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Having conquered Bollywood before moving to Hollywood in the mid-2010s, Priyanka Chopra Jonas now has her sights on new challenges. In October 2024, she hired veteran producer Anne Carey as president of film and TV of her shingle, Purple Pebble Pictures.

Attending the Red Sea Film Festival for a special tribute – which will be presented at an awards ceremony on Dec. 12 – the actor spoke to Variety about her upcoming projects and ambitions as an actor and producer.

Having starred in Bollywood hits such as “Krrish,” “Fashion” and “Bajirao Mastani,” her first major international role was in the ABC thriller series “Quantico.” Offscreen, she has appeared on Time’s 100 Most Influential People list and Forbes’ World’s 100 Most Powerful Women list.

“When I started in the business in India, I didn’t have any family members making movies, but through a combination of hard work, luck and perhaps destiny, I’ve...

Halloween is the time of year when horror appeals to all ages and backgrounds, but especially so for the young and young at heart. Luckily, there’s no shortage of family-friendly frights on streaming or network TV. If you’ve already grown tired of the familiar staples that include enduring favorites like Hocus Pocus, Halloweentown, Casper, Coraline, Don’t Look Under the Bed, Beetlejuice, and more, here’s the list for you.

This streaming guide is almost entirely dedicated to gateway horror titles released within the last decade, save for one deep-cut gem that’s finally found its way on streaming. Many of them are set on or around Halloween, ensuring proper spooky season viewing.

For those looking for brand new family frights to sink their fangs into this Halloween season, don’t miss these movies and shows.

A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting – Netflix

Set around Halloween, A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting...

Temuera Morrison, Zack Morris, David Field, Pacharo Mzembe and Gideon Mzembe have joined the cast of Amazon MGM Studios’ period feature The Bluff starring Priyanka Chopra Jonas.

Frank E. Flowers (Bob Marley: One Love) directs the film from a script he co-wrote with Joe Ballarini. Previously announced castmembers include Chopra Jonas, Karl Urban, Ismael Cruz Cordova, Safia Oakley-Green and Vedanten Naidoo.

The Bluff centers on a former pirate (Chopra Jonas) who attempts to keep her family safe when she is confronted with her dangerous past. The project will debut on Prime Video on a yet-to-be-announced release date.

Producing the movie are Anthony Russo, Joe Russo, Angela Russo-Otstot and Michael Disco for Agbo, along with Chopra Jonas and Cinestar Pictures’ Cisely Saldana and Mariel Saldana. Serving as executive producers alongside Flowers and Ballarini are Chris Castaldi, Ari Costa and Kassee Whiting for Agbo, Zoe Saldaña for Cinestar Pictures, and Thorsten Schumacher for Rocket Science.

Actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas recently shared a video showcasing her bloodied appearance from the set of her upcoming action film, ‘The Bluff,’ filmed in Australia. The footage highlights intense action sequences and the realistic bruises she endured on her leg and shoulder during filming.

Priyanka Chopra Jonas: Instagram Updates

Priyanka posted the video on Instagram, portraying her in a black sleeveless top with fake blood on her cheeks, neck, and chest. Priyanka humorously remarked, “When you do action movies, it’s really glamorous. Another day at the office.”

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Family Moments and Co-star Appearances

The carousel of photos includes Priyanka’s two-year-old daughter, Malti Marie Jonas, wearing oversized green shades. There are also snapshots with her girl gang and co-star Karl Urban. Additionally, images show the injuries sustained by Priyanka during the rigorous shoot.

About ‘The Bluff’

‘The Bluff,’ a...

Romantic Reunion

India’s Zee Studios has set a late November theatrical release for “Dhadak 2,” a romance film challenging societal norms.

The film is a sequel to 2016 hit “Dhadak,” that was itself a Hindi remake of the Marathi film “Sairat.” The 2016 title starred Ishaan Khatter and Janhvi Kapoor, as well as the late Sridevi.

The new film is directed by Shazia Iqbal and stars Siddhant Chaturvedi and Triptii Dimri in lead roles. Plot details were scarce, though Zee teased it with the logline: [the film] “explores barriers of class and status stitched in the minds of societies, underscoring a narrative of love that can never be fulfilled. Or can it?”

Production is by Zee Studios, Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions, and Cloud 9 Pictures and is slated for release on Nov. 22, 2024, a slot that falls neatly between Diwali and Christmas.

Watch the teaser here:

Calling Her Bluff

Production is set to...

Citadel star Priyanka Chopra Jonas is re-teaming with the Russo Brothers and their production company Agbo Studios for the pirate movie The Bluff, which is in development at Amazon MGM Studios.

Per Deadline, The Boys' Karl Urban is also in talks for a role in The Bluff, which will be set in the 19th-century Caribbean and follow "a former female pirate (Chopra Jonas) who must protect her family when the mysterious sins of her past catch up to her." Frank E. Flowers, who co-wrote the recent box office hit Bob Marley: One Love, will direct The Bluff from a screenplay he co-wrote with Joe Ballarini, with Anthony and Joe Russo attached as producers. The movie, which is eyeing a spring production start in Australia, will stream exclusively on Prime Video.

Related Lotr: The Rings of Power Season 3 in Early Development at Amazon The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power...

Actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas is set to come on board for ‘The Bluff’ directed by Frank E Flowers. The project might also star Karl Urban, who is known for the streaming series ‘The Boys’, as he is in talks for the project. Flowers, who also co-wrote ‘The Bluff’, has also written ‘Bob Marley: One Love’, which has been on top spot for the past two weeks. The movie shot past $120 million worldwide, reports Deadline.

Set in the 19th century Caribbean, ‘The Bluff’, which is an Agbo Studios and Amazon MGM Studios movie, follows a former female pirate (played by Priyanka), who must protect her family when the mysterious sins of her past catch up to her.

As per Deadline, the film, which is targeting a spring production start in Australia and will be available to stream on Prime Video.

Flowers co-wrote the screenplay for ‘The Bluff’ with Joe Ballarini.

Producers include Agbo’s Anthony Russo,...

Exclusive: Priyanka Chopra Jonas is set to star in The Bluff, the Agbo Studios and Amazon MGM Studios movie being directed by Frank E. Flowers. Prime Video’s The Boys Karl Urban is in talks to star.

Flowers, who also co-wrote The Bluff, is hot off writing this past two weeks’ No. 1 hit Bob Marley: One Love, which shot past $120 million worldwide.

Set in the 19th century Caribbean, The Bluff follows a former female pirate (Chopra Jonas) who must protect her family when the mysterious sins of her past catch up to her.

The film, which is targeting a spring production start in Australia and will be available to stream on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide, will further solidify the relationships among Amazon MGM Studios, Agbo and Chopra Jonas following last year’s debut of the global franchise Citadel. Following its April 28 release, the spy thriller...

The Dance of the Dead episode of Best Horror Movie You Never Saw was Written by Cody Hamman, Narrated by Jason Hewlett, Edited by Juan Jimenez, Produced by John Fallon and Tyler Nichols, and Executive Produced by Berge Garabedian.

Did you ever wonder what it would be like if the zombie apocalypse coincided with prom night? The dead rising from their graves, calling out for brains. Disrupting the school event that’s supposed to be a great, memorable moment in a teen’s life. That’s what happens in the 2008 film Dance of the Dead (watch it Here). Which would have been a great sequel to The Return of the Living Dead if it were part of that franchise. And if you haven’t seen it, it’s definitely The Best Horror Movie You Never Saw.

Although Dance of the Dead was released in 2008, the first draft of the screenplay was written eleven years earlier.

Exclusive: A hot package has just dropped late in the day at the EFM and has cooked up the first big deal on the ground in Berlin.

Zoe Saldaña and Agbo action-survival pic The Bluff, which a couple years ago was set up at Netflix, has now been brought to market by Rocket Science and CAA and has already been snapped up by Amazon Prime Video for all of international, we understand.

This was a very lucrative deal just agreed today in the 20M range after strong interest from a host of buyers.

Set in the 19th century Caribbean, pic will follow a former female pirate (Saldaña) who must protect her family when the mysterious sins of her past catch up to her.

It will mark the first time Saldaña and the Russos will have joined forces since Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. Saldaña is coming off box office...

Zombies have a long history in film, and just like the rest of the horror genre, the evolution of the zombie movie is a topographical study of political and sociological change. From the early appearance of zombies as anti-war symbols in 1919's "J'accuse!" through the Vodou zombies of 1932's "White Zombie," and from the shambling flesh-eaters of George A. Romero's seminal 1968 film "Night of the Living Dead" through the fast-moving rage zombies of Danny Boyle's 2002 epidemiological horror "28 Days Later," zombie movies are a constant but ever-changing staple of cinema.

While those classics of the subgenre make for excellent year-round horror viewing, there are so many underrated and/or underseen zombie movies that deserve your attention. This list highlights 15 of those films: stories about the undead that breathe new life into horror and raise new questions about politics, culture, and art, all while making you scared to walk past a cemetery.

Tom Felton's Grand Guignol is the main villain of A Babysitter's Guide To Monster Hunting, and here's the character explained. Before becoming a director, Rachel Talalay worked in various roles for New Line, including being the production manager on the Nightmare On Elm Street movies. She eventually made her directorial debut with 1991's Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare, which was pitched as the last entry in the horror franchise. While the movie was a hit that featured some creative sequences - including Robert Englund's favorite Freddy kill - it's one of the weaker entries in the series.

Tahalaly would on to become a prolific TV director, helming episodes of UK drama Band Of Gold, Supernatural, Doctor Who and Sherlock. After a long gap, she returned to feature films with 2020's A Babysitter's Guide To Monster Hunting. This children's horror movie was based on author Joe Ballarini's novels series of the same name.

Exclusive: Netflix won a hotly contested auction for The Bluff, a pitch that will be written as a star vehicle for Zoe Saldana, with Frank E. Flowers directing. Joe Ballarini will write the script with Flowers. Several streamers chased this one and the upfront commitment for those scribes is seven figures.

Project is about pirates in the Caribbean, but this is no family film. The drama is set in the Cayman Islands in the 1800s and Saldana plays Ercell, a Caribbean woman whose secret past is revealed when her island is invaded by vicious buccaneers. The intention is to blend visceral action and historical fiction to create a real action vehicle as the heroine fights against the atrocities committed by the pirates. There are strong roles for a second woman who is part of the vigilante campaign, and the nasty lead pirate. Saldana and Flowers previously teamed in the 2004 drama Haven.

In the U.K., the pop culture phrase “behind the sofa” is used to refer to media that is scary enough to prompt kids to hide behind the nearest piece of furniture, but engaging enough to keep them from outright fleeing the room. Strongly associated with Doctor Who, “behind the sofa” is a concept that can be applied far beyond the long-running science fiction series to speculative fiction (in particular horror) media targeted toward children and families. It’s perhaps a phrase British-American director Rachel Talalay, known for her work on some of NuWho’s most visually-ambitious installments, had in mind when directed Netflix’s recently-released kids horror-fantasy flick A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting.

A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting, adapted for the screen by Joe Ballarini from his middle grade book series, has its share of scares—especially in the film’s first few minutes. The movie opens on a little girl,...

After working in the industry for nearly 40 years, there’s not much that director/producer Rachel Talalay hasn’t accomplished in her career. But with her latest feature, A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting, she set out to take on something that she’s never done before: directing a family-friendly feature film.

During a recent press day for the film, Daily Dead had the pleasure of speaking with Talalay about her work on A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting, and she chatted about the elements of the story that appealed the most to her, creating some of the film’s memorable monsters, collaborating with Tom Felton, who plays Babysitter’s Guide’s villain, and even confirmed that Freddy Krueger very briefly makes a cameo here as well.

A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting began streaming today, exclusively on Netflix.

It's so great to speak with you today, Rachel, and thank you for taking the time.

One Halloween when Kelly Ferguson was 5 years old she was attacked by the boogeyman and lived to tell the tale. An act of remarkable heroism that should have got the world talking about the things that go bump in the night! But no one believed Kelly’s story and the only talk her bravery provoked was the gossip laughing behind her back, which earned her the nickname Monster Girl.

Today Kelly (Tamara Smart) is a bright, articulate teenager with a huge appetite for knowledge and an aptitude for geometry. With the passage of time and the strict application of common sense, she has determined that her Halloween battle was all in her mind and put her dark past behind her. Unfortunately, the Monster Girl moniker has proven harder to shake off.

A Halloween party with the popular crowd at school is an irresistible opportunity to revamp her image and spend...

It’s either an in-joke or an irony that the not-terribly-terrifying villain of “A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting” is named The Grand Guignol, for Rachel Talalay’s perky, clean-cut kiddie-horror steers as far clear as possible of the macabre gore and gruesomeness implied by the name. In this tale of an underground babysitter syndicate dedicated to fighting the things that go bump in the night, even the monsters are cute: roly-poly, crayon-colored, off-brand uglydolls that look like Mike Wazowski’s less genetically blessed relatives. Yet cuteness supplants genuine charm in this Netflix-released adaptation of screenwriter Joe Ballarini’s YA book series, which may adequately distract very young ones on a socially distanced Halloween night, but offers ample room for improvement in the franchise it seeks to start.

It’s been 25 years since Talalay directed a theatrical feature in the chaotic, cult-bound “Tank Girl,” having cut her teeth bringing...

Rachel Talalay knows horror. The British-American filmmaker got her directorial start with 90s horror flicks Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare and Ghost in the Machine before helming cult classic Tank Girl. In the last few decades, she has directed dozens of TV episodes that dip or full-on dive into That Most Chilling Genre. From Doctor Who and Doom Patrol to Supernatural and The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Talalay has been asked to tell many a spooky story.

Talalay’s latest, A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting is a feature film adaptation of the kids comedy horror book series from Joe Ballarini, and it drops on Netflix today. In honor of the occasion and of the Halloween season, of course, we talked to Talalay about five of the scariest scenes she’s ever directed.

Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare (1991) — Carlos’ Q-Tip Death

Film synopsis: In this sixth film in the classic horror series,...

We’re not too far away now from Halloween, which will be a bit different this year due to the ongoing pandemic. However, there’s plenty of horror content to keep us all busy across the various streaming and VOD platforms, with Netflix always providing a reliable stream of genre material, including the recently released The Haunting of Bly Manor. What other horror shows and movies are coming to the site, though, over the next few days?

Well, for younger audiences, we have A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting on the 15th, which is based on the book series by Joe Ballarini, with the film being helmed by Doctor Who director Rachel Talalay. Focusing on a character who gets drawn into a secret society of monster-fighting babysitters, this one certainly looks like it’ll be fun based on the recent trailer. Families should also check out ParaNorman, the stop-motion feature from Laika,...

In these dark times, we can all use something fun to distract us from the pre-apocalyptic hellscape slowly catching fire outside our windows, and such an offering has arrived in the form of A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting, a trailer for which is now available.

The story follows teenager Kelly as she reluctantly agrees to babysit on Halloween. Unfortunately, her young charge Jacob’s belief that monsters are coming for him proves correct, and the young boy is kidnapped by a Boogeyman named the Grand Guignol. Kelly is subsequently inducted into the Order of the Babysitters, a worldwide secret society of teenagers who protect young children from the things under the bed that want to steal their special powers, and they set out to rescue Jacob before his mum gets home.

The movie, which after this year’s The Baby-Sitters Club and The Babysitter: Killer Queen could well cause...

Netflix has revealed the trailer for A Babysitter's Guide to Monster Hunting, a kid-friendly creature-feature from Rachel Talalay, director of Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare, Tank Girl, and like every genre show ever made in the meantime. Babysitter's Guide stars Tamara Smart (Are You Afraid of the Dark?) as a high-schooler who gets roped into a secret society of babysitters who protect humanity from things that go bump in the night. The film, which is based on Joe Ballarini's book series, also stars Tom Felton, Indya Moore, Ian Ho, and Oona Laurence. [caption …...

You’ve heard of the Babysitter’s Club, but have you heard of The Order of the Babysitters? It’s the super secret society babysitting society at the heart of Netflix‘s upcoming family horror film: A Babysitter’s Guide To Monster Hunting. The streamer just dropped the trailer for the film, which features Harry Potter’s Tom Felton as a very creepy nightmare man, aka Boogeyman, who kidnaps teenage protagonist Kelly’s (Tamara Smart) babysitting charge and promises to “unleash your nightmares on the world.” Yikes! Check it out…

A Babysitter’s Guide To Monster Hunting is based on a series of books by Joe Ballarini, and has Doctor Who director Rachel Talalay behind the camera, which means it has been on our radar pretty much since the directorial news was announced. The film will follow high school freshman Kelly Ferguson who, after reluctantly agreeing to babysit on Halloween, is recruited...

We've been excited for A Babysitter's Guide to Monster Hunting ever since we spoke with writer Joe Ballarini (who also wrote the killer zombie prom movie Dance of the Dead) about the film adaptation of his book trilogy back in 2017, and now the wait is nearly over, as the official trailer for the film has been unveiled ahead of its October 14th release on Netflix.

Directed by Rachel Talalay from a screenplay by Ballarini, A Babysitter's Guide to Monster Hunting stars Tamara Smart, Oona Laurence, Alessio Scalzotto, Ian Ho, Tamsen McDonough, Troy Leigh-Anne Johnson, Lynn Masako Cheng, Ty Consiglio, Ashton Arbab, Crystal Balint, Ricky He, with Indya Moore, and Tom Felton.

"When high school freshman Kelly Ferguson (Tamara Smart) reluctantly agrees to babysit Jacob Zellman (Ian Ho) on Halloween, the last thing she expects is to be recruited into an international secret society of babysitters who protect kids with special powers from monsters.

If you've listened to Corpse Club or read Daily Dead over the years, you may know that I'm not shy about sharing my eternal love for the 2008 zombified horror comedy Dance of the Dead, directed by Gregg Bishop from a screenplay by Joe Ballarini (I even had the undying pleasure of helping put together 10th anniversary screenings for the film). It's with immense pleasure and plenty of anticipation that we share the news that Bloody Disgusting and Fangoria are teaming up for Bishop's next movie, The Sisters of Samhain, which features a "rogue coven" running amok on Halloween night.

Announced by Bloody Disgusting and Deadline, The Sisters of Samhain will be directed by Bishop from a screenplay by Ben Collins and Luke Piotrowski (the writing duo behind Super Dark Times and the recent Sundance hit The Night House). According to Bloody Disgusting, the film "follows a group of friends who...

Netflix has set the cast for its latest family feature — Babysitter's Guide to Monster Hunting.

Tamara Smart, who next will be seen in Disney's Artemis Fowl, and Pete's Dragon actress Oona Laurence will lead the streaming feature, which has also set Pose breakout Indya Moore and Harry Potter alum Tom Felton.

Alessio Scalzotto and Ian Ho are also set for Babysitter's Guide, which has already begun principal photography in Vancouver.

Based on the first book in the series by Joe Ballarini from Harper Collins imprint Katherine Tegen Books, the film will follow first-time babysitter Kelly Ferguson, whose charge ...

Netflix has set the cast for its latest family feature — Babysitter's Guide to Monster Hunting.

Tamara Smart, who next will be seen in Disney's Artemis Fowl, and Pete's Dragon actress Oona Laurence will lead the streaming feature, which has also set Pose breakout Indya Moore and Harry Potter alum Tom Felton.

Alessio Scalzotto and Ian Ho are also set for Babysitter's Guide, which has already begun principal photography in Vancouver.

Based on the first book in the series by Joe Ballarini from Harper Collins imprint Katherine Tegen Books, the film will follow first-time babysitter Kelly Ferguson, whose charge ...

Netflix and Forest Whitaker are collaborating on live-action family movie “Hello, Universe,” based on the 2018 Newbery Award winner and New York Times bestselling novel by Erin Entrada Kelly.

Playwright and screenwriter Michael Golamco (“Always Be My Maybe”) will adapt the book. Whitaker and Nina Yang Bongiovi (“Fruitvale Station”) of Significant Productions will produce.

The story centers on a bully’s antics landing a timid boy in the bottom of a well, leading to his self-proclaimed psychic friend and unknowing crush teaming up to find him. The story is told from four intertwining points of view — two boys and two girls. It is published by Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Children’s Books.

Netflix announced the deal Wednesday. The streaming giant’s slate of live-action movies featuring kids and teens and made for families includes the upcoming comedy “Tall Girl,” directed by Nzingha Stewart from a script by Sam Wolfson...

Exclusive: Netflix will adapt Erin Entrada Kelly’s Newbery Award-winning novel Hello, Universe into a family film. Playwright and screenwriter Michael Golamco (Always Be My Maybe) will adapt the book and Forest Whitaker and Nina Yang Bongiovi of Significant Productions will produce.

The movie’s plot: When a bully’s antics land a timid boy in the bottom of a well, his self-proclaimed psychic friend and unknowing crush team up to find him. The novel is a funny, poignant neighborhood story about unexpected friendships. Told from four intertwining points of view — two boys and two girls — the novel celebrates bravery, being different, and finding your inner bayani (hero). It was published by Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Children’s Books, and won the 2018 Newbery.

This adds to Netflix’s growing live-action family film slate, which includes the Nzingha Stewart-directed comedy Tall Girl, which was...

After crashing the prom with zombies in his screenplay for Gregg Bishop's must-see horror comedy Dance of the Dead (which Daily Dead and friends celebrated in style last year for its 10th anniversary), Joe Ballarini brought the boogeyman (and a whole host of creepy creatures) to life in A Babysitter's Guide to Monster Hunting book series, and the first novel is now being developed as a film at Netflix.

Deadline reports that Rachel Talalay will direct A Babysitter's Guide to Monster Hunting from a screenplay by Ballarini. Like the book, the family friendly film will focus on teenager Kelly Ferguson, who teams up with a secret and highly skilled group of babysitters who moonlight as monster slayers after the child she's watching is abducted by sinister forces.

Tom Pollock, Ilona Herzberg, and Walden Media's Naia Cucukov will executive produce the film, with Walden Media, Montecito Pictures Company, Ivan Reitman,...

The popular three-book kids series A Babysitter’s Guide To Monster Hunting is being turned into a fun family movie, and it’s coming to Netflix. The series was written by Joe Ballarini, who will also write the script for the film. Rachel Talalay, who has worked on Sherlock, Dr. Who and The Flash, has been tapped to direct.

The movie will be based on the first book in the A Babysitter’s Guide To Monster Hunting series, and Deadline gives us the following rundown for the film:

When babysitter Kelly Ferguson’s charge is kidnapped by monsters, Kelly is recruited by a secret society of badass babysitters, who protect children destined to change the world.

It’s like The Babysitter’s Club, but way cooler, and with a lot more at stake! I know my kids will love this movie, and hopefully it will be fun and funny enough...

Author Joe Ballarini's children's book series A Babysitter's Guide to Monster Hunting will be adapted as a family movie for Netflix, with director Rachel Talalay at the helm. Talalay is known for directing movies like Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare and Tank Girl, and has helmed episodes of TV shows like American Gods, Riverdale, and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. She'll be using a screenplay written by Ballarini, which will be based on the first installment of the three-book series from Katherine Tegen Books. Ivan Reitman and Amie Karp are producing, with Naia Cucukov, Tom Pollock, and Ilona Herzberg executive producing.

The movie will follow middle school babysitter Kelly Ferguson, who's bummed to find out she'll be watching children instead of partying with her friends. Things only get worse when the baby she's caring for is kidnapped by monsters. Fortunately, Kelly is recruited by a secret society of monster-hunting babysitters...

Exclusive: Netflix will turn the Joe Ballarini children’s three-book series A Babysitter’s Guide To Monster Hunting into a family film, setting Rachel Talalay to direct it. The author is writing the script. Book was published under the HarperCollins imprint Katherine Tegen Books.

Walden Media and Montecito Pictures Company are producing and have been developing the series for several years. Ivan Reitman and Amie Karp will produce, with Naia Cucukov of Walden Media, Tom Pollock, and Ilona Herzberg executive producing.

Talalay’s credits include most recently directing episodes of American Gods, The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Riverdale, Supergirl and The Flash;; she’s directed Sherlock and Doctor Who episodes in the UK and has feature credits that include Tank Girl and Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare.

When babysitter Kelly Ferguson’s charge is kidnapped by monsters, Kelly is recruited by a secret society of badass babysitters, who protect...

I didn’t know anything about Dance of the Dead when I first saw it sitting on the "new releases" shelf at the local Blockbuster in the fall of 2008. But its title intrigued me: zombies and a high school prom in one movie? You didn’t have to twist my arm (or rip it off), I knew right then that I had to watch it (and I hadn't even seen the devil bong yet).

After watching empathetic high school cliques unite to slay zombies at the prom, I would go on to recommend director Gregg Bishop and writer Joe Ballarini’s Dance of the Dead to anyone who would listen. Little did I know that stars were aligning, and years later I would connect with Ballarini and Bishop and get the chance to do what my 17-year-old self never thought was possible: host 10th anniversary screenings of Dance of the Dead.

The film is about a football player who picks up a career-threatening injury in the run-up to the 2018 World Cup.

13 Films has announced a handful of deals on the rom-com See You Soon with Harvey Keitel, led by a sale to Shenzhen Enjoy Pictures in China.

Liam McIntyre and newcomer Jenia Tanaeva star in the completed film about a football player who picks up a career-threatening injury in the run-up to the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Eagle Films has acquired Middle Eastern rights and Aone Entertainment will distribute in South Korea.

David Mahmoudieh directed See You Soon, in which...

One decade after they launched out of their graves to take a bite out of the big screen at the Screamfest Horror Film Festival, the zombies in Gregg Bishop's Dance of the Dead are returning to Hollywood for a special 10th anniversary screening of the cult horror comedy, followed by a living dead prom party!

After an infectiously fun screening and cast/crew reunion in Atlanta, the Dance of the Dead 10th anniversary celebration will continue on Saturday, May 19th at Hollywood's Tcl Chinese 6 Theatres.

Presented by Screamfest and kicking off at 7:30pm Pt, the Dance of the Dead 10th anniversary Los Angeles screening will reunite the cast and crew of the cult film for a reflective Q&A moderated by Daily Dead Senior Editor and Corpse Club co-host Derek Anderson. The crew in attendance will include director/producer Gregg Bishop, writer Joe Ballarini, music composer Kristopher Carter,...

One decade ago, the living dead launched out of their graves to crash the high school prom in 2008's Dance of the Dead. To celebrate 10 years of the Devil Bong, the brick channel, and not knowing how to shoot machetes, the cast and crew of the cult horror comedy will gather at the historic Plaza Theatre in Atlanta tonight for a very special anniversary screening in association with the Atlanta Film Society, and Daily Dead's Derek Anderson will also be in attendance to help celebrate the innovative and underrated zombie movie.

Kicking off at 9:30pm Et tonight at the Plaza Theatre, the Dance of the Dead 10th anniversary screening will feature director Gregg Bishop and many of the hard-working people who helped make Dance of the Dead a reality, including lead actress Greyson Chadwick and co-stars Justin Welborn, Jonathan Spencer, Michael Aaron Milligan, and James Jarrett, as well as...

The living dead launching out of their graves, zombie frogs getting revenge on the science teacher, and one epic cover of Pat Benatar's "Shadows of the Night"—these are only a few of the countless elements I love about Dance of the Dead, a midnight movie masterpiece that pits a diverse group of high schoolers and their surly gym teacher against a horde of the living dead at the prom. Directed by Gregg Bishop and written by Joe Ballarini, Dance of the Dead celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2018, and while speaking with him about his new book earlier this year, I had the great pleasure of also talking with Ballarini about writing Dance of the Dead and how the cult zombie movie changed from its initial conception to its final version on the big screen.

I understand that you originally wrote Dance of the Dead in the 1990s, a decade that,...

If you've read my work on Daily Dead or listened to my ramblings on the Corpse Club podcast, then you might be aware of my deep love for Dance of the Dead, Gregg Bishop's midnight movie masterpiece that blended prom, zombies, and the music of Pat Benatar (via a great cover) into one of the most memorable rentals I ever enjoyed from Blockbuster. When I saw that Joe Ballarini, the screenwriter of Dance of the Dead, had written a new book (for children and adults) called A Babysitter's Guide to Monster Hunting, I knew that I had to talk with him about it, and I recently had the great pleasure of doing just that.

In addition to A Babysitter's Guide to Monster Hunting—the first in a planned three-book series from Katherine Tegen Books (an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers)—Ballarini also discussed his plans for the future installments in...

Newcomer Jenia Tanaeva co-wrote screenplay and joins producer roster.

Harvey Keitel and Liam McIntyre have signed up to the romance See You Soon alongside newcomer Jenia Tanaeva.

Iuliana Tarnovetchi, Tanaeva (pictured) and Mike Cestari wrote the screenplay with revisions by Joe Ballarini about a Us football player who finds love after he suffers a career-threatening injury in the run-up to the 2018 World Cup.

Poppy Drayton, Oleg Taktarov, former Spain and Barcelona defender Carlos Puyol, and Larissa Malevannaya round out the key cast.

Commercials director David Mahmoudieh makes his feature directorial debut on See You Soon. Gabi Ilioiu and Tarnovetchi of Alien Film Entertainment produce alongside Tanaeva and Monella Kaplan for eMotion Entertainment. Alexander Mikhalskiy serves as executive producer.

“This is a modern-day Cinderella story in the vein of Pretty Woman and An Affair To Remember,” said Tanaeva. “I wanted to create a warm and heartfelt story about people and the power of love. I hope the...

Liam McIntyre, Oscar nominee Harvey Keitel and newcomer Jenia Tanaeva will topline the romantic drama See You Soon. First-time feature director David Mahmoudieh is going off of a script from Tanaeva and Mike Cestari with revisions by Joe Ballarini. Poppy Drayton, Oleg Taktarov, Spanish soccer legend Carles Puyol and Larissa Malevannaya also co-star in the pic, which is filming in Europe. The film centers on a soccer star who, after suffering a career-threatening injury in…...

Lionsgate has released the second trailer for My Little Pony: The Movie, which sheds new light on this My Little Pony story. Along with this trailer, the studio has debuted a new poster, photos and even a Gif creator, which fans can use to create their very own Gif images from the footage released in this trailer. We also have a poster and new photos which offer better looks at new characters such as Princess Skystar, voiced by Kristen Chenoweth, Captain Celaeno, voiced by Zoe Saldana and Songbird Serenade, voiced by Sia.

The Gif creator at Gif.MyLittlePony.Movie allows fans to create GIFs anywhere between a half-second to three seconds in length, from any of the footage showcased in this trailer. This My Little Pony story is set in Ponyville, where a dark force threatens the idyllic town, and the Mane 6. These ponies, Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie,...

Exclusive: Talk about a timely acquisition. Given the environment in the country right now with talk about building walls, Fox just picked up the Joe Ballarini spec Skyward about two families trying to escape to freedom over a wall. Producer Karen Rosenfelt and her Sunswept Entertainment has the project which is the true story about two families in 1979 who secretly build a homemade hot air balloon in their garage in a plan to escape over the Berlin Wall. The project…...

Exclusive: Fox 2000 has acquired rights to the upcoming novel from writer-director Walt Becker, the YA fantasy Charlie Paris And The Young Ambassadors. Scribe Joe Ballarini set to adapt it into a feature film that Becker will direct. Karen Rosenfelt is aboard as producer. Charlie Paris centers on a middle school genius of the same name who finds himself transported via his missing father’s mysterious invention into the midst of an intergalactic conflict. Recruiting a…...

Having stormed the New York Times bestsellers list and scooped an Edgar Award for best juvenile mystery, Kate Milford's Greenglass House is now, perhaps inevitably, heading for the screen. Paramount are in final negotiations to snap up the film rights in a six-figure deal, with Ian Bryce (Ninja Turtles, Transformers) set to produce and Joe Ballarini (The Babysitter's Guide To Monsters, My Little Pony) writing the screenplay.Milford's novel takes place during an unusually busy winter season at the titular ye olde smuggler's inn. Expecting a quiet few months, the innkeeper's son Milo finds himself assailed by unexpected guests, each of whom has a story connected to the house. Teaming up with Meddy, the cook's daughter, he turns detective to start unravelling all the mysteries. Thefts, clues, maps, treasure and hauntings are all in the mix.It's a standalone story, but Paramount reportedly has its eye on a franchise...

Some kid-friendly horror hijinx are on the way (best to start them off early and then go right to The Texas Chain Saw Massacre) as Deadline is reporting that Joe Ballarini has made a deal with Walden and Montecito Pictures… Continue Reading →

The post Joe Ballarini Delivers A Babysitter’s Guide to Monsters to the Screen appeared first on Dread Central.

Exclusive: Another day, another big material sale. Joe Ballarini has made a deal with Walden and Montecito Pictures for A Babysitter’s Guide To Monsters, a children’s book by Ballarini, best known for scriping My Little Pony. Ballarini will write the script. After closing a six-figure, three-book deal from the HarperCollins imprint Katherine Tegen Books, the film rights had several suitors circling before Walden and Montecito closed in with a mid-six-figure deal. The book…...

In our latest horror/sci-fi round-up, we have details on two upcoming Jeremy Renner movies, a look at the Hannibal Season 3 poster recently posted by showrunner Bryan Fuller, details on Colin Trevorrow's next film after Jurassic World, and an update on the high school horror film, Lockdown (formerly known as Lockdown at Franklin High).

Captain America: Civil War & Story of Your Life: According to The Hollywood Reporter, Jeremy Renner will appear as Hawkeye in Captain America: Civil War. The plot's inclusion of the Superhero Registration Act means we should see a large number of superheroes in the sequel, with Chadwick Boseman's first appearance as Black Panther confirmed and Spider-Man's involvement likely. Captain America: Civil War will also star Chris Evans (Captain America), Robert Downey, Jr. (Iron Man), Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow), and Daniel Brühl in a role that's unknown at this time (though he's expected to play a...

Hasbro has announced plans for a new My Little Pony movie.

The colourful animals will make their big screen debut in 2017, according to Variety.

The My Little Pony franchise launched with a series of toys back in 1983, followed by four animated series.

Ice Age 4: Continental Drift's Joe Ballarini will write the script for the project, to be released through Habro's label, Allspark Pictures.

No official plot details have yet been released for the film, but it may follow from the recent animated TV series My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic.

Meanwhile, a new Care Bears TV series is in the works for Netflix.

Bronies unite: there's a new My Little Pony film on the way...

One of the films we've got queued up on our to-watch disc pile is Laurent Malaquais' documentary Bronies, which comes with the subtitle 'The Extremely Unexpected Adult Fans Of My Little Pony'. And we've just picked up the 2014 documentary A Brony Tale, directed by Brent Hodge, as well.

It would be fair to say that My Little Pony geekdom is quite pronounced right now, primarily off the back of the 2010 animated series, My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic. And Hasbro has been sitting up and taking notice. So much so that it's announced plans for a new My Little Pony big screen adventure, which will arrive in cinemas 21 years after My Little Pony: The Movie (which boasted the voice talents of Danny DeVito and Nancy Cartwright, no less).

The new film will be fully animated (perhaps...

Hasbro Studios has hired Joe Ballarini (“Dance of the Dead”) to write a “My Little Pony” movie, TheWrap has learned. Hasbro will produce the animated feature under its Allspark Pictures label, which allows the company to self-finance or co-finance projects. Allspark's first release will be “Jem and the Holograms,” which was co-financed by Universal and co-produced by Blumhouse. Also read: ‘My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic’ Renewed for Season 5 Megan McCarthy will co-executive produce the full-length feature, having written for Discovery Family's popular TV series “My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic.” McCarthy was also involved in the “My Little Pony: Equestria Girls” movies,...