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Matlock star Kathy Bates is 77. And the inaugural “CBS Birthday Salute” is celebrating the Academy Award winner’s June 28 birthday with everybody. The historic broadcast network began teasing the multiple Emmy winner’s birthday as early as June 13. Its social media platforms even dubbed themselves “Kathy Bates Stan Account.” Two days before her birthday, Jason Ritter, Bates’s Matlock co-star, appeared in a reminder on CBS social platforms.

Lovebombing of the legend officially kicked off at 7 a.m. Et/4 a.m. Pt in a series of commercial breaks during live programming and across multiple CBS platforms, including Paramount+, Instagram, X, TikTok and Facebook. Tributes from Bates’s many costars, including Bad Santa 2’s Billy Bob Thornton, A Family Affair castmate Brooke Shields, and Tammy co-star Melissa McCarthy, as well as CBS Mornings personalities Gayle King, Nate Burleson, and Vladimir Duthiers, are among the many highlights from the celebration ending at 11 p.

Audible, Inc., today announced the star-studded cast of its upcoming Audible Original scripted podcast, The Space Within. The thrilling and emotionally-grounded eight episode scripted sci-fi mystery will be executive produced and performed by Academy Award-Winning actress Jessica Chastain, who will be joined by Emmy winner Bobby Cannavale, Academy Award-winner Ellen Burstyn, Michael Stuhlbarg, Shea Whigham, and Carmen Ejogo.

The producers are Topic Studios, in association with Freckle Films, Solaris Productions, and Ramble Road. Written by Greg O’Connor & Josh Fagin, and directed by Stephen Winter, The Space Within will premiere exclusively from Audible on June 15, 2023.

The Audible Original will follow Dr. Madeline Wyle (Chastain), an internationally acclaimed psychiatrist specializing in trauma and Ptsd. When she discovers a string of patients with the same, seemingly supernatural, repressed memories, she is forced to risk her reputation and career to confront the possibility that the memories of alien abduction might be real.

“The Space...

Jessica Chastain is getting behind the mic to lead the upcoming Audible sci-fi thriller.

Premiering June 15, The Space Within features Chastain as Dr. Madeline Wyle, an acclaimed Ptsd and trauma psychiatrist who begins treating multiple patients who all seemingly have repressed memories of alien abductions. Wyle, according to Audible’s description of the project, must put her reputation and career at risk to get to the bottom of the memories and consider whether the abductions were indeed real.

The eight-episode series is the fourth — and first fiction work — coming from Audible’s four-project development and production deal with Spotlight producer Topic Studios. Previous projects included The Messenger, a series from the journalist Shiv Malik about his friendship with and later betrayal by a man who claimed to have been a former spokesperson for al-Qaida; American Isis, from journalist Trevor Aaronson about an American man who traveled to Syria to become...

Untot

"Star Wars" actor Hayden Christensen has joined Kris Renkewitz's WW2 set action-horror film "Untot" at Solaris Entertainment. Greg O'Connor will produce and filming begins in New York City in March.

The story follows an elite military unit commanded by Lt. Fredrick Hank (Christensen) who is dropped behind enemy lines in the mountains of Poland in order to destroy a secret Nazi weapons facility. What they encounter is something they've never been trained for. [Source: THR]

Black Lung

Amanda Seyfried ("Mamma Mia") and Theo James ("Divergent") will headline the supernatural thriller "Black Lung" at 2929 Prods. and Cooper's Town Prods. Cary Fukunaga ("True Detective") will executive produce and filming begins this Summer.

Chase Palmer penned the script and will make his feature film directing debut on the project about a young wife whose premonition about a pending disaster saves her husband, but puts her under suspicion when an explosion entombs a group of miners.

Internationally recognized actor Hayden Christensen (Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, upcoming American Heist) will star in the action/horror film, Untot, it was announced today by Warrior producer Greg O'Connor of Solaris Entertainment. Successful video game producer/director Kris Renkewitz makes his feature film debut and will direct from his own screenplay. Tannaz Anisi's 13 Films is handling international sales on the project and will introduce it to buyers at the European Film Market. Producers currently hold Us rights. Principal photography is slated to begin in March 2015 in New York with further casting underway.

Untot, meaning "undead" in German, is set towards the end of World War II in December 1944. During a blizzard, an elite military unit headed by Lt. Fredrick Hank (Christensen), is dropped behind enemy lines in the mountains of Poland to destroy a secret Nazi weapons facility.

Here's more on "Warrior" from Lionsgate:

An ex-Marine haunted by a tragic past, Tommy Riordan returns to his hometown of Pittsburgh and enlists his father, a recovered alcoholic and his former coach, to train him for a mixed martial arts tournament awarding the biggest purse in the history of the sport. As Tommy blazes a violent path towards the title prize, his brother, Brendan, a former Mma fighter unable to make ends meet as a public school teacher, returns to the amateur ring to provide for his family. Even though years have passed, recriminations and past betrayals keep Brendan bitterly estranged from both Tommy and his father. But when Brendan's unlikely rise as an underdog sets him on a collision course with Tommy, the two brothers must finally confront the forces that tore them apart, all the while waging the most intense, winner-takes-all battle of their lives.

Genres: Action/Adventure and Drama Running Time: 2 hr.

Meeting Nick Nolte, the cinema icon, was a real blessing! I enjoyed every minute I spent interviewing the acting legend. And let me tell you, he gave a fine, fine performance in .Warrior. as Paddy Conlon, the alcoholic father of the two dueling brothers played by Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton.

In this interview, we talked about:

*** His attraction to the movie

*** Working with Gavin O.Connor, who pursued him and played him their old voicemail exchange that sealed the deal

*** His knee surgery

*** How O.Connor found his main actors (Nolte said the director complained about not finding American actors for the part

*** His character.s penchant for listening to the audio book adaptation of Herman Mellville.s .Moby Dick.

Have Fun!!!

Here's more on "Warrior" from Lionsgate:

An ex-Marine haunted by a tragic past, Tommy Riordan returns to his hometown of Pittsburgh and enlists his father, a recovered alcoholic and his former coach,...

Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton make a perfect pair of dueling brothers who use the Mma cage to act out their aggressions, to battle their own personal demons, to find their own road to redemption.

In this interview, we talked about:

*** What attracted them to making .Warrior.

*** Their characters

*** Their passions

Have Fun!

Here's more on "Warrior" from Lionsgate:

An ex-Marine haunted by a tragic past, Tommy Riordan returns to his hometown of Pittsburgh and enlists his father, a recovered alcoholic and his former coach, to train him for a mixed martial arts tournament awarding the biggest purse in the history of the sport. As Tommy blazes a violent path towards the title prize, his brother, Brendan, a former Mma fighter unable to make ends meet as a public school teacher, returns to the amateur ring to provide for his family. Even though years have passed, recriminations and past betrayals...

I love the super-sweet and very real Jennifer Morrison. She effectively embodies Tess Conlon, the supportive wife of Brendan, played by Joel Edgerton. Morrison is the heart of the film.

In this interview, we talked about:

*** Her attraction to the project

*** Was she an Mma fan prior to making the movie?

*** Working with Joel Edgerton

*** Grown men will cry!

*** The movie is about .what you.re fighting for. so what is her passion right now? What does Jennifer Morrison fight for?

Have Fun!

Here's more on "Warrior" from Lionsgate:

An ex-Marine haunted by a tragic past, Tommy Riordan returns to his hometown of Pittsburgh and enlists his father, a recovered alcoholic and his former coach, to train him for a mixed martial arts tournament awarding the biggest purse in the history of the sport. As Tommy blazes a violent path towards the title prize, his brother, Brendan, a former Mma...

.Warrior. is a brilliant, heartfelt movie about the world of Mixed Martial Arts told from the battling points of view of two estranged brothers played by Tom Hardy (Tommy Conlon) and Joel Edgerton (Brendan Conlon).

I cried buckets watching this emotionally intense movie! Director Gavin O.Connor (.Miracle,. .Pride and Glory.) created a brilliant film about the hard road to redemption. Who knew Mma would make you cry?

In this interview, we talked abou:

*** What made him write and direct .Warrior?.

*** Nick Nolte.s character, and his habit of listening to the audio book of Herman Melville.s .Moby Dick?.

*** It.s a movie for boys and girl, and everyone in between! Ha!

Have Fun!

Here's more on "Warrior" from Lionsgate:

An ex-Marine haunted by a tragic past, Tommy Riordan returns to his hometown of Pittsburgh and enlists his father, a recovered alcoholic and his former coach, to train him...

"Tess Discovers the Truth" in this new clip from Gavin O'Connor's Warrior, starring Tom Hardy, Joel Edgerton, Nick Nolte and Jennifer Morrison. The story follows two estranged brothers facing the fight of a lifetime in this moving, inspirational action drama from the director of Miracle. This is one film I am really looking forward to seeing come September 9th, since I am a big fan of Mma. Anthony Tambakis wrote the script with Gavin O'Connor and Cliff Dorfman and the action drama is produced by Greg O'Connor. In Warrior, haunted by a tragic past, ex-Marine Tommy Conlon (Hardy) returns home for the firsttime in fourteen years to enlist the help of his father (Nick Nolte) to train for Sparta, the biggest winner-takes-all event in mixed martial arts history. A former wrestling prodigy, Tommy blazes a path toward the championship while his brother, Brendan (Edgerton)...

"Tess Discovers the Truth" in this new clip from Gavin O'Connor's Warrior, starring Tom Hardy, Joel Edgerton, Nick Nolte and Jennifer Morrison. The story follows two estranged brothers facing the fight of a lifetime in this moving, inspirational action drama from the director of Miracle. This is one film I am really looking forward to seeing come September 9th, since I am a big fan of Mma. Anthony Tambakis wrote the script with Gavin O'Connor and Cliff Dorfman and the action drama is produced by Greg O'Connor. In Warrior, haunted by a tragic past, ex-Marine Tommy Conlon (Hardy) returns home for the firsttime in fourteen years to enlist the help of his father (Nick Nolte) to train for Sparta, the biggest winner-takes-all event in mixed martial arts history. A former wrestling prodigy, Tommy blazes a path toward the championship while his brother, Brendan (Edgerton)...

"Tess Discovers the Truth" in this new clip from Gavin O'Connor's Warrior, starring Tom Hardy, Joel Edgerton, Nick Nolte and Jennifer Morrison. The story follows two estranged brothers facing the fight of a lifetime in this moving, inspirational action drama from the director of Miracle. This is one film I am really looking forward to seeing come September 9th, since I am a big fan of Mma. Anthony Tambakis wrote the script with Gavin O'Connor and Cliff Dorfman and the action drama is produced by Greg O'Connor. In Warrior, haunted by a tragic past, ex-Marine Tommy Conlon (Hardy) returns home for the firsttime in fourteen years to enlist the help of his father (Nick Nolte) to train for Sparta, the biggest winner-takes-all event in mixed martial arts history. A former wrestling prodigy, Tommy blazes a path toward the championship while his brother, Brendan (Edgerton)...

Last year during the Toronto Film Festival, we were the first to receive a scoop on Gavin O'Connor's next film, a mixed martial arts (Mma) drama titled Warrior. Earlier this year he announced the cast - Nick Nolte, Tom Hardy, and Joel Edgerton. And now the Post-Gazette has the first photos from the production, which is currently shooting in Pittsburgh. It's not really safe to make this comparison, but O'Connor is essentially trying to make an Mma version of Rocky. "I think there's an opportunity to tell a story in this world, and it's a world that has a lot of interest right now," producer Greg O'Connor told me last year. Nick Nolte plays an ex-Vietnam vet and boxer-turned-steel mill worker whose family was torn apart by his alcoholism; the now-sober and remorseful dad welcomes back his youngest son (Hardy) and trains him to compete in a Mma tournament.

Lionsgate and director Gavin O'Connor have set Nick Nolte, Tom Hardy (RocknRolla), Joel Edgerton (The Waiting City) and Jennifer Morrison ("House") to star in "Warrior," a drama set in the world of mixed martial arts fighting. Production begins in April in Pittsburgh. Nolte plays an ex-Vietnam vet boxer-turned-steel mill worker whose family was torn apart by his alcoholism; the now-sober and remorseful dad welcomes back his youngest son (Hardy) and trains him to compete in a mixed martial arts tournament. He and his older brother, played by Edgerton, are on a collision course in the ring. O'Connor wrote the script with newcomer Anthony Tambakis, and the helmer will produce with brother Greg O'Connor. O'Connor had originally set Nolte to play the patriarch in his last film, "Pride and Glory," but the actor bowed out because of a knee problem and Jon Voight stepped in. Nolte was last seen in "Tropic Thunder.

Variety says that Lionsgate and director Gavin O'Connor have set Nick Nolte, Tom Hardy, Joel Edgerton and Jennifer Morrison to star in Warrior , a drama set in the world of mixed martial arts fighting. Production begins in April in Pittsburgh. Nolte plays an ex-Vietnam vet boxer-turned-steel mill worker whose family was torn apart by his alcoholism; the now-sober and remorseful dad welcomes back his youngest son (Hardy) and trains him to compete in a mixed martial arts tournament. He and his older brother, played by Edgerton, are on a collision course in the ring. O'Connor wrote the script with Anthony Tambakis, and the helmer will produce with brother Greg O'Connor.

Seen on: October 24, 2008

The players: Director: Gavin O'Connor, Writers: Joe Carnahan, Gavin O'Connor, Gregory O'Connor, Cast: Edward Norton, Colin Farrell, Jennifer Ehle, Noah Emmerich, Lake Bell, Jon Voight

Facts of interest: Pushed back numerous times.

The plot: Edward Norton plays a NYPD detective who tries to hunt down a criminal who took out four cops. During his investigation, he finds out his own brother-in-law (Colin Farrell) may be involved in a massive corruption that could endager the entire police department.

Our thoughts: The story of the corrupt police department is not exactly a new one, and Gavin O’Connor’s “Pride and Glory” is the epitome of a lame crime drama sticking to the conventions of the genre without taking a step forward and supplying audiences with something they haven’t seen yet. It just looks and sounds all too familiar to enjoy.

This week I caught up with Greg O'Connor, brother of director Gavin O'Connor and producer of most of his films, and talked with him about Pride and Glory. Before the interview wrapped, Greg talked about Gavin's potential next film - a drama called Warriors set in the world of mixed martial arts (aka Mma). As far as I know, this is the first time I've heard of this, and considering I'm a fan of Ufc, I was excited to delve into details. Additionally, since David Mamet's Redbelt, the only other recent Mma film, turned out terrible, I was intrigued to hear that Hollywood hadn't given up entirely on Mma just yet. "We're working on something that Gavin-- seems like something he's going to direct next. It's called Warrior, and it's in the world of mixed martial arts." Back in 2002, Greg and Gavin made a documentary called Smashing Machine about...

Pride And Glory starring Ed Norton and Colin Farrell opens in theaters October 24. IESB has got new images and a complete gallery from the film!

{sidebar id=1}Pride And Glory

In theaters on October 24

Director: Gavin O'Connor

Writers: Screenplay by Joe Carnahan & Gavin O'Connor

Story by Gavin O'Connor & Gregory O'Connor & Robert Hopes

Producer: Gregory O'Connor

Executive Producers: Toby Emmerich, Cale Boyter, Marcus Viscidi

Cast: Edward Norton, Colin Farrell, Jon Voight, Noah Emmerich, Jennifer Ehle

Drama. A gritty and emotional portrait of the New York City Police Department, the film follows a multi-generational police family whose moral code is tested when one of two sons on the force investigates an incendiary case involving his older brother and brother-in-law. The case forces the family to choose between their loyalties to one another Read more...