Exclusive: Production studio Vanishing Angle has announced the production of the ensemble drama Under The Lights, directed by Miles Levin in his directorial debut. Based on an award-winning script by Levin, the film is produced by Vanishing Angle’s Natalie Metzger, and is executive produced by Levin, Matt Miller and Carlos Quesada. UTA is handling world sales.
The all-star cast includes Pearce Joza, Tanzyn Crawford, Lake Bell, Randall Park, Marin Hinkle, Mary Holland, and Kevin Carroll, with Nick Offerman in a supporting role.
In the film, Sam (Joza) is a boy with epilepsy, so desperate to feel like a “normal” kid,...
The all-star cast includes Pearce Joza, Tanzyn Crawford, Lake Bell, Randall Park, Marin Hinkle, Mary Holland, and Kevin Carroll, with Nick Offerman in a supporting role.
In the film, Sam (Joza) is a boy with epilepsy, so desperate to feel like a “normal” kid,...
- 5/7/2024
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
Netflix added nearly 30 million global paid subscribers in 2023, though it might have watered down its hit pool in the process.
According to a new study by British streaming-data company Digital i, Netflix had fewer than half the global hits in 2023 (10) than it had in 2022 (22). Digital i defines a “hit” as an original movie or a series that was watched by at least 30 percent of Netflix’s subscriber base in North America, EU, and Latam.
The long list of 2022 Netflix hits goes like this: “Wednesday” (61.8%), “Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story” (53.3%), “Stranger Things 4” (48.0%), “The Adam Project” (47.9%), “Knives Out 2” (45.9%), “The Gray Man” (42.4%), “The Watcher” (41.9%), “The Tinder Swindler” (38.0%), “Inventing Anna” (37.5%), “The Sandman” (35.7%), “Senior Year” (35.6%), “1899” (34.7%), “Bridgerton” Season 2 (34.5%), “Troll” (34.0%), “Enola Holmes 2” (33.7%), “Luckiest Girl Alive” (33.4%), “Harry & Meghan” (32.7%), “Hustle” (32.6%), “The Man from Toronto” (31.5%), “Purple Hearts” (31.3%), “Me Time” (31.1%), “Day Shift” (31.0%), and “Falling for Christmas” (30.8%).
Unless otherwise noted, each series above is a first season (and...
According to a new study by British streaming-data company Digital i, Netflix had fewer than half the global hits in 2023 (10) than it had in 2022 (22). Digital i defines a “hit” as an original movie or a series that was watched by at least 30 percent of Netflix’s subscriber base in North America, EU, and Latam.
The long list of 2022 Netflix hits goes like this: “Wednesday” (61.8%), “Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story” (53.3%), “Stranger Things 4” (48.0%), “The Adam Project” (47.9%), “Knives Out 2” (45.9%), “The Gray Man” (42.4%), “The Watcher” (41.9%), “The Tinder Swindler” (38.0%), “Inventing Anna” (37.5%), “The Sandman” (35.7%), “Senior Year” (35.6%), “1899” (34.7%), “Bridgerton” Season 2 (34.5%), “Troll” (34.0%), “Enola Holmes 2” (33.7%), “Luckiest Girl Alive” (33.4%), “Harry & Meghan” (32.7%), “Hustle” (32.6%), “The Man from Toronto” (31.5%), “Purple Hearts” (31.3%), “Me Time” (31.1%), “Day Shift” (31.0%), and “Falling for Christmas” (30.8%).
Unless otherwise noted, each series above is a first season (and...
- 4/15/2024
- by Tony Maglio
- Indiewire
Jeff Ryan, Scott Cohen, Katerina Tannenbaum, Geneva Carr and Will Chase will star in “Mooch.” The crime comedy was also written and directed by Ryan, whose credits include “Mean Spirited” and “YouthMin.”
The filmmakers received an interim agreement to work on this independent production during last year’s SAG-Afrtra strike. It recently wrapped production in Lexington, Mass.
The movie focuses on a 30-year-old caddy named Shane (Ryan), who winds up with an unexpected gig as a personal private eye for a New Jersey nightclub owner. Even though he inches closer to realizing his ambitions, his personal life spirals out of control.
“When I was in high school, my friend’s dad told me I was going to fail in life because I was a ‘Mooch,’” said Ryan. “Making this film was a dream come true, and I am proud to put my dirty laundry on screen for all to enjoy.
The filmmakers received an interim agreement to work on this independent production during last year’s SAG-Afrtra strike. It recently wrapped production in Lexington, Mass.
The movie focuses on a 30-year-old caddy named Shane (Ryan), who winds up with an unexpected gig as a personal private eye for a New Jersey nightclub owner. Even though he inches closer to realizing his ambitions, his personal life spirals out of control.
“When I was in high school, my friend’s dad told me I was going to fail in life because I was a ‘Mooch,’” said Ryan. “Making this film was a dream come true, and I am proud to put my dirty laundry on screen for all to enjoy.
- 1/30/2024
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
A year and a half ago, Get Out, Us, and Nope writer/director Jordan Peele‘s production company Monkeypaw Productions acquired the genre film pitch Goat from writers Zack Akers and Skip Bronkie, the plan being that Peele would be producing Goat as part of Monkeypaw’s overall deal with Universal Pictures. Earlier this month, we learned that Goat is finally moving forward, with Marlon Wayans (Scary Movie) signing on to star in the sports-related horror film as the titular greatest-of-all-time athlete. Now Deadline reports that Wayans is being joined in the cast by Tyriq Withers, whose previous credits include Horror Noire, Senior Year, Tell Me Lies, The Game, and an episode of Atlanta.
Justin Tipping – who made his feature directorial debut with the 2016 drama Kicks – will be directing the film.
Akers and Bronkie’s script centers on a promising young athlete who is invited to train with a team’s retiring star.
Justin Tipping – who made his feature directorial debut with the 2016 drama Kicks – will be directing the film.
Akers and Bronkie’s script centers on a promising young athlete who is invited to train with a team’s retiring star.
- 1/24/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Lindsay Lohan (Mean Girls) and Kristin Chenoweth (Schmigadoon!) have been set to star in Our Little Secret, a new holiday film that Stephen Herek (Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure) is directing for Netflix.
Pic is the second in Lohan’s two-picture creative partnership with the streamer, entered into in March 2022, on the heels of the forthcoming rom-com Irish Wish.
Additional cast set for it includes Ian Harding (Long Slow Exhale), Jon Rudnitsky (At Midnight), Chris Parnell (Senior Year), Tim Meadows (Mean Girls), Dan Bucatinsky (Scandal), Henry Czerny (Scream VI), Katie Baker (The Mosquito Coast), Ash Santos (Mayor of Kingstown), Jake Brennan (Palmer) and Brian Unger (Yellowstone).
Currently in production, the film written by Hailey DeDominicis centers on two resentful exes who are forced to spend Christmas under the same roof after discovering that their current partners are siblings. Mike Elliott and Lisa Gooding are producing, with Joseph P. Genier serving as executive producer.
Pic is the second in Lohan’s two-picture creative partnership with the streamer, entered into in March 2022, on the heels of the forthcoming rom-com Irish Wish.
Additional cast set for it includes Ian Harding (Long Slow Exhale), Jon Rudnitsky (At Midnight), Chris Parnell (Senior Year), Tim Meadows (Mean Girls), Dan Bucatinsky (Scandal), Henry Czerny (Scream VI), Katie Baker (The Mosquito Coast), Ash Santos (Mayor of Kingstown), Jake Brennan (Palmer) and Brian Unger (Yellowstone).
Currently in production, the film written by Hailey DeDominicis centers on two resentful exes who are forced to spend Christmas under the same roof after discovering that their current partners are siblings. Mike Elliott and Lisa Gooding are producing, with Joseph P. Genier serving as executive producer.
- 1/22/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Avantika is opening up about racially-charged comments about her following the release of the Mean Girls trailer back in November.
The almost 19-year-old actress stars in the new movie musical as the ditzy Karen, who was played by Amanda Seyfried in the original movie 20 years ago.
After the trailer debuted, Avantika was met with racist comments about her casting, and now, she’s reacting to the negative things people said.
Keep reading to find out more…
“If anybody says anything about my acting, I’m like ‘please tell me more.’ If you don’t feel like you’re connecting to the character on screen, I should know,” she told Teen Vogue. “But if you’re talking about how you can smell the character from the screen, you’re simply an ignorant person and a bigot, and there’s nothing I can do about that. I thought it was funny how...
The almost 19-year-old actress stars in the new movie musical as the ditzy Karen, who was played by Amanda Seyfried in the original movie 20 years ago.
After the trailer debuted, Avantika was met with racist comments about her casting, and now, she’s reacting to the negative things people said.
Keep reading to find out more…
“If anybody says anything about my acting, I’m like ‘please tell me more.’ If you don’t feel like you’re connecting to the character on screen, I should know,” she told Teen Vogue. “But if you’re talking about how you can smell the character from the screen, you’re simply an ignorant person and a bigot, and there’s nothing I can do about that. I thought it was funny how...
- 1/15/2024
- by Just Jared
- Just Jared
Life as a Plastic still is fantastic, 20 years later. But this time, it’s a new era of high school cliques.
The “Mean Girls” movie musical adaptation, starring Broadway breakout and “Sex Lives of College Girls” alum Renée Rapp as Regina George, debuted its first teaser in theaters ahead of Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour” concert film. It’s now been made available online.
“Mean Girls” follows a new crop of popular girls, led by Regina (Rapp) and rounded out by Karen (Avantika) and Gretchen Wieners (Bebe Wood). “Mare of Easttown” and “Senior Year” star Angourie Rice plays new girl outsider Cady, the character originated by Lindsay Lohan. Auli’i Cravalho stars as Janis and “Strange Loop” actor Jaquel Spivey plays Damian, the fellow misfits who befriend Cady and orchestrate a covert mission for her to infiltrate the Plastics to ultimately take down Regina’s reign once and for all.
The “Mean Girls” movie musical adaptation, starring Broadway breakout and “Sex Lives of College Girls” alum Renée Rapp as Regina George, debuted its first teaser in theaters ahead of Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour” concert film. It’s now been made available online.
“Mean Girls” follows a new crop of popular girls, led by Regina (Rapp) and rounded out by Karen (Avantika) and Gretchen Wieners (Bebe Wood). “Mare of Easttown” and “Senior Year” star Angourie Rice plays new girl outsider Cady, the character originated by Lindsay Lohan. Auli’i Cravalho stars as Janis and “Strange Loop” actor Jaquel Spivey plays Damian, the fellow misfits who befriend Cady and orchestrate a covert mission for her to infiltrate the Plastics to ultimately take down Regina’s reign once and for all.
- 11/8/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
One of the most celebrated cinematic interpretations of Stephen King is the two-film adaptation of his seminal horror novel "It." Directed by Andy Muschietti, with the movies released in 2017 and 2019, "It" follows the twisted coming-of-age of a group of childhood friends in Derry, Maine. While the seven kids are harassed by neighborhood bully Henry Bowers (Nicholas Hamilton) and his gang of teenage ne'er-do-wells, a different kind of evil festers under Derry. Primarily appearing in the form of Pennywise the Dancing Clown (Bill Skarsgård), this otherworldly monster instills fear in its young victims before consuming them entirely.
Though the creature has haunted the region since ancient times, the first chapter takes place in the summer of 1989. That's when Pennywise surfaces to claim new victims around Derry while setting its sights on the main characters. Finding strength and solace in numbers, these friends refer to themselves share a bond under the banner...
Though the creature has haunted the region since ancient times, the first chapter takes place in the summer of 1989. That's when Pennywise surfaces to claim new victims around Derry while setting its sights on the main characters. Finding strength and solace in numbers, these friends refer to themselves share a bond under the banner...
- 10/9/2023
- by Samuel Stone
- Slash Film
The Burn Book is going digital, via TikTok. Paramount Pictures has launched an official TikTok “Mean Girls” page in honor of “Mean Girls” Day (October 3), in which the entire 2004 movie can be viewed in snippets — all 97 minutes, free for TikTokers, in 23 clips total.
The launch is likely to drum up excitement for Paramount’s “Mean Girls” movie musical set for theatrical release early next year and to tap into a new generation of fans. But it’s also clearly a test to see where audiences are headed. Lead actress Reneé Rapp, who originated the Regina George musical character on Broadway and plays her in the new film, currently has 1.5 million TikTok followers.
“Get in loser, we’re watching the full ‘Mean Girls,'” the official TikTok page reads.
The “Mean Girls” movie musical opens January 12, 2024, in theaters, foregoing a Paramount+ streaming release as initially slated. Also co-written by the original film’s screenwriter,...
The launch is likely to drum up excitement for Paramount’s “Mean Girls” movie musical set for theatrical release early next year and to tap into a new generation of fans. But it’s also clearly a test to see where audiences are headed. Lead actress Reneé Rapp, who originated the Regina George musical character on Broadway and plays her in the new film, currently has 1.5 million TikTok followers.
“Get in loser, we’re watching the full ‘Mean Girls,'” the official TikTok page reads.
The “Mean Girls” movie musical opens January 12, 2024, in theaters, foregoing a Paramount+ streaming release as initially slated. Also co-written by the original film’s screenwriter,...
- 10/3/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Moving is quickly becoming a fan favorite on Disney+. The Korean superhero drama series is based on a popular webtoon of the same name by Kang Full, he is also the creator behind the Disney+ adaptation. Directed by Park In-je and Park Younseo, Moving is filled with action, teen drama, and heartwrenching moments that will keep your eyes glued to the screen.
Moving tells the story of three high super-powered school students, who inherited their powers from their parents. While they try to hide their powers their parents try to make sure that other people don’t use them for their powers. But all of their efforts are in vain because a very dangerous fight is just ahead of them.
Moving – Episode Guide (When are the Episodes Coming Out?) Credit – Disney+
Moving doesn’t have a very easy episode guide as Disney+ has decided to release the episode in a complicated way.
Moving tells the story of three high super-powered school students, who inherited their powers from their parents. While they try to hide their powers their parents try to make sure that other people don’t use them for their powers. But all of their efforts are in vain because a very dangerous fight is just ahead of them.
Moving – Episode Guide (When are the Episodes Coming Out?) Credit – Disney+
Moving doesn’t have a very easy episode guide as Disney+ has decided to release the episode in a complicated way.
- 9/11/2023
- by Kulwant Singh
- Cinema Blind
Senior year is here! The Wildcats are ready for graduation in Season 4 of the Disney+ musical mockumentary “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series,” which will debut on Wednesday, Aug. 9. As the students prepare to mount a stage production of “High School Musical 3: Senior Year,” they find out the long-awaited “High School Musical 4: The Reunion” movie will shoot on location at the high school. Expect some meta twists, franchise favorites, and more in the series’ 11 o’clock number. You can watch High School Musical: The Musical: The Series: Season 4 with a subscription to Disney+.
How to Watch ‘High School Musical: The Musical: The Series’ Season 4 Premiere When: Wednesday, August 9, 2023 Where: Disney+ Stream: Watch with a subscription to Disney+. Sign Up Now$7.99+ / month disneyplus.com
Get Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ for just $12.99 a month ($13 savings).
About ‘High School Musical: The Musical: The Series’ Season 4 Premiere
Created by Tim Federle,...
How to Watch ‘High School Musical: The Musical: The Series’ Season 4 Premiere When: Wednesday, August 9, 2023 Where: Disney+ Stream: Watch with a subscription to Disney+. Sign Up Now$7.99+ / month disneyplus.com
Get Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ for just $12.99 a month ($13 savings).
About ‘High School Musical: The Musical: The Series’ Season 4 Premiere
Created by Tim Federle,...
- 8/9/2023
- by Ashley Steves
- The Streamable
Of all of the young actors to break through thanks to the success of "Stranger Things," Sadie Sink has had arguably one of the most interesting career trajectories. Sink got her start on Broadway playing the titular role of "Annie," and had a handful of TV appearances on shows like "The Americans" and "Blue Bloods" before nabbing a main role in "American Odyssey." Unfortunately, that show only lasted one season, canceled by NBC only two days after the season finale. When Sink was cast as Max Mayfield on "Stranger Things" in season 2, she immediately became a fan favorite. Max has become the bleeding heart of the series, and her popularity even prevented show creators, The Duffer Brothers, from killing off the character in season 4 as originally planned.
Following "Stranger Things," Sink has continued to thrive by starring in "Fear Street: 1978," Taylor Swift's short film, "All Too Well," Darren Aronofsky's "The Whale,...
Following "Stranger Things," Sink has continued to thrive by starring in "Fear Street: 1978," Taylor Swift's short film, "All Too Well," Darren Aronofsky's "The Whale,...
- 8/7/2023
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
Simu Liu may be a big blockbuster star, but he flies under the radar in the romance department. He took the world by storm in 2021 following his starring role as Shang-Chi in Marvel's acclaimed film "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings." The titular role, as well as Liu's influence on the world of film and pop culture, earned him a spot on Time's "100 Most Influential People in the World" list in May 2022. And today, the actor shows no signs of slowing down as he has several major projects set, including Greta Gerwig's highly anticipated "Barbie" movie and the upcoming "Arthur the King" film. He also starred in rom-com "One True Loves" back in April and still has "Shang-Chi 2" in development at Marvel.
Outside of his movie roles, though, Liu has maintained a relatively low profile as far as his love life is concerned. The 34-year-old actor...
Outside of his movie roles, though, Liu has maintained a relatively low profile as far as his love life is concerned. The 34-year-old actor...
- 7/19/2023
- by Alicia Geigel
- Popsugar.com
Tennis Coverage
Coverage of the iconic Wimbledon tennis tournament has led to record-breaking numbers for U.K. broadcaster BBC. There were 54.3 million streams of the BBC’s coverage on streamer iPlayer and BBC Sport online during the two-week long competition – up from 53.8 million in 2022. On BBC One, there was a peak audience of 11.3 million to watch Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz beat Serbia’s Novak Djokovic in five sets in the men’s singles finals, the highest since the U.K.’s Andy Murray won in 2016. The match was also streamed live 4.1 million times on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport online, an increase of 58% from 2022.
During the women’s singles final, where Czech player Markéta Vondroušová triumphed over Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur, there was a peak audience of 4.5 million on BBC One – an increase from 2022’s 3.1 million. The match was streamed 1.3 million times on BBC iPlayer, an 85% increase from 2022. Across the tournament,...
Coverage of the iconic Wimbledon tennis tournament has led to record-breaking numbers for U.K. broadcaster BBC. There were 54.3 million streams of the BBC’s coverage on streamer iPlayer and BBC Sport online during the two-week long competition – up from 53.8 million in 2022. On BBC One, there was a peak audience of 11.3 million to watch Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz beat Serbia’s Novak Djokovic in five sets in the men’s singles finals, the highest since the U.K.’s Andy Murray won in 2016. The match was also streamed live 4.1 million times on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport online, an increase of 58% from 2022.
During the women’s singles final, where Czech player Markéta Vondroušová triumphed over Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur, there was a peak audience of 4.5 million on BBC One – an increase from 2022’s 3.1 million. The match was streamed 1.3 million times on BBC iPlayer, an 85% increase from 2022. Across the tournament,...
- 7/17/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Jake Johnson is getting behind the camera for his feature directorial debut with Self Reliance. This film finds the main character playing a dangerous game for a lofty sum of cash, but at what price? Hulu acquired the U.S. rights to Self Reliance after a competitive bid with MRC and Paramount Global Content. In addition to directing the feature, Johnson also stars alongside Anna Kendrick, Natalie Morales, Andy Samberg, GaTa (Dave), Emily Hampshire, Mary Holland, Boban Marjanović, Christopher Lloyd and Wayne Brady.
Self Reliance revolves around Tommy, a man who is offered a million dollars to participate in a game in which hunters try to kill him. The catch? They can only attack him when he’s alone. Thinking he’s found a loophole, the man attempts to bring his friends and family into the deal. However, problems arise when no one in his party thinks the game is real.
Self Reliance revolves around Tommy, a man who is offered a million dollars to participate in a game in which hunters try to kill him. The catch? They can only attack him when he’s alone. Thinking he’s found a loophole, the man attempts to bring his friends and family into the deal. However, problems arise when no one in his party thinks the game is real.
- 6/29/2023
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
Ashley Park is teasing fans about the upcoming “Mean Girls” musical movie adaptation.
The “Emily in Paris” star originated the role of Gretchen Wieners in the Broadway adaptation of the 2004 film and is set to make a cameo in the upcoming film.
Speaking on the film, Park wanted fans to get the most excited about the choreographer, whom she revealed worked with some high profile names.
Read More: Ashley Park On ‘Joy Ride”s New Kind Of Asian Storytelling: ‘What Kind Of Sick F**ks Wrote This?’
“What was really fun is we saw how hard they got me this morning. He’s Blackpink’s choreographer and there’s a bunch of people and I worked with him before and he choreographed it,” she explained to Et Canada’s Keshia Chante. “And so it was really fun seeing him this morning. And I think that anybody who loves the movie...
The “Emily in Paris” star originated the role of Gretchen Wieners in the Broadway adaptation of the 2004 film and is set to make a cameo in the upcoming film.
Speaking on the film, Park wanted fans to get the most excited about the choreographer, whom she revealed worked with some high profile names.
Read More: Ashley Park On ‘Joy Ride”s New Kind Of Asian Storytelling: ‘What Kind Of Sick F**ks Wrote This?’
“What was really fun is we saw how hard they got me this morning. He’s Blackpink’s choreographer and there’s a bunch of people and I worked with him before and he choreographed it,” she explained to Et Canada’s Keshia Chante. “And so it was really fun seeing him this morning. And I think that anybody who loves the movie...
- 6/28/2023
- by Anita Tai
- ET Canada
Exclusive: Crimson Media has brought on Matt Kniaz and Jerrold Rhee as managers. They also will join Crimson founders Matt Floyd and Matthew Seamons as Partners in the boutique management firm.
Kniaz comes to Crimson from Industry Entertainment, and Rhee joins from Bohemia Group.
Kniaz began working at ICM and CAA in the talent, music crossover & comedy departments, transitioning to talent management in 2015 with a move to Industry Entertainment. Clients include Tamara Taylor, Alexis Floyd, Olivia Hamilton, Jess Darrow, Tre Hale, Reece Noi, Stefan Kapicic, and Pasha Lychnikoff.
Rhee began his career in TV lit at Gersh, and moved on to work with talent at Diverse Talent Group. He made the jump into management in 2010, first at Evolution Entertainment,...
Kniaz comes to Crimson from Industry Entertainment, and Rhee joins from Bohemia Group.
Kniaz began working at ICM and CAA in the talent, music crossover & comedy departments, transitioning to talent management in 2015 with a move to Industry Entertainment. Clients include Tamara Taylor, Alexis Floyd, Olivia Hamilton, Jess Darrow, Tre Hale, Reece Noi, Stefan Kapicic, and Pasha Lychnikoff.
Rhee began his career in TV lit at Gersh, and moved on to work with talent at Diverse Talent Group. He made the jump into management in 2010, first at Evolution Entertainment,...
- 6/7/2023
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Rebel Wilson has revealed that she auditioned for the next James Bond movie after producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson saw her host the 2022 BAFTA Film Awards.
The “Pitch Perfect” star is currently at the Cannes Film Festival to launch her directorial debut, “The Deb,” a big-screen adaptation of the titular Australian musical comedy. Variety caught up with Wilson to discuss her turn in the director’s seat, and reflect on her no-holds-barred hosting duties at the BAFTAs, where she roasted Britain’s Royal Family.
Wilson explained that she had to clear some Bond-related jokes with the producers ahead of the awards, which put them in direct contact and ultimately led to an audition.
“What was really cool was getting to audition for Bond,” said Wilson, who stressed that the role she went for wasn’t actually James Bond, but rather another character in the movie. The audition took place last year,...
The “Pitch Perfect” star is currently at the Cannes Film Festival to launch her directorial debut, “The Deb,” a big-screen adaptation of the titular Australian musical comedy. Variety caught up with Wilson to discuss her turn in the director’s seat, and reflect on her no-holds-barred hosting duties at the BAFTAs, where she roasted Britain’s Royal Family.
Wilson explained that she had to clear some Bond-related jokes with the producers ahead of the awards, which put them in direct contact and ultimately led to an audition.
“What was really cool was getting to audition for Bond,” said Wilson, who stressed that the role she went for wasn’t actually James Bond, but rather another character in the movie. The audition took place last year,...
- 5/24/2023
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
Rebel Wilson is directing her first feature film with musical comedy “The Deb,” a big-screen adaptation of an Australian musical set in the outback.
The film is produced by Amanda Ghost, Len Blavatnik, and Gregor Cameron via their company Unigram, which recently produced Apple TV+ movie “Tetris,” and sister outfit AI Film. The project was launched around the Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday, at a private event aboard billionaire investor Blavatnik’s yacht, where cast members from the Aussie musical performed a number of songs on the vessel’s upper deck.
Blavatnik, sporting a baseball cap with branding for the movie, introduced the singers, making it clear to the intimate gathering aboard his three-floor yacht that he was an enthusiastic backer of the project and, indeed, Wilson.
Variety caught up on the boat with the “Pitch Perfect” star, who also has a role in the film. “Because I’ve been...
The film is produced by Amanda Ghost, Len Blavatnik, and Gregor Cameron via their company Unigram, which recently produced Apple TV+ movie “Tetris,” and sister outfit AI Film. The project was launched around the Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday, at a private event aboard billionaire investor Blavatnik’s yacht, where cast members from the Aussie musical performed a number of songs on the vessel’s upper deck.
Blavatnik, sporting a baseball cap with branding for the movie, introduced the singers, making it clear to the intimate gathering aboard his three-floor yacht that he was an enthusiastic backer of the project and, indeed, Wilson.
Variety caught up on the boat with the “Pitch Perfect” star, who also has a role in the film. “Because I’ve been...
- 5/24/2023
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
Actress Rebel Wilson is set to make her directorial debut with an adaptation of the Australian musical of “The Deb” for Unigram, AI Film and Access Entertainment.
“The Deb,” according to the official synopsis, tells the story of “lovable farm-girl and high school outcast Taylah Simpkins, who is certain the upcoming Debutante Ball, ‘the Deb,’ is her one chance to redefine herself. When her cynical city cousin Maeve is exiled to Taylah’s drought-stricken town Dunburn, she thinks the ball is a ‘heteronormative shit-show’ and immediately disrupts the status quo. In their search for the spotlight, Taylah and Maeve dig deep to find self-acceptance — and a date to the Deb.”
The musical originally premiered at Sydney’s Australian Theatre for Young People (Atyp) in 2022, written by Hannah Reilly. It includes original songs from singer-songwriter Meg Washington.
“’The Deb’ is my type of movie — full of humour, full of heart, and...
“The Deb,” according to the official synopsis, tells the story of “lovable farm-girl and high school outcast Taylah Simpkins, who is certain the upcoming Debutante Ball, ‘the Deb,’ is her one chance to redefine herself. When her cynical city cousin Maeve is exiled to Taylah’s drought-stricken town Dunburn, she thinks the ball is a ‘heteronormative shit-show’ and immediately disrupts the status quo. In their search for the spotlight, Taylah and Maeve dig deep to find self-acceptance — and a date to the Deb.”
The musical originally premiered at Sydney’s Australian Theatre for Young People (Atyp) in 2022, written by Hannah Reilly. It includes original songs from singer-songwriter Meg Washington.
“’The Deb’ is my type of movie — full of humour, full of heart, and...
- 5/24/2023
- by Kristen Lopez
- The Wrap
Paramount Pictures has renewed a first-look deal with Todd Garner’s Broken Road Productions, one the producer has had since 2018.
Garner produced the John Cena family movie Playing with Fire for Paramount Players and is currently in active development on Double Fault, starring Rebel Wilson, at the studio.
“Todd has done it all in this business and really understands how to make crowd pleasing commercial films,” Paramount Pictures’ Motion Picture Group co-presidents Daria Cercek and Michael Ireland said. “He is a great partner to have at Paramount and we can’t wait to see where this next chapter takes us.”
Garner said, “I am so happy to continue our successful relationship with Paramount. It’s been an incredible five years so far and I am grateful to Brian [Robbins], Daria and Mike for the opportunity to continue our terrific partnership.”
Garner’s upcoming projects include Vacation Friends 2 for 20th Century Studios and Hulu,...
Garner produced the John Cena family movie Playing with Fire for Paramount Players and is currently in active development on Double Fault, starring Rebel Wilson, at the studio.
“Todd has done it all in this business and really understands how to make crowd pleasing commercial films,” Paramount Pictures’ Motion Picture Group co-presidents Daria Cercek and Michael Ireland said. “He is a great partner to have at Paramount and we can’t wait to see where this next chapter takes us.”
Garner said, “I am so happy to continue our successful relationship with Paramount. It’s been an incredible five years so far and I am grateful to Brian [Robbins], Daria and Mike for the opportunity to continue our terrific partnership.”
Garner’s upcoming projects include Vacation Friends 2 for 20th Century Studios and Hulu,...
- 4/19/2023
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Angourie Rice is an expert at playing a teenager, even though she turned 22 this past January. Last year, the actor starred as the teenage version of Rebel Wilson in Netflix's "Senior Year," as well as a hilariously driven student in the irreverent comedy "Honor Society." Rice also appeared in the McU's Spider-Man movies as Betty Brant, and in 2021's "Mare of Easttown" she played Siobhan, Mare's stubborn daughter. Now, in Apple TV+ series "The Last Thing He Told Me," based on Laura Dave's bestselling novel of the same name, Rice stars as reeling high schooler Bailey opposite of Jennifer Garner, who plays her stepmom, Hannah, whom she can't connect with, and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, who plays her missing dad, Owen.
"What I really liked about Bailey is that she had such a clear idea of what she loved and what she wanted to do," Rice tells Popsugar. "I really...
"What I really liked about Bailey is that she had such a clear idea of what she loved and what she wanted to do," Rice tells Popsugar. "I really...
- 4/13/2023
- by Victoria Edel
- Popsugar.com
Hulu‘s How I Met Your Father Season 2 has featured multiple impressive guest stars, from Mark Consuelos and Constance Marie to the legend himself, Neil Patrick Harris. So, of course, the writers had to include more big names in the two-part mid-season finale of How I Met Your Father Season 2, starting with Michael Cimino.
Michael Cimino as Swish and Francia Raisa as Valentina | Patrick Wymore/Hulu Michael Cimino plays Swish in ‘How I Met Your Father’ Season 2 Episode 10
As fans recall, Valentina and Charlie broke up during the How I Met Your Father Season 1 finale. And the two have yet to rekindle their flame in season 2. They have remained friends while dating other people, and it looks like Valentina’s latest fling is with Swish, played by Michael Cimino, in How I Met Your Father Season 2 Episode 10, “I’m His Swish.”
The synopsis for “I’m His Swish” reads, “Sophie dates an older man,...
Michael Cimino as Swish and Francia Raisa as Valentina | Patrick Wymore/Hulu Michael Cimino plays Swish in ‘How I Met Your Father’ Season 2 Episode 10
As fans recall, Valentina and Charlie broke up during the How I Met Your Father Season 1 finale. And the two have yet to rekindle their flame in season 2. They have remained friends while dating other people, and it looks like Valentina’s latest fling is with Swish, played by Michael Cimino, in How I Met Your Father Season 2 Episode 10, “I’m His Swish.”
The synopsis for “I’m His Swish” reads, “Sophie dates an older man,...
- 3/28/2023
- by Sarah Little
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Amanda Seyfried is ready to welcome the next generation of Plastics.
The Emmy winner revealed she is still determined to be cast in the upcoming “Mean Girls” movie musical adaptation.
“I’m still hoping for a miracle. It’s not really up to us, is it?” Seyfried told Entertainment Tonight.
The “Dropout” actress confirmed that co-stars Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, and Lacey Chabert are also open to returning. “All four of us are 100 percent into it,” she said, adding that she already has a cameo idea. “Maybe the mothers of our characters? That’s what I was thinking, but listen, I have not even seen the script.”
Tina Fey and Tim Meadows are reprising their respective teacher roles almost 20 years after the original 2004 high school comedy. Fey wrote the script for the adaptation of the Tony-nominated musical, with husband Jeff Richmond behind the music and Arturo Perez Jr. and Samantha Jayne directing.
The Emmy winner revealed she is still determined to be cast in the upcoming “Mean Girls” movie musical adaptation.
“I’m still hoping for a miracle. It’s not really up to us, is it?” Seyfried told Entertainment Tonight.
The “Dropout” actress confirmed that co-stars Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, and Lacey Chabert are also open to returning. “All four of us are 100 percent into it,” she said, adding that she already has a cameo idea. “Maybe the mothers of our characters? That’s what I was thinking, but listen, I have not even seen the script.”
Tina Fey and Tim Meadows are reprising their respective teacher roles almost 20 years after the original 2004 high school comedy. Fey wrote the script for the adaptation of the Tony-nominated musical, with husband Jeff Richmond behind the music and Arturo Perez Jr. and Samantha Jayne directing.
- 3/1/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Tina Fey is back to push her students in the upcoming “Mean Girls” movie musical.
The “Saturday Night Live” alum confirmed she is reprising the role of math teacher Ms. Norbury for the upcoming musical take on the beloved 2004 high school comedy. Tim Meadows is also back as Principal Duval.
“We couldn’t age out. Teachers work forever,” Fey said during “Late Night With Seth Meyers,” adding, “I want it to be like when Gilligan from ‘Gilligan’s Island’ would be at a trade show and you’d be like, ‘Oh, he looks so old in his little hat.’ That’s my goal.”
“Mean Girls” left off with Fey’s Ms. Norbury being cleared of “pusher” drug charges as written in the salacious Burn Book by Cady (Lindsay Lohan). It’s unclear whether the movie musical is a direct remake of the original film, with Norbury dealing with a similar predicament.
The “Saturday Night Live” alum confirmed she is reprising the role of math teacher Ms. Norbury for the upcoming musical take on the beloved 2004 high school comedy. Tim Meadows is also back as Principal Duval.
“We couldn’t age out. Teachers work forever,” Fey said during “Late Night With Seth Meyers,” adding, “I want it to be like when Gilligan from ‘Gilligan’s Island’ would be at a trade show and you’d be like, ‘Oh, he looks so old in his little hat.’ That’s my goal.”
“Mean Girls” left off with Fey’s Ms. Norbury being cleared of “pusher” drug charges as written in the salacious Burn Book by Cady (Lindsay Lohan). It’s unclear whether the movie musical is a direct remake of the original film, with Norbury dealing with a similar predicament.
- 2/17/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Rebel Wilson said she was not allowed to change her physique during the “Pitch Perfect” era due to a strict contract.
Wilson, who famously played Fat Amy in the film trilogy, revealed she was forbidden from fluctuating in weight across the movies.
“I couldn’t lose a massive amount of weight, because I was in the contract for that movie,” Wilson said during Spotify’s “Call Her Daddy” podcast. “You can’t lose, I think it’s not more than 10 pounds, or gain more than 10 pounds. Yeah, you have to kind of stay at the weight. It’s in your contract.”
“Pitch Perfect” debuted in 2012, followed by subsequent 2015 and 2017 installments. Wilson unveiled an 80-pound weight loss in 2022.
“I was stereotyped in playing that fat, funny friend, which is so hard because I love those roles,” Wilson recalled, calling her past characters “so confident and ballsy” in “Pitch Perfect” and beyond.
Wilson, who famously played Fat Amy in the film trilogy, revealed she was forbidden from fluctuating in weight across the movies.
“I couldn’t lose a massive amount of weight, because I was in the contract for that movie,” Wilson said during Spotify’s “Call Her Daddy” podcast. “You can’t lose, I think it’s not more than 10 pounds, or gain more than 10 pounds. Yeah, you have to kind of stay at the weight. It’s in your contract.”
“Pitch Perfect” debuted in 2012, followed by subsequent 2015 and 2017 installments. Wilson unveiled an 80-pound weight loss in 2022.
“I was stereotyped in playing that fat, funny friend, which is so hard because I love those roles,” Wilson recalled, calling her past characters “so confident and ballsy” in “Pitch Perfect” and beyond.
- 2/16/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
South Asian teen star Avantika Vandanapu who is a well-established name in Hollywood has been cast to essay the role of Karen Smith in Paramount Pictures’ upcoming film based on the Tony-nominated Broadway musical ‘Mean Girls.’ The film, written by Tina Fey, is a modern take on the classic hit from 2004.
The Los Angeles based actor-dancer-producer confirms, “I am thrilled to be a part of this project and bring a fresh perspective to the iconic role of Karen Smith. My hope is to use my platform to shed light on the causes that matter to me, and inspire others to do the same.”
On the sidelines of this announcement, Avantika will also star and executive produce live-action young-adult series for Disney Branded Television, titled ‘A Crown Of Wishes’ this year, making her the youngest ever South-Asian to accomplish this feat. The fantasy series adaptation is based on Roshani Chokshi’s...
The Los Angeles based actor-dancer-producer confirms, “I am thrilled to be a part of this project and bring a fresh perspective to the iconic role of Karen Smith. My hope is to use my platform to shed light on the causes that matter to me, and inspire others to do the same.”
On the sidelines of this announcement, Avantika will also star and executive produce live-action young-adult series for Disney Branded Television, titled ‘A Crown Of Wishes’ this year, making her the youngest ever South-Asian to accomplish this feat. The fantasy series adaptation is based on Roshani Chokshi’s...
- 2/9/2023
- by Glamsham Editorial
- GlamSham
Exclusive: Avantika (Senior Year), Christopher Briney (The Summer I Turned Pretty) and Bebe Wood have landed major roles in Paramount Pictures’ film adaptation of the Tony-nominated Broadway hit, Mean Girls, which is itself based on the classic Paramount comedy of the same name.
The actors join an ensemble for the Paramount+-bound feature that also includes Angourie Rice, Reneé Rapp, Auli’i Cravalho and Jaquel Spivey, as previously announced.
Mean Girls choreographer Kyle Hanagami
The original film adapted by Tina Fey from the Rosalind Wiseman book Queen Bees and Wannabes follows high school new girl Cady Heron (Lindsay Lohan) in her attempt to fit in with A-list girl clique, The Plastics. The effort is sabotaged when she makes the mistake of falling for Aaron, the ex-boyfriend of alpha Plastic Regina George. Premiering on stage at Washington, D.C.’s National Theatre in 2017 and jumping to Broadway the following year,...
The actors join an ensemble for the Paramount+-bound feature that also includes Angourie Rice, Reneé Rapp, Auli’i Cravalho and Jaquel Spivey, as previously announced.
Mean Girls choreographer Kyle Hanagami
The original film adapted by Tina Fey from the Rosalind Wiseman book Queen Bees and Wannabes follows high school new girl Cady Heron (Lindsay Lohan) in her attempt to fit in with A-list girl clique, The Plastics. The effort is sabotaged when she makes the mistake of falling for Aaron, the ex-boyfriend of alpha Plastic Regina George. Premiering on stage at Washington, D.C.’s National Theatre in 2017 and jumping to Broadway the following year,...
- 2/8/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
It’s no mystery what audiences were watching on Netflix over the holiday weekend.
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery made its way to the top of Netflix’s English-language film chart for the week of December 19 to December 25, after debuting on the streamer two days before Christmas. Rian Johnson‘s comedy sequel notched 82.1M hours viewed in those two days, which Netflix says equates to about 35M households.
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio fell to No. 3, as The Volcano: Rescue from Whakaari took second place with 25.1M hours viewed. Viewers were certainly in the holiday spirit, as the list was rounded out by mostly Christmas films including How the Grinch Stole Christmas, A Bad Moms Christmas, and Falling For Christmas.
As for the TV side of things, Emily in Paris Season 3 debuted on December 21 and has collected 117.6M hours viewed, making it No. 2 on the U.S. English-language chart.
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery made its way to the top of Netflix’s English-language film chart for the week of December 19 to December 25, after debuting on the streamer two days before Christmas. Rian Johnson‘s comedy sequel notched 82.1M hours viewed in those two days, which Netflix says equates to about 35M households.
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio fell to No. 3, as The Volcano: Rescue from Whakaari took second place with 25.1M hours viewed. Viewers were certainly in the holiday spirit, as the list was rounded out by mostly Christmas films including How the Grinch Stole Christmas, A Bad Moms Christmas, and Falling For Christmas.
As for the TV side of things, Emily in Paris Season 3 debuted on December 21 and has collected 117.6M hours viewed, making it No. 2 on the U.S. English-language chart.
- 12/27/2022
- by Katie Campione
- Deadline Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
So much of Rebel Wilson’s life is brand-new.
The comedy superstar has ventured into new territory by toplining her first dramatic feature, The Almond and the Seahorse, opposite Charlotte Gainsbourg, Trine Dyrholm and Celyn Jones, the latter of whom co-wrote the script (with Kaite O’Reilly) and co-directed the film (with Tom Stern). Based on O’Reilly’s play of the same name, it casts Wilson as an archaeologist navigating life with her husband (Jones) as he recovers from a traumatic brain injury. She finds comfort and more in a surprise relationship with a woman (Gainsbourg) who is dealing with the same challenges with her wife (Dyrholm).
The IFC Films release hits theaters and on demand Dec. 16, less than two months after another first for Wilson: She announced in November that she had welcomed her first child, a baby girl, Royce Lillian, via surrogate.
So much of Rebel Wilson’s life is brand-new.
The comedy superstar has ventured into new territory by toplining her first dramatic feature, The Almond and the Seahorse, opposite Charlotte Gainsbourg, Trine Dyrholm and Celyn Jones, the latter of whom co-wrote the script (with Kaite O’Reilly) and co-directed the film (with Tom Stern). Based on O’Reilly’s play of the same name, it casts Wilson as an archaeologist navigating life with her husband (Jones) as he recovers from a traumatic brain injury. She finds comfort and more in a surprise relationship with a woman (Gainsbourg) who is dealing with the same challenges with her wife (Dyrholm).
The IFC Films release hits theaters and on demand Dec. 16, less than two months after another first for Wilson: She announced in November that she had welcomed her first child, a baby girl, Royce Lillian, via surrogate.
- 12/11/2022
- by Chris Gardner
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Get out your pink shirts and hide your burn books because we've got some pretty fetch news to share. The Broadway adaptation of the hit movie "Mean Girls" is getting the movie musical treatment, bringing Cady, Janis, Damian, and the Plastics to the streaming screen. This means that "Mean Girls" is now joining the ranks of other favorites like "The Producers," "Little Shop of Horrors," "The Phantom of the Opera," and "Hairspray" as a movie that became a musical that then became a movie musical.
The "Mean Girls" musical is one of the best film-to-stage adaptations in recent years, so the announcement of the movie musical is very exciting. Not to make anyone feel so old that they spontaneously age into dust or anything, but the Lindsay Lohan-starring "Mean Girls" turns 20 in two years. The movie musical is the perfect way to get everyone in the mood for the...
The "Mean Girls" musical is one of the best film-to-stage adaptations in recent years, so the announcement of the movie musical is very exciting. Not to make anyone feel so old that they spontaneously age into dust or anything, but the Lindsay Lohan-starring "Mean Girls" turns 20 in two years. The movie musical is the perfect way to get everyone in the mood for the...
- 12/10/2022
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
Paramount’s upcoming “Mean Girls” movie musical has set its main cast — and it’s so fetch.
Reneé Rapp, Angourie Rice, Jaquel Spivey and Auli’i Cravalho will star in the film, based on the Tony-nominated Broadway musical adapted from the iconic 2004 movie. Rapp, who played Regina George in the Broadway musical, will reprise her role in the film. Rice, Spivey and Cravalho will play Cady, Damian and and Janis, respectively.
Original film and stage musical writer Tina Fey is penning the movie, with Arturo Perez and and Samantha Jayne directing. The music is by Jeff Richmond with lyrics from Nell Benjamin.
Lorne Michaels is producing with Fey. Erin David, Caroline Maroney, and Micah Frank are overseeing for Broadway Video, and Eric Gurian and Richmond for Little Stranger. Paramount Pictures is adapting the film for Paramount+.
Rapp can currently be seen starring in Season 2 of HBO Max’s “Sex Lives of College Girls.
Reneé Rapp, Angourie Rice, Jaquel Spivey and Auli’i Cravalho will star in the film, based on the Tony-nominated Broadway musical adapted from the iconic 2004 movie. Rapp, who played Regina George in the Broadway musical, will reprise her role in the film. Rice, Spivey and Cravalho will play Cady, Damian and and Janis, respectively.
Original film and stage musical writer Tina Fey is penning the movie, with Arturo Perez and and Samantha Jayne directing. The music is by Jeff Richmond with lyrics from Nell Benjamin.
Lorne Michaels is producing with Fey. Erin David, Caroline Maroney, and Micah Frank are overseeing for Broadway Video, and Eric Gurian and Richmond for Little Stranger. Paramount Pictures is adapting the film for Paramount+.
Rapp can currently be seen starring in Season 2 of HBO Max’s “Sex Lives of College Girls.
- 12/9/2022
- by Ellise Shafer
- Variety Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
The Mean Girls movie musical has found its clique.
Angourie Rice, Auli’i Cravalho, Jaquel Spivey and Reneé Rapp (who starred as Regina George in the Broadway musical) are set to star in the ensemble cast.
The Broadway musical adaptation of the 2004 teen comedy is headed to the screen via Paramount, which is planning a Paramount+ debut.
Mean Girls — both the original movie and the musical — follows teenager Cady Heron, who moves from Africa with her scientist parents to the suburbs of Illinois, where she gets swept up in the dynamics of her new high school’s social hierarchy. She falls in with a popular clique known as The Plastics. Lindsay Lohan and Rachel McAdams starred in the original film, which earned a 128 million at the global box office and has since achieved cult teen movie status.
Rice will be playing Cady, originally played by Lohan,...
The Mean Girls movie musical has found its clique.
Angourie Rice, Auli’i Cravalho, Jaquel Spivey and Reneé Rapp (who starred as Regina George in the Broadway musical) are set to star in the ensemble cast.
The Broadway musical adaptation of the 2004 teen comedy is headed to the screen via Paramount, which is planning a Paramount+ debut.
Mean Girls — both the original movie and the musical — follows teenager Cady Heron, who moves from Africa with her scientist parents to the suburbs of Illinois, where she gets swept up in the dynamics of her new high school’s social hierarchy. She falls in with a popular clique known as The Plastics. Lindsay Lohan and Rachel McAdams starred in the original film, which earned a 128 million at the global box office and has since achieved cult teen movie status.
Rice will be playing Cady, originally played by Lohan,...
- 12/9/2022
- by Mia Galuppo
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The 12th annual Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (Aacta) Awards was held at The Hordern in Sydney’s iconic Entertainment Quarter on Wednesday, December 7, where Baz Luhrmann‘s “Elvis” dominated the star-studded ceremony, with four wins: Best Picture, Luhrmann for Best Direction, Austin Butler for Best Actor and Olivia DeJonge for Best Supporting Actress. Add in its lucky seven wins at the creative arts ceremony, and its haul totals a whopping 11 awards.
The musical biopic triumphed in the top category of the night over George Miller’s “Three Thousand Years of Longing,” starring nominees Idris Elba and Tilda Swinton, actor/director Leah Purcell’s “The Drover’s Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson” (for which Purcell took home the Best Lead Actress prize), anthology film “Here Out West” and horror comedy “Sissy.”
Sean Harris took home Best Supporting Actor for Netflix’s psychological drama “The Stranger” (in a...
The musical biopic triumphed in the top category of the night over George Miller’s “Three Thousand Years of Longing,” starring nominees Idris Elba and Tilda Swinton, actor/director Leah Purcell’s “The Drover’s Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson” (for which Purcell took home the Best Lead Actress prize), anthology film “Here Out West” and horror comedy “Sissy.”
Sean Harris took home Best Supporting Actor for Netflix’s psychological drama “The Stranger” (in a...
- 12/7/2022
- by Rob Licuria
- Gold Derby
Cinderella star Brandy and Rita Ora (Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight) have joined the cast of The Pocketwatch (working title), a music- and dance-filled original movie sequel to the megahit Descendants franchise.
Brandy will return to the role of Cinderella, which she first played in Walt Disney Television’s iconic 1997 version of Rogers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella. Ora will portray the villainous Queen of Hearts.
They join previously announced cast members China Anne McClain, Kylie Cantrall and Dara Reneé.
Also joining the cast are Malia Baker (The Babysitter’s Club), Ruby Rose Turner (Disney’s Coop and Cami Ask the World), Morgan Dudley (Jagged Little Pill on Broadway) and Joshua Colley (Senior Year). Additionally, Melanie Paxson (Dealbreakers) will reprise her role as Fairy Godmother from the previous Descendants movies.
The Descendants movies unfurled an imaginative mythology of two new lands, idyllic Auradon and the ragtag Isle of the Lost,...
Brandy will return to the role of Cinderella, which she first played in Walt Disney Television’s iconic 1997 version of Rogers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella. Ora will portray the villainous Queen of Hearts.
They join previously announced cast members China Anne McClain, Kylie Cantrall and Dara Reneé.
Also joining the cast are Malia Baker (The Babysitter’s Club), Ruby Rose Turner (Disney’s Coop and Cami Ask the World), Morgan Dudley (Jagged Little Pill on Broadway) and Joshua Colley (Senior Year). Additionally, Melanie Paxson (Dealbreakers) will reprise her role as Fairy Godmother from the previous Descendants movies.
The Descendants movies unfurled an imaginative mythology of two new lands, idyllic Auradon and the ragtag Isle of the Lost,...
- 11/21/2022
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Rebel Wilson is finding her serious acting roots.
The “Senior Year” star portrays an archeologist who grapples with complications stemming from her husband’s (Celyn Jones) traumatic brain injury in IFC Films’ “The Almond and the Seahorse,” out December 16. Charlotte Gainsbourg also plays an architect who has fallen out of love with her partner (Trine Dyrholm) due to a similar injury.
“What happens when you’re ambushed by time? An archaeologist and an architect fight to re-imagine a future after traumatic brain injury leaves them adrift from the people they love,” the official synopsis reads. “Love is the only thing that keeps them all going but something has changed.”
The film is co-directed by Celyn Jones and Tom Stern, with a script co-written by Jones and Katie O’Reilly. The title refers to the parts of the brain that “lay down new memories and hold on to old ones,” per IFC.
The “Senior Year” star portrays an archeologist who grapples with complications stemming from her husband’s (Celyn Jones) traumatic brain injury in IFC Films’ “The Almond and the Seahorse,” out December 16. Charlotte Gainsbourg also plays an architect who has fallen out of love with her partner (Trine Dyrholm) due to a similar injury.
“What happens when you’re ambushed by time? An archaeologist and an architect fight to re-imagine a future after traumatic brain injury leaves them adrift from the people they love,” the official synopsis reads. “Love is the only thing that keeps them all going but something has changed.”
The film is co-directed by Celyn Jones and Tom Stern, with a script co-written by Jones and Katie O’Reilly. The title refers to the parts of the brain that “lay down new memories and hold on to old ones,” per IFC.
- 11/8/2022
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Exclusive: Rizwan Manji (Schitt’s Creek), Atharva Verma (Stargirl), Ayana Manji, Meesha Shafi (The Reluctant Fundamentalist), Alicia Silverstone (The Killing of a Sacred Deer) and Hasan Minhaj (The King’s Jester) have signed on to star in the Pakistani American coming-of-age film Mustache — the first feature from writer-director Imran J. Khan.
Largely autobiographical for its filmmaker, Mustache follows Ilyas (Verma), an eccentric 13-year-old boy who sets off to navigate the social hierarchy of his new California public school with a mustache his parents will not allow him to shave off. Manji will play Ilyas’ father Hameed, with Pakistani-Canadian singer Shafi playing his mother, and Manji’s daughter Ayana set to portray his school friend, Yasmeen.
Details as to the roles of Silverstone and Minhaj haven’t been disclosed. But Christina Won (Birdman) and Jessica Sittig of MakeSay are producing along with American Light and Fixture’s Christopher Storer...
Largely autobiographical for its filmmaker, Mustache follows Ilyas (Verma), an eccentric 13-year-old boy who sets off to navigate the social hierarchy of his new California public school with a mustache his parents will not allow him to shave off. Manji will play Ilyas’ father Hameed, with Pakistani-Canadian singer Shafi playing his mother, and Manji’s daughter Ayana set to portray his school friend, Yasmeen.
Details as to the roles of Silverstone and Minhaj haven’t been disclosed. But Christina Won (Birdman) and Jessica Sittig of MakeSay are producing along with American Light and Fixture’s Christopher Storer...
- 10/24/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Senior Year is one of Netflix’s hottest and most popular originals this year. The movie features a hilariously unique storyline and an ensemble cast to boot, which explain why it’s one of the most popular streaming films in 2022. Senior Year was directed by Alex Hardcastle, whom most people recognize for his work on The Mindy Project, The Office, Grace & Frankie, Parks and Recreation, and A Young Doctor’s Notebook. The movie tells the story of a formerly popular cheerleader who aims to redeem her high school glory after being in a coma for years. The movie was critically panned by critics,
Meet the Cast of “Senior Year”...
Meet the Cast of “Senior Year”...
- 10/23/2022
- by A.E. Oats
- TVovermind.com
Exclusive: Mary Holland (Senior Year) has signed on to star alongside Amy Adams and Scoot McNairy in Searchlight Pictures’ darkly comic horror Nightbitch, based on the debut novel of Rachel Yoder. Marielle Heller (Can You Ever Forgive Me?) is directing from her own script.
The film, now in production, tells the story of a woman thrown into the stay-at-home routine of raising a toddler in the suburbs who slowly embraces the feral power deeply rooted in motherhood, as she becomes increasingly aware of the bizarre and undeniable signs that she may be turning into a canine. Bond Group and Annapurna acquired film rights to Yoder’s book in 2020 and developed the script alongside Heller. Searchlight then acquired worldwide rights in May, in a deal sources placed at 25 million-plus; it marked a reemergence of Megan Ellison’s reconfigured Annapurna in the marketplace.
Related Story Searchlight Closes 25M+ World Rights Deal For...
The film, now in production, tells the story of a woman thrown into the stay-at-home routine of raising a toddler in the suburbs who slowly embraces the feral power deeply rooted in motherhood, as she becomes increasingly aware of the bizarre and undeniable signs that she may be turning into a canine. Bond Group and Annapurna acquired film rights to Yoder’s book in 2020 and developed the script alongside Heller. Searchlight then acquired worldwide rights in May, in a deal sources placed at 25 million-plus; it marked a reemergence of Megan Ellison’s reconfigured Annapurna in the marketplace.
Related Story Searchlight Closes 25M+ World Rights Deal For...
- 10/21/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Michael Beach (Dahmer: Monster), Joshua Colley (Senior Year) and Lindsey Gort (All Rise) have joined the cast of Dead Boy Detectives, HBO Max’s upcoming drama series based on the DC Comics characters created by Neil Gaiman, in key recurring roles. The series hails from The Flight Attendant’s Steve Yockey, Doom Patrol’s Jeremy Carver, Berlanti Productions, and Warner Bros. Television. Beach, Colley and Gort join series stars George Rexstrew, Jayden Revri and Kassius Nelson.
The eight-part series is a ghost story that explores loss, grief, and death through the lens of Edwin Payne (Rexstrew) and Charles Rowland (Revri), two dead British teenagers, and their very alive friend, Crystal Palace (Nelson). So, it’s a lot like a vintage detective series — only darker and on acid.
Beach plays Tragic Mick, a melancholy walrus trapped in a human body who helps the Dead Boys out sometimes.
Colley plays Monty,...
The eight-part series is a ghost story that explores loss, grief, and death through the lens of Edwin Payne (Rexstrew) and Charles Rowland (Revri), two dead British teenagers, and their very alive friend, Crystal Palace (Nelson). So, it’s a lot like a vintage detective series — only darker and on acid.
Beach plays Tragic Mick, a melancholy walrus trapped in a human body who helps the Dead Boys out sometimes.
Colley plays Monty,...
- 10/12/2022
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
The “Goosebumps” live-action series at Disney+ has added three more cast members.
Variety has learned exclusively that Ana Yi Puig, Miles McKenna, and Will Price have joined the show as series regulars alongside previously announced cast member Justin Long.
Per the official logline, “The series follows a group of five high schoolers who unleash supernatural forces upon their town and must all work together — thanks to and in spite of their friendships, rivalries and pasts with each other — in order to save it, learning much about their own parents’ teenage secrets in the process.” According to Disney Branded Television, the series is influenced by five of the most popular “Goosebumps” books.
Puig has been cast as Isabella. She is described as “smart and naturally shy with an overwhelming sense of responsibility.” McKenna will play James, “the class clown who loves the spotlight and hails from one of the wealthiest families in Port Lawrence.
Variety has learned exclusively that Ana Yi Puig, Miles McKenna, and Will Price have joined the show as series regulars alongside previously announced cast member Justin Long.
Per the official logline, “The series follows a group of five high schoolers who unleash supernatural forces upon their town and must all work together — thanks to and in spite of their friendships, rivalries and pasts with each other — in order to save it, learning much about their own parents’ teenage secrets in the process.” According to Disney Branded Television, the series is influenced by five of the most popular “Goosebumps” books.
Puig has been cast as Isabella. She is described as “smart and naturally shy with an overwhelming sense of responsibility.” McKenna will play James, “the class clown who loves the spotlight and hails from one of the wealthiest families in Port Lawrence.
- 10/7/2022
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Rebel Wilson and Leslie Mann are set to star in the R-rated eOne comedy Rock the Boat with Luke Greenfield on board to direct sources tell Deadline. The project was originally written by Jacob Meszaros and Zach Taylor, with revisions by Sarah Rothschild, Greenfield & Jason Benoit.
The project is produced by Jon Turteltaub, Jonathan Prince, Mark Ross, and Rebel Wilson with Josie Liang executive producing. Zev Foreman, Jen Gorton, and Steven Holster are overseeing for eOne.
Principal photography is set for January 2023.
The pic is a female-driven comedy inspired by the hilarious real-life phenomenon of boy bands such as Backstreet Boys and New Kids on the Block throwing reunion tours aboard luxury cruise ships. The movie follows four best friends from high school who were obsessed with a famous boy band back in the 90’s. Twenty years later, when the band announces a reunion tour aboard a cruise ship,...
The project is produced by Jon Turteltaub, Jonathan Prince, Mark Ross, and Rebel Wilson with Josie Liang executive producing. Zev Foreman, Jen Gorton, and Steven Holster are overseeing for eOne.
Principal photography is set for January 2023.
The pic is a female-driven comedy inspired by the hilarious real-life phenomenon of boy bands such as Backstreet Boys and New Kids on the Block throwing reunion tours aboard luxury cruise ships. The movie follows four best friends from high school who were obsessed with a famous boy band back in the 90’s. Twenty years later, when the band announces a reunion tour aboard a cruise ship,...
- 10/6/2022
- by Justin Kroll
- Deadline Film + TV
‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’ star Simu Liu shared that he is going through a breakup, just two months after making his red carpet debut with Jade Bender.
Simu Liu made his red carpet debut with ‘Senior Year’ star Jade Bender just two months ago at the Espy Awards, but now it appears they have split after making a handful of public appearances together, reports femalefirst.co.uk.
As reported by SFGate.com, Liu was speaking at the Dreamforce 2022 conference in San Francisco last week when he was asked about mental health following a social media post addressing the need to “prioritise” his health.
He replied: “I’m Ok, I’m Ok. I’m learning to prioritiSe myself, I’m becoming more and more comfortable with the idea of therapy and support systems. It really just hit me recently just how burnt out I was. I experienced...
Simu Liu made his red carpet debut with ‘Senior Year’ star Jade Bender just two months ago at the Espy Awards, but now it appears they have split after making a handful of public appearances together, reports femalefirst.co.uk.
As reported by SFGate.com, Liu was speaking at the Dreamforce 2022 conference in San Francisco last week when he was asked about mental health following a social media post addressing the need to “prioritise” his health.
He replied: “I’m Ok, I’m Ok. I’m learning to prioritiSe myself, I’m becoming more and more comfortable with the idea of therapy and support systems. It really just hit me recently just how burnt out I was. I experienced...
- 9/27/2022
- by Glamsham Bureau
- GlamSham
It’s the crossover we’ve all been waiting for. It looks like the cast of the original “High School Musical” films and the cast of “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” will be colliding in Season 4 of the Disney+ series.
After spending the summer at camp, the Wildcats are returning to school for Season 4, only to find out that they’ll be featured extras in the long-awaited “High School Musical 4: The Reunion,” which is currently filming at their school.
And speaking of the original films, the students of East High will be returning to their roots for their fourth musical. This year, they’ll be performing “High School Musical 3: Senior Year.”
This, of course, answers the question as to why so many “HSM” alum have been spotted at East High recently, including Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens and Kaycee Stroh. While Disney hasn’t exactly confirmed...
After spending the summer at camp, the Wildcats are returning to school for Season 4, only to find out that they’ll be featured extras in the long-awaited “High School Musical 4: The Reunion,” which is currently filming at their school.
And speaking of the original films, the students of East High will be returning to their roots for their fourth musical. This year, they’ll be performing “High School Musical 3: Senior Year.”
This, of course, answers the question as to why so many “HSM” alum have been spotted at East High recently, including Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens and Kaycee Stroh. While Disney hasn’t exactly confirmed...
- 9/10/2022
- by Katie Campione
- The Wrap
Olwen Fouéré was recently seen in the horror films Texas Chainsaw Massacre and She Will, and now she has signed on to take a role in another genre project: the Screen Gems horror movie Horrorscope, which is based on a 1992 novel by Nicholas Adams. Deadline reports that Larsen Thompson has also been cast in Horrorscope, alongside the previously announced Jacob Batalon (Spider-Man: No Way Home), Alana Boden (I Am Elizabeth Smart), Adain Bradley (Wrong Turn: The Foundation), Avantika (Senior Year), Humberly González (Ginny & Georgia), and Wolfgang Novogratz (The Last Summer). Thompson will also be seen in the upcoming Mike Flanagan / Netflix series The Midnight Club.
Anna Halberg and Spenser Cohen have written the screenplay adaptation and will also be making their feature directorial debut with Horrorscope, which will follow
a group of college friends who after getting their horoscopes read, begin dying in ways connected to their fortunes. Are their...
Anna Halberg and Spenser Cohen have written the screenplay adaptation and will also be making their feature directorial debut with Horrorscope, which will follow
a group of college friends who after getting their horoscopes read, begin dying in ways connected to their fortunes. Are their...
- 8/29/2022
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
In the latest installment of our 2022 Streaming Wars series, some interesting streaming platforms continue to encroach on the overall market dominance of Netflix, for now still the most popular service. As usual, our pals at JustWatch, the streaming fan’s go-to resource for locating every film and TV title online, compile a quarterly assessment of Streaming Video On Demand (SVOD) engagement from U.S.-based fans on their site. That is to say, they measure which titles are most frequently searched for, and from which streamers those titles stem.
From the second quarter of 2022 (spanning April 1-June 30), it appears that Netflix’s stateside stranglehold over the market dipped by 2. The web’s original go-to streaming destination now leads its closest competitor, Prime Video, by the slimmest of margins, 21 to 20, when it comes to gauging fan interest on JustWatch. Close behind that dynamic duo are Apple TV+, Disney+ and HBO Max,...
From the second quarter of 2022 (spanning April 1-June 30), it appears that Netflix’s stateside stranglehold over the market dipped by 2. The web’s original go-to streaming destination now leads its closest competitor, Prime Video, by the slimmest of margins, 21 to 20, when it comes to gauging fan interest on JustWatch. Close behind that dynamic duo are Apple TV+, Disney+ and HBO Max,...
- 8/6/2022
- by Alex Kirschenbaum
- Trailers from Hell
Peacock has given a straight-to-series order to the coming-of-age thriller “Hysteria!”
The series hails from writer and executive producer Matthew Kane. Chris Bender and Jake Weiner of Good Fear will also executive produce. John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, the writers and directors of the upcoming film “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves,” will direct and executive produce. Scott Stoops will be supervising producer. UCP is the studio.
According to an individual with knowledge of the project, Good Fear worked with Kane to develop the pilot script and series pitch. They then attached Goldstein and Daley, as Bender and Weiner have a past relationship with the filmmaking duo.
In the show, a beloved varsity quarterback disappears during the “Satanic Panic” of the late 1980s. A struggling high school heavy metal band of outcasts realize they can capitalize on the town’s sudden interest in the occult by building a reputation as a Satanic metal band,...
The series hails from writer and executive producer Matthew Kane. Chris Bender and Jake Weiner of Good Fear will also executive produce. John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, the writers and directors of the upcoming film “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves,” will direct and executive produce. Scott Stoops will be supervising producer. UCP is the studio.
According to an individual with knowledge of the project, Good Fear worked with Kane to develop the pilot script and series pitch. They then attached Goldstein and Daley, as Bender and Weiner have a past relationship with the filmmaking duo.
In the show, a beloved varsity quarterback disappears during the “Satanic Panic” of the late 1980s. A struggling high school heavy metal band of outcasts realize they can capitalize on the town’s sudden interest in the occult by building a reputation as a Satanic metal band,...
- 8/5/2022
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
Rebel Wilson is getting ready to serve as the star of “Double Fault,” a tennis comedy in development at Paramount Players.
Jim and Brian Kehoe, the brothers who wrote the 2019 high school comedy “Blockers,” are in talks to pen the screenplay. The logline is being kept under wraps.
“Double Fault” will be produced by Wilson and Todd Garner (“Senior Year”), with Brad Jenkel (“The Matador”) on board as executive producer.
Wilson recently starred in Netflix’s teen comedy “Senior Year,” in which she played a 37-year-old who wakes up from a coma and returns to high school to get her diploma.
In Variety’s review of “Senior Year,” Dennis Harvey praised Wilson as “a naturally gifted comedian” who pulls together the movie “through sheer force of personality and riffing performance chops.”
Prior to “Senior Year,” Wilson hadn’t starred in a movie since 2019’s “Isn’t It Romantic,” a romantic comedy that parodies stereotypical Hollywood meet-cutes.
Jim and Brian Kehoe, the brothers who wrote the 2019 high school comedy “Blockers,” are in talks to pen the screenplay. The logline is being kept under wraps.
“Double Fault” will be produced by Wilson and Todd Garner (“Senior Year”), with Brad Jenkel (“The Matador”) on board as executive producer.
Wilson recently starred in Netflix’s teen comedy “Senior Year,” in which she played a 37-year-old who wakes up from a coma and returns to high school to get her diploma.
In Variety’s review of “Senior Year,” Dennis Harvey praised Wilson as “a naturally gifted comedian” who pulls together the movie “through sheer force of personality and riffing performance chops.”
Prior to “Senior Year,” Wilson hadn’t starred in a movie since 2019’s “Isn’t It Romantic,” a romantic comedy that parodies stereotypical Hollywood meet-cutes.
- 8/4/2022
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
After making their red carpet debut at the ESPYs last week, Simu Liu and Jade Bender continued the fun when they attended Comic-Con in San Diego over the weekend. The actors put on a loving display at Entertainment Weekly's party as they shared laughs and exchanged sweet gazes on the red carpet.
Liu, 33, and Bender, 24, have kept their romance under wraps for the most part. However, it seems they're slowly getting more comfortable being in the spotlight together. In addition to their red carpet appearances, Liu recently shared a group photo of him, Bender, and their friends on Instagram. "You know you've found the right friends when every single get-together somehow becomes an impromptu basketball tournament...
Liu, 33, and Bender, 24, have kept their romance under wraps for the most part. However, it seems they're slowly getting more comfortable being in the spotlight together. In addition to their red carpet appearances, Liu recently shared a group photo of him, Bender, and their friends on Instagram. "You know you've found the right friends when every single get-together somehow becomes an impromptu basketball tournament...
- 7/25/2022
- by Monica Sisavat
- Popsugar.com
We hate to break it to you, folks, but Simu Liu appears to be off the market. The "Kim's Convenience" actor made his red carpet debut with his rumored girlfriend, "Senior Year" star Jade Bender, at the Espy Awards in Los Angeles on July 20. The pair kept it low-key and Pda-free as they posed for photos together before heading into Dolby Theatre, where Liu presented on stage with skier Lindsey Vonn. Liu, 33, wore a textured navy suit for the award show, while Bender, 24, looked glam in a sparkly one-shoulder minidress.
Rumors have been swirling about Liu and Bender's relationship status for the past month. The pair were spotted leaving dinner at Catch LA on June 19, and the following week, Bender accompanied Liu to his "Jimmy Kimmel Live" appearance, where he talked to guest host Chelsea Handler about his new book, "We Were Dreamers." Plus, their Instagrams reveal a few clues:...
Rumors have been swirling about Liu and Bender's relationship status for the past month. The pair were spotted leaving dinner at Catch LA on June 19, and the following week, Bender accompanied Liu to his "Jimmy Kimmel Live" appearance, where he talked to guest host Chelsea Handler about his new book, "We Were Dreamers." Plus, their Instagrams reveal a few clues:...
- 7/21/2022
- by Victoria Messina
- Popsugar.com
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