Sacha Baron Cohen will not portray Freddie Mercury in a new biopic film, says Queen guitarist Brian May.
The project has been in development for the past six years and was recently put on hold due to alleged arguments between Baron Cohen and surviving Queen members May and Roger Taylor about the tone and approach of the film, culminating in Baron Cohen leaving the project two years ago.
Yesterday, it was reported that Queen's manager Jim Beach confirmed the “important breakthrough” of Baron Cohen's renewed involvement after he received the Peter Grant accolade for Outstanding Achievement at the Artist and Manager Awards in London last week. However, now May has taken to his official website to confirm that this was a "joke".
May writes: "[There was] a small joke that Jim threw in during his acceptance speech. He said that, in response to [inquiries] about the progress on the Freddie feature film, that Sacha Baron Cohen had been re-engaged to write, produce, and direct the film, as well as starring in all four major roles! I’m afraid some folks might have taken it seriously!"
May had previously denied that Baron Cohen left the project on bad terms at the time, telling Classic Rock, "It's quite difficult to talk about because we owe Sacha a lot. He had so much enthusiasm for the project and it really helped us kick it into the start position. But in the end we felt that his presence in the movie would be very distracting.”
Other names rumoured to have replaced Baron Cohen in the lead role include Skyfall actor Ben Whishaw and Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe, the latter quickly denying rumours, saying: "I am completely wrong for that part!"
The film doesn't appear to have a schedule or potential release date.
Brian May denies that Sacha Baron Cohen will play Freddie Mercury in Queen biopic
First trailer for 'The Walking Dead' spin-off released - watch
The first trailer has been released for Fear The Walking Dead, the forthcoming The Walking Dead spin-off series.
The brief teaser premiered during The Walking Dead's Season Five finale on US cable network AMC last night (March 29) and is now available to watch online. Earlier this month (March) AMC announced that it has ordered two seasons of the spin-off series and its title, Fear The Walking Dead, was revealed on Friday (March 27).
The first season of Fear The Walking Dead will comprise six episodes and is expected to premiere on AMC towards the end of the summer. The second season, whose length has yet to be determined, will follow in 2016.
The spin-off series is set in the midst of the same zombie apocalypse as The Walking Dead, but takes place in a different location, Los Angeles. The spin-off has been co-created by Robert Kirkman, whose graphic novel also provided the basis for The Walking Dead. Its main cast includes young British actor Frank Dillane, who played Tom Riddle in Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince, and former Treme star Kim Dickens.
The Walking Dead has been a huge hit for AMC since it debuted in 2010, with its Season Five premiere, shown in October, attracting the highest ever audience for a drama in US cable TV history.
Sacha Baron Cohen To Play Freddie Mercury On Screen
The stalled Queen biopic that was set to feature Sacha Baron Cohen in the lead role is back in action with the Borat and Ali G creator due to write, direct and star as the legendary frontman in the movie. The project, which has been in development for the past six years has been off and on due to alleged arguments between Baron Cohen and surviving Queen members Brian May and Roger Taylor about the tone and approach, culminating in Baron Cohen leaving the project two years ago.
As reported in Metro, Queen's manager Jim Beach confirmed the “important breakthrough” of Baron Cohen's renewed involvement after he received the Peter Grant accolade for Outstanding Achievement at the Artist and Manager Awards in London last week.
Baron Cohen has been set to star as Mercury since the film was announced in September 2010 but pulled out two summers ago, reportedlybecause he and the surviving Queen members were unable to agree on the type of movie they wanted to make. Queen drummer Roger Taylor said: "We felt Sacha probably wasn't right in the end. We didn't want it to be a joke. We want people to be moved."
May denied Baron Cohen left the project on bad terms at the time, telling Classic Rock, "It's quite difficult to talk about because we owe Sacha a lot. He had so much enthusiasm for the project and it really helped us kick it into the start position. But in the end we felt that his presence in the movie would be very distracting.”
Previous names rumoured to have replaced Baron Cohen in the lead role were Skyfall actor Ben Whishaw and Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe who quickly denied rumours, saying: "I am completely wrong for that part!"
The film doesn't appear to have a schedule or potential release date yet but will likely be the next project Cohen works on after current film Grimsby is complete. Baron Cohen is still filming the controversial new movie, which has come under criticism for its portrayal of the Lincolnshire town of the same name.
Hugh Jackman hints that next 'Wolverine' film will be his last
Hugh Jackman has hinted that the next solo Wolverine film will be his last appearance as the claw-sporting mutant.
Jackman is due to start shooting a sequel to 2013's The Wolverine early next year for a planned 2017 release. Director James Mangold will once again be behind the camera.
In an Instagram post yesterday (March 29), Jackman shared a picture referencing Wolverine's retractible claws with the caption: "WOLVERINE ...ONE LAST TIME. HJ"
WOLVERINE ...ONE LAST TIME. HJ
Mangold then responded to Jackman's post on Twitter, writing: "Can't wait to make this, HJ! Been toiling quietly a while now!
“@RealHughJackman: WOLVERINE ...ONE LAST TIME. HJ https://t.co/vlqMyFchGx” Can't wait to make this, HJ! Been toiling quietly a while now!
— Mangold (@mang0ld) March 29, 2015
Jackman first played Wolverine in 2000's X-Men and has now notched up six appearances as the popular comic book character: four in X-Men films and two as the star of standalone Wolverine movies. He is expected to reprise his role in next year's X-Men: Apocalypse, which director Bryan Singer is due to start shooting in Toronto next month (April), but this has yet to be confirmed.
Zelda Williams Opens Up About Her Father Robin Williams And Says He's 'Impossible To Forget'
She's really handle it as well as anyone could.
The passage of Robin Williams left millions of people with a broken heart, but no one suffered as much as the children of the actor.
But Zelda Williams came in a rare appearance on Friday with his mother Marsha Garces to Noble Awards in Beverly Hills.
And although, of course, wants to keep the memory of her father alive - she admits is basically unlikely to ever forget the bigger man than life.
[Related: Zelda Williams Legacy Father recalls Robin Williams' In his first sit-down interview since his death]
Here's what he said:
"For me it's easy to remember someone who is impossible to forget."
Zelda also talked about back in the spotlight and like something I felt I had to do was. She explained:
"It is not difficult, it's just a strange feeling. Nothing happens, that will be fine, but it's a transition. It is recognizing that you have to stop feeling that there is a world out there, because for a short period of time doesn "t."
You may remember Zelda has a beautiful tattoo of a hummingbird in memory of his father, and she explained that the tattoo to her, saying:
"If you saw it fly, and if you know a bit about them, are impossible to keep in one place. Whenever people see them not as they say, 'Oh, my God, a hawk for a hummingbird -flor, and that was the reaction that my father has, kids, fans, old people, and that's what always hummingbirds meant to me. "
Robin Williams and Marsha Garces really did a wonderful job with their children and Zelda is a shining example of his father.
She is only 25 and yet she is so wise at this point in your life. Robin Williams would be very proud of it.
Explosive new teaser for 'Mad Max: Fury Road' released - watch
An explosive new teaser clip for Mad Max: Fury Road has been released by Warner Bros.
The first Mad Max film in 30 years sees Tom Hardy take over the iconic title role from Mel Gibson, flanked by a supporting cast that includes Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Hugh Keays-Byrne, who appeared in the original 1979 Mad Max film.
George Miller, who directed the first two Mad Max films and co-directed the third, returned to shoot the fourth instalment and recently described Fury Road as a "westerns on wheels".
The film's official synopsis teases: "Haunted by his turbulent past, Mad Max believes the best way to survive is to wander alone. Nevertheless, he becomes swept up with a group fleeing across the Wasteland in a War Rig driven by an elite Imperator, Furiosa (Theron).
"They are escaping a Citadel tyrannised by the Immortan Joe (Hugh Keays-Byrne), from whom something irreplaceable has been taken. Enraged, the Warlord marshals all his gangs and pursues the rebels ruthlessly in the high-octane Road War that follows."
Mad Max: Fury Road is scheduled to open in cinemas on May 15, the day after it has its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in an out of competition screening.
Creator Chris Carter on 'The X-Files' revival: 'It'll be honest to the characters'
The X-Files creator Chris Carter has spoken about the show's eagerly-anticipated revival.
Fox announced on Tuesday (March 24) that it is bringing back the cult sci-fi show for a six-episode "event series". David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson will reprise their iconic roles as Fox Mulder and Dana Scully, with Carter returning as executive producer. Shooting is due to start this summer (2015) but further details about the event series have yet to be announced.
"It'll be honest to the characters, and what happened to them since the series ended and the second movie," Carter promised in an interview with The Daily Beast.
Continuing, Carter revealed that the event series has "no scripts yet" but he and the creative team have a "clear idea" of what they want to achieve. "I know what I want to do, how I want it to lay out - the balance of mythology to stand-alone episodes," he explained. "Even though none of us have had contracts, I've only had one since yesterday, the people that are going to be involved have been talking since the beginning of the year, so we have a clear idea of how this should be, or the best way we think this should be laid out."
The cult sci-fi show originally aired on Fox for nine seasons between 1993 and 2002 and also spawned a pair of spin-off films, released in 1998 and 2008. Fox first revealed in January that it was having "conversations" about reviving the much-loved series.
Asked whether the event series could lead to a third X-Files spin-off film, Carter replied: "I think… First things first, we just want to do six great episodes. We're all primed to do that, there are great stories to tell, and now it's just distilling it down to telling the best stories possible in the time we have."
Ryan Reynolds shares first picture of 'Deadpool' costume
Ryan Reynolds has shared the first picture of himself in costume as Deadpool in the forthcoming superhero movie of the same name.
"With great power, comes great irresponsibility," the actor wrote playfully as he posted the picture on Twitter earlier this afternoon (March 27).
With great power, comes great irresponsibility. #deadpool #officialsuit @deadpoolmovie pic.twitter.com/MPM89bYz1B
— Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) March 27, 2015
Reynolds first played Wade Wilson a.k.a. Deadpool, a Marvel Comics anti-hero famed for his over-chatty personality and tendency to break the fourth wall, in 2009's X-Men Origins: Wolverine. The character's long-awaited solo movie has been in the works since 2010.
Visual effects specialist Tim Miller, whose CV includes creating the opening sequence for 2013's Thor: The Dark World, is making his directorial debut from a script by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, the creators of US hoax-based comedy series The Joe Schmo Show.
Miller started shooting this Monday (March 23) in Vancouver, Canada with Reynolds topping a cast that includes Haywire's Gina Carano, former Homeland actress Morena Baccarin and Silicon Valley star T.J. Miller. Deadpool is set for release on February 16, 2016.
'Downton Abbey': ITV confirms upcoming sixth series will be the last
ITV has confirmed that Downton Abbey's forthcoming sixth series will be its last.
In a press statement released this afternoon (March 26), the show's executive producer Gareth Neame explained that its creative team "wanted to close the doors of Downton Abbey when it felt right and natural for the storylines to come together and when the show was still being enjoyed so much by its fans".
"We can promise a final season full of all the usual drama and intrigue, but with the added excitement of discovering how and where they all end up," Neame added.
Created by Julian Fellowes, Downton Abbey debuted on ITV in 2010 and has gone on to become a global smash. The series, which now airs in 250 territories worldwide, has won 11 Primetime Emmy Awards from a total of 51 nominations, making it the most nominated British show in Emmy history. It has also collected numerous BAFTA, NTA and Golden Globe prizes for its five series to date.
Fellowes said today: "The Downton journey has been amazing for everyone aboard. People ask if we knew what was going to happen when we started to make the first series and the answer is that, of course we had no idea. Exactly why the series had such an impact and reached so many people around the world, all nationalities, all ages, all types, I cannot begin to explain. But I do know how grateful we are to have been allowed this unique experience."
The sixth and final series of Downton Abbey is expected to air on ITV later this year (2015). It will consist of eight episodes and a Christmas Special.
'Batman v Superman': First picture of Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor revealed
The first picture of Jesse Eisenberg as the villainous Lex Luthor in Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice has been released.
Eisenberg, star of The Social Network and Now You See Me, is the third actor to play Superman's archenemy on the big screen following Gene Hackman, who portrayed Luthor in three films between 1978 and 1987, and Kevin Spacey, who depicted the bald baddie in 2006's Superman Returns.
"I don't know the history as well as the people making the movie," Eisenberg said shortly after landing the iconic role last year (2014)."So I guess it's up to them to figure out how much they want to separate it from previous incarnations. But I will treat it like it's its own role."
"There's no way to play the history of the character played by other people, unless you do some kind of wink, but that doesn't seem like a responsible way to act," he added. "So I will just do it as though it's a character."
The first picture of Eisenberg's Luthor was shared in a tweet by Entertainment Weekly earlier this afternoon (March 25).
Here's your exclusive first look at Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor in @BatmanvSuperman! http://t.co/wG87toA3li pic.twitter.com/BjvWQZvSdm
— Entertainment Weekly (@EW) March 25, 2015
Director Zack Snyder finished filming Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice in December (2014) and the eagerly-anticipated superhero sequel is set for release on March 25, 2016.
Alongside Eisenberg as Lex Luthor, Ben Affleck as Batman and Henry Cavill as Superman, the eagerly-anticipated film stasr Jason Momoa as Aquaman, Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, Amy Adams as Lois Lane and Jeremy Irons as Batman's butler Alfred. Videos of the Batmobile on set were recently leaked online and can be viewed here.
Idris Elba 'in talks' to play 'Star Trek 3' villain
Idris Elba is reportedly "in early talks" to play the villain in Star Trek 3.
The Luther actor's exact role in the film is being kept under wraps, Variety reports, but early rumours are suggesting that iconic Star Wars antagonists the Klingons could have a prominent role in the film.
Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Simon Pegg, Karl Urban, Zoe Saldana and Anton Yelchin are all on bard to return for Star Trek 3. Last month (February) Breaking Bad's Bryan Cranston was said to be in the frame to play the film's villain.
In January it was revealed that Pegg - who plays Scotty in the sci-fi franchise - is co-writing the screenplay for Star Trek 3 with Doug Jung, creator of US action TV series Dark Blue. Fast and the Furious director Justin Lin will be behind the camera after being hired in December. He takes over from JJ Abrams, who directed 2009's Star Trek and 2013's Star Trek Into Darkness but is now focusing on the new Star Wars movie. However, Abrams will still serve as one of the film's producers.
Star Trek 3 is due to start shooting in June. The sequel has no official release date or title yet but is expected to be released in July 2016 to coincide with the sci-fi franchise's 50th anniversary.
Exclusive Kill Me Three Times Clip Featuring Teresa Palmer and Alice Braga
Magnet Releasing has provided ComingSoon.net with an exclusive clip from the dark comedy Kill Me Three Times, featuring Teresa Palmer chasing down Alice Braga. Check it out below!
In the film, Simon Pegg plays the mercurial assassin, Charlie Wofle, who discovers he isn’t the only person trying to kill the siren of a sun drenched surfing town (Alice Braga). Charlie quickly finds himself at the center of three tales of murder, mayhem, blackmail and revenge. With an original screenplay by James McFarland, the film also stars Sullivan Stapleton (as a gambling addict that attempts to pay off his debts through a risky life insurance scam), Teresa Palmer (as a small town Lady Macbeth), Callan Mulvey (as a wealthy beach club owner simmering with jealousy), Luke Hemsworth (as a local surfer fighting for the woman he loves) and Bryan Brown (as a corrupt cop who demands the juiciest cut).
Directed by Kriv Stenders, the film is produced by Laurence Malkin and Share Stallings (the team behind Death at a Funeral and A Few Best Men) and Tania Chambers. Kill Me There Times will be available on iTunes/On Demand on March 26 and will hit theaters on April 10.
Bruce Campbell to Play Ronald Reagan in Fargo Season 2
Fans of Bruce Campbell will no longer chant hail to the king, baby but rather “hail to the chief” as the big-chinned one is all lined up to portray Ronald Reagan on Season 2 of FX’s “Fargo,” which TVLine reports will be a one-episode appearance.
FX Networks CEO John Landgraf stated that Season 2 takes place in the late-’70s while the Gipper was on his first campaign for President, during which he “makes a swing through Fargo. Some of the characters have some interactions with him. And some of his movies are also a part of the show.”
This will be a homecoming of sorts for self-proclaimed B-movie titan Campbell, who had a bit role as an actor in a soap opera which Steve Buscemi and Peter Stormare watch in the original 1996 classic Fargo. Campbell also had cameos in the Coen Brothers’ Intolerable Cruelty (also on a soap), The Ladykillers and a supporting part in The Hudsucker Proxy. Most famous for his role as wisecracking hero Ash in the Evil Dead movies, the actor will reprise that role for television in Starz’s forthcoming 10-episode series “Ash vs. Evil Dead.”
The second season of “Fargo” will revolve around a previously-referenced incident that occurred in 1979 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota involving a young Lou Solverson (Patrick Wilson). Also featured in leading roles are Ted Danson, Jean Smart, Kirsten Dunst, and Jesse Plemons, along with recurring roles for Nick Offerman, Brad Garrett, Kieran Culkin, Bokeem Woodbine, Cristin Milioti and Campbell’s “Burn Notice” castmate Jeffrey Donovan.
Production on “Fargo” is currently underway in Calgary, and the 10-episode anthology miniseries is slated to premiere next fall on FX.
Emmy Award-winning Executive Producers Noah Hawley (showrunner/writer), Joel & Ethan Coen, Warren Littlefield and John Cameron all return for the second installment. “Fargo” is produced by MGM Television and FX Productions.
(Photo Credit: WENN)
The Trailer for Zombie Film Maggie, Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Abigail Breslin
Lionsgate, Roadside Attractions and Grindstone Entertainment Group have released the trailer for the apocalyptic thriller Maggie, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Abigail Breslin and Joely Richardson. Maggie will hit theaters and On Demand May 8.
The film tells the story of a deadly zombie virus that has put a plague on the world. When Maggie, a vivacious young woman becomes infected, her father brings her home to let her be with their family. As Maggie’s condition worsens, their relationship is tested, a father’s love holding on stronger than the disease. This heart-wrenching twist on the zombie apocalypse puts a human face on an inexplicable horror.
The Black List script by John Scott 3 is directed by Henry Hobson. Bill Johnson and Ara Keshishian produced alongside Colin Bates, Joey Tufaro, Pierre-Ange Le Pogam, Matthew Baer and Schwarzenegger. Claudia Blumhuber and Jim Seibel are executive producers. Silver Reel and Gold Star Films financed the film.
Hannibal’s Nick Antosca to Script Friday the 13th Reboot
Although it’s still not exactly clear what form the next big screen Friday the 13th entry will take (be it sequel, prequel, remake or otherwise), The Hollywood Reporter today brings word that the upcoming franchise entry has scored a new screenwriter in “Hannibal” co-producer Nick Antosca. Antosca’s credits also include the series “Last Resort” and “Believe.” Antosca will rewrite the current draft of the film, previously scripted by Richard Naing and Ian Goldberg, which is on track for a May 13, 2016 release. That date, by the way, is the only Friday the 13th in 2016 and the last summertime Friday the 13th until 2018.
One of the more popular entries in the slasher genre, the first Friday the 13th was released in 1980 and followed a series of brutal murders of teen counselors at Camp Crystal Lake. The killer was ultimately revealed to be Pamela Voorhees, a mother whose son, Jason, drowned in the lake years earlier due to the negligence of the camp’s staff. As the cinematic series progressed, Jason himself became the franchise’s iconic hockey masking wearing, machete wielding killer.
The Friday the 13th franchise currently consists of ten original “solo” films, the 2003 crossover Freddy vs. Jason, and, most recently, the 2009 reboot. There was also a short-lived television series that, despite its title, was unconnected to the plot of the film franchise.
Set to be directed by V/H/S helmer David Bruckner, the new Friday the 13th is rumored to incorporate some level of “found footage” into its plot and the trade also alleges that the storyline will provide some kind of origin story for Jason Voorhees’ supernatural abilities.
Michael Bay, Andrew Form and Brad Fuller are producing the new film through their Platinum Dunes, which also produced the 2009 film.
Jason Segel to Write and Co-Direct LEGO Spinoff, The Billion Brick Race
Another LEGO movie is on the way! The Hollywood Reporter today brings word that development has begun on a new big screen LEGO adventure beyond the three previously-announced projects. The new film, titled The Billion Brick Race, will be written and directed by The Muppets and Sex Tape star Jason Segel alongside Iron Man 3 and Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation scribe Drew Pearce!
Plot details on The Billion Brick Race are virtually nil, although the title brings to mind an It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World type adventure. It joins LEGO’s Ninjago, set for release September 23, 2016, The LEGO Batman Movie, planned to hit May 26, 2017, and The LEGO Movie Sequel, which will arrive May 25, 2018.
Phil Lord, Chris Miller, Dan Lin and Roy Lee are set to produce The Billion Brick Race with Courtenay Valenti overseeing for Warner Bros.
The original The LEGO Movie, released last year, was directed by Lord and Miller alongside Chris McKay and grossed an impressive $468 million at the worldwide box office.
Segel will soon headline James Pondsoldt’s David Foster Wallace biopic The End of the Tour, starring as the “Infinite Jest” scribe opposite Jesse Eisenberg. Pearce, meanwhile, is also said to be working on an upcoming Ghostbusters film at Sony Pictures, rumored to star Channing Tatum and Chris Pratt.
Legendary TV Bringing Image Comics Series Lazarus to Television
The Hollywood Reporter brings word that the Image Comic series Lazarus is making its way to television as Legendary TV and The Amazing Spider-Man producer Matt Tolmach have secured the rights to the series. Created by Greg Rucka and Michael Lark, the series is described as follows:
“In a dystopian near-future, government is a quaint concept, resources are coveted, and possession is 100% of the law. A handful of Families rule, jealously guarding what they have and exploiting the Waste who struggle to survive in their domains. Forever Carlyle defends her family’s holdings through deception and force as their protector, their Lazarus. Shot dead defending the family home, Forever’s day goes downhill from there…”
Rucka will pen the script for the pilot episode of the series in addition to executive producing with Lark and Tolmach. A five-time Eisner award-winner, some of Rucka’s other work has been adapted, including the 2009 film Whiteout, based on his mini-series, with the series Queen & Country currently set up at Fox as a vehicle for Ellen Page.
Confirmed: 'The X-Files' to return for six-episode 'event series'
The X-Files is to return for a six-episode "event series", Fox has announced today (March 24).
David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson will reprise their iconic roles as Fox Mulder and Dana Scully, while The X-Files' creator Chris Carter will return as executive producer. Shooting is due to start this summer (2015) but further details about the event series have yet to be announced.
"I think of it as a 13-year commercial break," Carter said in a Fox press release. "The good news is the world has only gotten that much stranger, a perfect time to tell these six stories."
Fox's chairmen and CEOs Dana Walden and Gary Newman said in the statement: "We had the privilege of working with Chris on all nine seasons of The X-Files - one of the most rewarding creative experiences of our careers - and we couldn't be more excited to explore that incredible world with him again. The X-Files was not only a seminal show for both the studio and the network, it was a worldwide phenomenon that shaped pop culture – yet remained a true gem for the legions of fans who embraced it from the beginning."
"Few shows on television have drawn such dedicated fans as The X-Files," Walden and Newman added. "And we're ecstatic to give them the next thrilling chapter of Mulder and Scully they've been waiting for."
The cult sci-fi show originally aired on Fox for nine seasons between 1993 and 2002 and also spawned a pair of spin-off films, released in 1998 and 2008. Fox first revealed in January that it was having "conversations" about reviving the much-loved series.
Bradley Cooper to direct and star in 'A Star Is Born' remake with Beyoncé wanted as co-star
Bradley Cooper is set to make his directorial debut with the long-planned remake of A Star Is Born.
According to Deadline, the American Sniper star is "negotiating" a deal with Warner Bros. to direct, produce and star in the film, which he was first linked to as an actor in 2012 when Clint Eastwood was attached to direct.
Beyoncé, who was also attached to star in the film at one point but later dropped out, is said to be first choice to play its female lead, though she has yet to be "re-approached formally". The classic movie musical follows a rising star who falls in love with an ageing rocker, only to watch her career take off as his goes into decline. The role of the ambitious female singer has previously been played on screen by Janet Gaynor in 1937, Judy Garland in 1954 and Barbra Streisand in 1976.
The remake has a script by Will Fetters, whose previous screenwriting credits include Remember Me and The Lucky One. Back in March 2012, Fetters revealed that he has based the ageing rocker character on the late Kurt Cobain.
He explained: "I approached A Star Is Born [imagining] if Kurt Cobain never got to go unplugged and survived and it's 20 years later and it's now, and he wanted to try to do that album with that understanding as this grunge icon. That'd be tough to get done if he was past his prime, no longer selling, how does he get that album?"
'Boardwalk Empire' actor Jack Huston cast as lead in 'The Crow' remake
Boardwalk Empire actor Jack Huston has been cast as the lead in the long-planned remake of The Crow.
James O'Barr, creator of the original The Crow comic book series, said earlier this month (March) that Huston had "definitely been cast" in the remake and now Deadline reports that the actor has closed his deal to star. Shooting is due to start later this year.
Huston replaces Luke Evans, who landed the lead role of Eric Draven in May 2013, but dropped out in January of this year (2015) after becoming frustrated by the project's slow progress. In December the film hired a new director, up-and-coming Brit Corin Hardy, after Spanish filmmaker F Javier Gutierrez became unavailable to helm the remake. O'Barr will serve as a consultant on the new movie and Edward R. Pressman, one of the producers of the original film, will return to co-produce the remake.
The original 1994 film The Crow starred Brandon Lee as Eric Draven, a murdered rock star who is brought back to life by a supernatural bird – "the crow" – so that he can avenge his own murder and that of his fiancée. The film was based on O'Barr's acclaimed 1989 comic book series of the same name.
Lee was tragically killed during an accidental shooting on the film's set, but The Crow went on to become a hit at the box office and spawned three sequels without him, the most recent coming in 2005. A remake has been in the works since 2011, with Bradley Cooper and James McAvoy both linked to the role of Eric Draven before Evans, and now Huston, landed the part.
The Rock fights Jason Statham in new 'Fast & Furious 7' teaser – watch
An new teaser for Fast & Furious 7 has been released, featuring a fight scene between Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson and Jason Statham.
Fast & Furious 7 –simply titled Furious 7 in the US – is set for release on April 3. The car chase sequel features the last film appearance from the late Paul Walker, who died in a car accident midway through filming. Shooting was subsequently delayed to allow for script rewrites and the actor's brothers Caleb and Cody Walker were used as stand-ins to complete his final scenes.
Fast & Furious franchise regulars Johnson, Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster and Ludacris all return, while Statham plays the film's main villain after making a brief appearance in 2013's Fast & Furious 6. New additions to the cast include Kurt Russell, The Expendables 3's Ronda Rousey and Blood Diamond actor Djimon Hounsou.
Meanwhile, Iggy Azalea has filmed a cameo for Fast & Furious 7 and the rapper recently admitted that the experience gave her a new-found appreciation for actors.
Saw director James Wan called the shots from a script by regular Fast & Furious franchise writer Chris Morgan.
'Mission: Impossible 5': Official title announced in teaser trailer - watch
The official title of the fifth Mission: Impossible film has been announced in a teaser trailer.
The minute-long teaser reveals that the sequel has been titled Mission Impossible - Rogue Nation and promises that a full-length trailer will debut tomorrow (March 23).
In January Paramount Pictures moved forward the film's release date to summer 2015. The fifth instalment in the action spy franchise had been scheduled to open on Christmas Day in the US and Boxing Day in the UK, but will now arrive around five months earlier on July 31, 2015.
Christopher McQuarrie (Jack Reacher) directed Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation from a script written by Iron Man 3's Drew Pearce and newcomer Will Staples. JJ Abrams served as one of the film's producers. Tom Cruise heads up a cast that includes Simon Pegg, Jeremy Renner, Alec Baldwin, Sean Harris and up-and-coming Swedish actress Rebecca Ferguson.
During a Twitter Q&A earlier this month (March) McQuarrie revealed that Sean Harris - who portrayed Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis in 2002's 24 Hour Party People - is playing the sequel's villain and promised that Simon Pegg's character Benji Dunn "gets his hands plenty dirty" during the film. He also explained that Paula Patton and Maggie Q did not reprise their roles from previous Mission: Impossible movies because both actresses were "unavailable".
The franchise's previous instalment, 2011's Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol became the most successful yet after raking in nearly $700 million (£465 million) at the box office worldwide.
Carole King stage musical 'Beautiful' to be made into film
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, the Broadway and West End show based on the life of the Tapestry singer-songwriter, is to be made into a film by Sony Pictures.
The musical, which uses hits from King's back catalogue to tell the story of her rise as a songwriter in the '60s and huge success as a recording artist in the early '70s, premiered in San Francisco in October 2013 before transferring to Broadway shortly after. The West End production began at London's Aldwych Theatre last month (February).
"Audiences both on Broadway and in the West End have responded to Beautiful not only to relive Carole King's timeless classics, but to experience the ways they illustrate her triumphant and joyful life story," Sony's Michael De Luca said in a press statement. "We're thrilled to be bringing this inspiring and powerful musical to movie audiences everywhere."
Tom Hanks will serve as a producer on the film alongside Gary Goetzman, who previusly worked on the movie version of Mamma Mia!, and Douglas McGrath, a producer on the Beautiful Broadway musical. The film's director and cast have yet to be announced.
Sony has secured the rights to use King's songs, which include 'It's Too Late', 'The Loco-Motion', 'Will You Love Me Tomorrow', '(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman' and 'You've Got A Friend'. Her 1971 album Tapestry is one of the best-selling of all time, with over 25 million copies sold worldwide.
All five seasons of 'Breaking Bad' to air on new UK Freeview channel Spike
All five seasons of Breaking Bad are to air on new UK Freeview channel Spike.
Spike, which will launch on Freeview channel 31 next month (April), has acquired the free-to-air rights to the critically-acclaimed drugs drama starring Bryan Cranston Broadcast reports. The channel plans to air all 62 episodes across a 12-week period, but has yet to announce the transmission dates.
Breaking Bad is currently available to UK viewers on Netflix. Channel 5 aired the first two seasons but chose not to pick up Seasons Three, Four and Five.
Breaking Bad originally aired on US cable network AMC between 2008 to 2013, picking up over 100 TV awards including numerous Emmys and Golden Globes. In 2013, the drama created by Vince Gilligan entered the Guinness World Records as the highest-rated TV show of all time.
Meanwhile, Breaking Bad creator Gilligan has recently urged fans to stop tormenting the real-life owner of the house inhabited by Bryan Cranston's Walter White on the show. Some fans have even tossed pizzas onto the house's roof in a bid to recreate a famous scene from Season Three of the acclaimed US drama.
Miley Cyrus, George Clooney to play themselves in Bill Murray's Christmas Special
George Clooney and Miley Cyrus are to play themselves in Bill Murray's upcoming "Christmas special".
Parks And Recreation's Amy Poehler and Bridesmaids actress Maya Rudolph will also appear as themselves in the special, currently untitled, which reunites Murray with Lost In Translation director Sofia Coppola.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the special will follow Murray, who famously chooses not to have an agent or manager, as a dodgy Hollywood operator tries desperately to sign him. Further details about the special are currently unknown, but some of the famous guest stars will apparently be seen singing carols.
It's been rumoured that the special will premiere on Netflix, though this has yet to be confirmed.
Released in 2002, Coppola's Lost In Translation starred Murray as a jaded actor who strikes up an unlikely friendship with a college graduate (Scarlett Johansson) after a chance meeting in a Tokyo hotel. It was nominated for four Oscars: Best Picture, Best Actor for Murray, Best Director for Coppola and Best Original Screenplay for Coppola, which she won.
Comparethemarket.com relaunches 'Orange Wednesdays' as 'Meerkat Movies'
Price comparison website Comparethemarket.com is relaunching the "Orange Wednesdays" cinema tickets promotion as "Meerkat Movies".
Customers will gain access to 2-for-1 cinema tickets every Tuesday and Wednesday for a year when they buy a qualifying product from Comparethemarket.com. Tickets will be redeemable by presenting a code on the Meerkat Movies app, which is available to Apple and Android users, at the box office in participating cinemas.
The offer will launch nationwide on April 3, though five million existing customers will be able to take advantage from today (March 20). Comparethemarket.com's Marketing Director Mark Vile said in a press release: "We are in the business of saving consumers time and money and now we're rewarding them with membership of Meerkat Movies, our new generous added value loyalty programme."
"Meerkat Movies opens up the exciting world of film for us and allows us to offer our customers the magic of movies for less every Tuesday and Wednesday for a whole year," he added.
EE's popular "Orange Wednesdays" promotion came to an end last month (February) after 12 years. On Wednesday (March 18) EE announced its replacement for the offer, the "EE Film Club", which will allow all EE, Orange and T-Mobile customers to rent a blockbuster film each week for £1 using streaming service Wuaki.tv.
'Big Bang Theory' star Jim Parsons wants to play Batman baddie The Riddler
The Big Bang Theory's Jim Parsons has revealed that he would like to play infamous comic book supervillain The Riddler.
The Riddler, a frequent nemesis of Batman, was last seen on the big screen 20 years ago, when Jim Carrey portrayed him in 1995's Batman Forever. He is the alter ago of Dr Edward Nygma, a character that now features in Batman prequel TV series Gotham, played by Cory Michael Smith.
"I would love to play a superhero in a movie," Parsons told MTV. "I would like to be a villain. I would really like to play The Riddler. I don't feel they're using the Riddler very much, are they?"
Parsons has starred as socially awkward scientific genius Sheldon Cooper in hit US sitcom The Big Bang Theory since 2007, a role which has won him a Golden Globe and four Emmy awards. He also received an Emmy nomination for his performance in last year's The Normal Heart, an HBO film depicting the rise of the HIV-AIDS crisis in New York in the early '80s which also starred Mark Ruffalo, Matt Bomer and Julia Roberts.
EE to replace 'Orange Wednesdays' with £1 'Film Club' streaming offer
EE has announced its replacement for the long-running "Orange Wednesdays" promotion, which came to an end last month (February) after 12 years.
Starting on March 30, the "EE Film Club" will allow all EE, Orange and T-Mobile customers to rent a blockbuster film each week for £1 using streaming service Wuaki.tv. EE promises that the films available will range from the "latest blockbusters to a huge library of cinema classics".
In a press release, EE said that the new promotion has been "launched in response to changing customer behaviour, with 1 in 3 UK adults now downloading or streaming films and TV every week".
Customers will be able to take advantage of the EE Film Club £1 offer by texting "film" to 141 at a cost of 35p per SMS to receive a promotional code which will then be redeemable from Monday to Wednesday at the Wuaki.tv checkout. They will have 48 hours from the moment they are charged £1 to watch their film of choice.
EE's Chief Marketing Officer Pippa Dunn said that the new promotion reflects the fact that "more people than ever before are downloading and streaming movies". The EE Film Cub offer "is set to be a box office hit with our customers", Dunn predicted.
First trailer for 'Insidious: Chapter 3' released - watch
The first trailer for Insidious: Chapter 3 has premiered online.
The third film in the supernatural horror series is conceived as a prequel to 2010's Insidious and 2013's Insidious: Chapter 2. Consequently, Rose Byrne, Patrick Wilson and Ty Simpkins have not reprised their roles as the terrorised members of the Lambert family, though Lin Shaye has returned as paranormal investigator Elise Rainier.
Angus Sampson and franchise creator Leigh Whannell return too, reprising their roles as Rainier's fellow paranormal investigators Tucker and Specs. They are joined by new cast members Dermot Mulroney and Disney Channel star Stefanie Scott.
Whannell, writer of the first two Insidious films, makes his directorial debut with the third instalment and once again penned the script. The film's official synopsis teases: "This chilling prequel, set before the haunting of the Lambert family, reveals how gifted psychic Elise Rainier (Lin Shaye) reluctantly agrees to use her ability to contact the dead in order to help a teenage girl (Stefanie Scott) who has been targeted by a dangerous supernatural entity."
Insidious: Chapter 3 opens in UK cinemas on June 5.
Drake sued after publicly disowning 'Homecoming' concert film
Drake is being sued by the distributors of a concert film he publicly distanced himself from earlier this week.
Titled Drake's Homecoming: The Lost Footage, the concert film will be shown in selected UK cinemas for one night only this evening (March 19). It features a performance Drake gave in Toronto in 2009, shortly after the release of his breakthrough mixtape 'So Far Gone'.
Taking to Twitter on Monday (March 16), the rapper made it clear that the film is completely unauthorised and features no input from his label OVO Sound.
The Drake Homecoming film is not something OVO or Drake have any part in. I feel it is my responsibility to inform and protect my fans.
— Drizzy (@Drake) March 16, 2015
Distributors SpectiCast have since filed a lawsuit against Drake, a spokesperson for the company confirmed to Billboard. According to TMZ, Specticast alleges in the lawsuit that Drake posted the dismissive tweet to draw attention to his Twitter feed, shortly before he started tweeting ticket details for his annual OVO Fest event in Toronto this summer.
NME recently reviewed Drake's Homecoming: The Lost Footage, calling it "badly shot" and "terribly edited" - read the full review here.
Last month (February) Drake matched a record set by The Beatles when he placed 14 songs in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart simultaneously. He is is due to headline London's Wireless festival later this year, joining Nicki Minaj, Kendrick Lamar, David Guetta and Avicii on the bill.
'Game Of Thrones': Two new Season Five clips released - watch
HBO has releases a pair of new teaser clips for Season Five of Game Of Thrones.
One of the clips features an intriguing exchange between Peter Dinklage's Tyrion Lannister and Conleth Hill's Varys, while the other shows Kit Harington's Jon Snow trying to influence Ciarán Hinds' Mance Rayder.
The world premiere of Season Five of Game Of Thrones took place at the Tower of London last night (March 18) with a host of Game Of Thrones stars in attendance, including Harington, Iwan Rheon (Ramsay Snow), Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Jamie Lannister), Gwendoline Christie (Brianne of Tarth) and Tara Fitzgerald (Selyse Baratheon).
The new run of episodes will begin on Sky Atlantic on Monday, April 13 - the day after it premieres on HBO. Once again, the new season will consist of ten episodes. For the first time, Game Of Thrones author George RR Martin has not written an episode for the forthcoming season, as he is concentrating on completing the sixth novel in his series, The Winds Of Winter.
Meanwhile, HBO's programming president Michael Lombardo has recently revealed that he wants the hit fantasy drama to run for 10 seasons. Showrunners David Benioff and Dan Weiss have said in the past that they are planning to wrap up Game Of Thrones at the end of Season Seven.
Straight Outta Compton’s Jonathan Herman to Pen Scarface Remake
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Universal Pictures has set Straight Outta Compton writer Jonathan Herman to perform a script rewrite on its upcoming reboot of Scarface, to be helmed by Chilean director Pablo Larrain (No). Herman will fine-tune the screenplay that was already written by Paul Attanasio (Donnie Brasco) and David Ayer (Suicide Squad).
Originally directed for the screen by Howard Hawks in 1932, the story of a gangster’s rise to power was based on the 1929 Armitage Trail novel of the same name. In 1983, Brian De Palma offered a modernized update of the story with Al Pacino in the lead, which is the version best known today.
Now, producers Martin Bregman and Marc Shmuger (the former of which produced De Palma’s version) are moving forward with a third big screen take on Scarface, which will follow a Mexican lead in present-day Los Angeles. The character will keep the first name of Tony from the De Palma version, but will have a different last name.
Teaser Poster and Logo Reveal for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2
Lionsgate has debuted the teaser poster and logo reveal teaser for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2, the final chapter in which Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) now fully realizes the stakes are no longer just for survival — they are for the future. Check out both below!
With the nation of Panem in a full scale war, Katniss confronts President Snow (Donald Sutherland) in the final showdown. Teamed with a group of her closest friends – including Gale (Liam Hemsworth), Finnick (Sam Claflin), and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) – Katniss goes off on a mission with the unit from District 13 as they risk their lives to stage an assassination attempt on President Snow who has become increasingly obsessed with destroying her. The mortal traps, enemies, and moral choices that await Katniss will challenge her more than any arena she faced in The Hunger Games.
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 is directed by Francis Lawrence from a screenplay by Peter Craig and Danny Strong and features a cast including Academy Award-winner Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jeffrey Wright, Willow Shields, Sam Claflin, Jena Malone with Stanley Tucci and Donald Sutherland reprising their original roles from The Hunger Games and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. The lineup is joined by The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 co-stars five-time Academy Award-winner Julianne Moore, Mahershala Ali, Natalie Dormer, Wes Chatham, Elden Henson and Evan Ross.
The film will be released in 2D, 3D and IMAX3D theaters on November 20, 2015.
Movies and TV Shows Coming to Netflix in April 2015
Netflix has revealed a selection of the movie and TV titles that will be available for streaming in April 2015! All titles and dates are subject to change. You can also view the titles disappearing from the service in April underneath. Which titles are you looking forward to and which are you sad to see leaving the service?
APRIL 1
And Now … Ladies and Gentlemen…(2002)
A peripatetic British jewel thief travels around the world on his yacht but drops anchor when he becomes smitten with a French jazz singer.
Bandolero (2000)
Gilberto de Anda directs and stars in this tale of a ruthless paid assassin who excels at his work. But when he falls for a beautiful woman, he discovers that even he can falter. And as their romance grows, so does the danger he faces from all sides.
Barnyard (2006)
When things get crazy at a farm, it’s up to a boisterous bovine named Otis to save the day in this animated children’s tale.
The Beautician and the Beast (1997)
In a colossal mixup, a hair stylist from Queens, N.Y., ends up in an Eastern European country tutoring the three children of a stern dictator.
Bound (1996)
When a female ex-con has an affair with her neighbor, the two women concoct a plot to steal the mob money the neighbor’s boyfriend has stashed away.
Buffalo Soldiers (2001)
A clerk in a U.S. Army battalion stationed in Germany runs a black market that supplies drug dealers with everything from kitchen cleaners to heroin.
The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course (2002)
Crocodile hunter Steve Irwin and his wife are mistaken for spies while trying to rescue a crocodile from poachers… who are really CIA operatives.
Down to Earth (2001)
When a guardian angel accidentally takes stand-up comedian Lance Barton to heaven, he’s returned to Earth in the body of an elderly white millionaire.
Leprechaun 3 (1995)
A Las Vegas pawnbroker comes into possession of what he assumes to be a lucky leprechaun statue - until the murderous dwarf comes to life.
Leprechaun 4: In Space (1997)
In this installment of the “Leprechaun” series, our hero travels into space and kidnaps an alien princess to marry so that he can share her royal title.
Leprechaun 6: Back 2 tha Hood (2003)
A group of hapless city kids (are there any other kind in a movie like this?) “luck” onto a treasure chest full of gold coins. Faster than you can pour a bowl of Lucky Charms, that sawed-off runt of a leprechaun appears - again!
Suicide Kings (1997)
In this cult-favorite dark comedy, five privileged men abduct a former mobster in a desperate attempt to raise a ransom to save a friend’s sister.
Sunset Strip (2000)
This mad-cap comedy takes place in 1972, during one 24-hour period on Los Angeles’s famed Sunset Strip where the lives of a group of young artists, musicians and entertainers are about to change forever.
Underworld (2003)
A vampire suspects that her mortal enemies, werewolves known as Lycans, are targeting a human. As she shadows him, she finds herself falling in love.
Whiteboyz (1999)
Iowa white boy Flip and his pals adopt the style of urban hiphoppers - and the locals think they’re plain crazy. When Khalid moves to town, the boys convince their new black friend to take them to Chicago and hook them up with everything ghetto.
Wrong Turn at Tahoe (2009)
When an underground crime boss betrays a volatile bigtime drug dealer, he touches off a mob war that engulfs his friend and debtcollector protégé.
APRIL 2
Life Partners (2014)
Paige, a type-A lawyer, and Sasha, a carefree musician, are best friends until a man enters the picture. Are the women growing up or growing apart?
Sinbad: The Fifth Voyage (2014)
When an evil sorcerer captures the sultan’s first-born daughter, the fearless sailor Sinbad must traverse a hostile wasteland to bring her back.
APRIL 3
All Hail King Julien: Season 1 (5 New Episodes)
King Julien is back and shaking his booty harder than ever! Discover the wild world of Madagascar as the king takes on the jungle’s craziest adventures in this comedy series. With his loyal sidekicks Maurice and Mort, they meet a whole new cast of colorful animals, including ambitious head of security Clover and the villainous Foosa. No one can stop this king from ruling with an iron fist…in the air…wavin’ like he just doesn’t care.
Derek: Special
Written, directed by and starring Golden Globe® and Emmy® nominee Ricky Gervais, Derek is a bittersweet comedy drama about a group of outsiders living on society’s margins. The series is centered around Derek Noakes (Gervais), a tender, innocent man whose love for his job at a retirement home shines through. Derek cares deeply for the home’s residents, because they are kind and funny and tell him stories of what life used to be like. Among those in his life are Kevin (David Earl), a lovable train wreck who lives with Derek and spends most ofhis time lazing around the home; and Hannah (Kerry Godliman), a care worker in the home and Derek’s best friend. Hannah is smart, witty and hard-working, but unlucky in love, and, like Derek, always puts other people first. In the special, Hannah’s relationship with boyfriend Tom (Brett Goldstein) blossoms as he finds a new job closer to home. Vicky (Holli Dempsey) discovers her true calling in the care industry as she takes on more responsibilities at the home, whilst Kevin realizes the true meaning of family in light of a scare. Meanwhile Derek is dating Tracey (Vicky Hall), all the while holding the retirement home together with his unique viewpoint on life.
Starry Eyes (2014)
Stuck in a depressing job while chasing her Hollywood dream, aspiring starlet Sarah Walker finally catches a break and lands the lead in a film. But as the project gets under way, Sarah’s shot at celebrity takes a dark turn.
The Quiet Ones (2014)
In this shocking tale based on true events, charismatic Professor Coupland and a few of his brightest students set out to summon a poltergeist.
APRIL 4
Delta Farce (2007)
Three guys board an Iraq-bound plane, but the fact that they land in Mexico doesn’t stop them from “liberating” what they believe is the Middle East.
APRIL 7
Preservation (2014)
Three urbanites venture into the backwoods for a brush with nature that goes horribly awry when they find themselves being pursued by masked killers.
Wilfred: Season 4
This off-beat comedy follows the experiences of a depressed man who becomes convinced that his neighbor’s dog is actually a man wearing a costume.
APRIL 8
Halt and Catch Fire: Season 1 (2014)
Recreating the dawn of the personal computer era, this digital drama tracks the fates of an industry visionary and his brilliant colleagues.
APRIL 9
Crank (2006)
A hit man who has been poisoned learns that he can elude death if he keeps his adrenaline pumping as he races through the streets of Los Angeles.
Pioneer (2013)
At the birth of the Nordic oil boom of the 1980s, a diver begins to suspect a conspiracy involving a team of Americans and the Norwegian government.
APRIL 10
The Awakening (2013)
Twists abound in this dark thriller as a young man consults an ambitious journalist in his quest to learn the truth behind his prophetic dreams.
Broken (2013)
A woman is forced to face her past when the arrival of two mysterious strangers to whom she’s inexplicably linked could expose shocking secrets.
Burning Bridges (2014)
When her fiancé’s beautiful best friend arrives just before the wedding, jealousy consumes a bride - and marriage doesn’t alleviate her concerns.
Confusion Na Wa (2013)
Two opportunist wasters read some incriminating text messages on a lost cell phone and blackmail the owner, an act that comes back to haunt them.
Finding Mercy (2012)
After finding a woman in labor during a break-in, one thief eventually lands in jail while the other takes home a newborn baby girl he names Mercy.
Finding Mercy 2 (2014)
Ten years after bringing Mercy home, the thief has changed his life, but their family is threatened when the truth about her origins comes to light.
Flower Girl (2013)
When a young florist who’s long dreamed of her wedding day gets dumped by her boyfriend, she sets out to win him back with help from a handsome actor.
Forgetting June (2013)
Believing that his adored wife has died in a car crash, Eddie slowly becomes involved with her best friend, only to face unforeseen consequences.
Knocking on Heaven’s Door (2014)
The seemingly perfect marriage between Moses and gospel singer Debbie starts showing visible cracks as a dark secret from Moses’ past surfaces.
Lagos Cougars (2013)
Three corporate women in their forties embark on the adventure of their lives in a quest to find love - or simply explore their wildest fantasies.
Lies Men Tell (2013)
Cheating husbands get their due when their devoted wives become fed up with the constant lies and embarrassment and set out to teach them a lesson.
Mad Couple (2014)
A pregnant and uneducated village girl grows resentful when her lifelong best friend is admitted to study medicine and allows her interfering mother to plant seeds of discord that lead her into committing an abominable act.
Mad Couple 2 (2014)
Distraught over her best friend’s decision to leave their village and become a doctor, a pregnant girl commits a shocking act.
Marvel’s Daredevil: Season 1
“Marvel’s Daredevil” is a live-action series that follows the journey of attorney Matt Murdock, who in a tragic accident was blinded as a boy but imbued with extraordinary senses. Murdock sets up practice in his old neighborhood of Hell’s Kitchen, New York where he now fights against injustice as a respected lawyer by day and masked vigilante at night.
Matters Arising (2014)
When a thrift collector completely disregards his marriage and family responsibilities by chasing after a young vixen, his wife aims to make him pay.
October 1 (2014)
Against the backdrop of Nigeria’s looming independence from Britain, detective Danladi Waziri races to capture a killer terrorizing local women.
Onye Ozi (2013)
A Nigerian man excitedly heads to London to start a new life, hoping for happiness and success - but an event one fateful night thwarts his plans.
Ties That Bind (2011)
Three women with one thing in common - the loss of a child - journey together toward redemption while renovating a clinic in Kroboland, Ghana.
APRIL 12
The Identical (2014)
Separated at birth, musically gifted twin brothers take very different paths, until the pop star and his struggling sibling finally collide.
APRIL 13
Video Game High School: Season 3
When Brian unknowingly beats an international gaming champion, he’s swiftly admitted to the halls of the prestigious Video Game High School.
APRIL 14
The Babadook (2014)
Sam’s frequent tantrums turn sinister when a creepy children’s book mysteriously appears in his room, and he asks his mother, “Do you want to die?”
Goodbye to Language (2014)
Winner of the Jury Prize at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival, Goodbye to Language is a triumphant masterpiece from Jean-Luc Godard. The film follows a couple whose relationship breaks down along with the images, which in its second half takes a dog’s-eye view of the world. It is a meditation on history and illusion, figures merging and weaving across the screen along with the film’s ideas about romantic love and being-in-the-world. It has the feeling of a final statement, but knowing Godard’s penchant for re-invention, hopefully it is yet another beginning to an extraordinary career.
Kink (2013)
Take a peek into the secret world of sex, bondage and fetish porn with this documentary that tells the story of the people who work at Kink.com.
APRIL 16
Hot Fuzz (2007)
A top London cop is assigned to investigate a seemingly sleepy town, which suddenly starts to stir with a series of grisly “accidents.”
APRIL 17
Baby Daddy: Season 4
Ben unexpectedly becomes a parent when an exgirlfriend drops off a baby girl. But with help from friends and family, he steps into the role of dad.
Chris D’Elia: Incorrigible
Stand-up comedian Chris D’Elia covers everything from how to improve the NFL to why dating is evil and why babies should grow up before they’re born.
They Came Together (2014)
In this semi-spoof of romantic comedies, candy company exec Joel falls for Molly, who owns a corner candy store he’s tasked with closing.
APRIL 18
Noah (2014)
This ambitious adaptation of the story of Noah depicts the visions that led him to voice dire prophesies of apocalypse and to build an ark to survive.
APRIL 21
A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014)
Bad things are commonplace in Bad City, including prostitution, drugs and crime, and most recently a sequence of attacks by a vampire on the loose.
APRIL 25
Sons of Anarchy: Season 7
After seizing control of its town, gun-running motorcycle club the Sons of Anarchy soon butts heads with rival biker gangs, racist groups and the law.
APRIL 26
The Nutty Professor 2: Facing the Fear (2008)
In this animated sequel, Kelp’s grandson, Harold, finds Julius’s special elixir and releases an arrogant alter ego, leading to the ultimate showdown.
APRIL 27
National Treasure (2004)
Modern treasure hunters search for a chest of riches rumored to have been stashed away by George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin.
LAST CALL
See below for a selection of titles that will be rotating off the service in April.
LEAVING APRIL 1
28 Hotel Rooms (2012)
A married accountant and a novelist in a relationship have a one-night stand - but their illicit night turns into an unexpected relationship.
Annie (1982)
This adaptation of the smash Broadway musical follows America’s favorite urchin as she captures Daddy Warbucks’s heart with her unquenchable optimism.
Astonishing X-Men: Dangerous
Facing a powerful new enemy, the team of mutant superheroes find themselves further imperiled when a “cure” for mutants is discovered.
Astonishing X-Men: Torn
Facing a powerful new enemy, the team of mutant superheroes find themselves further imperiled when a “cure” for mutants is discovered.
Astonishing X-Men: Unstoppable
Facing a powerful new enemy, the team of mutant superheroes find themselves further imperiled when a “cure” for mutants is discovered.
Baby Genius: A Trip to the San Diego Zoo
In this installment of the Baby Genius series, pint-sized viewers take a virtual trip to the San Diego Zoo and enjoy footage of many exotic animals.
Baby Genius: Animal Adventures
Subtly introducing kids to classical music, this video safari takes them to the San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park to meet a host of endearing critters.
Chalet Girl (2011)
Ex0skateboarder Kim Matthews is transplanted to the world of alpine sports, an environment she finds foreign … until she tries snowboarding.
Clue (1985)
Six colorful dinner guests gather at the mansion of their host – who turns up dead after his secret is exposed.
Color Splash Collection: Collection 1
Follow interior designer David Bromstad, who’s not afraid to add some color to any space, as he transforms rooms with his Miami-based team.
Coneheads (1993)
An odd alien family with cone-shaped heads, robot-like walks and an appetite for toilet paper tries to blend into a Paramus, N.J., neighborhood.
Friday the 13th (1980)
Twenty years after mysterious deaths close Camp Crystal Lake, it reopens - but can’t shake its curse as a deranged killer terrorizes the counselors.
Friday the 13th: Part 2 (1981)
The counselors at a new camp near the site of the horrible bloodbath at Camp Crystal Lake fear Jason might come back to avenge his mother’s death.
Friday the 13th: Part 3 (1982)
Even after taking an ax to the head, evil Jason dons his hockey mask and terrorizes a group of friends during an idyllic summer in the woods.
Friday the 13th: Part 4: The Final Chapter (1984)
Hockey-masked psychopath Jason is back in business at Camp Crystal Lake in the fourth (but far from final) chapter of the popular horror franchise.
Friday the 13th: Part 6: Jason Lives (1986)
When Tommy - who killed Jason as a child - digs up the psychopath to make sure he’s dead, he finds a well-rested Jason ready to spill blood again.
Friday the 13th: Part 8: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989)
The festivities aboard a Manhattanbound boat full of high school graduates are interrupted when evil stowaway Jason Voorhees crashes the party.
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)
A blond showgirl is unknowingly tracked by an investigator hired by her fiancé’s father. But the detective only has eyes for her brunette friend.
Get Shorty (1995)
Miami loan shark Chili travels to Los Angeles for a collection and ends up juggling a rival shylock and a movie star as he breaks into Hollywood.
Good Morning, Vietnam (1987)
When his manic radio show proves a morale-booster, an Armed Forces Radio DJ gets sent to Vietnam, where his act lands him in trouble with superiors.
Guess Who (2005)
A white man butts heads with his African American fiancée’s father in this adaptation of the 1967 classic Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?
Income Property Collection: Collection 1
Real estate investor and contractor Scott McGillivray leads buyers through the house hunt and renovation of their first income property.
Inventing the Abbotts (1997)
In a 1950s Illinois town, a pair of blue-collar brothers sets out to romance three upper-class sisters, much to the dismay of their tyrannical father.
Jane Eyre (1944)
Orson Welles stars as Edward Rochester, the brooding employer of governess Jane Eyre in this adaptation of Charlotte Brontë’s novel.
Jeepers Creepers (2001)
Bickering siblings get more than they bargained for when they decide to investigate after witnessing a truck driver tossing body bags into a sewer.
Jeepers Creepers 2 (2003)
An ancient creature known as the Creeper terrorizes a group of varsity basketball players, cheerleaders and coaches stranded on a remote highway.
Les Miserables (1935)
Victor Hugo’s timeless story centers on a man condemned to a life of suffering despite paying his dues after stealing a loaf of bread.
Madeline (1989)
To save her boarding school from the real estate market, a mischievous French girl uses her wits to discourage prospective buyers.
Miral (2011)
After rescuing kids who survived a 1948 massacre in Jerusalem, a Palestinian woman establishes an orphanage that helps thousands of other children.
Murder by Numbers (2002)
A homicide detective and her still-green partner are profiling two cold, calculating killers whose dark secrets might explain their crimes.
Mystic Pizza (1988)
In this quirky linchpin of 1980s cinema, reality intrudes on the plans of three teens who share their dreams while slinging hash at a pizzeria.
Mystic River (2003)
Tragedy reunites childhood friends Sean, Dave and Jimmy when they’re linked together in a murder investigation about Jimmy’s teenage daughter.
Pee-wee’s Big Adventure (1985)
When his treasured bicycle is stolen, child-like prankster Pee-wee Herman sets off on a whirlwind cross-country adventure to recover it.
Philadelphia (1993)
Philadelphia attorney Andrew Beckett launches a wrongful termination suit against his law firm when they fire him because he’s gay and HIV positive.
Rachael Ray’s Week in a Day Collection: Collection 1
Rachael Ray applies her trademark efficiency to weekly meal planning with single-day cooking sessions that yield five days’ worth of dinners.
Reindeer Games (2000)
Ex-con Rudy Duncan poses as his late cellmate to score with his alluring pen pal - whose psychotic brother has other plans for the unsuspecting Rudy.
Selling New York Collection: Collection 1
In a city where the average home costs more than $2 million, competition to seal the deal is stiff -and these top realtors love the fight.
Sense and Sensibility (1995)
Facing poverty after their father’s death, three sisters are obliged to rely on the generosity of others in this adaptation of the Jane Austen novel.
Shadow of the Vampire (2000)
This drama tells a possible scenario behind the making of the 1922 silent film Nosferatu, as a secretive, menacing actor is cast as the lead vampire.
Taking Lives (2004)
FBI profiler Illeana Scott is recruited to assist the police in their desperate search for a serial killer who assumes the identities of his victims.
The Amityville Horror (1979)
After moving into their dream house, a family is trapped in a hellish nightmare as the legacy of a murder committed on the premises affects them all.
The Cable Guy (1996)
When Steven moves into a new place, an overzealous cable guy hooks him up - and doesn’t let go, even after Steven tries to end their “friendship.”
The Karate Kid (1984)
When bullied teen Daniel LaRusso teams with a martial arts master, he ends up learning much more than just self defense in this classic underdog tale.
The Karate Kid Part II (1986)
Karate champ Daniel LaRusso and Mr. Miyagi travel to Okinawa, where Miyagi visits his dying father and rekindles his feelings for a former flame.
The Karate Kid Part III (1989)
Daniel LaRusso and Mr. Miyagi are forced to defend themselves against an old rival, the sinister Cobra Kai sensei they defeated in the first film.
The Quick and the Dead (1995)
In this offbeat Western, a lady gunslinger arrives in a frontier town seeking revenge for the murder of her sheriff father by town boss John Herod.
The Whole Nine Yards (2000)
When Oz’s new neighbor proves to be a mobster on the run, Oz’s scheming wife sends him to notify the mob boss and so the double-crosses begin.
LEAVING APRIL 10
Sleeping Beauty (2011)
College student Lucy takes a job as a “sleeping beauty,” paid to be fondled or otherwise handled by strangers while in a sedated sleep.
LEAVING APRIL 12
Paranormal Activity 4: Unrated Edition (2012)
The chilling saga of the young and psychotic Katie turns a new page, and the homicidal spirit she embodies claims a new gallery of victims.
LEAVING APRIL 16
The Woman Who Wasn’t There (2012)
Filmmaker Angelo J. Guglielmo Jr. discusses the truth about 9/11 “survivor” Tania Head, who crafted a stunning story of loss and deception.
HBO’s Nightingale, Starring David Oyelowo, to Debut May 29
President of HBO programming, Michael Lombardo, announced today that the HBO Films single-character drama Nightingale, starring Golden Globe nominee David Oyelowo (Selma), will debut Friday, May 29.
Directed by Elliott Lester from a screenplay by Frederick Mensch, Nightingale is a provocative drama that probes the darkest corners of a disturbed mind, as a war veteran begins to unravel thread by thread. This searing story of solitude and isolation offers a poignant look at how life has failed one man.
“We are proud to be partnered with Plan B on this bold and powerful film,” said Lombardo. “This extraordinary solo performance by the incomparably talented David Oyelowo clearly demonstrates why he is one of the most gifted actors today.”
“We are thrilled and honored to help bring ‘Nightingale’ to an audience,” says executive producer Brad Pitt. “Sincere props to our friends at HBO for giving this extraordinary and courageous film its day.”
Nightingale is a Cinderella story for first-time writer Frederick Mensch, whose screenplay was submitted on The Blacklist and caught the eye of executive producer Josh Weinstock, who brought it to the attention of director Elliott Lester. The two took the material to Katrina Wolfe of BN Films, which came on board to produce and finance the film.
With a production design by Richard Lassalle and lensing by Pieter Vermeer, Lester uses vivid and imaginative imagery to explore the character’s traumatized psyche.
Nightingale is an HBO Films presentation in association with Plan B Entertainment; a BN Films production in association with Sea Smoke Entertainment and Yoruba Saxon Productions. Directed by Elliott Lester from a screenplay by Frederick Mensch, it is executive produced by Josh Weinstock, Katrina Wolfe and Elliott Lester, as well as Plan B’s Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner. David Oyelowo also serves as executive producer. Co-executive producers are BN’s Lucas Akoskin and Jonathan Gray, in addition to Alex Garcia of BN/AG Studios.
(Photo Credit: FayesVision/WENN.com)
Get Hard Review
Rating: 2.5 out of 10
Cast:
Will Ferrell as James King
Kevin Hart as Darnell Lewis
Alison Brie as Alissa
T.I. as Russell
Craig T. Nelson as Martin
Greg Germann as Martin’s lawyer
Matt Walsh
Dan Bakkedahl as Rick
Dominique Perry as Shonda
Directed by Etan Cohen
Story:
After being prosecuted for fraud and embezzlement, wealthy stockbroker James King (Will Ferrell) is sentenced to ten years at San Quentin, giving him just thirty days to get his business in order. When he learns of the horrors he can expect in prison, he turns to Darnell (Kevin Hart), who runs his local car wash, to help teach him how to survive in jail, under the misapprehension that Darnell has been in jail himself.
Analysis:
In a year where the attempt to find an even remotely funny comedy has reached desperate levels, we instead get another high concept comedy in which a white guy hires Kevin Hart to save his ass, though in this case it’s quite literal.
It takes nearly twenty minutes to get to the flimsy premise described above, as the movie’s intro bounces between two very different men to contract their lives: Will Ferrell’s stockbroker James King and Hart’s Darnell, who manages a car wash and has money issues. Ferrell’s character is fairly deplorable and his money-grubbing trophy fiancée Alissa (Alison Brie) is even worse, clearly just loving him for his money, which she spends frivolously. It isn’t the most groundbreaking set-up and the fact that the two men have nothing in common gives some hope that bringing them together will make it worth it.
The main joke is supposed to be that Kevin Hart’s Darnell is not a tough black man who spent time in prison, but rather a polo shirt-wearing family man with a young daughter he wants to get out of the tough South Central school she attends. In fact, Darnell’s wife is tougher than him, but King is one of those closeted rich racists who quickly show their true colors when given the chance—think Donald Sterling or Paula Dean—so he assumes Darnell has been in jail merely from the color of his skin.
Note to filmmakers: When you base the very premise of your comedy on very real racism that exists in this country, the only place you can go is down… and that’s exactly where Get Hard goes.
Listen, many of us have seen “Oz” or other prison movies and know what sort of things happen in jail to the weak and easily preyed upon, but Get Hard goes way overboard in trying to drive the point home that King will most likely get raped as soon as he gets into prison. And that’s pretty much the single running joke that drives the entire plot. Ferrell and Hart are both great comedy improvisers, but instead of tapping into that fountain of humor, we get a constant stream of jokes about rape and sexual harassment in jail, which isn’t even remotely funny. But then that sums up Get Hard in a nutshell: “Not funny.”
In one scene, Hart portrays some of the potential denizens of a typical jail yard, including a Latino and a gay inmate, proving that you don’t have to be white to be racist. In another scene, he brings King to a café where he might easily find a gay man who will allow him to practice oral sex, since nothing else seems to be working. That leads to an awkward encounter in a bathroom stall between Ferrell, Matt Walsh and a prosthetic penis that causes more squirms than laughs.
If that isn’t uncomfortable enough, Darnell then brings King to a tough black neighborhood to get in with his cousin’s gang, the Crenshaw Kings, in hopes they’ll protect him in jail, and when that doesn’t work, they turn to a white supremacist motorcycle gang. Basically, they’re constantly reaching to the lowest point of the barrel trying to find laughs.
Ferrell has gone a long way to get out of his contest with Adam Sandler and Jim Carrey to being the most annoying comedian making movies, but this one takes him back to some of his worst roles where he’s just allowed to run rampant with no boundaries given to him by first-time director Etan Cohen. His attempt to act threatening by making faces in an attempt to “mad dog” anyone that comes after him is a joke that quickly runs thin and you do not want to even know what “kiestering” is, but it’s as bad as it sounds. The only scenes that work even remotely are the ones where Ferrell is trying to bond with the Crenshaw gang, but it’s as ridiculous and stupid as everything else.
Eventually, they figure out that since James claims to be innocent, they should find who actually has been embezzling the money, as it moves into a plot that makes more sense, but by then, we’ve already been subjected to so much racist and homophobic humor that it’s hard to allow any sort of redemption for King. Despite his time spent with Darnell, King’s transformation is neither believable nor earned.
I’m fairly surprised this was produced by Ferrell and Adam McKay’s Gary Sanchez Productions, because they generally have a better track record with the likes of Anchorman and Step Brothers. Also, one might think that a company that would get rid of the gunshots in their logo to be more sensitive to shooting victims would be more aware of how offensive this movie is likely to be. I’m all for breaking taboos and not being overly-PC when it comes to comedy, but there is a line and Get Hard crossed it as soon as someone read the script and greenlit it.
The Bottom Line:
Get Hard may not have any redeeming qualities whatsoever, but at least we finally get a comedy that homophobes, racists and generally stupid people can all enjoy together!
Steven Spielberg’s Dramatic Thriller Titled Bridge of Spies
DreamWorks Pictures’/Fox 2000 Pictures’ upcoming dramatic thriller directed by three-time Academy Award-winning director Steven Spielberg (Saving Private Ryan, Schindler’s List) and starring two-time Academy Award winner Tom Hanks (Forrest Gump, Philadelphia), has been titled Bridge of Spies. In addition, 12-time Oscar nominee Thomas Newman (The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Saving Mr. Banks) has been signed to score the film, as John Williams’ schedule was interrupted and he was unavailable to score the film due to a minor health issue, now corrected.
A dramatic thriller set against the backdrop of a series of historic events, Bridge of Spies tells the story of James Donovan (Hanks), a Brooklyn lawyer who finds himself thrust into the center of the Cold War when the CIA sends him on the near-impossible task to negotiate the release of a captured American U-2 pilot. Screenwriters Matt Charman and Ethan Coen & Joel Coen have woven this remarkable experience in Donovan’s life into a story inspired by true events that captures the essence of a man who risked everything and vividly brings his personal journey to life. The film will be released in theaters nationwide on October 16, 2015.
Williams, whose credits include Stars Wars: The Force Awakens and the “Harry Potter” films, will join Spielberg on his next film, The BFG, beginning later this year, continuing their unprecedented collaboration which they have enjoyed for over 40 years.
Newman has scored many films for DreamWorks, including The Help, Road to Perdition and American Beauty, the latter two for which he received Academy Award nominations for Best Original Score.
Bridge of Spies also stars three-time Tony Award winner Mark Rylance as Rudolf Abel, a KGB agent defended by Donovan; Scott Shepherd as CIA operative Hoffman; Academy Award nominee Amy Ryan as James’ wife, Mary; Sebastian Koch as East German lawyer Vogel; and Academy Award nominee Alan Alda as Thomas Watters, a partner at Donovan’s law firm.
Fox 2000 Pictures co-financed Bridge of Spies with DreamWorks in association with Participant Media, and will distribute internationally. Disney will handle domestic distribution. In addition to directing, Spielberg will produce the film with Marc Platt and Kristie Macosko Krieger, with Adam Somner, Daniel Lupi, Jeff Skoll and Jonathan King serving as executive producers. The screenplay is by Matt Charman and three-time Academy Award winners Ethan Coen & Joel Coen.
The Trailer and Poster for Power Season 2
Starz today announced the return of original series “Power” on Saturday, June 6th at 9pm ET/PT. The second season of “Power” features ten hour-long episodes, a bump from the first season’s order of eight episodes.
Starz also released the trailer and key art for Season 2 of “Power,” which features the main “Power”-players fighting to stay on top: Omari Hardwick as James “Ghost” St. Patrick, Lela Loren as Angela Valdes, Naturi Naughton as Tasha St. Patrick, Joseph Sikora as Tommy Egan, Sinqua Walls as Shawn and Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson as Kanan.
Season 1 of “Power” was well-received by both critics and fans, earning rave reviews and steadily increasing viewership throughout the season. From Executive Producer Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson and show creator and Executive Producer Courtney Kemp Agboh (“The Good Wife”), “Power” straddles the glamorous Manhattan lifestyles of the rich and infamous and the underworld of the international drug trade.
Season two picks up right where it left off: James “Ghost” St. Patrick doubling down on his drug business to save his nightclub and dream of a legitimate future. Ghost’s work troubles pale in comparison to juggling his relationship with his wife, Tasha, and his first love, Angela, who’s also an Assistant US Attorney investigating his drug organization.
Ghost is set further back from his dream by his business partner, Tommy, who loves the drug game, and his former mentor, Kanan, fresh out of jail and looking for revenge. Ghost is in a race against himself: Can he get out of the drug game alive before Angela discovers who he is?
David Knoller, Mark Canton and Randall Emmett serve as Executive Producers on “Power.” The show is also produced by G-Unit Films and Television, the production company launched by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson.