News

Exclusive: Wayfarer Studios, the independent studio behind this summer’s smash hit It Ends with Us, has set a nationwide theatrical release for its sports drama The Senior, starring Michael Chiklis. Based on a true story, the film will be released by Allen Media Group’s Freestyle Releasing on March 7, 2025.

The Senior tells the story of Mike Flynt (Chiklis) who, 37 years ago, was kicked off his collegiate football team for an altercation with another teammate. Now at 59, Mike continues to carry that burden. But when he learns he still has a year of eligibility, he decides to go back to school to get his degree and try out for the team to redeem his past. Mike slowly starts to earn the respect of his much younger teammates, ultimately leading him on a journey to address his masculinity and resolve his generational trauma put upon by his father, while also addressing...

The Exchange has launched international sales at AFM on Wayfarer Studios’ complete sports dramaThe Senior from Rod Lurie, starring Michael Chiklis and Mary Stuart Masterson.

Brandon Flynn, James Badge Dale, and Rob Corddry round out the key cast on the story of 59-year-old Mike Flynt (Chiklis), who returns to the gridiron in his senior year of eligibility to prove to himself and his loved ones that he still has what it takes, years after he was kicked off his college American Football team.

Mark Ciardi and Campbell McInnes (A Million Miles Away) of Select Films produced with Justin Baldoni and...

An aging Commander in Chief faces health struggles, and as a result, his younger, female vice-president ascends. That is, of course, the story of the 2024 presidential election in which Vice President Kamala Harris became the Democratic nominee, replacing an ailing Joe Biden. But it also happens to be a TV show plot – nearly 20 years ago.

The series, Commander in Chief, which premiered in 2005, starred Geena Davis as the first female vice president in American history, selected to help an older, white male political candidate appeal to other constituencies. Sound familiar? There are notable differences between the political fiction of the show and the political realities of the 2024 race, however. For one, fictional President Teddy Bridges is a Republican, while Mackenzie, portrayed by Davis, is an Independent. Oh, and in the show (spoiler alert!) the president dies, leading to the first female Commander in Chief.

The show was initially a hit with audiences,...

Exclusive: Madelaine Petsch (The Strangers: Chapter 1) and Jacob Scipio (Bad Boys: Ride or Die) have been tapped to star in Maintenance Required, a new romantic comedy for Future Artists Entertainment, Luber Roklin Entertainment and Amazon MGM Studios, on which Petsch will also serve as an executive producer.

Currently in production, the film follows Charlie (Petsch), who is forced to reconsider the viability of her beloved all-female mechanic shop. Seeking connection on an online car forum, little does she know her confidant, Beau (Scipio), is in fact her real-life business rival.

Luber Roklin and Future Artists developed the script for Amazon, placing first-time feature director Lacey Uhlemeyer at the helm. Author Erin Falconer (How to Break Up with Your Friends) wrote the script with Uhlemeyer, Roo Berry, and Luke Roberts. Future Artists Entertainment’s Matt Williams will produce alongside Lena Roklin and Matt Luber of Luber Roklin Entertainment, with Petsch as EP.

Much of the criticism thrown at Alex Garland’s Civil War centered on it presenting the titular conflict without really explaining its origins. Tony Gerber and Jesse Moss’s documentary War Game goes the other way by showing in very specific ways not how a modern-day American civil war might be fought but how one might start.

Gerber and Moss present essentially a filmed play set largely in a mock Situation Room. The unscripted “war game” that they shot as it happened was produced in 2023 by Vet Voice, a veterans’ advocacy group warning about right-wing fanatics infiltrating the American military. Vet Voice brought together a gaggle of real-life politicians, intelligence officials, and military experts to play fictional versions of themselves trying to solve a future crisis based in history: On January 6, 2025, a losing presidential candidate refuses to concede the election and calls on “patriots,” including the military, to stop the vote certification.

Updated with more signatories: Reaction continues to The Zone of Interest director Jonathan Glazer’s acceptance speech after his film won the Oscar for Best International Feature Film this month.

Some 1,215 Jewish show business professionals now have signed a letter denouncing the filmmaker’s speech, in which he decried the “dehumanization” of the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas. See the updated full list below.

“We refute our Jewishness being hijacked for the purpose of drawing a moral equivalence between a Nazi regime that sought to exterminate a race of people, and an Israeli nation that seeks to avert its own extermination,” the letter states (read it in full in full below).

This list includes among its signatories Eli Roth and Amy Sherman-Palladino, Amy Pascal, Debra Messing, Gail Berman, Hawk Koch, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Gary Barber, Lawrence Bender, Tovah Feldshuh and Rod Lurie.

You can watch Glazer’s speech here,...

More than 1,000 Jewish creatives, executives and Hollywood professionals have signed an open letter denouncing Jonathan Glazer’s “The Zone of Interest” Oscar speech.

The list of co-signees provided to Variety Monday morning covers a broad swath of the industry including actors, executives, creators (Amy Sherman-Palladino), directors, producers and representatives. About 500 more individuals have added their names to the nearly 500 who signed on when the open letter was first published.

The group’s statement says: “We refute our Jewishness being hijacked for the purpose of drawing a moral equivalence between a Nazi regime that sought to exterminate a race of people, and an Israeli nation that seeks to avert its own extermination.”

Glazer declined to comment.

With such high-profile co-signees as Jennifer Jason Leigh, “La La Land” producer Gary Gilbert and “The Americans” creators Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg, the statement adds, “The use of words like ‘occupation’ to describe an...

The Outpost receives high praise for its realism, with a rating of 9/10 from an expert and positive reviews from veterans. Director Rod Lurie's background in the military contributed to the film's unprecedented level of realism for a Hollywood war movie. The Outpost was based on a book by Jake Tapper, who extensively researched the Battle of Kamdesh and interviewed veterans involved, some of whom appear in the movie.

The Outpost receives a high rating for realism from an expert. Based on the non-fiction book by Jake Tapper, the war movie chronicles the Battle of Kamdesh, which saw a small team of U.S. soldiers battling hundreds of Taliban fighters, during the war in Afghanistan. With a cast led by Scott Eastwood, Caleb Landry Jones, and Orlando Bloom, The Outpost did not receive a wide theatrical release due to the Covid-19 pandemic and was instead sent straight to video-on-demand in 2020. As a result,...

Every good sports movie needs an underdog that the audience can root for. The new film from director Rod Lurie (The Last Castle, The Outpost) has a real one that would have seemed too impossible to believe if a screenwriter had made him up. He’s Mike Flynt, who at the age of 59 went back to play for his college alma mater after 37 years, becoming one of the oldest men to ever play the game.

Superbly played by Michael Chiklis, he’s the real-life hero of The Senior, which recently received its world premiere at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival. When it gets its inevitable theatrical release, this crowd-pleaser should be a potent box office attraction, especially in non-urban areas. The lines are probably already forming in Texas theaters.

The story begins in 1970, when Flynt was a star linebacker at Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas. Unfortunately, he also had a violent temper,...

Industry veterans Amanda Sherwin, Mike Messina and Seth Needle are teaming up to launch Blue Harbor Entertainment, a new distribution, marketing and consulting company. The news comes as the American Film Market kicks off this week in Santa Monica where the executives will be on the ground looking for partners. Blue Harbor is looking to distribute 10 to 15 feature film releases per year, as well as provide advisory services to third parties. The trio are currently negotiating multiple deals.

“Blue Harbor provides an alternative path for filmmakers — the opportunity to hire their distributor, and work with them, collaboratively and transparently, to bring their films to audiences,” said Needle. “Whether that’s something they decide once they have a completed picture, during the packaging stage or somewhere in between, we are here to help them craft a strategy for success.”

Blue Harbor Entertainment says it will offer marketing and distribution services, overseeing...

Orlando Bloom is taking audiences on a thrilling journey of self-discovery as he pushes his limits physically and mentally in a new three-part docuseries for Peacock.

“Orlando Bloom: To The Edge” will see the actor participate in three extreme sports – wingsuiting, free diving and rock climbing. With family, friends and his spiritual Buddhist practice guiding the way, Bloom will be trained by experts who help him overcome obstacles, face his fears and discover valuable lessons about himself.

The series is produced by STX Television and Amazing Owl. Bloom, Adam Karasick, Al Berman, Robert Simonds, Noah Fogelson, Jason Goldberg, and Scott Weintrob serve as executive producers while Matthew Akers, Jamie Bovshow, Susan Hoenig serve as co-executive producers.

Also Read:

Pete Davidson’s ‘Bupkis’ Renewed for Season 2 at Peacock

Bloom is best known for starring in the two largest film franchises of all time – “The Lord of the Rings” and “Pirates of the Caribbean.

Last month, to my great surprise, I raved about a Guy Ritchie movie, “Operation Fortune: Ruse de guerre,” as an exhilarating exception to the rule of Ritchie’s style-over-substance, more-frosting-than-cake school of crime-thriller grandiloquence. The film bombed, and more critics than not disagreed with me. But I stand by my assessment of “Operation Fortune” as a diabolically entertaining screwball action-espionage caper. If you want to talk about exceptions to the rule, though, that movie has nothing on the new Guy Ritchie film, which is called (wait for it) “Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant.”

Ritchie’s name was reportedly added to the title because there is already a film in existence called “The Covenant.” But that sounds like an awfully thin reason to suddenly convert Ritchie into a marquee legend, and, in fact, there’s a better reason. Against all odds, he has become one of the best directors working. “The Covenant...

Exclusive: Emmy winner Michael Chiklis is set to star alongside Danny Pino in Hotel Cocaine, MGM+’s upcoming crime thriller from creator Chris Brancato.

Related: 2023 MGM+ Pilots & Series Orders

Hotel Cocaine is the story of Roman Compte (Pino), a Cuban expatriate who fought against Fidel Castro in the Bay of Pigs invasion and re-made his life in Miami. He is general manager of the Mutiny Hotel, the glamorous epicenter of the Miami cocaine scene of late ‘70s and early ‘80s. The Mutiny Hotel was Casablanca on cocaine, a glitzy nightclub, restaurant and hotel frequented by Florida businessmen and politicians, international narcos, CIA and FBI agents, models, sports stars and musicians.

Chiklis will play Agent Zulio who will stop at nothing to shut down the drug trade, even if it means using innocent civilians to accomplish his ends.

Brancato serves as executive producer and showrunner. Guillermo Navarro will direct the pilot...

Jason Clarke, Scott Eastwood and Chaske Spencer are set to star in the sequel to Wind River.

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier director Kari Skogland is helming Wind River: The Next Chapter, with Patrick Massett and John Zinman having penned the screenplay. Martin Sensmeier was earlier announced to star in and reprise his role as Chip Hanson in the Castle Rock Entertainment sequel to the acclaimed 2017 crime drama, which was written and directed by Taylor Sheridan and starred Jeremy Renner and Elizabeth Olsen.

Wind River: The Next Chapter is shooting in Calgary.

Clarke most recently starred in HBO’s Catherine the Great limited series, opposite Helen Mirren. He can next be seen in Christopher Nolan’s film Oppenheimer for Universal Pictures. Eastwood was last seen in Amazon’s romantic comedy I Want You Back, alongside Gina Rodriguez. He also starred in Rod Lurie’s The Outpost and will appear...

Writer Alex Tse discusses a few of his favorite films with Josh Olson and Joe Dante.

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

Rrr (2022)

Watchmen (2009)

Superfly (2018)

The Blair Witch Project (1999)

Book Of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 (2000)

Independence Day (1996)

Clueless (1995)

Fast Times At Ridgemont High (1982) – Karyn Kusama’s trailer commentary, Glenn Erickson’s Criterion Blu-ray review

William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet (1996)

The Goonies (1985)

Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom (1984)

Infested (2002)

Straw Dogs (1971) – Rod Lurie’s trailer commentary, Josh Olson’s trailer commentary, Charlie Largent’s Criterion Blu-ray review, Joe Dante’s review

Altered States (1980) – Katt Shea’s trailer commentary

Return Of The Ape Man (1944)

Major League (1989)

The Sting (1973)

Angels In The Outfield (1951)

Rocky (1976)

Slap Shot (1977) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary

Eight Men Out (1988)

Heavy Metal (1981)

Fritz The Cat (1972) – Mick Garris’s trailer commentary, Charlie Largent’s Blu-ray review

The Killer Snakes (1974)

Zodiac (2007)

Se7en (1995)

Dirty Harry (1971) – Alan Spencer’s trailer commentary,...

Comedian Marc Maron, host of the wildly popular podcast “Wtf with Marc Maron” and who had a substantial supporting role opposite Oscar nominee Andrea Riseborough in the microbudget feature “To Leslie,” took to his podcast on Monday to smack down the film academy over its announcement last Friday that it’s “conducting a review of the campaign procedures around this year’s nominees” following Riseborough’s surprise Best Actress nomination for the film.

“Apparently, the Academy of Motion Picture Sciences or whatever the fuck it is has decided to investigate Andrea Riseborough’s grassroots campaign to get her the Oscar nomination,” said Maron, “because I guess it so threatens their system to where they’re completely bought out by corporate interests in the form of studios.”

SEEFilm Academy to examine campaign procedures in wake of Andrea Riseborough’s surprise Oscar nomination

Since last Tuesday’s nominations announcement, a controversy erupted...

Mary Stuart Masterson has been cast in Blumhouse’s feature film adaptation of “Five Nights at Freddy’s.” Production on the film adaptation of the popular video game series will begin in February in New Orleans.

She joins an ensemble that also includes Josh Hutcherson and Matthew Lillard. Emma Tammi (“The Wind”) is directing the film. Jim Henson’s Creature Shop will be working alongside Blumhouse to bring the game’s animatronics to life.

As fans of the survival game know, “Five Nights at Freddy’s” follows a troubled security guard as he begins working at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza. While spending his first night on the job, he realizes the night shift at Freddy’s won’t be so easy to make it through. The film was written by Scott Cawthon, Emma Tammi and Seth Cuddeback. The film will be produced by Blumhouse in association with Striker Entertainment. Scott Cawthon and...

Welcome to Oscar Experts Typing, a weekly column in which Gold Derby editors and Experts Joyce Eng and Christopher Rosen discuss the Oscar race — via Slack, of course. This week, as “Avatar: The Way of Water” opens, we discuss Best Picture.

Christopher Rosen: Hello, Joyce! It’s the last Friday before the last Friday before Christmas, and while the holiday came early with the release of the “Barbie” trailer, we’re actually here to type about what might be left under the Tree of Souls at the 2023 Oscars. (I don’t know either.) But let’s get to the biggest movie of the year. “Avatar: The Way of Water” made landfall on Thursday night and it has already seemingly made waves in the Best Picture race. Here’s what notable screenwriter and academy member Rod Lurie passed along via Facebook this week: “Right now I am leaning to this film as my best picture choice…...

Click here to read the full article.

The Shield alum Michael Chiklis has signed with Gersh for representation.

The Winning Time actor is currently recurring as infamous Celtic owner Red Auerbach in the HBO drama from producers Adam McKay and Kevin Messick. Chiklis recently starred in and directed an episode of Howard Gordon’s Fox anthology series The Accused, and he will appear in the upcoming indie feature The Senior, directed by Rod Lurie and produced by Mark Ciardi.

Chiklis played detective Vic Mackey in The Shield for FX, which earned him an Emmy. He also played the action hero The Thing/Ben Grimm in the Fantastic Four film franchise.

His other film credits include Eagle Eye, opposite Shia Labeouf, a turn in feature film Don’t Look Up, playing Curly in The Three Stooges, Larry Peerce’s Wired, and the Netflix family feature Hubie Halloween, which he appeared opposite Adam Sandler.

Emmy and Golden Globe winner Michael Chiklis has signed with Gersh for representation.

Chiklis plays Boston Celtics owner Red Auerbach in HBO’s hit series Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, which has been renewed for a second season. He also recently filmed a leading role, as well as directed an episode of Howard Gordon’s Fox anthology series The Accused. He’ll next be seen in the independent feature film, The Senior, directed by Rod Lurie and produced by Mark Ciardi.

Related Story Julie Choi Joins Buchwald's Unscripted Department Related Story 'Accused': Michael Chiklis, Margo Martindale Among Cast Featured In First Promo For Fox Anthology Drama Series Related Story 'Kindred' Star Micah Stock Signs With Gersh

Chiklis is maybe best known for his portrayal of Detective Vic Mackey in FX’s critically acclaimed series The Shield, which earned him both an Emmy and Golden Globe for best actor.

Exclusive: Mary Stuart Masterson has signed with Paradigm Talent Agency.

She was previously repped by Buchwald.

Masterson recently starred in the A24 feature film Skin, which is an adaptation of Guy Nattiv’s Oscar-winning short, alongside Jamie Bell and Vera Farmiga. She also has starred in the psychological thriller Daniel Isn’t Real as well as independent features Isle of Hope and As You Are, which won the Special Jury Prize at Sundance.

Her film credits also include Benny & Joon, Fried Green Tomatoes, Some Kind of Wonderful, The Insurgents, The Sisters, Leo, West of Here, The Book of Stars, Digging to China, Heaven’s Prisoners, Bed of Roses, Bad Girls, Married to It, Funny About Love, Immediately Family, Chances Are, Mr. North, Gardens of Stone, My Little Girl, At Close Range and Heaven Help Us.

Masterson will next be seen in Rod Lurie’s feature The Senior opposite Michael Chiklis,...

Writer/Director Lucky McKee discusses a few of his favorite movies with Josh Olson and Joe Dante.

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

Tár (2022)

Speed Racer (2008)

The Matrix (1999)

Gloria (1980) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review

The Howling (1981) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary, Randy Fuller’s wine pairings

Old Man (2022)

Don’t Breathe (2016)

Avatar (2009)

Band of the Hand (1986)

May (2002)

The Piano (1993)

The Crying Game (1992)

Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977)

Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Star Wars: Episode VI – Return Of The Jedi (1983)

Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999)

Star Wars: Episode II – Attack Of The Clones (2002)

Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge Of The Sith (2005)

The Dark Crystal (1982) – Bernard Rose’s trailer commentary

Cockfighter (1974) – Jon Davison’s trailer commentary

Days of Heaven (1978)

Sweetie (1989)

The Power of the Dog (2021)

Do The Right Thing (1989) – Allan Arkush’s trailer commentary

A History Of Violence (2005)

Se7en (1995)

Straw Dogs (1971) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary,...

Writer, director, show runner Tobias Lindholm discusses a few of his favorite movies with Josh Olson and Joe Dante.

Tobias Lindholm

Show Notes:

Movies Referenced In This Episode

The Good Nurse (2022)

1917 (2019) – Dennis Cozzalio on the films of 2109

Jaws (1975) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary

Another Round (2020)

The Hunt (2012)

A Hijacking (2012)

A War (2015)

E.T. The Extra Terrestrial (1982)

Beat Street (1984)

Style Wars (1983)

*Saturday Night And Sunday Morning (1960)

The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner (1962)

Pretty Woman (1990) – Allan Arkush’s trailer commentary

*Klute (1971) – Katt Shea’s trailer commentary, Charlie Largent’s Criterion Blu-ray review

*A Woman Under The Influence (1974)

*One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest (1975) – Adam Rifkin’s trailer commentary

The Godfather (1972) – Ernest Dickerson’s trailer commentary, Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review, Randy Fuller’s wine pairings

*The Verdict (1982)

Tar (2022)

The Celebration (1998)

*Sea Of Love (1989)

Clockers (1995)

Taxi Driver (1976) – Rod Lurie’s trailer commentary

M (1931)

*Se7en (1995)

Citizen Kane (1941) – John Landis’s trailer commentary, Glenn Erickson...

Millennium Media has unveiled the first still from its anticipated comic book film Red Sonja, starring Matilda Lutz (Revenge), which is currently in production at the Bulgarian Nu Boyana Studio, with additional shoots at the Greek Nu Boyana Studio scheduled for later in the month.

Derived from the sword and sorcery comic books of the same name from Dynamite Entertainment, Red Sonja is based on the heroine created by Robert E. Howard and adapted by Roy Thomas. While the character is billed as a fearsome warrior boasting a high degree of skill with a sword, details as to the film adaptation’s plot have so far been kept under wraps.

Lutz is joined in the pic by Wallis Day, Robert Sheehan, Michael Bisping, Martyn Ford, Eliza Matengu, Manal El-Feitury, Katrina Durden and Oliver Trevena.

M.J. Bassett (Solomon Kane) is directing from a script by Joey Soloway (Transparent) and Tasha Huo...

Actor/writer/director Ethan Hawke discusses a few of his favorite films with Josh Olson and Joe Dante.

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

Explorers (1985) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review

The Verdict (1982)

The Color Of Money (1986) – Rod Lurie’s trailer commentary

Nobody’s Fool (1994)

Three Faces Of Eve (1957)

Mr. And Mrs. Bridge (1990)

North By Northwest (1959)

Torn Curtain (1966)

Psycho (1960) – John Landis’s trailer commentary

Frenzy (1972) – Joe Dante’s trailer commentary

Topaz (1969)

Boyhood (2014)

An Officer and a Gentleman (1982)

Blue Collar (1978) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary

First Reformed (2017) – Glenn Erickson’s trailer commentary

Taxi Driver (1976) – Rod Lurie’s trailer commentary

The Left Handed Gun (1958)

Hombre (1967)

Hud (1963)

Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid (1969)

The Life And Times Of Judge Roy Bean (1972) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary, Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review

Buffalo Bill And The Indians, Or Sitting Bull’s History Lesson (1976) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review

The Outrage (1964)

Rashomon (1950) – Brian Trenchard-Smith’s trailer commentary,...

Director/Tfh Guru Mick Garris discusses his favorite year in film, 1986, with hosts Josh Olson and Joe Dante.

Show Notes:

Movies Referenced In This Episode

Stir of Echoes (1999)

The Sixth Sense (1999)

The Fly (1958) – Jesus Treviño’s trailer commentary

*The Fly (1986) – Katt Shea’s trailer commentary

The Fly II (1989)

Fuzzbucket (1986)

The Howling (1981) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary, Randy Fuller’s wine pairings

Gremlins (1984) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review, Tfh’s Mogwai Madness

Alien (1979) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary, Randy Fuller’s wine pairings

*Aliens (1986) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review

The Terminator (1984) – Adam Rifkin’s trailer commentary

The Brood (1979) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary, Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review

Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)

Scanners (1981) – Mick Garris’s trailer commentary

Fast Company (1979)

Rabid (1977) – Mick Garris’s trailer commentary, Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review

Shivers (1975)

Crimes of the Future (1970)

Crimes of the Future (2022)

Stereo (1969)

Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985) – Alan Spencer’s trailer commentary

Stand By Me...

While covering TIFF this year, I was invited to do something rare in this era of Covid-19 – an in-person interview. Even more exciting was the fact that the interview would be with Brian Cox and Kate Beckinsale. How is that for a dynamic duo? They were in town promoting Prisoner’s Daughter, a small-scale drama directed by Catherine Hardwicke that I was a big fan of. While I did extensive interviews with them and Hardwicke, which I’ll be running shortly, one thing I thought was interesting was their reaction when I brought up several of their more obscure films.

Beckinsale noted that it’s often the smaller, lesser-seen stuff that winds up being special to an actor, with her noting Rod Lurie’s Nothing But the Truth as a particular favorite. As it happens, one of my favorites of hers is a movie she did with David Gordon Green and...

Exclusive: Francesca Eastwood (Old) and Milo Gibson (Hacksaw Ridge) have been tapped to star in Clawfoot — a cat-and-mouse thriller from Yale Entertainment, which is currently in production in Los Angeles.

In the film penned by April Wolfe (Black Christmas), an upper-class suburban housewife (Eastwood) is psychologically terrorized by a manipulative contractor (Gibson), leading to a twisted battle of wits with deliciously unexpected results.

The film’s director Michael Day (As They Made Us) is producing alongside Yale’s Jordan Yale Levine and Jordan Beckerman, with Kade Thomas, Scott Levenson, Jason Kringstein, Lee Broda and Colby Cote serving as exec producers. Yale’s recently launched sales banner Great Escape, led by Nick Donnermeyer, will handle worldwide sales.

Most recently appearing in M. Night Shyamalan’s Old for Universal Pictures, Eastwood has also been seen in such films as A Violent Separation, The Vault, M.F.A., Outlaws and Angels and Final Girl, among others.

Orlando Bloom is set to join the cast of Sony Pictures and PlayStation Productions’ film adaptation of Gran Turismo. Neill Blomkamp is directing the film based on a screenplay written by Jason Hall and Zach Baylan. The film stars Archie Madekwe and David Harbour.

Based on a true story, the film is the ultimate wish-fulfillment tale of a teenage Gran Turismo player whose gaming skills won a series of Nissan competitions to become an actual professional race car driver. Sony Pictures will release the film in theaters on August 11, 2023.

PlayStation Production’s Asad Qizilbash and Carter Swan, Doug Belgrad and Dana Brunetti are producing. Game creator Kazunori Yamauchi and Hall are executive producing.

Gran Turismo the game was first launched in Japan in 1997 by Polyphony and Yamauchi, who revolutionized the racing game genre creating what is regarded as the most authentic driving simulator with its to true-to-life graphics, physics technology and precise attention to detail.

Josh Olson and Joe Dante answer fan questions and comments.

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

Abbott And Costello Meet The Mummy (1955) – Joe Dante’s trailer commentary

Monster A-Go-Go (1965)

Infested (2002)

Straw Dogs (1971) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary, Rod Lurie’s trailer commentary, Charlie Largent’s Criterion Blu-ray review, Joe Dante’s review

Straw Dogs (2011)

Mississippi Burning (1988)

The Ghost And Mrs. Muir (1947) – Axelle Carolyn’s trailer commentary

Grosse Pointe Blank (1997)

Bad Boy Bubby (1993) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary

The Mummy (1932) – Joe Dante’s trailer commentary, Charlie Largent’s Blu-ray review

The Mummy (1999)

The Howling (1981) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary, Randy Fuller’s wine pairings

Slappy And The Stinkers (1998)

Casper (1995)

Invisible Man (2020)

The Invisible Man (1933) – Charlie Largent’s Blu-ray review

Robot Monster (1953) – Joe Dante’s trailer commentary

The Stewardesses (1969)

The Hole (2012) – Joe Dante’s US, Italian, British trailer commentaries, Dennis Cozzalio’s review

Love (2015)

Cave Of Forgotten Dreams (2010)

McCabe And Mrs.

Exclusive: Orlando Bloom is set to join Pete Davidson, Naomi Scott, Franz Rogowski and Sean Harris in Wizards!, a new film from Australian writer-director David Michôd that reteams A24 and Plan B Entertainment. Michôd also penned the script, which is based on a story by Joel Edgerton and Michôd. Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner of Plan B will produce alongside Liz Watts.

The film follows two hapless pothead beach-bar operators (Davidson and Rogowski) who run into trouble when they stumble across stolen loot that they really should have just left alone.

This marks the fourth collaboration between A24 and Plan B following such award-winning films as Moonlight, Minari and The Last Black Man in San Francisco. This is Plan B’s third collaboration with Michôd after War Machine and The King. It also will reteam Michôd and Watts with A24 for the first time since 2014’s The Rover. Watts recently joined See-Saw Films,...

Writer/director Eskil Vogt joins hosts Josh Olson and Joe Dante to discuss a few of his favorite movies.

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

The Worst Person In The World (2021)

The Innocents (2022)

The Godfather Part II (1974) – Katt Shea’s trailer commentary, Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review

The Breakfast Club (1985)

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)

Trust (1990)

Fight Club (1999)

Evil Dead II (1987) – Alex Kirschenbaum’s review

Gremlins (1984) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review

The Getaway (1972) – Larry Karaszewski’s trailer commentary

The Getaway (1994)

Junior Bonner (1972) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review

Star Wars (1977)

The Limey (1999)

Point Blank (1967) – John Landis’s trailer commentary

Out of Sight (1998)

The Hunger (1983)

Providence (1977)

Blind (2014)

Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters (1985)

The Card Counter (2021)

First Reformed (2017) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review

Taxi Driver (1976) – Rod Lurie’s trailer commentary

Light Sleeper (1992)

American Gigolo (1980)

Notorious (1946) – John Landis’s trailer commentary, Glenn Erickson’s Criterion Blu-ray review

Torn Curtain (1966)

Jacob’s Ladder (1990)

Lolita (1997)

Deep Water...

“Riverdale” star Kj Apa and “1883” breakout Isabel May are set to star in the live-action DC superhero comedy “The Wonder Twins” for HBO Max. Apa will play Zan, while May will play Jayna.

“Black Adam” writer Adam Sztykiel is set to write and direct the project.

Marty Bowen and Wyck Godfrey of Temple Hill are producing. Details about the project are being kept under wraps. Production is set to begin this summer in Atlanta.

The “Wonder Twins” centers on an alien sibling duo – Jayna and Zan – who can activate their superpowers by touching hands and saying their catchphrase, “Wonder twin power, activate!” Jayna can transform into any animal, and Zan can transform into water. The duo first appeared in the Hanna-Barbera animated television series of the 1970s, “The All-New Super Friends Hour.” The superpowered sibling duo has also appeared on the animated series “Teen Titans Go!” “The Flash” and “Smallville.

Exclusive: Orlando Bloom (Carnival Row) and Andie MacDowell (Maid) have signed on to star in Red Right Hand, an upcoming action-thriller from directors Ian and Eshom Nelms (Fatman).

The film written by Jonathan Easley centers on Cash (Bloom), who is trying to live an honest and quiet life, taking care of his niece Savannah in the Appalachian hills of Odim County. When the sadistic Queenpin Big Cat (MacDowell) who runs the town forces him back into her services, Cash learns he’s capable of anything—even killing—to protect the town and the only family he has left. As the journey gets harder, Cash is drawn into a nightmare that blurs the lines between good and evil.

Asbury Park Pictures is serving as the project’s financier and producing alongside Traction. Individual producers on board include John Wick‘s Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee, Asbury Park Pictures’ Mike Gabrawy, Traction...

Joachim Trier, writer/director of the multi-Oscar nominated film The Worst Person in the World, discusses his favorite movies with hosts Josh Olson and Joe Dante.

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

A History of Violence (2005)

Gremlins (1984) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review, Tfh’s retrospective links

Innerspace (1987) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review

The Worst Person In The World (2021)

Back To The Future (1985)

Hiroshima Mon Amour (1959)

Hour of the Wolf (1968)

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) – John Landis’s trailer commentary, Dennis Cozzalio’s review

Mirror (1975)

Stalker (1979) – Glenn Erickson’s Criterion Blu-ray review

Soylent Green (1973)

Dr. Strangelove (1964) – Michael Lehmann’s trailer commentary, Glenn Erickson’s Criterion Blu-ray review

Last Year At Marienbad (1961)

The Hunt (1959)

Remonstrance (1972)

Don’t Look Now (1973) – John Landis’s trailer commentary

Bad Timing (1980) – Bernard Rose’s trailer commentary

Walkabout (1971) – Larry Karaszewski’s trailer commentary

Performance (1970) – Mark Goldblatt’s trailer commentary

Drive My Car (2021)

491 (1964)

The Seventh Seal (1957)

Persona (1966)

The Wild Strawberries...

Exclusive: In his return to Fox, Emmy winner Michael Chiklis is set to headline the premiere episode of the network’s straight-to-series crime anthology drama, Accused, executive-produced by Howard Gordon, Alex Gansa and David Shore. Fellow Emmy winner Michael Cuesta (Homeland) has been tapped to direct the premiere, reuniting with Homeland executive producers Gordon and Gansa.

Accused, co-produced by Fox Entertainment and Sony Pictures Television, is based on the BBC’s BAFTA-winning crime anthology. It opens in a courtroom on the accused, with viewers knowing nothing about their crime or how they ended up on trial. Told from the defendant’s point of view through flashbacks, Accused depicts how an ordinary person gets caught up in an extraordinary situation, ultimately revealing how one wrong turn leads to another, until it’s too late to turn back.

Chiklis will play Dr. Scott Corbett, a successful brain surgeon with a seemingly perfect family.

Writer/director Guillermo del Toro discusses a few of his favorite movies with Josh and Joe.

Show Notes:

Movies Referenced In This Episode

Nightmare Alley (2021)

Nightmare Alley (1947) – Stuart Gordon’s trailer commentary, Glenn Erickson’s Criterion Blu-ray review

Drive My Car (2021)

Wicked Woman (1953) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary, Randy Fuller’s wine pairing

Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (2022)

Modern Times (1936)

City Lights (1931)

The Great Dictator (1940)

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) – John Landis’s trailer commentary, Dennis Cozzalio’s review, Dennis Cozzalio’s Muriel Awards capsule review

Vertigo (1958) – Dan Ireland’s trailer commentary, Brian Trenchard-Smith’s review

The Man Who Would Be King (1975) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary

Lawrence Of Arabia (1962)

The Young And The Damned (1950)

Gone With The Wind (1939)

The Golem (1920) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review

Sunrise: A Song Of Two Humans (1927)

Alucarda (1977)

Greed (1924) – Dennis Cozzalio’s Muriel Awards capsule review

Taxi Driver (1976) – Rod Lurie’s trailer commentary

District 9 (2009) – John Sayles...

As the New Year kicks off for Lionsgate, the studio has bolstered its Motion Picture Group production team with a series of hires and promotions.

Renewing his contract as EVP is James Myers who’ll take on an expanded strategic management role within the department alongside his growing slate of movies. His recent movie include videogame feature adaptation Borderlands starring Oscar winner Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Jack Black; the Nicolas Cage satire The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent; the Jennifer Lopez romantic comedy Shotgun Wedding; White Bird: A Wonder Story, a companion film to the 2017 hit and About My Father, which stars comedian Sebastian Maniscalco alongside screen legend Robert De Niro.

Returning to Lionsgate as EVP of Production is Brady Fujikawa, who recently served as Bron Studios head of development. During his previous time at Lionsgate, Fujikawa was also behind some of the studio’s upcoming...

Lionsgate has bulked up the motion picture group’s development and production teams with several new hires and promotions.

“We have an exceptionally talented and versatile development and production team. They have ramped up 16 films since the pandemic began. As we expand our department we are promoting from within, while also hiring some familiar faces and recognizing the outstanding contributions and dedication of our incredible team,” Erin Westerman, Lionsgate’s president of production said in a statement.

See the new hires and promotions below:

James Myers has renewed his contract with the studio as executive VP and will expand his strategic management role within the department. His most recent projects include “Borderlands, a video game adaptation starring Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Jack Black; “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent” featuring Nicolas Cage in the role of Nicolas Cage; and “Shotgun Wedding” with Jennifer Lopez.

Brady Fujikawa...

Update: Martin Scorsese shared a statement reflecting on the passing of Bogdanovich on Sunday: ““In the 60s, at a crucial moment in the history of the movie business and the art of cinema, Peter Bogdanovich was right there at the crossroads of the Old Hollywood and the New. Curator, critic, historian, actor, director, popular entertainer…Peter did it all. As a programmer here in New York, he put together essential retrospectives of then still overlooked masters from the glory days of the studio system; as a journalist he got to know almost everybody, from John Ford and Howard Hawks to Marlene Dietrich and Cary Grant. Like many of us, he made his way into directing pictures by way of Roger Corman, and he and Francis Coppola broke into the system early on: Peter’s debut, ‘Targets,’ is still one of his very best films.

“With ‘The Last Picture Show,’ he...

Tributes are pouring in after director and standard-bearer for classic Hollywood moviemaking Peter Bogdanovich died today at 82.

Francis Ford Coppola gave the following statement to Deadline:

Oh dear, a shock. I am devastated. He was a wonderful and great artist. I’ll never forgot attending a premiere for The Last Picture Show. I remember at its end, the audience leaped up all around me bursting into applause lasting easily 15 minutes. I’ll never forget although I felt I had never myself experienced a reaction like that, that Peter and his film deserved it. May he sleep in bliss for eternity, enjoying the thrill of our applause forever.

Barbra Streisand starred the director’s 1972 comedy What’s Up Doc?. “Peter always made me laugh!” she wrote today in remembrance. “He’ll keep making them laugh up there too. May he rest in peace.”

Friend and fellow director Guillermo del Toro called...

Exclusive: WME has signed The Lord of the Rings and Pirates of the Caribbean star Orlando Bloom for representation. The globally recognized actor has been a part of two of the largest film franchises of all time and recently was seen in the independent feature Retaliation.

He also recently starred in Rod Lurie’s The Outpost, which chronicles the true story of 53 U.S. soldiers who battled a force of 400 enemy insurgents in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom. The film was recognized by the National Board of Review as one of the 10 best independent films in 2020 and received a 2021 Critics Choice Super Award for Best Action Movie. As for upcoming projects, Bloom recently wrapped production on Season 2 of Amazon’s Carnival Row, which he stars in and executive produces. Its second season will bow in 2022.

As a producer, Bloom recently extended his first-look deal with Amazon Studios and has...

Our first episode back in the studio! Robert Weide discusses a few of his favorite movies with hosts Josh Olson and Joe Dante.

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

How to Lose Friends & Alienate People (2008)

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (2010)

Mother Night (1996)

Woody Allen: A Documentary (2011)

Mort Sahl: The Loyal Opposition (1989)

Lenny Bruce: Swear to Tell the Truth (1998)

Marx Brothers in a Nutshell (1982)

W.C. Fields: Straight Up (1986)

Kurt Vonnegut: Unstuck in Time (2021)

It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963) – John Landis’s trailer commentary

Mary Poppins (1964)

The French Connection (1971) – Dennis Lehane’s trailer commentary, Mark Pellington’s trailer commentary, Randy Fuller’s wine pairing

The Magnificent Seven (1960) – Jesus Treviño’s trailer commentary

The Godfather (1972) – Ernest Dickerson’s trailer commentary, Randy Fuller’s wine pairing

The Exorcist (1973) – Oren Peli’s trailer commentary

Patton (1970) – Rod Lurie’s trailer commentary

Mash (1970)

Short Cuts (1993) – Glenn Erickson’s Criterion Blu-ray review

Lenny...

Prisoners of the Ghostland screenwriter/producer Reza Sixo Safai joins hosts Josh Olson and Joe Dante to discuss his wildest cinematic experiences.

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

Infested (2002)

The Howling (1981) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary, Randy Fuller’s wine pairings

Hollywood Boulevard (1976) – Jon Davison’s trailer commentary

Bela Lugosi Meets A Brooklyn Gorilla (1952) – Joe Dante’s trailer commentary

Prisoners of the Ghostland (2021)

Mandy (2018)

Candy (1968) – Glenn Erickson’s trailer commentary

S.O.B. (1981)

The Shining (1980) – Adam Rifkin’s trailer commentary

Robin Hood (1973)

The Story of Robin Hood (1952)

Modern Times (1936)

The Kid (1921)

The Deer (1974)

A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night (2014) – Allan Arkush’s trailer commentary

Qeysar (1969)

The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

The Warriors (1979)

New Jack City (1991)

Colors (1988)

The Whip And The Body (1963)

Blow Out (1981) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary

Porky’s (1981)

Cinema Paradiso (1988) – Glenn Erickson’s Region B Blu-ray review, Glenn Erickson’s 4K Blu-ray review

Circumstance (2011)

Ninja 3: The Domination (1984)

Flashdance (1983)

Debbie...

Exclusive: Kathryn Morris has signed on to the ensemble independent film Hayseed. The dark comedy murder mystery comes from first-time writer-director Travis Burgess. Michael V. Brown and Eric Cotti serve as producers.

Set in a small town in Michigan, the film follows the investigation of a church congregation after their reverend is found dead. Morris plays Joyce Metts, a former beauty queen now a waitress at the local diner and a jealous type, prone to gossip. She is protective of her daughter Willa, who is a high school senior ready to leave town on her athletic scholarship.

Morris is best known for her starring role in the hit series Cold Case which ran for seven season and remains one of television’s most watched dramas. After her breakout role in Rod Lurie’s The Contender, some of her additional film work includes The Dirt, Hostage and Moneyball.

Morris is represented by Gersh and Atlas Artists.

Exclusive: Mary Stuart Masterson (Blindspot), Rob Corddry (The Unicorn), Brandon Flynn (13 Reasons Why), Corey Knight (We Are Who We Are) and Terayle (Judas and the Black Messiah) are joining Michael Chiklis in The Senior, a football drama that Rod Lurie is directing from a screenplay by Bob Eisele (The Great Debaters), which is entering production in Texas this fall.

The film from Wayfarer Studios and Select Films is based on the true story of Mike Flynt (Chiklis), who was kicked off his collegiate football team 37 years ago for an altercation with another teammate. Now, at age 59, Mike decides to go back to college to finish his degree and try out for the varsity team in an attempt to redeem his past.

Masterson will play Mike’s wife Eileen, a voice of reason who offers tough love, while supporting her husband’s dream.

Corddry will play Sam Weston,...

Exclusive: Michael Chiklis (The Shield) has signed on to star in The Senior, a football drama that Rod Lurie is directing from a screenplay by Bob Eisele (The Great Debaters), which is entering production in Texas this fall.

The film is based on the true story of Mike Flynt (Chiklis) who, 37 years ago, was kicked off his collegiate football team for an altercation with another teammate. Now at 59, Mike continues to carry that burden. But when he learns he still has a year of eligibility, he decides to go back to school to get his degree and try out for the team to redeem his past. As he puts on the pads one more time, Mike slowly starts to earn the respect of his much younger teammates, ultimately leading him on a journey to address his masculinity and resolve his generational trauma put upon by his father,...

The great director discusses some of his favorite movies with host Josh Olson.

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

The Alzheimer Case a.k.a. Memory of a Killer (2003)

Memory (Tbd)

The Protégé (2021)

You Only Live Twice (1967)

Cast A Deadly Spell (1991)

The Mask Of Zorro (1998)

GoldenEye (1995)

Casino Royale (2006)

Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid (1969)

Slap Shot (1977) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary

Salt (2010)

Atomic Blonde (2017) – Brian Trenchard-Smith’s trailer commentary, Randy Fuller’s wine pairing

The Manchurian Candidate (1962) – John Landis’s trailer commentary, Glenn Erickson’s Criterion Blu-ray review, Randy Fuller’s wine pairing

The Manchurian Candidate (2004)

Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

The Bridge On The River Kwai (1957) – John Landis’s trailer commentary

Oliver Twist (1948)

Dr. No (1962) – Brian Trenchard-Smith’s trailer commentary

The Guns Of Navarone (1962)

The Dirty Dozen (1967) – Ed Neumeier’s trailer commentary

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) – John Landis’s trailer commentary, Dennis Cozzalio’s 70mm reissue review

The Spy Who Loved Me...

The writer/director returns to talk about his favorite Blaxploitation movies with hosts Josh Olson and Joe Dante.

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

Man Bites Dog (1992)

Trick Baby (1972)

The Exorcist (1973) – Oren Pelli’s trailer commentary

The Untouchables (1987)

Predator (1987)

Purple Rain (1984) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary

The Loved One (1965) – Larry Karaszewski’s trailer commentary

Live And Let Die (1973)

Enter The Dragon (1973) – Larry Karaszewski’s trailer commentary, Brian Trenchard-Smith’s trailer commentary

The Green Hornet (1974)

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) – Darren Bousman’s trailer commentary

The Last Dragon (1985) – Larry Karaszewski’s trailer commentary

Dead Presidents (1995)

Hell Up In Harlem (1973) – Larry Cohen’s trailer commentary

Black Caesar (1973) – Larry Cohen’s trailer commentary

Shaft (1971) – Bill Duke’s trailer commentary, Randy Fuller’s wine pairing

Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song (1971)

Coffy (1973) – Jack Hill’s trailer commentary

Midnight Cowboy (1969) – Glenn Erickson’s Criterion Blu-ray review

Taxi Driver (1976) – Rod Lurie’s trailer commentary

Boxcar Bertha (1972) – Julie Corman...

Exclusive: Producer Doug Belgrad, director-producer Rod Lurie, and writer Scott Conroy have teamed up for an untitled film based on the true story of how independent journalist and blogger Clare Rewcastle Brown blew the lid off of the Malaysian 1Mdb financial swindle, which became one of the biggest public corruption scandals in history.

Conroy has adapted the screenplay from Brown’s book The Sarawak Report. Lurie, the former journalist/critic who last helmed The Outpost, will direct the film, and will also produce alongside Belgrad and his Sony-based, 2.0 Entertainment production banner. Sony will get first look at the project.

The 1Mdb scandal involves the fleecing of billions of dollars of Malaysian taxpayer money, a big chunk of which has never been recovered. The scheme was originally uncovered by the courageous work of the intrepid and fearless Englishwoman who was born and raised in Malaysia and decided she could...