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Alexis Bloom’s documentary, which shows the Israeli prime minister and his family under police interrogation over corruption charges, reveals their sense of entitlement

The grotesque Hamas pogrom of 7 October 2023, in which around 800 Israeli civilians were murdered and 250 taken hostage – supported by some who do not believe Israel has a right to exist, still less defend itself – became Israel’s 9/11, igniting a horrendous retaliatory war with a secondary consequence for aghast onlookers – a consequence which is the subject of this documentary from Alexis Bloom. It refocused attention on what can only be described as the country’s ruling family, led by prime minister Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu and his wife Sara. (Their egregious son Yair here emerges with the remarkable distinction of being more rightwing than his parents.) They have become like haughty royals, self-pitying and self-dramatising: Netanyahu as a mixture of Donald Trump and Louis Xiv.

The film shows us...

Exclusive: Sources tell us that Emmy winner Yahya Abdul-Mateen II sustained a minor hand injury on Thursday while filming the Netflix series Man on Fire in Mexico City which forced production to pause.

Filming is expected to resume on Monday for the eight-episode drama series which is an adaptation of A.J. Quinnell’s first two books Man on Fire and The Perfect Kill, in the author’s five-novel thriller series.

Abdul-Mateen II is scheduled to return to work before production wraps for the holidays on Dec. 20, we hear. The filming schedule has been re-adjusted in the near term to work around the star’s absence. Abdul-Mateen II is also an EP on Man on Fire.

In Man on Fire, Abdul-Mateen II plays John Creasy, a once high-functioning and skilled Special Forces mercenary known for surviving even the most desolate of situations. He is now plagued with intense Ptsd. Determined to overcome his personal demons,...

Exclusive: Saoirse Ronan, a four-time Oscar nominee, has been earning an entirely new set of props for her performance in Blitz, the latest feature from British filmmaker Steve McQueen.

In the WWII pic, Ronan plays Rita, a young mother searching for her son who has gone missing during Germany’s aerial bombardment of London. Rita also is a keen musician and can more than carry a tune. In one scene, she is chosen to sing for a live BBC wartime radio broadcast and performs the gentle but defiant song “Winter Coat.” Ronan has now recorded a new live version of the song, which you can watch above.

The song was written by McQueen, musician Taura Stinson and three-time Oscar-nominated composer Nicholas Britell. The performance above was recorded November 7 in Studio A at the legendary Power Station at BerkleeNYC in New York City. Other sartists known to have recorded at the studio include Bruce Springsteen,...

“The Bibi Files,” directed by Alexis Bloom, is an extraordinary and essential documentary. It follows the corruption scandal that has engulfed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu like a toxic cloud. More than that, though, it’s about how the accusations he’s been trying to squirm out from under since 2019, when he was first indicted on charges of bribery and fraud, have changed his identity as a politician.

The film makes a powerful case that Netanyahu’s alliance with the far-right fringe of Israeli politics, which has culminated in his grotesque compulsion to prolong the massacre in Gaza with no end in sight, has been driven almost entirely by his attempt to evade the charges against him. As long as the war goes on, it becomes his excuse to stay in office. Underneath it all, the documentary argues that Netanyahu is terrified of being toppled and imprisoned, to the point...

Who knew pop star Ariana Grande was an adept musical comedienne? That surprise discovery should land her an Oscar nomination for Jon M. Chu’s adaptation of the global hit musical “Wicked”, which will prove a box-office juggernaut. On that much “Screen Talk” co-hosts Ryan Lattanzio and Anne Thompson agree; but he hates the cheesy visuals and loves Jonathan Bailey’s charismatic supporting turn as the romantic interest of both witches-in-training, while Anne admires the music, well-produced by Marc Platt and delivered with gusto by Cynthia Erivo and Grande.

“Wicked” follows Steven Spielberg’s recent “West Side Story,” which earned seven nominations in 2022 and a win for another supporting discovery, Ariana DeBose. And Rob Marshall’s film version of Bob Fosse’s “Chicago” (2002) was also one of 10 musical Best Picture winners. But we agree they were executed with more visual and technical mastery.

‘Juror #2’Courtesy of Warner Bros.

Both co-hosts...

Critics of Benjamin Netanyahu will probably be disappointed to learn that there are no major revelations in The Bibi Files, Alexis Bloom’s documentary concerning the corruption charges that have been swirling around the Israeli prime minister since 2016. Nonetheless, they’ll find much to feast on — including the leaked footage of police interrogations of him, his wife Sara and son Yair, which resulted in Netanyahu trying to get the film blocked by Israeli courts.

Making its official world premiere at Doc NYC — following an earlier work-in-progress screening at the Toronto International Film Festival, and shortly ahead of its theatrical and streaming releases — The Bibi Files paints a damning portrait of its subject’s machinations to stay in power.

The aforementioned charges resulted in various indictments in 2019 for breach of trust, accepting bribes and fraud, with the cases still ongoing. Netanyahu has asked for the latest part of the trial to...

Exclusive: Will Atlas has joined More/Medavoy Management. He will work as a manager representing writers, directors, and actors.

For the past three years, Atlas was at upstart talent agency Hyperion which recently closed down, with founder Ryan Bartlett and agents Austin Leshay and Atlas all landing new jobs. Bartlett is at Independent Artist Group; Leshay at Buchwald.

At Hyperion, Atlas did stints as a talent and lit agent, working with such clients as Shailene Woodley, Xochitl Gomez, Ashton Sanders, Natasha Behnam, Isidora Goreshter, Spence Moore II, Leah McNamara, Allen Maldonado, and Jake Horowitz.

Prior to joining Hyperion, Atlas worked as an assistant or coordinator for producers Jeff Robinov (Studio 8) and Arnon Milchan (New Regency), the film sales & finance group at CAA and film acquisitions at Relativity Media.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Will Atlas to our team – we’re adding both talent and heart,” partner Brian Medavoy said.

Los Angeles’ Israel Film Festival has announced its full program, kicking off with Tom Nesher’s directorial debut, “Come Closer” as the fest’s opening night gala. The centerpiece screening is a sneak preview of Erez Tadmor’s “Soda.”

The 36th edition of the festival, which runs Nov. 13-26, will honor Mattel chairman and CEO Ynon Kreiz with the Industry Leadership Award. Actor Shaike Levi will receive the 2024 Iff Lifetime Achievement Award at the Closing Night ceremony.

The festival’s founder and executive director, Meir Fenigstein, leads the event with support from Variety’s CEO and Group Publisher, Michelle Sobrino-Stearns, who serves as chairwoman, and Arnon Milchan, founder of New Regency, as honorary chairman.

Fenigstein said, “The Israel Film Festival has always maintained an environment of mutually respectful discussion and viewpoints as well as nonpartisanship. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by the war. Festivalgoers represent the...

Apple TV+ has announced the programming that will be added to the streaming service next month. The Apple TV Plus November 2024 lineup includes Bad Sisters Season 2, the documentary Bread & Roses, the war drama Blitz, and Silo Season 2.

Apple TV+ offers premium, compelling drama and comedy series, feature films, groundbreaking documentaries, and kids and family entertainment. It is available to watch across all of a user’s favorite screens.

Silo Season 2 Apple TV Plus November 2024 Schedule

Available November 1

Blitz (PG-13 War Drama Film)

Steve McQueen‘s “Blitz” follows the epic journey of George (Elliott Heffernan), a nine-year-old boy in World War II London whose mother Rita (Saoirse Ronan) sends him to safety in the English countryside. George, defiant and determined to return home to his mom and his grandfather Gerald (Paul Weller) in East London, embarks on an adventure, only to find himself in immense peril while a distraught Rita searches for her missing son.

Apple TV+ has set January 22 for the premiere of conspiracy thriller series Prime Target starring White Lotus and One Day breakout Leo Woodall and Black Adam‘s Quintessa Swindell. The eight episode series will launch with the first two episodes, followed by one episode weekly, every Wednesday through March 5.

Woodall stars as brilliant young math postgraduate, Edward Brooks on the verge of a major breakthrough. If he succeeds in finding a pattern in prime numbers, he will hold the key to every computer in the world. Soon he begins to realize an unseen enemy is trying to destroy his idea before it’s even born, which throws him into the orbit of Taylah Sanders, a female Nsa agent (Swindell) who’s been tasked with watching and reporting on mathematicians’ behavior. Together they start to unravel the troubling conspiracy Edward is at the heart of.

Cast also includes Stephen Rea (The Crying Game...

Today, Apple TV+ announced the premiere date for the new conspiracy thriller Prime Target, starring SAG Award winner Leo Woodall and Quintessa Swindell.

Created by award-winning writer Steve Thompson, who also serves as executive producer, the new drama is produced for Apple TV+ by New Regency with Ridley Scott’s Scott Free Productions.

The eight-episode series will premiere globally on Apple TV+ on January 22, 2025, with the first two episodes followed by one episode weekly, every Wednesday through March 5, 2025.

Prime Target features a brilliant young math postgraduate, Edward Brooks (played by Leo Woodall), who is on the verge of a major breakthrough. If he succeeds in finding a pattern in prime numbers, he will hold the key to every computer in the world.

Soon, he begins to realize an unseen enemy is trying to destroy his idea before it’s even born, which throws him into the orbit of Taylah Sanders,...

“One Day” star Leo Woodall swaps TV presenting for complex math problems in his latest series, “Prime Target.”

In first-look images from the upcoming Apple TV+ thriller, Woodall is dressed up as math postgraduate Edward Brooks, complete with tweed jacket and leather-bound notebook, while co-star Quintessa Swindell (“Black Adam”) plays no-nonsense Nsa agent Taylah Sanders.

“Prime Target” follows Brooks, who is on the verge of a major computational breakthrough, as he realizes someone is trying to destroy his idea – while Sanders has been ordered to spy on him and report on his behavior. Together, they begin to realize that Brooks is in fact at the heart of a troubling conspiracy.

Quintessa Swindell and Leo Woodall in ‘Prime Target’ (Courtesy of Apple TV+)

The show, which consists of eight episodes, is set to debut on Apple TV+ on Jan. 22. “Top Boy” director Brady Hood helms the series.

Woodall and Swindell are joined by Stephen Rea,...

In the early 2000s, Jennifer Aniston might have had her heart crushed by the budding romance between her now ex-husband Brad Pitt, and Angelina Jolie. However, the Friends star was not the only one who felt betrayed when they teamed up for their first-ever project together, Mr. and Mrs. Smith. In fact, while the 55-year-old might have been hit hardest by it, the film managed to ruffle a few more feathers.

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie in Mr. & Mrs. Smith [Credit: 20th Century Studios/Summit Entertainment]

After all, the film had everyone glued to their screens but did not portray one major part of it correctly. In fact, with Jolie and Pitt’s characters meeting for the very first time in Bogotá, Columbia, there seemed to be a few things that were missing.

Apart from Jennifer Aniston, Mr. and Mrs. Smith irked an entire city

The 2005 film Mr. and Mrs. Smith,...

Netflix’s series adaptation of Man on Fire is adding to its cast.

Alice Braga (Queen of the South, Dark Matter) and Scoot McNairy (A Complete Unknown, Halt and Catch Fire) have joined the drama as series regulars, and Paul Ben-Victor (Nobody Wants This, The Wire) will have a recurring role. Man on Fire is based on novels by A.J. Quinnell, which previously served as source material for a 2004 feature film starring Denzel Washington and a 1987 Italian film with Scott Glenn.

The series, which Netflix ordered in March 2023, centers on John Creasy (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), a former special forces mercenary now suffering intense Ptsd. Determined to overcome his personal demons, he sets out on a path to redemption. But before he can adjust to this new life, he finds himself back in the fire, fighting harder than ever. Billie Boullet and Bobby Cannavale are also part of the cast.

Braga will play Valeria Melo,...

The official poster for the forthcoming release Blitz from director Steve McQueen, starring Saoirse Ronan, has just been released.

Sir Steve McQueen’s Blitz follows the epic journey of George (Elliott Heffernan), a 9-year-old boy in World War II London whose mother Rita (Saoirse Ronan) sends him to safety in the English countryside. George, defiant and determined to return home to his mom and his grandfather Gerald (Paul Weller) in East London, embarks on an adventure, only to find himself in immense peril, while a distraught Rita searches for her missing son.

Written and directed by Academy and BAFTA Award-winning McQueen, the film stars Academy and BAFTA Award nominee Ronan and newcomer Heffernan, with Harris Dickinson, Benjamin Clementine, Kathy Burke, Weller, Stephen Graham, Leigh Gill, Mica Ricketts, Cj Beckford, Alex Jennings, Joshua McGuire, Hayley Squires, Erin Kellyman and Sally Messham rounding out the cast. McQueen’s Lammas Park produces alongside...

Here’s a first look at the brand new trailer for Blitz.

Sir Steve McQueen’s film follows the epic journey of George (Elliott Heffernan), a 9-year-old boy in World War II London whose mother Rita (Saoirse Ronan) sends him to safety in the English countryside. George, defiant and determined to return home to his mom and his grandfather Gerald (Paul Weller) in East London, embarks on an adventure, only to find himself in immense peril, while a distraught Rita searches for her missing son.

Apple Original Films’ Blitz will debut in select theaters November 1, 2024 before premiering globally on Apple TV+ November 22, 2024.

Written and directed by Academy and BAFTA Award-winning McQueen, the film stars Academy and BAFTA Award nominee Ronan and newcomer Heffernan, with Harris Dickinson, Benjamin Clementine, Kathy Burke, Weller, Stephen Graham, Leigh Gill, Mica Ricketts, Cj Beckford, Alex Jennings, Joshua McGuire, Hayley Squires, Erin Kellyman and Sally Messham rounding out the cast.

Apple Original Films has revealed the trailer and poster for Blitz, the new historical drama from writer and director Sir Steve McQueen Cbe. The film will debut in select theaters on November 1, 2024, before premiering globally on Apple TV+ on November 22.

Blitz has been rated PG-13 for thematic elements, including some racism, violence, some strong language, brief sexuality, and smoking.

Blitz follows the epic journey of George (Elliott Heffernan), a 9-year-old boy in World War II London whose mother Rita (Saoirse Ronan) sends him to safety in the English countryside.

George, defiant and determined to return home to his mom and his grandfather Gerald (Paul Weller) in East London, embarks on an adventure, only to find himself in immense peril, while a distraught Rita searches for her missing son.

Written and directed by Academy and BAFTA Award-winning McQueen, the film stars Academy and BAFTA Award nominee Saoirse Ronan and newcomer Elliott Heffernan.

Saoirse Ronan plays a distraught mother searching for her missing son in World War II East London in the trailer for Steve McQueen’s Blitz, which dropped on Thursday.

The drama follows George, a 9-year-old boy, played by Elliot Heffernan, in wartime London after his mother Rita (Ronan) sends him as an evacuee to safety in the English countryside. But defiant and determined to get back home on his own to his mother and grandfather Gerald (Paul Weller) in East London, George encounters real danger as a distraught Rita tries to find her footloose son as he faces mounting peril.

“Why can’t you tell me, where’s my boy?” Rita pleads with London police officers at one point in the trailer. Meanwhile, George is seen scurrying for shelter alongside other Londoners in underground subway stations or bombed-out buildings as German Luftwaffe planes continue to bomb the British capital’s east end.

Steve McQueen’s “Blitz,” a historical drama taking place as Nazi Germany bombed London during World War II, has released its first trailer.

The Apple Original film stars Oscar nominee Saoirse Ronan as Rita, a distraught mother who frantically searches for her 9-year-old son George (newcomer Elliott Heffernan) after sending him to the countryside during the Blitz. The cast also includes Harris Dickinson, Erin Kellyman, Stephen Graham, Kathy Burke, Paul Weller, Leigh Gill and Benjamin Clementine.

McQueen wrote, directed and produced “Blitz,” which marks his first feature film since 2018’s “Widows.” The British filmmaker is best known for directing the 2014 film “12 Years a Slave,” which won the Academy Award for best picture and also earned him a directing nomination.

“Blitz” will world premiere on Oct. 9 as the opening night gala of this year’s BFI London Film Festival. In a statement announcing its premiere at the festival, McQueen said:...

Saoirse Ronan embraces her maternal side in the World War II drama “Blitz” from Apple Studios.

Written and directed by Oscar-winning “12 Years a Slave” and “Widows” filmmaker Steve McQueen, the film follows the journey of a defiant 9-year-old boy George (Elliott Heffernan), who attempts to return home to his mother Rita (Ronan) after being sent to “safety” in the English countryside. When officials tell Rita that her son did not make “arrive at his destination,” she sets off on a mission to find him, while George finds himself in fiery trouble.

The film takes place during the WWII Blitz when the German Air Force, Luftwaffe, bombed London and other British cities from September 1940 to May 1941. The German blitzkrieg, or “lightning war,” killed an estimated 40,000 people and left more homeless and injured.

McQueen’s company Lammas Park produced the film alongside Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner of Working Title Films,...

Steve McQueen is debuting his latest period piece, this time starring Saoirse Ronan.

McQueen writes and directs “Blitz,” which follows the epic journey of George (Elliott Heffernan), a 9-year-old boy in World War II London whose mother Rita (Ronan) sends him to safety in the English countryside.

Per the official synopsis, “George, defiant and determined to return home to his mom and his grandfather Gerald (Paul Weller) in East London, embarks on an adventure, only to find himself in immense peril, while a distraught Rita searches for her missing son.”

Harris Dickinson, Benjamin Clementine, Kathy Burke, Stephen Graham, Leigh Gill, Mica Ricketts, Cj Beckford, Alex Jennings, Joshua McGuire, Hayley Squires, Erin Kellyman, and Sally Messham also star.

Academy Award winner McQueen reunites with production designer Adam Stockhausen, costume designer Jacqueline Durran (“Small Axe”), and composer Hans Zimmer (“12 Years a Slave”) for the production. The feature is also a reunion...

Hello Insiders. It’s getting colder in Europe, but the news in TV and film has been hot and spicy in the week Taylor Swift endorsed Kamala Harris. Jesse Whittock here taking you. Let’s go, and don’t forget to sign up here.

TIFF’s Russia Doc Pulled

‘Russians at War’ director Anastasia Trofimova in Venice

War doc shelved: This year’s Toronto Film Festival had been surprisingly quiet until Thursday afternoon when the festival said it had paused upcoming screenings of Russian-Canadian director Anastasia Trofimova’s documentary Russians at War “effective immediately” after learning about “significant threats to festival operations and public safety.” The decision was made “in order to ensure the safety of all festival guests, staff, and volunteers,” TIFF said in a statement, adding, “This is an unprecedented move.” Russians at War provides a rare insight into life for Russian soldiers on the frontline in Ukraine.

Toronto screenings of The Bibi Files, the work in progress documentary concerning corruption charges against Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, are going ahead despite efforts by his government to block them.

Alexis Bloom’s film was a late addition to Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) selection by the festival’s head documentary programmer Thom Powers and screens again on Tuesday evening after the initial presentation on Monday.

Producer Alex Gibney attended the Monday screening. The Bibi Files reveals previously unseen, leaked interrogation footage of Netanyahu, who has been under investigation by Israeli authorities for eight years and is yet to stand trial.

After facing a failed attempt by the government of Benjamin Netanyahu to block their world-premiere screening, the filmmakers behind the anti-Netanyahu documentary The Bibi Files carried on Monday night debuting their work at the Toronto International Film Festival with a mix of grim resolve and giddy triumph.

Alexis Bloom’s film, which builds its case against the long-serving Israeli prime minister on a foundation of never-before-seen interrogation tapes, at times played like a rally to the Israeli-skewing, often anti-Netanyahu crowd.

“You need to find a way to take this film and airdrop it over Israel,” one Israeli attendee said from the audience after the screening, though judging by the growing crowds of protesters on Tel Aviv streets in the wake of six dead Israeli hostages, the message may have already been received.

The Bibi Files was produced by the Oscar- and Emmy-winning documentarian Alex Gibney, who said he and Bloom...

In one of the most explosive documentary premieres in TIFF history, a film sharply critical of Benjamin Netanyahu bowed before a packed house in Toronto Monday night, despite a last-ditch effort by the Israeli prime minister to block it.

The Bibi Files, produced by Alex Gibney and directed by Alexis Bloom, contains never-before-seen video of Netanyahu being interrogated by Israeli police on corruption allegations – an investigation that led to Netanyahu’s indictment in 2019. In footage leaked to Gibney late last year, Netanyahu is seen locking horns with interrogators, denying he improperly accepted expensive gifts from wealthy supporters, including Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan and Las Vegas casino magnate Sheldon Adelson. Video of police questioning of Milchan, Adelson, as well as Netanyahu’s wife Sara and eldest son Yair also was leaked to Gibney and is featured prominently in the documentary.

Earlier Monday, the Jerusalem District Court rejected an attempt by Netanyahu...

Bobby Cannavale will appear in a guest star role in the upcoming “Man on Fire” series adaptation at Netflix, Variety has learned exclusively.

The eight-episode series is based on the A.J. Quinnell novel of the same name, which was the first of Quinnell’s novels to feature the character Marcus Creasy.

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II will star in the series as Creasy, “once a high-functioning and skilled Special Forces Mercenary, known for surviving even the most desolate of situations, Creasy is now plagued with intense Ptsd,” per the official logline. “Determined to overcome his personal demons, he sets out on a path to redemption. But, before he can adjust to this new life, he finds himself back in the fire, fighting harder than ever.”

Billie Boullet is also set to appear in the series.

Cannavale will play Paul Rayburn, described as an “ex-Special Forces soldier who possesses a unique ability to read people.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the 2024 NY Film Festival has now found its closing night title with Blitz, which comes from director Steve McQueen. McQueen directs, writes, and serves as a producer on the film, featuring stories of Londoners during the blitzkrieg of World War II. The historical drama stars Saoirse Ronan and Elliot Heffernan.

The story, according to THR, “is told from the parallel perspectives of working-class single mother Rita (Ronan) and her 9-year-old son George (Heffernan) as they become separated in the city under siege.” Blitz finds McQueen back at New Regency, who he partnered with for 2013’s 12 Years a Slave and 2018’s Widows, starring Viola Davis, Michelle Rodriguez, Elizabeth Debbicki, Cynthia Erivo and Colin Farrell. McQueen produces through his Lammas Park studio, with Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner of Working Title Films. Arnon Milchan, Yariv Milchan, and Michael Schaefer produce via New Regency. Blitz hails from Apple Original Films.

Steve McQueen’s World War II drama starring Saoirse Ronan, “Blitz,” will close the 62nd New York Film Festival, Film at Lincoln Center announced on Thursday. The movie will screen on October 10 at Alice Tully Hall in Manhattan, which will mark its North American premiere.

“Blitz,” which McQueen wrote, directed and produced, stars Ronan as a working-class single mother living in London during Nazi Germany’s 1941 blitzkrieg that began on September 7 and continued for 57 consecutive days and nights, killing almost 1,500 people.

The film is told from the points of view of Ronan’s Rita and her 9-year-old son George (played by newcomer Elliott Heffernan), who become separated during the air raids. According to the description offered by the festival, the film “offers a multicultural portrait of 1940s London too infrequently seen on screens” and is “Dickensian in its scope and storytelling.”

The supporting cast includes Kathy Burke, Benjamin Clementine, Harris Dickinson,...

The North American premiere of Steve McQueen’s Blitz will close the 62nd New York Film Festival on October 10.

Saoirse Ronan and Elliott Heffernan star as working-class single mother Rita and her nine-year-old son George who become separated during the bombing of London by Germany during the Second World War.

The cast includes Harris Dickinson, Benjamin Clementine, Kathy Burke, Paul Weller, Stephen Graham, Leigh Gill, Mica Ricketts, Cj Beckford, Alex Jennings, Joshua McGuire, Hayley Squires, Erin Kellyman, and Sally Messham.

The Apple Original Film will premiere in theatres on November 1 ahead of its global premiere on Apple TV+ on November...

Steve McQueen’s Blitz, starring Saoirse Ronan and Elliott Heffernan, will be the closing night selection of the 62nd New York Film Festival, making its North American premiere, said the fest’s parent Film At Lincoln Center.

The re-creation of London during its blitzkrieg by the Germans during World War II is told from the parallel perspectives of working-class single mother Rita (Ronan) and her 9-year-old son, George (newcomer Heffernan), who become separated within the labyrinth of a city under siege. Oscar-winner McQueen (12 Years a Slave), who also wrote and produced, offers an unusual multicultural portrait of 1940s London. Supporting cast includes Kathy Burke, Benjamin Clémentine, Harris Dickinson, Stephen Graham, Hayley Squires, and Paul Weller.

“It is with immense pride, gratitude, and fondness that I’m able to return to the New York Film Festival with Blitz,” said McQueen. “I’ve been lucky enough to have enjoyed a number...

After just this week announcing the New York Film Festival’s opening night film (RaMell Ross’ much-anticipated Colson Whitehead adaptation “Nickel Boys”), Film at Lincoln Center has today announced the film that will close this year’s edition: Steve McQueen’s “Blitz,” starring Saoirse Ronan and newcomer Elliott Heffernan. After world premiering at the London BFI Film Festival on October 9, the film will mark its North American premiere on October 10 at Alice Tully Hall.

Per Thursday’s announcement, “Blitz” is “an authentic and astonishing recreation of London during its blitzkrieg by the Germans during World War II, pushes the artistry of Steve McQueen to ever more impressive levels. Working on a vast scale, McQueen sets things at human eye level, telling his original tale from the parallel perspectives of working-class single mother Rita (Saoirse Ronan) and her nine-year-old son, George (newcomer Elliott Heffernan), as they become separated within the labyrinth of a city under siege.

Peacock announced on Wednesday that the motorcycle crime thriller The Bikeriders, starring Emmy winner Jodie Comer (Killing Eve), Academy Award nominee Austin Butler (Elvis) and Academy Award nominee Tom Hardy (The Revenant), will begin streaming exclusively on the service on August 9.

Written and directed by Jeff Nichols, the filmmaker behind titles like Mud and Take Shelter, The Bikeriders is a fictional story inspired by the photography of Danny Lyon and his 1967 book The Bikeriders.

The film captures a rebellious time in America when the culture and people were changing. After a chance encounter at a local bar, strong-willed Kathy (Comer) is inextricably drawn to Benny (Butler), the newest member of Midwestern motorcycle club the Vandals, led by the enigmatic Johnny (Hardy). Much like the country around it, the club begins to evolve, transforming from a gathering place for local outsiders into a dangerous underworld of violence, forcing Benny to choose...

Steve McQueen’s World War II drama “Blitz” will world premiere as the opening night gala of the 68th BFI London Film Festival (Lff). The Apple original film, directed, produced, and written by McQueen, marks the Academy Award and BAFTA winner’s return to the festival.

“Blitz” follows George (Elliott Heffernan), a nine-year-old boy in wartime London, as he’s sent to the countryside for safety by his mother Rita (Saoirse Ronan). The film chronicles George’s journey back to London and Rita’s search for her missing son.

The cast also includes Harris Dickinson, Benjamin Clementine, Kathy Burke, Paul Weller and Stephen Graham. McQueen’s Lammas Park produces alongside Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner of Working Title Films, and Arnon Milchan, Yariv Milchan and Michael Schaefer for New Regency.

This premiere marks McQueen’s third time opening the Lff, following “Widows” in 2018 and “Mangrove” in 2020. The London-born director received...

The world premiere of Steve McQueen‘s Blitz, starring Saoirse Ronan and Harris Dickinson, will open 2024’s BFI London Film Festival (Lff) this October.

The Apple original film – directed, produced, and written by Oscar winner McQueen (12 Years a Slave) – follows the journey of nine-year-old George, played by newcomer Elliot Heffernan, in London through the Second World War. He is sent to safety in the English countryside by his mother Rita (Ronan), but is determined to make his way back to east London. As the infamous German bombing campaign concentrates on the U.K. capital, George finds himself in “immense peril” while a distraught Rita searches for her missing child.

Alongside Ronan and Heffernan stars The Iron Claw‘s Harris Dickinson, Benjamin Clementine, Kathy Burke, Paul Weller, Stephen Graham, Leigh Gill, Mica Ricketts, Cj Beckford, Alex Jennings, Joshua McGuire, Hayley Squires, Erin Kellyman, and Sally Messham.

McQueen has opened the...

Steve McQueen will debut his latest feature Blitz, an exploration of London during World War 2, on opening night at this year’s London Film Festival. The pic will screen as a world premiere.

Directed, produced, and written by McQueen, the film follows the epic journey of George (Elliott Heffernan), a 9-year-old boy in World War II London whose mother Rita (Saoirse Ronan) sends him to safety in the English countryside. The Synopsis reads: George, defiant and determined to return home to Rita and his grandfather Gerald (Paul Weller) in East London, ensues on an adventure, only to find himself in immense peril, while a distraught Rita searches for her missing son. Blitz marks McQueen’s first sole feature screenwriting credit.

The film stars Saoirse Ronan and newcomer Elliott Heffernan, with Harris Dickinson, Benjamin Clementine, Kathy Burke, Paul Weller, Stephen Graham, Leigh Gill, Mica Ricketts, Cj Beckford, Alex Jennings, Joshua McGuire,...

British actress Billie Boullet, who played Anne Frank in the recent Nat Geo limited series “A Small Light,” has signed on to star in Netflix’s upcoming “Man on Fire,” along with Yahya Abdul-Mateen II.

Boullet will play Poe Rayburn, described as having “the lanky lines of someone growing at a rapid and confusing pace and the attitude that comes with it. She is unhappy about moving to Brazil because of her parent’s decision, spending her days with her wealthy international classmates until a tragic incident changes her perspective on family and life. As the only witness to a terrifying event, Poe quickly learns that her only ally is John Creasy.”

As previously announced, Abdul-Mateen will play John Creasy.

Kyle Killen is the writer, executive producer and showrunner on “Man on Fire,” which is based on A.J. Quinnell’s first two novels about former French Foreign Legion solider John Creasy,...

Yahya Abdul-Mateen ll has been set to lead executive produce Netflix’s upcoming series ‘Man on Fire.’

Abdul-Mateen II will play the role of John Creasy, a once high-functioning and skilled Special Forces mercenary known for surviving even the most desolate situations. Creasy is now plagued with intense Ptsd. Determined to overcome his personal demons, he sets out on a path to redemption. But before he can adjust to this new life, he finds himself back in the fire, fighting harder than ever.

Director Steven Caple Jr. will direct episodes 1 and 2 and also serve as executive producer.

Also in news – Jensen Ackles set for thriller series ‘Countdown’

The eight-episode drama series is an adaptation based on A.J. Quinnell’s ‘Man on Fire and ‘The Perfect Kill.’ The first two books in Quinnells five book series was previously adapted in 2004 with Denzel Washington in the lead.

Kyle Killen (Fear Street) is the writer,...

Watchmen Emmy winner Yahya Abdul-Mateen ll is set to headline Man on Fire, Netflix’s series adaptation of the A.J. Quinnell book series.

Taking on the character previously played by Denzel Washington in Tony Scott’s 2004 film of the same name, Abdul-Mateen II will star as John Creasy, a onetime high-functioning and skilled Special Forces mercenary who now is plagued with intense Ptsd.

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Yahya Abdul-Mateen II will lead the cast of Netflix’s upcoming thriller series “Man on Fire.” He will also executive produce the project alongside Steven Caple Jr., who has been set as director of the first two episodes under showrunner Kyle Killen.

“Man on Fire” is based on A.J. Quinnell’s first two novels about former French Foreign Legion solider John Creasy, titled “Man on Fire” (1981) and “The Perfect Kill” (1992). This is not the first adaptation of the Quinnell novels; Creasy was played by Denzel Washington in a 2004 “Man on Fire” film and by Scott Glenn in 1987.

The logline for Netflix’s adaptation reads, “Once a high functioning and skilled Special Forces Mercenary, known for surviving even the most desolate of situations, Creasy (Mateen) is now plagued with intense Ptsd. Determined to overcome his personal demons, he sets out on a path to redemption. But, before he can adjust to this new life,...

Exclusive: Emmy-winning actor Yahya Abdul-Mateen ll will star in and executive produce Netflix’s upcoming series Man on Fire. The project was ordered by the streamer in March.

The eight-episode drama series is an adaptation based on A.J. Quinnell’s Man on Fire and The Perfect Kill, the first two books in Quinnell’s five-book series previously adapted to film in 2004 starring Denzel Washington and in 1987 in an Italian film of the same name. Director Steven Caple Jr. will direct episodes 1 and 2 of the latest incarnation and also serve as executive producer.

In the new series, Abdul-Mateen II will lead as John Creasy, a once high-functioning and skilled Special Forces mercenary known for surviving even the most desolate of situations. Creasy is now plagued with intense Ptsd. Determined to overcome his personal demons, he sets out on a path to redemption.

The first-ever Gotham TV Awards offered a stark contrast between the Gotham Film & Media Institute’s annual celebration of cinema. While both awards shows were founded to toast independent productions — that is, before the Gotham Awards increased their budget cap eligibility requirements in 2023 — the Gotham TV Awards felt like a strangely intimate gathering that was mostly populated by showrunners, network executives, and the Gotham TV Awards jurors, with a few actors and press sprinkled in.

Sure, it could be that it’s the first year for the awards show and thus a smaller turnout and even venue. Or perhaps the Gotham TV Awards will remain a coveted industry event, one that feels like it’s only for insiders.

The intimacy was most prominent during the Anniversary Tribute for “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” icon Mariska Hargitay. The award was presented by Hargitay’s former co-star Stephanie March, and...

After decades of honoring the best in independent film, the Gotham Awards have formally branched out into television. In recent years the Gothams have included a handful of TV awards alongside their film races, but 2024 marks the first time the Gothams have dedicated an awards show specifically to television. Held on June 4 at 7:00pm Eastern in New York City, the awards celebrated the best new comedies, dramas, limited series and nonfiction programs of the season. So how did the inaugural event go? Who were the big winners? And what were the biggest surprises at these juried awards? The complete list of winners is below, updated throughout the night.

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Breakthrough Comedy Series

“Bodkin”

Jez Scharf, creator; Tonia Davis, Nne Ebong, David Flynn, Paul Lee, Alex Metcalf, Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Jez Scharf, executive producers; (Netflix)

X — “Colin from Accounts”

Patrick Brammall,...

The Gotham Film & Media Institute has announced the nominations for the first ever Gotham TV Awards taking place on Tuesday, June 4 at Cipriani 25 in New York City. With a focus on shows in their first seasons, the nominees selected by committees of film and television critics, journalists, festival programmers, and film curators feature a range of series, from “Baby Reindeer” to “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” and “Black Twitter: A People’s History,” as well as performances from Emma Stone and Nathan Fielder in “The Curse” to Kristen Wiig in “Palm Royale,” and Lily Gladstone in “Under The Bridge.”

The new ceremony will also celebrate tribute recipients Mariska Hargitay, Peter Morgan, and Lulu Wang.

Hargitay will be feted with the Anniversary Tribute for her “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” tenure of over 550 episodes of playing Captain Olivia Benson. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the procedural series on air...

For decades, the Gotham Awards have honored the best in independent film as decided by select committees of industry insiders, festival programmers, and media experts. In recent years they have expanded into TV, but in 2024, for the first time, they are holding a separate awards show dedicated to the best new television programs of the year. Scroll down for the complete list of inaugural nominees. Winners will be presented on Tuesday, June 4, in New York City.

Jeffrey Sharp, The Gotham’s Executive Director, said in a statement, “In a historic moment for The Gotham, we’re thrilled to recognize an extraordinary collection of TV series and the brilliant creators responsible for bringing them to the screen. As an organization dedicated to celebrating and nurturing independent media, we know the inaugural 2024 Gotham TV Awards will honor many truly deserving creatives while widening our reach and expanding our impact. We are enormously...

The Gotham Film & Media Institute announced today the nominations in seven competitive award categories for its inaugural Gotham TV Awards, recognizing a range of series, including Baby Reindeer, Ripley, The Curse, Shōgun, Bodkin, Mr. & Mrs. Smith and Black Twitter: A People’s History as well as performances from Emma Stone and Nathan Fielder in The Curse, Andrew Scott in Ripley, Kristen Wiig in Palm Royale, Richard Gadd in Baby Reindeer, and Lily Gladstone in Under The Bridge, among others. The awards ceremony is set for June 4 in NYC.

“In a historic moment for The Gotham, we’re thrilled to recognize an extraordinary collection of TV series and the brilliant creators responsible for bringing them to the screen,” said Jeffrey Sharp, The Gotham’s Executive Director.

The longstanding Gotham Awards is focused on film but includes three television categories. From here on, they will migrate to the new event.

The Gotham Film & Media Institute has announced its nominees in seven categories for the inaugural Gotham TV Awards.

Baby Reindeer, Ripley, The Curse, Shōgun, Bodkin, Mr. & Mrs. Smith and Black Twitter: A People’s History are among the nominees, with Emma Stone and Nathan Fielder (The Curse), Andrew Scott (Ripley), Kristen Wiig (Palm Royale), Richard Gadd (Baby Reindeer) and Lily Gladstone (Under the Bridge) receiving nods in the acting categories.

“In a historic moment for The Gotham, we’re thrilled to recognize an extraordinary collection of TV series and the brilliant creators responsible for bringing them to the screen,” said Jeffrey Sharp, the Gotham’s executive director. “As an organization dedicated to celebrating and nurturing independent media, we know the inaugural 2024 Gotham TV Awards will honor many truly deserving creatives while widening our reach and expanding our impact. We are enormously proud to celebrate the remarkable talent represented in today’s nominations.

The official poster for writer/director Jeff Nichols’ The Bikeriders has been released (check it out below!). The film will be in theaters nationwide on June 21st!

Synopsis: The Bikeriders follows the rise of a midwestern motorcycle club, the Vandals. Seen through the lives of its members, the club evolves over the course of a decade from a gathering place for local outsiders into a more sinister gang, threatening the original group’s unique way of life.

About The Film

Genre: Crime, Drama Starring: Jodie Comer, Austin Butler and Tom Hardy, Michael Shannon, Mike Faist with Norman Reedus Director: Jeff Nichols Screenplay: Jeff Nichols Producer: Sarah Green, p.g.a., Brian Kavanaugh-Jones, p.g.a, Arnon Milchan

The Bikeriders is in theaters on Friday, June 21, 2024!

For More Information, Please Visit:

Official Site / Facebook / X (Twitter) / Instagram / #TheBikeriders

The post “The Bikeriders” Official Poster Released first appeared on CinemaNerdz.

Apple TV+ has revealed the trailer for the highly anticipated new season of ‘Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock’.

Jim Henson’s fun-loving and musical Fraggles – Gobo, Red, Boober, Mokey, Wembley, and Uncle Travelling Matt, appearing alongside new Fraggles and Doozers voiced by special guest stars including Academy Award winner Ariana DeBose, Emmy Award winner Brett Goldstein, Emmy Award winner Catherine O’Hara, Tony and Grammy Award winner, Emmy Award nominee Daveed Diggs, Grammy nominee Adam Lambert and K-pop group aespa – are back with more epic, fun and zany adventures, this time with big changes affecting the Rock. The Fraggles, Doozers, and Gorgs will be forced to confront their past and celebrate their interdependence as they move through challenges together with hope, silliness, and brand-new songs, all while dancing their cares away…down at Fraggle Rock.

The series is executive produced by The Jim Henson Company’s Lisa Henson, Halle Stanford,...

The second official trailer for The Bikeriders has just been released. The film will be released by Focus Features nationwide on Friday, June 21st!

Synopsis: The Bikeriders follows the rise of a midwestern motorcycle club, the Vandals. Seen through the lives of its members, the club evolves over the course of a decade from a gathering place for local outsiders into a more sinister gang, threatening the original group’s unique way of life.

About The Film

Genre: Crime, Drama Starring: Jodie Comer, Austin Butler and Tom Hardy, Michael Shannon, Mike Faist with Norman Reedus Director: Jeff Nichols Screenplay: Jeff Nichols Producer: Sarah Green, p.g.a., Brian Kavanaugh-Jones, p.g.a, Arnon Milchan

The Bikeriders is in theaters on Friday, June 21st!

For More Information, Please Visit:

Official Site / Facebook / X/Twitter / Instagram / #TheBikeriders

The post New Trailer for “The Bikeriders” Released first appeared on CinemaNerdz.

Austin Butler is going from blades to bikes as he goes from Dune: Part Two to the upcoming period drama, The Bikeriders. Butler revealed that his immediate start on The Bikeriders meant that he couldn’t shave his hair for Dune 2 as time was not allotted to have his hair grow back, so he’s actually wearing a prosthetic bald cap. He got to keep his blonde locks and Focus Features has now released the new trailer for The Bikeriders, which Butler stars in with Tom Hardy.

If you recall, The Bikeriders was originally set for a fall 2023 release via Disney’s Searchlight. The studio ended up selling the film (in an unusual move) to Focus, who decided to set it up as summer counter programming. This might have been a smart move as Butler is sure to come off Dune: Part Two an even bigger star than he was a few months ago.