News

On the eve of the EFM Screen has learned that US distributor Giant Pictures is launching an international sales division.

Giant Pictures general manager, Nick Savva, Tom Bairstow formerly of Sony Pictures Television Europe, and former Cinedigm president Bill Sondheim will lead the new venture and head to Berlin with an inaugural slate that includes Alex Braverman’s 2023 Venice and Telluride Andy Kaufman documentary Thank You Very Much.

The sales roster includes martial arts action title Absolute Dominion from Green Street Hooligans director Lexi Alexander, 2023 Lido selection and boxing drama The Featherweight from Robert Kolodny, and absurdist comedy and 2024 Fantastic...

Exclusive: Giant Pictures has acquired Lexi Alexander’s (Green Street Hooligan) martial arts action movie Absolute Dominion for international sales and U.S. release.

The movie’s cast includes newcomer Désiré Mia, Patton Oswalt, and Alex Winter, who also produced. Pic is slated for a spring 2025 release and it will be on sale at the upcoming EFM in Berlin.

Absolute Dominion takes place In the year 2063 Ad, when the world faces catastrophe as zealots and extremists wage a global holy war in the name of spiritual superiority. In a desperate attempt to save humanity from itself, the world’s governing bodies vote to establish ‘The Battle of Absolute Dominion,’ a fierce martial-arts tournament that will determine a champion whose faith will govern humanity and restore peace for the future.

Pic is written and directed by Lexi Alexander and is produced by John McKeown, Alex Winter, and Scott Puttnam. Cast comprises Désiré Mia,...

Rob Zombie has said that for every one film project of his that moves forward, there are five potential projects that fall by the wayside. We haven’t heard of quite that many unmade Rob Zombie movies, but we have heard of several over the years that never got off the ground… and unfortunately, most of them sounded pretty interesting. A little over a year ago, Zombie had said he didn’t know what his next movie is going to be, but he did know what it’s not going to be: he won’t be continuing his Firefly franchise, and he doesn’t want to make a sequel to The Munsters (which was poorly received). So while he figures out his next cinematic move, we we have put together a list of Rob Zombie Movies We Want To See!

Dr. Satan Prequel/Sequel

Okay, so this flies right in...

Punisher: War Zone is the lowest-earning Marvel movie, facing box office struggles and marketing challenges. Jon Bernthal's Punisher deserves a big-screen project for deeper exploration and interaction with other MCU characters. The time is right for another Punisher movie with Bernthal's exceptional portrayal and the McU's shift towards darker themes.

The time has come for Marvel to address its lowest-grossing movie ever and bring one of its best characters to the silver screen again. The Punisher has been notably absent from the MCU timeline, likely due to his highly violent and graphic brand of vigilante justice. However, with his pending return in the McU's future, it's possible that Marvel could adapt the character into a movie, and in the process redeem its worst performing movie ever.

The Punisher's on-screen history began with the 1989 film starring Dolph Lundgren, followed by a 2004 reboot with Thomas Jane. In 2008, Punisher: War Zone...

A Marvel movie released during the earliest days of the MCU is the lowest-grossing Marvel movie. It outpaces recent Marvel flops like The Marvels and Madame Web, earning $10.1 million against a $35 million budget. A different iteration of the character is set to appear in an upcoming MCU project, offering a chance at redemption.

The Punisher has endured as one of the most complex comic book characters, but his box-office record hasnt been all that impressive, as is evident from the low earnings of Marvel films like Punisher: War Zone. Following the footsteps of 1989s The Punisher starring Dolph Lundgren and 2004s Punisher reboot starring Thomas Jane, this movie found the late Ray Stevenson playing the ex-Marine-turned-vigilante Frank Castle. The Lexi Alexander-directed action thriller pitted the titular hero against Dominic Wests villain Jigsaw, a mob boss behind the death of Castles family and who vows revenge on Castle for disfiguring his face.

Fan Siu-wong, Kurt Russell, Zoe Bell, Mike Star, Fred Stoller, Johnny Barnes, Keanu Reeves’ fist, and Hugo WeavingScreenshot: YouTube

With the release of Amazon’s Mma-inspired remake of Road House, The A.V. Club is looking at the most brutal, compelling, and consequential punches to the face in cinema. Now,...

As the conflict between Israel and Gaza continued to escalate, Israelis and their allies in Hollywood pleaded for support and said they were riven with anxiety for the well-being of friends and family.

“Some of the immediate reaction is disbelief, rage and anger. And I think I’ve settled in over the last 24 hours to just immense sadness,” said Casting Networks co-ceo Rafi Gordon, who was born and raised in Israel before moving to the United States as a teenager. “This feels like a 9/11 kind of moment, where I don’t know what normal is on the other side of this.”

“People have tried justification for violence for 3,000 years and it doesn’t work. We need to find justifications for peace,” MRC co-founder and co-ceo Modi Wiczyk, who has close family in Israel, told TheWrap two days after surprise attacks by Hamas left some 900 Israelis dead and thousands wounded.

“It...

Killer Collectibles highlights five of the most exciting new horror products announced each and every week, from toys and apparel to artwork, records, and much more.

Here are the coolest horror collectibles unveiled this week!

The Warriors 4K Uhd from Arrow Video

The Warriors will come out to play on 4K Ultra HD on December 12 from Arrow Video. Both the 1979 theatrical cut and the 2005 alternate version have been newly restored in 4K from the original camera negative with Dolby Vision.

The action thriller is directed by Walter Hill from a script he co-wrote with David Shaber (Nighthawks), based on Sol Yurick’s 1965 novel. Michael Beck, James Remar, Deborah Van Valkenburgh, Marcelino Sánchez, and David Harris lead the ensemble cast.

The limited edition set comes with a 100-page book featuring new writing by film critic Dennis Cozzalio plus archival material, a double-sided poster with Laurie Greasley’s new artwork and the original key art,...

When people think of Frank Castle on the silver screen, actors like Jon Bernthal and Dolph Lundgren come to mind. However, the late Ray Stevenson‘s portrayal in Lexi Alexander’s 2008 crime-drama Punisher: War Zone hides in the shadows of the character’s cinematic history. The film was planned as a sequel to 2004’s The Punisher, starring Thomas Jane and John Travolta. War Zone picks up five years into the anti-hero’s journey into darkness, with Frank encountering his most significant threat in the villain Jigsaw, played by Dominic West.

Jonathan Hensleigh, who directed The Punisher, was supposed to return with Jane reprising the title role. However, setbacks kept the film from progressing, with Hensleigh and Jane hard-quitting the project out of frustration. Jane expressed his exasperation by saying, “What I won’t do is spend months of my life sweating over a movie I don’t believe in. I...

The untimely passing of actor Ray Stevenson has shocked us all. I personally fell in love with the actor when I first saw him as Titus Pullo in the excellent series Rome. I still can’t believe that he’s gone. What a loss. Which is why on this week’s The Arrow in the Head Show, we decided to revisit his take on Frank Castle in the 2008 Punisher: War Zone. Stab the embed above to hear our thoughts!

Directed by Lexi Alexander, the film is about: Frank Castle, aka The Punisher, turns the streets of New York City red as he wages a one man war against the crime syndicate responsible for the death of his wife and two kids. Aided by his trusted sidekick, Microchip, he almost kills Billy Russoti and leaves him horribly disfigured. Billy renames himself Jigsaw and with the help of his crazed brother Loony Bin Jim,...

Lexi Alexander's 2008 film "Punisher: War Zone" may be one of the most gonzo mainstream superhero films ever made. Like going to a drive-in on acid, "War Zone" is brutally violent to a cartoonish degree. The mayhem tally is one for the record books. The title character, played by Ray Stevenson, punches a man so hard, his fist exits the back of his head. In another scene, the Punisher hangs by his knees from a chandelier, a gun in each hand, spinning around as he lays waste to a ballroom full of baddies. The film's villain falls face-first into a bottle-crushing machine, leaving his face a stitched-up patchwork mask. In one amazing shot, a hopped-up parkour enthusiast is exploded with a rocket launcher while in midair. The film's final line of dialogue is one of the Punisher's friends complaining that he has human brain matter on him.

"War Zone" is a hoot,...

Hearing about Ray Stevenson’s unfortunate passing made me want to revisit one of his best movies….

Punisher: War Zone (2008)

Director: Lexi Alexander

Stars: Ray Stevenson, Dominic West, Julie Benz

Is There A Plot?

Former family man Frank Castle spends his time violently eradicating organized crime, but after an eventful night of sending a mob boss face-first through a glass crusher and accidentally killing an undercover FBI agent, The Punisher finds himself being hunted by those on both sides of the law.

What’S The Damage?

The Punisher has had an interesting foray in to live action over the years. The 1989 Dolph Lundgren movie still holds up, but he honestly could’ve been any generic vigilante. Jon Bernthal gave us a more psychologically complex Frank Castle in his Netflix series, while Thomas Jane provided what fans had long been clamoring for…The Punisher punishing Tampa, Florida. However, Punisher: War Zone...

Ray Stevenson, a versatile actor known for genre fare such as Punisher: War Zone, the Thor movies, HBO’s Rome and much, much more, has died. He was 58.

Born George Raymond Stevenson on May 25, 1964, in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, he harbored acting ambitions from an early age. He enrolled at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, from where he eventually obtained his graduate degree.

From there, he kicked off a career in British and European TV, starting with 1993’s A Woman’s Guide To Adultery, in which he had a small role as a journalist. He racked up credits in a number of TV series well known to audiences, including Peak Practice, Holby City and The Bill.

But on the small screen, his true big break was HBO’s Rome, in which he played the cheery, violent Titus Pollo. It raised his profile, and he began to score bigger parts both on TV and the big screen.

Ray Stevenson, the actor known for his roles in "Thor" and "Rrr," among many, many other movies and TV shows over the years, has passed away at the age of 58. It's a remarkably unexpected, terrible bit of news, as Stevenson was truly one of those actors that added a whole lot to just about anything he was in. Case in point, he made the most of his chance to bring Frank Castle, aka The Punisher, to life in 2008's "Punisher: War Zone." Stevenson, it turns out, was bummed he never got the call to reprise the role.

Stevenson took over for Thomas Jane, who played the role of the Marvel Comics antihero in 2004's "The Punisher." Lionsgate changed things up for the sequel, though, with a new lead actor and a much more brutal take on the source material, as seen through the lens of director Lexi Alexander. The resulting...

Ray Stevenson understood the assignment.

From his early days as a dashing leading man on HBO's "Rome" to his late period as a consistently surprising character actor, the Irish actor was always a pleasure to watch. Sometimes, he'd steal the show on a glossy TV series like "Black Sails." Sometimes, he'd steal the show as the comedic relief in a Marvel Cinematic Universe movie. And sometimes, he'd steal the show in a low-budget genre movie that only cinematic junk food aficionados have seen. But he always stole the show. He always understood the assignment. He always delivered.

Stevenson has passed away at the age of 58, and he leaves behind a fascinating and varied body of work. But one role stands out amongst them all, and it represents his greatest attempt at mainstream stardom. It didn't work. The movie bombed. It was a critical failure, too. But time has been kind to it,...

Not many actors could claim they had played multiple Marvel characters and Star Wars characters in addition to famous historical figures and the villain in one of the biggest Tollywood hits of all time, but Ray Stevenson was one of them. As first reported by Italian news outlets and later confirmed by The Wrap and Variety, the actor died today at the age of 58. Born in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, Stevenson began acting in film and TV in the '90s. He would go on to become a bigger name thanks to his roles as Titus Pullo in the HBO series "Rome" and as Dagonet, one of Arthur's Knights of the Round Table, in Antoine Fuqua's 2004 period action-adventure movie "King Arthur."

As someone with a knack for playing hard-edged fighters and antiheroes, Stevenson was a natural fit to portray the Marvel comic book vigilante Frank Castle in Lexi Alexander's...

Ray Stevenson, a towering and imposing character actor best known for starring roles in “Punisher: War Zone” and the “Rome” television show, has died at the age of 58. While his passing has been confirmed by his publicists, the cause of death is currently undisclosed.

George Raymond Stevenson was born in Lisburn, Ireland, on May 25, 1964. He was the second of three sons, and his father was a Royal Air Force pilot. He moved to England at the age of 8 and eventually attended the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. He graduated at the age of 29. Stevenson had been a regular fixture at the movies and on television since the early 1990s.

His breakout movie role came in 1998’s “The Theory of Flight,” in which he played a gigolo tasked with helping Helena Bonham Carter’s character lose her virginity. His most notable big screen roles include the title role in Lexi Alexander...

On May 10, the Directors Guild of America sent a message to members that exemplified the muddled situation in which writer-directors find themselves amid the ongoing writers strike. In the communication, the DGA advised its members that minor script changes — like cutting for time and making small edits to dialogue during production — may be required of writer-directors during the strike if they are working on a project they wrote only in their capacity as a director.

The DGA considers small script changes to typically be part of a director’s workload, and the union’s “no-strike” clause requires it to put a good-faith effort toward requiring members to continue directing during the strike. But the “strike rules” governing what members of the Writers Guild of America can do during its strike mandate something different — that “hyphenates” (writers who are employed in additional roles) are prohibited from performing these “(a) through (h...

Thomas Jane portrayed Frank Castle in Jonathan Hensleigh's The Punisher, but he would subsequently be succeeded not once but twice. The Punisher has had a curious history his live-action adaptations compared to most other Marvel characters, first being played by Dolph Lundgren in 1989's The Punisher. Jane would later assume role in 2004's The Punisher, which was a moderate success and set up Castle's continued vigilante tale in The Punisher 2.

However, behind-the-scenes issues ultimately led both Hensleigh and Jane to depart The Punisher franchise, with Frank Castle being rebooted in 2008's Punisher: War Zone. Jane's portrayal of Frank Castle was generally well-received, which made his departure quite unfortunate, though he would later be seen in the role again in the 2015 short film Punisher: Dirty Laundry. Here is why Thomas Jane ultimately departed from The Punisher movie franchise.

Related: Is Jon Bernthal's Punisher The Villain In Daredevil: Born Again...

Jason Blum’s Blumhouse and James Wan’s Atomic Monster are in advanced talks to merge, according to an individual with knowledge of the situation.

After joining together the two iconic brands, Atomic Monster would have a first-look deal with Universal Pictures. Blumhouse is currently under a first look with Universal as well.

Post close, the parties expect that Atomic Monster and Blumhouse will continue to operate as separate labels, with each maintaining its own creative autonomy and brand identity. Atomic Monster is expecting to utilize the existing Blumhouse infrastructure to further scale their activities in film, TV and new content areas.

Also Read:

Netflix and Blumhouse Suddenly Drop Lexi Alexander’s Already-Shot ‘Absolute Dominion’

The alliance is expected to increase the combined companies’ output. The additional output will allow both companies greater latitude in taking on bold risk-taking original horror films.

Once combined, the companies will have more than...

Netflix and Blumhouse have parted ways with Lexi Alexander’s “Absolute Dominion,” a sci-fi martial arts film led by Patton Oswalt, Alex Winter and Julie Ann Emery.

An insider confirmed that Netflix will no longer distribute the film, while Blumhouse is no longer attached as a producer. Though the decision wasn’t easy, said the insider, they support Alexander finding another distributor.

Set in 2085, the movie centers on a futuristic martial arts tournament in which the victor wins absolute dominion for one religion. Greenlit by Netflix in April of this year, the Nevada shoot wrapped in August and the film is now in post-production.

Writer-director-producer Alexander did not directly comment on the decision. However, she retweeted the news with the message “Don’t worry, it’s not bad news. But here are the leads…” above images of four cast members.

Don't worry, it's not bad news. But here are the leads…...

Netflix will no longer distribute and Blumhouse Productions will no longer produce “Absolute Dominion,” a science-fiction martial arts drama from filmmaker Lexi Alexander.

Netflix greenlit the movie earlier this year, with Jason Blum and his Blumhouse Television banner on board to produce. It’s unclear why the two companies departed “Absolute Dominion,” but the filmmaking team is seeking new distribution. Principal photography took place this spring in Nevada. The project already wrapped filming, and it is currently in post production.

“Bill and Ted” actor Alex Winter, Patton Oswalt and newcomer Désiré Mia star in the violent, post-apocalyptic film, which takes place in 2085 A.D. after the world has been destroyed by religious warfare. Desperate to save humanity, global governing forces host a gripping, no-holds-barred, martial arts tournament. The last fighter standing wins Absolute Dominion for one faith.

Alexander, a former World Kickboxing Champion, also wrote and co-produced “Absolute Dominion.” She...

Universal Pictures' infamous Dark Universe was not an inherently bad idea. The studio had enjoyed great success crossing over its classic monster movie series going back to the 1940s, at one point even pairing them with comedy duo Abbott and Costello for a run of films. Then, director Stephen Sommers gave "The Mummy" a fresh coat of paint with his 1999 remake, a delightfully cheeky mix of "Indiana Jones"-style action/adventure and supernatural horror that would spawn two sequels and a series of spinoff films about The Scorpion King (a role originated by Dwayne Johnson in 2001's "The Mummy Returns").

Since then, however, Universal has struggled to effectively re-imagine most of its other monsters for the 21st century. Many of its attempts to do so have seen the studio trying to repurpose these characters as superheroes, starting with Sommers' 2004 movie "Van Helsing" and continuing on to 2014's "Dracula Untold," a...

Program Description

The Punisher is back and he’s on a killer mission when Punisher: War Zone arrives on 4K Ultra HD™ + Blu-ray™ + Digital SteelBook® October 18 from Lionsgate. Starring Ray Stevenson (Thor), Dominic West (The Wire), and Julie Benz (Dexter), Punisher: War Zone gives a new meaning to painting the town red as he wages his bloody one-man vigilante war. Punisher: War Zone will be available for the suggested retail price of 27.99 for 4K Ultra HD™ + Blu-ray™ + Digital SteelBook®.

Official Synopsis

Ex-Special Forces officer Frank Castle is back with all guns blazing as The Punisher, this time waging a one-man war on two fronts. While targeting the vicious mob boss, Billy Russoti, Castle horribly disfigures the gangster in a firefight that also claims the life of an undercover FBI agent. Seeking terrible vengeance, Russoti takes the name “Jigsaw” and begins recruiting the underworld’s most notorious criminals while the Feds form an anti-vigilante Strike Force.

The 2004 Marvel Comics adaptation The Punisher wasn’t a huge hit when it was released by Lionsgate, it made just under 55 million at the global box office, but that was still enough for Lionsgate to greenlight a sequel. And when The Punisher 2 first went into development, the idea was that The Punisher director Jonathan Hensleigh would be back at the helm, with Thomas Jane reprising the role of vigilante Frank Castle. But there were script issues, Hensleigh left the project, and Lionsgate started searching for another director. And during a panel at the Fanboy Expo Knoxville last weekend, Jane revealed that two of the directors who were considered for The Punisher 2 were Rob Zombie, who was then fresh off of working with Lionsgate on The Devil’s Rejects, and The Warriors‘ Walter Hill.

Jane said (with thanks to ComicBook.com for the transcription),

There were a couple of iterations of Punisher 2. One...

One could easily argue that we have never had an outright good "Punisher" movie. While several attempts have been made, nothing has truly managed to capture that character on screen in a way that seems possible. Jon Bernthal's Frank Castle from "Daredevil" season 2 seems the closest, even if his solo show missed the mark a bit. Thomas Jane gave it the old college try in 2004, with the actor stepping up to the plate for "The Punisher," an adaptation of the Marvel Comics title with Jonathan Hensleigh in the director's chair.

As it turns out, there was talk of a sequel to that iteration, and, what's more, several major directors were being courted to tackle the follow-up. Among those the studio considered? None other than the man behind "House of 1,000 Corpses" and "The Devil's Rejects," Rob Zombie.

Rob Zombie Nearly Directed Punisher 2

Jane revealed the intriguing information during an...

Action director Lexi Alexander is back with her first feature in over a decade, the Netflix martial arts drama "Absolute Dominion." As was first announced earlier today via Variety, the film has tapped Alex Winter and Patton Oswalt to appear. The duo joins Oluniké Adeliyi, Julie Ann Emery and Reagan Gomez, who were previously announced as starring. Alok Vaid-Menon, Andy Allo, Désiré Mia, Jennifer Jajeh, Juliana Joel,...

The post Alex Winter and Patton Oswalt Join Cast of Lexi Alexander's Netflix Martial Arts Movie Absolute Dominion appeared first on /Film.

Alex Winter (Bill & Ted Face the Music), Alok Vaid-Menon (Random Acts of Flyness), Andy Allo (Chicago Fire), Désiré Mia, Jennifer Jajeh (Transparent), Juliana Joel (American Gigolo), Julie Ann Emery (Better Call Saul), June Carryl (Y: The Last Man), Junes Zahdi (Counterpart), Laith Ashley (Pose), Mario D’Leon (Power), Nora Armani (The Blacklist: Redemption), Oluniké Adeliyi (The Expanse), Patton Oswalt (I Love My Dad), Reagan Gomez (Queen Sugar) and Shawn Mousavi (Echo 3) will star in the action-drama Absolute Dominion, which Lexi Alexander wrote and is directing for Netflix and Blumhouse Television.

In the martial arts pic currently in production, it’s 2085 A.D., and the world has been destroyed by religious warfare. Desperate to save humanity, global governing forces host a gripping, no-holds-barred, martial arts tournament. Last fighter standing wins Absolute Dominion for one faith.

Alexander, Jason Blum, John McKeown and Scott Putman are producing, with Chris McCumber and Jeremy Gold exec producing for Blumhouse Television.

Alex Winter (“Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure”) and Patton Oswalt (“Young Adult”) are set to appear in martial arts drama “Absolute Dominion” for Netflix.

“The Porter’s” Oluniké Adeliyi, “Better Call Saul’s” Julie Ann Emery and “Jerry Maguire’s” Reagan Gomez will also star in the project.

Helmed and written by stunt-woman turned director Lexi Alexander (“How to Get Away with Murder”), the high-octane sci-fi action film is co-produced by Blumhouse Television.

“It’s 2085 A.D. and the world has been destroyed by religious warfare,” reads the logline. “Desperate to save humanity, global governing forces host a gripping, no-holds-barred, martial arts tournament. Last fighter standing wins Absolute Dominion for one faith.”

Rounding out the cast are Alok Vaid-Menon, Andy Allo, Désiré Mia, Jennifer Jajeh, Juliana Joel, June Carryl, Junes Zahdi, Laith Ashley, Mario D’Leon, Nora Armani, Oluniké Adeliyi, and Shawn Mousavi.

Meanwhile martial arts expert Phil Tan has boarded...

A crew member on CBS’ FBI: Most Wanted recently tested positive for coronavirus — and the director of the last episode filmed claims that she was not informed until after the fact.

“A Human Resource person just called to tell me that someone on the crew of my last job tested positive for Covid 19,” Lexi Alexander, whose directing resume also includes La’s Finest, S.W.A.T., Supergirl and Arrow, claimed in a tweet on Thursday evening. “Then she casually told me not to worry that I’m probably not infected. I’m furious.”

More from TVLineWalking Dead Spinoff World Beyond Postponed, New Premiere...

A crew member on the set of CBS’ crime drama FBI: Most Wanted has tested positive for coronavirus, Deadline has confirmed. It’s the latest entertainment industry case in a pandemic that has now passed 200,000 cases worldwide and killed nearly 10,000.

Production had been shut down since March 12. The midseason series had some episodes to finish shooting as it had a 16-episode order, rather than the typical 13.

More from DeadlineCoronavirus: TV Shows That Have Halted Or Delayed Production Amid OutbreakProduction Suspended Indefinitely On Baz Luhrmann's Elvis Movie As Tom Hanks Continues Coronavirus RecoveryBob Iger Praises California Governor & L.A. Mayor For Today's Coronavirus Stay-At-Home Orders

Some cast and crew of the series from Dick Wolf Production and Universal TV had direct contact with the unidentified crewmember and were informed by human resources about the positive test. Director Lexi Alexander, who said she was told Wednesday, has been vocal on Twitter that...

A crew member who worked on “FBI: Most Wanted” has tested positive for Covid-19, the novel coronavirus, Variety has learned, and some who worked on the production are upset that they were not told earlier, ahead of the test results being received, so they could take precautionary measures against the respiratory illness.

The cast and crew of the CBS drama were officially informed Thursday morning via an emailed memo from NBCUniversal’s Universal Television, the studio behind the series.

According the NBCU memo obtained by Variety, the affected individual — whose identity has not been released for medical confidentiality reasons — received a positive diagnosis on Wednesday, March 18. This person had not been on the set of “FBI: Most Wanted” since Wednesday, March 11, and “had already recovered from a mild case by the time the test results came back today.” The memo, dated Wednesday, was emailed to the cast and crew the morning of Thursday,...

Get in touch to send in cinephile news and discoveries. For daily updates follow us @NotebookMUBI.NEWSAgnès Varda, 1921—2019.Agnès Varda, vital initiator of the French New Wave, prolific auteur, nimble innovator, and constant inspiration as an artist and a person, has left us at the age of 90. "'In all women there is something in revolt which is not expressed,' Varda once said of her protagonist in Vagabond. Her films express exactly that sense of revolt, in both form and content." That's Christina Newland writing on Varda's cinema and its expression of the female experience for the New Statesman.Though it was first premiered at Venice in 2014, Abel Ferrara's Pasolini will finally have its North American release on May 10. The premiere coincides with “Abel Ferrara Unrated,” an upcoming retrospective of Ferrara's works at the Museum of Modern Art. Following a recent screening of High Life, Claire Denis stated that...

It looks like Universal Pictures is looking to reboot The Mummy again as they move forward with their plans to launch a “fresh strategy for Universal’s monsters properties.” They recently hired Leigh Whannell to direct The Invisible Man, and they are taking meetings with other filmmakers for other projects.

Punisher: War Zone director Lexi Alexander recently revealed on Twitter that she pitched a new Mummy film to the studio saying:

No. What you would all love to see from me is The Mummy remake I just pitched to Dark Universe a few weeks ago. Reverse-orientalism...

Just last month, we learned Jason Blum and his über-successful Bluhouse Productions banner were tackling a remake of The Invisible Man, the first in what could be many revamps of Universal’s classic movie monsters. The Dark Universe that began with Tom Cruise’s The Mummy in 2017 is dead, which means they’re taking a whole new […]

The post ‘The Invisible Man’ Remake Will Be Low Budget and “Edgy,” Lexi Alexander Pitched a ‘Mummy’ Reboot appeared first on /Film.

Frank Castle, when last Marvel fans saw him, had seemed like he was on the path towards a happier life. But there’s no rest for the Punisher, and as the new trailer for Season 2 of the series reveals, maybe he wants it that way.

And he also has a new reason to commit violence — per the official description, provided by Netflix:

Former marine-turned-vigilante Frank Castle (Jon Bernthal) has been living a quiet life on the road until he suddenly becomes embroiled in the attempted murder of a young girl (Giorgia Whigham). As he is drawn into the mystery surrounding her and those in pursuit of the information she holds, Castle attracts a new target on his back as new and old enemies force him to confront whether he should accept his destiny and embrace a life as “The Punisher.”

The new trailer also reveals just what Frank did...

The artist behind controversial “Homeland” graffiti that declared the show racist says her work has been plagiarized by a German artist. Egyptian artist Heba Amin is a member of the group “Arabian Street Artists,” which snuck political messages into the Claire Danes-led Showtime drama after being hired to paint on-set graffiti in 2015. The graffiti included the phrases “Homeland is racist” and “Homeland is a joke, and it didn’t make us laugh,” which aired in a Season 5 episode. The powerful message and subversive protest tactics stirred up much media attention, and now a German artist is trying to capitalize on the event’s notoriety.

In show titled “This Show Does Not Represent the View of the Artist,” David Krippendorff made silkscreen images which he says “commemorate the ‘Homeland’ graffiti hack.” In a statement on his website, he calls the project “an homage, a tribute, and a celebration.”

“When you...

Kaplan Stahler’s Cindy Mintz has been named head of TV Literary at the boutique agency. In her new role, Mintz will oversee a department of five agents.

Mintz joined Kaplan Stahler in 2013 after a brief stint at Abrams Artists Agency, where she was instrumental in launching their TV literary department. Prior to Abrams, she spent 15 years as a TV packaging agent at ICM Partners.

“We have been fortunate to have benefited from Cindy’s invaluable industry and client relationships, and exceptional leadership skills,” said Todd Mooney, COO. “It’s a pleasure to recognize her commitment to client representation and to the future of Kaplan Stahler with this well-earned title.”

Mintz guides a roster of successful writers, directors and producers working in television and film which include Terri Kopp, Jamie Pachino (Sneaky Pete), Mike Herro & David Strauss (All American), Ron McGee (NCIS: Nola), Sonay Hoffman...

The dark action tale, Punisher: War Zone comes to 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack (Plus Blu-ray and Digital) on September 25 from Lionsgate. Frank Castle continues to hunt down criminals who deserve his merciless execution!

Frank Castle is back when Punisher: War Zone arrives on 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack (plus Blu-ray and Digital) September 25 from Lionsgate. The film tells the tale of an ex Special Forces instructor arriving in New York to take on a scarred villain. Experience four times the resolution of full HD with 4K along with Dolby Vision Hdr, which brings entertainment to life through ultra-vivid picture quality. When compared to a standard picture, Dolby Vision can deliver spectacular colors never before seen on a screen, highlights that are up to 40 times brighter, and blacks that are 10 times darker. The release also features Dolby Atmos®audio mixed specifically for the home to place and move audio anywhere in the room,...

“Guardians of the Galaxy” actor Dave Bautista came out strongly in defense of James Gunn Friday after Disney fired him from his role as director of “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.”

“I will have more to say but for right now I will say this,” Bautista, who plays Drax in both “Guardians” movies and in “Avengers: Infinity War,” wrote on Twitter. “James Gunn is one of the most loving, caring, good natured people I have ever met. He’s gentle and kind and cares deeply for people and animals. He’s made mistakes. We all have. I’m Not ok with what’s happening to him.”

I will have more to say but for right now all I will say is this..@JamesGunn is one of the most loving,caring,good natured people I have ever met. He’s gentle and kind and cares deeply for people and animals.

Frank Castle vows vengeance when The Punisher arrives on 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack (plus Blu-ray and Digital) September 25 from Lionsgate. Based on Marvel’s iconic anti-hero, the film tells the tale of FBI agent Frank Castle’s unrelenting need for vengeance after his family is killed. Experience four times the resolution of full HD with 4K along with Dolby Vision Hdr, which brings entertainment to life through ultra-vivid picture quality. When compared to a standard picture, Dolby Vision can deliver spectacular colors never before seen on a screen, highlights that are up to 40 times brighter, and blacks that are 10 times darker. The release also features Dolby Atmos® audio mixed specifically for the home to place and move audio anywhere in the room, including overhead. The Punisher 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack is loaded with special features and will be available for the suggested retail price of $22.99.

Frank Castle is...

Remember those “extreme reshoots” that forced filmmaker Scott Derrickson from to quit the “Snowpiercer” TV series? Well, now we know who the man behind the camera that will helm those scenes is set to be. According to Variety, veteran TV director James Hawes has stepped in to finish the work on the pilot episode of the TNT series.

Read More: Scott Derrickson Quits “Radically” Altered ‘Snowpiercer’ Series; Lexi Alexander Laments Loss Of Its Inclusiveness

Less than two weeks ago, “Doctor Strange” director Derrickson went on Twitter to voice his displeasure for how the TV adaptation of “Snowpiercer” was being handled.

Continue reading Veteran TV Director James Hawes Replaces Scott Derrickson On ‘Snowpiercer’ TV Pilot at The Playlist.

The way things are going, and with the incessant need for more and more content, practically every movie you adore will be transformed into a long-form series. In some cases, it’s a transparent, desperate attempt. In others, there’s just a rich world worth further exploration. That seems to be the case with “Snowpiercer,” the adaptation of the French graphic novel “Le Transperceneige.” Directed by heralded South Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-Ho in 2013, the sci-fi drama starred Chris Evans and Tilda Swinton and was widely regarded as one of the best films of that year.

Continue reading Scott Derrickson Quits “Radically” Altered ‘Snowpiercer’ Series; Lexi Alexander Laments Loss Of Its Inclusiveness at The Playlist.

The 2018-19 broadcast television season made strides with on-screen diversity, but there is still considerable progress to be made off-screen.

During the “Inside a Writers Room: Power Dynamics” at the Atx Television Festival Saturday, moderator/executive producer Glen Mazzara acknowledged the panel — which consisted of Liz Tigelaar, Christopher C. Rogers (“Halt & Catch Fire”), Shawn Ryan, Rina Mimoun, and Patrick Sean Smith (“Greek”) — was white, plus had more men than women. He asked the group what they could do to be more inclusive with their writers’ rooms going forward.

Rogers, whose first room experience was on “Halt and Catch Fire,” the show’s natural evolution during season 1 into an ensemble led to the writers being more cognizant that there needed to be better representation in the room.

“We decided going forward, we needed to be at least fifty percent in the writers’ room and behind the camera,” he said. “That is...

Terry Gilliam didn’t endear himself to many when he said that #MeToo is both “silly” and turning into “mob rule,” lamenting that the movement is akin to a group of people “carrying their torches and they are going to burn down Frankenstein’s castle.” Though he clarified that Harvey Weinstein — with whom the Monty Python member and filmmaker worked on “The Brothers Grimm” — is a “monster” and “asshole,” Gilliam also said that, for some women, “a night with Harvey — that’s the price you pay.”

His comments have drawn widespread ire, including from fellow members of the film community. Sarah Silverman, Judd Apatow, and “La La Land” producer Jordan Horowitz have all chimed in:

I am *so fucking tired* of people in my industry saying "that's just the way things are" or "this is how it's done" — I understand you are broken and angry. But if this is your only contribution to this moment,...

Every week, IndieWire asks a select handful of film critics two questions and publishes the results on Monday. (The answer to the second, “What is the best film in theaters right now?”, can be found at the end of this post.)

This week’s question: “Wonder Woman” and “Black Panther” have helped to reinvigorate the superhero genre as a social and creative force, and the success of those films can be at least partially attributed to their directors. With that in mind, which filmmaker would you most like to see direct a blockbuster superhero movie next, and why?

Max Weiss (@maxthegirl), Baltimore Magazine

I’m firmly in the camp of not wanting my favorite actors or directors to either star in or helm superhero films. (I audibly groaned yesterday when the news surfaced that Joaquin Phoenix was going to be playing The Joker.) Yes, Waititi, Coogler, Jenkins, et al managed...

Update, 8:50 Pm: So, the real identity of the creator of the Shitty Men In Media list is Spartacus after all – or maybe it's Moira Donegan. Using the tactic from the 1960 Kirk Douglas film where multiple slaves claim they are the rebel leader in solidarity, Punisher: War Zone director Lexi Alexander today went online earlier declaring that she was the originator of the infamous spreadsheet that detailed men in New York media who have engaged in sexual misconduct. Based on…...

Update, 8:50 Pm: So, the real identity of the creator of the Shitty Men In Media list is Spartacus after all – or maybe it's Moira Donegan. Using the tactic from the 1960 Kirk Douglas film where multiple slaves claim they are the rebel leader in solidarity, Punisher: War Zone director Lexi Alexander today went online earlier declaring that she was the originator of the infamous spreadsheet that detailed men in New York media who have engaged in sexual misconduct. Based on…...

Following a Twitter campaign inspired by “Spartacus” in which dozens of women, including filmmaker Lexi Alexander, claimed to have created it, writer Moira Donegan has now come forward as the creator of the infamous “S—ty Media Men” spreadsheet. The anonymously crowdsourced list detailed accusations of sexually inappropriate behavior by men working primarily in New York City-based media. The private, invitation-only Google spreadsheet was created and quickly deactivated in October, but was publicly revealed a month later through a BuzzFeed article. The list’s creator remained a secret until this week, when Harper’s Magazine confirmed it intended to publish a story by writer Katie...

“Green Street” and “Punisher: War Zone” director Lexi Alexander claimed on Wednesday to have created the widely circulated “S—-y Media Men” list, a crowdsourced Google spreadsheet detailing accusations of sexually inappropriate behavior by men working primarily in New York City-based media. But she didn’t actually create it — she was covering for the spreadsheet’s actual author, writer Moira Donegan, who came forward Wednesday night in an op-ed published by The Cut. Also Read: Real Author of 'S---y Media Men' Comes Forward: 'Life Has Been... Frightening Ever Since' “S—-y Media Men” became known to the public through a November BuzzFeed article, but re-entered the...