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Three-time Academy Award nominee Russell Crowe is set to headline a new Cold War thriller. The movie is adapted from David E. Hoffman's bestseller, The Billion Dollar Spy: A True Story of Cold War Espionage and Betrayal, which tells a riveting story within the final years of the Cold War based on previously classified CIA documents and interviews. Crowe is best known for his performance as Maximus in Ridley Scott's 2000 Oscar-winner Gladiator.

Per Deadline's report, Billion Dollar Spyhas tapped Crowe and Industry's Harry Lawtey as the lead stars with a script by Ben August and revised by Oscar-winning writer Stephen Gaghan. Amma Asante will direct. In the movie, Crowe plays an ordinary man named Adolf Tolkachev, who is set on a highly dangerous mission to give top-secret Soviet intelligence to the United States. Lawtey will play a CIA agent named Tom Lenihan, who aids Crowe's character in challenging the Soviet government.

Russell Crowe is one of the more inconsistent actors of his generation. On the one hand, Crowe is an Oscar winner and three-time nominee, having been recognized for his roles in The Insider, Gladiator (for which he won), and A Beautiful Mind. In addition to these nominated films, he has also been in other award-winning movies such as Les Misérables and Cinderella Man. At the same time, these highs have also been met with notable lows, such as the 2022 film Poker Face and 2014's Winter's Tale, which received 9% and 12% Tomatometers, respectively.

Over the past few years, Crowe's career has taken a turn towards horror. These genre movies have been met with mixed success at the box office and among critics. One particularly unfortunate example was last year's The Exorcism, which got a 27% Tomatometer among Rotten Tomatoes critics, and only a slightly higher 35% audience score. The film also struggled at the box office,...

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At one point, Will Smith was the biggest movie star in the world. While he had a bit of a PR snafu (to put it lightly) a couple of years ago when he slapped Chris Rock on stage at the Oscars, he's recovered well in the eyes of the public, given the success of this year's "Bad Boys: Ride or Die" at the box office. Margot Robbie, meanwhile, is about as big as modern stars get, with her rise to stardom culminating in last year's mega-hit "Barbie." So, what happens when you put these two big stars in a movie together? You get a number one hit on Netflix. It just so happens that the movie in question was made nearly a decade ago.

2015's "Focus," directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, recently made its way to Netflix and...

Documentary fans have a lot to be excited about this month on HBO and Max. April begins with the premiere of The Synanon Fix, a docuseries that follows the rise and fall of the cult-like drug rehabilitation program Synanon. The documentary Brandy Hellville and the Cult of Fast Fashion takes a deep-dive into the controversial “one size fits most” clothing brand Brandy Mellville and the impact of fast fashion on the planet.

An American Bombing: The Road to April 19th looks at the surge of political violence and anti-government sentiment that led to the 1995 Oklahoma City Bombing, and the effects still felt nearly 30 years later. HBO is also returning with a second part to their popular docuseries The Jinx, with filmmakers continuing their investigation of Robert Durst.

But if documentaries aren’t your thing, there’s still plenty of popular films hitting Max in April, like Scott Pilgrim vs. The World,...

Filmmaker Andrew Jarecki continues his investigation of convicted murderer Robert Durst in The Jinx – Part Two, a six-episode documentary series premiering on Max on April 21, 2024. The streaming service’s April lineup also includes the seven-episode limited series The Sympathizer, based on Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel and starring Oscar winner Robert Downey Jr in multiple roles.

Comedian Alex Edelman hosts a brand new comedy special, and Conan O’Brien visits favorite fans from his podcast series in the four-episode unscripted series Conan O’Brien Must Go. The documentary series The Synanon Fix exploring the drug rehabilitation program joins Max’s lineup on April 1st. And the streaming service has set April premiere dates for the documentaries Brandy Hellville & The Cult Of Fast Fashion and An American Bombing: The Road To April 19th.

Series & Films Arriving On Max In April 2024

April 1

American Renegades (2018)

Basquiat (1996)

Black Swan (2010)

Body of Lies (2008)

Bridget Jones’s Diary...

Danger, Will Robinson! Lost in Space, the 1998 theatrical reboot of the camp classic science fiction TV series, is coming to Blu-ray from Shout Studios. William Hurt, Matt LeBlanc, and Gary Oldman all-star in the sci-fi actioner. The new disk will feature an all-new 2K scan of the film's interpositive, as well as DTS-hd Master Audio 5.1 sound. Special features will include two audio commentaries, one with director Stephen Hopkins and screenwriter Akiva Goldsman, and one with visual effects supervisors Angus Bickerton and Lauren Ritchie, director of photography Peter Levy, editor Ray Lovejoy, and producer Carla Fry.

Christmas comes early on Max, as the streamer adds a bevy of holiday movies to its library for the month of November, alongside new TV debuts, a noteworthy documentary and more. “Elf,” “Christmas Vacation,” “Arthur Christmas,” “The Shop Around the Corner” and “Four Christmases” are some of the holiday films arriving on the streaming platform on Nov. 1.

This month also sees the Season 2 premieres of “Rap Sh!t” (on Nov. 9) and “Julia” (on Nov. 16) and the series premiere of “Two and a Half Men” creator Chuck Lorre’s new sitcom “Bookie” starring Sebastian Maniscalco (on Nov. 30).

On Nov. 11, check out the documentary “Albert Brooks: Defending My Life” in which the comedian, actor and filmmaker’s best friend Rob Reiner peppers him with questions about his life and career.

And Chip and Joanna Gaines renovate a 100-year-old building in “Fixer Upper: The Hotel,” which premieres on Nov. 8.

Check out the full list...

It’s a lean month for new original content on HBO/Max. November will see the return of two scripted series in Julia and Rap Sh!t, both of which are debuting their respective second seasons, but this month’s fresh highlight is likely to be Bookie, a new comedy series from the partnership of The Big Bang Theory creator Chuck Lorre, and Nick Bakay. The show tracks an LA bookie called Danny (Sebastian Maniscalco), whose business is in peril as California movies to legalize sports gambling.

Elsewhere in November, there quite a few interesting documentaries to keep an eye on, and two that jump out as “must watch”. The first is Albert Brooks: Defending My Life, which chronicles the aging comedian’s life and career. The second is the previously-released Little Richard: I Am Everything, which tries to peel back the whitewashed canon of Richard Penniman in a true...

Sarah Lancashire and David Hyde Pierce in ‘Julia’ season 2 (Photograph by Sebastein Gonon/Max)

Max’s November 2023 schedule includes season two of Julia starring Sarah Lancashire as Julia Child and the return of Rap Sh!t with Aida Osman and Mia KaMillion. Bookie, a new comedy about sports gambling created by Chuck Lorre, makes its debut on November 30th with Sebastian Maniscalco starring as an LA bookie.

HBO documentaries Albert Brooks: Defending My Life and South to Black Power will stream on Max this November, along with CNN Films’ Little Richard: I Am Everything.

Series & Films Arriving On Max In November 2023:

November 1

Act of Valor (2012)

After the Thin Man (1936)

Aliens (1986)

The Ant Bully (2006)

Arthur Christmas (2011)

The Avengers (1998)

The Bachelor (1999)

The Bad and the Beautiful (1952)

Bells Are Ringing (1960)

Black Beauty (1994)

Boys’ Night Out (1962)

Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo (1984)

Brigadoon (1954)

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)

A Christmas Carol (1938)

Christmas Cookie Challenge, Seasons...

Emmy and Tony Award nominee Corey Hawkins has signed with CAA for representation.

Hawkins is best known for his recent performances in “The Tragedy of Macbeth,” “In the Heights,” “Topdog/Underdog” on Broadway, as well as his breakout role, portraying Dr. Dre in F. Gary Gray’s “Straight Outta Compton.”

He will next star as Harpo in “The Color Purple,” Warner Bros.’ upcoming musical adaptation of the famed Alice Walker novel. Directed by Blitz Bazawule and produced by Steven Spielberg, Quincy Jones and Oprah Winfrey, the film is slated for theatrical release on Dec. 25.

Hawkins also stars in Netflix’s upcoming feature adaptation of August Wilson’s “The Piano Lesson,” a revival of the award-winning Broadway play. The film’s all-star cast boasts Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington, Ray Fisher, Danielle Deadwyler and Michael Potts.

This summer, Hawkins took on the lead role in “Last Voyage of the Demeter,...

Academy Award winner and acting icon Judi Dench has provided an update on her eyesight loss and revealed that she can no longer see on film sets. While chatting with the Sunday Mirror, Dench stated that losing her eyesight has been "the most terrible shock to the system" and noted that it was "Ghastly. It's terrible to be so dependent on people." During the interview, the Oscar winning actor said,

"I mean I can't see on a film set any more. And I can't see to read. So I can't see much. But you know you just deal with it. Get on."

Dench continued, "It's difficult for me if I have any length of a part. I haven't yet found a way. Because I have so many friends who will teach me the script. But I have a photographic memory." Still, the Shakespeare in Love actor said that she has...

Irish actor Colin Farrell has been an ever-present star in Hollywood over the last two decades, but what are his best and his worst movies? Having played leading roles in smaller-budget movies since 1999, Farrell gained international recognition after appearing in Steven Spielberg's Minority Report alongside Tom Cruise. He continued to star in a range of independent films and blockbusters throughout the 2000s and 2010s and is one of the most sought-after actors today.

Colin Farrell is best known for his roles in action, crime, and comedy movies, with his natural cheeky charisma often landing the Dublin native roles as the lovable rogue. But by no means is Farrell a one-note actor, as he has proven throughout his career that he can turn his talents toward drama, romance, and horror. Farrell shows no sign of slowing down, with the actor most recently appearing in contrasting roles in the superhero box...

Judi Dench has been quite open with fans over the last several years about her degenerative eye condition, which has made it increasingly difficult for the 88-year-old Oscar winner to learn her lines. In a new interview on “The Graham Norton Show” (via People magazine), Dench said it’s now become “impossible” to learn lines because of her eyesight loss. The actor has long prided herself on having a photographic memory when it comes to scripts, but she can no longer rely on it.

“It has become impossible and because I have a photographic memory, I need to find a machine that not only teaches me my lines but also tells me where they appear on the page,” Dench said. “I used to find it very easy to learn lines and remember them. I could do the whole of ‘Twelfth Night’ right now.”

During a 2021 conversation with the Vision Foundation,...

Judi Dench opened up in a conversation benefiting the Vision Foundation about continuing her acting career while coping with deteriorating eyesight (via The Guardian). The Vision Foundation is a London sight loss charity. Joined by Stephen Fry and Hayley Mills, Dench told the audience she remains a working actress by relying on close friends to help her memorize new scripts through the repetition of reading them aloud to her.

“You find a way of just getting about and getting over the things that you find very difficult,” Dench said. “I’ve had to find another way of learning lines and things, which is having great friends of mine repeat them to me over and over and over again. So I have to learn through repetition, and I just hope that people won’t notice too much if all the lines are completely hopeless!”

Acting through eye sight loss has given...

Brave New World is Peacock's first big miss.

The streamer has officially canceled its first scripted series after a single season.

A cancellation from a new service this early into its run is concerning, but it could signal that the interest in the series was so little to begin with.

Universal Cable Productions, however, is not ready to accept defeat and is actively searching for an international window for the series.

The Hollywood Reporter notes that it's unclear whether the series could be revived at Peacock if an international buyer steps into the ring.

The big budget series was always going to be a big swing, but it will look way more attractive to Peacock should some of the budget be offset by an international deal.

Then again, it could also return to one of the NBCUniversal-owned cable networks should it get a reprieve.

All nine episodes of Brave New World...

Netflix has released the first trailer for The Boys in the Band. This serves as a movie adaptation of Mart Crowley's classic, groundbreaking play. It debuted more than 50 years ago off-Broadway and became an unexpected smash hit that put gay men's lives center stage. Now, the tale returns to the screen in a new adaptation from producer Ryan Murphy. The movie reunites director Joe Mantello with the all-star cast of the Tony-winning, 2018 Broadway production.

The trailer opens up with an impassioned speech from Jim Parsons as Michael as shots of the core cast of characters flash across the screen, set against the backdrop of late 1960s New York City. They are gathering together for a birthday party but, there is a twist. One of Michael's old pals from college is visiting. However, this person has no idea that Michael is gay. Things get especially heated when the group begins...

Ahead of its nationwide launch next month, Peacock released trailers for all of its original series that debut with the newest streaming service.

This first wave of Peacock originals includes the streamer’s “Brave New World” adaptation, the “Psych” movie sequel “Psych 2: Lassie Come Home,” new drama “The Capture,” David Schwimmer workplace comedy “Intelligence,” the documentary film “In Deep with Ryan Lochte,” unscripted series “Lost Speedways,” and kids’ shows “Cleopatra in Space,” “Where’s Waldo?” and “Curious George.”

Premiere dates for future Peacock originals, including a new “Saved By the Bell,” will be announced later this year.

Also Read: NBCU's Peacock Streaming Service Will Be Free for 3 Months for Android Users

Peacock became available to Comcast — NBCU’s parent company — subscribers on April 15. When it launches nationally July 15, Peacock will have two separate tiers of service, both of which will be free to Comcast, as well as Cox, subscribers. The paid tier,...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=As2sMgm0Szo&feature=youtu.be Some dystopias might not look like dystopias from the inside. That's an undercurrent of this trailer for the upcoming Peacock adaptation of Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World. The official description of the series, as provided by Peacock: Brave New World imagines a utopian society that has achieved peace and stability through the prohibition of monogamy, privacy, money, family, and history itself. As citizens of New London, Bernard Marx and Lenina Crowne …...

Twenty years to the day on Tuesday, Aardman and Netflix announced at Annecy 2020 Online that full production will begin next year on the long-awaited sequel to “Chicken Run,” the legendary British studio’s first feature (in partnership with DreamWorks Animation) and the highest-grossing stop-motion movie in history ($106.8 million domestic and $224.8 million worldwide). Sam Fell (“ParaNorman” and “Flushed Away”) will direct, and Steve Pegram (“Arthur Christmas”) will produce. “Chicken Run” co-directors Nick Park and Peter Lord will be on hand as creative consultant and executive producer, respectively.

The sequel (scripted by “Chicken Run” writer Karey Kirkpatrick along with John O’ Farrell and Rachel Tunnard) picks up soon after the original ended. However, according to reliable sources, Mel Gibson will not return to voice Rocky, the laid-back American circus rooster. There’s no word yet on recasting Ginger (Julia Sawalha), the outspoken hen and leader of “The Great Escape” from the oppressive farm,...

Twenty years to the day on Tuesday, Aardman and Netflix announced at Annecy 2020 Online that full production will begin next year on the long-awaited sequel to “Chicken Run,” the legendary British studio’s first feature (in partnership with DreamWorks Animation) and the highest-grossing stop-motion movie in history ($106.8 million domestic and $224.8 million worldwide). Sam Fell (“ParaNorman” and “Flushed Away”) will direct, and Steve Pegram (“Arthur Christmas”) will produce. “Chicken Run” co-directors Nick Park and Peter Lord will be on hand as creative consultant and executive producer, respectively.

The sequel (scripted by “Chicken Run” writer Karey Kirkpatrick along with John O’ Farrell and Rachel Tunnard) picks up soon after the original ended. However, according to reliable sources, Mel Gibson will not return to voice Rocky, the laid-back American circus rooster. There’s no word yet on recasting Ginger (Julia Sawalha), the outspoken hen and leader of “The Great Escape” from the oppressive farm,...

When Peacock opens to consumers, it will have a wealth of original content.

NBCUniversal’s new streaming service, today announced its original content that will be available to stream on July 15, 2020, when the service launches nationally.

Peacock Premium customers can stream all first season episodes of Brave New World, The Capture, Intelligence and Lost Speedways; sports documentary In Deep with Ryan Lochte; and the entire full-length film Psych 2: Lassie Come Home on July 15.

Additionally, Peacock Kids is home to new episodes of Curious George and two original series from DreamWorks Animation: Cleopatra in Space and Where’s Waldo?.

Premiere dates for future Peacock Originals and exclusive content will be announced later this year.

“Our variety of Peacock Originals at launch demonstrates how we deliver timely and timeless content – no matter the genre or format,” said Bill McGoldrick, President of Original Content, Peacock.

“We’re proud to establish our voice...

NBCUniversal’s new streaming service Peacock has unveiled the list of original series and movies that will be available when the platform rolls out nationwide July 15.

This first wave of Peacock originals include the streamer’s “Brave New World” adaptation, the “Psych” movie sequel “Psych 2: Lassie Come Home,” new drama “The Capture,” David Schwimmer workplace comedy “Intelligence,” the documentary film “In Deep with Ryan Lochte,” unscripted series “Lost Speedways,” and kids’ shows “Cleopatra in Space,” “Where’s Waldo?” and “Curious George.”

Premiere dates for future Peacock originals will be announced later this year, according to the streaming service.

“Our variety of Peacock Originals at launch demonstrates how we deliver timely and timeless content – no matter the genre or format,” Peacock’s president of original content Bill McGoldrick said in a statement. “We’re proud to establish our voice and are excited to build on our strategy to attract a wide audience to Peacock.

Peacock, NBCUniversal’s new streaming service, has set its opening slate of original content that will be available on its July 15 launch. It includes all first season episodes of Brave New World, The Capture, Intelligence and Lost Speedways; sports documentary In Deep with Ryan Lochte; and feature-length film Psych 2: Lassie Come Home. Additionally, Peacock Kids will feature new episodes of Curious George and two original series from DreamWorks Animation: Cleopatra in Space and Where’s Waldo?. Premiere dates for future Peacock Originals and exclusive content will be announced later this year.

“Our variety of Peacock Originals at launch demonstrates how we deliver timely and timeless content – no matter the genre or format,” said Bill McGoldrick, President of Original Content, Peacock. “We’re proud to establish our voice and are excited to build on our strategy to attract a wide audience to Peacock.”

The full slate follows below.

Drama

Brave...

With the coronavirus pandemic forcing production on many scripted and un-scripted series to shutter, there were plenty wondering precisely how many original feathers NBCU’s Peacock would be able to launch with, especially after chairman Matt Strauss said the bulk of the streaming service’s originals slate had been pushed to 2021.

The service has now answered that question, announcing which originals will be available upon its July 15 launch. Headlining the list is the series adaptation of Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World,” which is set to star “Solo: A Star Wars Story” and “Hail, Caesar!” vet Alden Ehrenreich, “Downton Abbey” alum Jessica Brown Findlay, and Harry Lloyd.

In addition, subscribers to the new service will be able to watch the first seasons of international thriller “The Capture,” David Schwimmer comedy “Intelligence,” sports documentary “In Deep with Ryan Lochte,” and the feature “Psych 2: Lassie Come Home” when the streamer launches.

Goodman Theatre Artistic Director Robert Falls has announcedcasting for his upcoming revival ofMolly Sweeneyby Brian Friel.In assuming the title role, Chicago favoriteKate Fryreturns to the Goodman, following her recent appearance in Falls' production ofThe Winter's Tale. Joining Fry are stage and screen starBrendan CoyleDownton Abbey, who returns to the Goodman following his triumphant appearance in last season'sSt. Nicholasby Conor McPherson, and Chicago'sChristopher DonahueOedipus Rexat Court Theatre,Moby Dickat Lookingglass.

For more than 20 years, Independence Day has remained the highest-grossing movie of Will Smith's career. No longer. Over the weekend, the live-action Aladdin remake took the top spot. This proves that Smith is still a massive talent that audiences worldwide want to see on screen and that, perhaps, his best days aren't yet behind him.

As of this writing, Disney's remake of Aladdin has grossed $874 million globally. That puts it well above Independence Day. which brought in a massive $817 million when it first hit theaters in 1996. Granted, if we were to adjust for inflation, Roland Emmerich's alien invasion classic would come out on top, but in terms of pure dollars earned, there was a lot of magic in Disney's latest live-action reimagining. The actor took to Instagram to thank his fans around the world, quite literally, in every language he could think to do it in. Here's...

"There was nothing normal about the girl. She grew into the oddest of odd balls." Samuel Goldwyn Films has released a trailer for an indie drama titled This Beautiful Fantastic, written and directed by Simon Aboud. Jessica Brown Findlay (seen in Albatross, Winter's Tale, The Riot Club, Victor Frankenstein) stars as Bella Brown, an awkward, shy young woman who dreams of writing and illustrating a successful children’s book. Described as a "contemporary fairy tale", she encounters her grumpy next door and works to save a garden most of the time. Also starring Andrew Scott, Tom Wilkinson, Jeremy Irvine, Anna Chancellor & Eileen Davies. This actually looks quite good, it reminds me a bit of Amelie. Have a look. Here's the official trailer (+ poster) for Simon Aboud's This Beautiful Fantastic, direct from YouTube: Set against the backdrop of a beautiful garden in London, Bella Brown (Jessica Brown Findlay) plays a...

Paramount Pictures has picked up the film rights to Deadpool creator Rob Liefled's comic book character Avengelyne. The studio has hired Academy Award-winning writer Akiva Goldsman to produce the film and possibly direct it.

The film is being described as John Wick but with a fallen angel. Avengelyne was originally published in 1995 and a read the first few issues but that's it. I just had so many other comics that I was spending money on and reading at the time that I couldn't afford another one. For those of you who aren't familiar with it, here's a description:

Avengelyne is an angel who fights the forces of evil and often finds herself face-to-face with demons and monsters. She was the most feared warrior in Heaven’s Warhost, having single-handedly broken into Pandemonium, the outer fortress of Hell, to confront the Devil himself. She is a fallen angel, banished from Heaven...

The Beguiled: Colin Farrell (Winter's Tale, above) is in talks to star in a remake of The Beguiled. If things work out, he would join Nicole Kidman, Kirsten Dunst and Elle Fanning in the drama; Sofia Coppola is set to direct. The 1971 original starred Clint Eastwood as an injured Union soldier during the Civil War who finds refuge in a Confederate boarding school for girls. [Variety]   Gypsy: A new version of Gypsy, set to star Barbra Streisand as the ultimate stage mother, is moving forward, according to writer Richard Lagravenese (Streisand's The Mirror Has Two Faces). He adapted the script based on the acclaimed Broadway stage musical, working alongside Streisand. He says the casting process should be underway, with production aiming to begin early next year...

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The Beguiled: Colin Farrell (Winter's Tale, above) is in talks to star in a remake of The Beguiled. If things work out, he will join Nicole Kidman, Kirsten Dunst and Elle Fanning in the drama; Sofia Coppola is set to direct. The 1971 original starred Clint Eastwood as an injured Union soldier during the Civil War who finds refuge in a Confederate girls boarding school. [Variety]   Gypsy: A new version of Gypsy, set to star Barbra Streisand as the ultimate stage mother, is...

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Best known for their work in other franchises, Harry Potter and X-Men, respectively, Daniel Radcliffe and James McAvoy enter today's press conference looking rather similar to each other and different than in those other parts. For roles in upcoming films, both have their heads shaved. Neither is completely bald, but they do have a lot of scalp showing.

The two men are here with Paul McGuigan, the director of their newest film, the upcoming "Victor Frankenstein." As the title suggests, it is a new look at the classic Mary Shelley story.

Instantly, questions are asked about their heads, and Radcliffe says that his haircut is for a movie where he's playing an undercover FBI Agent whereas McAvoy, more obliquely, just says it's for a movie he's just started in Philly and that the role requires it. No one asks whether it could be a Professor Charles Xavier thing, but the...

So it looks like Will Smith is back this year (2015), after a brief break from acting (although he had bit parts in films like "Winter's Tale," and the movie his son starred in, "After Earth"). Big Willy returns to leading man roles, with two 2015 features: "Focus" (which was released on February 27), and now, "Concussion," which has been slotted for a Christmas Day 2015 opening, via Sony Pictures. The last time Big Willy starred in 2 feature films in the same year, was in 2008 ("Hancock" and "Seven Pounds") which, in hindsight, signaled the beginning of his hiatus, while he worked primarily behind the camera, producing work...

So it looks like Will Smith is back this year (2015), after a brief break from acting (although he had bit parts in films like "Winter's Tale," and the movie his son starred in, "After Earth"). Big Willy returns to leading man roles, with two 2015 features: "Focus" (which was released on February 27), and now, "Concussion," which has been slotted for a Christmas Day 2015 opening, via Sony Pictures. The last time Big Willy starred in 2 feature films in the same year, was in 2008 ("Hancock" and "Seven Pounds") which, in hindsight, signaled the beginning of his hiatus, while he worked primarily behind the camera, producing work...

We've seen a couple of images from Paul McGuigan's (Push, Lucky Number Slevin) Victor Frankenstein, and now the first trailers have been released for the upcoming movie. James McAvoy and Daniel Radcliffe play (respectively) the titular scientist and his assistant Igor, and the film also stars Jessica Brown Findlay (Downton Abbey, Winter's Tale), Daniel Mays (The Adventures Of Tintin:... Read More...

Sunday night's True Detective finale tied up the seasons' convoluted plotlines but ultimately struggled to find emotional resonance from its various characters. What kinds of adventures will Jordan and Ani have in Venezuela? Eesh. As we review their arcs throughout season two, some clear winners and losers emerge. Let's take a look.Winners: Season one of True Detective. Suddenly, all the shortcomings of that season have melted into obscurity. McConaughey! Harrelson! Oh, boy, we had some good times back then.  Colin Farrell. Farrell hasn't been in anything big or good in a while (oy, Winter's Tale), but he was solid here, swimming nobly against the current of stifling grandiosity that drowned much of the rest of the show. Farrell's decrepit Ray Velcoro was a dirtbag and a monster, but he had his moments, like in "Omega Station," as he tried not to crack a smile while talking to Ani on...

Last week, we reported that production is under way on Paramount Pictures' Rings, which is set 13 years after the 2002 thriller The Ring. There isn't much we know about the story so far, except that it centers on a young girl (Matilda Lutzz), whose boyfriend Holt (Alex Roe) watches the infamous VHS tape, which causes each person to be killed seven days after watching it. Aimee Teegarden has also recently joined the cast, but no details were given for her character. Today we have new details that could provide some Spoilers if proven to be true, so read on at your own risk.

Shock Till You Drop is reporting that an adult version of Aidan Keller, the character portrayed by David Dorfman in The Ring and the 2005 sequel The Ring Two, will appear in Rings, although it isn't known how large or small his role may be. It isn't known if David Dorfman himself,...

When PBS announced that Downton Abbey was renewed for Season 6 back in November, the network didn't confirm that the upcoming season would be its last. However, today TV Line is reporting that Season 6 will in fact be the final season. The site reports that the cast members' contracts expire after Season 6, and, with the exception of just one or two actors, the cast is now ready to move on. Here's what an unidentified source told TV Line.

"You can keep the show going without Matthew and Sybill, but you can't continue it without the entire Crawley family."

The source's statement refers to Dan Stevens and Jessica Brown Findlay, who played Matthew and Sybill, both of whom left after Season 3. Both actors have recently made the transition to features, with Dan Stevens starring in The Guest, A Walk Among the Tombstones and Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb last year,...

British actor Alex Roe has signed on to play the male lead in Paramount's Rings, which we reported last week will be a prequel to the studio's 2002 thriller The Ring. While that report has yet to be confirmed, it claimed that this new story will be set several years before The Ring, focusing on the origin of Samara's reign of terror and how the mysterious video tape was created. In The Ring, anyone who watches this VHS tape dies seven days later.

We reported in January that Matilda Lutz has signed on as the lead character, but no details about her role were given. Deadline reports that Alex Roe is playing Holt, the boyfriend of Matilda Lutz's character who suddenly becomes distant after he watches the aforementioned tape. Since the earlier report reveals the story will examine how the tape is created, these new details could either mean that the previous report was inaccurate,...

The Crow remake over at Relativity sure has had its share of ups and downs, departures and attachments. Most recently Luke Evans dropped out of starring as the lead character, Eric Draven, a man that rises from the dead to avenge his and his fiancee's death. Now, previous rumors that Jack Huston ("Boardwalk Empire") would pick up where Evans left off appear to have come true. Reported by Dread Central, series creator James O'Barr told the site, "Jack Huston has definitely been cast. I'm really happy with that choice and the film will shoot in a couple of months." Meanwhile, we also learn Jessica Brown Findlay (A Winter's Tale, "Downton Abbey") will star as Draven's fiancee, Shelly Webster. I've never read O'Barr's graphic novel, which served as the inspiration for 1994's The Crow starring Brandon Lee, but he tells the site this new adaptation will stick much closer to the source material.

During a Q&A panel a the Lexington Comic and Toy Convention, The Crow creator James O’Barr not only confirmed that Jack Huston (Boardwalk Empire, American Hustle, Shrooms) would don the black and white face-paint as Eric Draven in Corin Hardy's remake, but that he'd be joined by Jessica Brown Findlay (A Winter's Tale, The Riot Club, Downton Abbey) as his doomed fiancée, Shelly Webster. This character was played by Sofia Shinas in the original film, and it's her brutal rape and murder that brings Draven back from the dead to exact his bloody revenge. O'Barr also revealed a few more interesting details: the bulk of the cast will be made up of of British actors; in the film the crow will actually speak to Eric as he does in the comics; and if there's a sequel, it will feature a female lead. Check out the video below.

During the closing night of this year's Playfest it was announced Matt Bomer and Cheyenne Jackson will play the male leads in American Horror Story: Hotel (joining the previously cast Lady Gaga), while Jessica Lange confirmed that she will not be back for the fifth season of the FX anthology series. Matt Bomer is probably best known for his roles on the TV series White Collar and Chuck, and he has also appeared in films like Magic Mike and Winter's Tale. Cheyenne Jackson...

Back in January, we reported that Paramount Pictures is moving forward with Rings, a continuation of The Ring franchise starring Italian actress Matilda Lutz. That report revealed that Rings will follow the same timeline established in the 2002 hit The Ring and its 2005 sequel The Ring Two, but with an all new cast. Today, a new report from Bloody-Disgusting reveals that Rings is actually a prequel, set several years before The Ring.

The Ring starred Naomi Watts as a woman trying to uncover the truth about a mysterious VHS video tape. Anyone who watches the tape turns up dead just seven days later. According to this report Rings will examine how the tape was created and delve into the origins of Samara's reign of terror. The site also reports that casting is currently under way, although it isn't known when production may begin. Back in January, Paramount handed out a November 13, 2015 release date,...

The narrative going into this weekend was that "Focus" would mark a comeback of sorts for Will Smith. His first lead role since the career stumbling block two years ago that was "After Earth," "Focus" was supposed to be an easy lay-up for Smith, a sleek, star-powered caper comedy that would face little competition in the doldrums of February. Pundits predicted a debut in the low $20 millions.

Nonetheless, when the snow flurries cleared on Sunday, "Focus" hadn't even crossed $20 million; estimates had the film's weekend premiere scoring just $19.1 million. That's the first time, since Smith's Oscar-baiting prestige drama "Seven Pounds" in 2008, that he's failed to crack $20 million on an opening weekend. (Even "After Earth" pulled off a $27.5 million debut.)

With two relative flops in a row (three if you count his rare supporting role in last year's "Winter's Tale"), it's officially time for pundits to start wondering if Smith has...

'Focus' movie: Will Smith has third weakest weekend box-office debut of his career (photo: Will Smith in 'Focus') According to those referred to in polite society as "conservatives," winter storms and freezing temperatures are evidence that there's no such thing as global warming. Let's not even go there. Instead, let's focus (bad pun intended) on the Focus movie starring Will Smith and Margot Robbie as a con couple, which opened below expectations – with wintery weather as a possible culprit – in North America this weekend, February 27-March 1, 2015. According to box-office tracking, as late as a couple of days ago Warner Bros.' modestly budgeted Focus was expected to take in between $22-24 million. Barring a miracle akin to a sudden halt to rising ocean temperatures (pardon the hyperbole), that's not about to happen. Now, before I proceed: "modestly budgeted"? Well, for a Will Smith movie, $50 million – after...

Just seven months after Warner Bros. picked up the long-gestating video game adaptation Space Invaders, the studio has brought on screenwriter Daniel Kunka (12 Rounds) to write the screenplay. No story details have been released, but Daniel Kunka seems like a prime candidate to craft a story based on a video game with no narrative. The writer landed on The Black List last year with his screenplay entitled Yellowstone Falls, a 52-page, dialogue-free script that follows a mother wolf who must defend her cubs against mutated humans, in the aftermath of an apocalyptic event.

Tory Tunnell (Trumbo) and Joby Harold (Edge of Tomorrow) will produce through their Weed Road Pictures company, with Akiva Goldsman (Winter's Tale) slated to executive produce. The original video game centered on one lone gunman trying to stave off a massive alien invasion, although the archaic game did not include any back story as to why the...

Eric Bana has signed on to star in Warner Bros.' fantasy adventure Knights of the Round Table, playing Uther, the father of Charlie Hunnam's King Arthur. Astrid Berges-Frisbey is also set to star as Guinevere, with Jude Law in talks to play the villain and Djimon Hounsou in negotiations to play a character named Bedivere, who is described as a Merlin-eseque mentor to Arthur.

Warner Bros. is hoping to turn this project into their next franchise, with this first film expected to kick off a six-movie series, if all goes according to plan. Guy Ritchie is directing from a screenplay by Joby Harold (Edge of Tomorrow), although no story details have been revealed at this time. It isn't known when production may begin, but Warner Bros. has already issued a July 22, 2016 release date for Knights of the Round Table.

Guy Ritchie and Joby Harold are also producing alongside...

So it looks like Will Smith is back this year (2015), after a brief break from acting (although he had bit parts in films like "Winter's Tale," and the movie his son starred in, "After Earth"). Big Willy returns to leading man roles this year, with 2 features set for release in 2015: "Focus" (February 27), and now, "Concussion," which has been slotted with a Christmas Day 2015 opening, via Sony Pictures. The last time Big Willy starred in 2 feature films in the same year, was in 2008 ("Hancock" and "Seven Pounds") which, in hindsight, signaled the beginning of his hiatus, while he worked primarily behind the camera, producing work...

Universal Pictures today announced that principal photography has commenced in San Francisco on Steve Jobs. Set backstage at three iconic product launches and ending in 1998 with the unveiling of the iMac, the film takes us behind the scenes of the digital revolution to paint an intimate portrait of the brilliant man at its epicenter. Steve Jobs is directed by Academy Award winner Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire, 127 Hours) and written by Academy Award winner Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network, HBO's The Newsroom), working from Walter Isaacson's best-selling biography of the Apple founder. The producers are Mark Gordon (Saving Private Ryan, Source Code), Guymon Casady (HBO's Game of Thrones, Hope Springs) of Film 360, Scott Rudin and Academy Award winner Christian Colson (Slumdog Millionaire, Selma).

Michael Fassbender (X-Men: Days of Future Past, 12 Years a Slave) will play Steve Jobs, the pioneering founder of Apple, with Academy Award-winning actress Kate Winslet (The Reader,...

This is the second year for the Makeup and Hairstylists Guild joining the awards game, and they've been a welcome addition to the circuit. They spread their nods thin across a number of categories, but it's a good window into what this branch digs, for sure. This year, the only two films on the Academy's bake-off list of finalists that didn't garner any recognition were "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" and "Noah." Meaning "Foxcatcher," "The Grand Budapest Hotel," "Guardians of the Galaxy," "Maleficent" and "The Theory of Everything" were each represented in one form or another. Meanwhile, "Guardians of the Galaxy" led with the most mentions at three, while "The Grand Budapest Hotel," "Interstellar" and "Into the Woods" each got a pair. As previously announced, Oscar-winning make-up artist Rick Baker and Emmy-nominated hair stylist Kathryn Blondell will receive the Guild's Lifetime Achievement Awards. Check out the full list of nominees below,...

Most Hollywood studios have gotten smart about their film budgets, lowering them quite a bit over the past year. Which means we saw fewer box office bombs in 2014. Almost all of the big releases made at least a little bit of their money back, except maybe Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return. It only earned $18.6 million worldwide against it's $70 million budget. Winter's Tale and Vampire Academy were also big money losers over the past twelve months, but seeming disasters like Transcendence and I, Frankenstein actually managed to recoup their costs overseas. That doesn't mean these were good movies by any means. And some of the biggest blockbusters of the year shouldn't be considered masterpieces of cinema by any stretch of the imagination. In 2014, we couldn't really judge a movie by its earnings. But we could judge them by their critical and fan responses. Which is where Rotten Tomatoes comes in handy.