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Ben Stiller doesn’t think ‘Tropic Thunder’ could be made today because “edgier comedy is harder to do”.The 58-year-old actor starred in and directed the 2009 satirical action comedy - which also starred Jack Black, Tom Cruise, Steve Coogan and Robert Downey Jr. - and has now admitted the film likely wouldn’t be greenlit today because of its controversial elements.When Collider asked if he could see ‘Tropic Thunder’ coming out now, he said: “I doubt it. Obviously, in this environment, edgier comedy is just harder to do. Definitely not at the scale we made it at, too, in terms of the economics of the business.“I think even at the time we were fortunate to get it made, and I credit that, actually, to Steven Spielberg and DreamWorks. He read it and was like, ‘Alright, let's make this thing.’ It's a very inside movie when you think about it.

Ben Stiller is weighing in on the whole "you couldn't make my super controversial movie today" conversation, but—unlike some others who were mostly just yelling at clouds—he actually has a point. He's talking about Tropic Thunder of course, the "incredibly dicey" 2008 satirical comedy about a group of actors...

Michael Gracey’s Robbie Williams biopic musical Better Man will open the 36th annual Palm Springs Film Festival on Thursday, January 2, while The Penguin Lessons, directed by Peter Cattaneo and starring Steve Coogan in the heartwarming story of a teacher who rescues and adopts an adorable penguin, closes it out January 13. Both films had premieres at the Toronto Film Festival earlier this year, and Better Man first had its world premiere at Telluride.

As always a hallmark of Psiff are screenings of numerous entries into the Oscar International Feature Film race, this year with 35 scheduled to screen in the desert.

The festival has programmed 158 films from 71 countries including 68 premieres. The lineup also includes sections like Talking Pictures, a focus on Spanish films with a spotlight on Pedro Almodóvar, New Voices New Visions, Modern Masters, Queer Cinema, Cine Latino, True Stories,...

On Tuesday, the Palm Springs International Film Festival (Psiff) announced its official 2025 lineup for the nearly two-week event that’s being held from Jan. 2 to Jan. 13.

The opening night movie will be Paramount Pictures’ “Better Man,” starring Robbie Williams and directed by Michael Gracey, which chronicles the pop star’s meteoric rise and dramatic fall. And the festival will close with Sony Pictures Classics’ “The Penguin Lessons,” starring Steve Coogan and directed by Peter Cattaneo, in the dramedy about a teacher whose life changes when he adopts a penguin. In all, Psiff will screen 158 films from 71 countries, including 68 premieres.

Artistic director Lili Rodriguez said, “Our lineup this year is truly something special. In true Psiff fashion, it spans genres and crosses borders to bring an exciting mix of films to the Coachella Valley. Over the past year, our Palm Springs International Film Festival team has carefully crafted a program that celebrates the art of storytelling,...

Satirist and The Death Of Stalin writer-director Armando Iannucci will take aim at social media in his next film.

Writer, director and satirist Armando Iannucci has revealed that his next film will poke fun at social media. The project will see him team up with Jon Brown, with whom he previously worked on TV comedy series The Franchise, a satire of superhero movie-making. According to Chortle, Iannucci said on Daniel Merrifield’s The Movie Dweeb podcast, “I’m always interested in where power and influence is, so social media is something actually that Jon [Brown] and I have been working on together, on a film script, which we hope to shoot next year”.

Ianucci went on to say that it would be “set in that world of that next generation of your Zuckerbergs, your Musks and Peter Thiels, and all those people’ – referring to the founder of Facebook, owner of X and Facebook investor respectively.

On Saturday 23 November 2024, ITV broadcasts The Jonathan Ross Show!

Special Guests Season 2: Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “The Jonathan Ross Show,” titled “Special Guests,” promises to be an exciting trip down memory lane. This episode will air on ITV and will highlight some of the most unforgettable moments from the recent series of the show.

Viewers can look forward to seeing a lineup of special guests who have made a significant impact on the series. The episode will feature well-known personalities such as Jack Black, Stormzy, Grace Jones, Steve Coogan, Emma Stone, Andy Serkis, Emma Thompson, Nile Rodgers, and Brian Cox. Each guest brings their unique charm and stories, making this a must-watch for fans of the show.

As Jonathan Ross revisits these memorable moments, there will be plenty of laughs, surprises, and heartfelt conversations. This episode is set to celebrate the fun and excitement that “The Jonathan Ross Show” is known for.

At 86, Ridley Scott is on the cusp of releasing one of the biggest films of his career — “Gladiator II” — and already has at least two additional projects lined up for 2025, a reteam with Paul Mescal and a Bee Gees biopic. With no signs of slowing down.

He’s not the only Hollywood veteran who’s still making movies: Martin Scorsese, who turned 82 this year, made one of the best films of his career with “Killers of the Flower Moon” while Clint Eastwood (94) has what might be his final film, “Juror #2” in theaters now.

Here are 15 directors over 80 who are still busy making movies.

Photo credit: Getty Images Martin Scorsese, 82

The prolific director of “Goodfellas,” and “The Departed” was Oscar-nominated again for his 2023 historic epic, “Killers of the Flower Moon,” and is now developing two films: “The Life of Jesus” and a movie about Frank Sinatra. He also returned to documentaries...

The UK Global Screen Fund’s (Ukgsf) next round of awardees from its distribution strand of support includes The Penguin Lessons, Bring Them Down, The Salt Path and Kneecap.

The Ukgsf has issued 18 new awards, administered by the BFI, to support international opportunities for the UK’s independent screen sector. Ukgsf is financed through the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Dcms), and the awards see a further £413,995 allocated through the £7m per year fund’s international distribution strand.

The international distribution strand is now managed by Jordan Allwood, who joined the team in October from UK sales agent Independent Entertainment and replacesFrancesca Walker.

Like death and taxes, sequels are an unavoidable fact of modern life. But unlike death and taxes, sequels aren’t always terrible. On the contrary, some of them are pretty great! The last 17 years have been so overrun by sequels, reboots, seboots, and requels that people have naturally continued to bemoan the film business’ lack of creativity, but a small handful of these movies have leveraged their franchises (and/or their pre-existing fanbases) to create something special.

Whether deepening a beloved character (“Spider-Man 2”), deconstructing a sacred saga (“The Last Jedi”), or breathing fiery new life into a dormant legend (“Mad Max: Fury Road”), these sequels proved that Hollywood isn’t out of new ideas, they’re just hiding them in plain sight.

Here are the 22 best sequels of the 21st century.

With editorial contributions from Eric Kohn, Kate Erbland, Jamie Righetti, Michael Nordine, Chris O’Falt, Anne Thompson.

22. “Blade Runner 2049...

If you’ve been following The Lonely Island and Seth Meyers Podcast, you’ve known that one third of The Lonely Island, Jorma Taccone, has been absent for the last few weeks while shooting a movie in Finland. Details of that movie have finally been announced.

Taccone will direct “The Trip,” a thriller and comedy film that stars Jason Segel, Samara Weaving, Juliette Lewis, and Timothy Olyphant, it was announced on Tuesday, November 19. Filming is currently taking place in Tampere, Finland and has been ongoing since October 23. Paul Guilfoyle and Keith Jardine also co-star.

This is Taccone’s first feature behind the camera since 2016’s “Pop Star: Never Stop Never Stopping,” which he co-directed with Akiva Schaffer. For this one he’ll partner with the team behind “The Fall Guy,” David Leitch and Kelly McCormick’s 87North production banner, and XYZ Films.

No distributor is attached for the film.

“The Trip...

UK sales, finance and production company Protagonist Pictures has made a suite of promotions and hires across its sales and marketing teams.

Joseph Hewitt has been tapped from fellow UK sales agent HanWay Films as senior marketing and distribution manager. At HanWay, Hewitt worked on films including Paul Schrader’s The Card Counter, Matteo Garrone’s Pinocchio, Ron Howard’s Pavarotti and Viggo Mortensen’s The Dead Don’t Hurt.

Alexandra Da Silva has been promoted from sales executive to sales manager, looking after new title sales in Eastern Europe, Asia and select European territories. She reports to acting senior vice...

Netflix is well known for its original content, and many of those titles are geared toward families. In November 2024, the streamer has a massive list of new releases, including several family favorites, including a new fantasy Spellbound, The Fairly OddParents: A New Wish, Pokémon Horizons: The Series part 4, and more.

Check out some of the best family movies to watch on Netflix this month as the holiday season nears, beginning below with the new animated fantasy film Spellbound.

Spellbound

Spellbound is a new Netflix original family adventure fantasy film with the voice talents of Rachel Zegler, John Lithgow, Jenifer Lewis, Tituss Burgess, Nathan Lane, Javier Bardem, and Nicole Kidman.

The movie comes from the creators of Toy Story, the co-director of Shrek, Vicky Jenson, and The Little Mermaid Egot-winning composer Alan Menken. Set in the magic world of Lumbria, where a magical spell has been cast over a kingdom, Princess...

In a special episode of “The Jonathan Ross Show,” airing on Saturday, 23 November 2024, at 11:05 Pm on ITV, Jonathan takes a look back at some of the most memorable moments from recent series. This episode is packed with highlights, featuring a star-studded lineup of guests who have graced the show over the years.

Among the special guests included in this retrospective are some of the biggest names in entertainment. Viewers can expect to see memorable clips from Jack Black, Stormzy, Grace Jones, Steve Coogan, Emma Stone, Andy Serkis, Emma Thompson, Nile Rodgers, and Brian Cox. Whether they were sharing funny stories, offering unique insights, or delivering unforgettable performances, these guests have left their mark on the show.

For fans of “The Jonathan Ross Show,” this episode is a perfect chance to relive some of the best moments and revisit the chemistry Jonathan shares with his famous guests. It’s a...

Universal has debuted the trailer for the romantic comedy ‘Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy’, which sees Renée Zellweger return to the role that established a rom-com heroine for the ages, a woman whose inimitable approach to life and love redefined an entire film genre.

Bridget is alone once again, widowed four years ago, when Mark was killed on a humanitarian mission in the Sudan. She’s now a single mother to 9-year-old Billy and 4-year-old Mabel, and is stuck in a state of emotional limbo, raising her children with help from her loyal friends and even her former lover, Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant).

(from left) Mr. Walliker (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and Bridget Jones (Renée Zellweger) in Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, directed by Michael Morris.

Pressured by her Urban Family —Shazzer, Jude and Tom, her work colleague Miranda, her mother, and her gynaecologist Dr. Rawlings (Oscar® winner Emma Thompson...

If you’re able to get to London by January 25th, or to Dublin in February, you can still get yourself a seat to see Dr. Strangelove, adapted for the stage by The Thick of It creator Armando Iannucci and starring Iannucci’s frequent star, Steve Coogan. If you’re not? All you need is a Hulu login to see Coogan’s next most recent performance.

In this week’s episode of What We Do in the Shadows, Coogan débuts as Roderick Cravensworth, father to Matt Berry’s Laszlo — or, to be more precise, his ghost, Roderick having died more than a century ago. It’s reductive to say Roderick is the kind of father who would drive his son to rebel by embracing vampirism, but it might also be true: He’s pompous, he weasels his way into relationships far too quickly and he’s lightly emotionally abusive to...

"What happened to you?" "I met a penguin." Lionsgate has revealed the official trailer for The Penguin Lessons, a cute dramedy about rescuing a penguin in Argentina. A similar story to My Penguin Friend with Jean Reno that also opened in theaters this year, but also not the exact same story. Starring Oscar nominee Steve Coogan, this poignant dramedy from director Peter Cattaneo follows an Englishman's personal and political awakening after he adopts a penguin during a cataclysmic period in Argentine history. He finds the small penguin covered with oil and cleans him up, making a new friend in the process. The main ensemble cast in here includes Björn Gustafsson, David Herrero, Jonathan Pryce, Vivian El Jaber, Aimar Miranda, Micaela Breque, Tomas Pozzi, and Ramiro Blas. It was shot in Spain though it takes place in Argentina. After premiering at TIFF, the movie will open in the UK next April...

P-p-p-pick up the new trailer for The Penguin Lessons, an upcoming drama starring Steve Coogan. And also a penguin.

Coming to a cinema near you soon(ish) is The Penguin Lessons, directed by Peter Cattaneo and based on the memoir of Tom Michell, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Jeff Pope. Steve Coogan stars alongside Jonathan Pryce, Vivian El Jaber, Björn Gustafsson and Alfonsina Carrocio.

The synopsis reads as follows:

The Penguin Lessons is a story about a disillusioned Englishman who went to work in a school in Argentina in 1976. There, he found a divided nation and a class of unteachable students, only for everything to change when he rescues a penguin from an oil-slicked beach.

Steve Coogan and writer Jeff Pope have been a successful filmmaking team over the last few years. It began in 2013 with Philomena, which starred Judi Dench as the titular character, who enlists the help...

Lionsgate has released the trailer for the Steve Coogan-led feature ‘The Penguin Lessons’

Starring Oscar nominee Steve Coogan, this poignant dramedy from director Peter Cattaneo follows an Englishman’s personal and political awakening after he adopts a penguin during a cataclysmic period in Argentine history.

Jonathan Pryce, Vivian El Jaber, Björn Gustafsson, Alfonsina Carrocio, David Herrero also star.

Also in trailers – “You asked for me…” New trailer flies in for ‘Captain America: Brave New World’

The film debuts across the UK and Ireland on 18th April 2025.

The post Steve Coogan stars in trailer for ‘The Penguin Lessons’ appeared first on HeyUGuys.

Fancy dining, excursions to drag shows and The Sphere, and nervy drinks on election night. This year’s inaugural edition of Las Vegas AFM promises a considerable change of pace from the more reserved events of yesteryear in Santa Monica.

As buyers and sellers descend on the Nevadan desert city amid grumblings over costs, attendees are determined to shake off the jet-lag and hotfoot it down to RuPaul’s Drag Race Live, Darren Aronofsky’s immersive film Postcard From Earth at The Sphere and even, for those with a generous network, Adele’s residency at Caesars Palace.

Tao, Estiatorio Milos,...

London’s High Court could have been mistaken for the Comedy Store on Monday after a stellar line-up of entertainers took to the witness stand to testify in a case over a “copied” sitcom.

Comedian Harry Deansway, who filed the lawsuit under his legal name Joshua Rinkoff, has accused Steve Coogan’s production company Baby Cow of copying his 2013 YouTube series “Shambles,” which blended sitcom and stand-up.

Coogan, who co-founded Baby Cow alongside producer Henry Normal in 1998 before selling the majority shareholding to BBC Studios, is not named in the suit and there is no suggestion he was involved in the alleged copycat series, titled “Live at the Moth Club.” Day to day operations at the prodco are managed by CEO Sarah Monteith while Coogan remains a shareholder and creative director.

Deansway alleges that it is Baby Cow’s comedy chief Rupert Majendie, with whom he’d both worked and...

Aunt Lucy has disappeared into the Amazon and Paddington is on the case in his third cinematic outing. Here’s our Paddington In Peru review.

There’s a lot of expectation heading into the third film of a trilogy, which might explain why StudioCanal have already made it very clear that’s not what Paddington In Peru is. With a fourth film (and a TV series) given the green light, the pressure on Dougal Wilson’s first go in the director’s chair to deliver a Toy Story 3 or Return Of The King is reduced somewhat.

In hindsight, that might be a good thing. If watching Paddington 2 offered an emotional bruising from a very polite, if surprisingly violent, apex predator (I’ve yet to find a person alive who can watch the final five minutes of that film with dry eyes) then its follow-up is more like an...

Set in 1970s Argentina, The Penguin Lessons tells the heartwarming yet poignant story of an English teacher and the unexpected bond he forms with a rescued penguin. Director Peter Cattaneo brings us the tale of Tom Michell, played by Steve Coogan, a man arriving in Buenos Aires to teach at a private school. But amidst the political turmoil of the Dirty War, Tom finds an unlikely companion in the form of a penguin washed ashore.

After saving the injured bird, Tom at first tries sending the penguin on its way. Yet it refuses to leave his side. Reluctantly, Tom comes to care for the animal, soon naming him Juan Salvador. Through their interactions, Juan Salvador not only keeps Tom company in lonely times. But more meaningfully, the penguin provides inspiration and emotional support and helps Tom connect with his students in new ways.

Based on a true story, the film...

After its release in early October, you can now watch Joker: Folie à Deux at home.

Although the sequel film may still playing at a movie theater near you, it’s now available to buy or rent on digital in 4K Ultra HD at Prime Video, Apple TV and other premium video-on-demand platforms. Keep reading below for more details on where to stream Joker: Folie à Deux online.

At a Glance: How to Watch Joker: Folie à Deux Online

Streaming release date: Tuesday, Oct. 29 Buy online: Prime Video, Apple TV watch 'Joker: Folie à Deux' on Prime Video Where to Stream Joker: Folie à Deux Online

Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, Joker: Folie à Deux is expected to stream on Max when its current theatrical run is over. You’ll likely be able to stream Joker: Folie à Deux on Max sometime in late November or early December.

Academy Award Winner Russell Crowe will star in The Last Druid from director Will Eubank. Will Eubank penned the script with Phil Gawthorne and Carlyle Eubank. 42’s Ben Pugh is set to produce alongside Range Media Partners’ Brian Kavanaugh-Jones and Fred Berger, with Adrián Guerra also producing for Nostromo. Felix Farmer’s Brandon Millan and Sam Wasson will executive produce alongside George Hsieh. Stuart Ford’s AGC Studios will introduce the film during AFM next week.

The Last Druid tells the story of a Roman Emperor who discovers a secluded Druid stronghold in the mountains of Caledonia. A peaceful Celtic elder must awaken the warrior within to protect his family and people from total annihilation.

Crowe will next be seen in Sony’s Spider-Villain-Verse film Kraven the Hunter and the historical drama Nuremberg. He is repped by Brillstein Entertainment Partners and Goodman, Genow, Schenkman, Smelkinson & Christopher. Meanwhile, it was recently...

Stan And Ollie stars Steve Coogan and John C Reilly are reuniting for thespian comedy The Players.

One of the biggest cinematic comedy treats of 2018 was Stan And Ollie, a love letter to arguably the greatest double act of all time. At its centre were two powerhouse performances from Steve Coogan and John C Reilly, who not only captured the perfect comic timing but also the onscreen chemistry.

The film was written by Coogan’s regular collaborator Jeff Pope. The pair also made Philomena and last year’s Jimmy Savile drama, The Reckoning.

According to Deadline, Coogan and Reilly are reuniting with Pope for The Players, a comedy about actors performing a Shakespeare play in New York.

Peter Cattaneo will direct from Pope’s script. Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope are also co-producing with Protagonist Pictures’ Dave Bishop, George Hamilton, James Pugh and 42’s Josh Varney.

Cattaneo, Coogan, Pope and...

Exclusive: Almost 25 years after Russell Crowe waged war on the Roman Empire — and won an Oscar for his trouble — in Gladiator, the actor is once again set to stir the warrior within for The Last Druid.

The movie will tell the story of a Roman Emperor who discovers a secluded Druid stronghold in the mountains of Caledonia. A peaceful Celtic elder (Crowe) must take up arms to protect his family and people from annihilation. Additional casting is underway.

Stuart Ford’s AGC is launching sales on the project for the AFM. Range Media Partners and CAA Media Finance arranged financing for the picture with Nostromo and are representing the U.S. rights.

Will Eubank (Underwater) is set to direct from a script he penned with Phil Gawthorne and Carlyle Eubank.

42’s Ben Pugh is producing alongside Range Media Partners’ Brian Kavanaugh-Jones and Fred Berger, with Adrián Guerra also producing for Nostromo.

Stephanie Collie, the acclaimed British costume designer whose work on Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Peaky Blinders moved beyond the screen and made its way into mainstream culture, has died. She was 60.

Collie died Saturday at St. Christopher’s Hospice in South London following a terminal cancer diagnosis six months earlier, a publicist announced. Her husband, director of photography Hubert Taczanowski, died in June, also of cancer, at age 63.

Collie’s résumé also included Michael Winterbottom’s The Look of Love (2013), starring Steve Coogan, Anna Friel and Imogen Poots; London Has Fallen (2016), starring Gerard Butler and Morgan Freeman, and its 2019 sequel, Angel Has Fallen; and Patrick Hughes’ The Hitman’s Bodyguard (2017), starring Samuel L. Jackson, Ryan Reynolds and Salma Hayek, and its 2021 sequel, Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard.

Collie had a career breakthrough with the British gangster film Lock, and Two Smoking Barrels (1998), directed by Guy Ritchie and produced by Matthew Vaughn.

After teaming up for 2018’s Stan & Ollie, a biographical comedy focusing on the comedy duo Laurel and Hardy, John C. Reilly and Steve Coogan are reuniting for The Players, an upcoming comedy about competing Shakespearian actors.

The Full Monty’s Peter Cattaneo directs The Players from a script by Jeff Pope. The Players is an 1800s period comedy revolving around two thespians, Edwin Forrest and William MacCready. According to Deadline‘s exclusive report, The Players “is set in 1847 New York, where Edwin Forrest (Reilly) holds the undisputed title as the country’s top Shakespearian actor. Playing magnificently to a sold out, raucous crowd every night, Edwin is “The Star”. But when critically celebrated English thespian William MacCready (Coogan) arrives from London to perform his sophisticated Hamlet, Edwin’s title is thrown into jeopardy. Each man wants what the other has, and the rivalry between them starts a hilarious and unforgettable battle of egos.

Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly are set to collaborate again in an upcoming comedy that tells the true story of a legendary feud between two American Shakespearean actors in the 1800s. The film, titled “The Players,” will depict the rivalry between actors Edwin Forrest and William MacCready that dominated New York’s mid-19th century theater scene. Coogan will play MacCready, while Reilly portrays Forrest.

The movie takes place in 1847 and focuses on the tense relationship between the two main characters. Forrest, played by Reilly, was America’s top Shakespearean star at the time. However, his dominance was challenged with the arrival of Coogan’s character, the sophisticated English actor MacCready. Director Peter Cattaneo, known for the hit comedy “The Full Monty,” will direct the project. The screenplay was written by Jeff Pope, a frequent Coogan collaborator.

Pope’s script promises to deliver an insightful and witty dramatization of...

Screen Internationalis rounding up the key projects launched before and during this year’s American Film Market (AFM), which runsNovember 5-10 at thePalms Casino Resort.

Refresh the page for latest updates.

Misty Green

Chris Rock will direct and star in the story of a talented actress with a habit of getting in her own way. She is offered the role of a lifetime from a director. The only snag is they have history. FromMACRO Film Studios and Confluential Films.

Sales: Neon International

Paper Tiger

Adam Driver, Jeremy Strong and Anne Hathaway will star for James Gray in the crime drama,...

Exclusive: Following their 2018 critically acclaimed hit Stan & Ollie, Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly are reuniting for The Players, a comedy based on the rivalry between 1800s thespians Edwin Forrest and William MacCready. Two-time Academy Award nominee Peter Cattaneo (The Full Monty) is directing the project from a script penned by Stan & Ollie and Philomena writer Jeff Pope.

The Players, which is set to begin production early next year in Europe, is set in 1847 New York, where Edwin Forrest (Reilly) holds the undisputed title as the country’s top Shakespearian actor. Playing magnificently to a sold out, raucous crowd every night, Edwin is “The Star”. But when critically celebrated English thespian William MacCready (Coogan) arrives from London to perform his sophisticated Hamlet, Edwin’s title is thrown into jeopardy. Each man wants what the other has, and the rivalry between them starts a hilarious and unforgettable battle of egos.

Despicable Me 4 Box Office (Worldwide): On Track To Surpass The 2nd Film’s Global Haul( Photo Credit – YouTube )

Despicable Me 4 is tiptoeing towards the worldwide haul of the second installment in the film franchise. It has been months since it was released in the theatres, yet it continues to move towards its goal. Although it was predicted to cross the one billion dollar mark, that seems next to impossible now. Scroll below for the deets.

The second installment was released in 2013. It follows Gru as he gets recruited by agent Lucy Wilde to investigate a theft by El Macho, a supervillain seeking world domination. Steve Carell voices Gru in the franchise, which also features Kristen Wiig as Lucy Wilde. In addition to them, Benjamin Bratt, Miranda Cosgrove, Russell Brand, and Steve Coogan were also part of the voice cast.

According to Luiz Fernando’s report, Despicable Me 4...

The first look of Éanna Hardwicke as Manchester United and Ireland soccer legend Roy Keane alongside Steve Coogan as his embattled Irish national manager Mick McCarthy, has been revealed from upcoming comedy biopic “Saipan.”

The film — first announced earlier in the year by Variety — chronicles one of the most infamous moments in Irish sporting history, when Keane and McCarthy had a very public falling out. Alongside Hardwicke and Coogan, the supporting cast includes Alice Lowe (“Sightseers”), Jamie Beamish (“Derry Girls”), Alex Murphy (“Young Offenders”), Harriet Cains (“Bridgerton”) and Peter McDonald (“The Batman”).

“Saipan” is being directed by Glenn Leyburn and Lisa Barros D’Sa — the duo behind “Good Vibrations” and “Ordinary Love” — — working from an original script by Paul Fraser (“Dead Man’s Shoes”). Bankside Films is handling sales and will be showing a promo to buyers at the American Film Market.

Described as a “true-life comedy of the most epic proportions,...

Ian Katz has said there is “real buzz about Channel 4” within the UK’s drama production community since Ollie Madden took charge, while addressing why hit streaming drama The Gathering was axed.

Earlier today, it emerged that The Gathering from Line of Duty maker World Productions had been canceled after one season despite regularly being touted as one of the network’s top-rated dramas on its streaming platform.

Speaking at a Broadcasting Press Guild lunch in London, content boss Katz said The Gathering was “quietly a massive hit for us” and was “absolutely huge on streaming.” But he went on to say that it was “quite small” in terms of linear viewing and qualified that Madden – who now oversees film and TV drama for Channel 4 – had “other priorities and other shows he wants to make,” echoing remarks made earlier by the show’s EP Simon Heath, who runs World Productions.

The British broadcaster Channel 4 will not renew the drama series “The Gathering” for a second season. The show had received high praise from critics but faced cancellation following leadership changes at Channel 4.

“The Gathering” told the story of a violent attack on a teenage girl at a rave. Set in Merseyside, the psychological drama explored the complex relationships between local teenagers and their parents. All became suspects as police investigated the crime.

Despite winning several awards, Channel 4 has opted not to produce more episodes. Executive producer Simon Heath told The Sun that “The Gathering” was popular streaming but new management at Channel 4 have shifted priorities. The drama department is now overseen by former Film4 executive Ollie Madden after previous leader Caroline Hollick departed.

Under its successful first season, stars like Warren Brown and Eva Morgan won best actor awards from the Monte Carlo Television Festival for their complex portrayals.

The Gathering from Line of Duty producer World Productions has been axed by Channel 4 after one season.

Helen Walsh’s series about a violent attack on a teenage girl during a rave has frequently been touted by Channel 4 execs as a major streaming success for the network. Exec Simon Health said it “performed very well for Channel 4 but there are new people in charge and new priorities.”

Starring Boiling Point’s Vinette Robinson and young up-and-comers Eva Morgan and Sadie Soverall, the show centered on a violent attack on a teenage girl in a tidal islet. Set on Merseyside and interrogating the ways in which today’s parents impose their agendas, the drama focused on a group of teens from disparate backgrounds, each of whom could have committed the crime, along with their parents – who gave equal cause for suspicion.

A Channel 4 spokeswoman said: “We’re very proud of...

Killer Collectibles highlights five of the most exciting new horror products announced each and every week, from toys and apparel to artwork, records, and much more.

Here are the coolest horror collectibles unveiled this week!

An American Werewolf in London Nightmare Vessels from Mondo

Mondo recently launched its Nightmare Vessels line of soft vinyl toys housed in themed packaging with Halloween II. Now An American Werewolf in London is joining the fun.

The set includes 6.5″ Werewolf Nightmare Demon and Mutant Nightmare Demon figures with interchangeable humanoid heads, knife, gun, and torch, all packaged in a 9″ wolf head vessel.

Priced at $125, it’s expected to ship in March.

Jaws Mini Replica from Factory Entertainment

The mechanical shark from Jaws was notoriously unreliable, but Factory Entertainment’s 5” replica of Bruce will never let you down.

Priced at $49.99, the metal collectible comes with a display stand.

Captain Spaulding Mug from Gutter Garbs

What...

When the cast and showrunner of “What We Do in the Shadows” talk about their impeccable FX comedy, two words keep coming up: fancy room.

This is the formal, technical, and maybe even industry term for exactly what viewers will suspect; the ornate sitting room of the Staten Island mansion where a group of vampires gather to lounge, fight, and occasionally hypnotize a private school principal to the point of irreparable brain damage. For showrunner Paul Simms and actors Kayvan Novak, Matt Berry, and Mark Proksch, who all gathered together for a PaleyFest panel on October 19, group scenes in the Fancy Room were among what they’ll miss most now that “Shadows” has wrapped filming.

“Those were the scenes where I’d feel probably the most nervous going in,” Novak recalled of the early seasons. “‘Oh wow, these guys, it’s gotta be good, and I can’t fuck up.

The fall festival season has wrapped up! Each year, dozens of movies premiere at festivals with distributors looking to launch them before they’re released in theaters or on streaming services. But dozens more are independent films without distribution that came to the festivals looking to be discovered. This year, over 200 movies made their world premieres across the Venice Film Festival, the Toronto International Film Festival, the Telluride Film Festival, and the New York Film Festival, and we’ve seen some big name movie sales across all four.

Right as Venice got underway, we saw U.S. deals for two of the biggest competition titles on the slate, Pablo Larraín’s “Maria” to Netflix and Luca Guadagnino’s “Queer” to A24. A24 also picked up the rights to Venice Silver Lion winner “The Brutalist” in a competitive situation. And some of the hottest discoveries like “Nutcrackers,” “September 5,” and TIFF Audience...

While this year has had its fair share of surprising flops, Joker: Folie à Deux is probably one of the more surprising ones. It had the hype of Lady Gaga taking on the role of Harley Quinn and the musical twist potentially lent itself to exploring interesting territory as an R-rated sequel to a notorious comic book villain. The movie’s response would become incredibly underwhelming, and Blu-ray.com has announced that Warner Bros. is already set to release the film’s 4K Blu-ray and standard Blu-ray release on December 17. The digital release is going to be even sooner, with a recent Variety report on the film’s box office woes revealing WB is dumping it on digital early – October 29 – in the hopes of recouping some of its $200 million investment.

Joker: Folie à Deux stars Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Zazie Beetz, Steve Coogan, and Harry Lawtey. The description reads, “Joker: Folie À Deux...

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We Live in Time is a romantic comedy-drama film directed by John Crowley from a screenplay by Nick Payne. The 2024 film employs a non-linear style of storytelling to tell the story of Tobias and Almut, a young couple as they meet each other, fall in love, and have a child. But when Almut is diagnosed with cancer, Tobias must learn to live with her in each moment. We Live in Time stars Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh in the lead roles with Adam James, Marama Corlett, Aoife Hinds, Nikhil Parmar, Heather Craney, and Douglas Hodge starring in supporting roles. So, if you loved the heartwarming love story, great emotional scenes, and compelling characters in We Live in Time here are some similar movies you should check out next.

Irreplaceable You (Netflix) Credit – Netflix

Irreplaceable You is a romantic...

BBC Studios is unifying content sales under Janet Brown.

Having brought several divisions closer together over the past year or so, the BBC’s commercial arm will launch a Global Content Sales division with Brown overseeing content sales across all regions while centralizing global operations and content investment.

As part of the change, BBC Studios will recruit for a new EVP, Global Content Sales based in London and reporting to Brown. This role will serve as a key global partner for the BBC Studios’ production team and invested production labels, which includes the likes of Baby Reindeer producer Clerkenwell Films and Steve Coogan’s Baby Cow.

Brown joined BBC Studios in 2022 and has been leading on sales in North America and Latin America. She will continue reporting to Rebecca Glashow, CEO of BBC Global Media & Streaming.

“Janet’s leadership in this global role will allow us to continue delivering the...

During Joker: Folie à Deux's final act, Arthur Fleck decides to represent himself in court and, during a rousing speech, insults Arkham's guards. 

When he returns, they're not happy and proceed to beat him up, wash off his makeup, tear his suit to pieces and then - presumably - rape him in the shower. Nothing is explicitly shown and fans are currently divided on whether Arthur was simply beaten or sexually assaulted by those guards. 

Either way, we next see Arthur being dragged back to his cell where he lies broken in body and spirit, forced to listen to Brendon Gleeson's Jackie Sullivan murder his fellow inmate and fan, Ricky. 

It's seemingly because of this that Arthur decides to go to court the next day and admit there is no "Joker' and only he is responsible for his actions. While it isn't made overly clear, the message seems...

Todd Phillips loved watching Steve Coogan go “toe-to-toe” with Joaquin Phoenix in ‘Joker: Folie a Deux’. The 53-year-old director picked the British comedian to play TV personality Paddy Meyers, who interviews Joaquin as Arthur Fleck in Arkham Asylum in the sequel.Todd admits one of his favourite scenes in the the original 2019 'Joker' film is when Arthur is interviewed by Robert De Niro's Murray Franklin on his talk show, and he wanted Coogan's interaction with Phoenix to match it.In an interview with HeyUGuys, Todd said: "It’s always interesting to me to put someone like Joaquin toe-to-toe essentially, literally with another actor, and you really want to put him across somebody great, you know.“In the first movie, he had this nine-minute scene with Robert De Niro, right, and in this movie, it is a nine-minute scene essentially with Steve Coogan and to me, as a director,...

Is 2019’s Joker a masterpiece? Regardless of your answer to that question, there’s surely no denying it’s a great movie - perhaps not a great comic book movie - and a fascinating character study of a disturbed man’s descent into full-blown madness. Say what you will about how it treated the source material, but the $1 billion blockbuster put a fresh spin on the classic Batman villain and proved to be a wholly satisfactory experience. So, why make a sequel? Despite Joker feeling fairly self-contained, there were certainly places to take Arthur Fleck’s story next and his twisted romance with Harley Quinn is as good a place as any; it’s just a pity Joker: Folie à Deux proves to be little more than a self-indulgent bore.

That may sound like an overly harsh statement, so let’s get straight to the negatives to better explain.

Sony Pictures Classics has acquired Toronto premiere The Penguin Lessons starring Steve Coogan for North America, the Middle East, Turkey, Asia, India, Japan, and South Korea.

Peter Cattaneo directed the adaptation of Tom Michell’s 2016 memoir of the same name from a screenplay by Jeff Pope, who worked with Coogan on prior Toronto International Film Festival selections The Lost King and Philomena, as well as Stan & Ollie.

Coogan and Jonathan Pryce star in the story about a disillusioned Englishman who went to work in a school in Argentina in 1976. There, he found a divided nation and a class of unteachable students,...

Sony Pictures Classics has acquired “The Penguin Lessons,” an uplifting dramedy starring Steve Coogan as a teacher who forms an unlikely bond with a feathered friend.

Peter Cattaneo directed the film, which premiered at this year’s Toronto Film Festival. It’s adapted by Jeff Pope from Tom Michell’s 2016 memoir. It follows a cynical British professor who takes a job in Argentina in the 1970s during a period of political upheaval, only to find his life transformed when he rescues a oil-soaked penguin from a beach. Under the deal, Sony Pictures Classics has distribution rights in North America, the Middle East, Turkey, Asia, India, Japan and South Korea.

In Variety’s review, critic Guy Lodge described “The Penguin Lessons” as a “heartwarming tale of human-animal bonding” and praised the eponymous penguin, writing that “almost inevitably, it’s best when it’s about the bird.”

Coogan, the English actor who...

What We Do in the Shadows Season 6 Teases A Fifth Vampire Roommate - Main Image

Nobody thought that a What We Do in the Shadows spinoff was ever going to top the original movie from Taika Waititi, but six seasons later and FX’s Wwdits series has managed to become a cult classic.

The series is now gearing up for its final season, and it teases a big surprise from the silly vampires of Staten Island – a new vampire.

A Secret New Vampire Roommate?

To get people in the mood for spooky season this October, the series has dropped its first trailer for the sixth season, and the premiere is expected to happen around the latter end of the month. Check this out:

Probably one of the biggest reveals is that the vampires actually have a fifth roommate that they forgot about—Jerry (played by SNL’s Mike O’Brien). Jerry...

Warner Bros’ Joker: Folie à Deux will look to repeat the success of its predecessor at the UK and Ireland box office this weekend as it opens in 725 cinemas.

The sequel, starring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, launches wider than 2019’s Joker which debuted in 668 locations. That title opened with £12.6m and ended on £58m, making it the highest-grossing territory outside of North America. It currently remains the most successful R-rated feature with Disney’s Deadpool & Wolverine catching up fast on £57.4m.

Described as a musical psychological drama, Joker: Folie à Deux sees Phoenix return as iconic DC villain Arthur Fleck.

Chicago – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on Wbgr-fm on October 3rd, reviewing the film “Joker: Foie á Deux,” the sequel to the 2019 mega hit and featuring Lady Gaga. In theaters on October 4th.

Rating: 5.0/5.0

Joaquin Phoenix returns as Arthur Fleck, Aka The Joker, whose homicidal darkness has attracted a cult of followers, and is currently in Arkham Asylum near Gotham City, awaiting trial. One of his cult members is Harleen Quinzel (Lady Gaga), who manages to be incarcerated near to Arthur in hopes of meeting him. When they do meet, they fall into whatever type of love Arthur can define. When his trial starts, the insanity that drugs and therapy had been making dull suddenly emerges again, but this time he has an ally in Harley Quinn, his new lover.

”Joker: Foie á Deux” is in theaters on October 4th. Featuring Joaquin Phoenix,...