest mission of her career, only to fall for a man who knows nothing of her true identity, Nikita discovers that in the dark and ruthless world of espionage, the greatest casualty of all…is true love.
Disc Details And Bonus Materials
4K Ultra HD Disc
• Restored from the original camera negative and presented in 4K resolution with Dolby Vision
• French & English 5.1 + French 2-Channel Surround
This 4K Uhd release does not include a...
From director Luc Besson (The Fifth Element) comes the must-see thriller about a vicious street punk turned sexy, sophisticated, and lethally dangerous assassin. Starring Anne Parillaud, Jeanne Moreau, and Jean Reno, La Femme Nikita is “slick, stylish, and tremendously entertaining” (The New York Times)! Rescued from death row by a top-secret agency, Nikita (Anne Parillaud) is slowly transformed from a cop-killing junkie into a cold-blooded bombshell with a license to kill. But when she begins the deadliest mission of her career, only to fall for a man who knows nothing of her true identity, Nikita discovers that in the dark and ruthless world of espionage, the greatest casualty of all…is true love.
Disc Details And Bonus Materials
4K Ultra HD Disc
• Restored from the original camera negative and presented in 4K resolution with Dolby Vision
• French & English 5.1 + French 2-Channel Surround
This 4K Uhd release does not include a...
- 3/28/2024
- by ComicMix Staff
- Comicmix.com
Redhead Caleb Landry Jones got lucky on his first audition, at age 17. His father took a day off from work and drove him from Garland, Texas, to Dallas for a try-out, then to Austin for a callback with the Coen brothers, for a role as “the boy on the bike” in eventual Best Picture Oscar-winner “No Country for Old Men” (2007). Little did Jones know, as he launched his acting career, that he would join the ensemble on “X-Men: First Class” (2011) or win Best Actor at Cannes for playing a mass murderer in “Nitram” (2021), or that one critic would dub him “a menacing oddball character actor.”
When I read that quote to Jones over Zoom, he paused for a moment and said, “That sounds Ok to me. I heard ‘actor,’ so that sounded good.”
The Coens did Jones a huge favor, he said. “Javier Bardem. Not a bad person to see...
When I read that quote to Jones over Zoom, he paused for a moment and said, “That sounds Ok to me. I heard ‘actor,’ so that sounded good.”
The Coens did Jones a huge favor, he said. “Javier Bardem. Not a bad person to see...
- 3/27/2024
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
Exclusive: Briarcliff Entertainment has acquired domestic rights to the comedy Not Another Church Movie, starring Jamie Foxx, Vivica A. Fox, Kevin Daniels, Mickey Rourke and more, slating it for a wide release in theaters on May 10th.
Daniels leads the ensemble as Taylor Pherry (his P is silent), an ambitious young man given a holy mission from God Himself: to tell his family’s stories and inspire his community. What he doesn’t know is that the Devil has plans of his own. Foxx plays God, with Rourke as The Devil, in the film directed by Johnny Mack.
A Monty the Dog Production, the film was produced by James Michael Cummings and former Warner Bros executive Jim Cardwell, with Valerie McCaffrey serving as executive producer. Tisha Campbell, Jasmine Guy, Kyla Pratt and Lamorne Morris co-star.
“A huge credit to Johnny Mack, James Michael Cummings and the entire cast and crew...
Daniels leads the ensemble as Taylor Pherry (his P is silent), an ambitious young man given a holy mission from God Himself: to tell his family’s stories and inspire his community. What he doesn’t know is that the Devil has plans of his own. Foxx plays God, with Rourke as The Devil, in the film directed by Johnny Mack.
A Monty the Dog Production, the film was produced by James Michael Cummings and former Warner Bros executive Jim Cardwell, with Valerie McCaffrey serving as executive producer. Tisha Campbell, Jasmine Guy, Kyla Pratt and Lamorne Morris co-star.
“A huge credit to Johnny Mack, James Michael Cummings and the entire cast and crew...
- 3/27/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
4K just got a whole lot sharper, as Sony will release Luc Besson’s 1990 action-thriller La Femme Nikita on the format in June, joining other Besson films like 1994’s The Professional and 1997’s The Fifth Element on the format. This release — which comes in a slick steel book — is restored from the original camera negative, with a 4K image that boasts 2160p Ultra High Definition.
Here is Sony’s official writeup for the movie: “From director Luc Besson (The Fifth Element) comes the must-see thriller about a vicious street punk turned sexy, sophisticated and lethally dangerous assassin. Starring Anne Parillaud, Jeanne Moreau and Jean Reno, La Femme Nikita is “slick, stylish and tremendously entertaining” (The New York Times)! Rescued from death row by a top-secret agency, Nikita (Anne Parillaud) is slowly transformed from a cop-killing junkie into a cold-blooded bombshell with a license to kill. But when she begins the deadliest mission of her career,...
Here is Sony’s official writeup for the movie: “From director Luc Besson (The Fifth Element) comes the must-see thriller about a vicious street punk turned sexy, sophisticated and lethally dangerous assassin. Starring Anne Parillaud, Jeanne Moreau and Jean Reno, La Femme Nikita is “slick, stylish and tremendously entertaining” (The New York Times)! Rescued from death row by a top-secret agency, Nikita (Anne Parillaud) is slowly transformed from a cop-killing junkie into a cold-blooded bombshell with a license to kill. But when she begins the deadliest mission of her career,...
- 3/26/2024
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
The Sudanese drama Goodbye Julia is continuing its impressive awards run, earning the Grand Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature over the weekend at the Sonoma International Film Festival in California.
Mohamed Kordofani directed the story set in the context of the secessionist movement that led to the establishment of the independent nation of South Sudan in 2011.
“We commend the festival for its impressive selection of narrative features and unanimously select Goodbye Julia as the best film,” jurors wrote. “An outstanding first feature from Mohamed Kordofani, anchored by two stellar performances from Eiman Yousif and Siran Riak, Goodbye Julia provides a glimpse into a culture and region that’s underrepresented and underexplored in contemporary cinema.”
The jury, comprised of Rosa Bosch (Begin Again Films), Tyler Coates (The Hollywood Reporter), Rebecca Fisher (Magnolia Pictures), Jason Hellerstein (Sideshow), and Julie Huntsinger (Telluride Film Festival), awarded a Special Mention to Hesitation Wound, describing...
Mohamed Kordofani directed the story set in the context of the secessionist movement that led to the establishment of the independent nation of South Sudan in 2011.
“We commend the festival for its impressive selection of narrative features and unanimously select Goodbye Julia as the best film,” jurors wrote. “An outstanding first feature from Mohamed Kordofani, anchored by two stellar performances from Eiman Yousif and Siran Riak, Goodbye Julia provides a glimpse into a culture and region that’s underrepresented and underexplored in contemporary cinema.”
The jury, comprised of Rosa Bosch (Begin Again Films), Tyler Coates (The Hollywood Reporter), Rebecca Fisher (Magnolia Pictures), Jason Hellerstein (Sideshow), and Julie Huntsinger (Telluride Film Festival), awarded a Special Mention to Hesitation Wound, describing...
- 3/25/2024
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
Chicago – In one of the more unusual film releases of late, Caleb Landry Jones and Jojo T. Gibbs are the feature lead actors in “Dogman,” opening in Chicago on March 29th and wider on April 5th. Written and directed by Luc Besson (“The Fifth Element’), the film defies convention in a story that is multi-faceted and symbolic.
The DogMan is Doug (Caleb Landry Jones) and as the movie begins we see him busted by New Jersey law enforcement, where they find several dogs in his truck, and he’s also in drag as Marilyn Monroe. Wanting to get into his motivations, they put their psychiatrist Evelyn (Jojo T. Gibbs) on the case, and she begins to unravel the DogMan’s life, which includes childhood abuse, paralysis and Shakespeare. He also has a psychic connection to the dogs he keeps, using them as an army to protect and do break-ins for him.
The DogMan is Doug (Caleb Landry Jones) and as the movie begins we see him busted by New Jersey law enforcement, where they find several dogs in his truck, and he’s also in drag as Marilyn Monroe. Wanting to get into his motivations, they put their psychiatrist Evelyn (Jojo T. Gibbs) on the case, and she begins to unravel the DogMan’s life, which includes childhood abuse, paralysis and Shakespeare. He also has a psychic connection to the dogs he keeps, using them as an army to protect and do break-ins for him.
- 3/25/2024
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
The 27th Sonoma International Film Festival (March 20-24), as always, leaned into wine and food with the sold-out opening night U.S. premiere of Thomas Napper’s “Widow Clicquot” (Vertical Entertainment), starring Haley Bennett as the woman who saves the legendary winemaker’s legacy. The wine country film festival drew its highest audience attendance to date with a robust film slate programmed by artistic director Carl Spence (working with Executive Director Ginny Krieger), in his second year, including upcoming specialty fare like Luc Besson’s “DogMan” (Briarcliff Entertainment) starring Caleb Landry Jones in an incendiary performance, and Sony Pictures Classics’ raucous comedy “Wicked Little Letters,” starring Olivia Colman, along with a smattering of yummy wine and food events.
The five-day festival curated by Spence along with senior programmers Amanda Salazar and Ken Jacobson, showcased more than 100 films. Twenty-five countries were represented in this year’s lineup of 43 narrative features, 16 documentary features,...
The five-day festival curated by Spence along with senior programmers Amanda Salazar and Ken Jacobson, showcased more than 100 films. Twenty-five countries were represented in this year’s lineup of 43 narrative features, 16 documentary features,...
- 3/24/2024
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
Luc Besson’s Dogman is in search of some kind of distinctive armature on which to hang its psychoanalytical and philosophical ramblings. Which is ironic considering that Douglas Munrow (Caleb Landry Jones), the paralyzed “Dogman” of the film’s title, makes much ado about having discovered his voice through drag, pontificating on the value of disguises and lip-synching while dressed as Édith Piaf, Marlene Dietrich, and Marilyn Monroe. All the while, Jones plays the dog-loving avenger as a puzzling riff on Heath Ledger and Joaquin Phoenix’s Oscar-winning performances as the Joker. It’s a performance that, like much of the film, flits between telegraphing seriousness and wanting to be understood as camp.
Doug was abused and abandoned as a child, and after embracing his ostracization as an adult, he began taking in stray dogs and playing the part of the Pied Piper by having his “babies” burglarize the wealthy and take down criminals.
Doug was abused and abandoned as a child, and after embracing his ostracization as an adult, he began taking in stray dogs and playing the part of the Pied Piper by having his “babies” burglarize the wealthy and take down criminals.
- 3/24/2024
- by Clayton Dillard
- Slant Magazine
Exclusive: Ketchup Entertainment has acquired North American rights to the action film Weekend in Taipei, produced by EuropaCorp’s Luc Besson and Virginie Besson-Silla, and starring Luke Evans (Murder Mystery), Gwei Lun-Mei and Sung Kang (Fast & Furious franchise).
The film from director George Huang (Swimming with Sharks) has been slated for a wide theatrical release this year, with further details on the worldwide roll-out planned by EuropaCorp still to come.
Co-written by Huang and Besson, Weekend in Taipei follows John Lawlor, a pit-bull DEA agent married to his job. There’s not a bad guy he can’t stop, nothing he won’t sacrifice to close out a case. Joey Kwang is a top “Transporter” in Taipei — fast-driving and fast-thinking, she’s difficult to pin down, impossible to catch. The two of them weren’t supposed to fall in love, but fate brought them together…...
The film from director George Huang (Swimming with Sharks) has been slated for a wide theatrical release this year, with further details on the worldwide roll-out planned by EuropaCorp still to come.
Co-written by Huang and Besson, Weekend in Taipei follows John Lawlor, a pit-bull DEA agent married to his job. There’s not a bad guy he can’t stop, nothing he won’t sacrifice to close out a case. Joey Kwang is a top “Transporter” in Taipei — fast-driving and fast-thinking, she’s difficult to pin down, impossible to catch. The two of them weren’t supposed to fall in love, but fate brought them together…...
- 3/22/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Fashion, East-West Asian identities, corporate espionage and romance are on the agenda in “Morning, Paris!,” a new mini-series project being pitched at Series Mania by veteran filmmaker Quentin Lee.
“’Morning, Paris!’ is a heartfelt comedy about a young modern Bipoc Canadian woman discovering herself in the most romantic city in the world,” says Lee. “Or put another way, it is a limited television series about an aspiring female fashion designer from Vancouver who ends up in Paris Fashion week with a very unlikely companion because she wants to spy on her boss on whom she has a crush. It’s ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ meets Robert Atman’s ‘Prêt-à-Porter’ with the sensibility of Woody Allen’s ‘Midnight in Paris’.”
The project was not always so simply defined. It was previously conceived as a feature film that was pitched at the Golden Horse Film Festival a decade ago, and which mainland...
“’Morning, Paris!’ is a heartfelt comedy about a young modern Bipoc Canadian woman discovering herself in the most romantic city in the world,” says Lee. “Or put another way, it is a limited television series about an aspiring female fashion designer from Vancouver who ends up in Paris Fashion week with a very unlikely companion because she wants to spy on her boss on whom she has a crush. It’s ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ meets Robert Atman’s ‘Prêt-à-Porter’ with the sensibility of Woody Allen’s ‘Midnight in Paris’.”
The project was not always so simply defined. It was previously conceived as a feature film that was pitched at the Golden Horse Film Festival a decade ago, and which mainland...
- 3/20/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
To celebrate the release of Dogman starring Caleb Landry Jones – out 11th March on Blu-ray, DVD & Digital – we have a Blu-ray up for grabs!
The latest film from Luc Besson – the visionary filmmaker The Fifth Element, La Femme Nikita and the Transporter series – Dogman won the Graffetta d’Oro for Best Film at the 2023 Venice Film Festival. It’s extraordinary, intense and heartfelt – everything you’d expect from the unique and uncompromising mind of Besson.
Caleb Landry Jones (Cannes winner for Best Actor for Nitram) stars as Doug, a troubled man who finds salvation through his canine friends. The cast also includes Jojo T Gibbs (Fresh), Christopher Denham (Billions), Clemens Schick (Das Boot), and Marisa Berenson (Barry Lyndon). Featuring an emotive score by Besson’s longtime collaborator Éric Serra (Léon), and exquisitely filmed by Colin Wandersman (Pandemonium), Dogman features production design by César award winner Hugues Tissandier (The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec...
The latest film from Luc Besson – the visionary filmmaker The Fifth Element, La Femme Nikita and the Transporter series – Dogman won the Graffetta d’Oro for Best Film at the 2023 Venice Film Festival. It’s extraordinary, intense and heartfelt – everything you’d expect from the unique and uncompromising mind of Besson.
Caleb Landry Jones (Cannes winner for Best Actor for Nitram) stars as Doug, a troubled man who finds salvation through his canine friends. The cast also includes Jojo T Gibbs (Fresh), Christopher Denham (Billions), Clemens Schick (Das Boot), and Marisa Berenson (Barry Lyndon). Featuring an emotive score by Besson’s longtime collaborator Éric Serra (Léon), and exquisitely filmed by Colin Wandersman (Pandemonium), Dogman features production design by César award winner Hugues Tissandier (The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec...
- 3/14/2024
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
Talk To Me breakout star Sophie Wilde is set to appear in Watch Dogs, a long-in-gestation adaptation of Ubisoft’s hacking-based videogame series.
As such Hollywood films as Blackhat and Hackers have taught us, only the coolest and most photogenic people engage in cybercrime. The cool-and-trendy-hacker theme was continued in Watch Dogs, a series of sandbox action adventure videogames first published by Ubisoft in 2014.
Spawning a hit franchise comprising two sequels and counting, Watch Dogs sees high-tech outlaws cause all kinds of digital mischief in cities around the world, with each game taking in stealth, driving, fisticuffs, shooting and tinkering with electronic devices.
A film adaptation based on the series was first floated by Ubisoft Motion Pictures back in 2013, before the original game was even released. The division’s plans for a multitude of movies based on its games took something of a body blow, however, when 2016’s Assassin’s Creed,...
As such Hollywood films as Blackhat and Hackers have taught us, only the coolest and most photogenic people engage in cybercrime. The cool-and-trendy-hacker theme was continued in Watch Dogs, a series of sandbox action adventure videogames first published by Ubisoft in 2014.
Spawning a hit franchise comprising two sequels and counting, Watch Dogs sees high-tech outlaws cause all kinds of digital mischief in cities around the world, with each game taking in stealth, driving, fisticuffs, shooting and tinkering with electronic devices.
A film adaptation based on the series was first floated by Ubisoft Motion Pictures back in 2013, before the original game was even released. The division’s plans for a multitude of movies based on its games took something of a body blow, however, when 2016’s Assassin’s Creed,...
- 3/11/2024
- by Ryan Lambie
- Film Stories
To celebrate the release of Dogman starring Caleb Landry Jones – out 11th March on Blu-ray, DVD & Digital – we have a Blu-Ray up for grabs!
he latest film from Luc Besson – the visionary filmmaker The Fifth Element, La Femme Nikita and the Transporter series – Dogman won the Graffetta d’Oro for Best Film at the 2023 Venice Film Festival. It’s extraordinary, intense and heartfelt – everything you’d expect from the unique and uncompromising mind of Besson.
Caleb Landry Jones (Cannes winner for Best Actor for Nitram) stars as Doug, a troubled man who finds salvation through his canine friends. The cast also includes Jojo T Gibbs (Fresh), Christopher Denham (Billions), Clemens Schick (Das Boot), and Marisa Berenson (Barry Lyndon).
Featuring an emotive score by Besson’s longtime collaborator Éric Serra (Léon), and exquisitely filmed by Colin Wandersman (Pandemonium), Dogman features production design by César award winner Hugues Tissandier (The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec...
he latest film from Luc Besson – the visionary filmmaker The Fifth Element, La Femme Nikita and the Transporter series – Dogman won the Graffetta d’Oro for Best Film at the 2023 Venice Film Festival. It’s extraordinary, intense and heartfelt – everything you’d expect from the unique and uncompromising mind of Besson.
Caleb Landry Jones (Cannes winner for Best Actor for Nitram) stars as Doug, a troubled man who finds salvation through his canine friends. The cast also includes Jojo T Gibbs (Fresh), Christopher Denham (Billions), Clemens Schick (Das Boot), and Marisa Berenson (Barry Lyndon).
Featuring an emotive score by Besson’s longtime collaborator Éric Serra (Léon), and exquisitely filmed by Colin Wandersman (Pandemonium), Dogman features production design by César award winner Hugues Tissandier (The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec...
- 3/9/2024
- by Competitions
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
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