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

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

Netflix declined to comment on Esco’s casting.

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

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

In recent months, we’ve learned that Silver Linings Playbook Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence, The Batman star Robert Pattinson, and The Book of Clarence‘s Lakeith Stanfield have the lead roles in the thriller Die, My Love, which is coming our way from We Need to Talk About Kevin and You Were Never Really Here director Lynne Ramsay. Now, Deadline and World of Reel have unveiled the first images from the film, and they give us a look at the characters played by Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson. One of the images can be seen above, and the other two can be found at the bottom of this article.

Scripted by Ramsay and Enda Walsh, Die, My Love is said to be “set in a remote forgotten rural area,” with the story centering on a mother who struggles to maintain her sanity as she battles with psychosis. The story is...

Exclusive: Deadline has the first still from Die, My Love, starring Jennifer Lawrence, Robert Pattinson and Lakeith Stanfield, the new thriller from renowned Scottish filmmaker Lynne Ramsay (You Were Never Really Here), which adapts the 2017 novel by Ariana Harwicz.

Set in rural America, Die, My Love is a portrait of a woman (Lawrence) engulfed by love and madness. Pattinson plays her husband, and Stanfield, her lover. Also in the cast are Sissy Spacek and Nick Nolte.

Ramsay directed from her script written with Enda Walsh. Producers included Justine Ciarrocchi and Lawrence on behalf of Excellent Cadaver, as well as Martin Scorsese, Andrea Calderwood, and Black Label Media, which also served as the project’s financier.

In a statement accompanying the photo reveal, Excellent Cadaver told Deadline, “It’s impossible to convey what it’s like to witness Lynne Ramsay make art. She’s one of one.”

Known for her Cannes-debuting drama Ratcatcher,...

Exclusive: The Veterans has boarded sales for an AFM launch on Bernard Rose’s Shakespeare adaptation Lear Rex, starring Al Pacino as tragic monarch King Lear alongside Jessica Chastain as his villainous, power-hungry, oldest daughter Goneril.

Principal photography is completed on the picture, the all-star cast for which also features Emmy winner Rachel Brosnahan (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) as Lear’s second malevolent daughter Regan; Academy-Award Winner Ariana DeBose (West Side Story) as the king’s beloved youngest daughter Cordelia, who he erroneously banishes; Emmy Winner Peter Dinklage as the Fool, and Lakeith Stanfield (The Book Of Clarence) as the scheming figure of Edmund.

Further cast members include Ted Levine as Kent, Mathew Jacobs as Gloucester, Danny Huston as Albany, Chris Messina as Cornwall, Stephen Dorff as Poor Tom and Rhys Coiro as Oswald.

Rose, who started out making music videos for iconic pop tunes such...

La película fue alabada en su estreno mundial en Venecia. © Paramount Pictures

Paramount Pictures ha publicado el primer tráiler y póster de Septiembre 5, un thriller sobre el fatídico momento que cambió para siempre la cobertura informativa en los medios de comunicación y que ha seguido influyendo en el tratamiento de la actualidad.

Septiembre 5 se ambienta en los Juegos Olímpicos de Múnich de 1972 y narra las peripecias de un equipo de retransmisión deportiva estadounidense que hace rápidamente la transición de la información deportiva a la cobertura en directo del secuestro de los atletas israelíes. Geoff (John Magaro), un joven y ambicioso productor, se esfuerza por demostrar su valía a su jefe, el legendario ejecutivo de televisión Roone Arledge (Peter Sarsgaard). Junto con la intérprete alemana Marianne (Leonie Benesch) y su mentor Marvin Bader (Ben Chaplin), Geoff se hace cargo inesperadamente de la cobertura en directo. Enfrentado a temas y narrativas cambiantes,...

The Marvel Cinematic Universe reboot of Blade has had a long, rough ride through the development process, and as of right now it doesn’t even have a director attached. So there probably weren’t many Marvel fans who were expecting the movie to stick with its November 7, 2025 release date – and therefore, few will be surprised or disappointed to hear that Blade has indeed been bumped out of 2025. Deadline reports that Disney will be releasing 20th Century Studios’ Predator: Badlands on November 7, 2025 instead of Marvel’s vampire slayer movie.

The fact that there was going to be a Blade reboot as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, starring Mashershala Ali in the title role, came as a huge surprise when the announcement was made at the San Diego Comic-Con back in July of 2019… but we’ve passed the five year anniversary of that announcement, and there’s still no sign...

Justin Long, Jermaine Fowler and Rj Cyler are starring in Night Patrol, an indie horror feature from director and co-writer Ryan Prows.

David S. Goyer and Keith Levine are producing via the duo’s Phantom Four banner. Also producing is Josh Goldbloom, known for the recent V/H/S horror entries. James Harris and Mark Lane of Tea Shop Films (47 Meters Down) are also producing the movie, which wrapped principal photography in Los Angeles this week.

Dermot Mulroney and WWE superstar Cm Punk have key roles, while Freddie Gibbs (Down With The King), Yg (White Boy Rick), Flying Lotus (Ash) Jon Oswald (Lowlife) and Nicki Micheaux (Lowlife) round out the cast.

In Patrol, an LAPD officer (Fowler) must put aside his differences with the area’s street gangs when he discovers a local police task force is harboring a horrific secret that endangers the residents of the housing projects he grew up in.

Keke Palmer, Naomi Ackie, Lakeith Stanfield, and Demi Moore will star in Boots Riley’s I Love Boosters for Neon, which will finance, produce and distribute worldwide.

Riley’s follow-up to his Sundance 2018 debut Sorry To Bother You is scheduled to begin production this autumn, with Aaron Ryder and Andrew Swett producing for Ryder Picture Company, alongside Savage Rose Films’ Allison Rose Carter and Jon Read. Mike Jackman and Gus Deardoff will serve as executive producers.

I Love Boosters follows a group of shoplifters, also known as boosters, who go after a ruthless fashion maven. Additional casting is underway. Neon...

Neon has boarded worldwide rights to Boots Riley’s I Love Boosters to star Keke Palmer, Naomi Ackie, Lakeith Stanfield, and Demi Moore and will distribute in the US and handle international sales.

Riley’s follow-up to his Sundance 2018 debut Sorry To Bother You is scheduled to begin production this autumn, with Aaron Ryder and Andrew Swett producing for Ryder Picture Company, alongside Savage Rose Films’ Allison Rose Carter and Jon Read. Mike Jackman and Gus Deardoff will serve as executive producers.

I Love Boosters follows a group of shoplifters, also known as boosters, who go after a ruthless fashion maven.

Exclusive: Boots Riley looks to have found his next project and has landed quite the ensemble, as sources tell Deadline he is partnering with Neon on his film I Love Boosters. Keke Palmer, Naomi Ackie, Lakeith Stanfield and Demi Moore are set to star, with additional casting underway. Principal photography set to begin this fall.

Aaron Ryder and Andrew Swett are producing on behalf of Ryder Picture Company along with Savage Rose Films’ Allison Rose Carter and Jon Read. Mike Jackman, Gus Deardoff, Ken Kao, Josh Rosenbaum, Annapurna and Neon will serve as executive producers. Neon is financing the film with Waypoint Entertainment and will handle the worldwide rights.

The film centers on a ring of enterprising boosters who take aim at a cutthroat fashion maven. Additional plot details are under wraps.

Riley is a multihyphenate working across film and music as a director, producer and screenwriter.

Update: Jeymes Samuel has released a statement denying the World of Reel’s Blade report. Samuel wrote, “I don’t know where these rumors start, but I am not in talks to do Blade with Marvel. I love me the Daywalker tho, I cannot wait to watch that joint. Sidebar: When Blade 2 came out I prayed they would make: ‘Wesley Snipes/Christopher Lee – Blade III.’ It didn’t happen sadly.“

The original article follows:

The fact that there was going to be a Blade reboot as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, starring Mashershala Ali in the title role, came as a huge surprise when the announcement was made at the San Diego Comic-Con back in July of 2019… but we’ve passed the five year anniversary of that announcement, and we still haven’t seen a new Blade movie. The closest we’ve gotten is Ali making a vocal...

Blade Reboot Reportedly Still Doesn't Have a Director - Main Image

There are several projects that sound great but could never get off the ground. For a while, it was the Sandman movie—which became a series, and then there was the Green Lantern reboot—which also got retooled for television. Another project that seems to be languishing in development hell is the Marvel Studios’ Blade reboot with Mahershala Ali.

The film was announced back in 2019, and there has been no significant update since. Now, the film just received a major update—but it’s not one the fans are going to be happy with.

Jeymes Samuel Reportedly Exits Blade Reboot

Reports have been going around recently that director Jeymes Samuel could be up for the Blade reboot helm, and some have said that he was able to impress Marvel with his pitch for the film. However, according to Jeff Sneider...

Marvel Studios' Blade reboot has been plagued by production woes ever since it was first announced over four years ago, going through a number of directors and writers.

The project finally seemed to be back on track after a recent update claimed that shooting was set to commence this Fall, but we recently learned that director Yann Demange will no longer helm the movie.

These continuous setbacks have led to speculation that the project has been shelved, but we have been assured that it is still moving forward with Mahershala Ali attached to star as the Daywalker, and we're now hearing that Marvel may have settled on a new director.

According to The World of Reel's Jordan Ruimy, the studio recently met with several potential directors, and Jeymes Samuel "impressed the Marvel brass." He doesn't know if the filmmaker has officially entered talks, but believes there's a good chance he will ultimately land the gig.

Marvel Studios' Blade reboot has been plagued by production woes ever since it was first announced over four years ago, going through a number of directors and writers.

The project finally seemed to be back on track after a recent update claimed that shooting was set to commence this Fall, but we recently learned that director Yann Demange will no longer helm the movie.

These continuous setbacks have led to speculation that the project has been shelved, but we have been assured that it is still moving forward with Mahershala Ali attached to star as the Daywalker, and we're now hearing that Marvel may have settled on a new director.

According to The World of Reel's Jordan Ruimy, the studio recently met with several potential directors, and Jeymes Samuel "impressed the Marvel brass." He doesn't know if the filmmaker has officially entered talks, but believes there's a good chance he will ultimately land the gig.

Marvel’s troubled Blade reboot – which has been in limbo for years now – may finally have a script, a director and a shoot date.

While Marvel Studios is having a fair old crack at pulling itself out of the creative and commercial malaise that has set in over the last couple of years, one project that keeps dominating the headlines and reminding us of the studio’s rocky fortunes is Blade, the announced title that will feature Mahershala Ali as the MCU’s premier vampire hunter.

Blade’s path to production has been something of a mess, with the project already burning through two directors (Bassam Tariq and Yann Demange) and around six writers, including Michael Green, Stacy Osei-Kuffour, Michael Starrbury, Beau DeMayo and Nic Pizzolatto. Getting that many writers to take a crack at a script isn’t that unusual, but having so much of this process played out...

Benedict Cumberbatch has crafted for himself a stellar career with captivating performances across different genres, mediums, and franchises. Currently known best for his Marvel Cinematic Universe role of the mysterious Doctor Strange, the British actor is one of the few who have landed their talents in various franchises like The Lord of the Rings prequel film trilogy, The Hobbit.

Benedict Cumberbatch | Credit: Image by Gage Skidmore, licensed under Cc By-sa 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Apart from his movie roles, that dabble with action, adventure, crime, and superheroes to Shakespeare and drama, Cumberbatch is famous for his remarkable portrayal of the brilliant fictitious detective, Sherlock Holmes in Sherlock. His success on both the big and small screen has garnered him widespread acclaim and fame.

But respect and recognition are not the only things The Imitation Game star has earned in his decades-long career, for his high-profile roles and diverse projects have led...

D’Angelo released his last album, Black Messiah, nearly 10 years ago, and according to longtime collaborator Raphael Saadiq, his long-awaited follow up is in the works.

Saadiq revealed the status of D’Angelo’s new album on an episode of the Rolling Stone Music Now podcast. “D’s in a good space,” Saadiq told Rolling Stone. “He’s excited. He’s like, ‘you gotta play bass. I’ve got this track. I’m telling you, you got to get on it. It got your name all over it.’ … He’s working on six pieces right now and he seems super excited.”

D’Angelo historically works at his own pace, and Saadiq claims that his new album has been in the works for a while. Among the new songs, Saadiq confirms one is an old track from Linwood Rose, a short-lived supergroup that featured D’Angelo, Saadiq, and the rapper Q-Tip.

“I...

The Kith and Giorgio Armani collaboration hits keep coming.

On the heels of Martin Scorsese’s high-profile debut in the campaign as “The Artist,” Lakeith Stanfield joins the ranks as “The Entertainer,” modeling a series of luxe looks for the one-of-a-kind collection which marks the first collaboration for the house of Armani.

“As both an actor and musician, Mr. Stanfield’s charismatic and versatile performances have been lauded by critics and audiences alike, making him the epitome of an entertainer,” Kith says in a statement about casting Stanfield, whose credits include Atlanta, The Harder They Fall, The Book of Clarence and Judas and the Black Messiah. “Lakeith is also well-regarded for his personal style — a trait synonymous with being an entertainer.”

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The line is not yet available to the masses, however, it is on view and ripe for purchase...

Nikki Taylor will always be Teyana Taylor‘s biggest cheerleader. The mother of one has supported her daughter, Teyana, since the singer and actor was born on December 10, 1990. These days, the gorgeous duo looks more like sisters. They certainly had fun together at Harlem’s Fashion Row Fashion Show & Style Awards.

Teyana Taylor at the Harlem’s Fashion Row Fashion Show & Style Awards | 1st photo: Theo Wargo/Getty Images; 2nd and 3rd photos: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images

When Teyana was born in Harlem, NYC, Nikki was in a relationship with her father, Tito Smith. Her parents did not stay together — Smith has three children from another relationship. But Teyana is proud of her heritage received from both parents. The “Gonna Love Me” singer is of Trinidadian and African American descent. As the only child of Nikki, Teyana is her mom’s everything.

Who is Nikki Taylor, Teyana Taylor’s mom?...

We found out last month that Silver Linings Playbook Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence and The Batman star Robert Pattinson have the lead roles in the thriller Die, My Love, which is coming our way from We Need to Talk About Kevin and You Were Never Really Here director Lynne Ramsay. Now Deadline reports that Lakeith Stanfield – whose credits include The Book of Clarence, Atlanta, Sorry to Bother You, Judas and the Black Messiah, The Harder They Fall, Haunted Mansion, Short Term 12, Knives Out, Selma, Uncut Gems, Death Note, The Girl in the Spider’s Web, The Changeling, War Machine, Straight Outta Compton, and Get Out (pictured above) – is in final negotiations to join Lawrence and Pattinson in the cast.

Scripted by Ramsay and Enda Walsh, Die, My Love is said to be “set in a remote forgotten rural area,” with the story centering on a mother who struggles to maintain...

Exclusive: Lakeith Stanfield is in final negotiations to star opposite Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson in the thriller Die, My Love, which Lynne Ramsay is directing. Ramsay also co-wrote the script with Enda Walsh.

Set in a remote forgotten rural area, the story follows a mother who struggles to maintain her sanity as she battles with psychosis. It is unknown who Stanfield would play.

Justine Ciarrocchi and Lawrence (through their Excellent Cadaver banner), Martin Scorsese, Andrea Calderwood and Black Label Media producing. Black Label Media is also financing pic.

Stanfield is continuing to deliver a diversified slate as he continue to be one of Hollywood’s busier stars. He was most recently seen in Sony and Legendary’s The Book of Clarence as well as Disney’s The Haunted Mansion. On the TV side, he starred in the Apple TV+ drama The Changeling, which he also exec produced.

In 2021, he...

Exclusive: Academy Award winner Ariana DeBose (West Side Story), Emmy Award winner Rachel Brosnahan (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), Academy Award nominee Lakeith Stanfield (Judas and the Black Messiah), Emmy Award winner Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones), Chris Messina (Argo), Ted Levine (The Silence of the Lambs), Danny Huston (The Constant Gardener), Matthew Jacobs (Bar America), Rhys Coiro (Entourage) and Stephen Dorff (Blade) have joined Academy Award winners Al Pacino and Jessica Chastain in Bernard Rose’s Lear Rex, a film adaptation of Shakespeare’s King Lear.

Barry Navidi is the producer, marking his fifth collaboration with Pacino following The Merchant of Venice, Wilde Salomé, Salomé as well as this year’s Modi directed by Johnny Depp. Sharon Howard-Field, the film’s Casting Director, shares a long working history with Navidi. Navidi’s finance partners are Mattias Westman of Westman Films, Eco Entertainment, Dali Films and World Vision. CAA Media Finance...

The Grammys’ visual media field honors the best in music made for film, television and other formats. This year’s contenders range from blockbuster soundtracks to more under-the-radar but important material from critically beloved artists.

For Best Song for Visual Media, the race is full of plausible winners. Olivia Rodrigo could take home another Grammy this year here for “Can’t Catch Me Now,” the lead single from the “Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” soundtrack. There’s precedent for Rodrigo, as Taylor Swift previously won here for a song from the same franchise, “Safe and Sound” from the original “Hunger Games”; both, however, were snubbed by the Oscars.

Speaking of Oscars, one Academy Award-nominated song that could be a contender here is “It Never Went Away” performed and co-written by Grammy favorite Jon Batiste for his documentary “American Symphony.” Batiste doesn’t always win at these awards,...

The film industry might have some of the best-paying jobs in the world, but it is not exactly a safe place. Despite using the most advanced equipment and employing the best professionals, accidents do happen. And they might leave quite a mark, as in Star Trek: First Contact‘s star Alfre Woodard’s case.

Alfre Woodard and Lakeith Stanfield in The Book of Clarence (2023)| Legendary Pictures

Known for her stellar performances in Annabelle and 12 Years a Slave, and her several Primetime Emmy wins, Woodard joined the Star Trek universe on a friend’s recommendation. However, it didn’t turn out so well for her.

The disastrous set explosion that injured Alfre Woodard James Cromwell and Alfre Woodard in Star Trek: First Contact| Paramount

Alfre Woodard was already a famous name before she was invited to star in Star Trek: The Next Generation‘s first movie, Star Trek: First Contact,...

BET honored Black excellence in music, television, film, and sports across more than 20 categories at the BET Awards 2024 on Sunday, June 30 (8Pm Et/Pt). The star-studded lineup of performers at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles included Lauryn Hill & Yg Marley, Tanner Adell, GloRilla, Ice Spice, Latto, Muni Long, Sexyy Red, Shaboozey, Will Smith, Tyla and Victoria Monét, alongside presenters Andra Day, Colman Domingo, DC Young Fly, Devale Ellis, Jay Ellis, Jessica Betts, Ms. Pat, Niecy Nash-Betts, Saucy Santana and more.

Oscar nominee and Golden Globe winner Taraji P. Henson returned to host “Culture’s Biggest Night,” and Grammy-winning global icon Usher was honored with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement BET Award. Drake led all nominees with seven bids and Megan Thee Stallion opened up the ceremony. See the full list of nominees and winners below.

Album of the Year

Chris Brown, “11:11”

Gunna, “A Gift & A Curse”

21 Savage, “American Dream”

Usher,...

Cinema posters and in-cinema trailers are the way that most audiences hear about films they watch according to research presented by box office data gatherer Comscore in a private session at the CineEurope trade convention in Barcelona this week.

The opportunities for cinemas presented by the twin phenomena of solo cinema attendance and passive accompaniment were also highlighted by Comscore.

Lucy Jones, Comscore executive director for UK and Ireland, presented the data – based on PostTrak research at UK cinemas from January to May 2024 – to a closed session attended by members of Unic, the International Union of Cinemas.

In cinema marketing...

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is now available on Premium Video on Demand and Premium Electronic Sell-Through from Lionsgate, and following its launch, we were able to sit down with star Babs Olusanmokun (Dune; Dune: Part Two; The Book of Clarence) to talk about his pivotal role in the Guy Ritchie-directed actioner.

In the film, Olusanmokun plays Richard Heron, one of the members of the team and works closely with Eiza González ("Marjorie Stewart") to take down the Nazis by land while the rest of the team head to the sea. He tells me about the importance of telling this story, his experience working with Guy Ritchie again, and a whole lot more.

Additionally, the film will also be available on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD on June 25!

Watch our full video interview with Babs Olusanmokun below and/or keep scrolling to read the transcript. Plus, please remember...

BET announced the 2024 BET Awards nominees today. Drake leads the nominations with seven, while Nicki Minaj has six.

BET also announced “BET Awards” 2024 performance lineup, which includes GloRilla, Latto, Muni Long, Sexyy Red, Shaboozey, and Victoria Monét.

The BET Awards 2024, will air live on BET on Sunday, June 30, 2024, at 8 pm Et/ Pt.

Here are the nominees:

Album Of The Year

11:11, Chris Brown

A Gift & A Curse, Gunna

American Dream, 21 Savage

Coming Home, Usher

For All The Dogs (Scary Hours Edition), Drake

Jaguar Ii, Victoria Monét

Michael, Killer Mike

Pink Friday 2, Nicki Minaj

Best Female R&b/Pop Artist

Beyoncé

Coco Jones

Doja Cat

H.E.R.

Muni Long

Sza

Tyla

Victoria Monét

Best Male R&b/Pop Artist

Brent Faiyaz

Bryson Tiller

Burna Boy

Chris Brown

Drake

Fridayy

October London

Usher

Best Group

¥$, Ye, Ty Dolla $Ign

2 Chainz & Lil Wayne

41

Blxst & Bino Rideaux

City Girls

Flo

Maverick City Music

Wanmor...

Sony Pictures Entertainment’s full fiscal-year 2023 operating income fell to $808 million from $894 million in dollar terms, with sales creeping up slightly to $10.32 billion from $10.14 billion.

Spe comprises motion pictures, television productions and media networks, and the fiscal-year 2023 performance of those three segments was impacted by the dual Hollywood strikes.

Sony’s fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, and in that period, Motion Pictures unit revenue amounted to $3.74 billion, up from $3.44 billion from a year ago. Spe released 17 films during the period including Insidious: The Red Door, Love Again, The Pope’s Exorcist, The Machine, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, No Hard Feelings, Gran Turismo, The Equalizer 3, Thanksgiving, Dumb Money, Napoleon, Anyone But You and Madame Web.

In Sony’s fiscal fourth quarter, the film division saw operating income of $208 million, up from the $119 million in the year-ago quarter. In the latest quarter, the film division benefitted from the performance of the Sydney Sweeney...

Margot Robbie and Rosamund Pike are among the nominees for the National Film Awards.The stars of 'Barbie' and 'Saltburn' respectively will compete against talent including Patricia Hodge ('Arthur's Whiskey'), Jo Hartley ('Swede Caroline'), Eiza Gonzalez ('The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare') and Emma Stone ('Poor Things)' in a star-studded Best Actress category.This year's ceremony is set to take place on July 3 at the Porchester Hall in London and marks the 10th anniversary of the prestigious awards. It will feature a lineup of nominees from around the globe consisting of seasoned acting veterans and emerging young talents.The Best Actor category is equally competitive with stars including Barry Keoghan ('Saltburn), Kevin Hart ('Lift') and Ewan McGregor ('Bleeding Love') competing for the prize with Kane Robinson ('The Kitchen') and Lakeith Stanfield ('Book of Clarence').Meanwhile,...

The box office has been firmly in recovery mode for several years now. The pandemic, it's no secret, completely upended the business, and movie theaters have been trying to figure out what the future looks like ever since. Hollywood, for its part, has been doing the same, attempting to balance its streaming-focused operations with the need to release movies in theaters. 2024 has brought forth yet another challenge as the Screen Actors Guild and Writers Guild of America strikes last year resulted in a disappointingly bare release calendar. Dire though it has seemed at times, there have been many bright spots in the darkness.

Yes, we've had more than a few box office flops this year, ranging from superhero films like "Madame Web" to total whiffs like "The Book of Clarence." Those flops have helped create a rough situation. However, we've also had quite a few hits. Not just movies that...

Lakeith Stanfield has entered into negotiations to star in and produce a feature adaptation of the hit neo-noir video game ‘El Paso, Elsewhere’.

The story will follow James Savage (Stanfield), who, while recovering from a toxic relationship, confronts both his inner demons and enigmatic ex-girlfriend, Janet, before she executes a world-ending ritual. James navigates her reality-bending universe of ethereal monsters while facing the truth of his own addictions and skewed sense of self-worth, learning that the only route to love is through healing.

Also in news – Steve Buscemi joins season 2 of ‘Wednesday’

The production of an upcoming project will be a collaborative effort between Lorenzo di Bonaventura’s Di Bonaventura Pictures, known for their work on blockbuster franchises such as Transformers and G.I. Joe, and Colin Stark. Both parties will be actively involved in the production process.

Stanfield’s most recently appeared in ‘The Book of Clarence’ and is known...

An indie action game akin to Max Payne, El Paso, Elsewhere is to become a film, with Lakeith Stanfield in talks to star.

Developed by indie studio Strange Scaffold – headed up by designer Xalavier Nelson Jr – third-person action videogame El Paso, Elsewhere was released to glowing reviews in 2023. Less than a year later, the Max Payne-esque shooter is to be adapted into a movie, it’s been announced.

Producer Lorenzo Di Bonaventura has picked up the rights to the game though his company – the logically-named Di Bonaventura Pictures – meaning it’ll share a figurative stable with such properties as Transformers and GI Joe.

According to Variety, Lakeith Stanfield – whose latest film, the irreverent comedy The Book Of Clarence, is in UK cinemas now – is to star in the adaptation.

El Paso, Elsewhere is about a vampire hunter named James Savage, whose ex-girlfriend – named Draculae – is rather awkwardly a vampire herself.

He's been back on our screens recently, reuniting with writer/director Jeymes Samuel for Biblical comedy drama The Book Of Clarence, but Lakeith Stanfield has his eye on something quite different. He's now joining forces with Transformers producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura to develop and potentially star in a film adaptation of neo-noir vampire video game El Paso, Elsewhere.

The game, developed and published by Strange Scaffold in September last year, has become a success, and takes its inspiration from the Max Payne games, with retro graphics. It follows a vampire hunter tasked with stopping his ex-girlfriend's (a vampire! Sound the irony klaxon!) evil schemes.

You want an official logline for the movie version? Step right up: "Recovering from a toxic relationship, James Savage (Stanfield) confronts both his inner demons and enigmatic ex-girlfriend, Janet, before she executes a world-ending ritual. James navigates her reality-bending universe of ethereal monsters while facing the...

Lakeith Stanfield, whose credits include Get Out, The Book of Clarence, Sorry to Bother You, Atlanta, The Harder They Fall, and Haunted Mansion, has signed on to star in the video game adaptation El Paso, Elsewhere, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. Stanfield will also be producing the film alongside Lorenzo di Bonaventura (who is best known for being behind the Transformers franchise) and Colin Stark.

Developed and published by Strange Scaffold, El Paso, Elsewhere is a third-person shooter video game that follows a vampire hunter named James Savage who is on the hunt for his ex-girlfriend, named Janet (Aka Draculae), who seeks to bring about the end of the world.

The producers of the film adaptation provided the following logline: Recovering from a toxic relationship, James Savage (Stanfield) confronts both his inner demons and enigmatic ex-girlfriend, Janet, before she executes a world-ending ritual. James navigates her reality-bending universe of ethereal...

Lakeith Stanfield, who most recently starred in The Book of Clarence for Sony, is teaming up with veteran producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura for El Paso, Elsewhere, an adaptation of the neo-noir vampire video game from publisher Strange Scaffold.

Stanfield is in talks to star in the feature and will also produce along with di Bonaventura, who is known for his action movies such as the Transformers franchise. Colin Stark will also produce

There is no writer or director, as the project is still being packaged in the hopes of finding a studio home. The package is seen as buzzy, as it is a video game adaptation, a bustling genre thanks to titles such as The Last of Us, the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, and the most recent hit, Fallout.

The game centers on a vampire hunter named James Savage who is on the hunt for his ex-girlfriend, named Janet (Aka...

Academy Award nominee Lakeith Stanfield (The Book of Clarence) is in talks to star in and produce a feature adaptation of the hit neo-noir video game El Paso, Elsewhere, Deadline has learned.

Lorenzo di Bonaventura’s Di Bonaventura Pictures and Colin Stark will also produce.

The film will center on James Savage (Stanfield), who while recovering from a toxic relationship, confronts both his inner demons and enigmatic ex-girlfriend, Janet, before she executes a world-ending ritual. James navigates her reality-bending universe of ethereal monsters while facing the truth of his own addictions and skewed sense of self-worth, learning that the only route to love is through healing.

Released in September 2023, the game was developed by Strange Scaffold, the development label of BAFTA nominee Xalavier Nelson Jr.

Known for roles in films like Judas and the Black Messiah, The Book of Clarence, Knives Out and Selma, Stanfield has...

RankFilm (distributor)Three-day gross (Apr 19-21)Total gross to dateWeek 1. Back To Black (Studiocanal) £1.9m £6.4m 2 2. Civil War (Entertainment Film Distributors) £1.1m £3.8m 3 3. Kung Fu Panda 4 (Universal) £898,807 £18.6m 4 4. Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire (Warner Bros) £649,284 £12.9m 4 5. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (Sony) £594,971 £594,971 1

Gbp to Usd conversion rate: 1.23

Amy Winehouse biopic Back To Black topped the UK-Ireland box office chart for a second weekend; as horror Abigail started fifth on a weekend dominated by holdover titles.

Back To Black added £1.9m – a decent hold from its opening, falling just 30.1%. This is a better second-weekend hold than recent music biopics, including this...

Phew! After last week's single-guest situation, we're back to our bumper-sized best on this week's Empire Podcast. One of our favourite interviewees, Dan Stevens, returns to the pod after a brief hiatus, to tell Chris Hewitt all about his new film, Abigail, and his all-timer of a character intro in Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire. Warning: Chris and Dan also discuss the origin of Dan's true character name in Abigail, which some might consider a mild spoiler. So be careful! Chris also has a lovely chat this week with Ed Skrein and Fra Fee, the villainous duo from Zack Snyder's Rebel Moon Part 2: The Scargiver. The trio talk about many things — accents, acting, Northern Ireland — but not, repeat, not football. And finally, the two Alex Gs — Godfrey and Garland — get together for a deep dive into Civil War, in an extended excerpt from our forthcoming spoiler special interview.

Universal’s vampire horror Abigail is aiming to take a bite out of the box office this weekend, as it opens in 545 sites in the UK and Ireland for Universal – the widest new opener of the weekend.

The film follows a kidnapping that goes outrageously awry. It shot in Ireland and is directed by US filmmakers Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett – the team behind Scream and Scream VI. The cast includes Matilda The Musical’s Alisha Weir in the titular role, alongside Melissa Barrera and Dan Stevens. Production companies are Project X Entertainment, Vinson Films and Radio Silence.

It’s...

The Book Of Clarence postulates apostle traits for an invented figure whose place among the apocrypha opens with a chariot race. That's a competition with a heavy wager to pay off a debt to a criminal figure, and over-leveraged borrowing is everywhere in the film.

The presence of a parallel Messiah can't but be compared to Life Of Brian. This was filmed in Matera, the Unesco heritage Italian village carved into the cliffs of a steep valley which was also where The Passion Of The Christ was shot. If those seem uncomfortable tonal companions then know that The Book Of Clarence is full of similar variety, with similarly mixed results.

Lakeith Stanfield's charisma does a lot of the lifting, from stolen cloaks to various spirits. Omar Sy as the slave gladiator Barabbas first appears wearing a helmet that seems to be based on the mask worn by rapper Mf Doom,...

The mark of a successful actor goes beyond top billing, box office draw, trophies and name-dropping headlines. Perhaps the purest indicator of an actor’s success is when they show up on screen and the audience immediately trusts that they’re going to add something genuinely interesting to the story being told. Well, Babs Olusanmokun has belonged to this category of actor for quite some time now, and Guy Ritchie’s latest film, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, makes excellent use of the Nigerian-American actor, including his innately enigmatic presence and the mellifluous rasp of his voice.

Olusanmokun and Ritchie previously worked together on the Jason Statham-led Wrath of Man (2021), and they nearly worked together again in Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre (2023). Instead, Ungentlemanly Warfare became their second go-round, and Olusanmokun received a major promotion, jumping from 26th billing on Wrath of Man to fifth billing. His undercover spy character,...

Studiocanal’s Amy Winehouse biopic “Back to Black” debuted atop the U.K and Ireland box office with £2.77 million ($3.4 million), according to numbers from Comscore.

It was neck-and-neck for the second spot. Entertainment Film Distributors’ “Civil War,” directed by Alex Garland and starring Kirsten Dunst, debuted with £1.82 million, including previews. In its third weekend, Universal’s “Kung Fu Panda 4” collected £1.75 million over the three-day weekend for a running total of £17.29 million.

In fourth place, in its third weekend, Warner Bros.’ “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” took in £1.18 million for a total of £11.89 million. Rounding off the top five, in its fourth weekend, Sony’s “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” earned £787,000 for a total of £14.06 million.

There were two debuts in the top 10, both from India. Rft Films’ Malayalam-language “Aavesham,” starring Fahadh Faasil, opened in ninth place with £207,300, while Yash Raj Films’ Bollywood film “Bade Miyan Chote Miyan,” with Akshay Kumar,...

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What's the worst Stanley Kubrick movie? If you could ask Kubrick himself, he'd likely tell you the answer is "Fear and Desire," his debut feature. And by most accounts, "Fear and Desire" is definitely near the bottom of the list when it comes to Kubrick films. It's a clunky, clumsy movie that Kubrick himself called "a presumptuous failure." He also stated: "It's not a film I remember with any pride, except for the fact it was finished."

Kubrick disliked the film so much that he would've been happy if no one actually watched it. By some accounts, the filmmaker even tried to destroy the film. Eventually, its copyright lapsed and it fell into the public domain for all to see — provided anyone could find a print. Which they couldn't — until 1994. That year, a version of the film was found and...

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is about to welcome the Fantastic Four. The group, led by The Last of Us fame Pedro Pascal, will pit an older group of superheroes against Silver Surfer and Galactus, two well-known villains. After keeping us guessing for months, Marvel has finally revealed that Julia Garner—best known for starring in the Netflix series Ozark—is being cast as Silver Surfer.

Doug Jones as the Silver Surfer in a still from Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer

It should be noted, however, that this version will be Shalla-Bal, Silver Surfer’s romantic interest in Marvel Comics. But it seems not everyone is happy with the latest Marvel update on the upcoming flick.

Lakeith Stanfield, best known for his dynamic acting range in films such as Sorry to Bother You and Judas and the Black Messiah, expressed disappointment when Garner was announced as the new Silver Surfer.

The season of the very first sign of the zodiac is here, and that’s exactly why being a leader comes so easy for Aries folks.

And that’s no joke, Aries really don’t know what else to be but a boss, CEO or innovator, because they’d rather play by their own rules. They march to the beat of their own drum and rarely ever need anyone to play backup instrumentals. Their charm, playful personality and great sense of humor make up for their impulsiveness and sometimes hot-temper, and there’s absolutely no other sign who will keep it all the way real with you like an Aries does, even if it’s something you don’t want to hear. They tell it like it is, as dishonesty goes against their entire m.o.

As ambitious as they are — known for being some of the greatest to ever...

Teyana Taylor had a breakout year as an actress last year, starring in “The Book of Clarence,” “White Men Can’t Jump,” and most notably her Film Independent Spirit Award-nominated performance in the brilliant “A Thousand and One.” But the R&b star is now making the leap to feature film director.

Taylor is set to make her feature directorial debut on a film called “Get Lite” that is now in development at Paramount Pictures, an individual with knowledge of the project told IndieWire. She’s cast Storm Reid in the lead role.

Reid is also producing the film through her production banner A Seed & Wings Productions, and she’ll be producing alongside “Black-ish” creator Kenya Barris via his Khalabo Ink Society. Taylor is executive producing.

“Get Lite” is the story of a studious New York City teenager who has his world upended when he falls for a charismatic beatmaker...

“Lupin” star Omar Sy, “Fast X” director Louis Leterrier and “Gangs of London” producer Thomas Benski have launched Carrousel Studios, a European independent production company with offices in Paris, London, Los Angeles and Senegal.

The banner will finance and produce film and TV projects, with an emphasis on elevated action, thrillers, sci-fi, fantasy and comedy. The company will look to tap into tax credits, European incentives and brands to finance content. CAA Media Finance architected the financing for the venture.

Sy, Leterrier and Benski, who have worked together on several series and films, said the name of the company, Carrousel, reflects its inclusive DNA. “A carrousel’s sole purpose is to entertain, no matter where the riders come from, no matter their age or background,” explained the trio in a joint statement. “Additionally, the word carrousel is understood around the globe and associated with magical moments. Our Carrousel will have that same feel,...

French star Omar Sy (Lupin, The Intouchables) is joining forces with Fast X and Transporter director Louis Leterrier and producer Thomas Benski (American Honey, Gangs of London) to launch Carrousel Studios, a new European independent studio.

Billed as an “artists-first” studio, Carrousel aims to focus on elevated genre, in the film and TV, to “lean into elevated action, thrillers, sci-fi, fantasy and comedy projects,” according to a statement, by taking advantage of “myriad tax credits, subsidies, cost of production, incredible talent (in front and behind the camera) as well as other European incentives.”

All three men are represented by CAA and CAA Media Finance set up the financing for the venture. Carrousel Studios will have offices in Paris, London, Los Angeles and Senegal.

The company name is meant to evoke a spirit of entertainment. “By definition, a carrousel’s sole purpose is to entertain, no matter where the riders come from,...

Festivals And Markets

The 2024 BFI London Film Festival has announced its dates, with the biggest film festival in the U.K. set to be held Oct. 9-20. The late-in-the-year slot has traditionally given the event the opportunity to program some of the most notable films from the summer festivals while also showcasing some of the biggest titles from the U.K. In 2023, the Lff opened with the European premiere of “Saltburn,” and included screenings of “Maestro,” “The Holdovers,” “Poor Things” and “Priscilla,” but also featured the world premieres of “Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget,” and “The Book of Clarence.”

Submissions of the U.K. and Irish shorts and features are still open for the 2024 festival. The final date for entry is May 24.

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Busan’s Asian Contents and Film Market (Acfm) has appointed Ellen Y. D. Kim as director. Her four-year term commences March 8. She previously held several positions within...