movies
EntertainmentVariety‘American Idol’ Sets a Dozen Stars to Perform on Finale, Including Luke Combs, Chaka Khan, Sheryl Crow
“American Idol” has set no fewer than a dozen music stars for the series’ grand finale May 23 — three of whom may be fairly predictable, given that Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie and Katy Perry are the show’s judges. Not quite as foreseeable in the final show’s performing pecking order: Sheryl Crow, Chaka Khan, Luke […]
EntertainmentVariety‘SEAL Team’, ‘Clarice’ Could Move to Paramount Plus From CBS
“SEAL Team” and “Clarice” could soon be on the move. Variety has learned from sources that there are plans taking shape to move the series off of CBS to the ViacomCBS streaming service Paramount Plus. According to sources, the current plan would be to air a few episodes of the fifth season of “SEAL Team” […]
EntertainmentVarietyCBS Orders ‘Smallwood’ and ‘Good Sam’ to Series
CBS has added one comedy and one drama to its fall TV lineup, with series orders for “Smallwood” and “Good Sam.” “Smallwood,” based on the real-life story of professional bowler Tom Smallwood, stars Pete Holmes, Chi McBride and Katie Lowes. Mark Gross is executive producing and writing, with David Hollander and Brian D’Arcy James also […]
EntertainmentVarietySt. Vincent Brings the Sounds of the ’70s Home on a Mellower, Emotionally Richer ‘Daddy’s Home’: Album Review
For St. Vincent, “home” is a relative thing; she doesn’t often touch exactly the same base, musically, and no one will ever accuse her of making the same album twice. So if you loved the exquisitely visceral, electronic tension of 2017’s “Masseduction” and its nearly operatic art-rock heights, prepare for something entirely on “Daddy’s Home.” […]
EntertainmentThe Wrap‘Spiral’ Makes a Very Inaccurate Reference to the Previous ‘Saw’ Movies
(This article contains some spoilers for “Spiral: From the Book of Saw”) I would say that, overall, “Spiral: From the Book of Saw” is a worthy successor for the “Saw” franchise. If you’re gonna insist on making one of these that doesn’t follow up on any of the stuff from the original seven, this is a good way to go about it. Because it really is “Saw,” but in a new way. But despite that, and despite the fact that “Spiral” was directed by Darren Lynn Bousman — who directed three previous “Saw” movies — the film makes a pretty glaring factual error. Midway through the film, one of the cops wonders aloud if this is another Jigsaw disciple. Chris Rock’s character, Detective Zeke Banks, doesn’t buy it. “John Kramer never targeted cops,” Banks says, referring to the original Jigsaw killer played by Tobin Bell. This is categorically not true, as Bousman himself should know. Two of the three previous “Saw” movies he directed, “Saw II” and “Saw IV,” were literally about Jigsaw targeting cops. The thing that people remember most about “Saw II” is probably the big game at the center of it, with a big group of people who were trapped in a big house full of classic “Saw” traps. But the main character was Detective Eric Matthews (Donnie Wahlberg). His son was a player in that game — and everyone else had been put in jail by Detective Matthews. Jigsaw tells Matthews early on that all he needs to do to get his son back safely is to listen to his manifesto for a bit. But Jigsaw was playing a trick, making Matthews think his son’s game was happening at the moment — but actually it was already long over, his son safe and sound inside a safe in the room Matthews was sitting in. But Matthews, not understanding that Jigsaw was doing a game on him too, forced the issue and ended up being stuck in the custody of the Jigsaw Family himself for the next two movies. And eventually he finds himself part of a game with a different cop at the center: SWAT officer Daniel Rigg (Lyriq Bent). Rigg and Matthews are pals — Rigg is a supporting player in “Saw II” — and Jigsaw promises Rigg he’ll get Matthews back if he succeeds at his own test. But that test, another Jigsaw riddle among an endless spiral of them, necessitates that Rigg not take action. Jigsaw wants to teach him a lesson about not rushing into situations he doesn’t understand. Rigg fails, and both and Matthews die because of it. On top of all that, Jigsaw is responsible for several other cop deaths, including Danny Glover’s character in the original film. These ones weren’t part of a game as we know it, but he definitely was responsible for those deaths. Remember, the director of “Spiral” was also in charge for those two movies. He definitely should know about this stuff. That said, this line isn’t necessarily a mistake on the part of the writers or Bousman. It could be an intentional slip, though it’s tough to guess what the point of doing that would be. Aside from the mention of the various Jigsaw disciples — there are at least five of them we haven’t seen die yet — and a picture of one of the dead players from the house in “Saw II,” there aren’t any other concrete references to the events of the previous movies. So it’s tough to calculate what the in-universe context might be for Banks to make that error. Because of that, it does feel like a filmmaking goof. But hey, “Spiral” is pretty short at just 95 minutes. Maybe an extended cut on home video will shed some more light on this. Read original story ‘Spiral’ Makes a Very Inaccurate Reference to the Previous ‘Saw’ Movies At TheWrap
EntertainmentVarietyRobert Eggers’ ‘The Northman’ Gets 2022 Release Date
Director Robert Eggers’ “The Northman” will release in theaters on April 8, 2022, Focus Features announced on Friday. Universal Pictures International will premiere the film internationally on the same day. Starring Alexander Skarsgard, Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicole Kidman, Ethan Hawke, Willem Dafoe and Björk, the revenge thriller explores the depths at which a Viking prince will […]
EntertainmentVarietyBron Studios Lends a Helping Hand To AAPI Creatives Networking Group: ‘It’s Not A Risk’
Bron Studios is lending a helping hand to AAPI Creatives, a networking group started by Zosimo Maximo to amplify Asian American voices working in the industry. Maximo used Clubhouse to form a group of AAPI filmmakers who are inspired to change the narrative in Hollywood and build new opportunities for themselves. The group consists of […]
NewsVarietyWhy Hollywood Production Crews Won’t Be Taking Off Their Masks Just Yet
While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Thursday that people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 can resume most typical pre-pandemic activities without wearing a face mask or social distancing, there was an important exception to the agency’s guidance. The national guidelines state that people may go without masks “except where required by […]
EntertainmentVarietyPilot Scorecard: New Broadcast Drama, Comedy and Unscripted Orders for 2021-22 Season
After months of development, production and fine-tuning, it’s decision time for dozens of broadcast pilots hopeful of getting the greenlight to series for the 2021-2022 TV season. As the major studios rack up series orders over the coming week of network upfront presentations, it’s time to tally the wins and losses. The clear theme of […]
EntertainmentThe WrapRobert Eggers’ ‘The Northman’ With Nicole Kidman, Anya Taylor-Joy and Björk Set for April 2022
Focus Features has set “The Northman,” the next film from “The Witch” director Robert Eggers, for release in April 2022. “The Northman” is a viking revenge drama that stars Alexander Skarsgard, Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicole Kidman, Ethan Hawke, Willem Dafoe and Björk, the Icelandic singer who is appearing in her first film since 2005. The film will open in theaters April 8 domestically from Focus, and Universal Pictures International will release the film abroad the same day. The film is described as an “epic revenge thriller” that explores how far a Viking prince will go to seek justice for his murdered father. Eggers shot the film in Iceland this past summer. “The Northman” is directed by Eggers, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Icelandic poet andnovelist Sjón. The film’s producers are Lars Knudsen, Mark Huffam and New Regency and is a co-production of Focus Features and New Regency. Eggers broke onto the scene with “The Witch” in 2015 that provided a breakout role for Taylor-Joy, and he last directed “The Lighthouse” last year that was a psychological, nightmarish, acting tour-de-force for Dafoe and Robert Pattinson. Focus Features recently set release dates for “The Card Counter” from Paul Schrader for Sept. 10 and “Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris” with Lesley Manville and Isabelle Huppert for March 4, 2022. Read original story Robert Eggers’ ‘The Northman’ With Nicole Kidman, Anya Taylor-Joy and Björk Set for April 2022 At TheWrap
EntertainmentVariety‘American Housewife,’ ‘Mixed-ish,’ ‘For Life,’ ‘Rebel’ Canceled at ABC
Comedies “American Housewife” and “Mixed-ish” and dramas “For Life” and “Rebel” have all been canceled at ABC. A cancellation for the comedy “Call Your Mother” was previously announced. The network also passed on pickups for four pilots, the drama “Acts of Crime” from Sam Esmail and comedies “Adopted,” “Black Don’t Crack” and “Bucktown.” All for […]
EntertainmentThe WrapCan (and Should) Anything Replace the Golden Globes?
The Golden Globes are gone, at least for a year, and jockeying for that show’s spot on the awards calendar has begun. On Wednesday, two days after NBC announced that it will not broadcast the 2022 Golden Globes ceremony to give the Hollywood Foreign Press Association more time to reform, the Critics Choice Awards claimed the date of Sunday, Jan. 9 for its 27th annual ceremony. That is almost certainly the date that the Golden Globes would have been held, if studios and NBC had not finally insisted that the HFPA solve its deep-seated problems, which include a lack of diversity and questionable journalistic ethics. On Friday, two days after the Critics Choice announcement, the Hollywood Critics Association said that its film awards ceremony would take place on Thursday, Jan. 6, which would also place it in the time frame in which the Globes normally claim. In a normal year, the days leading up to the Globes are one of the busiest times on the awards calendar, with other organizations taking advantage of the influx of talent that comes to Los Angeles in early January. Along with multiple parties that crowd the schedule on that weekend, the American Film Institute typically holds its annual awards luncheon on the Friday before the Globes, while the Film Independent Spirit Awards Brunch and the BAFTA Los Angeles Awards Season Tea Party take place on Saturday, the day before the Globes ceremony. But can another awards show step in and claim the Globes’ spot as the No. 2 show, second only to the Oscars, on the awards calendar? And do we need anybody in that spot? Here are contenders. The Critics Choice AwardsThe Critics Choice Association, which started in the mid-1990s as the Broadcast Film Critics Association and later expanded to include TV awards, is the closest thing to a more respectable version of the HFPA, which is to say that it’s a larger and more diverse group made up of Hollywood press. (Full disclosure: I am a member, as are several other writers for TheWrap.) As an organization of journalists that gives out awards for both film and television, the CCA would like nothing better than to become the go-to awards show in early January. It also has a televised awards show on The CW, though its ratings are typically anemic — and the fact that it has already announced that its 2022 ceremony will be tape-delayed in the Pacific time zone is an admission that it’s not really ready to gun for the Globes spot. The Critics Choice Awards have also spent years attempting to figure out what they want to be: After a spell trying to play up their status as a pretty reliable Oscar predictor by matching the Academy almost category for category, they’ve been chasing ratings by introducing action-movie and comedy categories and then launching a string of additional shows: reality-TV awards, documentary awards, “Super Awards” for comic-book and sci-fi movies, a celebration of Black cinema, etc. At a time when there’s increased scrutiny on who’s giving out awards — hence the fall of the HFPA — the CCA would need to give the industry more reason to take them seriously. The Screen Actors Guild AwardsThe SAG Awards are in the best position to be the No. 2 show behind the Oscars next year: The guild also has a TV deal, more respect within the industry and the appeal of lots of movie and television stars. That gives SAG a leg up on everything else. If SAG decides to move its show earlier in January, it could at least be the kind of show that other events would coalesce around. But while a show that honors only a single craft, acting, delivers the stars, it feels limited by its very nature. The Globes didn’t go much for below-the-line categories, but they also saluted producers, directors, writers and composers, and it would be odd to expect an actors-only show into its slot. The SAG Awards are also nowhere near as popular: In this pandemic year, the live-virtual hybrid Globes show managed 6.9 million viewers, while the shortened and pre-taped SAG Awards only drew 957,000. And if you go back a year to the non-COVID days of early 2020, the Globes drew 18.4 million and SAG just 2 million. (Getty Images) All the Hollywood guildsHere’s an idea that was floated on Twitter: The Hollywood guilds and professional organizations should get together and start a new televised show called the Guild Awards. It would have credibility, but the sheer number of awards given out by the groups is staggering. Just the four major guilds — SAG, the Writers Guild, Directors Guild and Producers Guild — hand out 64 categories between them, and that doesn’t include more than a dozen other awards, including those from the American Cinema Editors, American Society of Cinematographers, Art Directors Guild, Cinema Audio Society, Costume Designers Guild, Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild, Motion Picture Sound Editors and Visual Effects Society. Do you give them each one or two awards on one big show? Do you create a new batch of categories and let all the guilds vote in every category? Can you possibly get them all to work together in harmony? The logistics are formidable but the prospect is intriguing. An entirely new showCan you create a new Globes from scratch? If the HFPA can’t fix itself in a thorough and substantial way, Dick Clark Productions and NBC could try to do that. (DCP’s parent company already owns most of the Hollywood trade publications, which could offer be a disconcerting wrinkle.) But does the industry really want the Golden Globes so badly that it would embrace a hasty, calculated substitute? Its willingness to jettison the show suggests not. A better Golden GlobesMaybe the Hollywood Foreign Press Association doubles or triples its membership, gives up the ridiculous perks, stops asking embarrassing questions at press conferences and refashions itself as an organization with journalistic credibility. Maybe Hollywood accepts what they’ve done and the Globes goes back to being the Globes — an awards show that can be fun because the stakes aren’t very high — without the industry having to look away from the many problems it’s always chosen to ignore. I wouldn’t bet on it, but maybe. Nothing Do we need something to “replace” the Golden Globes? Do we need a No. 2 show in awards season? No, we don’t. The Globes have been little more than a sideshow for years; the HFPA has never changed awards-season narratives or helped Oscar voters figure out what to do or given movies a significant box-office boost. If the Globes go away and don’t come back, things will move around but before long we’ll go back to worrying about how to save the Oscars. Read original story Can (and Should) Anything Replace the Golden Globes? At TheWrap
EntertainmentThe Wrap‘Without Remorse’ Has a Very Important Connection to Amazon’s ‘Jack Ryan’ Show
(This article does not contain any spoilers for “Tom Clancy’s Without Remorse” on Amazon Prime Video, unless you consider a character’s name to be a spoiler) In a lot of ways, Tom Clancy was ahead of his time with his many novels that took place within a shared universe — as opposed to just doing a bunch of more traditional sequel stories like most novel series do — but the film adaptations were always one-offs that never really added up to anything as a whole. But that could very well be changing now, as Amazon and Paramount might be in the process of firing up a Clancyverse built to more modern standards, starting with the “Jack Ryan” series and now with “Without Remorse.” But there’s a big catch that we’ll discuss further down. If a Clancyverse is indeed in the card, it’s starting with a two-pronged approach, first with “Jack Ryan” focusing on, well, John Krasinski’s Jack Ryan and now with “Without Remorse” introducing the man who will become John Clark — played in past films by Willem Defoe and Liev Schrieber, and now getting the Michael B. Jordan treatment. We’re still in the early stages of this whole deal — “Jack Ryan” and “Without Remorse” have no characters in common at all. But “Jack Ryan” will get its third season later this year, and “Without Remorse” ends with a pretty clear sequel tease for a “Rainbow Six” movie. “Without Remorse” does, however, include a direct line to “Jack Ryan,” thanks to an original character who is related to a major character from Tom Clancy’s novels, who has featured prominently in most of the Jack Ryan-focused movie adaptations as well as the “Jack Ryan” show. That new character is Karen Greer, played by Jodie Turner-Smith — the niece of one Jim Greer. Most folks know James Earl Jones as the face of Greer, since he played the character in “The Hunt for Red October,” “Patriot Games” and “Clear and Present Danger.” Morgan Freeman then played what is generally considered to be a reworked version of the same character named William Cabot in “The Sum of All Fears.” And these days Wendell Pierce has been taking on the role in “Jack Ryan.” Given that “Without Remorse” does not make any other reference to characters from “Jack Ryan” or anything that happened on that show, we can’t even really begin to guess at the significance of Karen Greer’s existence. For now, it just feels like a nod to the greater franchise, but in such a small way that her appearance doesn’t come with any promises about what’s coming next. That’s smart. While that “Rainbow Six” movie and another season of “Jack Ryan” are on the way, it’s probably for the best to see how things go before jumping straight to the big crossovers — we saw how well that worked out for the DC film universe. We should point out that “Without Remorse” was not, as far as we know, conceived as being part of a shared universe with “Jack Ryan.” The film was originally slated for a theatrical release from Paramount, and it only ended up with Amazon because the pandemic closed most theaters for a year. It’s possible, then, that Turner-Smith’s character was not originally even supposed to be Jim Greer’s niece. Aside from the one mention of her uncle, Karen Greer’s family relations have no bearing on this story at all, and that’s a detail that could easily have been added in reshoots or post-production. That bit of info sparks a bunch of new questions, but the main one is about whether “Without Remorse” actually represents the beginnings of a streaming Clancyverse, or if Paramount will continue on these Michael B. Jordan movies out as their own separate thing in theaters. That’s a question we don’t have any answers for just yet. Read original story ‘Without Remorse’ Has a Very Important Connection to Amazon’s ‘Jack Ryan’ Show At TheWrap
EntertainmentThe WrapGov. Gavin Newsom Adds $30 Million to California Film Tax Credit Budget
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has added $30 million in tax credits to the budget of California’s Film Tax Credit Program, allowing the state to give out up to $360 million in tax credits annually to qualifying film, TV and commercial productions that shoot in California. The added cash comes as part of Newsom’s $100 billion “California Rolls Back” plan, thanks to the state’s $75 billion budget surplus. And in a press conference on Friday, Newsom, who is facing a recall election, mentioned that the new funds were specifically designed to lure productions back from states like Georgia. “This is an opportunity for those productions, TV and others, in places like Georgia, whose values don’t necessarily always align with the production crews to consider coming back to the state of California,” Newsom said. “And that’s what that $30 million intends to do.” “Governor Newsom’s announcement to expand the film and TV tax credit program is great news for California,” California Film Commission executive director Colleen Bell said in a statement. “The additional $30 million in funding will be allocated to relocating TV series, which bring long-term, high-wage jobs and significant production spending to our state. To date, our tax credit program has welcomed 23 relocating series from other states and countries. The additional funding will enable us to grow that positive impact.” The current tax credit program has been in place since 2014, and the most recent round of tax credits were granted to 22 qualifying film projects, including new movies by the Coen Brothers, Steven Soderbergh, Eva Longoria and Jason Bateman. Meanwhile, some TV shows such as “Chad” and “The Flight Attendant” were among 23 programs that have all relocated to the state as a result of the credits. Read original story Gov. Gavin Newsom Adds $30 Million to California Film Tax Credit Budget At TheWrap
EntertainmentVariety‘Profile’ Star Shazad Latif: ‘Every Time I Play a Non Ethnic-Specific Name, It’s a Little Cheer’
British actor Shazad Latif is ready for his close-up. After a decade of racking up impressive TV credits including “Spooks,” “Toast of London,” “Penny Dreadful,” “Star Trek: Discovery” and “Departure,” the actor is currently in the BBC’s “The Pursuit of Love,” Emily Mortimer’s adaptation of Nancy Mitford’s novel, where he stars alongside Lily James. Latif […]
EntertainmentVarietyDMX’s Posthumous Album, ‘Exodus,’ Features Guests Jay-Z, Nas, Bono, More
In the days after DMX’s death from a heart attack last month, several people close to the veteran rapper said that he recently had completed a new studio album, and details have begun to emerge about the release, which drops in two weeks, on May 28, via Ruff Ryders and Def Jam Recordings, the home of his […]
EntertainmentVarietyRIP to the 90-Day Theatrical Window
Pour one out for the 90-day theatrical window. The decades-old staple of the film world slipped the surly bonds of Earth during COVID, perhaps the most consequential example of how the pandemic has upended the cinema business. The roughly three-month timeframe the industry calls the theatrical window, the longstanding agreement between Hollywood studios and theater […]
EntertainmentVarietyMiley Cyrus Signs Overall Deal With NBCUniversal, Will Develop Programs and Star in Three Specials
Following her well-received performance last weekend on “Saturday Night Live,” Miley Cyrus is cementing her relationship with the Peacock, sealing an overall talent and development deal with NBCUniversal Television and Streaming. The pact includes a first-look arrangement between Cyrus’ production company Hopetown Entertainment (which she runs with her mother and manager Tish Cyrus). Hopetown will […]
EntertainmentVariety‘Wonder Years’ Reboot Among Four ABC Series Orders for 2021-2022 Broadcast Season
ABC has given out series orders to the reboot of “The Wonder Years,” drama series “Queens,” and comedies “Maggie” and “Abbott Elementary.” The new version of “The Wonder Years” is a coming of age story set in the late 1960’s that takes a nostalgic look at a black middle-class family in Montgomery, Alabama through the […]
NewsVarietyGavin Newsom Announces $30 Million Boost in State Film Credit Program
Gov. Gavin Newsom said Friday that his budget proposal will add $30 million to the state’s film and TV tax incentive program this year, as the state doles out a $75 billion surplus. The $30 million is on top of the $330 million that the state provides annually to subsidize TV and film productions. The […]
BusinessVarietyCBS, Leslie Moonves Resolve Dispute Over $120 Million in Severance
A whopping amount of money that has been held in trust for potential payout to former CBS chief Leslie Moonves is going back to the company. In a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed Friday, ViacomCBS said that $120 million that has been held in trust for Moonves since he departed under […]
NewsVarietyDavid White to Step Down as SAG-AFTRA Chief, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland Eyed as Successor
David White is stepping down as SAG-AFTRA’s national executive director and chief negotiator after 12 years at the head of Hollywood’s largest union. Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, SAG-AFTRA’s chief operating officer, is eyed as his successor. White’s resignation was confirmed following a SAG-AFTRA national executive board meeting on Friday. He is expected to depart within a few […]
CelebrityVarietyBlack Reporter Speaks Out on Rejection by Golden Globes Group
About a decade ago, Samantha Ofole-Prince got a message from a member of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Ofole-Prince, who is Black, grew up in the United Kingdom, and had been writing entertainment stories from Los Angeles for publications in the U.K., Africa and the Caribbean. The HFPA member — whom Ofole-Prince declined to identify […]
NewsThe Wrap2 Journalists Who Sued HFPA Seek $2.5 Million Settlement (Exclusive)
Norwegian journalist Kjersti Flaa and Spaniard Rosa Gamazo Robbins, who sued the Hollywood Foreign Press Association last year after being denied membership, are seeking $2.5 million in settlement as well as admission to the embattled organization that hands out the Golden Globes. According to an email exchange on May 10 between Flaa’s attorney David Quinto and the HFPA’s attorney Marvin Putnam obtained by TheWrap, Flaa is seeking $1.6 million in damages and Gamazo Robbins is demanding $700,000 plus $200,000 in legal fees, all payable over three years. In addition, Quinto requested “a mutual non-disparagement provision” and a promise that HFPA will not retaliate “against anyone the group might believe provided assistance to Quinto or the Los Angeles Times in its exposé from last month that led to a major fallout for the group.” The provision seems like a backhanded-admission that the journalists acted as sources for the LA Times’ article alleging internal corruption by paying members to be on committees, and noting the lack of Black members in the group. Asked for comment, the HFPA provided TheWrap with this statement: “The claim that any applicants have been rejected is false. The Board priority is – and continues to be – comprehensive...Read original story 2 Journalists Who Sued HFPA Seek $2.5 Million Settlement (Exclusive) At TheWrap
EntertainmentVariety‘Schitt’s Creek’ Director Jerry Ciccoritti Attached to ‘The Psychology of Stupidity’ TV Adaptation (EXCLUSIVE)
“Schitt’s Creek” director Jerry Ciccoritti has signed on to direct and produce a TV adaptation of “The Psychology of Stupidity” by Jean-Francois Marmion. Scott Steindorff and Dylan Russell’s Stone Village Television, the producers behind NBC series “Las Vegas” and the Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning HBO miniseries “Empire Falls,” are teaming up with Herbert Kloiber’s […]
