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The Harry Potter reboot has entered into the casting stage, where producers and casting directors battle it out to see who will take on these prestigious roles. While the HBO streaming series will be bringing a range of unknown actors into the ensemble to flesh out key roles like Harry, Hermione and Ron, the show will also pay homage to the original Harry Potter movies by ensuring that veteran performers are there to support them. Casting rumors have been running amok as of late, with a range of known names potentially given contracts for the show. However, fans have also been voicing their own perfect picks, with everyone from Kristian Nairn to Helen Mirren and Adam Driver getting chosen. Confirmed castings are thin on the ground, though, with only a couple of suggestions seemingly carrying weight.

Dumbledore is one of the most important characters on the show and must be chosen with great care.

Former Entertainment One head Kezia Williams is joining Universal Pictures International (Upi) as managing director for the UK and Ireland.

Williams joins Universal at the end of February and will report into Paul Higginson, executive vice president, Emea for Universal Pictures International.

She replaces former UK MD Rob Huber who left the company at the end of last year.

Williams will manage day-to-day operations in the territory, overseeing sales, marketing, publicity and finance, and will work closely with the heads of marketing, finance, legal, acquisitions and human resources.

Williams was most recently at Entertainment One, first as head of marketing...

Veteran distribution and marketing executive Kezia Williams has been named Managing Director for the UK and Ireland at Universal Pictures International, and will take up the post at the end of February. This marks a return to Universal for Williams who previously spent five years on the UK marketing team. Most recently, she was Managing Director at Entertainment One, overseeing the company’s UK film business.

Williams will report to Paul Higginson, Executive Vice President, Emea for Universal Pictures International and will manage day-to-day operations in the territory, which is one of Upi’s biggest theatrical markets. Williams will work with Higginson to drive box office revenues and set strategic goals and objectives for the UK and Ireland operating companies — overseeing sales, marketing, publicity and finance, and working closely with the heads of marketing, finance, legal, acquisitions and human resources. She replaces former Universal Pictures UK MD Rob Huber who...

Kezia Williams is set to join Universal Pictures International as its managing director for the U.K. and Ireland.

Williams will report to Paul Higginson, executive Vice President, Emea for Universal Pictures International and will manage day-to-day operations in the territory when she joins at the end of February. She replaces former Universal Pictures UK MD Rob Huber, who left the company at the end of 2024.

With more than 20 years of experience in distribution and marketing, Kezia was most recently at Entertainment One, initially as head of marketing & distribution and then as managing director, overseeing the company’s U.K. film business and leading integrated, event-driven campaigns to record-breaking results, including “1917,” “The Bfg,” “The Girl on the Train” and “Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves.”

This appointment marks Williams return to Universal, having previously spent five years on the U.K. Marketing team, where she contributed to the successful...

Hailed by his many admirers and peers as "one of the greatest storytellers for children of the 20th century," celebrated British author Roald Dahl famously penned a slew of beloved novels and short stories, including James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, and The Bfg, with his immersive and spellbinding books having sold more than 300 million copies globally. Though Dahl is famous for being one of the literary world's most brilliant writers, some may not realize that he also dipped his toe in Hollywood and wrote the screenplay for the 1967 James Bond film You Only Live Twice.

Dahl was actually a close friend of fellow writing great Ian Fleming (the genius behind the enduring Bond novels and their subsequent silver screen adaptations), and despite having no previous experience in filmmaking, delivered a fun and wildly entertaining adventure that Sean Connery embarked upon. Let's take a closer...

Steven Spielberg is not just one of the best directors of all time, but he's also an avid cinephile. It's all the more curious, then, that he has a rather peculiar opinion about the "Star Wars" franchise.

Back in 2002, Spielberg told Cinescape that, out of all the "Star Wars" movies made up to that point, "Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones" was "my second favorite just behind ['The Empire Strikes Back']," as the filmmaker put it. "It was great. The action scenes looked like George [Lucas] had been inspired by James Cameron because they were as good as any of the action scenes in ['Terminator 2: Judgement Day'], and I think George did his best directing with this one too."

Now, who am I to argue with Spielberg about his personal opinion? Still, it's funny that he heaped praise on "Attack of the Clones," itself perhaps the maligned out of the prequel trilogy.

Back in September, it was announced that Evan Peters (Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story), Anthony Ramos (Twisters), Ashton Kutcher (That ’70s Show), and Jeremy Pope (Hollywood) are on board to star in The Beauty, the latest show that American Horror Story and Monster co-creator Ryan Murphy has in the works at FX. Now, Variety has broken the news that Rebecca Hall of Godzilla x Kong: New Empire has also joined the cast.

Filming on The Beauty is already underway. FX has given the show an 11 episode order. While the series is based on the Image Comics series of the same name by Jeremy Haun and Jason A. Hurley, plot and character details are being kept under wraps. So for now, we can only go by the description of the comic book series to get an idea of what the show is going to be like: Modern society is obsessed with outward beauty.

Get in touch to send in cinephile news and discoveries. To keep up with our latest features, sign up for the Weekly Edit newsletter and follow us @mubinotebook on Twitter and Instagram.NEWSPoison.Former talk show host and current digital media emperor Conan O’Brien will host the 97th Academy Awards. He has previously hosted the Primetime Emmy Awards and the White House Correspondents dinner, twice apiece, as well as the Fifth Annual NFL Honors ceremony in 2016.Director Todd Haynes is set to head the jury of the 75th Berlin International Film Festival in February. Haynes’s feature film debut, Poison (1991), won the festival’s Teddy Award.The UK arthouse theater chain Curzon Cinemas has been sold to the New York investment company Fortress for $5 million as part of a foreclosure auction of assets owned by Cohen Realty Enterprises. The Curzon group reportedly believes that Fortress is “more likely to invest...

Which actor will play Dumbledore in Harry Potter TV series? (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Ever since HBO announced the Harry Potter television series, fans have been excited to know which actors will carry the films’ legacy forward. While Warner Bros. Television is looking for debutants to play the three young leads, the studio will likely hire established actors to play the adult characters.

As per reports, the studio has found the perfect actor to play Dumbledore in the show. The makers want to cast Mark Rylance as the fan-favorite headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Warner Bros. Television Eyeing Mark Rylance to Play Dumbledore in Harry Potter TV Series

Variety has reported that Mark Rylance, known for his role in the British show Wolf Hall, is the front-runner to play Dumbledore in the Harry Potter series. While the actorhass yet to enter into negotiations with Warner Bros. Television, the...

The first cast member for the Harry Potter television series appears to have been found!

It’s being reported that Oscar winner Mark Rylance is being eyed for the role of Professor Dumbledore in HBO’s upcoming seven-season series.

Variety reports that Mark is “at the top of the casting wishlist” for the project. He “hasn’t yet entered into negotiations with the actor, but the studio has reached out to gauge interest and availability.”

Mark won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Bridge of Spies and he’s also starred in movies like The Bfg, Ready Player One, The Trial of the Chicago 7, Bones and All, and The Outfit.

So, what did HBO say in response to the news?

Keep reading to find out more…

“We appreciate that such a high profile series will draw a lot of rumor and speculation. As we make our way through pre-production,...

The upcoming Harry Potter reboot series in the works at HBO might have found its Dumbledore. If the reported casting pans out, it would mark the first name to be added to the anticipated series.

Per Variety, Oscar-winning actor Mark Rylance is leading the casting wish list to play Dumbledore in the Harry Potter series. Reportedly, Rylance has been approached to gauge his interest but has not yet entered negotiations, so this is still far from a done deal. In response to the report, an HBO rep said in a statement, "We appreciate that such a high profile series will draw a lot of rumor and speculation. As we make our way through pre-production, we will only confirm details as we finalize deals.

Related HBO's Reboot Could See Harry Potter Become as Popular as Batman, According to WB Exec

Warner Bros. wants the Caped Crusader's popularity for The Boy Who Lived.

Mark Rylance is at the top of the casting wishlist for the new HBO “Harry Potter” adaptation, Variety has learned from sources familiar with the project.

Rylance, who is starring as Thomas Cromwell in the highly-anticipated BBC period drama “Wolf Hall: The Mirror and The Light” (based on Hilary Mantel’s novel), is in the mix for Dumbledore, according to inside buzz.

Variety understands that Warner Bros. Television hasn’t yet entered into negotiations with the actor, but the studio has reached out to gauge interest and availability.

Reps for Rylance did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A rep for HBO told Variety: “We appreciate that such a high profile series will draw a lot of rumor and speculation. As we make our way through pre-production, we will only confirm details as we finalize deals.”

While the leads for the show – Harry, Hermione and Ron – will likely be newcomers,...

One of the most beloved children's authors of all time, British writer Roald Dahl was renowned for his imaginative storytelling and ability to blend the whimsical with the macabre. He began writing in the 1940s, initially penning stories for adults before turning to children's literature, where he achieved global fame. These works, including classics like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, and The Bfg, are known for their quirky characters, dark humor, and inventive plots.

John Trafford-Owen, former executive at Studiocanal and Paramount Pictures, has joinedZygi Kamasa’s True Brit Entertainment as head of theatrical sales.

Trafford-Owen was previously head of theatrical distribution at Studiocanal UK as well as sales director for the UK and Ireland at Paramount Pictures International and United International Pictures UK. More recently, Trafford-Owen has worked withGower Street Analytics, Anton Capital,RealD, Dolby Cinema and IMAX.

True Brit has also hired Kate Willoughby as its senior marketing manager and Rob Barnes as head of home entertainment.

Willoughby began her career at Momentum Pictures and went on to work with distributors including Universal Pictures,...

Those who were alert enough to be following cinema discourse in the early 2000s may recall the painful inflection point the medium had reached in terms of visual effects. A lot of productions were moving away from practical effects wholesale and leaning hard into CGI. Many audience members hated the technological shift, as CGI effects were proving to look plastic and unconvincing. While Steven Spielberg might have employed CGI carefully and effectively in his 1993 film "Jurassic Park," multiple films from the early 2000s were proving that an overuse of CGI made for truly awful film imagery.

A few examples include 2001's "The Mummy Returns," which features a terrible-looking CGI version of Dwayne Johnson, or 2002's "Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones" which features many animated characters as well as digital sets. Also released in 2002 was Sam Raimi's "Spider-Man," itself, in this writer's humble opinion, a mediocre...

At 77, Steven Spielberg isn’t holding back! The legendary director just dropped some truth bombs about his post-War of the Worlds flicks, admitting that the films that followed didn’t quite hit the mark. It’s not every day you hear a titan of cinema reflect so candidly, but Spielberg’s honesty shines through as he acknowledges a string of less-than-stellar projects.

Steven Spielberg | Image by: Gage Skidmore licensed under Cc By-sa 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

It’s a bold move for a guy who’s given us classics like Jaws and E.T., proving that even the best can have their off days. So, what’s behind his revelation? Let’s dive into Spielberg’s journey through the highs and lows of Hollywood as he reexamines his filmography!

Steven Spielberg at 77: Why the Legendary Director’s Choosing History Over Blockbusters Steven Spielberg and Tom Cruise from the set of...

Steven Spielberg looks set to add another big name to his next film after Emily Blunt started talks to join the Amblin and Universal event movie.

Kingsman actor Colin Firth is in early talks to board Spielberg’s unnamed feature, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. The movie project, based on a story by Spielberg, is written by David Koepp, who worked with the director on Jurassic Park, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, War of the Worlds and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

Universal has dated the film for a May 15, 2026 theatrical release, marking Spielberg’s first summer offering in a decade following The Bfg in 2016. No plot details are available for the project, but it is described as an event film, a genre the filmmaker helped invent with features such as Jaws and Indiana Jones.

Other recent credits for Firth include the Kingsman films, Sam Mendes...

Matilda (1996) inspires viewers to watch its modern counterpart, Matilda the Musical (2022), both adapted from Roald Dahl's book. Both adaptations have high Rotten Tomatoes scores and are loved by audiences, with Matilda the Musical becoming the fourth-highest-grossing family film in the UK. Whether audiences prefer the original Matilda or Matilda the Musical depends on personal taste, as both films offer unique experiences and tell the same story.

The 1996 movie Matilda just hit Netflix, and it's certainly worth the rewatch, especially because it will inspire audiences to watch its modern counterpart. Matilda is one of many movies adapted from the writings of author, Roald Dahl. While the 1996 movie follows a young girl with telekinesis, his other stories have an equally strange bend. Some of the most popular Roald Dahl movie adaptations include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Bfg, and The Witches. Despite Matilda being brought to life on-screen in 1996, Dahl...

After working with blockbuster auteurs such as Christopher Nolan and Denis Villeneuve, Emily Blunt is now adding Steven Spielberg to her impressive list of collaborators. Blunt is in early talks to join Spielberg’s next feature, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.

The untitled Universal Pictures feature is written by David Koepp, who worked with Spielberg on Jurassic Park, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, War of the Worlds and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Universal has dated the film for the prime summer spot of May 15, 2026, marking Spielberg’s first summer offering in a decade following The Bfg in 2016. No plot details are available for the project, but it is described as an event film, a genre the filmmaker helped invent with features such as Jaws and Indiana Jones.

Spielberg has won three Oscars, including for best director and best picture for Schindler’s List, and for...

Prepare to go on another vibrant and grandiose adventure with Studio Ponoc with the newly dropped official trailer and a fresh batch of images for the upcoming feature-length flick, The Imaginary. Much more than a feel-good animated production, The Imaginary will dig deep into the human connection and will reignite audiences inner child through a colorful world filled with imaginary beings. Along with the visual information reveal, the English-language cast has also been announced and will include a handful of A-list names such as Louie Rudge-Buchanan (Crosshairs), Evie Kiszel (Eggshell), Hayley Atwell (Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One), LeVar Burton (Star Trek: The Next Generation), Kal Penn (Smile), Jeremy Swift (Ted Lasso), Sky Katz (Surviving Summer), Jane Singer (Batman: The Brave and the Bold), Ruby Barnhill (The Bfg), Roger Craig Smith (Sonic Boom), Courtenay Taylor (Relentless), and Miles Nibbe (Middlehood).

Steven Spielberg's new sci-fi movie will be his first summer blockbuster since 2016. The untitled movie also features UFOs, a favorite topic from the director's early years. The movie has a chance to reverse a recent negative box office trend for Spielberg movies.

Steven Spielberg's new movie will revive a trend from his career after a decade. The iconic director, whose early works include the TV movie thriller Duel and the Goldie Hawn-led The Sugarland Express, is best known for blockbuster releases including the iconic movies Raiders of the Lost Ark (the first of the Indiana Jones movies) and Jurassic Park, as well as tentpoles that balance popular and prestige sensibilities such as Saving Private Ryan and Schindler's List. Over the course of his career, he has been nominated for 23 Oscars, winning three.

In early 2024, it was announced that a new Steven Spielberg science fiction movie was in development.

The iconic Steven Spielberg has been focusing more on human dramas as of late, except for the occasional special effects-laden vehicles like Ready Player One and The Bfg — even sitting out Indiana Jones for the first time with the last entry, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. However, Deadline has now revealed that Universal Pictures has reserved a release date for May 15, 2026, for what is being described as an “original event film” that has been created by and will be directed by Spielberg.

It is not revealed what the event film is. However, it was reported last month that Spielberg would reunite with frequent collaborator David Koepp for an original UFO movie that has been kept very secretive. The UFO movie is said to be based on Steven Spielberg’s own original idea and that David Koepp is writing the screenplay. Unfortunately, that would be all the information given at this point.

Steven Spielberg’s legacy is a much-renowned one, unmarred by time and the arrival of new talent. His films have established a new era in Hollywood, through Indiana Jones and Jurassic Park. Despite the presence of evolved technologies and newer creatives, not many have been able to recreate the scale of Spielberg’s career or overthrow his status as a living legend.

Steven Spielberg at the 2017 Sdcc [Photo: Gage Skidmore]With the passing of years, classics such as Harrison Ford’s classic Nazi-hunting adventure junkie or the rebirth of the Jurassic Age in the modern world have taken a backseat, giving way to more modernistic science fiction such as Minority Report and the playful Catch Me If You Can. But not once has the director stumbled in his unbroken creative streak for the past 50 years, beginning with the marine horror, Jaws.

However, when it comes to Steven Spielberg’s kids, they may be his harshest critics,...

Described as a live-action Pixar film by the director John Krasinski, the fantasy adventure film If is charming audiences worldwide with its wonderful cast, brilliant visuals, and a lot of heart. If follows the story of a young girl named Bea who finds out that she can see everyone’s imaginary friends and with the help of Cal, she goes on a mission to reconnect forgotten IFs with their kids. If stars Ryan Reynolds, Cailey Fleming, Krasinski, Steve Carell, Emily Blunt, Awkwafina, Blake Lively, Matt Damon, Brad Pitt, Louis Gossett Jr., Vincent Vaughn, Fiona Shaw, Sam Rockwell, Bradley Cooper, George Clooney, and many popular actors. So, if you also love the fantastical nature of If here are some similar films you should check out next.

The Bfg (Disney+ & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – Disney

The Bfg is a fantasy-adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg from a screenplay by Melissa Mathison.

Sneak Peek "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” actress Rebecca Hall in the latest issue of “Glass China” mgazine, photographed by David Roemer:

Hall got her breakthrough role in Christopher Nolan's thriller “The Prestige”. In 2008, she starred in Woody Allen's romantic comedy “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”, for which she received a ‘Golden Globe’ nomination for ‘Best Actress’.

Hall then appeared in Ben Affleck's crime drama “The Town” (2010), the horror thriller “The Awakening” (2011), the superhero film “Iron Man 3”n(2013), the science fiction film “Transcendence “ (2014)…

…the thriller “The Gift” (2015), the fantasy film “The Bfg” (2016), and the biographical drama “Professor Marston and the Wonder Women” (2017).

Hall was praised by critics for her portrayal of news reporter ‘Christine Chubbuck’ in the biographical drama “Christine”.

She has since starred in the ‘MonsterVerse’ films “Godzilla vs. Kong” (2021) and “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” (2024).

Click the images to enlarge…...

Plans for E.T. 2 were scrapped by Spielberg to preserve the original's integrity and reputation. The proposed E.T. sequel, titled E.T. II: Nocturnal Fears, would have been darker with evil aliens terrorizing Earth's children. Spielberg rejected and E.T. sequel to protect the beloved original film from losing its magic.

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial remains one of the most beloved of Steven Spielberg's movies, so it is not surprising that there were plans for E.T. 2 before the sequel was scrapped. The sci-fi classic E.T. was released in 1982 and has been praised by critics ever since, who consider it one of the finest films of its generation as well as one of the best films ever made. At one point, E.T. was the highest-grossing film of all time, surpassing Star Wars, but it was later overtaken by another Spielberg film, Jurassic Park, in 1993.

E.T. follows Elliott...

Sam Mercer, producer on several M. Night Shyamalan movies and former head of Ilm, died Feb. 12 of younger onset Alzheimer’s in South Pasadena. He was 69.

Raised in Weston, Mass., he attended Occidental College and then started working as a location manager on 1980s classics including “Stripes,” “The Escape Artist,” “National Lampoon’s Vacation,” “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure,” “Swing Shift,” “Peggy Sue Got Married” and “The Witches of Eastwick.”

He joined the Walt Disney Company as a production executive, supervising films including “Good Morning Vietnam,” “Three Fugitives” and “Dead Poets Society.” He then became VP of motion picture production at Hollywood Pictures, where he oversaw releases including “Quiz Show,” “The Joy Luck Club,” “Born Yesterday,” “Swing Kids,” “The Hand That Rocks the Cradle” and “Arachnophobia.”

Mercer then worked as an independent producer, starting with “Congo,” “The Relic” and “Mission to Mars.” After working with Shyamalan on “The Sixth Sense,” then went on...

Sam Mercer, who produced eight M. Night Shyamalan films starting with the spooky blockbuster The Sixth Sense, has died. He was 69.

Mercer died Feb. 12 at his home in South Pasadena after a battle with younger-onset Alzheimer’s, his wife, Tegan Jones, told The Hollywood Reporter.

Mercer was seen as an out-of-the-box hire when he joined Industrial Light & Magic in September 2015 to oversee and coordinate activities of the VFX giant’s studios in San Francisco, Vancouver, London and Singapore. However, he left the next year after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.

Mercer began his career as a location manager on films including Stripes (1981), National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983), Pee-wee’s Big Adventure (1985), Peggy Sue Got Married (1986) and The Witches of Eastwick (1987).

He joined Disney and was a production executive on such features as Good Morning, Vietnam (1987) and Dead Poets Society (1989), and as a production vp at Hollywood Pictures, he oversaw the release of films...

To celebrate the release of Jamie and the Magic Torch, on DVD from 18th March, we are giving away DVDs to 2 lucky winners!

Every night when his mum calls out ‘Sleep Well Jamie’, the naughty rascal gets out of bed, picks up his magic torch and with his dog, Wordsworth, travels down a helter skelter into the magical world of Cuckoo Land. With 39 fantastic stories to watch, join Jamie and Wordsworth in all three series of their exciting adventures. Presented for the first time as a complete collection on DVD.

Jamie and the Magic Torch ran from 1976-1979 and was made by the Cosgrove Hall animation studios in Manchester, the studio that brought to us other classic shows such as Danger Mouse, Count Duckula, The Wind in the Willows, Chorlton and the Wheelies and The Bfg movie. Brian Truman who narrates the series also wrote it.

Jamie and Wordsworth have...

Since we’re talking about the short films, I’ll accordingly keep this brief. Here are five reasons why “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar” will win the Oscar for Best Live Action Short Film.

1. It’s the clear standout in the category.

All five nominees are exceptional — the others being “The After,” “Red, White and Blue,” “Invincible” and “Knight of Fortune.” In a less competitive year, any one of them could easily walk away with the prize. But it’s simply too hard for anything to top “Henry Sugar.” Based on the short story of the same name by celebrated children’s author Roald Dahl, the film is seamlessly adapted to the screen with the same charm, wit and magic of the original tale. “Henry Sugar” features superb acting, exquisite costume and production design, beautiful cinematography and sharp editing. It holds an outstanding 95% “Certified Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes,...

It’s just a fact that, for all their wonder and whimsy, Roald Dahl‘s children’s books can be terrifying. The heroine of Matilda, abandoned to a strict school by uncaring parents, must survive the cruelties of the headmistress, Miss Trunchbull. Unlike the friendly giant of the title, the other giants in The Bfg snatch humans to eat from their beds every night. The Witches concerns a conspiracy of demonic crones bent on eradicating kids altogether.

In other words, Dahl’s often macabre fantasies are not safe spaces (as...

Lionsgate Television just eliminated more than half of its development deals, IndieWire has confirmed. The reduction comes after Lionsgate’s $375 million acquisition of eOne from Hasbro. The eOne purchase, which on the television side brought over “Yellowjackets” and other series, mixed with general industry contraction in the post-Peak TV era, rationalized the sweeping cuts.

Lionsgate executives conducted a two-months-long review of the Lionsgate Television and eOne talent rosters, which together included nearly 60 overall and first-look deals. The number is now below 30; no names have been reported on either the “stay” or “go” side of the ledger.

Deadline first reported the news. A Lionsgate rep declined comment on this story.

It is pretty common for a company to slim down ahead of acquisition — just ask Paramount — but this round was pretty drastic. It is important to remember that during last year’s writers strikes, pretty much all overall deals were put on pause.

Monsters in films can be heroes, fighting not just physical threats but the evils within humanity itself. Japanese Kaiju films like Godzilla inspired the giant monster genre, with many embodying relatable struggles. The best monster movies show that monsters are often a result of unresolved human issues and can evolve to become heroes.

The unknown is a scary prospect, and most monster movies that feature a gargantuan beast capitalize on that fear, but some subvert that trope and make the monster a hero. Whether it's an otherworldly beast that fights to protect the human race or a human who has found themselves to be the monster, these movies are an important reminder not to judge a book by its cover or a monster by its size. Sometimes, the evil that they fight is other monsters, but the best films pit them against the evils within humanity itself, making the monsters the good guys.

To celebrate the release of The Bfg, on Blu-Ray and DVD from 4th March, we are giving away Blu-Rays to 2 lucky winners!

Revisit the magic of this wonderful and inspiring tale about young orphan Sophie and the Big Friendly Giant starring David Jason (Only Fools and Horses), as the voice of

the Bfg along with a stellar cast including Angela Thorne (To the Manor Born), Frank Thornton (Are You Being Served?), Mollie Sugden (Are You Being Served?) and Ballard

Berkeley (Fawlty Towers). Now there’s a reason to feel hopscotchy!

The Bfg premiered on ITV on Christmas Day 1989 and was brought to life by Cosgrove Hall Films who also created Count Duckula, Chorlton and the Wheelies and Dangermouse.

Follow the adventures of lonely orphan girl Sophie as she meets her twenty-five foot high prince and is whisked off into the wonders of Dreamland. Tasked with harvesting dreams and blowing them...

A fresh set of actors are about to be enrolled in what the film series cast cheekily nicknamed ‘the Harry Potter Pension plan’. US streamer Max’s plan to re-adapt the Potter books into a TV show running for 10 consecutive years and starting in 2025/6 should keep the lucky new cast in greasepaint and copies of The Stage indefinitely.

But who will they be? Lead characters Harry, Ron and Hermione will almost certainly be played by unknowns, but the Hogwarts ensemble – Dumbledore, Snape, McGonagall, Hagrid and co. – will be picked from the current crop of British acting talent, just like their counterparts were over two decades ago. Who working today could follow in the footsteps of Sir Michael Gambon, Alan Rickman, Dame Maggie Smith, Robbie Coltrane and the rest?

While it’s too early for any solid cast news, there’s no harm in a bit of dream-casting at this point,...

Warner Bros’ ’Wonka’ is now less than $10m behind the lifetime global total of Tim Burton’s ’Charlie And The Chocolate Factory’.

Worldwide box office January 5-7 Rank Film (distributor) 3-day (world) Cume (world) 3-day (int’l) Cume (int’l) Territories 1. Wonka (Warner Bros) $43.4m $465.9m $28.9m $301.2m 78 2. Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom (Warner Bros) $40.9m $334.8m $30.3m $234.8m 78 3. Migration (Universal) $25.7m $150.7m $15.5m $72.9m 74 4. Johnny Keep Walking! (various) $22.5m $77.2m $22.5m $77.2m 1 5. Wish (Disney) $19.8m $209.5m $19m $146.9m 52 6. Night Swim (Universal) $17.7m $17.7m $5.7m $5.7m 37 7. Anyone But You (Sony) $14.9m $58.4m $5.4m $14.7m 20 8. The Goldfinger (various) $10.5m $51.4m $10.4m...

Shows like “Yellowjackets,” “The Rookie,” and “Naked & Afraid” all have a new home. Lionsgate has officially closed its acquisition of film and TV studio Entertainment One (eOne) from Hasbro for a sum of $375 million in cash, Lionsgate announced on December 27.

That’ll help Lionsgate beef up its own film and TV library, as the studio now has ownership of eOne’s crop of over 6,500 films and shows. Lionsgate already has one of the most impressive standalone film and TV libraries around town — one that has made it attractive for an acquisition of its own — and this deal makes it now well in excess of 20,000 titles.

On the film side, you’ve got a couple of Best Picture winners like “Green Book” and “Spotlight,” as well as some awards darlings and hits like “1917,” “The Woman King,” “The Post,” “Molly’s Game,” “The Bfg,” “The Duke,” “Arrival,” “Booksmart,” “If Beale Street Could Talk,...

Roald Dahl himself prevented a Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory sequel due to his dislike of the original film adaptation. Dahl thought Gene Wilder's portrayal of Willy Wonka was too soft and believed there was something wrong with the character's soul in the movie. Despite conflicting reports about Dahl's feelings towards the original film, his strong dislike may have led him to deny the rights for Charlie and the Glass Elevator to be adapted.

Due to the immense success of the film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, a sequel might appear to have been an obvious choice. However, there is one particular obstacle that prevented its production. British author, Roald Daul, has been aptly dubbed one of the greatest storytellers of the 20th century, and he is responsible for the creation of many children's hits, including The Bfg, Matilda, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Many of...

The most financially successful filmmaker to ever live, Steven Spielberg boasts a notable variety of projects under his belt. And for the most part, they've all garnered widespread acclaim from critics and audiences alike. Jaws (1975), E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), Saving Private Ryan (1998) — these are all among the most critically acclaimed and financially successful movies of their respective decades. And within each of those projects are equally famous characters.

Played by Harrison Ford in perhaps his most famous role, Indiana Jones alone nearly transcends the name value of Spielberg himself, with his signature effects creating one of the most iconic character designs the medium has ever seen. That's by far the most popular name under Spielberg's belt when it comes to individual movie characters. But there's also Brody from Jaws, Elliott from E.T., and essentially the entire cast of characters featured in Jurassic Park (1993). Film fans across the country would...

Kids' movies like "Onward" and "The Bfg" can still underperform at the box office, despite their appeal to family audiences. Beloved children's movies such as "Matilda" and "Fantastic Mr. Fox" initially bombed, but later gained cult classic status. Even acclaimed films like "Hugo" and "The Iron Giant" struggled to make a profit, highlighting the unpredictability of success in Hollywood.

Kids’ movies tend to do really well at the box office, thanks to their broad appeal, but that’s not always the case – even for great movies like The Iron Giant. Movies that appeal to kids are usually a sure-fire success, because parents can be relied on to buy multiple tickets. Taking the kids to watch a movie is an easy way to keep them entertained for a couple of hours. The two biggest box office hits of the year – The Super Mario Bros. Movie, adapted from a popular video game franchise,...

Netflix typically refuses to release its actual viewership numbers to the public, making its weekly top-10 lists a fascinating peek into how streaming services actually operate. Netflix may pour millions into their original programs, but their ten most popular films or TV tend to (at least partly) be 25-year-old movies experiencing a seemingly random renaissance. Case in point: one of the hottest films on Netflix right now is Danny DeVito's 1996 family film "Matilda" based on the 1988 novel by Roald Dahl. 

"Matilda," critically acclaimed upon its release, is about the titular young girl (Mara Wilson) who lives with caustic, greedy, tacky, and abusive parents. Her new school is a bleak, Dickensian nightmare overseen by the bestial, cruel Mrs. Trunchbull (Pam Ferris). The only person who treats Matilda with kindness is the put-upon Miss Honey (Embeth Davidtz) who sees how bright and gentle Matilda is. 

Matilda sees little respite from her...

Despite being critically acclaimed, many film adaptations of Roald Dahl's beloved books have been box office bombs, with only a few exceptions. The Bfg, directed by Steven Spielberg, and The Witches (1990) are among the Dahl adaptations that underperformed at the box office. Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory and Fantastic Mr. Fox also faced box office failures, but both have since gained cult status and cultural impact.

Roald Dahl is one of the most famous authors of all time, and while a lot of movies have adapted Dahl's classic works, tons of them have been huge box office bombs. While some Roald Dahl movies have succeeded, many more of them have flopped, with plenty of his movies losing money despite being critical successes. The reasons for these failures vary, and although many of them found success on home video, they simply didn't fare well in theaters. So, here is every...

Wes Anderson, the acclaimed director of The Grand Budapest Hotel, Moonrise Kingdom, and The French Dispatch, is revisiting the world of Roald Dahl, the beloved author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, and The Bfg. Anderson is adapting four of Dahl’s short stories into four short films that will premiere on Netflix later this month.

The first trailer for The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Ralph Fiennes, was released on September 14. The film is based on the 1977 short story of the same name, which tells the tale of a wealthy man who learns to see without his eyes and uses his newfound ability to cheat at gambling. Cumberbatch plays Henry Sugar, while Fiennes plays Roald Dahl himself, who narrates the story. The film also features Dev Patel, Ben Kingsley, Rupert Friend, and Richard Ayoade in dual roles.

Wonderful Story Trailer

Anderson said he had...

The film world's favorite persnickety stylist, Wes Anderson, is back! Already! Anderson's most recent feature film, "Asteroid City," premiered in wide release just three months ago. It garnered rave reviews (Lex Briscuso wrote in these very pages that the film is "a top-tier Wes Anderson original that brings back the carefree fun and charm of some of his best works") and continues to be a box office force to be reckoned with, which is more or less par for the course for Anderson.

But eager Andersonians won't have to wait two to three years for the next one. A dazzling new adventure from the mind behind "Moonrise Kingdom" and "The Royal Tenenbaums" lies right around the corner. On September 27, Anderson will premiere a new short film on Netflix titled "The Wonderful Life of Henry Sugar." In fact, September 27 doesn't just mark the premiere of a new Anderson film, it's...

Spielberg's recent box office flops can be attributed to a larger trend of declining theatrical releases since the Covid-19 pandemic, rather than the quality of his films. The Bfg bombed due to its high budget and competition from other popular animated movies at the time, overshadowing its childhood appeal. The Fabelmans' critical success and introspective nature didn't resonate with modern audiences, who are less inclined to see a film in theaters based on critical acclaim alone. The film's niche and singular focus limited its appeal.

Three of Steven Spielberg's last five movies were bombs at the box office, raising the question of what happened to create $380 million worth of flops. The acclaimed director is one of the most significant and definitive creatives in the entire history of Hollywood, responsible for influential and revolutionary films such as Indiana Jones, Jaws, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Lincoln, Jurassic Park, and Saving Private Ryan.

Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Partners has sold a 50% stake in its catalog of music publishing and music master rights from the film music library to Multimedia Music, including marquee and award-winning films 1917, Green Book, The Bfg, Bridge of Spies, The Post, Office Christmas Party, Thank You For Your Service and The Girl on the Train and others. The catalog features iconic music from several of the most renowned and celebrated composers in the world including John Williams, Thomas Newman, Danny Elfman, Alexandre Desplat, Rachel Portman, Mark Isham and Rob Simonsen.

The music partnership will also see Mmm and Amblin pursue new initiatives to increase value by maximizing income collections and sourcing new uses for the catalog in commercials, trailers and television shows.

“We are proud to partner with Mmm and look forward to exploring new avenues to maximize the value of our extensive music catalogue alongside their fantastic team,...

The latest all-singing version of Matilda, now on Netflix, joins an impressive library of thoughtful film versions of seminal kids’ books, from Paddington to Kes

The common wisdom that “the book is usually better than the film” is as true of children’s literature as of its adult counterpart: cinema is stacked with adaptations of children’s classics that may be perfectly proficient, but haven’t the inspired individuality of the works at their source.

Devotees of Roald Dahl have learned this a lot over the years. His offbeat humour and offhand storytelling style, so irresistible to kids, rarely translates all the way to screen — it’s thwarted such titans as Steven Spielberg, who whiffed with The Bfg (Netflix), though Wes Anderson’s droll Fantastic Mr Fox succeeded by inventing eccentricities of its own. Best of all, Nicolas Roeg’s very adult sense of the macabre proved a delicious fit...

Maxwell Jenkins, Jeremy Ray Taylor and Katie Douglas have jumped on board This Too Shall Pass, a coming-of-age drama from writer-director and indie horror veteran Rob Grant.

The ensemble cast for the pic to start shooting next month in Calgary includes Ben Cockell, Jaylin Webb, Aidan Laprete, Nikki Roumel and Chris Sandiford.

Set in 1987 in Syracuse, New York, This Too Shall Pass follows Simon, a 16 year-old suffocated by his strict Mormon upbringing and rebelling as he leaves town with friends for a weekend in Canada, only to see events further make Simon question his religious and personal beliefs.

“This cast is dynamite, the team behind the scenes are amazing, and I can’t wait to bring the world a different slant on the coming-of-age genre!” Grant said in a statement.

This Too Shall Pass, which has financing from Telefilm Canada, marks the fifth feature film collaboration between Grant — who started...

Former Epix exec Benjamin Tappan has joined Walden Media as president of production, overseeing the shingle’s TV and film development, as well as production. Tappan’s hire comes as Walden Media also looks to broaden its programming mix. Tappan will report to Walden Media president and CEO Frank Smith, who announced the hire on Tuesday.

“Ben’s vast experience as both a production executive and talent representative along with his great track record of making popular and critically praised content make him uniquely suited for leading our creative team,” Smith said in a statement. “We greatly look forward to his leadership and contributions as we build the Walden Media of the future.”

Tappan most recently served as a consultant focused on scripted development and production at his Tap/In Entertainment. He spent four years at Epix (now known as MGM+), joining in 2015 and helping launch the pay network’s first three straight-to-series productions.

On paper, filmmaker Steven Spielberg and novelist Roald Dahl couldn't be more different. Spielberg has been known as a sentimental filmmaker, expertly presenting many heartwarming fables throughout his career. Thanks to films like "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial," "Always," "Hook," and "War Horse," one can see the optimist in Spielberg shining through. His films tend to end well for their protagonists, and his little kid characters experience growth and wonderment, even as they survive mayhem. Yes, Spielberg could be intense and bitter at times, but he's hardly known for his cynicism. Roald Dahl, meanwhile, might be defined by his cynicism. In Dahl's children's stories, the world is a bleak and aggressive place, full of abusive adults and systems designed to exploit children. "Matilda" takes place at the world's most miserable school. "James and the Giant Peach" begins with the eponymous character being horrible abused by his two aunts. It's a...