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On Friday nights (and special occasions!), IndieWire After Dark takes a beat to honor fringe cinema in the streaming age.

In March 2025, we’re highlighting favorites from puppeteer Paul Lewis — with Two Midnight Movies (and a Muppet!) That Influenced “The Rule of Jenny Pen.”

First, read the Bait: a weird and wonderful pick from any time in film. Then, try the Bite: a behind-the-scenes breakdown of the project’s ending, impact, and any other spoilers you’d want.

“The Rule of Jenny Pen” is in theaters and streams on AMC + and Shudder March 28.

The Bait: “That’s a Thousand Hours of My Life You Just Saw”

If TV writing isn’t a job anymore, then TV magicians must be totally screwed, huh? In the 1978 psychological horror classic “Magic,” Anthony Hopkins — aka everyone’s favorite cannibal psychiatrist — trades in his red-headed FBI agent from “Silence of the...

As the format continues to gain traction, here’s our regularly-updated list of upcoming 4K Ultra HD disc releases in the UK.

Sitting alongside our list of upcoming DVD and Blu-ray releases (that you can find here), we’re also keeping a calendar for those who support the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray disc format. As we learn of new UK releases, we’ll add them to this list.

We have started adding shopping links too. We’d be obliged if you clicked on them, as it really helps us in our quest to make the Film Stories project of magazines, website and podcast profitable. We’re a 100% independent publisher, and we quite like drinking coffee. It’d be lovely to afford some more.

Without further ado, here are the titles we know about…

Out now

24th February: Star Wars: The Mandalorian season 3 (Steelbook)

24th February: Crossing Delancey (Criterion)

24th February:...

Welcome to IndieWire After Dark, where we pick a new theme for our midnight movie programming every month!

Join us on Friday nights (and special occasions!) to explore some of the strangest fringe films available at any hour in the Streaming Age.

The scariest puppet this side of the “Saw” franchise, Jenny Pen is an early frontrunner in the race for 2025’s favorite new horror icon. She’s the reason for the season and the inspiration behind this month’s IndieWire After Dark lineup — Two Midnight Movies (and a Muppet!) That Influenced “The Rule of Jenny Pen.”

A labor of love from filmmaker James Ashcroft, puppeteer Paul Lewis, and star actor John Lithgow, the titular prop drew on a slew of sources. The movie is based on a story by Owen Marshall, which was optioned by Ashcroft and his co-writer Eli Kent more than a decade ago, and it’s...

The 2025 Oscars delivered several memorable moments as one of the biggest nights of Hollywood. However, despite the massive award ceremony, the Academy failed significantly when it came to the ‘In Memoriam,’ which excluded several notable late actors, including Bernard Hill, who passed away nearly a year ago.

Bernard Hill in Titanic | Credit: Paramount Pictures

Hill made a lasting impact as an integral part of three Best Picture Oscar-winning movies. However, despite an illustrious career and contributions to some of cinema’s most celebrated films, his absence from the tribute has been a glaring omission.

The Oscars 2025 snubbed Bernard Hill from the In Memoriam segment

After presenting the night’s awards at the 2025 Oscars, the ceremony transitioned to the ‘In Memoriam’ segment, honoring several industry legends who passed away over the past year.

Among the honored names were Gene Hackman, James Earl Jones, David Lynch, Donald Sutherland, and Maggie Smith. However,...

Films With the Most Oscar Wins (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Oscars 2025: The 97th Academy Awards will be held in a few hours, and we are waiting with bated breath to see this year’s winners. We have already made our picks for the six main categories, but we will know the rest once the event occurs. But this article will reveal the movies with the most Oscars. Titanic and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King are among the top films, while Oppenheimer took home seven significant awards last year, but some movies have won more than that. Scroll below for more.

This year, Emilia Perez is leading with the most nominations, followed by The Brutalist and Wicked. Zoe Saldana’s movie has 13 nods, while the other two movies are tied with 10 nominations. This year, the list has a diverse mix of genres, with fresh talent meeting established actors,...

Exclusive: Luke Thallon is in good company when it comes to playing Hamlet for the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Mark Rylance, Kenneth Branagh, Toby Stephens, Alex Jennings, David Tennant, and Paapa Essiedu are just a few of the actors who have taken on the melancholy royal for the RSC.

Ben Kingsley gave his Hamlet at Stratford-upon-Avon Upon Avon in 1975. When Richard Attenborough couldn’t decide who to cast to portray Mahatma Gandhi in his epic movie Gandhi, he remembered Kingsley’s interpretation of the Dane. The rest is Academy Award history.

Ben Kingsley in 1975 Royal Shakespeare Company production of ‘Hamlet’. Jay Cocks Studio Collection/Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.

Now it’s Thallon’s turn.

He’s unknown outside of the theatre world. But within it, he’s celebrated and adored, because he can, seemingly effortlessly, take on any role from a young grabby and grubby Roman Abramovich in Peter Morgan’s play Patriots,...

Since the start of the millennium, there have been some especially strong Best Original Screenplay winners. It’s an especially eclectic list that ranges from Little Miss Sunshine (2007) to Juno (2008) to Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris (2012) to Spotlight (2016). The five most recent victors are Bong Joon-Ho and Han Jin-won for Parasite in 2020, Kenneth Branagh for Belfast in 2021, Emerald Fennell for Promising Young Woman in 2022, Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert for Everything Everywhere All at Once in 2023, and Arthur Harari and Justine Triet for Anatomy of a Fall last year.

This year’s group includes three writers also nominated for Best Director and whose movies also received Best Picture bids: Sean Baker for Anora, Brady Corbet (and partner Mona Fastvold) for The Brutalist, and Coralie Fargeat for The Substance. Also honored in the category are Previous Oscar nominee (for acting) Jesse Eisenberg for A Real Pain and Moritz Binder,...

Robert De Niro won his second Oscar in 1981 for playing a boxing champ in Raging Bull. And now he has been chosen as the acting champ when it comes to Academy Awards.

His performance for the Martin Scorsese film from 1980 has been voted the greatest Oscar Best Actor winner ever, according to a Gold Derby ballot cast by 21 of our film experts, critics, and editors, who ranked all 97 male leading actors.

Anthony Hopkins finished second for The Silence of the Lambs (1991), with Marlon Brando following in third for The Godfather (1972). Daniel Day-Lewis for There Will Be Blood (2007), and Gregory Peck for To Kill a Mockingbird (1961) rounded out the top five.

At the bottom of the list of the Best Actor winners is Warner Baxter for In Old Arizona (1928). George Arliss in Disraeli (1929), Lionel Barrymore for A Free Soul (1930), Paul Lukas for Watch on the Rhine (1942), and Paul Muni for The Story of Louis Pasteur...

Robert De Niro won his second Oscar in 1981 for playing a boxing champ in Raging Bull. And now he has been chosen as the champ of all actors.

His performance for the Martin Scorsese film from 1980 has been voted the greatest Oscar Best Actor winner ever, according to a Gold Derby ballot cast by 21 of our film experts, critics, and editors, who ranked all 97 male leading actors.

Anthony Hopkins ranked second for The Silence of the Lambs (1991), with Marlon Brando following in third for The Godfather (1972). Daniel Day-Lewis for There Will Be Blood (2007), and Gregory Peck for To Kill a Mockingbird (1961) rounded out the top five.

At the bottom of the list of the Best Actor winners is Warner Baxter for In Old Arizona (1928). Just above that film performance in the rankings are George Arliss in Disraeli (1929), Lionel Barrymore for A Free Soul (1930), Paul Lukas for Watch on the Rhine...

Some movie experiences are so memorable that time flies even if it lasts hours. When the storytelling is strong enough and there's enough to say, it may feel like the movie should never end. Countless directors have taken on a project that produces an immense surplus of footage. From political dramas to historical epics, there are so many details to cover to tell the full story. But if the audience is emotionally involved enough, they'll want to stay with the protagonists for as long as possible.

Worth considering when it comes to runtime is that movie theaters today are struggling to bring people in. For a viewer to want to leave the comfort of their own home, with their own snacks and unlimited breaks, the film has to be something special. It needs to feel like an event that people will want to spend money on so they feel like...

Intermissions are pretty much a relic of the past, as toward the middle of the 20th century, Hollywood productions started drifting away from the 10 to 15-minute breaks after the shift towards digital. Its axing further allowed theatre chains to fit more screenings in a day, and after 1982’s Gandhi, movie intermissions were completely gone, until now.

The Brutalist | Credit: A24

While cinema purists like Martin Scorsese aren’t too ecstatic about intervals, many have been imploring for their return, especially in cases when a film’s length crosses the 2.5-hour mark. Fortunately for them, The Brutalist has given in to this popular demand.

The Brutalist is compromising to elevate fans’ comfort The Brutalist | Credit: A24

With The Brutalist shaping up to be one of the frontrunners ahead of the Awards season, unlike other heavy hitters of its length, the filmmakers have introduced a healthy intermission in between the film. While...

With a 200-minute running time, Brady Corbet’s “The Brutalist” (A24) isn’t unique among wide-release English-language films. In fact, it’s somewhat shorter than some major releases in recent decades.

There’s no standard for intermissions, which can vary between presentations, technical issues, or even elevating a film’s prestige. “The Brutalist” qualifies on all counts, but its intermission could herald a comeback: Audience habits have changed, and directors would love to use them to defend longer movies.

“The Brutalist” becomes 215 minutes start to finish with its precisely timed 15-minute break. Without it, it would be nine minutes shorter than “The Irishman”; about the same as “Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King,” “The Godfather Part II,” and George Stevens’ 1956 “Giant”; and about five minutes longer than “Schindler’s List” and “Titanic.” All were released without intermissions. Among major titles, “Gone with the Wind” is still the longest...

Director Brady Corbet’s epic historical drama The Brutalist is set to hit theaters this Friday, and it’s already garnering a ton of critical acclaim for strong performances from both Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones. That being said, the movie is also at the forefront for being the first American film in decades to feature an intermission, and now, the stars of The Brutalist are offering their opinions on what moviegoers should do during their 15-minute break.

Lasting a whopping 3 hours and 35 minutes, including the intermission, The Brutalist is a compelling look at Brody’s character of László Tóth, a Hungarian-born Jewish architect who survives the Holocaust and immigrates to the United States to pursue the American dream. Split into two parts dubbed The Enigma of Arrival and The Hard Core of Beauty, the stars of the film discussed with The Hollywood Reporter what fans should be doing when the film breaks,...

The Brutalist, Brady Corbet's highly anticipated epic tale of a brilliant architect's post-war journey to America, isn't just one of the most critically praised films of the year and a Best Picture hopeful, it is a movie that features something audiences have rarely seen in the last 42 years. It occurs roughly halfway through the film's 215-minute runtime: a 15-minute-long intermission that allows the audience to get up from their seats, take a bathroom break, or perhaps just stretch their legs. Almost no movies released in the United States have included an intermission since the release of Gandhi in 1982. Since then, there have been a few outliers, including Dancer in the Dark in 2000, Gods and Generals in 2003, and most recently the Roadshow version of Quentin Tarantino's The Hateful Eight, which received a brief one-week theatrical run at the end of 2015. Given the potential award-season success of The Brutalist, mixed...

Quick Links Chaplin Is One of The Most Underrated Biopics Ever Made Charlie Chaplin Was One of Robert Downey Jr.'s Most Demanding Performances Who Won The Best Actor Oscar Against Robert Downey Jr. in 1993?

This year, Robert Downey Jr. received his first-ever Oscar win for his supporting role as Lewis Strauss in Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer. With the remarkable performance that he gave, it was certainly well-earned, but having been nominated twice previously, it was an achievement that was long overdue. Even though he's now perhaps most well-known for his decade-spanning turn as Tony Stark/Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he's had quite a remarkable career outside that one character that has proven him to have a wider range than some may give him credit for. One of these films that displayed said range and his ability to completely vanish into a role was the first film...

The Francis Ford Coppola masterpiece “The Godfather” (1972) has been voted the greatest Oscar Best Picture winner ever. The results are from a recent Gold Derby ballot cast by 29 of our film experts and editors, who ranked all 96 movie champs.

Ranking in second place is the Michael Curtiz classic “Casablanca” (1943). Following in third place is the powerful Steven Spielberg film “Schindler’s List” (1993). Rounding out the top five are Coppola’s “The Godfather Part II” (1974) in fourth place and Billy Wilder‘s “The Apartment” (196o) in fifth place.

At the bottom of the list of the Best Picture winners is “The Greatest Show on Earth” (1952) from Cecil B. DeMille. Just above that film in the rankings are “Cimarron” (1931) from Wesley Ruggles, “The Broadway Melody” (1929) from Harry Beaumont, “Crash” (2005) from Paul Haggis, and “Around the World in 80 Days’ (1956) from Michael Anderson.

Our photo gallery above features the full top 10. See the complete rankings of all 96 films below.

The Francis Ford Coppola masterpiece “The Godfather” (1972) has been voted the greatest Oscar Best Picture winner ever. The results are from a recent Gold Derby ballot cast by 29 of our film experts and editors, who ranked all 96 movie champs.

Ranking in second place is the Michael Curtiz classic “Casablanca” (1943). Following in third place is the powerful Steven Spielberg film “Schindler’s List” (1993). Rounding out the top five are Coppola’s “The Godfather Part II” (1974) in fourth place and Billy Wilder‘s “The Apartment” (196o) in fifth place.

The worst among 96 Best Picture winners is “The Greatest Show on Earth” (1952) from Cecil B. DeMille. Just above that film on the bottom of the rankings are “Cimarron” (1931) from Wesley Ruggles, “The Broadway Melody” (1929) from Harry Beaumont, “Crash” (2005) from Paul Haggis, and “Around the World in 80 Days’ (1956) from Michael Anderson.

Our photo gallery below features the full top 10. See the complete rankings of all 96 films below.

Hrithik Roshan Was An Assistant On Karan Arjun Sets! ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

Karan Arjun re-released in theatres this Friday and is enjoying impressive footfalls. Watching Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan in the same frame is a dream today, so cine-goers are reminiscing their camaraderie via the 1995 fantasy action thriller. Many wouldn’t know, but Hrithik Roshan was also a part of the project and is recalling the good old times. Scroll below for all the details!

Before making his acting debut, Hrithik Roshan would assist his father in his Bollywood films. He has been a helping hand in Khudgarz (1987), King Uncle (1993), Karan Arjun (1995) and Koyla (1997). After completing his acting course, he marked his Bollywood debut with Kaho Na… Pyaar Hai (2000).

Hrithik Roshan would sweep floors on sets!

Many wouldn’t know, but father Rakesh Roshan was strict with his son. As an assistant, Hrithik would have to sweep the...

Ar Rahman Sends Legal Notice To YouTube Channels ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

Music composer Ar Rahman sent a legal notice to the YouTube channels that had allegedly spread rumors and slanders about his personal life amid his ongoing divorce from his ex-wife, Saira. He took to his social media handle to share a picture of the legal notice with his slanderers. These slanders included rumors and speculations of his alleged affair with his bassist, Mohini Dey.

It all started after Ar Rahman’s bassist Mohini Dey also announced her separation from her ex-husband hours after the Oscar-winning music composer announced his divorce. The legal notice was addressed by the composer’s lawyer. One of the statements read, “My client informs the hatemongers and sharers of abusive contents to remove the objectionable content within the next one hour and a maximum time duration of 24 hours. He will be advised to file appropriate...

What Did Manoj Bajpayee Say About Working With Subhash Ghai In Gandhi? (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Renowned filmmaker Subhash Ghai is set to make his mark in the short film genre with Gandhi. The movie features versatile actor Manoj Bajpayee in the lead role. The film premiered at the 55th International Film Festival of India (Iffi), showcasing Ghai’s unique cinematic perspective.

Sharing his thoughts on the project, Subhash Ghai remarked, “Filmmaking is all about perspective. Wars and conflicts in the world have often stemmed from a difference in perspectives. My short film Gandhi is not just a story but an exploration of viewpoints. The idea was sparked by a conversation when a 18-year-old student from Whistling Woods International expressed this about celebrating Gandhi Jayanti. He said, ‘Sir, I won’t play guitar to celebrate this occasion as I don’t believe in Gandhi Jayanti’ and that honest expression inspired me...

For a brief period, over 1982-86, the U.K. enjoyed a remarkable film renaissance. Four films – “Chariots of Fire,” (1982) “Gandhi,” (1983) “The Killing Fields” (1985) and “The Mission” (1986) – won a total 19 Academy Awards, including Best Picture two years running. All of those films, save “Gandhi,” were produced by David Puttnam.

To this day, few figures are more associated with a national film revival. “The British are coming,” “The Chariots of Fire” screenwriter Colin Welland famously said in his Oscar speech. The main Brit Hollywood had on their radar was Puttnam. He was appointed CEO of Columbia Pictures in 1986, becoming the first and only foreigner ever, he notes, to serve on the board of the MPA.

Knighted in 1995, Puttman ended his film career in 1997, at 56, when he was appointed a life peer. “When I finished ‘Memphis Belle,’ I kind of knew that I was never going to make better films than the ones I’d already produced,...

In 1949, Alec Guinness dazzled critics and paying audiences alike by playing eight members, male and female, of the D'Ascoyne family in the deliciously dark comedy "Kind Hearts and Coronets." There weren't many actors alive cocky enough to attempt such a thing, let alone pull it off, so you'd think the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences would go gaga for the actor's brazen feat and hand him the Best Actor Oscar before the ceremony began. Amazingly, he didn't even receive a nomination (though John Wayne snared his first for basically playing John Wayne in "Sands of Iwo Jima").

How did Guinness not even earn the honor of an Oscar nod? He made one critical mistake: he gave his bravura performance in a comedy.

Of the 96 films that have won the Academy Award for Best Picture, only 15 could be called comedies (and I'm being super charitable with movies like "Green Book...

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The late Richard Attenborough is an unquestioned legend. Largely known for his roles on screen in films like "The Great Escape" and "Miracle on 34th Street," he perhaps doesn't get enough credit for his work as a director. His finest hour came in 1982 when he stepped into the director's chair for "Gandhi." The biopic about the Indian revolutionary Mahatma Gandhi went on to sweep the Academy Awards that year, culminating in a Best Picture win. It's the realization of a dream few filmmakers will ever know. Be that as it may, Attenborough believed a Steven Spielberg classic should have taken home the prize that year.

Released the same year, Spielberg's "E.T." was an acclaimed box office juggernaut and ultimately took in nearly $800 million worldwide. It was also up for Best Picture that year, with Spielberg and Attenborough competing for Best Director.

On October 2nd, we celebrate Gandhi Jayanti, marking the birth of Mahatma Gandhi, a global symbol of peace, non-violence, and justice. Born in 1869, Gandhi’s philosophy of ahimsa (non-violence) and satyagraha (truth and resistance) transformed India’s struggle for independence into a moral revolution. His unwavering commitment to civil disobedience inspired global movements for human rights, from Martin Luther King Jr. in America to Nelson Mandela in South Africa. Gandhi’s ideology transcended political boundaries, leaving a lasting imprint on the world—and even the film industry. Filmmakers across continents have sought to capture his life and ideals on screen, creating enduring works that not only tell the story of Gandhi but also remind audiences of the power of truth, empathy, and resistance in the face of injustice. Through cinema, Gandhi’s legacy continues to inspire generations, proving that his teachings remain as relevant today as ever. To honor his memory,...

Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman (“Slumdog Millionaire”) has signed on to create the musical score for the upcoming series “Gandhi,” directed by Hansal Mehta and produced by India’s Applause Entertainment.

The announcement was made on Oct. 2 to coincide with Gandhi Jayanti, the annual celebration of Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday in India.

The series is based on historian Ramchandra Guha’s books “Gandhi Before India” and “Gandhi: The Years That Changed the World, 1914-1948.” The first season covers the formative years of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi’s life as a law student in London and later as lawyer and civil rights activist in South Africa, during which time he conceived the ideas that ultimately led India to independence from British rule. Gandhi became known as Mahatma, or great soul, for his leading part in the independence movement. The second and third seasons will cover the rest of his life.

The series sees the reunion of Applause,...

One of the biggest movies of this upcoming holiday season is likely to be Wicked, a glossy movie version of the hugely successful Broadway musical. Wicked is based on the book of the same name by Gregory Maguire, which tells the story of The Wizard of Oz from the perspective of the Wicked Witch of the West. The songs are bangers, the story is fun, and musical theaters nerds have been loving all over this show ever since its original run in 2003. The movie is going to be a big deal.

But there are caveats. We're actually getting two Wicked movies; the first, which comes out this November, is expected to end with the song "Defying Gravity," definitely the biggest breakout hit from the show, while the second will come along in 2025. “As we prepared the production over the last year, it became impossible to wrestle the story of ‘Wicked...

Dave Bautista in The Killer’S Game. Courtesy of Lionsgate. Given the Hollywood career trajectories of fellow former wrestlers like Dwayne Johnson and John Cena, it’s not terribly surprising to see Dave Bautista making a comedy film, especially an action comedy like The Killer’s Game. What people do find surprising, though, is the presence of four-time Oscar nominee (and winner for Gandhi) Sir Ben Kingsley in an action comedy like The Killer’s Game. Bautista spoke about his unlikely co-star and the interesting vibe he brought to the set. (Click on the media bar below to hear Dave Bautista) https://www.hollywoodoutbreak.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Dave_Buasitsa-Sir-Ben_Kingsley_Killers_Game_.mp3 The Killer’s Game is now playing in theaters.

The post Dave Bautista’s Got A ‘Killer’ Co-Star In Sir Ben Kingsley appeared first on Hollywood Outbreak.

Once an indie underdog, Kevin Smith has, in middle age, devoted himself to making what critics and fans alike might characterize as glorified, self-referential home movies, cast with friends and family members and filled with callbacks, in-jokes, and the same familiar anxieties about friendship, romance, and growing up. This is not an original observation.

Exclusive: Samuel Goldwyn Films has acquired North American rights to writer-director Nick Hamm’s medieval action-drama William Tell, which has its world premiere tonight in Toronto.

Starring are Claes Bang (The Square), Connor Swindells (Sex Education), Golshifteh Farahani (Extraction), Jonah Hauer-King (The Little Mermaid), Ellie Bamber (Nocturnal Animals), Rafe Spall (Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom) and Emily Beecham (Little Joe), with Oscar winner Ben Kingsley (Gandhi) and Oscar nominee Jonathan Pryce (The Two Popes).

The deal was negotiated by Miles Fineburg from Samuel Goldwyn Films and WME Independent on behalf of the producers. The release is being lined up for early 2025.

Inspired by the legendary tale, Claes Bang takes on the role of William Tell, a noble huntsman whose peaceful life is shattered when the ruthless Austrian Empire invades his homeland of Switzerland. Unwilling to bend the knee before his country’s oppressors, William Tell is thrust into a perilous trial,...

Exclusive: Nick Hamm’s action-packed adaptation William Tell, starring Claes Bang and Golshifteh Farahani, has sold to the UK & Ireland and Germany-speaking territories ahead of its world premiere in Toronto next week.

Munich-based sales company Beta Cinema unveiled the all-rights deals to Altitude (UK & Ireland) and SquareOne Entertainment for Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, following the film’s well-attended press and industry screening in Toronto on Thursday.

Both distributors are targeting a release date in Q1 2025.

Beta Cinema has already announced deals with Sf Studios, Beta Fiction (Spain), Eagle Pictures (Italy), Dutch Filmworks (Benelux), Pris Audiovisuais (Portugal), Monolith Films (Poland), Cinemart (Czech Republic), Blitz (Former Yugoslavia), Ads (Hungary and Romania), Beta Film (Bulgaria), Tfg (Greece), Ukraine (Top Film) and The Plot Pictures (Middle East & Turkey) earlier this year.

Director Hamm’s adaptation of Friedrich Schiller’s classic play is fresh out of post-production.

Bang stars as titular hero opposite Farahani as his wife. They are joined by Connor Swindells, Jonah Hauer-King, Ellie Bamber, Rafe Spall and Emily Beecham, with Academy-Award winner Ben Kingsley and Academy-Award nominee Jonathan Pryce.

Altitude co-ceo Will Clarke said of the acquisition: “It’s fantastic to be working with such an incredible team of film-makers and our friends at Beta and we can’t wait to bring the epic and thrilling William Tell to audiences in the UK & Ireland.”

For his part, Thomas Sierk, Director of Acquisitions & Sales at SquareOne Entertainment, said: “The production truly succeeds to tell the story of the legendary freedom-fighter William Tell as an exciting, action-packed epic with an outstanding international cast.

Al Munteanu, CEO of SquareOne Entertainment added, “Together with my team, I am thrilled to bring this fantastic production to theaters early next year.”

The narrative unfolds in the 14th Century, when Europe’s nations fiercely vie for supremacy within the Holy Roman Empire. The ambitious Austrians, desiring more land, encroach upon Switzerland, a serene and pastoral nation.

Amidst this backdrop, William Tell, a formerly peaceful hunter, finds himself forced to take action as his family and homeland come under dire threat from the oppressive Austrian King and his ruthless warlords. Leading his fellow countrymen, Tell embarks on a courageous rebellion, seeking to defend their liberty and stand against the tyrannical forces that seek to subjugate them.

Hamm’s previous credits include Driven, which was selected as the closing film at the Venice Film Festival, Netflix’s White Lines and The Journey which premiered at the Venice and Toronto Film Festivals.

Piers Tempest and Marie-Christine Jaeger-Firmenich (Gigi & Nate) produce. Executive Producers include Jon Hamm, David Nichols and Francesco Marras.

William Tell is a Free Turn Films / Tempo production in association with Beta Cinema, WME Independent, Prime Focus Studios and Groenlandia and Cineroma Srl. The production is supported by Idm Südtirol and autonomous province of Bozen/Bolzano – South Tyrol and Quebec Film Production Services Tax Credit.

“We are delighted to partner with such highly esteemed distributors for the UK and Germany. The epic tale of William Tell presents a rich tapestry of themes and topics, providing a strong foundation for bold and ambitious theatrical campaigns in these two key European markets,” said Beta Cinema EVP Thorsten Ritter.

The film will world premiere in Toronto as a Gala Presentation next week and will then make its European presentation at the Zurich Film Festival in October. Beta Cinema handles international rights, alongside WME Independent who represent domestic rights.

Indian studio Applause Entertainment is gearing up for an ambitious slate of projects as it enters its eighth year of operations.

The company, led by managing director Sameer Nair, a pioneer of Indian television with previous stints at Star TV, Ndtv Imagine, Turner General Entertainment and Balaji Telefilms, has its sights set on expanding into new genres and formats while building on its established successes.

Leading the charge is “Nyaya,” a courtroom drama produced in association with Mangata Films. Directed by Nitya Mehra, Karan Kapadia and Heeraz Marfatia, the fictionalized series based on real events follows a 17-year-old girl seeking justice against a powerful ‘godman,’ or leader of a religious cult, who raped her. The project boasts a strong cast including Fatima Sana Sheikh, Aneet Padda, Arjun Mathur, Mohd. Zeeshan Ayyub and Raghubir Yadav.

“When this opportunity came up, we really pounced on it,” Nair told Variety. “They’ve shot it really well.

Welcome back to Oscars Playback, in which Gold Derby editors and Experts Christopher Rosen and Joyce Eng revisit Oscar ceremonies and winners of yesteryear. This week, we cover the 58th Academy Awards in 1986, honoring the films of 1985.

“Out of Africa” and “The Color Purple” co-led with 11 nominations, but it was a tale of two fates for the epics. The former grabbed seven awards, including Best Picture and Best Director for Sydney Pollack, while the latter, which already missed a director bid for Steven Spielberg, infamously went 0-11. But the dominance by “Out of Africa” isn’t exactly the same as the ones by predecessors “Amadeus,” “Terms of Endearment” and “Gandhi.”

See Oscars Playback: When ‘Amadeus’ hit the right notes and Hollywood (really) liked Sally Field

The Oscars were in a very sentimental mood this year as Geraldine Page finally won Best Actress for “The Trip to Bountiful” on her eighth...

Throughout his career, Steven Spielberg has earned himself a whopping 22 Oscar nods, of which he scored 3 wins, 1 for Saving Private Ryan and 2 for Schindler’s List. Most fans would agree that 3 wins don’t do the director justice, as he is one of the best, responsible for shaping the blockbuster landscape, and is arguably one of the most versatile filmmakers of all time.

But the two losses that stand out the most, which most believe should’ve gone to Spielberg remains Saving Private Ryan and E.T., and the director that beat him agrees with the latter.

Richard Attenborough Felt Steven Spielberg Should’ve Nabbed the Victory That Night E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial | Universal Pictures

11 years before taking the World and the Academy by storm, following the release of his most important work, Schindler’s List, Spielberg competed with Richard Attenborough at the Oscars. With Attenborough’s Gandhi leading the...

Welcome back to Oscars Playback, in which Gold Derby editors and Experts Christopher Rosen and Joyce Eng revisit Oscar ceremonies and winners of yesteryear. This week, we cover the 56th Academy Awards in 1984, honoring the films of 1983.

On her fifth Best Actress nomination, Shirley MacLaine finally took home the coveted prize for “Terms of Endearment,” which scored five wins total, including Best Picture. Declaring “I deserve this” at the end of her speech, MacLaine defeated her onscreen daughter, Debra Winger, for the prize — the penultimate time a film has produced double Best Actress nominees. Did MacLaine deserve it over Winger? Would Winger have won in supporting? And will we ever see double Best Actress nominees again?

See Oscars Playback: When ‘Gandhi’ swept and even Meryl Streep’s competition wanted her to win

James L. Brooks won three awards for writing, producing and directing “Terms of Endearment,” which also yielded Jack Nicholson his second Oscar,...

Steven Spielberg has proved that he is the Jack of all trades and master of everything when it comes to versatility in cinema. A filmmaker who has never been boxed into any specific genre when it comes to his filmography, Spielberg has also worked with some of Hollywood’s biggest superstars in iconic films that have stood the test of time.

A still from Jurassic Park directed by Steven Spielberg (image credit: Universal Pictures)

Apart from being a genius in his craft, the Oscar winner is also famously known to have a wonderful working rapport with his cast and crew members which even saw him indulging them with memorable gifts following the wrap of the filming. One popular star who was a key figure in the director’s blockbuster series Jurassic Park, was stunned by what he received.

Jeff Goldblum Will Cherish Steven Spielberg’s Gift Forever

There is no...

Welcome back to Oscars Playback, in which Gold Derby editors and Experts Christopher Rosen and Joyce Eng revisit Oscar ceremonies and winners of yesteryear. This week, we cover the 55th Academy Awards in 1983, honoring the films of 1982.

There was no suspense as to what would win heading into the ceremony. “Gandhi” dominated from top to bottom, winning eight awards from its leading 11 nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director for Richard Attenborough and Best Actor for Ben Kingsley. The biopic did not have a Best Actress contender, but even if it did, there was no beating Meryl Streep, who prevailed for “Sophie’s Choice.” She was such a lock that even fellow nominee Debra Winger‘s parents were rooting for Streep.

See Oscars Playback: When ‘Chariots of Fire’ outran ‘Reds’ for the gold

1982 was a breakout year for Jessica Lange, who became the first performer in 38 years to receive two acting nominations...

With a career spanning over three decades, Day-Lewis has delivered some of the most memorable performances in film history, earning him numerous awards and accolades, including three Academy Awards for Best Actor. Day-Lewis' career began with small roles in the early 1980s, but it was his performance as Johnny Burfoot in "My Beautiful Laundrette" that first gained him critical acclaim. In the 1990s, Day-Lewis continued to deliver standout performances in films such as "The Last of the Mohicans."

The career of Daniel Day-Lewis was filled with some of the greatest performances of all time, and his acclaimed filmography included several definitive works. While Day-Lewis got his start with minor roles in the early 1980s, he quickly gained a reputation as a deeply talented actor who utilized an extreme method acting style to truly capture the depth and nuance needed to give extraordinary performances. As a three-time Academy Award winner, Day-Lewis...

Many iconic actors have played Bond villains, but there are still plenty of talented stars yet to have their moment in the franchise. The future of the James Bond franchise remains uncertain, with casting for Bond 26 unclear, but the need for iconic villains is crucial. Actors like Hugo Weaving, Jason Isaacs, and Stellan Skarsgrd have the potential to bring new depth and menace to the role of a Bond villain.

In the James Bond franchise, the villains are almost as important as 007 himself, but many actors who seem like a perfect fit haven't had the chance to add their names to the list of great Bond villains. There have been plenty of great actors who have squared up with Bond over the years, many of whom are particularly famous for playing villains, such as Mads Mikkelsen, Christopher Lee, and Christoph Waltz. However, there are just as many actors who...

Star Wars star Mark Hamill has joined the voice cast of the animated movie The King of Kings, alongside Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley and Oscar Isaac, who will portray Jesus Christ.

The three actors will voice the villains in director Seong-ho Jangs film, produced by South Korean animation studio Mofac Animation. The King of Kings is loosely based on Charles Dickens' short story The Life of Our Lord, which explores the life and times of Jesus Christ.

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The film's producer Anfernee Kim commented on the star-studded cast, stating This cast is laden with winners of every major acting award, and theyve all brought their A-games for a story most deserving of their impressive collective talents.

Pierce Brosnan, Mark Hamill and Ben Kingsley are set to bring Jesus Christ’s adversaries to life in an animated feature inspired by a posthumously published story from Charles Dickens.

The three performers will portray villains as part of the star-studded voice cast for director Seong-ho “Jay” Jang’s The King of Kings. Hailing from South Korea-based animation house Mofac Animation, the film is loosely based on The Life of Our Lord, the Dickens short story that was published decades after the author’s death and focuses on the life and times of Christ.

Brosnan voices Pontius Pilate, the biblical figure who ordered Jesus’ crucifixion. Hamill will tackle the role of King Herod, who is described in the Bible as ordering the Massacre of the Innocents shortly after Jesus’ birth. Kingsley is taking on the part of High Priest Caiaphas, who presided over the Sanhedrin trial of Jesus.

The King of Kings...

Looking over "Star Wars," it's kind of astonishing how well-equipped the Rebels are. Keep in mind, they're called the Rebels; they don't sport a name that indicates what kind of government they represent should their rebellion be successful, nor do they have a provisional government set up anywhere (at least that's not seen in the original 1977 film). I know there's expanded universe lore, sequels, prequels, novels, etc., that explain everything in the "Star Wars" universe from a government perspective, but in the 1977 original, the details are left intentionally vague. 

They even have their own symbols emblazoned on their uniforms and helmets. It makes sense for the Empire to have such symbols -- they definitely have the size and the industrial resources to manufacture their own equipment -- but the Rebels? One might think their symbol is merely something scrawled on the walls of Empire buildings and a symbol of defiance.

Sir Ben Kingsley (born Krishna Pandit Bhanji) is a veteran English actor who has been turning in marvelous performances across five decades. He started on the stage, performing with the Royal Shakespeare Company in the 1960s, a dramatic education that deeply shaped his acting style. He then transitioned to television before breaking through in film with his towering, Oscar-winning performance in 1982's Gandhi.

Bernard Hill, the British actor who starred as a king in Lord of the Rings and the captain in Titanic, has died at the age of 79.

Hill’s family confirmed the actor’s death Sunday in a statement, “It is with the greatest sadness that we must announce that Bernard Hill, renowned actor known for his roles in ‘Titanic’ and ‘Lord of the Rings,’ passed away in the early hours of this morning at the age of 79. He was with his fiancée Alison and his son Gabriel.” No cause of death was provided.

Bernard Hill, the actor whose memorable tones and rugged visage brought to life a variety of fantastic performances, has died. He was 79.

Born in Manchester in 1944, Hill quickly gravitated towards stage work before taking the chance to make the jump to film and TV. Yet his early career was marked by few standout roles, mostly relegated to brief appearances on the likes of I, Claudius and the BBC's Tom Stoppard adaptation Professional Foul.

Still, he found one of the first parts that would define his career in Alan Bleasdale's The Black Stuff, a one-off TV play in 1980 that the writer would expand into classic comedy drama Boys From The Blackstuff. Hill scored a BAFTA nomination for his performance as the tragic, yet dimly self-aware Yosser.

Other TV work included Dennis Potter adaptation Lipstick On Your Collar, a huge swathe of Shakespeare adaptations including Wolf Hall, disability drama Skallagrigg,...

Veteran actor Bernard Hill has passed away at the age of 79. His death was confirmed by his agent, Lou Coulson, who verified that Hill died early on Sunday morning.

Per BBC News, Hill was scheduled to appear at the Comic-Con Liverpool fan convention on Saturday. His appearance was canceled at the last minute, the organizers had said in a post. This was followed by Comic-Con Liverpool addressing Hill's death after the news was broken.

"Were heartbroken to hear the news of Bernard Hills passing. A great loss. Thinking of his family at this very sad time, and wishing them a lot of strength," the post stated.

Were heartbroken to hear the news of Bernard Hills passing. A great loss. Thinking of his family at this very sad time, and wishing them a lot of strength. pic.twitter.com/5kdMqz7pS5 Comic Con Liverpool (@comconliverpool) May 5, 2024

Hill is partly known for...

Bernard Hill, the actor known for playing King Théoden in the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy and Captain Edward Smith in “Titanic,” has died. He was 79.

Hill died early on Sunday morning, his agent Lou Colson confirmed to Variety. He was with his fiancée Alison and his son Gabriel. No cause of death was given.

Hill first came to prominence as Yosser Hughes in Alan Bleasdale’s 1982 miniseries “Boys From the Blackstuff”; his character was known for his “gizza job” catchphrase. That same year, he portrayed Sergeant Putnam in the Richard Attenborough-directed film “Gandhi.” Hill appeared in multiple British television series during the ’70s and ’80s, including “I, Claudius,” “Crown Court,” “Rooms,” “Fox” and “Jackanory.”

In 1997, Hill played Captain Smith in James Cameron’s “Titanic,” which won 11 Oscars. He then joined Peter Jackson’s “Lord of the Rings” franchise as King Théoden, appearing in 2002’s “The Two Towers” and...

Bernard Hill, known to audiences at Titanic’s Captain Edward Smith in James Cameron’s 1997 film and King Théoden in the Lord of the Rings, has died. He was 79.

Hill died in the early hours of Sunday morning, a statement from his family said. No cause was given. His fiancée Alison and his son Gabriel were at his side.

Hill’s breakout role occurred on the BBC miniseries Boys From the Blackstuff, in which he portrayed Yosser Hughes, a man struggling with unemployment in Liverpool whose “gizza job” catchphrase was known across England. The show aired in 1983 and won a BAFTA for best drama series that year.

Hill appeared consistently in television and film, with roles in 1976’s I, Claudius, 1982’s Gandhi, 1999’s Clint Eastwood film True Crime, 1999’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, 2002’s The Scorpion King and 2008’s Tom Cruise film Valkyrie.

In 1997, Hill gained fans as the soft-spoken Captain Smith in Titanic,...

Actor Bernard Hill ( Photo Credit – IMDb )

Hollywood actor Bernard Hill passed away on Sunday, May 5, 2024. The actor, who starred in popular movies like Titanic, The Scorpion King, The Lord of The Rings and others, was 79. Hill’s agent, Lou Coulson, confirmed the news of his demise.

Bernard Hill passed away in the early morning of Sunday. The reason for his demise is not yet known. As per the reports, the actor’s family will soon share an official statement. In his career spanning five decades, the English actor has acted in many movies and TV shows.

More About Hollywood Actor Bernard Hill

The Titanic star was born in Blackley, Manchester, on December 17, 1994. In 1970, the actor graduated with a diploma in theatre and started his acting journey in 1973 with a TV show called ‘Hard Labour’.

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Bernard Hill, known for playing King Thoden in Lord of the Rings, has passed away at age 79. The actor played prominent roles in many films and TV shows throughout his career including Titanic and Gandhi. Hill's legacy includes his memorable movie performances opposite A-listers as well as prominent television roles.

Bernard Hill has died. The actor, who played Thoden, King of Rohan, in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, was born in Manchester, England on December 17, 1944. His acting career began in 1970 when he graduated from the theater program at the Manchester Polytechnic School of Drama. The star has since gone on to appear in more than 100 film and television titles, which in total earned him a pair of Best Actor BAFTA nominations for his roles as Yosser Hughes in 1982's Boys from the Blackstuff and David Blunkett in 2005's A Very Social Secretary.

Per The Guardian, Bernard Hill passed away...

Bernard Hill, who played Captain Edward Smith in Titanic and King Théoden in two of Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings films, died early Sunday morning, his agent Lou Coulson confirmed. He was 79. No cause has was given.

His breakout role was in BBC TV drama Boys from the Blackstuff, where he portrayed Yosser Hughes, a character who struggled — and often failed — to cope with unemployment in Liverpool.

Hill will be seen in Season 2 of The Responder, a BBC drama starring Martin Freeman, which begins airing on Sunday.

Along with Best Picture Oscar winners Titanic and The Lord of The Rings: The Return of the King and the latter’s predecessor The Two Towers, his credits also included the 1976 BBC TV series I, Claudius, an appearance in 1982’s Gandhi, True Crime (1999) and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1999). The Scorpion King in 2002 and the 2008 Tom Cruise film Valkyrie.

The Manchester...