News

This weekend, Apple TV+ is free.

It’s a brilliant marketing move and reminds us of the time when, back when Disney Channel was a premium cable channel, they would do special free weekends, complete with cutaways to a fake call center to see people signing up in real time.

And while there might not be hosted segments previewing the channel’s upcoming programs, you have free reign over all of Apple TV+ – including their original film library.

To that end, we chose nine movies that you should definitely check out during the free preview weekend, everything from documentaries about the Beastie Boys to new classics from Martin Scorsese and Ridley Scott to a movie about the formation of “Tetris” (yes really).

Apple “Beastie Boys Story”

Apple TV+ has a robust lineup of music documentaries, with Todd Haynes’ “The Velvet Underground,” plus docs dedicated to Billie Eilish, Bruce Springsteen, Louis Armstrong and Selena Gomez.

The Society of Composers & Lyricists has charted the nominees for its 2025 Scl Awards, which celebrate excellence and innovation in music for visual media. Emilia Pérez composers Clément Ducol and Camille and Challengers and Shōgun composer Atticus Ross lead the field with three noms each. See the full list below.

The hardware will be handed out during the sixth annual Scl Awards on February 12 in Los Angeles. Men at Work’s Colin Hay will host the ceremony.

The group also said today that Gladiator II composer Harry Gregson-Williams and filmmaker Ridley Scott will receive its 2025 Spirit of Collaboration Award, which recognizes a composer-director relationship that has created a prodigious body of work. Gregson-Williams also has penned the original scores for Scott’s The Martian, Kingdom of Heaven, The Last Duel and House of Gucci and themes for Prometheus and Exodus: Gods and Kings.

“Ridley is an open book when it comes to music,...

The Fall Of The Roman Empire Comparison (Photo Credit – Facebook)

With Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II continuing to draw big numbers at the box office, conversations about the potential for a third installment are taking off, with the prolific filmmaker already calling in its favor. The sequel to the Academy Award-winning Gladiator saw Scott return to the helm, continuing a story loosely inspired by historical events. Adding Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, and Denzel Washington to the beloved franchise, the big-budget tentpole’s ability to blend melodrama with history has been a significant draw for audiences worldwide.

While Gladiator features characters based on historical Roman citizens like Joaquin Phoenix’s Emperor Commodus and Connie Nielsen’s Lucilla, the story nevertheless took creative liberties, notably with Russell Crowe’s Maximus. This character replaced Narcissus, a real-life wrestler who assassinated Emperor Commodus. Despite these alterations, the film’s narrative entertained audiences’ imaginations with...

Ridley Scott's bombastic "Gladiator II" has been slicing its way through the box office thank to its incredible cast and people's love for the original film, although critics have been slightly less enamored with the sequel. Our own "Gladiator II" review praised Denzel Washington's performance as gladiator promoter Macrinus in particular and noted that there are a number of impressive action scenes, but also several parts that fall flat. No amount of pure spectacle can make up for a good story or thoughtful filmmaking, and unfortunately, it sounds like Scott might have had the wrong priorities during production.

In a podcast interview with "DocFix" (via WorldofReel), "Gladiator II" cinematographer John Mathieson called Scott's approach to the film "lazy," adding that he had changed over the years that they had worked together. Mathieson has collaborated with Scott on six of the director's films so far, including the original "Gladiator...

Gladiator was always going to be a hard act to follow; after all, it won multiple Oscars shortly after being released in 2000 and has become widely regarded as a true classic among film lovers.

Filmmaker Sir Ridley Scott returned to helm Gladiator II and reviews have been positive; the sequel probably won't be an awards contender but it is a fan-pleasing action flick. However, cinematographer John Mathieson doesn't have anything good to say about his reunion with Scott.

They worked together on Gladiator, along with several of Scott's other movies, including Hannibal, Matchstick Men, Kingdom of Heaven, and Robin Hood.

However, talking on The DocFix Documentary Storytelling Podcast (via ActioNewz.com), Mathieson shared his disappointment with what he saw from Scott during their Gladiator II collaboration.

Explaining that Scott now shoots scenes with multiple cameras, he called the filmmaker's process "really lazy," adding, "It’s the CG [computer graphic] elements now of tidying-up,...

In a new podcast interview with DocFix, John Mathieson, the cinematographer for ‘Gladiator 2,’ expressed strong reservations about Ridley Scott’s recent approach to filmmaking.

Mathieson, who has previously worked with Scott on multiple projects including ‘Gladiator’ and ‘Kingdom of Heaven,’ shared that Scott’s method has significantly shifted, impacting the quality of his films.

According to Mathieson, Scott, at 87, has adopted a more hurried style, frequently using multiple cameras on set which, in his view, compromises the cinematic quality.

He described this technique as detrimental to meticulous cinematography since it restricts lighting options and reduces attention to detail.

Mathieson lamented the loss of depth in scenes, a quality he feels was a hallmark of Scott’s earlier works.

"It's a bit rush rush rush … that's changed in him … I don't like [that style]. I don't think many people do. But people love his films, and he's Ridley Scott … he can do...

As soon as he was hired to write the score for Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator II,” Harry Gregson-Williams knew that he’d need to come to terms with the music Hans Zimmer had written for the original “Gladiator” in 2000. “I’ve done sequels before, but this was perhaps a bit more complex emotionally since I’m buddies with Hans, and his score for the original is so loved, quite rightly,” he said. But just as Scott used a couple of flashbacks to Russell Crowe’s character, Maximus, but spent most of his time on Paul Mescal, who plays Crowe’s son, Lucius, Gregson-Williams wanted to be sparing with the quotes from Zimmer’s themes.

“There’s 100 minutes of score in this movie, and probably five or six minutes that contain Hans’ themes,” he said. “At the end of the film, I wanted to just slip into Hans’ theme as if it evolved there naturally.

Happy Thanksgiving from The B-Side! Here we talk about movie directors! Not the movies that made them famous or kept them famous, but the ones that they made in between.

Today, for our 150th (!) episode, we are thankful for Ridley Scott! As Gladiator II reigns supreme at the box office, our B-Sides today include Legend, Matchstick Men, Exodus: Gods and Kings, and The Last Duel. Our esteemed guest Maria Lewis––“best-selling author, screenwriter, film curator and pop culture etymologist currently based in Australia––is back!

Much is discussed over two-and-a-half glorious hours. Ridler’s pioneering Apple Ad; his recent breakneck pace as filmmaker; his movies being on Australian television constantly; and his production empire. Maria laments her experience watching Legend for the first time while Dan and Conor celebrate the film’s importance in their childhood. Ridley’s fascination with death comes up, as do the competing Christopher Columbus film...

"Gladiator II" isn't just a legacy sequel to Ridley Scott's 2000 historical megahit "Gladiator" -- it's also, as far as a lot of historians are concerned, the latest chapter in Scott's ruthless war on history itself. Academics barely had time to catch their breath from pointing out the historical inaccuracies in "Napoleon" before Scott hit them with a scene where Denzel Washington's scheming Roman businessman Macrinus sips coffee and reads a newspaper. These are impressive feats, considering the printing press wouldn't be invented for another 1200 years, and there's no evidence that Romans drank coffee.

Scott has been unapologetic about his casual regard for historical accuracy, responding to critics with scornful retorts like "get a life" and, "Were you there? Oh you weren't there. Then how do you know?" This rejection of doctrine was at the heart of Scott's 2021 historical drama "The Last Duel," which told the same story from...

Hollywood hopes we’re on the eve of another Barbenheimer, with all eyes on the weekend box office to see if Glicked becomes a thing. Glicked, of course, refers to Gladiator II and Wicked, with the hope being that a movie mad public will make a double bill of these movies go viral. I’m not so sure, with both movies being over 2.5 hours long and a pretty full meal as far as films go. The charm of Barbenheimer was that both movies were so different, with Barbie light and airy compared to Oppenheimer’s massive scale. Both Wicked and Gladiator are epics. They also haven’t been receiving the kinds of raves Barbie and Oppenheimer did, with Gladiator II’s Rotten Tomatoes score a fair 73%. By comparison, Wicked has it beat with a strong 91%.

For me, this weekend’s box office winner is a no-brainer, with Wicked bound to open to at least $100 million.

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...

Few masters can span six decades in the spotlight. Yet Ridley Scott has never been a normal filmmaker. A wunderkind and prodigy, Scott broke into the mainstream in the mid-1970s, coming out of the gate with some of the best films in history. Even his “failures” have been reworked, allowing Scott to rewrite his own history in the process. There may not be a better “Director’s cut” filmography around, and Scott’s legend only continues to grow with time. His return to the Colosseum in Gladiator II has rightfully caused a moment of retrospection for the icon. Below are ten of his best features, which becomes a difficult exercise with a filmography as deep as Scott’s.

10. Matchstick Men (2003)

Nicolas Cage often plays to the rafters, but Matchstick Men proved that Cage could play a man with disorders without turning them into a cartoon. Despite playing a man...

“Gladiator II” (Paramount) is expected to gross over $60 million when it open this week in the U.S./Canada. If so, that will be a strong start for Ridley Scott’s 29th feature in his 45-year career.

With a budget reported to be somewhere around $250 million-$300 million, it will need all of that and more. While this may be his fourth film to cost over over $200 million (adjusting to current dollar value), “Gladiator II” appears to be the highest spend of Scott’s career.

It’s also the record expense for a director over 80. Paramount’s decision to entrust Scott clearly speaks to his past performances, particularly internationally.

We surveyed all 28 previous Scott features, calculating their grosses and budgets at 2024 values. And while a $60 million “Gladiator II” opening would be a record on paper, that only works if you don’t adjust his track record to current dollars and ticket prices.

Stars: Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Connie Nielsen, Joseph Quinn, Derek Jacobi, Fred Hechinger, Rory McCann, Matt Lucas | Written by David Scarpa | Directed by Ridley Scott

24 years later and the sequel, which has been re-written, reworked, and felt like it would never come, has finally hit our screens. Soon after the release of the best picture-winning original, Nick Cave was tasked with writing the sequel. His vision saw the return of Maximus (Russel Crowe) and his descent into the afterlife. The original script is available to read online and involves ancient Roman Gods and a montage of wars including the Crusades, World War II, and the Vietnam War. In another universe somewhere, that’s the film we would have all flocked to see, and good or bad, it would have certainly been a bold and unique take. The direction the sequel has finally taken is far more simple than the Nick Cave script,...

Why Did Ben Affleck’s Friend Ask Him To Drop The Batman? (Photo Credit – Facebook)

Ben Affleck’s journey as Batman? Let’s just say it had more drama than a Gotham City showdown. In a raw chat with The New York Times, Affleck peeled back the bat-mask and revealed the personal chaos that led him to ditch his Batman role. Turns out, it wasn’t just the grueling schedule or the pressure of directing—his battle with alcohol and a crumbling marriage played the real villains.

His split from Jennifer Garner in 2018 hit him hard. Affleck admitted, “I started drinking more when my marriage was falling apart.” And guess what? He was also juggling plans to direct, co-write, and star in The Batman. Talk about piling on the stress.

While fans were buzzing to see him in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Affleck’s reality was far from superhero-level.

Best known for playing the character Chris Alonso on 106 episodes of the CBS TV series S.W.A.T., Lina Esco has now become the latest actor to sign on for a role in Rip, a crime thriller that’s written and directed by Joe Carnahan and is set up at the Netflix streaming service. According to Variety, Esco will be taking on the role of Captain Jackie Velez.

Rip will follow a group of Miami cops whose trust begins to fray after they discover millions in cash in a derelict stash house. As outside forces learn about the size of the seizure, everything is called into question — including who they can rely on.

Esco joins a cast that includes Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, as well as Kyle Chandler of Super 8, Sasha Calle, who played Supergirl in The Flash, singer/songwriter Teyana Taylor, who starred in the drama A Thousand and One,...

Lina Esco, the actor best known for “S.W.A.T.” and “Kingdom,” has joined the cast of Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s new film “Rip.”

Joe Carnahan is directing the action thriller for Netflix. “Rip” follows a team of Miami cops whose trust begins to fray when they discover millions in a derelict stash house. The official logline teases: “As outside forces learn about the size of the seizure, everything for the team is called into question — including who they can rely on.”

Netflix declined to comment on Esco’s casting.

Along with Damon and Affleck, the cast includes Sasha Calle, Teyana Taylor, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Scott Adkins (“John Wick: Chapter 4”) and Nestor Carbonell.

In “Rip,” Esco will be playing a character named Captain Jackie Velez. The actor starred on “S.W.A.T.” for five seasons between 2017 and 2022, portraying Officer Christina “Chris” Alonso. She also directed the women’s empowerment film “Free the Nipple.

There’s nothing quite like starting a new millennium with a historical epic that would leave an undeniable cultural and artistic impact. Gladiator is regarded by many as the magnum opus of Ridley Scott’s career – a claim that’s challenging to make without any doubts given the filmmaker’s other classics like Blade Runner, Alien, Thelma & Louise, and countless other memorable movies. Personally, I count myself among those who hail this masterpiece as such, and as someone who dismisses the negative opinions about the “necessity” of new releases based on past works, I was genuinely excited going into Gladiator II.

The sequel is set several years after the death of Maximus (Russell Crowe), following Lucius (Paul Mescal) on his journey to the Colosseum after powerful emperors conquered his city. Filled with rage and holding the fate of the empire in his hands, Lucius draws inspiration from the past...

Paul Mescal wields a sword and Denzel Washington steals the show in Ridley Scott’s full-blooded sequel. Here’s our Gladiator II review:

If Gladiator was a film for a less pessimistic pre-9/11 America, its sequel is full of post-January 6th angst. There are talks of insurrection by flickering candlelight, power-mad emperors planning unjust wars overseas, and lots of bloody retribution. But while it’s possible to pick through Gladiator II for modern parallels and political undercurrents, this is still Ridley Scott at his most straightforwardly crowd-pleasing.

Like its predecessor, Gladiator II is a revenge movie in the guise of a Hollywood sword and sandal epic, though this time the motivations for that vengeance – and at times, who to root for – are less clear. At first though, Scott’s sequel almost feels like a remake of the 2000 movie: it opens with a spectacular battle sequence, before introducing a hero who,...

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck were the center of celebrity attention in 2024. Two years after they tied the knot, Lopez served divorce papers to Affleck in August 2024. She now claims she’s not looking for a serious relationship and wants to focus on herself. However, her future work with Ted Lasso star Brett Goldstein allegedly worries Goldstein’s girlfriend.

‘Ted Lasso’ star Brett Goldstein’s girlfriend is allegedly worried that he might spark up a romance with Jennifer Lopez

Jennifer Lopez doesn’t have a great relationship track record. She’s been married four times and engaged six times. Lopez thought she and Ben Affleck were meant to be, as they initially planned an engagement in the early 2000s. Their relationship didn’t work out, and they went their separate ways with other romances. However, they rekindled their flame in 2021 and tied the knot in 2022. Two years later, they again...

Deadline reports that Scott Adkins (John Wick: Chapter 4) has joined the cast of Rip, Joe Carnahan’s (Narc) upcoming crime thriller for Netflix. The film is set to star Matt Damon (Oppenheimer) and Ben Affleck (The Accountant 2) and follows a “team of Miami cops whose trust begins to fray when they discover millions in cash in a derelict stash house. As outside forces learn about the size of the seizure, everything for the team is called into question — including who they can rely on.“

In the movie, Adkins is set to play Affleck’s brother, and looking at the picture above… I can buy it. There’s definitely a resemblance. The rest of the cast includes Catalina Sandino Moreno (From), Néstor Carbonell (Lost), Sasha Calle (The Flash), Teyana Taylor (A Thousand and One), and Kyle Chandler (Lanterns). In addition to directing Rip, Carnahan also wrote the script.

Related...

Ridley Scott gives a tight smile when he’s told he “crushed it” making his long-awaited sandal-and-toga sequel Gladiator II.

“I know,” Scott replies. “You never count your chickens … but sometimes, you know.”

The director’s commercial instincts are honed by 47 years of ups and downs in Hollywood. The British filmmaker got his start as feature film director with 1977’s The Duelists and has been working ever since. This month, Scott turns 87 and has never been more productive, having ground out three historical action epics over the last few years — 2021’s The Last Duel, 2023’s Napoleon, and now Gladiator II, which is generating early buzz as a likely hit that might score Scott his first Oscar. He’s also become more prolific as a producer via his company Scott Free, generating a storm of projects which include this summer’s surprise hit Alien: Romulus and Amazon’s upcoming series Blade Runner 2099.

Ridley Scott has made the baffling decision to sequelize his 2000 peplum flick "Gladiator" 24 years after the original came out. The not-so-historically-accurate "Gladiator II" will follow Lucius Verus (Paul Mescal), who's apparently the grown son of Maximus (Russell Crowe) from the original movie, as he gets into bloody, sword-wielding shenanigans of his own. Connie Nielsen is returning to play Verus' mother Lucilla in the sequel, which also features new characters played by Pedro Pascal and Denzel Washington. Like most of Scott's movies, "Gladiator II" will be party produced by Scott Free, the director's own production company (which has handled all the director's films since 1991's "Thelma & Louise").

Relevant to this article: the Scott Free vanity card is a shadowy, 18-second animated short wherein a mysterious figure in a cloak lights a cigarette in the darkness before being startled by an opening door. The figure then runs a few steps and transforms into a bird.

One thing you can count on Ridley Scott for is an honest opinion. The director is famously candid in his interviews, previously blaming the box office for his film "The Last Duel" on the entire millennial generation and talking openly about how he thinks the long-gestating "Alien" TV series won't be as good as his movies.

On that last point, the director might well be onto something, especially if we're talking about his original 1979 masterpiece "Alien." The film that kick-started the franchise really stands on its own as a seminal slow burn space horror, showcasing a mastery of mood and atmosphere that, regardless of Scott's other work, will always serve as a testament to the man's greatness. No matter how good the TV show is, it will indeed never be able to supersede something so monumental.

Surprisingly, Scott is actually attached to that TV project as an executive producer, proving...

Ever since Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck broke up, there have been a lot of rumors and speculation as to what caused their surprising divorce. Infidelity, however, is one reason that only a handful of outlets reported as a possibility. Although it seems highly unlikely Affleck or Lopez stepped out during their marriage, Lopez shared how she’d handle such a scenario.

What Jennifer Lopez thought of Ben Affleck ever cheating on her Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez attend the red carpet of the movie ‘The Last Duel’ during the 78th Venice International Film Festival in 2021 | Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

Like many couples, even Lopez has dealt with unfaithful partners in her past. One of the many reasons she broke up with disgraced business mogul Diddy was because of his apparent infidelities during their fling. However, with time, Lopez gained a more mature perspective on cheaters. She didn’t...

Jennifer Lopez filed for divorce from Ben Affleck in August 2024, crushing the dreams of Bennifer fans worldwide. The couple only lasted two years in their marriage before calling it quits. Now, rumors suggest Lopez and Affleck are ready to get back into the dating world — and Affleck has non-negotiables this time. Here’s what a source said he’s looking for in his next romantic partner.

Ben Affleck only wants to date sober women or women in recovery, a source says

Ben Affleck has been open regarding his alcoholism and sobriety. He first decided to stop drinking in 1997 after the success of Good Will Hunting, and he entered rehab for the first time in 2001. Over the following decade, Affleck continued to strive for sobriety as he went back to rehab. His first wife, Jennifer Garner, staged an intervention for him in 2018 — the same year they finalized their divorce.

Affleck appears...

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is keeping it all in the family as it has just named Jennifer Fox as producer of the 15th Governors Awards ceremony that will take place November 17, 2024 in the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Ovation Hollywood.

Fox was elected to the AMPAS Board of Governors for the the first time in June but is no stranger to the Governors Awards. She is embarking on her sixth consecutive time producing the event. The Governors Awards, unlike the Oscars, are not televised but instead briefly highlighted in a clips package on the ABC broadcast of the Academy Awards.

The 2025 Oscars are set for March 2, 2025.

At the 15th Governors Awards, Honorary Oscars will be presented to Quincy Jones and Juliet Taylor, the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award will go to Richard Curtis, and the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award will be bestowed upon producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli.

Jennifer Fox, the Oscar-nominated film producer, will produce the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ 2024 Governors Awards, Academy president Janet Yang announced Wednesday. It will be Fox’s sixth time overseeing the event, following the 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th editions.

At the 15th Governors Awards, which will take place in the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, Nov. 17, Quincy Jones and Juliet Taylor will receive honorary Oscars; Richard Curtis will receive the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award; and Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson will receive the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award.

“Jennifer is an exemplary producer, and we are delighted to welcome her back to the Governors Awards for a sixth time,” Yang said in a statement. “Her expertise is unmatched, and we’re looking forward to a joyous event.”

Added Fox, “I’m thrilled to produce this special event for the Academy for another year.

November 2024 brings a diverse array of movies and shows to Hulu, catering to a wide range of tastes and interests. From classic holiday films to gripping dramas and entertaining reality series, there’s something for everyone. Viewers can dive into beloved titles like A Christmas Carol (1984) and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, perfect for getting into the holiday spirit. For fans of action and adventure, the month features iconic films such as Aliens, Ghost Rider, and the Chronicles of Narnia series. Those seeking laughter can enjoy comedies like Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore, and Grown Ups, while romantic and family-friendly options like La La Land and Elf add a touch of warmth. Additionally, Hulu is expanding its lineup with complete seasons of popular reality shows like Are You The One?, Hoarders, and Marriage Boot Camp. The month also includes special premieres, such as the 58th Annual CMA Awards and a series on The Stanford Prison Experiment,...

With every new Ridley Scott film we're treated to a new Ridley Scott press run, which essentially means a ton of delightfully grumpy quotables are headed our way. "Gladiator 2," set to debut on November 22, 2024, has been no different. The British filmmaking legend told Empire magazine (via Deadline) that he has a "good relationship" with Russell Crowe, star of the original "Gladiator," before adding that Crowe shouldn't "start b***hing about how he wasn't consulted" for the sequel because "He's dead!". Scott also gave "Gladiator 2" star Paul Mescal some brutally terse advice for the highly-anticipated sequel, essentially telling him to immediately stop being nervous about fronting such a gargantuan production.

All of this is par for the course with Scott, who despite his own crotchetiness has been a Hollywood mainstay for decades now. That doesn't mean he hasn't endured some rocky moments in his impressively prolific career, however. Still...

If you like to keep up with the infinitely fascinating phenomenon of old shows and movies becoming popular on streaming, you may have noticed the Netflix resurgence of a 2007 Denzel Washington crime thriller. That crime thriller was "American Gangster," which saw Denzel portray Harlem drug kingpin Frank Lucas. An epic chronicle of the enterprising New Yorker's rise to power in the 1970s, and his subsequent fall from ... whatever the opposite of "grace" is, the 157-minute film was directed by the great Ridley Scott and also starred Russell Crowe as NYPD officer Richie Roberts, who ultimately takes down Lucas' sprawling operation.

What made "American Gangster" interesting within the context of gangster films was the protagonist himself, who wasn't your typical Italian mobster but a Black drug lord who bought heroin from Southeast Asia and smuggled it directly to Harlem, claiming to have used the coffins of dead American soldiers to do so.

Exclusive: Apple TV+ has extended its first-look deal with Oscar-nominated producer Kevin Walsh and his The Walsh Company shingle, to continue to develop and produce original films and series for the service.

This is a sweeter deal, and positions Walsh to become a bigger supplier for Apple’s slate of originals. It comes after Walsh produced Apple Original Films’ The Instigators, which launched as the most-watched movie on Apple TV+; and the Ridley Scott-directed Napoleon. Up next is another Apple original, Echo Valley, a Michael Pearce-directed thriller that stars Julianne Moore alongside Sydney Sweeney from an original screenplay by Brad Ingelsby. Produced by The Walsh Company and Scott Free Films, that film debuts next year.

Walsh is also in the middle of a potential sequel to The Instigators, sorting it out with Apple, director Doug Liman, co-writers Casey Affleck and Chuck MacLean and Artists Equity partners Matt Damon and Ben Affleck.

October was huge for Disney+ and Hulu — but which month isn’t? After the weekly installments of “Agatha All Along” and the staple that is Huluween, the bundled streamers gear up for winter programming this November.

Disney+ continues to be the home for live episodes of “Dancing With the Stars” and the original series “Ayla & The Mirrors,” which continues to air new episodes. Along with new children’s programming and holiday specials like “An Almost Christmas Story,” the streamer will premiere “The Music of John Williams” on November 1, celebrating the acclaimed film composer and his decades-long career with new footage and interviews from those he worked with and inspired.

It’s another big month for movies coming to Hulu, as well as beloved shows like “Ally McBeal” (complete series). Stay tuned for an adaptation of Charles Yu’s “Interior Chinatown” and the docuseries “It’s All Country,” as well as...

Adam Driver’s Last 5 Films At The Worldwide Box Office ( Photo Credit – YouTube )

Adam Driver is an American actor known for working with filmmakers who have a unique style of directing movies. His latest film, Megalopolis, has been playing in cinemas but has been a big disaster at the box office. It might end its theatrical run soon, but before that happens, let’s take a look at the actor’s last five films at the worldwide box office, including the 2024 flick by Francis Ford Coppola.

According to The Numbers, Driver has appeared as a leading actor in fourteen movies with a worldwide aggregate box office of $2.36 billion. The poised actor is best known for playing Kylo Ren in the Star Wars movies The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi, and The Rise of Skywalker. He has achieved multiple accolades in his career, including nominations for two Academy Awards, several Primetime Emmy Awards,...

Decca Records US is set to release the soundtrack to Ridley Scott’s highly-anticipated Gladiator sequel on November 15, 2024. Gladiator II: Music From The Motion Picture by composer Harry Gregson-Williams features an epic orchestral score, comprised of over 100 musicians and singers from across the globe, and meticulously crafted to accompany the blockbuster new movie starring Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, Lior Raz, Derek Jacobi, with Connie Nielsen and Denzel Washington.

The soundtrack also includes the timeless hit song “Now We Are Free” composed by Hans Zimmer for the original Gladiator film almost 25 years ago and featuring singer Lisa Gerrard.

From legendary director Ridley Scott, and a screenplay by David Scarpa, story by Peter Craig and David Scarpa, and based on characters created by David Franzoni, Gladiator II continues the epic saga of power, intrigue, and vengeance set in Ancient Rome. Years after witnessing the death of the revered...

Earlier this week, it was officially confirmed that Kyle Chandler of Super 8 will be playing the DC Comics character Hal Jordan in the upcoming HBO series Lanterns – but before Chandler gets to work on that show, he’ll be working with Matt Damon and Ben Affleck on Rip, a crime thriller that’s written and directed by Joe Carnahan and is set up at the Netflix streaming service. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Chandler will be playing a DEA agent in the film.

Rip will follow a group of Miami cops whose trust begins to fray after they discover millions in cash in a derelict stash house. As outside forces learn about the size of the seizure, everything is called into question — including who they can rely on.

Damon, Affleck, and Chandler are joined in the cast by Sasha Calle, who played Supergirl in The Flash, singer/songwriter Teyana Taylor,...

Back in June, we heard that Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are set to share the screen again in Rip, a crime thriller that’s written and directed by Joe Carnahan and is set up at the Netflix streaming service. Earlier this week, Sasha Calle, who played Supergirl in The Flash, and singer/songwriter Teyana Taylor, who starred in the drama A Thousand and One, joined the cast. Now, The Hollywood Reporter has broken the news that two more actors have signed on to appear in the film: Catalina Sandino Moreno of the MGM+ series From and Néstor Carbonell, who was recently seen on the FX / Hulu series Shōgun.

Rip will follow a group of Miami cops whose trust begins to fray after they discover millions in cash in a derelict stash house. As outside forces learn about the size of the seizure, everything is called into question — including who they can rely on.

Adam Driver has taken on many diverse roles in films such as Lincoln (2012), Frances Ha (2012), Inside Llewyn Davis (2013), BlacKkKlansman (2018), Marriage Story (2019), The Last Duel (2021), House of Gucci (2021), and Ferrari (2023). However, for mainstream fans, his portrayal of Kylo Ren, or Ben Solo, in the Star Wars franchise remains his most iconic role.

While the Sequel Trilogy had its share of clumsy moments, Driver’s performance stood out, and Kylo Ren is still regarded as one of the most significant characters in the trilogy. This lasting impact explains why discussions about Kylo Ren persist.

One key aspect of Kylo’s character in the films was his connection to Darth Vader, a relationship that was largely left unexplored. However, a recent Star Wars story has finally delved deeper into the origins of this connection, shedding light on the mysterious bond between Kylo and Vader.

In short, Kylo Ren had an obsession with Darth...

Adam Driver is an actor who has appeared in numerous roles in many movies, which include Lincoln (2012), Frances Ha (2012), Inside Llewyn Davis (2013), BlacKkKlansman (2018), Marriage Story (2019), The Last Duel (2021), House of Gucci (2021), and Ferrari (2023), but one role stands out among mainstream fans, which is what of Kylo Ren, or Ben Solo, from the Star Wars franchise.

And while the Sequel Trilogy was more clumsy than perfect, even ridiculous at times, Driver’s performance has been praised and Kylo Ren is still considered as one of the trilogy’s most important characters. This explains why Kylo Ren is still a topic of discussion and why everyone keeps returning to the character.

In the movies, Kylo’s relationship with the deceased Darth Vader was a major aspect of his character, and it is a story whose background was left – for the most part – unexplored in the movies, but a recent Star Wars story...

Back in June, we heard that Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are set to share the screen again in Rip, a crime thriller that’s written and directed by Joe Carnahan and is set up at the Netflix streaming service. Now, Deadline reports that they have a pair of co-stars, as Sasha Calle, who played Supergirl in The Flash, and singer/songwriter Teyana Taylor, who starred in the drama A Thousand and One, have signed on to join the project.

Rip will follow a group of Miami cops whose trust begins to fray after they discover millions in cash in a derelict stash house. As outside forces learn about the size of the seizure, everything is called into question — including who they can rely on. Details on the specific characters being played by Damon, Affleck, Calle, and Taylor have not been revealed.

Damon and Affleck are producing the film alongside...

When the production for "Gladiator II" was announced, most fans of the first film were pretty excited. 2000's "Gladiator" is widely hailed as one of the best historical epics of its time, telling a classic hero's journey about a betrayed Roman general rising through the gladiator ranks to avenge his wife and child. From the lovely Hans Zimmer score (where you can see the blueprints for the "Pirates of the Caribbean" soundtrack) to Joaquin Phoenix's delightfully villainous performance, this movie was an instant classic. The fact that it's taken 24 years for a sequel to release is pretty strange by modern Hollywood standards.

But as the first few trailers have come out, the excitement for "Gladiator II" has abated a bit. Fans are concerned that the trailers do the classic Hollywood mistake of giving way too much of the movie's plot away, an error made worse by how the story...

Ben Affleck was never encouraged to become a full-time actor despite deeply admiring the world of arts and theater. The actor’s mother wanted him to become a teacher. Either way, she allowed Ben and his brother Casey to explore the entertainment field.

But when Affleck developed a bond with Matt Damon, things began taking a serious turn. Between the ages of 8-15, Affleck starred in children’s shows produced by PBS and ABC, casting him to play roles in Wanted: A Perfect Man and Hands of a Stranger.

Ben Affleck in Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992) | Credits: Mutant Enemy Productions

In 1990, he graduated from Cambridge Rindge and Latin School. Between 1991 and 1995, Affleck would take on minor roles in movies, most notably Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992).

In the meantime, Affleck and Damon had something brewing between themselves, the script of Good Will Hunting. What initially was supposed to be Damon’s...

Sure, Steven Soderbergh and Steven Spielberg work fast, so does Guy Ritchie, but none of them are 86 years old and Ridley Scott is arguably the oldest director working at the pace he does, a film every two years at least. But that clip has sped up recently. 2021 delivered two films in one year, “The Last Duel” and “House Of Gucci,” 2023 gave us “Napoleon” and Scott returns in 2024 with the long-awaited sequel to “Gladiator” with “Gladiator II.”

Read More: 2024 Fall Film Preview: 50 Movies To Watch

Twenty four years after “Gladiator” in 2000, Scott has finally cooked up a long-discussed sequel.

Continue reading ‘Gladiator II’ Trailer: Ridley Scott’s New Epic Stars Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal & More at The Playlist.

Sharon Rooney thought her agent was joking when she told her Greta Gerwig wanted her for 'Barbie'.The 'My Mad Fat Diary' star, 35, was obsessed with the Mattel doll growing up, noting "I had Barbie everything", and landed a small role as Lawyer Barbie alongside Margot Robbie (Barbie) and Ryan Gosling (Ken) in director's 2023 blockbuster.But when she heard the 'Lady Bird' filmmaker wanted her to appear in her film, she didn't quite believe it and had to double check her agent wasn't playing a prank.She told The i newspaper: “My agent said: ‘I was just phoning to see if you fancied making a film with Greta Gerwig?’. I was like: ‘Shut up. What did you actually phone me for?’“You don’t think something like that is going to happen on a random midweek evening."Sharon - who shot to fame playing Rae, who...

Considering his show's called Black Mirror, creator, writer, and eternal pessimist Charlie Brooker sure does have a habit of finding actors who light up the screen with their work to bring his dark sci-fi tales to life. In its most recent sixth season alone, the Netflix anthology series boasted a roll call including Josh Hartnett, Paapa Essiedu, Aaron Paul, Annie Murphy, and Salma Hayek. And now today, following a cryptic X post on the official Black Mirror account, we know who'll be bringing our deepest fears to life in Season 7. As revealed by Netflix, the 19-strong lead cast for the upcoming run of episodes boasts Paul Giamatti, Emma Corrin, Peter Capaldi, Issa Rae, and Chris O'Dowd for starters.

Also joining the above heavyweight newcomers to the Mirrorverse this time around are *deep breath* Awkwafina (Jackpot!), Patsy Ferran (Living), Lewis Gribben (T2__Trainspotting), Rashida Jones (Sunny), Siena Kelly (Domino Day), Rosy...

Director Ridley Scott told Deadline in 2023 that he’d been offered to direct superhero movies, but that it wasn’t for him, after telling them in 2021 that modern superhero movies are “no fucking good” and “boring as shit.” He said he’d already directed at least 3 superheroes: Ellen Ripley in Alien, Rick Deckard in Blade Runner, and Maximus Decimus Meridius in Gladiator. “The difference is,” Scott said, “the f*cking stories are better.”

The case can certainly be made that Ridley Scott has brought some of the best stories to screen that we’ve ever seen, and Alien, Blade Runner, and Gladiator are among them, but what about his more modern fare? Are the stories for House of Gucci, The Last Duel, and Napoleon “better”? Ridley Scott hasn’t had a movie achieve both critical and commercial success since 2015’s The Martian, which begs the question: Wtf happened to Ridley Scott?...

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are headed for divorce, and Bennifer fans are devastated. The couple tied the knot in 2022 and called it quits two years later. Affleck’s first wife, Jennifer Garner, hasn’t commented on the divorce. However, she’s reportedly been helping Affleck process his grief. Recently, Garner had an interview about her home, and she might’ve taken a subtle swipe at Affleck and Lopez’s huge Beverly Hills mansion, which they’re now trying to sell.

Jennifer Garner might’ve subtly thrown shade at Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s Beverly Hills mansion

Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck ended their marriage on good terms and frequently visit each other in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles. The exes prefer quiet lives out of the spotlight, though Affleck lived in a massive mansion with Jennifer Lopez that didn’t scream subtly. Garner recently spoke to Architectural Digest...

It’s undeniable: Ridley Scott has made some of the greatest films of all time. Alien. Blade Runner. Gladiator. Thelma & Louise, just to name a few. And he’s been on one hell of a streak recently, refusing to slow down after decades in the business, wrangling major movies like The Last Duel, House Of Gucci, and Napoleon in the last few years alone. But now – finally – nearly 25 years since he last conjured the Colosseum and the decadent delights of Ancient Rome, he’s about to unleash the film that fans have waited decades for. Yes, it’s time to step back into the arena for Gladiator II – and according to the filmmaker himself, he hasn’t messed it up.

“It’s the best thing I’ve ever made,” Scott tells Empire in the world-exclusive Gladiator II issue. Though, he concedes, he has made several other great movies. “One of the best things.

The issues that led to Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s divorce may have started as early as the couple’s 2022 honeymoon, according to new details shared.

Despite knowing exactly the kind of reaction the world has to Bennifer, it sounds like one half of the Hollywood power couple was uncomfortable with the amount of attention that came with being so famous in love.

Yet in spite of all of that, Ben and Jen spent the last two years married in front of the spotlight.

Even though that’s the last place he wanted to be. Oh yes, even though Jennifer filed the divorce papers, it was Ben who felt like the marriage just couldn’t work – even from the very start!

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez attend the red carpet of the movie “The Last Duel” during the 78th Venice International Film Festival on September 10, 2021 in Venice, Italy. (Photo...

That, folks, is finally that.

Following several weeks’ worth of hype and speculation, Jennifer Lopez filed to divorce on Tuesday, August 20.

TMZ was the first outlet to report this expect news, which has at last broken after a summer during which Affleck and Lopez spent almost entirely apart.

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez attend the red carpet of the movie “The Last Duel” during the 78th Venice International Film Festival on September 10, 2021 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

According to the aforementioned website, the actress filed the necessary legal documents herself in Los Angeles County Superior Court.

She has listed the date of separation as April 26, although the date of the filing actually makes the two-year anniversary of Affleck and Lopez throwing a huge reception for their loved ones in Georgia.

The estranged spouses technically/legally got married in Las Vegas on July 16, 2022.

TMZ also cites...